Postecoglou sack: Ange may have ‘foot out the door’ amid conspiracy theories
Ange Postecoglou has been accused of having his “foot out the door” in a latest criticism of his situation at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Australian is hanging onto his job via Spurs’ continuation in the Europa League, having been eliminated from both domestic cups last week.
The focus has now turned to “conspiracy theories” from Postecoglou, whose side take on Manchester United this weekend (16 February), a contest between two sides who have offered up much disappointment in the Premier League this season.
Postecoglou slammed for ‘conspiracy theories’
Postecoglou has been lamented by the Daily Mail’s Ian Ladyman on page 73 of Friday’s print edition (14 February) for his allegations that the press are deliberately bringing him down.
Ladyman hit back at the suggestion that there is an agenda towards the Spurs boss, who he claims he would rather see stay in post but must for his own sake ditch the idea there are some quarters out to get him.
There remains the chance of silverware at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the form of the Europa League, in which his side will discover their last 16 opponents at next week’s draw.
Postecoglou has also been rubbished by Ladyman for suggesting his Australian background has seen him given unjust criticism.
His column states: “Let’s be clear. Nobody in the mainstream media wants to see Postecoglou sacked by Tottenham.
“Nobody treats him differently because he is Australian, as he has previously suggested. There is no agenda. He is being scrutinised over his results just like everybody else. By suggesting it is about something different he appears weak when he actually isn’t.
“Managers who talk in conspiracy theories often end up with a foot out the door. Postecoglou should leave that to the social media loonies and get on with his work while he still can.”
Tottenham managerial situation
Whether it comes down to hope being pinned on the Tottenham’s European ambitions, the acknowledgement that an improvement on Postecoglou would be difficult to attract at this stage, or Daniel Levy is reluctant to cough up a hefty compensation package, the increasingly controversial character remains at the helm.
Sometimes the Spurs boss’ brashness is warranted. It tends to cross the line into abrasion with the media but it appears not to be something that is his priority to sort.
That is entirely fair – he has bigger fish to fry like the ridiculous injury list he has dealt with. It’s the accusations that are the issue. It does little to paint himself in a good light, regardless of what he believes is him being treated differently. Ask the likes of Erik ten Hag, Sean Dyche and Julen Lopetegui some of what they had to deal with earlier this season.
Levy has hung fire and not been eager to jump the gun, and it is very likely now that Postecoglou gets until the end of the season or at least until the European race is run.
Players are gradually returning to fitness, and for now the focus is on the weekend. If anyone last summer had told you a 14th-place Tottenham could beat Manchester United to leapfrog them into 13th in mid-February, alarm bells would be ringing. That’s why Postecoglou is getting what he’s getting.