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Five things we learned from Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with West Ham United

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Tottenham Hotspur at least stopped the away rot in the Premier League this afternoon against West Ham United, although Ange Postecoglou would have expected even a much-changed XI to brush aside 17th-placed Hammers.

Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from West Ham United 1-1 Tottenham:

Ange Postecoglou makes eight Tottenham changes

As many Tottenham fans expected and demanded in equal measure, Ange Postecoglou made significant changes to his Spurs XI away to West Ham this afternoon. Micky Van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, and Destiny Udogie were all given a rest, while the injured Dominic Solanke and James Maddison were also absent. Unfortunately, few Spurs fringe players actually stepped up in a way that will catch Postecoglou’s eye ahead of Thursday night’s trip to Bodo/Glimt.

Guglielmo Vicario, Yves Bissouma, and Dejan Kulusevski were all likely to start no matter what, while the left-wing position is up for grabs between Richarlison and Mathys Tel. One would expect Ange will opt for the latter on Thursday rather than risking the most injury-prone player in the squad on an artificial pitch – although Richarlison may be required to fill on for Solanke if he is missing anyway.

We know the starting XI to face Bodo/Glimt

Judging by who was rested and who was taken off early today, it looks like we already know our starting XI to face Bodo/Glimt in Norway on Thursday.

Guglielmo Vicario; Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky Van de Ven, Destiny Udogie; Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski; Brennan Johnson, Richarlison, Mathys Tel.

Of course, if Dominic Solanke is passed fit, then he will start up front, while Richarlison would likely move out wide left, seeing as Tel played the full 90 today.

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Worrying lack of progress from Dejan Kulusevski

James Maddison was just starting to hit his stride in the Tottenham number ten role, particularly in Europe. It will be a huge miss for the Lilywhites if he is to miss a significant portion of the rest of the season. A few months ago, some Spurs fans would have been more than happy to see Kulusevski replace the England international in midfield, but that could not be further from the truth at the moment.

The Sweden star has been back from injury for weeks now, but shows no sign of getting back to his fit, sharp, and creative best. You do worry that Tottenham could be left with a complete creative vacuum amidst the absence of Maddison and Bergvall, together with Kulusevski’s lack of form.

Another mistake from Guglielmo Vicario

It seems every single week brings another mistake from Guglielmo Vicario in the Premier League for Tottenham. While he looks a little more confident dealing with aerial balls than he once was, he has forgone all composure with the ball at his feet and fundamental goalkeeping errors have started to creep into his game.

Today, the Italian shotstopper allowed Jarrod Bowen to score from a frankly ridiculous angle, leaving his legs wider than the Thames to give the West Ham forward a clear route to goal. 99 times out of 100, Bowen would have absolutely no chance of scoring from there, as keepers are always taught to make themselves big and use their knee to cut off the direct shot at goal.

In the grand scheme of things, it isn’t the most pivotal mistake in the world, but the regularity with which Vicario is making them at the moment is more than a little concerning. At least he made a superb stop to keep the score at 1-1 in the final minutes, ironically preventing Bowen from finding the winner.

Mikey Moore returns to Tottenham action

Despite looking so sharp in the first half of the season, Mikey Moore has been an absent figure over the last few months. Before today, he hadn’t appeared since February 2 in the Premier League for Tottenham. Over the past 10 matches, Moore was left on the bench four times and left out of the squad completely six times. It would be wrong to say he lit the game on fire when coming on for his cameo today, but he definitely looked sharper than a lot of the players who started.

Hopefully, the youngster can kick on next season and get some more consistent game time under his belt. A loan to the Championship or even a lower Premier League side could do him the world of good.

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Tottenham player ratings vs West Ham United – 7/10 duo the only bright sparks

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The referee has blown the full-time whistle at the London Stadium, meaning it’s time for our Tottenham vs West Ham United Premier League player ratings.

It was yet another lacklustre display from Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, as the Lilywhites were held to a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium.

Let’s take a look at our player ratings following the final whistle between Tottenham and West Ham United.

Tottenham player ratings vs West Ham United

Guglielmo Vicario – A quiet second half for Vicario, as West Ham failed to threaten his goal. However, the earlier error that led to the equaliser still loomed large over his performance. 4.

Archie Gray – Postecoglou pushed Gray higher in the second half, giving him more freedom to attack. His overlapping runs added a bit of energy, although nothing came from them. Defensively, he remained solid against Kudus. 4.

Kevin Danso – Another calm half from Danso. West Ham did not attack his side much, and he handled his duties with composure. 5.

Ben Davies – A far better second half after a nightmare first. However, the improvement coincided with West Ham easing off. 4.

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Djed Spence – After his costly error in the first half, Spence looked to make amends by pushing forward. He got into decent positions for cutbacks, but nothing came off. 4.

Yves Bissouma – Continued his average display in the second half. A few nervy moments crept in, particularly when he lost possession late on. Tottenham need more from their midfield pivot. 5.

Pape Matar Sarr – Mirrored his first-half performance. One attempt on goal was all he could muster. Struggled to influence the game. 5.

Dejan Kulusevski – Bright early on but faded as the match wore on. Saw less of the ball and failed to link up effectively in the final third. 6.

Wilson Odobert – Took his goal well in the first half and remained Tottenham’s most threatening player. However, involvement dipped as chances became scarce. 7.

Richarlison – Worked tirelessly and competed for every ball. Kept defenders on their toes, but once again, lacked service and had no real opportunity to score. 5.

Mathys Tel – The winger looked really bright and lively in the second half, running at his man and playing in Spence on the overlap. Looked to try to make things happen with his direct running. 7.

Substitutes

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Tottenham first-half player ratings vs West Ham – 2/10 captain lets the side down

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The referee has blown his whistle to signal the end of the first half of Tottenham Hotspur’s showdown with London rivals West Ham United, and it’s time for our half-time player ratings.

Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are playing for nothing but pride as both teams have struggled for most of the 24/25 Premier League season.

As it stands, Spurs are 16th, a single point ahead of West Ham United, who are just hovering over the relegation places in 17th.

Of course, neither side can be relegated, but with the clash being a derby, both sets of fans will be desperate for their respective team to come out on top in the derby.

We’ve rated each Tottenham player’s first-half performance on a scale of 1-10.

Tottenham Hotspur first-half player ratings vs West Ham United

Guglielmo Vicario – The errors keep coming from the Italian, and once again, he’s let another one slip through his legs. Beaten at his near post – it’s simply not good enough. Poor again from the Tottenham captain today. 2.

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Archie Gray – The youngster has stood his ground well against Kudus in the opening half. Solid defensively, but yet to offer any real threat going forward. No overlapping runs. 5.

Kevin Danso – A quiet first half from Danso, with West Ham not posing much threat down his side. Steady, but not tested. 5.

Ben Davies – A poor showing from Davies, who’s had a bit of a mare. His side of the pitch looks far too easy to exploit. Needs to tighten up with Spence on Tottenham’s left. 4.

Djed Spence – A shadow of his former self in recent weeks. Failed to track Bowen for West Ham’s equaliser – unforgivable at this level. 3.

Yves Bissouma – Tottenham’s midfield anchor from now till May, but today’s showing has been thoroughly average. Lacks urgency. 5.

Pape Matar Sarr – In for Bentancur, but hasn’t stamped his authority on the game. Barely involved, and when he is, it’s been very safe. 4.

Dejan Kulusevski – One of the few bright spots. Lively with his running and intent, but the final pass is consistently lacking. Needs more end product. 6.

Wilson Odobert – Odobert has been bright in patches and took his first Premier League goal with composure, tucking away a Tel cutback early on. 8.

Richarlison – No impact. Tried to hold up the ball but hasn’t had a sniff of goal. Looks isolated. 5.

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Tottenham or Man United? Jamie O’Hara picks his Europa League winner

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Jamie O’Hara has now given his verdict on who would come out on top if Tottenham faced Manchester United in the Europa League final.

The possibility of an all-English Europa League final is looking increasingly likely, with both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur carrying significant leads into the second legs of their respective semi-final ties.

Tottenham take a two-goal cushion with them as they head to Norway for their clash against Bodo/Glimt, while Manchester United look firmly in control following a 3-0 victory away at San Mames over Athletic Bilbao.

For two sides who have struggled domestically, with Spurs sitting in 16th and Manchester United in 14th, the Europa League offers a genuine shot at silverware and a chance to shift the mood around each club.

Jamie O’Hara backs Tottenham to win Europa League if they face Manchester United

Of course, both sets of fans will be dreaming. For Spurs, a near two-decade trophy drought could finally come to an end if they can get through their next two European fixtures.

For Manchester United, lifting the Europa League would provide a much-needed lift for Ruben Amorim, whose arrival was meant to signal a rebuild for a club desperate to return to the summit of English football.

While a tense, tactical affair might be on the cards should the two English sides meet in the final, former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara believes the outcome would be clear.

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Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “I’d much rather play Man United. We beat them three times this season and overran them in midfield. We get them in the final, we’re winning it.

“I am telling you now, if we beat Bodo/Glimt and we get Man United in the final, Spurs are winning it.

“Spurs are back! I am telling you now, Spurs are going to win the Europa League. I am telling you.”

Jamie O’Hara confident but Jamie Carragher disagrees with

Naturally, many Tottenham Hotspur fans would back their side if they meet Manchester United, especially given the fact they have already beaten the Red Devils three times this season.

A repeat result in a final would not be far-fetched, but not everyone sees it that way. Jamie Carragher has since given his own verdict on a potential Manchester United vs Spurs Europa League final, and it is one that goes against O’Hara’s confident prediction.

The ex-Liverpool man has instead pointed to Manchester United’s experience in European finals, stating that it would give them an edge.

Carragher even went a step further, claiming that Tottenham would struggle even if they were to face Athletic Bilbao.

He said: “I mean, I cannot see Tottenham winning the trophy just for the fact, I can see you getting to the final, but I cannot see you beating Bilbao in their own stadium.

“I think that would be tough for anybody. There is no way Tottenham beat Manchester United in a European final, no chance, history, mentality, they are just a club who find a way to win. Manchester United have an ability to win games they should not.”

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Supercomputer predicts Tottenham’s chances of lifting Europa League trophy

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A fresh prediction from Opta’s AI model has given Tottenham a major boost as they chase a spot in the Europa League final.

Ange Postecoglou would have been pleased with the display his Tottenham Hotspur side produced in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie.

It was a professional, confident performance that saw Spurs take a 3-1 lead into the second leg, a semi-final performance that Postecoglou believes should be enough to send them through if replicated in Norway.

Tottenham will know they cannot take anything for granted, as Bodo/Glimt have shown their quality throughout the competition, and have already demonstrated that scoring two or three goals at home is well within their grasp.

They beat Olympiacos 3-0 and saw off Lazio 2-0 on their own turf earlier in the campaign. The trip to Norway will be a test of mentality and composure for this Spurs team.

But with key players hitting form and a place in a European final at stake, there will be no shortage of motivation as they aim to get the job done.

Tottenham backed by Opta supercomputer to beat Bodo/Glimt in Europa League

Dominic Solanke insisted the Bodo/Glimt tie is far from over and stated that Tottenham would be fully focused on finishing the job when they travel to Norway.

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The 3-1 cushion provides breathing room, but the forward was clear – the players know they still have work to do.

Ahead of the second leg, Opta’s supercomputer has offered its prediction for the outcome of the semi-final.

The AI model believes Spurs will see off Bodo/Glimt and reach the final of the Europa League, which would be a massive step for Ange Postecoglou in his second season.

However, the data-driven forecast does not offer good news for Tottenham fans dreaming of silverware.

Manchester United are currently tipped to win the final, with Opta giving them a 52.4% chance of lifting the trophy.

The Red Devils are projected to reach the final in 97.6% of simulations, compared to Tottenham’s 91.1% – who have a 43.2% chance of going all the way.

Spurs still have edge over Manchester United despite prediction

Ange Postecoglou and his players will not be distracted by the numbers. Their priority remains the second leg against Bodo/Glimt, and only after that will thoughts turn to the final.

That said, the idea of an all-English final against Manchester United adds intrigue. The Red Devils are in pole position after a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, but Spurs will quietly fancy their chances given their recent record against Ruben Amorim’s side.

Tottenham have beaten Manchester United three times this season already, and historically have a stronger final win percentage. If they make it to San Mames, belief will not be in short supply.

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Ange Postecoglou fumes at the latest unfair leak out of Tottenham Hotspur

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Ange Postecoglou is not a happy man that news of Lucas Bergvall’s injury had been leaked ahead of Tottenham’s semifinal against Bodo/Glimt last Thursday, and has explained why it was the last thing the midfielder needed following his setback.

The timing of Bergvall’s injury could not be any more unfortunate for the youngster, coming just before a big European semifinal and just a day after he had penned a new long-term contract.

The rumours of his injury were doing the rounds on social media on the morning of the huge match, and the news was confirmed when the Swede’s name was missing from the matchday squad.

It has since been confirmed that Bergvall will miss the rest of the season after injuring his ankle, but Postecoglou admits that the club would have preferred not to have the information go public ahead of the first leg against Bodo/Glimt.

Ange Postecoglou reveals Lucas Bergvall was devastated after the leak

Over the last month, the Tottenham boss has talked a lot about the sensitive nature of the information that is being leaked from Hotspur Way to the media.

A few weeks ago, Postecoglou asserted Spurs are narrowing down the source of the leaks, but they appear to have been unsuccessful, with the leaks showing no signs of stopping.

When asked about the information regarding Bergvall’s injury finding its way on social media, the 59-year-old responded (via Football. London): “It’s not helpful. Some of it is just to protect the players themselves. You can imagine, Lucas was devastated. He didn’t want to deal with it and we didn’t want to make it public, not as much about the opposition but to give him the time to process it.

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“He’s a young man. He had such a high in the week, he had signed a new deal, he was playing well, his whole family was out here looking forward to the game. We wanted to protect him more than anything else, but those kinds of levels of decency and respect don’t exist anymore.

“I’ve said before it’s not helpful. It’s not helpful to our club. Not for any other reason, but it’s information you give to the opposition, it’s information they can use against you. But we live in a world where those kinds of things have gone out the window.

“You guys live it every day. People just want to be the first whether it’s credible information or not. They get it out there and they feel like they’ve achieved something, whether it’s totally off-base or totally wrong.”

Tottenham boss is worried about the new media landscape

The Spurs head coach also raised concerns about the second-order effects of the fact that the new media landscape is dominated by those not trained in journalism.

Postecoglou pointed out that there is no emphasis on double or triple-checking information through one’s sources before putting it out.

He added to the journalists in attendance: “I used to love your profession. I did, because I was an avid reader, a voracious reader, and I would love that people would double and triple-check their sources before committing to something. Unfortunately, that world doesn’t exist anymore.

“It’s not necessarily journalists, it’s just anybody now. They can literally just say whatever they like and pretty much, even if it’s wildly wrong, no one will pull them up for it and they can do it the next day.”

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Tottenham’s Jamie Donley just achieved something incredibe out on loan

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Jamie Donley’s season is not yet over, with the on-loan Tottenham man playing a starring role in Leyton Orient’s final League One game of the season to ensure his side booked a spot in the playoffs.

Regular readers of Spurs Web will know that Jamie Donley has had a coming-of-age season out on loan, with the attacking midfielder dominating League One in his first taste of senior football.

The 19-year-old is thought of very highly at Hotspur Way, and after a difficult start to the season at Brisbane Road, he has demonstrated exactly why so many people at Tottenham Hotspur are so excited about his potential.

The youngster still has unfinished business before he returns to his parent club this summer, with the O’s now looking to secure a spot in the Championship.

Jamie Donley stars against Huddersfield Town

Jamie Donley played all 90 minutes in the club’s final game at Huddersfield Town, bagging an assist as the London side emerged 4-1 winners.

That means that the Spurs academy graduate finishes the regular league campaign with eight goals and 10 assists to his name in 39 outings.

The teenager was handed a match rating of 8.5 by Fotmob, producing one shot on target, and completing 24 out of his 38 attempted passes, three of which were balls played into the final third.

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Donley also contributed defensively, like he has all season, making three tackles, six ball recoveries, one clearance, winning six ground duals and one aerial dual.

Donley has Tottenham first-team ambitions next season

The win saw Richie Wellens’s men secure a sixth-place finish, which means that they will now battle it out with Stockport, Charlton and Wycombe for the final promotion spot to the second tier.

Whatever happens in the playoffs, Jamie Donley will return to Spurs full of confidence in the summer, having demonstrated what he can do in senior men’s football and having recently made his debut for Northern Ireland.

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Alan Hutton predicts Europa League winner between Tottenham and Man United

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Alan Hutton has predicted what he feels Tottenham’s odds would be of winning the Europa League final if they were to play Manchester United in Bilbao.

Even though everything that could have potentially gone wrong has gone wrong for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, they still find themselves in a situation where they can end the season with just their fourth European trophy in their 143-year history.

In fact, James Maddison has said that the Spurs players are keen to deliver the fans a trophy after what they have gone through this season.

However, not a lot of pundits fancy Tottenham’s chances of going all the way. Jamie Carragher said last week that Spurs would stand no chance of beating Man United in the final if both sides get there.

Alan Hutton makes claim about Tottenham v Man United final

Alan Hutton disagrees with the Sky Sports pundit, insisting that Ange Postecoglou’s men will have every chance of overturning the Red Devils at San Mames later this month.

The former Tottenham right-back insisted that it will be a 50-50 game between the two Premier League sides, pointing out that the Lilywhites have the players to hurt Ruben Amorim’s side.

Hutton told Boyle Sports: “Would Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester United in a one-off final? I think so. There’s no reason why they can’t go and beat Manchester United. I think they are very up and down themselves, so you don’t really know what you’re going to get.

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“Under Ruben Amorim, they’ve stuck to their formation and the way they want to play. I think in a one-off game Tottenham would feel that they could go and match anybody really, even though they’ve been inconsistent this year.

“So I feel if that is the final, it’s definitely 50-50. If Manchester United turn up, of course, they can win, but I think Tottenham have got the players to go and hurt them as well.”

Will history weigh heavily on the Spurs players if they make the final?

The reason some pundits and neutrals are writing Spurs off is down to the club’s history of always falling at the final hurdle during the last two decades.

However, there is no reason that the 18 years of hurt should be playing on the mind of this Tottenham squad, who are unscared by those semifinal and final failures.

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Thomas Frank hands Tottenham a nice boost in Bryan Mbeumo pursuit

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Tottenham Hotspur will be delighted with what Thomas Frank has just said about the future of their rumoured target Bryan Mbeumo, with the Brentford boss opening the door for the forward’s departure from the Gtech Community Stadium this summer.

It is clear that Spurs will need to make additions to their forward line this summer as not only could they lose squad players such as Richarlison and Timo Werner, but Mathys Tel’s future is also very much up in there.

Additionally, their captain is down to the final year of his contract and there have been suggestions that Heung-min Son could part ways with Spurs this summer.

That is perhaps why Tottenham are also said to be turning their attention to Bryan Mbeumo, who has proven himself to be a reliable performer at Premier League level over the last four seasons.

Thomas Frank makes Bryan Mbeumo transfer admission

Mbeumo’s stock has gone up considerably over the last 12 months, with the Cameroon international having scored 18 goals and provided six assists so far this season.

The 25-year-old has one year left on his deal but Brentford do have the option of extending it by an additional year.

However, Frank has now confirmed that the West London club will sell the forward for the right offer this summer, just as they have other players in the past.

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When asked if Mbeumo could leave, the Dane said (via The Athletic): “If the right price — and that’s going to be expensive — is coming, then I’m sure the club will be open to it.

“I’ve said many times: we are a selling club. But at the same time we have to reinforce that there are 10 clubs in the world who aren’t selling clubs.”

How much will Mbeumo cost this summer?

It was reported back in February by Football Insider that it would take an offer of over £50m to prise Mbeumo away from Brentford.

The same report explained that Newcastle United are showing very serious interest in the versatile forward, with Eddie Howe alleged to consider him his ‘dream signing’.

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Harry Redknapp disagrees with reports on Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham future

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Contrary to reports doing the rounds in the media, Harry Redknapp does not think that Ange Postecoglou will be sacked by Tottenham Hotspur if he delivers the Europa League trophy.

The Australian could become the first Spurs manager since Juande Ramos in 2008 to deliver a trophy to the club if the Lilywhites go all the way in the Europa League.

That would undoubtedly be a monumental accomplishment as the 59-year-old would have achieved what Redknapp, Andre Villas-Boas, Mauricio Pochettino, Nuno Espirito Santo, Jose Mourinho, and Antonio Conte had failed to do.

However, reports indicate that Tottenham will sack Postecoglou even if he delivers a trophy, in light of their abject domestic form, with Spurs on course to achieve their lowest points tally in Premier League history.

Harry Redknapp makes confident Ange Postecoglou prediction

However, Redknapp, who knows Daniel Levy well, does not believe that the Tottenham chairman will pull the plug on Postecoglou if he wins a trophy

The former Spurs manager insists that the Australian would have delivered what he promised if he ended the second season at N17 with silverware.

Redknapp told BetVictor: “I think it all depends on the Europa League for Ange Postecoglou. If he wins that, I find it difficult to believe he’d leave the club after bringing Tottenham a major trophy – something they’ve lacked for decades.

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“He also would’ve kept to his word of always winning a trophy in his second season, so Ange would argue he’s done the job that was required of him.

“If he does leave, it’s difficult to think of a natural successor. It’s tough to talk about alternatives while Ange is still in the job, but I don’t think there are many managers out there that would appeal to Tottenham at the moment.”

Should Postecoglou be judged by league form at Tottenham?

League form is undoubtedly a much better metric for measuring consistency than cups, which have an element of luck involved.

Postecoglou’s supporters will point out that he did guide Tottenham to a fifth-place finish last season despite losing Harry Kane.

That is something the Australian himself referenced a few days ago, with Postecoglou insisting that Spurs did not get enough credit for finishing fifth last season.

However, even last season, Tottenham got worse as the campaign went on and many Spurs fans will rightly feel that there has hardly been any sign of progress in the 59-year-old’s two seasons in charge.

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