Tottenham Hotspur finds itself in a precarious position as fans direct their frustration not at manager Ange Postecoglou but at chairman Daniel Levy following a dismal 2-1 defeat to Leicester City. The loss extends Spurs' winless streak to seven matches, marking their longest drought since 2008.
The atmosphere at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium turned toxic after Sunday's defeat, which saw them fall to 15th place in the Premier League with just 24 points from 23 matches. A telling banner in the South Stand read: "24 years, 16 managers, one trophy - time for change," reflecting the growing dissatisfaction with Levy's leadership.
Despite spending £214 million in the transfer market, critics argue that £100 million of that came from Harry Kane's sale to Bayern Munich, highlighting concerns about reinvestment in the squad. Reports suggesting Spurs cannot compete with Arsenal on wages for January signings have further intensified scrutiny of Levy's project.
Postecoglou, who enjoyed initial success with eight wins and two draws in his first ten league games, has seen his team's form deteriorate dramatically. The Australian manager's points-per-game average has dropped from 1.74 last season to 1.04 this term, with the team now closer to bottom-placed Southampton than league leaders Liverpool.
"I'm a football manager and I get judged on results, that is the way of the world," Postecoglou acknowledged after the Leicester defeat. The manager has faced criticism for refusing to adapt his playing style despite significant injuries to key players like Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Destiny Udogie.
A protest movement against the ownership that began in mid-December has gained mainstream momentum. Fans argue that while Levy has delivered world-class infrastructure, including a state-of-the-art stadium and training facility, on-field success remains elusive.
"We have been very vocally 'Levy out' for many years. We just want to see Tottenham win something, we want to see us give it a go," expressed one supporter, emphasizing that Levy remains the constant factor through multiple managers and board members.
Despite the current crisis, Postecoglou maintains optimism about the remainder of the season. With the team still active in the FA Cup and on the verge of qualifying for the Europa League knockout stages, plus holding a 1-0 lead against Liverpool in their EFL Cup semi-final, the manager believes something special is still possible.
"I still think that in these last three months we can do something really special and I think these players believe that," Postecoglou stated, though he candidly admitted uncertainty about his future at the club. The coming weeks, with several key players expected to return from injury, may prove crucial in determining both his and the club's trajectory.
