“One win, three draws, and four losses”—the clock is ticking against Ange Postecoglou’s situation. The latest blow came in a frustrating loss at Vitality Stadium, and even more so with the heated altercation with the Spurs fans. However, the former USMNT legend, while discussing Tottenham Hotspur’s inconsistency this season, did not shy away from suggesting that the confrontation with fans could create insecurity within the squad. While you can be happy that Postecoglou’s side defeated Pep Guardiola’s Man City by 4-0, you need to start worrying about other games as well.

Once a team starts losing its game in a row, fans get a sense of doubt in their minds: can Spurs turn the tide, or will this chapter be remembered as another missed opportunity? In a recent broadcast with NBC Sports alongside Rebecca Lowe and Gary Neville, USWNT legend Tim Howard offered his candid take on the dynamics: “Yeah, I mean, you know, when I get direct feedback I usually give direct feedback back. You’ve been doing that to me off-air all morning. So no, look, good on him for taking it on the chin, but I said this last week and I wasn’t suggesting he lost the dress room or whatever, but his idea of success is doing Plan A better.”

Don’t you think for players, the frustration grows when a consistent plan fails to yield desired outcomes? That frustration often leads to questioning the manager’s approach, a slippery slope in any dressing room. Something similar to what Tim said: “As a player, when you start to lose matches or you’re not in a position where you want to be in the table, you begin to question the manager sometimes when you continue to do what he’s asking and not getting those results.”

If you do not know, this is how it all started: After a disappointing loss at Vitality Stadium, a group of Spurs fans directed bad comments at head coach Postecoglou. In response, he walked across the pitch to confront the angry supporters, leading to a heated exchange. “I say it all the time; they’re insecure and they look for excuses. If the fans start to turn on him, then inside the dress room you go, oh see, we were kind of right. And so players will gravitate towards anything.“

In the end, don’t you agree that if fans begin to voice their dissatisfaction, it serves as validation for players already harboring doubts? When doubt creeps in, the foundation of a relationship begins to crumble, and the grip starts to slip. Something similar happened in the latest Spurs match; do you know what it is?

Timo Werner under Postecoglou’s fire following Europa League stalemate

Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League clash with Rangers on Thursday night ended in a frustrating 1-1 draw, a result that left manager Ange Postecoglou shaking his head. Speaking about Timo Werner’s performance, he expressed his disappointment: “He wasn’t playing anywhere near the level he should. When you get 18-year-olds, it’s not acceptable to me.” The match, which had initially looked hard for Spurs, became another hurdle in their campaign as they failed to secure all three points.

Werner lost possession 16 times, failed to win any of his five duels, and completed just 69% of his passes. With Spurs trailing at halftime, Postecoglou made the bold decision to replace Werner with Dejan Kulusevski, a move that paid off when Kulusevski scored the equalizer in the 75th minute. However, the result remained a stalemate, leaving Spurs sitting outside the top eight in the Europa League standings due to goal difference.

With only two matches remaining, against Hoffenheim and Elfsborg. They next return to action in the English Premier League against Southampton on December 16, Monday. Whether it’s tactical adjustments, squad reshuffles, or even managerial decisions, the coming weeks will likely define the fate of Postecoglou’s tenure.