Postecoglou safe for now as Spurs chairman bears the brunt of criticism

Despite Tottenham Hotspur's crushing home defeat to Leicester City, Ange Postecoglou, Australia's first Premier League manager, has temporarily retained his position, but the pressure on him is steadily mounting. While club chairman Daniel Levy remains the focal point of discontent for most fans, criticism of Postecoglou's rigid tactics is also increasing, compounded by a growing list of injuries.

Tottenham currently sits 15th in the 20-team league, having lost 9 of their last 11 Premier League matches and winning only 1, leaving them 8 points above the relegation zone. After losing to Leicester City, who had previously lost seven consecutive league games, major British newspapers ran headlines such as "Get Ange Out," "How long have I got? Who knows?" and "Oh mate," the latter referring to Postecoglou's habit of adding the phrase to the end of most sentences.

Postecoglou is Tottenham Hotspur's fifth permanent manager in six years. Of the previous four, Mauricio Pochettino was sacked despite leading the team to the Champions League final and four top-four finishes; while Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, and Antonio Conte were dismissed when the team was in seventh, eighth, and fourth place respectively. However, it's also acknowledged that the 59-year-old manager has been hampered by an injury list that has not only sidelined many first-choice players but also left the remaining players exhausted after playing 19 games in 66 days.

Youth players Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall have had to play in every game, with Gray even being deployed in unfamiliar positions, while the only new arrival in the January transfer window was a 21-year-old goalkeeper. Furthermore, there are currently no other suitable candidates to replace the former Brisbane manager, and Levy's experience of appointing interim managers after sacking permanent managers in recent seasons suggests this has not improved the team's results. Consequently, British media reports suggest that the club will continue to support Postecoglou for now and try to buy a striker to strengthen his squad. Record signing Dominic Solanke, who joined for AUD 160 million in the off-season, is also currently injured and will not return until March.

"I'm a football manager, and I'll be judged on results, that's the way the world works," Postecoglou said after the loss to Leicester City. "Hopefully, in the next 10 days to two weeks, we'll get some significant players back, and I think that will help us a great deal." He added, "Our league position is nowhere near good enough. That reflects on me and my coaching staff, but we still have a lot of opportunities to make an impact in the second half of the season, and I believe that will happen." Tottenham is still in contention for three cup competitions, and if they win their game against Swedish minnows Elfsborg on Thursday, they will secure a place in the last 16 of the Europa League.