Why Postecoglou's relationship with some Spurs fans is wobbling

The temper astatine Tottenham Hotspur has changed dramatically wrong a year.

At nan commencement of his tenure past season, caller head Ange Postecoglou started his reign by going connected a 10-game unbeaten tally built astir his progressive style of play aft nan troubled spells of Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho.

Twelve months on, discontent is bubbling to nan aboveground successful northbound London arsenic sections of nan instrumentality guidelines progressively suffer patience pinch nan Australian.

Just 1 triumph successful nan first 4 convention games, including a 1-0 conclusion to rivals Arsenal, has seen Postecoglou person disapproval from immoderate supporters earlier Saturday's location crippled against Brentford (15:00 BST).

In midweek location were boos astatine nan manager's determination to substitute teenage midfielder Lucas Bergvall successful a fortunate 2-1 triumph astatine Coventry City successful nan Carabao Cup amid an progressively antagonistic speech astir nan nine connected societal media.

At Friday's news conference, Postecoglou joked ironically astir having a barroom made for him erstwhile asked astir becoming nan first head to last a afloat 38-game play astatine Spurs since Mauricio Pochettino successful nan 2018-19 campaign.

"It [the negativity] doesn't seep into my environment. The fans are free to consciousness really they want to consciousness and it doesn't effect maine aliases what we are trying to achieve.

"If you're swimming against nan tide, that's alright, that makes you stronger. I deliberation a large portion of it [is change], erstwhile location is existent alteration it unsettles group and they want comfortableness and security, but I came successful present to effort to do thing that hasn't been done for a while.

"You can't conscionable deliberation maine stepping successful will alteration things, you've sewage to alteration things and it tin beryllium unsettling but it is basal for america to execute what we want to."

After Wednesday's lucifer astatine Coventry, Postecoglou's consequence was "I don't make substitutions by poll" successful consequence to a mobility astir nan guidance to Bergvall's withdrawal.

After a play erstwhile fans warmed to Postecoglou's frank and funny responses successful media duties, caller exchanges pinch journalists person been much fractious.

In May, nan 59-year-old could not comprehend nan thought of a Spurs instrumentality hoping to suffer to Manchester City because denying their opponents a triumph could person handed Arsenal nan title.

He said "100 per cent of Spurs fans" wanted his squad to triumph and he would "never understand" those who did not.

During nan 2-0 conclusion which followed, immoderate supporters successful nan crushed appeared happy to spot their squad suffer amid a unusual atmosphere. Postecoglou called it "the worst experience" of his 26-year guidance career.

He besides had to take sides past week's talk of "always" winning trophies successful his 2nd season, saying it was "fact" and not "me boasting".

On Thursday, BBC Sport askedTottenham fans for their views connected nan situation:

Edward: It was a triumph [against Coventry]. Now springiness Ange a break and fto him get connected pinch his occupation successful peace. He is only successful his 2nd play successful charge, truthful he has sewage to beryllium fixed plentifulness of time. Mikel Arteta has been successful complaint of Arsenal for years and only now is he really reaping his rewards. Ange is nan champion head we person had since Mauricio Pochettino. Let Ange create and present our results!

Charlie: This play is already looking for illustration a transcript of past season. We look for illustration an absolute mess. We were flattered astatine Everton but we are getting recovered retired now. Ange seems retired of his extent and, from his comments astir winning things successful his 2nd season, I tin only deliberation he knows he is not going to past until May.

Postecoglou inherited a squad built by 4 managers successful 4 years arsenic nan nine struggled for stableness pursuing Pochettino's sacking successful 2019.

Harry Kane's statement was moving down and nan striker was expected to leave, yet joining Bayern Munich successful a woody worthy up to £100m.

No replacement was signed and his lawman Richarlison suffered an wounded deed season.

Despite nan signing of Dominic Solanke for £65m this summer, Spurs person been importantly outspent by rivals specified arsenic Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City connected transfers complete a 10-year period, according to a caller CIES Football Observatory report.

BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Chris Sutton - who admired Postecoglou's activity astatine his erstwhile nine Celtic - said: "Postecoglou has been successful for conscionable complete a play - truthful to deliberation he took them from eighth to 5th is an improvement, while trading Harry Kane.

"We are [only] 4 games successful and immoderate of nan delirium I person heard aft nan crippled has been ridiculous."

Postecoglou is focused connected what he believes is correct - whether it is celebrated pinch sections of nan supporters aliases not.

His nonstop and unfastened connection is refreshing but his single-minded belief frustrates immoderate supporters, who wonderment if he lacks nan expertise to alteration erstwhile his ideas are not working.

Yet, location has to beryllium immoderate appreciation that Postecoglou is simply a head making decisions that are designed to beryllium of semipermanent benefit, including making 8 changes successful nan Carabao Cup to springiness minutes to nan wider squad and young players contempt risking conclusion astatine Coventry.

It could besides beryllium based on anger towards Postecoglou is portion of a wider vexation pinch nan activity of president Daniel Levy.

Postecoglou's tally astatine nan opening of past play took unit disconnected nan ownership earlier past season's instrumentality forum, which is simply a uncommon chance to perceive from Levy, but sentiment has since nose-dived earlier nan aforesaid arena connected Monday for nan 2024-25 season.

The hiring and firing of managers, a mixed transportation grounds and rising summons prices are each portion of nan image for match-going fans.

Levy's prime to bring successful nan erstwhile Celtic leader was pinch a semipermanent rebuild successful mind astir young players - akin to nan task embarked upon astatine Arsenal nether Arteta - which took 3 years to triumph complete nan mostly of nan instrumentality base.

Rocks successful nan roadworthy were inevitable. Levy and Postecoglou must dream nan squad tin debar further setbacks that could make nan ambiance much gloomy astir a task that 12 months agone looked thing but positive.