Tottenham Hotspur confirmed Friday that they are parting ways with manager Ange Postecoglu. The move comes sixteen days after Postecoglu led Spurs to their first trophy in seventeen years, defeating Manchester United 1 – 0 in the Europa League final in Bilbao, Spain. Despite the insipid performance (the only goal was a deflection off United defender Luke Shaw), Spurs fans lost their minds with the victory, flooding social media with paeans of greatness and celebration.

It seems that Daniel Levy, Spurs’ chairman, and his executive “team” of sycophants were less swayed by emotion than the average Spurs fan. Examining the weight of the trophy against Postecoglu’s managerial record since his appointment in July 2023, the board found the Australian wanting and duly kicked him to the curb. Of course, their decision was couched in PR handwringing explaining how their conclusion was “one of the toughest decisions we have had to make.” Sure.

In that same breath, those same board members all got on their cell phones to check the availability of other managers. Leading the pack there is Thomas Frank, the current Brentford manager. His $13.5M release clause is peanuts thanks to the financial boost automatic qualification for next year’s Champions League brings with it. 

Numbers Don’t Lie

To be fair, Ange’s stats are not strong. This last Premier League season the Spurs had their worst points total since 1914 – 38. Those are facts you can’t argue with, the team only had 11 wins, 5 draws and 22 losses. They avoided relegation solely through the ineptitude of the three promoted teams from last season, the best of whom (Leicester City) only gathered 25 points.

The last five games in the league saw Spurs earn 4 losses and a draw, the same results as relegated Ipswich City and Southampton. While it seemed clear that Ange was prioritizing the promise of the Europa League over the lost cause of the Premiership, that was no excuse for the team’s limp performances. The gaffer even lost faith in his frenetic, high-intensity system of “Angeball.” So much for the “stick-to-the-system, matey” mentality. Early season Spurs could at least be thrilling to watch, even they were porous and brittle in defense. Late-season Spurs were as exciting as treacle.

While his Aussie insouciance was candor appealed to some, others found it grating and annoying. It was never really clear how he was perceived in the locker room. His obligatory post-match (usually post-loss) interviews would often provide the thinnest of smoke screens for his players, and I’m sure quite a few felt the gaffer should give them more protection.

Time will tell where Ange next lands, but don’t let Levy’s footprint on your arse give you any trouble. Use some Shout! and launder those pants.

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