For Tottenham Hotspur fans, the optimism that followed Ange Postecoglou’s arrival has turned into frustration, as the team’s defensive frailties have laid bare the shortcomings in the club’s recruitment strategy, raising questions about what could have been done differently to avoid such a predicament.
It was the summer of 2023 when Ange Postecoglou, fresh from his triumphs with Celtic, was announced as Tottenham Hotspur’s new manager.
The club was at a crossroads—years of inconsistent performances, a lack of identity, and failed managerial experiments had left Spurs in disarray.
What lay ahead for the Australian was no small feat: he was tasked with transforming a fractured squad, reshaping the team’s ethos, and reigniting the belief of a disillusioned fan base.
Postecoglou’s plan was clear from the outset—a complete rebuild was necessary. Out went the deadwood, and in came a new philosophy, one built around youth, energy, and attacking football.
For a while, it worked brilliantly. The first ten games of the 2023/24 season were a revelation: high-intensity football, quick transitions, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Spurs supporters dared to dream again as their team sat proudly atop the Premier League table, seemingly on the verge of something special.
However, the honeymoon period was short-lived. The cracks began to appear as injuries piled up, exposing the thinness of the squad. By the end of the season, Tottenham’s early promise had dissipated.
They narrowly missed out on a top-four finish, leaving questions about whether the squad was adequately prepared for the rigours of the campaign.
For one, the 2023/24 season highlighted a glaring issue in Tottenham’s squad construction: a lack of depth in defence.
The injury to Micky van de Ven was particularly damaging, as the Dutch centre-back had been crucial to the team’s success on both ends of the pitch.
His pace allowed Postecoglou’s side to press higher up the field, providing a defensive safety net that Spurs sorely missed in his absence.
When Van de Ven was sidelined for ten league games due to a hamstring injury, the impact was immediate and severe.
Tottenham conceded an average of 1.9 goals per game during that stretch, compared to just 1.35 goals per game when he was in the starting line-up.
Offensively, Spurs also suffered without him, scoring 2.1 goals per game compared to 2.52 with the defender on the pitch.
The team’s overall performance followed suit: the points per game dropped from 2.35 with Van de Ven to just 1.3 without him—a staggering 45% decline (transfermarket).
It was made clear that for Ange Postecoglou’s system to work effectively, a defender in the same mould as Micky van de Ven is essential.
Bearing this analysis in mind, the belief coming into the 24/25 season was straightforward: strengthen the defensive area that lacked depth and secure UEFA Champions League football sooner than expected.
Fast forward to December 2024, and Tottenham find themselves in 12th place, nine points clear of the relegation zone but 11 points adrift of the Champions League spots.
The club’s defensive crisis has deepened, with Van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, and Radu Dragusin all sidelined by injuries.
The responsibility for this predicament lies squarely with the club’s hierarchy and their inadequate squad planning.
Van de Ven’s injury record was no secret—he has consistently missed a significant about of games during each stage of his career.
Despite this, Tottenham entered the season with just three natural centre-backs, one of whom, Davies, is more comfortable as a full-back.
With a schedule of over 50 matches, the decision to rely on such a threadbare defensive unit now appears reckless.
The failure to address this glaring issue in the summer transfer window underscores the club’s reactive approach to recruitment.
Tottenham’s ambitions of Champions League football have been severely hampered by the lack of foresight, turning what should have been a straightforward fix into a significant obstacle.
As the January transfer window approaches, the pressure is on the club to act decisively and correct the mistakes of the past.
The question now is whether they can learn from these mistakes and prevent history from repeating itself, or if the cycle of disappointment will continue.
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