What issues are Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham facing, as their recent record shows only one win in nine Premier League matches, causing the team to slip down the standings?

As the weeks roll by, the pressure on Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou continues to mount. Following a disappointing 2-1 defeat to arch-rivals Arsenal on Wednesday evening, Spurs have now suffered six losses in their last ten outings, leaving their position in the Premier League looking increasingly precarious.

Currently sitting in 13th place with just 24 points, Spurs find themselves a staggering 14 points adrift of fourth-placed Newcastle United. To make matters worse, they are only eight points clear of the relegation zone, with Wolverhampton Wanderers lurking ominously in 18th place. The statistics paint a grim picture for Postecoglou’s side, who have equalled their joint-most Premier League losses at this stage of a season, with 11 defeats already on the board. Alarmingly, the only teams they have managed to secure more victories than are those currently occupying the relegation zone: Wolves, Leicester City, and Southampton.

The team’s recent form has been nothing short of abysmal. Spurs have failed to win in their last five league matches and have managed just one victory in their last nine encounters, that solitary win coming against bottom-placed Southampton. So, what exactly is going wrong for Postecoglou and his squad?

Injuries have played a significant role in Spurs’ struggles. Heading into the north London derby, the club was without nine players, severely hampering their options. The defence has been particularly hard hit, with key figures such as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, and defenders Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Ben Davies all sidelined. This has forced the manager to field inexperienced January signing Antonin Kinsky in goal, alongside 18-year-old midfielder Archie Gray at centre-back, who, despite his youth, has performed admirably.

However, former Spurs and Liverpool striker Peter Crouch, now a pundit for TNT Sports, believes the squad possesses enough talent to compete higher up the table. “We all know the injury problems,” Crouch remarked after the derby defeat. “But the two 18-year-olds, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray, were the best players on the pitch. If I’m a more experienced player, I feel embarrassed. Look at Son; he has had a disappointing season. They need players back – that team out there is not good enough for the league. I don’t see them catching the top teams.”

Postecoglou’s tactical adaptability has also come under scrutiny since his arrival in north London. Following the latest defeat, former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand questioned whether the Australian’s approach needed to be more flexible. “Maybe he has to be more adaptable with his tactics,” Ferdinand suggested. “I understand and respect Ange’s principles, but with the injuries, surely you have to adapt them. Adaptability would be sensible at this time.”

Looking ahead, Spurs face a crucial trip to Everton on Sunday, a match that Postecoglou’s side will be expected to win. “No other way of looking at it,” he stated in his post-Arsenal press conference. “If you give up now, there’s no point. Right now, we have a big game against Everton this weekend. That’s our focus.”

Following the Everton clash, Tottenham’s upcoming fixtures appear to offer a glimmer of hope, with matches against Leicester City, Brentford, Manchester United, and Ipswich on the horizon. The pressure is on for Postecoglou to turn the tide and steer Spurs back towards the upper echelons of the Premier League.