Ange Postecolgou’s Last Stand?

Ange Postecoglou’s chances of continuing his run of successful second seasons have dramatically decreased with Tottenham exiting the FA Cup and EFL Cup in recent weeks. Pressure is growing on the Australian and he is running out of time to turn things around in the Premier League. 

This weekend’s clash with Manchester United could prove to be Postecoglou’s last stand. The Red Devils are also enduring a tough period so we should see a chaotic match with managers keen to see intensity. 

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Defence Absentees Mean Goal Fest

Postecoglou has been dealt a tough hand in terms of injury. He could be without as many as 11 first-team players for the game against Manchester United. The likes of Timo Werner, Brennan Johnson and James Maddison should all be absent from the attack but it is the Tottenham defence that has struggled the most with the absentees. 

Radu Dragusin, Cristian Romero, Vicky Van de Ven and Destiny Udogie are all missing from the backline. Guglielmo Vicario is also unlikely to return between the sticks after a lengthy period on the sidelines. As a result of their depleted squad, Tottenham have conceded an average of three goals per game in their last five competitive matches. 

Despite the wealth of absentees, Postecoglou will be keen for his team to show plenty of attacking intent as they search for their first home win in the Premier League since the start of November. Ange has a clear style of play, committing to a high-defensive line and an aggressive attacking approach. This has been to their detriment a lot of times this season but he won’t change as he strives to fend off the sack.

Manchester United have also had more than their fair share of struggles under Ruben Amorim. The forming Sporting boss came in during the November international break and has struggled to get the squad playing his style. The Red Devils have won just four of their 13 league games under Amorim and are conceding an average of 1.69 goals in those matches. With both teams struggling defensively, we should see plenty of goals when they lock horns on Sunday.

The most recent meeting between these sides came in December. Tottenham beat Manchester United 4-3 in the EFL Cup. There were big chances at both ends in that one and the Premier League clash in London looks set to play out in a similar manner.  

A Call for Intensity Can Increase the Card Count

There should be an added intensity about Tottenham with so much at stake for the manager. Postecoglou remains a well-liked figure in the media and it’s easy to imagine that the dressing room will want to fight for their popular boss. Therefore, we should see plenty of cards dished out in this one. Their willingness to throw bodies forward also means they are adept at forcing fouls from the opposition. 

Tottenham’s home games in the Premier League have seen an average of 4.25 cards per game. Their most recent league outing at this stadium saw Leicester pick up five yellow cards. 

Improving United’s intensity off the ball is also high on the agenda for Ruben Amorim. The manager is keen for his team to press aggressively and the physicality of this team is steadily improving under Ruben. The Red Devils’ last five away games across all competitions have seen them pick up an average of four cards per game. 

The recent head-to-head data also shows promise in terms of cards. There were six yellow cards as Tottenham progressed in the EFL Cup in December, evenly spread out between the two teams. The last league meeting between the sides saw Manchester United receive five yellows and a red card while Tottenham picked up three despite having a man advantage. 

Neither team has much hope of securing European football through their league finish but this is a huge game for morale. This could be Ange Postecoglou’s final bow if they suffer defeat but Ruben Amorim also needs his team to show signs of improvement before the end of the campaign. With strong narratives off the pitch, we should see plenty of action on it. Let’s hope for a chaotic fixture with goals and cards in abundance. 

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