Breaking: Postecoglou team selection ‘might hold clues’ after angry ‘explosion’
Reaction against West Ham will show if Brighton collapse was a one-off or evidence of a more ingrained problem in the squad
As Tottenham’s internationals filtered back to Hotspur Way this week, they should not have expected a warm reception from Ange Postecoglou.
The Spurs head coach can be cool with his players at the best of times but he has spent this international break stewing over his side’s collapse from 2-0 at half-time to lose 3-2 at Brighton last time out.
Postecoglou even said in a broadcast interview this week that he is “ready to explode” on his players as a form of “therapy”, and it felt like he was only half-joking.
Postecoglou had no chance to properly address the bulk of his squad at the Amex before they left for international duty but most of the players will have since seen his loaded post-match comments, when the Australian accused them of a lack of “fight” and failing to do the basics.
It was a direct hit on their mentalities – not nearly as extreme as Antonio Conte’s final rant as Spurs boss after a similar collapse at Southampton, but with the same underlying message – and one of things Postecoglou has likely been “sitting on” this fortnight is whether the game was a one-off or evidence of a more ingrained problem in his young squad.
His team selection for Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off against West Ham might hold some clues, with captain Heung-min Son back in training and set to return on the left of the front three and Richarlison likely to be on the bench following his latest injury lay-off.
Postecoglou will be expecting a response against the Hammers and a home derby feels like a good occasion for Spurs’ players to demonstrate their spirit in what promises to be a loud atmosphere, notwithstanding the early start.
Postecoglou, too, did not escape scrutiny for the Brighton collapse, particularly as he did not make a substitution until the 78th minute, after the turnaround was complete and long after the momentum had decisively shifted in the Seagulls’ favour.
And one question raised by the game was whether Spurs will always be at risk of these kinds of turnarounds due to their aggressive tactical approach.
Their performance in the second half was so loose, it threatened to colour Spurs impressive five-game winning run that came before it.
Even on that winning streak, Postecoglou’s side gave up chances to every opponent, and Tottenham victories at the moment rarely feel like sure-things, even if they are often fabulously entertaining.
Equally, however, their underlying metrics over the first seven League games of the season are extremely promising and Spurs were arguably unfortunate not to take more points from the matches against Leicester, Newcastle and Arsenal, not to mention Brighton, when Brennan Johnson missed a chance to make it 3-0 just before the interval.
Postecoglou is still yet to oversee a derby win over Arsenal, Chelsea or West Ham, and while the head coach would consider it parochial to be concerned by local bragging rights – his aim, after all, is to finish above all 19 others club in the division – supporters take notice of these trends.
The Brighton game was a dramatic mood shift for Spurs, a major vibe-killer before the internationals, which Postecoglou, his players and the fans are now desperate to get out of their system.
West Ham feels like another big game for Spurs – don’t they all, really? – and a chance to restore the positive mood for another big period ahead.
Get more related news on https://sportviewers.com
Leave a Reply