Inside Tottenham’s horror performance as season worst stats expose disasterclass from Ange Postecoglou’s flops
ANGE POSTECOGLOU’S toothless Tottenham were taught another lesson last night as they waved goodbye to their best chance at finally ending their trophy hunt. Spurs rolled over to hand Liverpool a 4-0 walkover at Anfield in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.Tottenham were battered 4-0 by Tottenham in the Carabao Cup semi-final second legCredit: ReutersSpurs’ chances of ending their trophy drought are dwindlingCredit: GettyIt’s no secret that Spurs are having a bad season with the North London club facing the genuine prospect of a relegation dogfight.But there has been a small caveat to their calamitous campaign that Ange Postecoglou “always wins” a trophy in his second season.A caveat that now looks much harder to achieve after they were dispatched with ease in the cup semi-final on Thursday.Any team heading into a second leg a goal to the good would fancy themselves to advance, even if they were playing against the best team in the country away from home.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut for Spurs, it looked as though they didn’t even think they could force a draw, never mind manage to put Liverpool under the cosh.Postecoglou’s usual style of play seemed to be abandoned completely as they failed to register a single shot on target over the 90 minutes. It’s the first time in the Aussie’s reign that Spurs have failed to do so and a stat that left former player Jamie Redknapp baffled.He said on Sky Sports: “I can’t get my head round them not having one shot on target in a semi-final.Most read in FootballSpurs didn’t manage a single shot on targetSon Heung-Min took just one shot inside the boxDjed Spence managed Spurs’ only other shot in the areaCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”Not having one shot on target in the semi-final second leg when you’re trying to change the course of your history.”Spurs managed just five shots in total, a figure dwarfed by the 26 EFFORTS Liverpool peppered on 21-year-old keeper Antonin Kinsky’s goal.’Horrendous’ – Jamie Carragher reveals moment Postecoglou’s Tottenham reign changed and they’ve been ‘awful’ ever sinceBefore last night, Spurs had averaged 13.9 shots per game and 5.6 shots on target – a far cry from their efforts on Merseyside.Liverpool dominated the match, holding 64 per cent of possession and successfully completing almost 150 passes in Spurs’ final third.In fact, Arne Slot’s side were so dominant that they essentially forced Spurs to sit inside their own half. The average position of each Spurs player on the night shows that only Son Heung-Min and Dejan Kulusevski were able to get up the pitch on a semi-regular basis.Between them Son and Kulusevski managed three shots, with only one coming from inside the box.Postecoglou may now be feeling the pressure from above as questions continue to be asked about his side.However, the 59-year-old can still point towards the horror injury record he has had to endure this season – a record which worsened last night as Richarlison was forced off in the first half.Postecoglou has been forced to roll the dice on kids as a result, giving more minutes to players aged 18 or under than any other Premier League team this season.The former Celtic boss has given 4,072 minutes of football to those players, almost double the amount of Arsenal who have given the second most minutes to youngsters this term (2,034).But there’s an argument that Postecoglou isn’t doing enough with what he has, and patience does seem to be wearing thin.Spurs were pinned in their own halfSpurs have been forced to turn to the kids in the midst of an injury crisisRedknapp added: “Everyone seems to find a way of beating this Tottenham side.”And the manager right now, he baffles me with his tactics sometimes. I think he’s completely lost in what he’s trying to do.”Perhaps it’s not his fault and in the words of Giorgi Chiellini is it simply “the history of the Tottenham”.Jamie Carragher seems to think so.Slamming the lacklustre performance of a team who should be putting everything on the line to get to a final, he said: “It was never in doubt before the game [that Liverpool would win].”It’s Tottenham. When do Tottenham ever win a big game? When do Tottenham ever go somewhere and surprise us and win against the odds?”.Adding: “They never shock you, they never do something out of the ordinary.”I’m trying to think of the last big game they won and I’d probably have to go back to that Ajax game in the semi-final [of the 2019 Champions League].”I was in the stadium that night and, I don’t want to take anything away from Tottenham, but they were very lucky.”They were battered for most of the game and then got a fluke and then they got two goals in the last minute.”But whenever they go into a big game as a football club nobody ever believes they’re going to win.”Spurs do still have another two shots at a trophy this season.READ MORE SUN STORIESStarting with their FA Cup fourth round visit to Aston Villa on Sunday, a game that now feels like a must-win.While they have also managed to advance to the Europa League last 16, where they will take on one of Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar or Midtjylland.Spurs could have even more injury problems after Richarlison was forced off in the first halfCredit: GettyJamie Carragher didn’t hold back in his assessment of Spurs as a club in recent yearsCredit: Rex More
