Simply whenever you assume it may’t get any worse for Tottenham Hotspur below Ange Postecoglou, it does.
A 2-1 residence defeat to a foul, unhealthy Leicester workforce represented one more nadir in what’s been an excruciating 2024/25 marketing campaign for the Lilywhites. A mountain of accidents means Spurs are right down to their naked bones, with these at present out there in no place to execute the idealistic rules of their supervisor twice per week.
The membership insists that they are sticking by Postecoglou and can proceed to again him, but their inactivity within the winter switch market suggests they as a substitute fancy hanging him out to dry. The Greek-Australian coach is much from innocent, however assist is critical and he merely hasn’t received any this month.
Tottenham’s demise means the thought of relegation is instantly no laughing matter. As a substitute of competing with the likes of Newcastle and Chelsea for a Champions League spot, Spurs are hoping Ipswich and Wolves drop factors to allow them to stay within the division.
Their present points-per-game price paints the bleakest of images, with Spurs on tempo for a ultimate factors haul shy of 40 (39.7).
Martin Jol stays a fondly remembered determine in N17, with the Dutch coach serving to Spurs escape the murky depths of the Jacques Santini period and veer in the direction of the highest of the Premier League desk.
They’d come shut on a few events to securing their first style of Champions League soccer with Jol on the helm, however he was let go three years into the job and changed by Juande Ramos in October 2007.
Ramos arrived with a lofty popularity, however the method of Jol’s departure left a bitter style and supporters struggled to take to the Spaniard. Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane continued to work their magic up prime, however their league marketing campaign was detached as they completed the 2007/08 season in eleventh with 46 factors.
Their League Cup ultimate victory over Chelsea at Wembley stays the membership’s most up-to-date piece of main silverware.
There was no saving grace for Gerry Francis’ facet in 1996/97, with Spurs struggling to muster any cup runs of word amid a forgettable league season.
Francis had accomplished an honest job in north London, however his third season on the helm was certainly one of distinct regression. After barely lacking out on a UEFA Cup berth within the two earlier campaigns, Spurs sunk to tenth having amassed 46 factors.
They feasted on the poor and barely confirmed up in opposition to a few of the division’s stronger outfits, with a 7-1 defeat away at Newcastle United in late December representing the marketing campaign’s low level.
Spurs by no means gained greater than two league video games on the bounce, and Teddy Sheringham led the membership’s scoring charts with simply eight targets in all competitions.
Tottenham’s present woes aren’t helped by the truth that north London rivals Arsenal are fairly good. Thankfully, the Gunners aren’t 2003/04 ranges of fine.
2003/04 has to rank among the many bleakest in Spurs’ fashionable historical past on condition that their 14th-place end within the Premier League got here whereas Arsenal have been embarking on an unprecedented Invincibles marketing campaign. That may’ve been unhealthy sufficient, however permitting Arsene Wenger’s supreme outfit to win the league title at White Hart Lane was the last word kick within the tooth.
Spurs’ 2-2 draw within the North London Derby got here amid an eight-game winless run, however they did a minimum of finish the season with back-to-back wins over Blackburn and Wolves, serving to them as much as 45 factors.
After overseeing a regressive 1996/97 season, the writing was on the wall for Francis after Spurs began the next marketing campaign with 14 factors from as many video games. Francis resigned after a 4-0 defeat at Anfield, with White Hart Lane attendances dropping to as little as 25,000 for 1-0 residence losses to Leeds and Crystal Palace in November.
Their woeful begin to the marketing campaign rendered them a relegation contender, however the return of cult hero Jurgen Klinsmann after Christian Gross changed Francis supplied the Lilywhites hope. The German celebrity was on the decline and hints of the magic from three seasons prior had dissipated, however Klinsmann nonetheless ended 1997/98 as Tottenham’s main scorer within the Premier League with 9 targets.
A gradual run to finish the season meant they beat the drop with some ease, however their 44-point haul stays Spurs’ lowest in a 38-game season.
We have needed to do some points-per-game adjusting right here, as a result of Tottenham’s 1993/94 marketing campaign must be recognised as their worst in Premier League historical past.
Spurs ended the 42-game season with 45 factors – 1.07 points-per-game common which works out to 40.7 over 38 video games.
The adored Ossie Ardiles took the reins after Terry Venables controversially obtained his marching orders, and a way of pleasure prevailed over White Hart Lane as the previous Argentine midfielder promised to instil an excellent model of soccer able to returning the Lilywhites to the promised land.
Spurs did rating greater than a objective a recreation, on common, however they tended to ship extra. Ardiles wasn’t helped by Teddy Sheringham’s harm woes, and it took a 2-0 win at Oldham Athletic on the penultimate week of the season to make sure they remained within the prime flight. The Argentine performed a key function in bringing Klinsmann to the membership forward of the next season, however Ardiles by no means managed in England once more after leaving Spurs in October 1994.
