Why Spurs can look north to Newcastle for optimism | OneFootball

Tottenham’s fanbase is split between those who still believe in Ange Postecoglou and those who want a change of manager, with pressure increasing on the Australian after Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Newcastle.

The Spurs hierarchy are still supporting him publicly, and with no obvious successor in sight, Postecoglou is expected to be given the rest of January in a bid to turn things around.

It won’t be easy for an injury-hit squad that faces nine games in 30 days, starting with Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday, but if Postecoglou wants an example of how things can turn, he should look at Eddie Howe’s situation at Newcastle over the past year, where a club that had finished fourth in 2023 and were enjoying some spectacular nights in the Champions League, were also deemed to be in crisis.

Newcastle are in a healthy position right now, fifth in the table, five points behind second-placed Arsenal going into Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against the Gunners, with winnable games to come against Bromley in the FA Cup, plus Wolves, Bournemouth, Southampton and Fulham in the league.

No wonder there is a feelgood factor around the club. Yet this time last year, it was a different story. A rash of injuries to key players, loss of form and confidence, and six defeats in seven games over the festive period meant Newcastle went into their match at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium with both first-choice centre-backs and three other players injured, star signing Sandro Tonali banned and a slump in form from key players such as Keiran Trippier and Isak. They lost 4-1.

This time it was Tottenham’s turn to suffer without three central defenders, which became four when Radu Dragusin could not continue after half time because of sickness, a third-choice goalkeeper making his debut, out-of-form senior players Heung Min Son and James Maddison dropped and a rash of teenagers on the pitch and on the bench.

Thomas Tuchel, on duty for the first time since taking over officially as England manager on New Year’s Day, must have been impressed not only by the goalscoring of Anthony Gordon but also impressive displays by Newcastle’s young full-backs Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento.

They are thriving in a Newcastle side that has found its rhythm since Tonali returned from his long suspension for betting offences, and unlike Postecoglou, Howe has the luxury of being able to field a settled team week after week.

Eight players have started all of their past six games, as Howe has found a winning formula centred around Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes in midfield. “We went through a spell where we were very inconsistent with our performances and results, so I made a conscious decision to try to be consistent with my team selection, to try to give the best chance to get consistent results.

“We’ve started to win games, so I’ve been very reluctant to change things or unbalance what’s been working for us. Sometimes, even within a game, I haven’t wanted to change the dynamic too much unless I’ve felt like I’ve absolutely had to.”

What Postecoglou would give to have his big names back from injury and suspension as Spurs face an unenviable run of games. Having lost 6-3 to Liverpool two weeks ago, they face Arne Slot’s side in a two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final starting on Wednesday. They then face four away games that could make or break their season and Postecoglou’s chances of remaining in charge.

Tamworth in the FA Cup should be a chance to rotate his squad and blood some youngsters, but Premier League trips to Arsenal and Everton rarely bring Spurs much joy, and then they travel to Hoffenheim in a bid to reach the knockout stages of the Europa League, before facing Liverpool at Anfield in the second leg of the Carabao Cup.

It totals nine games in the space of 30 days, and with his depleted squad unlikely to welcome back many of the long-term injured, he desperately needs signings. Young Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was signed from Slavia Prague for €15m Euros this weekend, and Daniel Levy, the chairman who is the subject of repeated protests from fans, has to decide whether to back Postecoglou with more signings.

Howe, meanwhile, has found a winning formula and can look forward to a serious challenge for the top four and more.

Levy, and Tottenham’s restless fans, could do worse than look north for an example of how patience can pay off.