Former Tottenham and Manchester United star Terry Gibson has expressed reservations about one of Tottenham Hotspur’s acquisitions last summer, suggesting that the team’s recent performance against Fulham before the international break is indicative of ongoing issues throughout the season.
Despite Tottenham’s promising position in the table, currently fifth with a game in hand and just three points behind Aston Villa, Gibson remains cautious about their prospects. The potential for a successful season, including a return to the Champions League, is evident, but Gibson believes that there are lingering concerns about the team’s overall performance.
The season began with optimism under the guidance of manager Ange Postecoglou, who led Tottenham to the top of the table in the early stages of the campaign with an attractive style of football. However, injuries and tactical adjustments by opposing teams have contributed to Tottenham’s gradual slide from the title conversation.
Fulham’s recent victory over Tottenham highlighted some of the vulnerabilities in Postecoglou’s side, raising questions about their ability to compete at the highest level consistently.
While Gibson acknowledges Postecoglou’s achievements this season, he remains uncertain about whether the manager can lead Tottenham to sustained success in the long term.
Speaking on the Premier League All Access podcast, Gibson emphasized the need for Tottenham to address their shortcomings and adapt to the challenges posed by opponents. While Postecoglou deserves credit for his efforts thus far, Gibson believes that Tottenham must demonstrate greater resilience and tactical acumen to fulfill their potential.
As Tottenham navigates the remainder of the season, they face the dual challenge of securing a coveted Champions League spot while addressing lingering doubts about their ability to compete with the league’s top teams. For Gibson and other observers, Tottenham’s performance in the coming weeks will be crucial in determining their trajectory and the manager’s long-term prospects at the club.
“It would be a fine achievement. I think there’s a big positive turnaround at Spurs this season, because the form and the style of play Spurs had under the previous manager, the supporters weren’t enjoying going to the games. And Postecoglou’s arrived and transformed that. And he’s made a huge difference. I still am not 100 percent convinced I have to be honest, because the Fulham game isn’t a standout match. Spurs have had those disasters during the season. And I do see similar mistakes. Tottenham have a really good set of players now. I think that helps any manager as well. I think it’s the best squad they’ve had for some time. And Harry Kane leaving was a massive blow to Spurs so if there were to finish in the top-four after Harry Kane departing and leaving the club, yes, it would be a fantastic achievement,” he said.
“I revert to being a fan of Spurs rather than a pundit. And I’m just desperate for them to do well and finish in the top-four. So I share that frustration with all the supporters; it was disastrous against Fulham. And if you genuinely think you want to challenge, not just top four, but teams at the top, Spurs were better than Arsenal two or three years ago. Suddenly, Arsenal have gone right past Spurs, so we need to make up ground again. It needs to be, not just about top-four, but challenging, getting closer to the teams at the top. Arsenal have shown it can be done, because no-one was getting close to City and Liverpool. Arsenal have done that over the last couple of years, and I hope Spurs are on a similar trend.”
Criticism is fair despite Spurs’ excellent season:
It is fair to say that there is likely to be more pressure on Postecoglou next season. All of the supporters knew that he was going to need time after what happened under Conte.
In fact, it was almost a surprise that the Australian did so well so quickly. And clearly, the players love playing for him. James Maddison is one of those who has spoken about how impressive Postecoglou is.
The potential has been clear this season. And thus, some fans will want to see the team move forward again next year.
That will perhaps be the time to judge Postecoglou. But right now, there is absolutely no doubt that his first year in the Premier League has been a successful one.