Prickly Postecoglou’s Excuses are Wearing Thin at Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur kicked off their 2025 fixtures with a disappointing 2-1 home defeat against Newcastle United in the Premier League.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have now lost ten of their 20 league games this season, and securing European qualification is looking increasingly unlikely.

Spurs went into the 2024/25 campaign with ambitions of finishing in the top four after claiming fifth spot last term, but things have not gone to plan.

Postecoglou was absolutely fuming after the Newcastle game, and engaged in a prickly interview with a reporter on BBC Radio Five Live.

Dominic Solanke had put the home side ahead with a diving header in the fourth minute before Newcastle equalised through Anthony Gordon.

Joelinton appeared to handle the ball in the build-up, but the officials decided the contact was accidental and allowed the goal to stand.

Newcastle defender Dan Burn should also have been given a second yellow card later in the game after a handball while jumping to prevent a Tottenham counter-attack.

“On the balance of play, any balance you want with all things being equal, we would have won today,” Postecoglou said. “Things weren’t equal and balanced.

“You can talk about whatever you want. You want my opinion – if all things were equal and balanced, we would have won.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the players. I couldn’t ask any more. It’s a game we would have won if all things were equal.

“We had plenty of chances. Our football was outstanding considering everything we’re going through. If it was an even playing field we’d have won.”

While Postecoglou undoubtedly has plenty of credit in the bank after an impressive first season at the club, the current campaign has not lived up to expectations.

Injuries have not helped Tottenham’s cause, but they are not the solitary reason why they are closer to the relegation zone than the top four.

In simple terms, teams with top four ambitions do not lose at home to Newcastle. Manager Eddie Howe is no tactical genius and Tottenham have the players to beat them.

Despite this, Howe’s side emerged victorious to leave Spurs with a tally of just one point from four league games over the festive period.

Postecoglou’s demeanour after his team’s latest defeat mirrored his antics following the disappointing 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.

His post-match news conference lasted just over two minutes, but his comments during that limited period followed an increasingly questionable pattern.

However, while Tottenham had plenty of possession in the game, most neutral observers acknowledged that Forest were worthy winners.

New Zealand striker Chris Wood gave Tottenham’s defence a torrid time, showcasing why he would have been a better buy than Solanke for the London club.

The Kiwi has been a revelation for Forest this season, and his exploits in front of goal have made him hugely popular with sports bettors in his homeland.

Numerous New Zealand betting sites have been inundated with wagers on Wood in the ‘score anytime’ market this season, and he has delivered plenty of winning returns to Kiwi punters.

Given that Solanke cost more than four times as much as Wood, Tottenham fans have every right to query why the New Zealander was never on their radar.

Bigger questions need to be asked about Postecoglou, whose penchant for engaging in ‘whataboutery’ appears to be masking his inability to deliver results.

He was eager to highlight earlier in the season that he has always delivered silverware in his second year at a club, but it would be a brave move to back him to achieve the feat this term.

Regardless of injuries and other excuses, a record of ten defeats in 20 league games is simply not good enough for Tottenham.

Postecoglou’s eagerness to deflect the blame for his team’s underwhelming run of results is beginning to wear thin. He needs to change the narrative, and quickly.