Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer identify what they believe is the real problem at Tottenham following Everton defeat
Tottenham Hotspur suffered their 12th Premier League defeat of the season in a disheartening 3-2 loss to Everton on Sunday, further intensifying concerns surrounding the club’s future. Ange Postecoglou’s side were shockingly 3-0 down by halftime, despite facing an Everton team that had scored a mere 15 goals in their first 20 league games of the season. Postecoglou, likely hoping the introduction of Ben Davies could shore up his side defensively, saw his team actually struggle even more in their own half, leaving supporters bewildered.
The second half showed slight improvement, but former Tottenham player Jamie O’Hara didn’t mince words, calling the team’s performance “shocking”—a sentiment many fans would undoubtedly agree with. As is often the case following such a heavy defeat, the usual debate ensued about whether Postecoglou is the right man to guide Spurs through their current troubles.
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, speaking on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast, weighed in on the situation, expressing that Postecoglou shouldn’t bear all the blame for Tottenham’s struggles. Both pundits pointed to a deeper issue at the club, citing the high-profile managers who have passed through North London in recent years, and questioned whether the problem might lie above the manager’s position.
Shearer began the discussion by asking, “What if I told you Mourinho, Conte, Nuno Espirito Santo, and now Postecoglou were all in charge? Are they all bad managers?” Lineker quickly agreed, stating, “Certainly not. Some of the very best.” Shearer then pushed further, asking, “So, what does that tell you?” Lineker responded by pointing to the success of former manager Antonio Conte with Napoli and how Nuno Espirito Santo is performing well at Nottingham Forest, suggesting that perhaps the root of Tottenham’s troubles lies in something other than just managerial decisions.
Lineker elaborated by highlighting how both Conte and Mourinho had been vocal about the challenges of managing at Tottenham, especially when it comes to the club’s infrastructure and the way the club is run. While acknowledging that Spurs boast one of Europe’s best football stadiums and a top-tier training ground, Lineker remarked that their underperformance, given the caliber of their recent managers, suggests that issues extend beyond just the manager. “So you have to look beyond the idea that it’s always the coach’s fault,” he concluded.
Despite these larger issues, Postecoglou’s responsibility to improve Tottenham’s on-pitch performance remains critical. The loss to Everton marked a new low for the club, with Spurs slipping to 15th place in the Premier League standings. James Maddison, one of the few players who has shown glimpses of quality this season, offered an apology to the travelling supporters, acknowledging their frustration.
While Tottenham aren’t yet in immediate danger of relegation, the club is only eight points clear of 18th-place Ipswich Town. With Leicester City set to visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next week, the game is quickly becoming a must-win encounter for Spurs. In this crucial period, Postecoglou may need to turn to players like Richarlison and Mikey Moore to inject new energy into the squad. Though it’s clear that there are broader challenges at the club, it’s ultimately up to Postecoglou to drive improvements on the pitch, where efforts must significantly improve if Spurs are to avoid further decline.
