In what is becoming an all-too-familiar story, Everton have turned to ‘Dr Tottenham’ for a cure to their ailments, and the North London side has once again delivered a prescription of defeat. While the latest victim of Tottenham’s struggles was Everton, the result has cast a long shadow over the future of Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou. A 3-2 defeat to Everton leaves Tottenham licking their wounds, with fans growing increasingly frustrated at a run of just two wins in their last 10 Premier League games.
Tottenham’s struggles are becoming a more common refrain as the club continues to falter, with Postecoglou’s leadership now under intense scrutiny. Meanwhile, Everton, led by a reinvigorated David Moyes, secured only their fourth league win of the season. The 3-2 victory marked a significant turnaround for the Toffees, but for Spurs, the result only deepens the crisis.
‘Dr Tottenham‘ – A Cursed Remedy for Struggling Teams
The phrase “Dr Tottenham” has become a cruel nickname aimed at Spurs, a suggestion that teams or managers in desperate need of a pick-me-up can often rely on Tottenham for a quick cure. This season, several clubs have found themselves beneficiaries of Tottenham’s misfortune. Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town both managed to secure much-needed victories against Spurs, with Everton now joining the list.
Everton’s recent form has been far from stellar, but with the return of Moyes to the helm, they hoped that Spurs would offer the tonic they desperately needed. With a string of poor performances under their belt, including a 1-0 loss at home to Aston Villa in Moyes’s first match back, Everton were struggling. However, they knew that Tottenham, with their current injury woes and lack of form, were ripe for the taking.
Tottenham’s ongoing injury crisis, compounded by an underwhelming start to the season, made them an ideal opponent for a revitalized Everton side. At kick-off, Everton had failed to score in nine of their previous 11 league games, but against Tottenham, they found a way to break their dry spell. Their first-half performance was dynamic and clinical, something that had been sorely lacking earlier in the season.
Calvert-Lewin Reignites His Scoring Form Against Spurs
One of Everton’s biggest problems this season has been the lack of goals from striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The forward had gone 16 games without scoring in the Premier League, a statistic that weighed heavily on both the player and the team. However, in the 13th minute of the game, Calvert-Lewin silenced his critics with a brilliant finish that put Everton 1-0 up.
It was a goal that marked the end of his lengthy goal drought, and more importantly, it came against Tottenham. Calvert-Lewin expertly turned Tottenham defender Archie Gray before confidently slotting the ball past Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky. It was his first league goal in over 1,200 minutes of play, and it provided a vital boost for Everton.
The goal set the tone for a stunning first-half display, where Everton went on to score three goals before the break. Tottenham’s defensive frailties were on full display as Everton capitalized on Spurs’ lack of organization and commitment. By halftime, the score was 3-0, and the Everton faithful were in jubilant spirits. Tottenham, on the other hand, were once again left searching for answers.
Tottenham’s Shambolic First Half: A Tactical Disaster
Tottenham’s first-half performance against Everton was a complete disaster. Spurs were slow, disorganized, and lacking in urgency. Everton made them look like amateurs, racking up 12 shots, with six on target, a stat that is almost unheard of for a team facing the usually solid Spurs defense.
The defensive strategy employed by Postecoglou, which saw Spurs play with three at the back, backfired spectacularly. The new formation failed to offer the stability Tottenham desperately needed, and they were left exposed to Everton’s attacking threats. With injuries to key players, including strikers Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson, Postecoglou’s resources were limited, but the performance still failed to inspire confidence.
Spurs’ inability to deal with Everton’s pressure in the first half was deeply concerning for the fans who had traveled to Goodison Park. The traveling Spurs supporters, already frustrated with the team’s recent run of results, voiced their anger, turning their chants on chairman Daniel Levy rather than Postecoglou. The sarcastic “ole” chants from the away fans further highlighted their dissatisfaction with the performance on the pitch.
A Late Rally: Tottenham Small Consolation
Despite being 3-0 down at halftime, Tottenham did manage to mount a brief rally in the second half. Dejan Kulusevski pulled a goal back for Spurs in the 53rd minute, and Richarlison’s goal in the 72nd minute further reduced the deficit. However, these late strikes came far too late to prevent a defeat that had been thoroughly deserved. Spurs’ second-half efforts were a mere consolation as Everton held firm to secure the win.
The late goals gave the scoreline a somewhat flattering appearance, but the reality was that Spurs were comprehensively outplayed for much of the match. While there was some improvement after the break, the first-half capitulation left little room for optimism. Tottenham’s defensive issues, coupled with a lack of attacking cohesion, remain major concerns for Postecoglou as his team struggles to find any consistency.
Postecoglou’s Response: A Manager Under Pressure
After the match, Postecoglou was defiant in his post-match interview, refusing to shy away from his responsibility. “I have the responsibility of the group of players,” Postecoglou stated. “I do have to try and get us through this and that’s what I’ve got to focus on. For me to focus on anything else is abstaining myself from the responsibility I have.”
The manager maintained his belief in the project he’s trying to build at Tottenham, despite the mounting pressure. “My belief doesn’t waver,” he added. “We are in a pretty extreme situation with injuries. If you look at the situation we’re in, it will eventually dissipate. I certainly hope and believe it will.”
However, the reality is that Postecoglou’s position is becoming increasingly precarious. Tottenham’s seventh defeat in 10 Premier League matches has put the manager firmly under the microscope. While he remains committed to his vision, the question remains: how much longer can Tottenham afford to struggle before the club’s leadership makes a change?
Pressure Mounts on Postecoglou and Levy
Spurs now sit in 15th place in the Premier League table, just four points ahead of Everton, who have a game in hand. This close proximity between the two clubs adds further urgency to Tottenham’s situation. The pressure is now squarely on both Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy. Spurs’ underwhelming form has placed the spotlight on Levy, whose patience with managers is famously limited.
The idea of sacking Postecoglou may be tempting for some, but the challenge is finding a suitable replacement in the middle of the season. A managerial change could offer a temporary boost, but the long-term success of the club would depend on the appointment of a manager who can inspire consistency and results. Spurs have shown flashes of quality under Postecoglou, but they have been too inconsistent to challenge for a top spot.
The Road Ahead for Tottenham and Postecoglou
Looking ahead, Tottenham’s immediate future is far from secure. Spurs face a tough challenge in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool, and they will need to significantly improve their performances if they are to advance. With key defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven expected to return from injury, Postecoglou will be hoping that their presence can shore up a defense that has been leaking goals at an alarming rate.
Tottenham will also face Leicester City in the Premier League next weekend, a match that could be critical for Postecoglou’s tenure. If Spurs continue to underperform and fail to pick up points, the manager’s position will likely come under even greater scrutiny.
Conclusion: Can ‘Dr Tottenham’ Find a Cure for Postecoglou?
As Everton’s victory demonstrates, Tottenham remain the go-to team for clubs seeking a tonic for their problems. However, the cure is not forthcoming for Postecoglou, who finds himself under increasing pressure to turn Tottenham’s fortunes around. With injuries continuing to impact the squad and inconsistent performances becoming the norm, Postecoglou’s job at Tottenham is becoming increasingly uncertain. If the manager cannot find a way to steady the ship, both he and the club will face a difficult road ahead.
