Football365

Bruno Fernandes has been eviscerated in the Mailbox but there is plenty of time and space to thank Ange Postecoglou for making Spurs interesting again.

Send your thoughts to theeditor@football365.com.

State of affairs

It’s been interesting reading which players could end up where, and why on 365 (and the Guardian – do I get my credentials badge now?)

And yet in none of the articles do Tottenham feature. Recent Europa League winners and therefore, hilariously, Champions League participants next season, and…..nothing. Not a thing.

Levy is surely the only person on God’s green earth capable of taking all the exuberance of that night, and the bidding farewell of seventeen years of hurt, and turn it into…well, not quite sure really. A club in limbo? A club in purgatory waiting for the final sentencing – Levy growing like the Genie in Aladdin, great swirling dark clouds filled with acid rain, ready to flood the club once again in his mediocrity.

I know, I know – chill out, but we’ve seen this film far too often to think otherwise.

Dan

Farewell to a Spurs legend

I think we all knew it was coming, but the news breaking still hurt:

The Ange era is over at Spurs.

Many fans were sick of him. Many in the media and from other clubs ridiculed him. But I’m very much one of the many Spurs fans who was inspired by Ange Postecoglou, who’s grateful for his time at the club, and who will genuinely miss him as the leader of the team.

Modern football has hooked us all. Most of us caught the bug when we were young, and now we’re eternally afflicted.

But as time has gone by, the clubs are changing – every day the clubs become more like modern commercial franchises, and the players often become more like celebrity megastars, rather than clubmen. This is all very normal, and not necessarily wrong, but sometimes it can make it less magnetic to be so invested in your team, and a group of players.

After Poch, through no conscious choice, I found myself tuning out of Spurs a bit. Nothing major, just reading about them less often, fewer podcasts, watching fewer games. I cared less when we lost. I remember very little from the Mourinho Era, and nothing from Nuno.

Conte piqued my interest, but like many, I was as jaded as he was by the end of his tenure.

And then came Ange.

(Largely) unheralded, ‘unproven’ at the top level. As Daniel Levy even put it “We tried bringing in winners, but now we’ve got Ange.”

But he came with a vision of changing Spurs. He had no interested being a mercenary coming in for a quick buck, and jumping for a bigger job. He wasn’t aloof and above us. This was a man who was excited by the challenge: Taking an iconic club, who’s spent far too long away from success, and rewiring the whole culture and style of the club, to make us an exciting, winning football team again. In the modern world of football, having someone like this with a vision, and a passion – you couldn’t help but be swept up with it.

An absolute breath of fresh air.

You could see from the beginning, not only the fans loved ‘Angeball’ – the players loved it too. No longer were they told that they were ‘just Tottenham’. It was now “We’re Spurs, mate!” And the player played with a pride and vigour I hadn’t seen in years.

After a beautiful first 10 games, what followed was 19 months of lunacy. A scattering of brief, glorious highs amidst a torrent of abject awful defeats. Crazy injuries, suspensions, shapeless formations, batterings. Following Spurs under Ange for 2 years probably aged me 10.

But even still, it was exciting. Exciting to see a manager who trusted his vision, and a group of players who trusted that manager.

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Now let’s be fair: Ange wasn’t perfect. In January this year, many would say he should’ve been sacked with Spurs floundering in the league. Ange knew the writing on the wall, and he had to make a choice: If he pulled up his socks, and bet the house on recovering in the league, he probably could have got Spurs to a somewhat respectable 9th or 10th (remember, they could’ve finished as high as 14th on the final day). But Ange knew that would achieve nothing: He’d lose his job anyway, and more importantly, he’d have left no impact on Spurs – just another grey, forgettable season.

So he went full rogue, threw the Premier League out the window and bet the house on doing the one thing that could change the entire mentality (and modern history) of Tottenham: Winning the Europa League.

Ange gave Spurs fans and players one of the greatest experiences they’ll have in a lifetime of football. Arsenal fans can whinge about second tier trophies or whatever, but it doesn’t matter. Those players remember the feeling on the pitch, and those fans remember the parade, the confetti, the noise in Bilbao. Incredible.

Ange leaves now with his head held high. He leaves with promises kept (He always wins things in his second season, mate) and have no doubt, he’ll rightly lap up all the credit for years to come on being the man who conquered the Spurs curse.

Is it the right decision to move on? As an Ange fan, I have to say no. I think getting rid of Ange will send negative ripples through the team – he’s a leader to those players and they love him. He’s brought them the success he promised. It’s a huge challenge for whoever comes next.

But what does the logical Spurs fan say? Maybe it is time. Maybe it’s even best for Ange – it might never have got better than this. Leave now as a hero, don’t wait and become the Villain.

So who knows what lies ahead under Thomas Frank or whoever. I just hope my Spurs interest doesn’t wane again. It will take a serious contender to bring back the kind of excitement that Postecoglou did.

Farewell Big Ange. Thanks for everything, mate!

Andy, Spurs, Eire

Relief

As an Arsenal fan from Australia I can finally go back to thoroughly disliking Sp*rs.

What a relief!

Andrew

Crying wolf

I don’t write in often but that mail from Badwolf left a bad taste in my mouth.

A lot of this is a repeat from my comment so apologies for that but…

Is Badwolf really just the Utd version of Stewie? So Bruno doesn’t want to go to Saudi Arabia and waste his life playing meaningless football in a joke league (look at how many goals Ronaldo is still scoring). Everyone else gets slated for moving there but god forbid Bruno doesn’t. I say fair play for not selling his soul.

We don’t need the money – if you actually look how Utd finances work Big Jim was vastly overstating our position and, for now, can still afford to keep him. Especially if we sell some of the redundant homegrown players but even if not.

Rashford had one good season. He was possibly the most selfish player in the league, and one worldie pass doesn’t change that. He isn’t wanted because he just isn’t that good, and his attitude stinks.

As for Mount…how do you replace a player who is there week in, week out with a player who is never actually fit? Maybe BW wants us to play with 10 men and a permacrocked waste of money.

Bruno has been, without question, our best player since he joined. He might be a moaner, but so was Keane. I get opposition fans railing on him, as we do to their players, but maybe actually stand by the team and stick up for our players?

Whether he should be captain is a different question, but his numbers in a shambles of a team have been, year in and year out, world class, and if you want to state otherwise provide actual proof to the contrary instead of just moaning.

I, as always, will go into the new season with my usual optimism and allow it to be drained over the course of the year.

Andrew, a true MUFC fan

The ‘crying little weakling’

I know that I’m late to the subject on Bruno but I would just like to say this…the reason why people (football fans) don’t like Bruno and see him as an arm waving, selfish, whiny baby despite his great effort on the pitch, his consistency (compare availability with similar attacking midfielder like Odegard who seems to be injured all the time or Palmer who is talented but volatile), leadership skills- he does organize Man Utd’s play, defensive skills and clear motivation towards achieving victory for his team(his stats tell it all-he is truly world class) is simple.

He is not handsome(appealing) enough to tempt most football fans.He does not appeal to football fans the way they would with other players in the same position, he displays a guilty face whenever he misses a chance or when he makes a mistake.

He parades himself as the one responsible for any failure on the pitch that leads to defeat and seems almost about to cry (for contrast-compare Vieira/Keane reaction to a mistake,they were either angry or keen on making amends-which is highly appealing to fans).

Bruno is not stoic, he displays his feelings and weaknesses for everyone to see(compare this with other players-even Martin “amateur photographer” Odegard doesn’t display himself that much). This ultimately opens him to criticism,with fans seeing only a weak, guilty, whiny face.

This coupled with inability to achieve victory for his team makes him a very ripe target because as much as we(football fans) may like to deny it, it is inescapable to admit that football is a cosmetic sport-we like the tough guy displays(Vieira, Keane-their manly fights), the electrifying displays(both Ronaldos, Henry-that goal against Liverpool, Hazard, Ribery), the man against all odds display(Wayne Rooney-that overhead kick, Vardy, Fabio cannavaro-a dwarf who rose above giants to claim victory), the stoic display(Tony Adams,Paolo Maldini and to a lesser extent Virgil).

Bruno is ugly because he presents himself as a crying little weakling who is seeking our pity for his losses.

Jamo, Nairobi.

I think he is a really bad player and a bully. He has bad technique gives the ball away more than any other midfielder in the league. He controls the game to make himself look good. He is a crybaby, cheats a lot with fouls.

He is the reason united have done so badly. I thought he was a fake from the first day he arrived at united, he has really dragged them into the gutter. No united striker will score with Bruno in the team, he is supposed to be the creator but it’s something he simply can’t do he might get lucky once in a while but it’s all luck.

United please sell him. Compare him to any player in his position and you will find he is the worst , hang on what is Bruno’s position

Derrick

I am happy they keeping Ferendes because he will not improve the team. He will score a few penalties and they will say he his world class.

They are going to struggle for another season. Ha ha keep it up MU.

Mohan

Totally agree. Should have been sold to Saudi league. He is stopping any youth development at Utd

Gordon

Nem and shame

For a change of subject, I see in my news feed that Nemanja Matic is facing a 2 match ban in France for covering anti-homophobia messages on his shirt.

And it turns out not only was he not alone, but others have previously done it too.

I’d love to say it was only in France, but while I’m sure it happens elsewhere (in particular Spain) it also happens in our own fair country. Mazraoui (I’m sure he wasn’t the only player in the country) refused to wear Pride-supporting clothing on more than one occasion while at United and as a result the whole side didn’t either, presumably “in solidarity”. What about solidarity with people being abused for existing?!?

I am fully accepting of people having the right to not wear something; tolerating other people’s beliefs is important. But why should a community be shunned rather than supported because one member has beliefs that don’t align with the general accepted view. At least in France it was those players that stood alone and will be punished alone.

If you don’t want to stand against x or y behaviour that is widely accepted as bad, then don’t play that match (and frankly, what are clubs doing giving these guys money if they’re pro-homophobia or anti equal rights). It doesn’t correspond to your personal beliefs? Ok, your choice, but they should be the ones out of step with the rest, not the rest align *with* them.

You can question whether these items of clothing and messages actually make any difference, and that’s fair, but it’s surely the duty of the society to stand up for what we believe.

Should we forget about challenging racism because some racists don’t agree? How about domestic and sexual abusers? Where do you draw the line?

Badwolf

The baited hook

I see the bait was taken including Eric Bailly in my B Team (over Beckenbauer of course)

JDB

The N Team

Neuer

Nesta

Nasarri

Neville, P

Neville, G

Neeskens

Netzer

Nedved

Neymar

Nordahl

Look, Phil Neville is in the team so you know that was a tough one! If I was to stick to my originally planned 4-3-3, I’d have had to have gone with Nasri, therefore in comes Netzer as an extra midfielder. Not bad but perhaps the Crystal palace of an fantasy alphabetty Premier league. Good luck to the Q team!

Nick

The T Team

I’d written an M team but had McTominay ahead of Makelele, so I’ll have another go with a T team.

I have to have watched them play.

Toldo

Thuram (L), Terry, Tchouameni, Toure (K),

Thiago, Toure (Y), Totti

Toni, Torres, Trezeguet

Spurs face a ‘player revolt’ and ‘significant dressing-room unrest’ over the Ange Postecoglou sacking, with a Mauricio Pochettino ‘approach’ claim made.

Postecoglou was sacked two weeks after delivering Europa League glory to Spurs and ending their 17-year trophy drought to return them to the Champions League.

That was not enough to offset the worst season in the club’s Premier League history as Spurs finished 17th on 38 points, suffering the most defeats ever of a non-relegated side in a single campaign.

Spurs cited those domestic struggles in the announcement of Postecoglou’s exit – although at no stage was Daniel Levy or indeed any other executive specifically quoted – with an article on their official website explaining:

‘Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season. At times there were extenuating circumstances – injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the Club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.’

But the decision has inevitably attracted the fury of the Spurs squad, who have voiced their public backing of the manager all season and only ramped up their support in the aftermath of that evening in Bilbao when Postecoglou out-coached Ruben Amorim and Manchester United.

The Daily Telegraph report that Levy ‘is facing the threat’ of a ‘player revolt’ as the call ‘has angered a number’ of the squad, leading to ‘significant dressing-room unrest’.

The favourites to replace Postecoglou in north London have been named but it is expected that his successor ‘will face a huge task to repair the dressing-room damage’ after the Australian was ‘left in the dark’ for so long, with a source adding:

“The players are so angry about what has happened and how it has been handled. The next manager is going to inherit a difficult situation.”

Thomas Frank is thought to be the leading contender, although a reported £10m release clause in his Brentford contract could prove prohibitive.

Marco Silva and Andoni Iraola of Fulham and Bournemouth respectively are also in the running, as well as former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino. But ‘it is understood that no approach had been made’ for the United States national team head coach as of Friday evening.

The decision on Postecoglou’s replacement could ultimately be heavily influenced by former managing director Fabio Paratici, who ‘could return to Spurs in a full-time capacity and has remained a consultant to Levy’.

Whomever is chosen to take up the reins from Postecoglou, they will inherit a difficult situation. Heung-min Son ‘left some team-mates and staff with the impression that he could leave’ this summer and Cristian Romero, ‘another player who was close to Postecoglou,’ has attracted long-standing interest from Atletico Madrid.

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Pedro Porro was among the first to react to Postecoglou’s sacking, posting on social media: ‘Thank you for everything, boss. For mentoring me early on, helping me settle into the club, and trusting me out on the pitch. I’ll always be grateful for the way you led us, defended us, and kept us going through all the highs and lows.

‘Above everything, you gave us one of the greatest moments in the club’s history and for that, you’ll always be celebrated. Wishing you all the very best, boss.’

Richarlison offered his gratitude to the manager ‘for helping me out and believing in me during one of the trickiest periods of my career and my life,’ while Dominic Solanke said he ‘won’t ever forget the convo we had before I signed and we achieved a dream!’.

Guglielmo Vicario wrote a lengthy tribute, writing: ‘Boss, I just want to say a massive thank you for everything you have done for me and for all of us.

‘From that very first call, right from the beginning, you always showed so much belief in me. Giving me the opportunity to be part of the leadership group… those moments, and many others, will stay with me forever.

‘You are not only a top manager, you are an incredible person to work for, a real leader, a mentor, and someone I’ll always look up to. What we achieved TOGETHER will stay in the history books.

‘Wishing you nothing but success as I know you will go on to achieve more and more. Thank you, Boss. Forever grateful, Vic.’

Son rounded off the tributes, saying: ‘Gaffer. You’ve changed the trajectory of this club. You believed in yourself, and us, since day one and never wavered for a second. Even when others did.

‘You knew what we were capable of all along. You did it your way. And your way brought this club the best night it’s had in decades. We will have those memories for life.

‘You trusted me with the captaincy. One of the highest honours of my career. It’s been an incredible privilege to learn from your leadership up close. I am a better player and a better person because of you.

‘Ange Postecoglou, you are a Tottenham Hotspur legend forever. Thank you, mate.’

Thomas Tuchel has expressed his sympathy for Ange Postecoglou after the Tottenham Hotspur manager was sacked just 16 days after winning the Europa League.

Spurs beat Manchester United in the final in Bilbao, a lacklustre showpiece between the two teams that occupied the places immediately above the Premier League relegation zone.

United climbed to 15th with a win on the last day of the season but Postecoglou’s Spurs finished above only the relegated trio of Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City.

The Europa League wasn’t just Spurs’ first trophy for 17 years and the silverware Postecoglou promised to deliver in his second season. It earned them a Champions League spot and a real chance to right the strategic wrongs of 2024-25.

Unfortunately for Postecoglou, ending the season in 17th place was deemed unacceptable despite continental success and Spurs’ decision-makers unanimously decided to dispense with his services.

England manager Tuchel can see both sides and told the press that silverware is just one part of the job. The relationship between the club and the manager is important too, and faith is a significant pillar of that relationship.

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“I have huge sympathy for every manager, especially in these moments,” Tuchel said in his press conference ahead of Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Andorra.

“It feels horrible to be in that spot. It just shows you that it is not only obviously about titles. You can survive seasons without titles. If your connection [with] the support, and the belief and the trust between the coach and the club officials is strong then you can overcome seasons without titles.

“If there is slight disbelief, if there are concerns, if the trust is not there anymore, obviously then it is sometimes not even enough to win a trophy after so many years.”

Postecoglou won over many Spurs supporters with his no-handbrake football last season but in 2024-25 they were unable to battle through some significant injuries to produce any degree of domestic respectability.

Winning a European trophy and dragging Spurs back into the Champions League might have made the club’s decision more difficult but the league position, sadly, meant it wasn’t a surprise.

Tuchel will take charge of England in their third 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Andorra in Barcelona on Saturday looking to maintain the Three Lions’ perfect start to Group K.

England have played two and won two without conceding a goal. Andorra have never scored against them in six previous meetings.

Tottenham are on the hunt of a new manager after the sacking of Ange Postecoglou and it’s been revealed that chairman Daniel Levy has met with his No 1 target ‘multiple times’ to speak about the job.

Despite breaking a 17-year trophy drought at Spurs, manager Postecoglou was sacked on Friday evening. In his first season, his side finished fifth in the Premier League, but the second – in which they won European silverware – they came 17th.

It was suggested that silverware might have been able to save him, but Tottenham assessed their season and decided he was no longer the man to take them forwards.

A report from GIVEMESPORT has actually stated that Spurs were considering the sacking ‘for several months’ due to poor performances in the league.

Thomas Frank has long been among the names linked with the Spurs job, and the Brentford boss – who has a release clause – has been named the ‘leading contender’ to take it.

The fresh report has given an update on the situation which suggests it might not be long until he’s in position at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Indeed, plans are already in place to replace Postecoglou, with a few candidates considered, and chairman Levy having met with Frank ‘multiple times’ about taking the job.

They reiterate that Frank is the ‘top contender’ for the job, though it’s not suggested what his feelings about it are.

Were he not open to it at all, though, he’d surely not have had multiple meetings about joining Spurs.

It has previously been reported that the job is appealing to to the Brentford boss, due to Tottenham being a big-six club with Champions League football.

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Frank has never managed in European competition before, with the closest to that being Europa League qualifying with Brondby in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

He took the club to the fourth round of qualifying in the second of those campaigns, but they were unable to make it through to the tournament proper.

Given his experience, or lack thereof, a Champions League campaign will be a big step for Frank. Whether he’s able to have success remains to be seen, but he certainly has credit for the two seasons he’s guided Brentford into the top half of the Premier League.

Ange Postecoglou has released a statement following his dismissal as Tottenham boss, in which he stated he’s “laid the foundations” to Spurs won’t have to “wait 17 years for their next success.”

On Friday evening, Tottenham confirmed their decision to part ways with Postecoglou. The club stated a review of recent performances saw them come to the decision to get rid of the coach.

Only a few weeks before, he had won them their first trophy for 17 years, when his Spurs side beat Manchester United to win the Europa League.

Postecoglou has released a statement on his sacking from the club.

“When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, my overriding emotion is one of pride,” Postecoglou said.

“The opportunity to lead one of England’s historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime.

“Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget.

“That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream.

“There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible.

“We have also laid foundations that mean this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success.

“I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them.

“I sincerely want to thank those who are the lifeblood of the club, the supporters. I know there were some difficult times but I always felt that they wanted me to succeed and that gave me all the motivation I needed to push on.

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“It’s important to acknowledge the hard-working people at Spurs who gave me encouragement on a daily basis.

“And finally, I want to thank those who were with me every day for the last two years.

“A fantastic group of young men who are now legends of this football club and the brilliant coaches who never once doubted we could do something special.

“We are forever connected, Audere est Facere.”

Brentford manager Thomas Frank is believed to be the leading name to take over from Postecoglou, with a decision to be made next week.

Insider David Ornstein is among those who have confirmed that a Premier League boss is the ‘leading contender’ to success Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham.

For right or for wrong, Postecoglou has been given the boot by Spurs. The manager brought home their first trophy in 17 years, but also saw his side finish 17th in the Premier League in the same season.

Daniel Levy is said to have spent a week deliberating before making the call.

The likes of Thomas Frank, Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner and Marco Silva have been linked with the job since the time that the threat on Postecoglou’s job began to ramp up. Iraola and Glasner will seemingly be difficult to prise from their respective sides.

But multiple reports have suggested that Frank is the likeliest to take over from Postecoglou.

Insider Ornstein has stated that Frank is the ‘leading contender’ for the Tottenham job. Writing for The Athletic, he states that Spurs are expected to make a decision on their new manager ‘next week’.

With that said, there is yet to be any contact between Tottenham and Brentford over Frank.

Sky Sports have reiterated that the Bees boss – who has a release clause in his contract – is the leading name to take the Tottenham job.

The site’s reporter, Michael Bridge, has suggested it would be a big task for Frank to manage a Champions League side given his previous experience, or lack thereof.

“Thomas Frank – like Postecoglou – is a very engaging character. There’s a lot of admiration for him here at Spurs – but he doesn’t have any European or Europa League experience. He will be a Champions League manager if Spurs decide to appoint him,” he said.

“And one of his first games would be the UEFA Super Cup – so he could bring in a trophy early August against PSG. It would be quite remarkable if it is Thomas Frank.”

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Frank did, though, engineer a much better Premier League season than Postecoglou did in 2024-25. His Brentford side finished 10th, seven places and 18 points ahead of Tottenham.

He has twice taken Brentford to top-half finishes, so there’s reason for Spurs to be optimistic about his chances with more resources available to him.

It seems likely Frank will say yes when approached, as it was recently reported he was interested in the Tottenham job. Though that same report states talks had been held, and neither Ornstein nor Sky share that information.

Tottenham have decided to sack manager Ange Postecoglou despite the boss breaking a 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League, per multiple sources.

Postecoglou was in danger for most of the 2024-25 season. The Spurs boss almost never had his side in a comfortable position in the Premier League, with the north London club eventually finishing 17th.

Their only potential saving grace throughout the season was the Europa League. It was suggested towards the back end of the campaign, while Tottenham were in strife in the league, that winning the European competition was the only way Postecoglou would keep his job.

However, breaking the club’s 17-year trophy drought was not enough for the Australian.

A number of sources have stated on Friday that Postecoglou has been sacked by Tottenham.

Insider Ben Jacobs stated the decision comes after a ‘week of deliberation’ by chairman Daniel Levy. The manager will not get the chance to prove if he could have made his third season better than his second.

During his second Spurs campaign, Postecoglou stated he “always” wins trophies in his second season in charge wherever he goes, and he proved that with the Europa League.

Then, after he had won that, he announced that the third season of all the best TV shows is better than the second, hinting he felt he could have a more successful campaign in the next one.

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Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge has said: “Some Spurs fans will say: as brilliant as it was winning a trophy, there were defeats to Ipswich and Leicester at home, a poor performance against Everton away in the first half. Some supporters were thinking: is this the time?

“It wasn’t. Daniel Levy stuck with Postecoglou and he delivered a trophy.

“There were concerns with the league form last season – and they are going up five to ten levels next season from the Europa League to the Champions League?

“Can this squad handle Champions League and the league? You can’t rest players in the first half of the Champions League, you have to go full strength in the Premier League too. That is something Daniel Levy is thinking about too.”

According to reports, Tottenham Hotspur face a significant ‘compensation bill’ to pay Ange Postecoglou if/when they sack the head coach.

Postecoglou has been under intense scrutiny over the past season as Tottenham massively dropped off in the Premier League after they came close to Champions League qualification at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

Injuries have ravaged Spurs over the past season, but their performances have been far from good enough as they finished 17th in the Premier League.

Spurs sacrificed the Premier League as they put all their eggs in the Europa League basket during the run-in and, luckily for them, this paid off as they beat Man Utd in the final to end their trophy drought, secure Champions League football and earn a huge injection of cash.

Still, it was reported ahead of the final that the north London outfit had decided to part ways with Postecoglou ‘regardless’ of what happens against Man Utd.

READ: Jack Grealish is ‘very, very Spurs’ while Son can have perfect ending…

Postecoglou’s exit is yet to be announced, but a recent report reinforced previous claims that they have ‘decided to sack’ the former Celtic boss.

While sacking Postecoglou would be the right call, it is a difficult decision considering he has fan support after their Europa League triumph.

A report from The Telegraph insists Daniel Levy is ‘facing one of his hardest decisions’, but ‘clarity is expected soon’ and the Postecoglou sack ‘bill’ has been revealed.

Last week, it was suggested that Spurs face paying up to £7m to get rid of Postecoglou, but this new report claims Levy will have a ‘compensation bill of around £4m’ and this would be ‘on top of the £2m bonus’ the head coach received for ending their trophy drought.

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👉 Who will be the next manager of Tottenham after Postecoglou sack?

The report adds:

‘Postecoglou still has two years remaining on his Tottenham contract and it is understood the terms of his exit before that date were agreed prior to his appointment two years ago.

‘It is understood that Postecoglou has now returned to England from holiday and the expectation is that the Australian will soon be provided with clarity over his future.’

Premier League quartet Thomas Frank, Marco Silva, Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner have been mentioned as possible contenders to replace Postecoglou.

A report from Football Insider claims Brentford boss Frank is in ‘pole position’ to succeed Postecoglou as he has become Tottenham’s ‘No.1 choice’.

Spurs are said to be ‘increasingly convinced’ by Frank, who ‘ticks boxes’ amid his ‘ability to develop players’ and ‘proven record in the Premier League’.

It is also noted that club chiefs have been ‘impressed’ by his ‘staying power’ as one of the longest-serving managers in English football.

You’ve got to hand it to Spurs, really, haven’t you? They just can’t help themselves.

It’s been only two weeks since the club experienced the moment of catharsis it had longed for so desperately for a decade and a half.

Even now, there are somehow still new videos of new angles emerging of the celebrations in Bilbao and in Spurs’ own stadium and during the parade two days later.

There is simultaneously more content from that night than can ever be viewed, yet not enough to sate the hunger of Spurs fans who had waited so, so long for that relief and release. They are still buzzing and will be for some time to come.

And yet, just two weeks later, that buzz has been harshed by the club finding itself in a familiar pickle and not quite sure what to do with itself.

The manner of the season that has delivered that long-overdue success is an impossibly confusing, incredibly funny and was, if anything, Clive, almost too Spurs. Nobody now seems entirely sure what to do.

Ange Postecoglou is the manager who dared and did, but also the manager whose daring involved 22 league defeats, more than any other non-relegated team has ever managed in a Premier League season.

Deciding which one of those things weighs heaviest has split supporters down the middle, caused us to flip-flop so many times we’re genuinely not sure at all what Spurs should actually do, which more worryingly also appears to be the current state of affairs at boardroom level. And because this is Spurs, that boardroom is also one in the midst of significant upheaval with the departure of long-time Daniel Levy ally Donna Cullen.

Throw in the mooted return of Fabio Paratici in some capacity, official or otherwise, and you’ve got a club experiencing an awful lot of change and uncertainty at a critical time.

The upshot is that in a summer where transfer business across the board has been shuffled forward by the Club World Cup – even for those clubs not directly involved – Spurs are in very real danger of missing the spectacularly unexpected opportunity that has presented itself.

As other teams begin their rebuilds in earnest, Spurs exist in a state of limbo, not knowing where the summer may take them.

But one idea that has been floating around is that they might sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City, and we have to say that this strikes us as such a perfectly Spurs transfer that it doesn’t even matter who the manager might end up being. Unless it’s somehow Pep Guardiola.

Grealish is very, very Spurs. We struggle to think of a current player who is more Spurs but who hasn’t actually played for Spurs. Eberechi Eze, perhaps.

Whether Spurs are actually interested in Grealish, or even in a position to know who they’re interested in at all, we don’t know. It doesn’t really matter, because all we know is that we suddenly have a powerful need for this to happen.

It just makes sense.

Grealish would, in a World Cup year, get a Champions League stage on which to reassert his talent and credentials, at a club where the spotlight is plenty bright enough and there are fewer stars competing for it.

He would bring much-needed flair and a point of difference to an attack that, even when working well, is all too often mechanical and slightly lacking in joy and wonder.

For all the Angeball talk, Spurs really haven’t been that side in any meaningfully successful way for at least half a year. They’ve spent that time getting absolutely paddled in the league week after week, while steering a course through the Europa League playing an entirely different kind of enormously functional and incredibly effective football quite at odds with their reputation for flaky, maverick, entertaining nonsense.

There are pragmatic concerns around wages, because Spurs simply do not pay what other clubs with their levels of income pay, but even here there is a route around it.

One report about Spurs possibly selling Son Heung-min described it as a ‘desperate bid’ to raise funds; we would contend whoever wrote that watched very little of Son last season.

He has been a wonderful player for a very long time, but his decline last season was swift and, frankly, deeply upsetting. He suddenly looked a very old and very leggy 32. Grealish, meanwhile, is a far lighter-raced 29-year-old.

Son finally getting that magic moment in Bilbao after a decade of selfless, loyal service to a club that only very occasionally deserved it was a wonderful moment, one of our favourites of last season. Or any season.

But even there he was able only to play a bit-part role in the final, when it was Cristian Romero who provided the on-field leadership Spurs needed to coax them through the second-half stresses as they sought to protect their scrappily-won lead at all costs.

It’s easy to draw comparison between Son’s still very reasonable contribution in goals and assists during such a difficult campaign and another year of almost nothingness from Grealish, but context is vital here. Grealish has had no rhythm for the last two years of his career. No chance to really get his teeth into the game.

There is every reason to believe he still has something more to offer the right club in the right spot, and Spurs just look a superb fit. It’s far harder to see how Son can get back to anything approaching his best with another year in the legs.

Perfect endings are rare in sport, and Son has the chance for one at Spurs. Go now, as the legend who lifted a major trophy. The first Spurs captain to do that since Ledley King, for crying out loud. It won’t get better than this for him at Spurs.

He has a year left on his contract after Spurs exercised an extension which always looked to be more about protecting his value than anything else.

He would be a perfect signing for any Saudi club, who would only need to look to Spurs themselves to realise there are millions of fans who will follow Son wherever he goes.

There’s a huge summer of change coming for Spurs in more ways than one whatever happens, and moving on from one of their greatest players of the modern age should really be part of it.

Middlesbrough have announced that they have ‘parted company’ with Michael Carrick amid claims the Man Utd legend could do the Tottenham job.

A report on Sunday insisted that the Spurs board have now ‘decided to sack’ Ange Postecoglou despite winning the Europa League after a dismal season in the Premier League.

There has been a lot of speculation as to who will replace Postecoglou with Brentford boss Thomas Frank one of the names linked the most.

But former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole said earlier this week that Tottenham should appoint Carrick with Glenn Hoddle working above him at Spurs.

Cole told Paddy Power: “At Tottenham, Daniel Levy is running out of managerial candidates for the job. He’s gone big, he’s gone bold, and he’s gone off the beaten track, but none of them seem to have worked.

READ: Who will be the next manager of Tottenham after Postecoglou sack?

“Michael Carrick could be a good option for the manager’s job. An ex-Spurs player, who understands the club, would be quite nice.

“Also, I’d like to see Glenn Hoddle back at the club in some capacity. I know Tottenham fans would love to see him back and he’s got the best football brain I know.

“I’d love to see Glenn Hoddle back in the club in some capacity, maybe supporting Michael Carrick. The club needs bringing together because it was really torn at times last season.”

And now that Middlesbrough – who finished 10th in the Championship this season – have sacked Carrick maybe the stars are aligning for a return to Tottenham as manager, or probably not.

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A statement on the Middlesbrough website read: ‘Middlesbrough Football Club has today parted company with head coach Michael Carrick.

‘Michael’s assistants Jonathan Woodgate and Graeme Carrick have also departed the club.

‘We’d like thank Michael, Jonathan, and Graeme for all their hard work and unwavering commitment. We wish them all the very best for the future.

‘The club will be making no further comment at this stage.’

Football Insider have a more realistic idea of who could be in charge of Spurs next season with the website claiming Brentford have ‘set their sights on appointing Kieran McKenna if Thomas Frank quits to join Tottenham’.

It is understood that there are ‘growing fears’ that Frank will leave to replace Postecoglou in north London after emerging as Spurs’ ‘number one choice’.