FootballFanCast.com

It's safe to say that Tottenham's season has been a turbulent mess, more specifically in the last few months.

Ange Postecoglou has been facing more questions as Spurs boss and it looked as though fans had run out of patience following the 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth earlier in the month.

Since then they blew a lead against Chelsea and could only draw 1-1 with Rangers in the Europa League.

So, a 5-0 win over Southampton that saw them 4-0 up within 25 minutes was just what the doctor ordered. It was about as comprehensive as you're going to get in a Premier League game and has relieved the pressure significantly on the squad.

Yes, the Saints have been shocking for the most part this term but it's not as though Spurs haven't already dropped points against the likes of Crystal Palace and Ipswich already.

So, who starred on the away team at St Mary's on Sunday?

Tottenham's best performers against Southampton

There were some bold selection calls from Postecoglou heading into this game and there needed to be following the draw against Rangers.

Timo Werner was unsurprisingly on the bench a few days on from the manager's public outburst, slamming the forward in his post-match press conference at Ibrox.

The biggest surprise, however, saw Pedro Porro have to settle for a place among the substitutes, although he was forced to come on for the injured Destiny Udogie early in the first period.

While the Spurs defence kept a rare clean sheet, it was the forward players and midfielders who captured the eye the most.

The two key men were Heung-min Son and James Maddison. The latter opened the scoring and found the net once more while Son was more of the creator, setting up two goals but also finding the net himself on the south coast.

The other goal scorers were midfielder Dejan Kulusevski who maintained his fine run of form this term and Senegalese star Pape Sarr who made it four with only a quarter of the game done.

The attack will get their flowers but we want to send some praise in the direction of an 18-year-old; Archie Gray.

Archie Gray's performance in numbers vs Southampton

It's safe to say that when Gray arrived from Leeds United in a £30m deal back in the summer he was not expected to play as a centre-back in a four-man defence.

The teenager had played most of last term at Elland Road as a right-back but he is a central midfielder by trade and has begun his Spurs career by featuring in both roles after moving to north London.

However, Tottenham's defensive injury crisis has meant the youngster has been forced to play as a centre-half now on three occasions.

Now, doing so against a Southampton side who are so turgid in the final third was never going to be the most arduous of nights for young Gray but he performed admirably all the same, earning an 8/10 match rating from Football.London's Alasdair Gold who was keen to note his 'important late goal-saving tackle'.

It was certainly a competent display from the English talent who was so composed and so confident on the ball, showcasing those midfield qualities that have earned him rave reviews over the last few years.

In total, Gray had 101 touches of the ball, the most of any player on the field. Meanwhile, his 90 accurate passes were the highest number on the pitch as well, 12 more than the next best in Radu Dragusin.

Perhaps more impressive was his ability to win duels, coming away from the contest with a win rate of 100% from two battles.

Based on this performance and the composed nature of previous displays in a Spurs shirt, he is set to make a real name for himself as a Lilywhite in the forthcoming years.

Judging by his ability to play in a multitude of positions, the club may well have unearthed their next Eric Dier too.

Like Gray, the England international arrived at White Hart Lane as somebody who could play in midfield and full-back but swiftly transitioned into an out and out central defender.

Although some may bemoan some error-stricken performances at Tottenham, Dier was ultimately a fine servant, featuring on 365 occasions and never receiving a red card.

In Gray, they have a player of equally fine versatility and perhaps even someone with a higher ceiling than they ever had in the current Bayern Munich star.

Last night was very much all about the attack but let's not forget those behind them.

Leeds United, after rescuing a late point against Preston North End, may have no choice but to turn their attention towards the January transfer window, with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly looking to seal a repeat of their Archie Gray deal.

Leeds transfer news

The Whites are gunning for automatic promotion after suffering playoff heartbreak last season and whilst a point against Preston would have disappointed those in Yorkshire, that last-gasp draw could yet make all the difference. Coming courtesy of Jack Whatmough's unfortunate own goal off the bench to make it a cameo to forget, Leeds now find themselves three points adrift of Championship leaders Sheffield United.

With the January transfer window just around the corner, however, those at Elland Road may have no choice but to brace themselves for potential departures after a summer full of big exits.

Fresh from playoff heartbreak, Leeds were forced to bid farewell to Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and, most frustratingly, academy graduate Gray, who swapped Elland Road for Tottenham Hotspur.

Now, as the winter window approaches, the Lilywhites could make their mark once again to repeat their summer swoop for Gray. According to Leeds United News, Spurs are now eyeing a Gray repeat to sign Pascal Struijk from Leeds when the January window swings open in a couple of weeks.

The central defender has proved to be an important figure for Daniel Farke so far this season, starting in every single Championship game at the heart of his side's backline. With Spurs lacking in numbers at the back following ill-timed injuries to Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, however, Leeds could find themselves opening the door to the North London side for the second time in six months.

"Crucial" Struijk key to Leeds' promotion hopes

Losing Summerville, Gray and Rutter in the summer was difficult enough but Leeds were at least in a position to replace their departed stars, which isn't always the case in the January transfer window. Simply put, losing any key figures in the middle of their promotion push is almost certain to derail Leeds' Premier League pursuit, which is currently on course for success.

Struijk certainly comes under that key figure tag too, given the praise that Farke sent his way at the end of October. The German told reporters as relayed by The Leeds Press: "He adapted well to my demands and he's played a crucial part. We don't have to tal about his skills with the ball. I'm very pleased with his development."

At 25 years old, turning down the interest of Spurs would be far from easy, but Struijk must consider potential promotion success and his place at the heart of that success. In North London, it's likely that he'd eventually find himself as the fourth-choice centre-back behind Van de Ven, Romero and Radu Dragusin when all are fit and firing. At Elland Road, meanwhile, he can remain the main man at the back, which could win the argument.

Tottenham Hotspur travel to face Southampton at St Mary’s tonight looking to secure their first win in six attempts after a dismal run of form under Ange Postecoglou.

The Lilywhites have lost two and drawn three of their last five, with the last victory coming against Manchester City at the Etihad nearly a month ago.

Injuries have decimated the first-team squad, resulting in various players featuring in unnatural roles just to be able to make up the numbers, but the pressure has still been mounting on the Aussie after recent matches.

Tonight presents a great opportunity to return to winning ways against a Saints side who currently sit bottom of the Premier League, picking up just one win in their first 15 outings.

However, despite their lowly league standing, St Mary’s has been a tricky place to visit for Spurs over the last couple of years, with a surprise potentially on the cards - which would in turn pile more pressure on the 59-year-old.

Spurs’ recent record against Southampton at St Mary’s

After their relegation to the Championship in the 2022/23 season, this evening’s game will be the first clash between the two sides in 21 months, with the last meeting coming at the home of the Saints.

However, true to their recent record in the last few matches, Spurs were unable to claim all three points, drawing 3-3 in a game where former boss Antonio Conte produced an infamous rant after the final whistle.

Harry Kane, Ivan Perišić, and Pedro Porro were all on the scoresheet that day, but a catalogue of defensive errors cost them dearly - something which could be said in the present day too.

Their last win on the South Coast came way back in September 2020, claiming a convincing 5-2 win, with current captain Heung-min Son scoring four that day.

However, if Ange is to claim a similar result in the trip this evening, he must brutally drop two players who have failed to impress for the club in recent weeks.

The players Ange needs to drop ahead of Southampton clash

Timo Werner was dragged off at halftime in the recent Europa League clash against Rangers on Thursday night, rightfully so after his dismal showing during the first 45 minutes.

The German forward was blasted by the Aussie in his post-match interview, claiming he’s not at the level expected of an international-level star, undoubtedly putting his starting role at risk tonight.

However, he’s not the only player who must be dropped, with Son needing to be brutally dropped after his recent lack of impact within the final third.

The “incredible” South Korean, as dubbed by boss Postecoglou, has been a fan-favourite during his spell in North London but has struggled as of late, scoring just once in his last four matches, coming in the embarrassing defeat to London rivals Chelsea last weekend.

He also only managed one shot during the recent clash north of the border with Rangers, only completing one of his four attempted dribbles, losing possession 10 times and looking wasteful in possession.

Such a poor run of form could see him lose his starting role on the South Coast, potentially pushing Dejan Kulusevski into a more attacking role alongside Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson at the top end of the pitch.

It’s pivotal that Spurs return to winning ways tonight, ending their dismal run of form and putting their campaign back on the right track.

However, if they lose the clash, Ange’s job could be in danger, given the dreadful run of results. This is why he must brutally drop Son and potentially inject some fresh blood into the forward line to hand him the best chance of ending their current slump.

A member of the Tottenham Hotspur squad has now been personally contacted by a club president, who is personally leading an ambitious plan to tempt the player away from north London in January.

Tottenham take on Southampton after run of one win in eight games

Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou is in a real dogfight right now, having watched his struggling side win just once in their last eight games across all competitions.

The Lilywhites are also undergoing a major injury crisis, with Postecoglou relying on youngsters like Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray on a far more regular basis than he'd hoped for.

Spurs have just one fit centre-back in Radu Dragusin to call upon right now, after both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero swiftly returned to the sidelines following their very brief return to the starting eleven against Chelsea last weekend.

They were arguably lucky to escape Ibrox with a 1-1 draw against Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday, which did little to raise hopes among supporters, but Postecoglou actually praised the "character" of his team to claw back a result after going 1-0 down at a very atmospheric ground.

"We can't dismiss the situation we're in at the moment. We're very limited at the moment what we can do from a team perspective, there's a lot of players playing a lot of games, and they're giving their all, but they're going to lack a little bit of sharpness as we cannot give them a rest," said Postecoglou on the problems at Spurs right now.

"Within that context it's about making sure that there's some basics in our game that we push through.

"Like I say, you look at the Chelsea game and elements of that were brilliant for us in the way we played our football. The ability to play at that level is still there. It's just last night, and we've got to keep it in context, it's a difficult venue, it's always difficult for any team going there in Europe historically to get a result and you need to fight. I just felt there were times we weren't as committed to winning seconds balls and doing a lot of things you need to do when you go to Ibrox. We lost those battles which allowed them to sort of get into the game.

"The flip side of that is when you're 1-0 down there it's awfully hard to turn around because the volume of the stadium goes up by 100 decibels and it's hard to claw back. I thought we showed real character."

Postecoglou's side travel to St. Mary's next, and he'll be hoping for nothing but a win against the struggling Premier League side, even if they'll be without a host of key players.

Tottenham will be without £60 million striker Richarlison, among the plethora of absentees, and his future has been thrust into question lately.

GiveMeSport's Ben Jacobs reported earlier this week that Richarlison is prepared to leave Spurs in 2025 after originally deciding to stay and fight for his place in the summer, and it is now believed Fluminense are looking to take advantage of this.

According to South American news outlet Itatiaia Esporte, Fluminense's own club president has personally contacted Richarlison behind-the-scenes, as they kickstart a "major operation" to sign the Brazil international as early as January.

While it's described as a "difficult deal" to do, they've set their sights high, and want the 27-year-old on a one-year loan with the option to buy him outright.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking at signing a potential bargain long-term replacement for Timo Werner, with manager Ange Postecoglou personally keen to bring in another winger next year.

Postecoglou publicly criticises Werner after Rangers display

Spurs narrowly escaped Ibrox with a 1-1 draw against Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday, and while there were a few sub-par performers on the night, Postecoglou particularly took aim at Werner after his showing.

The Lilywhites boss publicly labelled Werner's display as nowhere near good enough, demanding more of a German international who has plenty of experience plying his trade at the very highest level of European football.

"I said that to Timo. He’s a senior international, he’s a German international," said Postecoglou on Werner's performance against Rangers.

"In the moment we’re in right now, it’s not like we’ve got many options. I need everyone to at least be going out there trying to give the best of themselves. His performance in the first half wasn’t acceptable."

The comments, of course, sparked plenty of discussion - with Postecoglou later sticking to his guns and calling his message an "assessment" rather than outright criticism.

"No, it wasn’t criticism. It was assessment," said Postecoglou on his Werner comments.

"If we played poorly, we played poorly. With Timo it wasn’t about whether he played well or not. It was a difficult game last night. I’m asking 18-year-olds to do some massive jobs and you want senior players, and he’s a senior player, he's an international and he's won the Champions League, there’s a level of application and performance you need to rise to, to help the team.

"He didn’t reach that. I think me taking him off at half-time was a statement enough. The same way I won't be hiding behind poor team performances, the same with and no different for the players or anyone else. It wasn't criticism, it was just an assessment of his performance and on a really challenging night for us, which we knew going into it, it needs to be better."

The £165,000-per-week forward, who's scored just once in all competitions since March, has been repeatedly criticised by some for his wasteful finishing and lack of end product since signing for Spurs on loan from RB Leipzig last January.

Tottenham have the option to buy Werner outright for around £8.5 million, but according to GiveMeSport, the north Londoners are highly unlikely to take it up.

Tottenham look at signing Rayan Cherki

Indeed, it is believed Spurs are on course to let Werner depart at the end of the season, with Postecoglou personally desiring a new wide player in 2025. Of the targets mentioned, the most interesting one is Lyon star Rayan Cherki.

The French starlet could be available for just £25 million - with his club in the midst of a financial crisis and could be forced to sell on the cheap next month - as they attempt to balance the books in a bid to swerve their provisional relegation to Ligue 2.

This has sparked interest from N17, with Tottenham looking at signing Cherki as a potential replacement for Werner. The 21-year-old has a glowing reputation from abroad, and the notion he could be signed for under £30 million has been called a potential bargain.

"You see figures around Cherki and there’s like 25 million pounds is talked about, which just seems like too good to be true," said journalist Dean Jones on the Ranks FC Ultras podcast recently.

"He’s just different, this player. If you haven’t seen Cherki play, then just either stop the pod and go and watch him on YouTube for 10 minutes and then come back or just go watch him while we’re talking right now. Because his skill level is outrageous. He feels like he could become one of the best players in the world.”

Tottenham Hotspur have been blessed with some incredible talents over the last ten to 20 years.

The likes of Gareth Bale and Luka Modrić helped to define the Premier League in the late 2000s and early 2010s, while Harry Kane and Son Heung-min did the same for nearly a decade after that.

However, there was another simply sublime star who came to prominence alongside Kane and Son but sadly lost his place in the team a few years later: Dele Alli.

The sensational midfielder had the potential to be world-class, and now it looks like Spurs could have an academy gem capable of replicating his heady heights, an academy gem currently outscoring Dominic Solanke.

Dele's Spurs' career

Spurs paid MK Dons around £5m for the highly-rated Dele in February 2015, although he wouldn't make his debut for the Lilywhites until the following campaign, as he remained on loan with the League One side for the remainder of the season.

Now, it usually takes a bit of time for a youngster to really establish themselves in a Premier League team, but it was apparent from the very beginning that the Milton Keynes-born gem was no ordinary player.

For example, in his first season in North London, he racked up a remarkable haul of ten goals and ten assists in 46 appearances, which saw him win the PFA Young Player of the Year award - talk about bursting onto the scene.

The "pure wonderkid," as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, somehow reached another level the following year, scoring 22 goals and providing 12 assists in 50 appearances, which was enough to see him win his second Young Player of the Year award in as many seasons.

The incredible talent continued to improve over the next couple of years, but eventually, he hit a slight bump in form and, following a few disappointing campaigns, was sold to Everton.

Overall, while things didn't ultimately work out for Dele at Spurs, it's impossible to overstate how unbelievably talented he was, and so the fact the club now have an academy gem who could replicate his form should leave fans excited.

The academy gem who could be the next Dele

So, the player in question is not the incredibly exciting Mikey Moore or the promising Will Lankshear; it is the slightly lesser-known but just as promising Luca Jamie Williams-Barnett.

The 16-year-old prospect looks like he could become an incredible first-teamer in the coming years, but you might be wondering, what makes him the next Dele?

Well, there are a couple of reasons.

The first is that, like the former Spurs ace, the Luton-born gem is primarily an attacking midfielder who can play in multiple positions, including left and right-wing, left midfield and even centre-forward, lending credence to academy expert and pundit John Wenham's description of him as a "cheat-code".

However, the second and potentially more important way he resembles the 28-year-old is that he's a brilliant goalscorer.

For example, in 16 appearances across the various youth sides, the talented teen has found the back of the net on 11 occasions and provided five assists to boot, equating to a goal involvement every game.

Moreover, this season alone, he has scored nine goals in nine appearances, which is a better return than Solanke's seven in 20; albeit he is playing senior football, it still shows how promising the youngster is.

Ultimately, while the prospect of a youth product replicating Dele's incredible performances sounds far-fetched, Williams-Barnett really looks like he could develop into a player capable of doing precisely that, so long as he maintains his current rate of development.

There's no way to sugarcoat it; the last few weeks have been abysmal for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou's side recovered from their shock loss to Ipswich Town by hammering Manchester City 4-0 at the Etihad, but instead of going on a run after such an incredible result, the North Londoners have seemingly fallen off a cliff.

They've drawn at home to AS Roma and Fulham, lost to Bournemouth and Chelsea and then last night, they drew away to Rangers in a game they really should have lost.

Bar Dejan Kulusevski and Fraser Forster, the whole team were dire, but one player in particular stood out for all the wrong reasons and could be Postecoglou's own Roberto Soldado.

Soldado's Spurs career

When it comes to transfer flops at Spurs in the last 20 years or so, one name that will always pop up, rightly or wrongly, is striker Roberto Soldado.

The Spaniard joined the North Londoners in the summer of 2013 for a then-club-record fee of £26m, and while that was a lot of money, it seemed reasonable at the time as he'd just scored 57 goals and provided 11 assists in 97 appearances across the prior two campaigns for Valencia.

However, while there were certainly glimpses of brilliance during his time in N17, like a couple of hat-tricks, the Valencia-born poacher just couldn't get to grips with life in the Premier League and went from one of the most dangerous forwards in Europe to below-average at best.

Moreover, due to the disconnect between expectation and reality, the Spaniard became something of a scapegoat for the team's troubles, with journalist Sam Tighe describing him as the "flop of the season."

This simply put more pressure on him to perform, and as every mistake was magnified it became something of a spiral until he lost his place in the team and was eventually sold to Villarreal two years after joining the club.

It would be hard to describe his time at the club and transfer as anything other than a failure, and now it looks like Postecoglou could have his own Soldado in the current squad.

Postecoglou's own Soldado

So, to get straight to the point, the player in question is Timo Werner.

The first thing to say is that due to him being on loan and not a club-record signing, the pressure on the German to perform for the Lilywhites isn't exactly the same as the pressure on Sodaldo.

However, unlike the Spaniard, the winger has shown very little quality at all during his time at the club, and is earning a whopping £165k-per-week, so he has received just as much criticism from fans and pundits alike.

This criticism, based primarily around his simply abysmal finishing, is the crux of the reason why he's become the club's new scapegoat and, therefore, arguably Postecoglou's version of the former Valencia ace.

However, the manager is the man who made or agreed to the "astonishing" decision, per talkSPORT pundit Andy Townsend, to re-sign him in the summer, so the criticism of the 28-year-old is partly on him as well.

However, the former Chelsea ace was so dismal against Rangers that even the Australian couldn't ignore it.

He ruthlessly took him off at half-time and doubled down in his post-match press conference, telling the media that the German's performance "wasn't acceptable," which could be the most scathing he's been about a particular player since taking the job last year.

Ultimately, while Werner doesn't have a hefty price tag hanging over his head, he is on mega money and has been even more woeful in front of goal, which has seen him become the team's current scapegoat, akin to what eventually happened to the Spaniard at Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has personally asked the Lilywhites, and presumably technical director Johan Lange, to sign one player in January - with Spurs allegedly already in talks over a transfer next month.

Tottenham rescued by Dejan Kulusevski at Rangers in 1-1 Europa League draw

A less-than ideal run of form continues for the north Londoners, who have won just once in their last eight games across all competitions, and they were very nearly humbled by SPFL giants Rangers at Ibrox on Thursday evening.

The Gers fashioned many opportunities and could've easily got on the scoresheet on more than one occasion, with Philippe Clement's side taking a deserved lead just after the second-half restart through the in-form Hamza Igamane.

Tottenham survived periods of sustained pressure from Rangers and managed to create a few chances of their own before star player Dejan Kulusevski rescued a point around 15 minutes from full-time, but it was far from convincing for Postecoglou, who also continues to deal with an injury crisis.

Both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are absent right now after fresh injuries last weekend, dealing a major blow to Postecoglou who's been forced to utilise a makeshift option in teenage summer signing Archie Gray at the back alongside Radu Dragusin - their only fit natural central defender.

Alongside van de Ven and Romero, the north Londoners will be without Ben Davies, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Guglielmo Vicario, Richarlison and Wilson Odobert to face Southampton on Sunday.

After Gray's assuring performance in an unfamiliar position against Rangers, Postecoglou heaped praise on the English talent, and it appears that the Australian could be reliant on him over the next few weeks.

"Archie has been asked to do things as an 18-year-old in unfamiliar positions away in Europe and in the Premier League and the way he's handled it is outstanding," said Postecoglou on Gray.

"You think to yourself if he can get through this period and keep growing then what's he going to be like in three or four years' time. The next manager will love him."

Postecoglou asks Tottenham to sign Getafe defender Omar Alderete

While Gray is proving his worth right now, Postecoglou won't want to be too reliant on the former Leeds United sensation if Romero and van de Ven are out for an extended period.

This has led to reports that Tottenham have held talks over signing Omar Alderete from Getafe in the winter, with Spanish publication AS (via Sport Witness) sharing their own update on Spurs' interest in the 27-year-old.

Indeed, they write that Postecoglou has requested that Tottenham sign Alderete, and the Paraguay international is available for just £13 million - the value of his release clause.

This could actually prove a bargain for Spurs in their search for emergency cover when factoring in that Getafe's mainstay defender has made more clearances and blocks per 90 than any other player in the La Liga side's squad (WhoScored).

He's clearly a solid option which could be obtained at an affordable price from Tottenham's perspective, and that is very rare for a January window, where prices are usually inflated.

Tottenham Hotspur are apparently prepared to offload midfielder Yves Bissouma to make room for the potential signing of one club's captain, with Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou in need of inspiration amid an underwhelming run of form.

Tottenham rescue 1-1 draw with Rangers in Europa League clash at Ibrox

It was another evening to forget for Postecoglou on Thursday, as old SPFL rivals Rangers seriously threatened to do a number on the former Celtic boss in Glasgow.

The home side crafted many openings, and had far more clear-cut chances at goal than the north Londoners, but Rangers' lack of clinical finishing ultimately spared Postecoglou's blushes up north.

Hamza Igamane, who's on fire in Europe with four goals and an assist from four league phase matches, handed Philippe Clement's side a deserved lead just after half-time, with the Gers threatening to double it on more than one occasion in a period of sustained pressure.

However, Tottenham's current superstar player, Dejan Kulusevski, rescued a point for Spurs around 15 minutes from the full-time whistle - taking advantage of some neat approach to play to fire a low effort past Jack Butland.

Rangers had a golden chance to break Postecoglou's heart late on, but the north Londoners managed to see out what was a very tough contest. For Tottenham's under-fire head coach, it was a disappointing performance overall, with the Australian taking aim at Timo Werner in particular.

Postecoglou claimed Werner wasn't playing "anywhere near" the level he should, adding that the £165,000-per-week winger's performance in the first-half was unacceptable.

"When you’ve got 18-year-olds it’s not acceptable to me," said Postecoglou on Werner's performance against Rangers.

"I said that to Timo. He’s a senior international, he’s a German international. In the moment we’re in right now, it’s not like we’ve got many options. I need everyone to at least be going out there trying to give the best of themselves. His performance in the first half wasn’t acceptable."

Another player who was hauled off, after another average display, was midfielder Bissouma.

The African put in a tame "5/10" display against Rangers, forcing Postecoglou to replace him with Lucas Bergvall just past the hour mark, and this was by no means his first sub-par outing this season.

Tottenham prepared to sell Yves Bissouma so they can sign Quinten Timber

According to Football Transfers, the Lilywhites actually have a potential Bissouma replacement in mind - Feyenoord captain Quinten Timber.

The Netherlands international is out of contract in 2026, meaning Spurs could potentially sign him for just £17 million, and his performances in the Eredivisie this season have apparently caught the eye of their recruitment team.

Tottenham are prepared to offload Bissouma so they can sign Timber, it is believed, with the former's performances frustrating supporters right now, as Postecoglou looks to bolster the squad and sign much-needed upgrades.

Tottenham Hotspur's poor run of form got even worse last night.

Ange Postecoglou returned to Glasgow to take on Rangers in the Europa League, but instead of getting one over his old rivals, he oversaw a rather dismal 1-1 draw.

However, while it ended a point a piece, the hosts were undoubtedly the better team and, on another night, could and probably should have been two or three goals up before the Lilywhites equalised.

That said, while it was a night to forget for Spurs, there was at least one starter who could hold his head high, a starter Lionel Messi thought could have joined him at Barcelona in the past.

Spurs' poor performers

Before we get to the player in question, we have to look at some of Spurs' worst performers from last night, as while they got out with a point, it was an abysmal showing from one of the Premier League's 'big six.'

The starter who has been getting the most stick is Timo Werner, who was hooked at halftime for what might have been his worst game for the club since his arrival mid-way through last season.

That's an opinion likely shared by Postecoglou, as in his post-match press conference, he slammed the German, saying his display "wasn't acceptable," which might even be too kind, as in just 46 minutes he lost the ball 16 times and received a 2/10 match rating from journalist Alasdair Gold.

Other than the former Chelsea ace, Pedro Porro was a disaster in attack and defence; Brennan Johnson went from ineffective off the right to anonymous off the left when Dejan Kulusevski came on, and the midfield duo of Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur might as well have sat on the bench all game as they were so easily bypassed.

Overall, it was the sort of showing that can get a manager the sack.

However, aside from Kulusevski, who scored but still looked somewhat off his best, there was one starter from last night who almost single-handedly kept Spurs in the game, a player lauded by Messi over a decade ago.

The Spurs star who proved Messi right

So, to get straight to the point, the player in question is, of course, goalkeeping veteran Fraser Forster.

The six-capped Englishman spent a significant period of his career playing for Celtic, and it was with the Hoops that he left a seriously good impression on the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner following a 2-1 Champions League victory against Barcelona in 2012.

The 36-year-old was an immovable object for those 90 minutes, facing 14 shots on target and keeping the Catalans out until Messi finally scored a consolation goal in the 91st minute.

It was such an incredible showing from the Hexam-born shot-stopper that the Argentine megastar later told the press that it was the "best goalkeeping performance I have seen" and that the team "even talked about him playing here."

"There was one game in Scotland where he was not human, it is the best goalkeeping performance I have seen. When Victor Valdes said he was leaving, we even talked about him playing here. I was sure that he would end up at Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United. "

Unfortunately for the Englishman, that path never presented itself to him, but last night, against Rangers, he rolled back the years once more and ensured that Spurs came away with a point from Ibrox.

In his 93 minutes of action, the "magnificent" veteran, as dubbed by former manager Neil Lennon, made five saves, four of which were inside the box, prevented 0.73 goals, made one punch and high claim, took 41 touches, maintained a passing accuracy of 85%, and made one clearance.

Unsurprisingly, it was a showing that impressed the watching press, with Gold awarding him an 8/10 match rating at full-time and crediting him for his 'crucial' save against Cyriel Dessers just five minutes from time.

Ultimately, the majority of the Spurs team were utterly dire against Rangers, but Forster put in another strong showing against his old rivals and, in turn, justified Messi's high praise from all those years ago.