Football365

Even the most ardent Ange Postecoglou supporters now want Tottenham to sack the Australian as Spurs have ‘broken him too.’ Plus, Liverpool need more respect, Tarkowskigate, PGMOL, official ticket scalping and more…

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Finally, Ange Out

*Sigh*, I dreaded writing this,

I was very-pro Ange.

I, like so many others, bravely fought back against the torrent of abuse and ridicule over the past few months because I genuinely wanted something to get excited about again at Spurs.

Spurs have been the sad little brother of the big EPL clubs for half a decade. In the heady days of ‘Arry, we were a maverick up-start wrecking ball, crashing into the ‘Big 6’ and bringing the likes of Gareth Bale and Luka Modric to the world’s attention. Under Poch, we went from plucky upstarts, to true contenders (yes, save your cackling, true contenders) who were finishing in the Top 3 and getting to the final of the Champions League! We had some of the best players in the world in Harry Kane, Son, Lloris, Vertonghen. Incredible.

In the 5 years following, we pissed it all away. We sold out our identity, brought in mercenary ‘winners’ to manage us, accepted dire, negative football and lost anyway.

And then Ange came in.

Ange stuck up two fingers at ‘Spursiness’ and being also-rans. He wanted to come to Spurs and do what he’s done everywhere else: Win. And not just win, but win playing exciting, attacking football that the players and fans alike could love.

At times, it was glorious. 10 games unbeaten to begin. Massive wins over United, City, Villa. Cups runs. Brilliant.

But while the highs have been high, they’ve been brief. And the lows? They’ve rarely been so low.

I only partially blame Ange. I think he could’ve worked out somewhere else. If he turned up at Brighton, or Palace, or hell, even Liverpool, I think he could’ve been a revelation.

But Spurs has broken him too.

Why am I Ange out now? It’s not because of one (more) loss at Chelsea. It’s because the fire has gone out.

The early bad losses under Ange were palatable, because even when we lost, you could see the players still believing in the system. They were bought in on a plan. As Charlie Eccleshire from the Athletic said: Under Ange, Spurs might die on their feet, but they won’t live on their knees.

But now? The belief is gone. Gone from Ange, the players and certainly the fans. There is no more Angeball, the vision and the mission has evaporated.

It’s a sad, sad finish to a sad season for Spurs, but unfortunately, you become used to it.

I just really don’t know where Spurs go next. It will be hard to light this fire again.

Andy, Spurs, Eire

Football365 is not alone in the sporting press in having pushed the narrative of Spurs as pretty likely Europa League winners. There are some weakish teams in that quarterfinal round, but at no point in the last five months would I have considered them likely to beat Manchester United, much less Eintracht Frankfurt, Athletic Club (Bilbao), Olympique Lyon or Lazio. I was obviously wrong in February, but that was a particularly futile league performance from Manchester United, and Spurs weren’t much better in breaking United down again after scoring.

I just never could see it. Did anybody ever really consider Spurs likely Europa League winners? Big Ange is surely doomed.

Chris C, Toon Army DC (Sorry, mate.)

READ: Where every Premier League club’s best player could go this summer

Put some respect on their name…

There’s been a lot of talk about Liverpool’s title this season not meaning as much due to the performances of other teams in the league. I believe this does a great disservice to the team, especially considering its their first season under Arne Slot.

Liverpool have lost just one game out of 30 played and have amassed 73 points in those games. To put this into perspective, I looked at every historical Premier League table, specifically at the point that the league leaders had played 30 games (it was that or work) and here’s the list of teams that have done better than Liverpool at this stage of the season:

Peak Jurgen Klopp, unbelievable consistency—it’s hard to imagine a team doing this again.

Pep’s dominant City side.

Ferguson’s United only exceeded this total twice in his entire tenure.

Peak José Mourinho at Chelsea.

The f*cking Invincibles.

In addition, there are three other seasons where teams like Arsenal (2022/2023), Manchester City (2021/2022), and Manchester United (2010/2011) have matched 73 points after 30 games. That’s it.

What I think makes this season even more impressive is the quality of the opposition Liverpool is facing. The teams in the current top ten are all well-run clubs with top-quality players. So instead of criticizing the lack of teams challenging Liverpool this season, we should recognize how impressive it is that they’ve maintained such consistency in a league with so much quality. The competition has been tough, but Liverpool has managed to win consistently, losing just once, something no other team has been able to manage.

Arne Slot and this Liverpool team deserve immense praise for their performance this season—no excuses, no asterisks.

Neil, Galway

On Tarkowskigate

Greetings!

So, we’ve had everyone from footballing royalty to slugabeds, serfs, proles and no-marks like myself and some non-plussed Everton fans wondering what all the fuss is about. But, the one person I’d really like to hear from is the one person who voice has been silenced. Mr. Paul Reginald Tierney.

Foul, I hear you cry!

I can only imagine the frantic scenes at Stockley Park after the full-time whistle. I can only imagine because no audio has been released by PGMOL:

PT: Boss, I’ve got to go on air and comprehensively explain my thought processes, decision-making and actions this evening. Get me a slot Boss. Get me Slot Boss. For the love of football!!!

Boss: Are you nuts Paul??? You’ll ruin this thing for everyone!!! No more all expenses paid nights in the Luxuro-suite at the Staines Travelodge Paul, that all goes away. That, the chilled non-alcoholic Coors Light waiting for you, £34 per mile petrol and the daily £350 dinner allowance gone! Is that really what you want? Is that really what you want Paul???

PT. I just gotta Boss, I just gotta. I’m Paul Tierney. I’M PAUL TIERNEY (deliberate CAPS LOCK). That name means something in this ‘burg.

Boss: No Paul, I won’t let you do it. Now dry those eyes mister and give me a (consensual and platonic) hug.

Now, James, gave a nice apology and I’m sure on some levels, he meant it but to then to have a bit of a whinge about Everton being unlucky is back to stock Bitters on-message. Oh well, I can’t blame Lugnut for that – that’s the friendly derby for you.

Things will not change until PGMOL and individual referees are held to account and seen to be held to account for their work. Full explanations and not just, the auld ‘on-pitch referee dealt with the matter and no further action was required’ spiel.

I haven’t seen a blatant straight red as bad, not given since Harry Kane went flying in two-footed, at speed, out of control, studs up, not getting remotely anywhere near the ball tackle on Andy Robbo’s legs (incidentally, the ref later sent Robbo off for giving Kane the very least of what he deserved back that afternoon). The ref that day gave Kane a yellow. He stayed on the pitch, scored and we dropped two points, losing the League by a point to some team from Manchester. Who was the ref that day? Who was it, who was it…. oh, a familiar protagonist I’m sure.

Got it. Mr Tierney. Born in Greater Manchester, supporter of < insert your own theory and some muffled noise that sounds like a gagged hostage trying to talk here >, registered with the Lancashire Football League (oh Paul, do you remember when Liverpool was in Lancashire? No, of course you don’t. You were born in 1980 and the boundary change pre-dates you by nigh on a decade). Never change Paul, stay true to your roots and your generous salary. Never change PGMOL, explain and Monday-morning quarterback your own decisions, once the jeopardy for the guilty ones has passed.

Good God Y’all

Sebbo (All kinds of Everything)

READ: Reassigning the ten best players set to be relegated to Premier League vultures

Worst Conspiracy Ever

Sorry to burst the tin foil hat wearers bubble. But if there is a conspiracy to deny Liverpool the title via VAR and PGMOL then it has to be the single worst conspiracy ever. The hours sat in dingy pubs and the sheer number of cash stuffed manilla envelopes not to mention the pints of wine are all wasted as this orchestrated campaign to deny Liverpool a title has left them (checks just to be sure) 12 points clear.

There is a famous saying often called Hanlon’s razor. “Never attribute to malice that which can easily be explained by incompetence.”

If we conducted a scientific survey of all the fans of premier league clubs I am pretty sure that we will waste a lot of money determining that the vast majority of fans think their club is hard done by when it comes to referee’s and VAR.

Any system run by humans will have errors. This is part of what makes football great pure dumb luck.

It is also easier to blame a few guys who are not on the payroll of your club. None of us really want to examine too closely the millions that the club spent on a striker who cant score or a defender who looks like Bambi on ice.

Add to all that the fact that certain clubs have more fans and more fans equals more nutters and that is why sometimes the mailbox is unreadable. Still it got my click.

Simon (Woking)

The PGMOL are pretty shit…but…

Yes PGMOL are pretty shit but…I do have some sympathy. Not that much ‘cos, y’know, they’re pretty shit. I’m trying to see things from their point of view so here goes.

What’s become pretty obvious from the mailbox is recent times is that there’s a vocal section of fans out there who think that if you don’t love their team as much as you do you’re biased against them. The PGMOL does not love your team as much as you do.

Even the most level-headed fan gets wound up at the lack of accountability, the circling of the wagons, the Howard Webb-ing of it all where the old boy network explains and excuses the inexplicable and unexcusable.

But…imagine working in a supermarket where every customer screamed ‘wanker’ at you if you took too long giving them their change. Or working in a bar where every customer felt entitled to fling drunken abuse at you when you refused to serve them their 14th pint. You’d expect your boss to have your back. Or you’d leave. Or you’d have a nervous breakdown within three years.

I’ve worked in clubs and venues most of my adult life and one of the golden rules is if the doorman refuses someone entry or kicks someone out you don’t overrule him. When a mans job is to exude authority if you undermine that authority you’re screwed.

Having said that yes the PGMOL are pretty shit.

Conor Malone, Donegal.

Official ticket scalping

I was quite interested to read about the city fans protest in their previous game. Not entering until the 9th minute to protest the fact the club has basically signed agreements with 9 ticket scalping companies.

The problem with this is you lost before you ever entered the stadium. Sometimes we want to eat our cake and have it too as fans. We want to protest the problems while actively paying for it continue because we dont want to miss the game.

Look throughout history and anytime anyone has taken a stand against authority they are almost universally never the people that benefit from it. The benefit comes after their personal sacrifice and suffering. And as fans that’s what we need to go as well.

It’s no good buying tickets then not using them, that’s as dumb as setting fire to your running shoes to protest nike – they already got your money, what you do with the product after is irrelevant.

As fans we need to stop buying tickets. Don’t renew season tickets, don’t buy matchday tickets. But if you wanted to go a step further then you could (wink wink) also find a “foreign stream” to watch as well.

We know that clubs and the FA utterly hate this because they spend more time pressuring the government to chase pirate streams than they do preventing cheating. Those two actions destroy the model they use, and that will make them pay attention.

You can argue that pirating in general is a response to non consumer friendly practices. Because just about everyone would rather pay normally so long as it feels fair. Nobody is asking for 1p tickets, were asking for tickets which are reasonable. They managed this in Germany, shit even in Brasil watching football is still a working class activity and they’re a pretty poor people. But the 6th biggest economy and the richest league in the world can’t manage it?

Instead of cracking down on ticket scalpers city have decided to join them in what has to be one of the most anti consumer policies I’ve ever seen.

But as consumers the only recourse you have is to suffer for a while and don’t go to the game. Don’t buy the shirts. You can’t protest AND buy the products.

On a side note, it’s kind of surprising that for years now we’ve seen city fans defending their owners attempts at circumventing rules or bending rules and now they’re surprised their owners are doing the same to them? It’s what happens when you support shady behaviour, eventually it gets used against you.

Just ask Americans.

Lee

READ: Sky Sports and TNT insulting our intelligence with ‘say what you see’ punditry of Ferdinand, Redknapp

An inane question answered

Just read Paul K’s email and has anyone ever called Arsenal v Fulham the famous London Derby? Sure, they share a city, but let’s be honest—this is the politest “rivalry” around. Given the number of ex-Arsenal players in Fulham’s squad, it’s practically a family reunion.

If you want a real London derby, watch Arsenal vs. Spurs at either ground—pure chaos, blood and thunder, and one of the highest-scoring fixtures in Premier League history. Now that’s a derby.

And let’s be real, there wasn’t much at stake here. Arsenal already waved the white flag in the title race, and Fulham have all but locked in a top-half finish.You basically answered your own self manufactured question by stating if the fixture can even be considered a derby just because its two teams playing in the same city.

Also, the Premier League just lost one of its all-time greats with KDB’s departure. What a magician—dropping outrageous passes like it was routine. Hope he goes to a club that’ll finally let him talk.

ShyRonnie (Smiter of those needing smoting)

ALL fans

A commentary on the rampant generalisation of contributors to the mailbox…how is your opinion of (enter club) fanbase the actual position of ALL fans of (enter club), sometimes reduced to a ‘large swathe’ of (enter club) fan base to show some learned credibility to your , often hyperbolic, diatribe.

Flavours of the month are, of course, Arsenal and Liverpool and how ALL fans of either are this…or large swathes of both are that. arsenal has 99.2 mln fans and Liverpool have 131.6 mln globally …according to jobs in football.com. Have ALL these fans, or indeed a large swathe expressed their paranoid, delusional, etc etc to …Rob,LFC, NYC for example? (Nothing personal Rob…just happened to read your thoughts on ALL, or at least a large swathe of Arsenal fans).

My mates all support Liverpool, United, Arsenal etc…and the pub chats are often more balanced and not quite so binary, even when there is mega bantz…it’s quite bizzare….and maybe ALL mailbox contributor’s should stop with the pearl clutching to cram down on other clubs simply coz ‘Barry from Islington’ or ‘Dave from the Wirral’ cry’s cos he team didn’t win a peno !

A pundit claims that Ange Postecoglou is “one step” closer to leaving Tottenham Hotspur and he “should go” even if they win the Europa League.

Postecoglou is under immense pressure at Spurs and is among the favourites to be the next Premier League manager sacked.

The former Celtic boss enjoyed a decent first season at Tottenham in 2023/24 as he overhauled their style of play and came close to qualifying for the Champions League.

However, Spurs have massively declined this season and suffered their 16th Premier League defeat of the campaign against Chelsea on Thursday night. This result leaves them 14th in the table.

Postecoglou’s support has evaporated in recent months. Spurs fans jeered his substitutions, while the head coach cupped his ear while looking at the crowd when Pape Sarr scored a disallowed goal.

Former Premier League forward Stan Collymore has hit out at Postecoglou following this act.

“The main takeaway from last night’s match between Chelsea and Tottenham was Ange Postecoglou cupping his ears in the direction of his own supporters after the Pape Sarr goal that was eventually ruled out by VAR,” Collymore told Caught Offside.

READ: Postecoglou sacked off as Mailbox ignores Spurs to laugh at Everton complaints about Liverpool decisions

“In doing that, he has probably taken one more step towards the exit door. By doing something like th

at, he is making himself increasingly unpopular.

“There is no sign that this is the Ange Postecoglou team that creates lots of chances, scores lots of goals, and takes lots of risks.

“It feels like it is almost the exact opposite of what he had doing at the start of his tenure at Tottenham. This is now a team that lacks confidence, and has no dynamism or verve.

“I was one of the people that said that his style of play was not sustainable in the Premier League, and that has proven to be the case.

“And I really believe that he is sleepwalking his way towards the sack, and I think he should go even if he were to lead Tottenham to the Europa League, which would be a good parting gift. For me, it is clear that the club needs to go in a different direction next season.”

MORE SPURS COVERAGE ON F365…

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👉 Postecoglou closer to exit after dismal Spurs gift Chelsea ‘catalyst’ with £5m Sancho call tempting

👉 Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton prediction, expected line-ups, how to watch and stats

Collymore has also encouraged former boss Mauricio Pochettino to avoid a return to Spurs.

“There have been rumours of Mauricio Pochettino possibly making a return to Tottenham, having seemingly held talks with Daniel Levy. But if I was him, I would not go anywhere near his former club, as I think very little has changed from when he left in 2019.

“I was at the Champions League final that year when Liverpool defeated them, and I remember very clearly how frustrated he was with the club after that.

“If he came back, he was not be given the tools to do the job that he wanted, so it would make little sense for him to be willing to go back there.”

Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping to put on a show when they host strugglers Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday.

We didn’t bother verifying if the Saints have the worst home record in Premier League history, mainly because it’s Friday afternoon, and we want to go home soon.

However, this sorry bunch have claimed five points at St Mary’s, which is far fewer than record-breaking Derby, who at least picked up eight of their 11 points on home soil.

Spurs are one of many sides to have thumped them on their patch and there’s little reason to believe this game will be any different.

Ivan Juric’s side has benefited from playing away so they should be able to make a much better fist of contributing to the scoreline, but it could still be lopsided.

Ange Postecoglou was as spikey as ever on Thursday night. As well as ‘falling out of love with the game’, the Spurs boss looks ready to throttle the next idiot with a microphone who asks him a stupid question.

It’s a good thing we don’t have a media pass for this match, then.

Tottenham vs Southampton prediction:

Tottenham stuffed five past the Saints in the reverse fixture, and while it’s outlandish to suggest they will do it again, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility.

Liverpool, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Man United have all stuck three or more past them in their previous five away matches.

One thing it does feel like they’ve done better on the road is to stick the ball in the net. That’s just recency bias, as they’ve scored 11 at home and 11 away, but they’ve scored six in five, while scoring four in eight at home.

It’s still nowhere near enough to win games, given the rate they’re conceding.

Talking of shambolic defences, Ange’s side has allowed 22 goals in 10 home matches. The fact that they always give you chances makes us think they’ll get on the scoresheet.

Tottenham team news

Tottenham are as healthy as they’ve been all season, which means that bomb scare Vicario will continue between the posts, protected by Christian Romero and Micky van de Ven.

Djed Spence has been preferred to Pedro Porro in recent times, so expect him to line up on the right to allow Destiny Udogie to continue at left-back.

James Maddison enjoyed himself with a pair of goals when the sides last met. He’ll retain his place in midfield alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall.

As predicted, Wilson Odobert got the nod in the attack against Chelsea. He struggled to shine so Brennan Johnson could take back his place.

Dominic Solanke will be supplied by Son Heung-Min as he cuts in from the left-hand side.

Tottenham expected line-up

Vicario – Spence, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie – Maddison, Bentancur, Bergvall – Johnson, Solanke, Son Heung-Min

Southampton team news

Injuries and poor performances have prevented Juric from fielding a settled defence this season, but Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis did enough during the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace to earn another start.

Will Smallbone and Flynn Downes have been ruled out due to injury and suspension, respectively, meaning Lesley Ugochukwu and Joel Aribo will be unleashed in midfield.

Mateus Fernandes has battled Tyler Dibling for a starting berth this campaign and often won.

The Argentinian will join Kamaldeen Sulemana in supporting the attack, though it remains to be seen who will spearhead it.

Juric talked up the performances of Cameron Archer in training this week, so it seems he may be the man to replace Paul Onuachu if the big man is still nursing a knock.

Southampton expected line-up

Ramsdale – Bednarek, Stephens, Harwood-Bellis – Walker-Peters, Downes, Ugochukwu, Manning – Fernandes, Archer, Sulemana

Tottenham vs Southampton: How to watch and listen

Unfortunately, Tottenham vs Southampton isn’t being broadcast in the UK, but it is available around Europe through ViaPlay. Supporters will be able to find radio coverage on THFC Radio or Radio Solent.

Tottenham vs Southampton stats:

– This fixture has averaged 4.75 goals since Spurs beat Southampton 3-2 in the FA Cup in 2020.

– Both teams have scored the last nine times Tottenham hosted Southampton.

– At least one team scored three or more goals in each of the last four meetings.

– Tottenham have scored at least one goal in 15 consecutive meetings with Southampton.

– Tottenham are conceding an average of 2.2 goals per Premier League home match.

– Southampton’s only win in 18 Premier League away matches was a 2-1 victory against fellow promoted side Ipswich Town.

Tottenham vs Southampton referee stats:

Contrary to Ange’s beliefs, AI will not be refereeing this game. Instead, Michael Salisbury will be the man with the whistle.

Salisbury is a soft touch when compared to other Premier League referees, as he’s producing just three yellow cards per fixture on average.

That sounded a bit mean; he might just be good at his job.

Despite setting the bar high for yellow cards, Salisbury has given five players their marching orders in 20 matches.

He’s yet to take charge of either side in this season’s Premier League, though he was at the whistle when Southampton lost out to Ipswich in the 96th minute last season.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou could now face the sack before the end of the season after insiders were previously certain that wouldn’t happen, according to reports.

Spurs have been in awful form this season with Postecoglou’s side still 14th in the Premier League table after they lost 1-0 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.

That has piled more pressure on Postecoglou, whose side have only won ten of their 30 Premier League matches this season, with Tottenham now only having potential Europa League glory as a route back into Europe next term.

There have been rumours at various points of the season that Tottenham could sack Postecoglou but it was understood that the board had sympathy with the Australian over their injury crisis.

However, with some of his better players coming back, GiveMeSport now claim that Tottenham insiders have performed a ‘Postecoglou sack U-turn’ after the Australian’s tenure was plunged into its ‘deepest crisis yet’.

The report adds:

‘The mood around Postecoglou’s future at Tottenham is shifting. Those close to the club, who had been unwavering in their belief that he would see out the season, are now slightly hesitant. In the aftermath of yet another loss, there were quiet murmurings of doubt where before there had only been certainty.’

READ: Mediawatch: Spurs plunged into civil war as Vicario decides to ‘SHUSH’ fans after Postecoglou clash

Postecoglou showed his frustration in a particularly spiky interview with Sky Sports reporter Patrick Davison after appearing to cup his ears to fans after Pape Matar Sarr had equalised for Tottenham at Chelsea.

The goal was eventually disallowed after a long VAR review with Postecoglou also going on a long rant about how the technology is ruining football.

On his gesture towards the Tottenham away support, GiveMeSport continues: ‘There was already a disconnect between the manager and fanbase – and chairman Daniel Levy has to seriously consider this moment.’

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Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara doesn’t think Son Heung-min is up to being a starter or captain any more.

O’Hara told talkSPORT: “Nothing. He has done nothing. I’ve been saying it for a while. What I’ve said about him is he’s a squad player. For one, he isn’t a captain. He has never been a captain, ever. He’s just not.

“He’s a player who leads by example and he has done that in the past. But, he isn’t good enough no more. He can’t beat a player, he has got no sharpness, he doesn’t go past people, he doesn’t make a difference.”

O’Hara added: “You see Cole Palmer tonight, he wants to get on it, he wants to make things happen, he’ll take risks with the ball. Son – I’ve been saying it, and I got a load of stick for South Korean fans. That’s the problem, we’ll keep him onside because he brings people through the door. But, let me tell you, he isn’t the player for us. He isn’t the player he was.”

Former managing director of football at Tottenham, Fabio Paratici, could be a ‘key factor’ in Man City boss Pep Guardiola moving to AC Milan, according to reports.

Paratici stepped down from his role at Spurs in April 2023 after losing his appeal against a 30-month Italian Football Federation (FIGC) ban on certain football related activities, which FIFA ruled to extend worldwide.

The Italian, who had been in his role at Tottenham since the summer of 2021, was handed a two-and-a-half-year suspension from working in Italy in January 2023 by the FIGC Court of Appeal for his involvement in allegations of false accounting at his old club Juventus, who were given a 15-point deduction.

A report in November 2023 claimed that Paratici still ‘remains heavily involved at the club despite resigning in April’ and that he is continuing to ‘pull all the strings’ in terms of Tottenham recruitment.

However, there have been claims in the last few days that Milan are now attempting to hire him as the Serie A club’s new sporting director ahead of a summer recruitment drive.

Milan are having a poor season with Sergio Conceicao’s side currently ninth in the Serie A table and now Spanish website Fichajes insists that the Italian giants are ‘planning a change of direction on its coaching staff for next season and is evaluating high-calibre options’.

It is claimed that Paratici, ‘who is tipped to become the new sporting director, has among his favorites an attacking coach with international experience’.

The report adds:

‘While the priority seems to be an Italian coach, with Roberto De Zerbi at the top of the list of candidates, an unexpected name has emerged that could change everything: Pep Guardiola.

‘Although it remains a rumor at first and his signing is complicated, the possibility of the Spaniard leaving Manchester City has put Milan’s leadership on alert. The close relationship between Paratici and Guardiola could be a key factor if the option becomes more viable in the future.

‘Within Manchester City, the manager’s situation remains unclear. Guardiola recently renewed his contract and remains focused on achieving this season’s goals, but the English club faces challenges both in planning for next season and in its continued presence in the Champions League.’

MORE MAN CITY COVERAGE ON F365…

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👉 Big Weekend: Man Utd v Man City, Nottingham Forest, Kiwior, Slot, Postecoglou misery-enders

👉 Champions League race: Isak > Shearer, Monchi genius, Grealish at No.10 and Bournemouth f*** it

Man City, who are currently fifth in the Premier League table, have been struggling this season in all competitions with Guardiola’s only chance of silverware coming in the FA Cup.

Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit insists Guardiola looks “broken” this season and puts it down to “what happened outside the pitch”.

Petit said recently: “Something has been broken with him. I don’t want to talk about his private matters, but I think what happened outside the pitch, maybe had a big impact on him. Maybe the players saw that.

“I’m not there at the Manchester City training ground, but when you look at this team, they are not the same team from the last few years.

“We’re talking about guys that just won the Premier League, and we’re talking about a team and a manager that’s supposed to play at the highest standards domestically and in Europe, but we haven’t seen it.

“The way they’ve fallen apart at the same time has been shocking to watch. They’ve lost so many games.”

Guglielmo Vicario might have SHUSHED a handful of Spurs fans for no apparent reason, but crucially we cannot be sure so shouldn’t be making the accusation.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the SHUSH

The big story from Thursday evening’s confirmation of a delightfully early St Totteringham’s Day was no doubt Ange Postecoglou’s attempts to gaslight an entire fanbase and just generally people with functioning eyes.

He cupped his ear to the Spurs supporters who had booed him moments before because he was happy and wanted to hear them make more noise, your honour. It really is incredible how things are interpreted nowadays, especially when there are precisely zero other available interpretations of something.

So there is absolutely currency in pretending that rifts at Spurs run deeper than that irrevocable one between manager and fans. Which is how we get this from The Sun website:

‘Tottenham keeper Vicario appears to SHUSH fuming Spurs fans then smacks tunnel after Chelsea defeat’

It is a mightily loaded headline in the circumstances and they absolutely know that. Hell, they’re nakedly depending on either the fury of Spurs fans or the schadenfreude of everyone else for clicks there.

But it’s immediately problematic: he either SHUSHED the fans or he didn’t. This is not really a scenario in which cakes can be both had and eaten here.

The explanation in the story makes it no clearer. Digital Sports Reporter Kealan Hughes writes that Vicario ‘walked over to the away end and made a gesture, spinning his wrists around his head before appearing to make a shushing action.’ And who among us can honestly say they haven’t ever made a gesture, spinning our wrists around our head before appearing to make a shushing action?

It’s nonsense for a number of reasons. For starters, not a single Spurs fan reacts to this supposed act of disrespect; those left in the stands just continue to clap as Vicario allegedly comes over specifically to SHUSH them.

Also, the camera is filming Vicario from the back and thus the slightly grainy footage only shows him raising his hand in the vague vicinity of his face. And of course he cannot possibly have been SCRATCHING an itch or anything. It can only have been a SHUSH.

Just look at this remarkably incriminating evidence attached to the story:

That is admittedly quite damning. Just look at that handful of ‘fuming Spurs fans’ he has decided to goad for no apparent reason.

It is quite strange that the only other outlet covering this story is TribalFootball. It’s not even a thing on the social media hellscape of manufactured controversies formerly known as Twitter. Why is everyone choosing to ignore this apart from the incredibly brave souls at The Sun website? Stop asking questions. SHUSH.

More tea, Vicar?

Actually, tell a lie: the Daily Star website brings us this latest development:

‘Tottenham star spotted shushing Chelsea fans after tensions boiled over in clash’

That really does clear up any and all confusion. Cheers.

Ange management

This line in that Sun website story is also slightly absurd:

‘Postecoglou was also accused of cupping his ear towards the away end after Pape Sarr found the net – only for his goal to be ruled out.’

The reluctance to say with absolute certainty that Vicario SHUSHED the fans is understandable. But saying Postecoglou was ‘also accused of cupping his ears towards the away end’ is like saying he has been accused of being a surly 59-year-old Australian.

Brawl of shame

Something about that game at Stamford Bridge obviously planted a mischievous seed in the collective minds at The Sun website because…

‘Chelsea and Tottenham descends into chaos as Romero sparks mass brawl after shoving Colwill to ground’

The players ‘came to blows in a feisty brawl’ and ‘referee Craig Pawson was left helpless given the sheer number of players involved’, you see?

An alternative view might be that there was a small amount of pushing or shoving and a whole lot more separating, while a ‘helpless’ Pawson watched from the outside instead of getting stuck in.

And what punishment was meted out after these two sets of players ‘came to blows’? One yellow card apiece. It doesn’t exactly scream ‘Battle of the Bridge’, does it?

You with the sad eyes

One player who might want to SHUSH a certain section of the fans is Trent Alexander-Arnold, but as he is currently injured the Liverpool defender has been reduced to ‘show true colours’ duty by the Daily Mirror website.

‘Trent Alexander-Arnold shows true colours with Liverpool reaction despite fan anger’ is a headline which leaves plenty to the imagination as to what he might have done. Maybe Mediawatch missed him holding up a Real Madrid shirt to the Kop in this sordid true colour reveal. Or did he spin his wrists around his head before appearing to make a shushing action?

The suspense is killing us…

‘The 26-year-old stood by the tunnel so he could congratulate every one of his team-mates as they came off, with a special reception reserved for Jones, who got some words of encouragement.’

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has been told the Europa League match against Eintracht Frankfurt is “all or nothing” after another Premier League defeat.

Spurs‘ 1-0 loss away at Chelsea was the club’s 16th league defeat of the season, leaving them 14th and heading for their worst finish since 1994.

With qualification to Europe via the league a near impossibility, former player and now Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp said Tottenham’s Europa League tie against Eintracht Frankfurt has become the most important game of their season.

“The Frankfurt game is all or nothing,” Redknapp told Sky. “I’ve never seen a club where it’s joy or despair in every aspect because he [Postecoglou] will be proven right. Everything he said early on in the season.

“He is all in on that Europa League and right now the players look like that as well. Ange said they did okay but the players weren’t at it.

“Considering they had everyone back. It’s as poor as I’d seen them play all season.”

Tottenham have reached the quarter finals of the UEFA competition but are not favourites to win it with Manchester United, Lyon, Athletic Club and Rangers all still in.

The North London club host Frankfurt next week and Redknapp believes if they were not still in the competition, Postecoglou would have already been sacked.

“If they weren’t in Europe, I don’t think he’d still be the manager. It’s been that poor and he knows the price on the ticket.

“You don’t lose 16 games at a club like Tottenham. He’s got to win the cup, if they do – they are creating history. If you don’t, you will be history. That’s why it is all or nothing for Ange Postecoglou.”

The Australian manager clashed with a Sky Sports reporter after being questioned on a gesture that seemed to show him cupping his ear to the away support.

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The 59-year-old claimed it had been misinterpreted and that he was asking to hear the fans cheer.

“It’s incredible how things get interpreted. We just scored, I just wanted to hear them cheer,” he said.

“We’ve been through a tough time and I thought it was a cracking goal. I wanted them to get really excited.

“I felt at that point we could potentially go on and win the game. I just felt momentum was [going] our way.

“It doesn’t bother me. It’s not the first time they’ve booed my substitutions or my decisions. That’s fine, they’re allowed to do that, but we just scored a goal, we just scored an equaliser.”

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has explained his gesture to Spurs fans during their 1-0 loss to Chelsea in a prickly interview with Sky Sports.

Enzo Fernandez scored the only goal of the game on 50 minutes as the north Londoners remained in 14th place in the Premier League table.

Tottenham have been in awful form this season with Postecoglou’s side winning just ten of their 30 Premier League matches so far.

After Pape Matar Sarr’s long-range strike got Spurs back on level terms, which was eventually ruled out by a lengthy VAR check, Postecoglou appeared to cup his ear towards the away end.

Postecoglou was booed by the away section for bringing on Sarr in place of Lucas Bergvall and his reaction to the disallowed goal seemed in direct response to that.

When asked about his gesture by Sky Sports journalist Patrick Davison, Postecoglou said: “Yeah, I wanted them to be happy, mate. We’d just scored a cracking goal. So I wanted them to cheer – because they haven’t had a lot to cheer about.”

When asked whether his gesture was in reaction to his substitutions being booed, Postecoglou replied: “It’s not the first time my substitutions have been booed. If you followed my tenure, it’s not the first time. They’re allowed to boo. But I wanted them to cheer – because I thought it was a cracking goal.”

But Davison kept pressing, he said; “You said in the week – in your interview with Mark Schwarzer – that you felt you’d lost a portion of the fans. Is that what we saw tonight?”

Postecoglou hit back: “I get it, Pat. You’re trying really hard. That’s fine. You’ve already decided what the outcome is.”

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The Tottenham boss has never hidden his disdain for VAR and Postecoglou once again highlighted his frustrations with the technology.

“It’s killing the game, mate. It’s not the same game it used to be. We all sat on our couches last night and watched TV – I guarantee you, if [Thursday’s VAR] Jarred Gillett was the VAR last night, we’d have got a different outcome.”

Postecoglou was referring to the Merseyside Derby, still fuming he continued: “You just don’t know what you’re going to get. We waited for six minutes for something that apparently the VAR thought was clear and obvious. It’s madness, mate.”

When asked whether Sarr’s disallowed goal was the wrong call by Davison, Postecoglou said: “Look, Pat, you can try and force me into a corner.”

Davison: “I’m not trying to force you into anything.”

Postecoglou replied: “Did you think last night was clear and obvious? How many minutes did it take this referee to figure out whether it was clear and obvious? In your basic knowledge of human vocabulary – ‘clear and obvious’ – what does that suggest to you?”

Davison admitted: “No, it’s maybe not clear and obvious. I do think it’s a foul [by Sarr], if I’m honest.”

Postecoglou finished: “OK. Right. Well, there you go. So the referee didn’t see it. He then needs to see it for six minutes, but you get the right outcome so you’re happy – and that’s why the game’s going the way it is. And I guess people like you will continue to be happy sitting on your couches waiting for six minutes for clear and obvious stuff. That’s fine. I don’t agree with that, but that’s fine.”

Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo was described as a “diamond” by former Tottenham Hotspur boss Tim Sherwood.

The west London club defeated their city rivals 1-0 to boost their chances of staying in the top four as the season comes to a close.

Enzo Fernandez scored the only goal of the game, but it was his Chelsea midfield partner, Caicedo, that Sherwood picked out for praise.

“Caicedo is a diamond of a player,” Sherwood told Premier League Productions.

He breaks up so many attacks, he sits in that midfield, for [Levi] Colwill and [Trevoh] Chalobah tonight he must’ve been a dream.

“He was just in there and giving it to players who can play in front of him, the likes of Enzo, Cole Palmer, [Pedro] Neto, always threatens in behind even though it wasn’t his best game, they’ve got Nicolas Jackson back.

“They need to finish in the top five otherwise it’s not a very good season for them.”

Chelsea are one point ahead of Manchester City with eight games to go in the Premier League season and manager Enzo Maresca said at this stage of the campaign, every win is important.

“It’s very important. First of all, because of the performance. We know how important it is in this moment to win games, but since we start, we try to win games in the way we want, and I think tonight the performance was very good.

“I said yesterday in the press conference, the last four games at home was Leicester, Southampton, West Ham and Wolves. Four teams that they sit back and wait for us. Tonight, Tottenham, it’s a different kind of game, so for us in some way it’s better.”

Glenn Hoddle, meanwhile, said Chelsea were not at their best and would have been punished by a better team.

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“They didn”t play free-flowing, quick football where it was one, two touch through the pitch quickly, create, get corners, get pressure, it wasn”t that sort of performance from Chelsea,” Hoddle said.

“I think the manager said it right, they did enough to win, they deserved to win, they did just enough to win tonight against Tottenham who were playing a little bit within.

“If they”d have played against Liverpool tonight, or Man City, or Forest, they might have had some trouble, they really might.”

Ange Postecoglou looks too far gone with the Europa League saving grace unlikely after Spurs’ no-show vs Chelsea, who should pay to send Jadon Sancho back to Manchester United…

Chelsea’s toothless performance against Arsenal made us question whether they even wanted to win after Enzo Maresca’s side willfully allowed their London rivals to coast to the easiest of victories.

This weak showing left Chelsea with the same points tally as Manchester United since their Premier League title challenge started to evaporate in mid-December.

In this time, Spurs have been even worse as Championship-bound Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town are the only Premier League teams with fewer points in 2025 than Postecoglou’s side.

Tottenham’s injury crisis is a mitigating factor, but even their patched-up squad has massively underperformed and not turned up in far too many games this season.

Their injury issues have eased with all of their eggs in the Europa League basket as Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven started together against Chelsea.

This is the first time they have each started since the reverse fixture against Chelsea in December, in which they were forced off after being rushed back from injury.

History did not repeat itself on Thursday night, but the Spurs duo had a rough evening against a returning Nicolas Jackson, who gave Chelsea the focal point that was sorely lacking vs Arsenal and in previous pre-international break fixtures.

Jackson’s lively return to action contributed to an improved performance from Chelsea, who showed intent from the opening whistle and almost took the lead within a minute as Van de Ven touched the ball onto the post.

The striker’s development has eased Chelsea’s need to sign a top-tier striker, but issues remain in wide areas, with Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto continuing to infuriate.

Sancho had the best chance of the opening of the first half; his effort was superbly tipped over the bar by an overwise erratic Guglielmo Vicario.

However, it was another disappointing game for Sancho as he mostly insisted on dribbling into a tackle or going for a pass when in a shooting opportunity, which royally wound up the home crowd.

Sancho’s bright start to this campaign has been undermined by a dramatic decline; months of ineffectiveness have sapped his confidence to the point where the £5m penalty charge to send him back to Man Utd looks a bargain.

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Cole Palmer has also had his confidence knocked as Chelsea’s nonchalant star man has proven he’s human, but normality was restored against Tottenham as he produced a big moment.

Chelsea dominated the first half as the visitors failed to register a shot on target in a tepid performance, but the host’s lack of a clinical edge – even against such a poor opponent – threatened to put Maresca and his side under more pressure via a glaring missed opportunity to capitalise on a visit from Dr Tottenham.

Thankfully for Maresca, Palmer sparred his blushes. His pinpoint cross was headed home from close range by Enzo Fernandez. He and Moises Caicedo were Chelsea’s two best players on the night; the latter is unfortunate not to feature in our team of the season so far.

This derby did not come close to matching the seven-goal thriller in December, but Thursday’s match was not without incident as Caicedo (correctly for offside in the build-up) and Pape Sarr (correctly for a foul) had goals chalked off by VAR, which a touchy and straw-clutching Postecoglou focused on post-match after his latest clashes with Spurs supporters provided further evidence that they have grown tired of one another.

Even with the World Cup winner and Van de Ven finally back together, Spurs were wide open in defence and would have been on the end of a one-sided hammering against a Premier League foe in a more rampant mood.

Pre-match, Jamie Redknapp said this season would be “unbelievable” for Spurs if they win the Europa League, but this feels like a big ask after Postecoglou’s underdelivering team didn’t do nearly enough to trouble an off-peak Chelsea and will come unstuck against the Bundesliga’s third-placed side, Eintracht Frankfurt, if there’s not a spark improvement to save the Aussie’s job, which is slipping away from him.

As for Chelsea, there were positives with the promising return of Jackson, Palmer getting the monkey off his back with his first goal involvement since February, Fernandez’s all-action performance and Caicedo establishing himself as “one of the best defensive midfielders in the world”.

The Blues are a far cry from the side they were at the start of this season, but – much like for Liverpool in Wednesday’s Merseyside derby – the victory was the most important thing tonight to restore order.

As Redknapp said pre-match, a win tonight could be the “catalyst” for an upturn in form during the run-in to seal Champions League qualification, which they need to grasp because this version of Chelsea will still be picked off against superior opposition to Spurs.