Tottenham Hotspur fell to yet another Premier League defeat this evening, this time blowing a two-goal lead at home to Chelsea to lose 4-3. Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from the game.
Whether you are Ange in or Ange out, you cannot ignore the fact that Postecoglou is coming under increasing pressure from a growing portion of the Tottenham fanbase. We are seeing less and less consistency from Spurs this season and while the Lilywhites were dropping points yet playing superbly at the start of the season, they are not deservedly dropping points week-in week-out.
Such is the cutthroat nature of the Premier League, especially around Christmas, many people will want and even expect Postecoglou to be relieved of his duties. But, the simple fact is he was let down immensely again this evening.
If I was Ange Postecoglou right now, I would be fuming. It was not Tottenham’s best performance of the season, nor was it the most sensible. The match basically consisted of trading punches with one of the most in-form teams in the Premier League, which is never a great idea. However, we cannot ignore the stats.
Tottenham created six big chances but missed four of them. Chelsea created two big chances and put them both away. Tottenham had an xG of 2.91 compared to Chelsea’s xG of 1.46 if we exclude their penalties. Penalties there were given away by Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr in the most naive of circumstances. Bissouma dived in at a player rushing towards the byline, and Sarr nibbled at the heels of a player jogging towards the corner flag.
Chelsea were handed two goals on a plate from situations they were hardly likely to score from. Tottenham end up losing the game by a single goal. What can the manager do to account for those kinds of unforgivable basic errors?
This is by no means a hit piece on Heung-min Son. We all love Sonny. But a captain’s job is to stand up in the tough times, deliver meaningful goals and assists, and keep the team together. The team looked in such disarray out there this evening, and Son missed such a huge chance to put Spurs 3-2 in the lead. Every player misses chances, but Son’s ability to clutch huge moments and goals from nothing seems to have faded this season.
In the absence of Harry Kane as the talismanic figure, and James Maddison struggling to even get into the XI, Son needs to step up and be that guy. Liverpool have Mo Salah, Arsenal have Bukayo Saka, Chelsea have Cole Palmer, Man City having Erling Haaland/Kevin de Bruyne. Tottenham need their main man back now!
All the talk will be about the pressure on Ange Postecoglou, and perhaps that is exactly how Daniel Levy likes it. Forget about the Mourinho and Conte eras. Forget about sacking Mauricio Pochettino. Forget about some of the heartless business decisions he has made over the years. I think this, right here right now, could be the biggest opposition Daniel Levy faces to his position as Tottenham chairman. Whether or not the next person would be any better or worse, people are crying out for a change, and I don’t see those cries ceasing any time soon.
Tottenham are eleventh in the Premier League table. Let that sink in. 15 games and just 20 points. Yes, somehow we are still above Man United, Newcastle and West Ham. Yes, somehow we are still just seven points off the top four and five points off the top five. But Tottenham Hotspur should be fighting at the top of the table, not scrolling to the second page to find themselves in eleventh. Things have to change!
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