Tottenham’s Season in Turmoil

Tottenham Hotspur’s season has taken a sharp turn for the worse under Ange Postecoglou, as injuries have ravaged their squad and dashed hopes of building on last season’s progress. Dominic Solanke recently joined a growing list of sidelined players, compounding Spurs’ woes ahead of their UEFA Europa League clash with Hoffenheim and a crucial Premier League match against Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City.

We spoke with former Tottenham and England midfielder Chris Waddle to get his take on two key figures at the club: Cristian Romero and Ange Postecoglou.

Romero’s Body Language Suggests He Wants to Leave

Cristian Romero’s future at Spurs has come under scrutiny amid reports that the Argentine defender could be open to a move away if the club fails to secure Champions League football. Romero has been out of action for two months due to toe and groin injuries, with his last appearance coming in December’s defeat to Chelsea. His absence, alongside injuries to players like Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario, has been a significant blow to Tottenham’s defensive stability.

While Waddle is an admirer of Romero’s aggressive, no-nonsense style, he believes Tottenham should consider cashing in on the center-back if his commitment to the club is waning.

“Romero is a good, old-fashioned center-half who’s not afraid to leave his foot in. He’ll hit you if he has to hit you. He’s not afraid of a yellow card or a red,” Waddle explained.

However, Waddle added that Romero’s demeanor suggests his ambitions may lie elsewhere.

“His body language after last season suggests he doesn’t really want to be at the club anymore. I think he believes he should be at Real Madrid or Barcelona. If he wants to go, it’s better for Tottenham to cash in and buy someone who wants to play for the club.”

Waddle Backs Ange Despite Calls for His Sacking

Tottenham currently sit 15th in the Premier League, with just one win in their last 10 league games and no victories in their past six. A 3-2 defeat at Everton has further fueled speculation about Postecoglou’s future. Despite the poor form, Waddle remains a fan of the Australian manager and sympathizes with the injury crisis that has derailed Spurs’ season.

“I like Ange. He’s positive, he talks well, and his team plays exciting, nail-biting football. If he had his full team, we wouldn’t be talking about Tottenham in this way,” Waddle said.

“He’s been unlucky with injuries, but the issue for me is there’s no plan B. Sometimes you need to drop off, play deeper, and use the pace in the team to hit opponents on the break. But Ange is stubborn about his style.”

Waddle also speculated that the intensity of Postecoglou’s playing style could be contributing to the injury crisis.

“The way they play may be contributing to the injuries because of the intensity. I’ve never seen so many injuries. It’s strange.”

Ange’s Lack of a Plan B Is Harming Tottenham

While Waddle sympathizes with Postecoglou’s predicament, he believes the manager’s unwillingness to adapt tactically has exacerbated Tottenham’s struggles. Known for their high-tempo, attacking style, Spurs have frequently left themselves exposed, something Waddle feels could be mitigated with a more pragmatic approach in certain games.

“I think he could try to frustrate teams more by sitting deeper, making teams break them down, and then hitting them on the counter,” Waddle suggested.

He also compared Postecoglou’s success at Celtic to the challenges of managing in the Premier League.

“At Celtic, he could play any system because Celtic or Rangers are going to win the league every year. But in the Premier League, with so many good teams, you need a plan B.”

Despite these criticisms, Waddle urged patience and dismissed calls for Postecoglou to be sacked.

“Tottenham are exciting, which is what the fans wanted. They’ve had managers who were too defensive and cautious, and the fans didn’t like that. I feel sorry for him because of the injuries to key players. Some fans are saying sack the manager, but I don’t agree. Judge him when he has his players back. At the moment, he hasn’t got that, and it’s hard to put 18, 19, and 20-year-olds into the team.”

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