In light of his commitment to Tottenham Hotspur, Ange Postecoglou now faces the challenge of fulfilling his pledged duties.
Cheers echoed from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following the performance displayed by Ange Postecoglou's crew.
This season, marked by false beginnings and ongoing injury crises, the encounter against Wolverhampton Wanderers truly embodies Spurs' recurring disappointments in a compact format.
The team started with eight primary players out, and novice defender Archie Gray stepped in at center half. Regrettably, Tottenham Hotspur didn't escape unharmed either, with Destiny Udogie being forced off due to injury, consequently giving Sergio Reguilon a chance to redeem himself.
Just seven minutes into the match, they dropped behind because of Hee-Chan Hwang's strike. Displaying determination and resilience, the North Londoners rebounded and regained the lead before halftime. Their comeback would have been less challenging if Heung-Min Son hadn't missed a 43rd-minute penalty.
Ultimately, their failure to score a decisive third goal proved costly, as, in the closing stages of regular time, Jorgen Strand Larsen slammed in an equalizer to share the points.
For the second time this season, a somber Ange Postecoglou stood before the cameras postgame, accepting responsibility.
"It pains me because I'm the one accountable," he confessed to broadcasters. "It hurt watching how hard the players gave their all, which only intensified the pain. I wished they'd be rewarded for their effort. It hurts deeply. This is my fault for where we stand right now.
"I'll continue fighting, we have to work on getting reinforcements for these players. It's our duty to aid them in performing at their best. I can see their determination. Had we been sharper, we would have scored that third and even the fourth goal, we were close.
"We're missing the quick, dynamic movements we need. How does Deki [Kulusevski] generate that energy? Dom [Solanke], Sonny. These guys are fighting against fatigue and aren't as sharp as we can be.
"We have numerous challenges to overcome and are not getting a smooth run at anything, recovering injured players to revitalize the team. When we do get one back, we immediately lose another."
Injuries Not Spurs' Only Problem
While the injury list might be accurate, it doesn't tell the whole story regarding Spurs' challenges this season.
Besides, Postecoglou's team has been fragile despite the first-choice lineup being available.
Remember the North London Derby, when a full-strength Tottenham Hotspur faced a depleted Arsenal? Despite dominating the game, they suffered a loss due to an unguarded corner or the 1-2 defeat against Ipswich Town, where the Premier League newcomers took advantage of Spurs' lack of precision.
Far too often, a high-risk strategy has backfired, and opponents have capitalized on Postecoglou's men's mistakes. For instance, in the 3-4 home loss to Chelsea, a more calculated approach would have enabled them to maintain their two-goal advantage instead of collapsing.
Some analysts, like Jamie Carragher, attribute Postecoglou's attacking tactics to the fragility and dropped points.
"To defend in that Tottenham setup, the pressure to advance so high allows them to make questionable decisions," Carragher informed Neville's podcast.
"Overextending at an instance when they have no chance of winning the ball is ludicrous. It's a nonsense. It's just not doable to continually push forward for an entire soccer match.
"Some choices are perplexing. I wouldn’t want to be a defender on that team.
"They demand so much, they are so high, and there is vast open space, leaving them always vulnerable to being picked off. There are aspects I admire, such as the quality of play is fantastic, but they tend to make poor choices.
"I yearn for them to execute better decisions. I love watching Tottenham games; they always provide an exciting spectacle and it's essential to remain entertained.
"However, they need healty players back, and then, I hope the pressure doesn't mount excessively. It's a crucial four or five weeks for Spurs."
Last season was Postecoglou's inaugural season, and given that he introduced a radical new system of play, there was room for his side to commit mistakes.
He began on a positive note, showing ambition not seen at Spurs since Mauricio Pocchettino was manager, and his aim was a refreshing change from the negativity emittted by Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho during their tenures.
Injuries last year were another major factor in derailing Spurs' campaign, and there's a debate as to whether Postecoglou's intense style may increase the risk of players sustaining injuries.
Either way, the Australian coach needs to provide concrete evidence of progress. Not least because when he reminded the media of his track record of "always triumphing in a trophy" in his second season as a manager, he was interpreted as promising to deliver hardware.
In the realm of transfer news, there have been rumors linking Spurs with a potential move for a new midfielder, aiming to address their current depth issues. This could potentially see the exit of some current players, including one who has been struggling to secure a regular spot under Postecoglou.
Amidst these speculations, Postecoglou remains hopeful that the addition of new reinforcements will help Spurs overcome their challenges and improve their performance, particularly in terms of generating quick, dynamic movements. With the spurs' midfield being a key area of concern, a potential new signing could significantly impact their tactics and style of play, potentially influencing their approach in the upcoming matches against teams like Tottenham Hotspur.
