It feels like just yesterday that Tottenham Hotspur fans were basking in the glow of early optimism under Ange Postecoglou. The man’s enthusiasm was infectious, and his approach to football was as fresh as his accent was hard to imitate - mate. For a while, his tenure felt like the dawn of something exciting, a man so eager to make his mark on the club that his name was nearly as hard to pronounce as the endless list of managerial candidates Spurs fans had endured over the years. Spurs were playing expansive, attacking football that had fans dreaming of bigger things. Anyone could admit, Tottenham were vibes, with many pundits citing them as their favourite team to watch, with Postecoglou happy to ‘stick another shrimp on the barbie’, or, ‘stick another striker on in the derby’. 

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But now, barely halfway through his second season, Spurs find themselves stuck in familiar territory, leading many to wonder: “Is it time to panic? Or just another ‘Tottenham Thing’?” 

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The Highs and Lows of Postecoglou’s Reign 

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In Postecoglou’s first season (2023-2024), Spurs were a revelation. They finished fifth, secured a Europa League spot, and for once, didn’t seem like a club ready to implode at the first sign of pressure. They were playing fluid, attacking football, and for a while, it felt like maybe—just maybe—Spurs had figured it out. They finished above the dreaded top-four drop-off, and it seemed that Postecoglou was building something special. 

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Fast forward to this season, and the contrast couldn’t be starker. After picking up 26 points from their first 10 Premier League games under Postecoglou—promising results that had fans believing Spurs were in for a serious top-four challenge—things have taken a nosedive. Spurs are currently languishing in 13th place, with only one win from their past nine Premier League matches. If Manchester United beats bottom club Southampton, Spurs will drop to 14th, which would be their lowest position at the end of a Premier League matchweek since Postecoglou took charge. You know it’s bad this season when Manchester United might be above you… 

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So, how does this season compare to last? Well, the numbers don’t lie. 

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• 2023-24: Spurs were solid for much of the campaign, finishing fifth and securing European football for the next season. Despite some midseason hiccups, they never fell out of the top six after their second game and even spent some time leading the table. It felt like progress. 
   

• 2024-25: Not only have Spurs spent just two matchweeks in the top six this season, but they’ve also spent most of the first half of the season slipping further down the table. They’ve only once ended a round of Premier League fixtures higher than at the same stage last year. A far cry from the early promise they showed last season. 

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Injuries and Their Sly Role in Tottenham’s Collapse 

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Of course, no discussion about Tottenham is complete without mentioning the perpetual injury crisis. This season, it feels as though Tottenham’s centre-backs are going down like dominoes, and the goalkeeper situation —Vicario literally breaking in half to win us some points — has added further complications. Injuries have played a major role in the recent slump, particularly in defence, where Tottenham have been exposed time and time again. It’s like the club can never catch a break when it comes to keeping players fit for an extended period. 

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And while Spurs continue to falter, others are thriving. Just nine games ago, Spurs were in sixth place, level on points with Nottingham Forest and one point ahead of Newcastle. Now, they find themselves 17 points behind Forest and 14 behind Newcastle, a testament to the club’s inability to sustain any momentum. 

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The ‘Tottenham Way’ and the Bottomless Pit of Optimism 

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It wouldn’t be a true Spurs season without fans walking the fine line between cautious optimism and impending doom. One minute, they’re toppling Manchester City 4-0, the next, they’re struggling to stay mid-table while Arsenal fans—loud as ever—are offering their unsolicited commentary. 

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And then there’s The Tottenham Way—that mythical concept where no matter how much you invest, how many new managers you hire, or how much hope you place in the team, disappointment is always just around the corner. For every glimmer of promise, there’s a setback—like an ex who keeps saying they’ll change, but never quite does. Sure, the ex might have had some cosmetic surgery, our new stadium the equivalent of a footballing boob-job, but it’s always the same results.  

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The Postecoglou Experiment: To Stick or Not to Stick? 

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It’s all well and good to say, “Give Postecoglou time”—and by time, of course, we mean a few seasons, right? But with Spurs in their current state, sinking like a lead balloon, and having only one win from their past nine Premier League games, it’s a fair question: How much longer can the board stick with the “rebuild” narrative before they pull the trigger and start the managerial merry-go-round again? 

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In Postecoglou’s defence, though, all is not lost. Spurs still have a Carabao Cup semi-final tie against Liverpool, they’re in the FA Cup, and their Europa League campaign is still alive. In fact, lifting a trophy in 2025 could be their best shot at European football next season, as Premier League qualification seems increasingly out of reach. After all, Postecoglou was adamant in September that his second season with a club would always result in trophies. While the trophy may still come, Spurs’ aspirations of European qualification via the league are now looking far less realistic. As long as it isn’t another Audi Cup, I won’t mind. 

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Furthermore, there's a silver lining in the form of emerging youth stars like Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall. These two, stepping up when others are injured, have come on leaps and bounds and represent the future of Tottenham, so it’s clear the coaching team is doing something right in the development department. But, as Alan Hansen foolishly said, you can’t win anything with kids… 

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The Case for Patience... and Panic

 

So, what’s the verdict for Spurs fans? Should you panic, or is this just the Tottenham Way at work? If you’re a glass-half-full kind of person, you’ll point to the fact that Spurs are just six points off the top six, and with a couple of good results, they could find themselves back in the race for European spots. But with a mountain of injuries, a lack of consistency, and the current form slump, it’s hard to take too many positives from the situation. But then again, it’s Tottenham. Fans have seen stranger things. Much stranger – Victor Wanyama eating spaghetti in his announcement video, Moussa Sissoko winning Player of the Year then giving a handball away in our most important game and, of course, Timo Werner starting another match. 

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At the end of the day, should Spurs stick with Postecoglou? The answer is probably yes—though with the understanding that, as always with Tottenham, patience is a luxury in short supply. The alternative is another rebuild under a new manager who promises the same thing, with the same set of expectations. With Spurs, you always get the hope of something better, but the key is not to hold your breath waiting for it. 

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In conclusion, Tottenham are where they’ve always been—trapped in a cycle of fleeting optimism, injury dramas, and a fanbase trying desperately to make sense of it all. One thing’s for sure: The Tottenham Way is alive and well. Whether that’s a blessing or a curse depends on how you choose to look at it. Just remember: you can always find hope, but you’ll need patience—and maybe a helmet—for the bumps along the way.