Andros Townsend backs Ange Postecoglu | OneFootball

There has been plenty of noise around Ange Postecoglu in recent weeks. Everybody seems to have an opinion either way. One of the more consensus opinions seems to be that he is stubborn, and needs to show more adaptability, if he is going to have any sort of success with Spurs.

We have heard on numerous occasions during his 18 months at the club that he needs to be more defensive, or he needs to play five at the back, or he needs to drop the defensive line, etc etc. Recently it feels like those sort of opinions are becoming more and more popular in the external footballing media.

Former Spurs wide man backs Ange Postecoglu to be a success

However, former Spurs winger Andros Townsend disagrees. Speaking on the BBC five live Monday night club, the 33-year old said: “Everyone knows Ange’s philosophy. When Pep lost a match or when Klopp lost a match, nobody was saying ‘why don’t you change?’ Why don’t you play five at the back? Why don’t you play ugly?

He was brought in to bring that attacking football back to Tottenham, what they were renowned for 15/20 years ago and they’ve lost their way a bit. I don’t think they’re far off – you don’t watch that game on Sunday and think ‘Chelsea outclassed us, they were miles better than us.’

For the first 15 minutes Spurs were electric. Chelsea couldn’t play out, Tottenham scored two early goals, and then they’ve allowed them in the game. They got one or two injuries, and it just didn’t go their way. I honestly believe they’re on the right track. They should stick with Ange and see where he can take them this season.”

Chris Sutton, who was also on the podcast, and knows plenty about Ange as someone who closely follows and covers Celtic, agreed with Townsend, saying : “He’s been in the job 18 months – I think there needs to be a bit of patience. He won’t change – that’s what people need to get their head around.”

It is nice to have some fresh perspective from the usual opinions that are often quite baseless. There is no doubt that Ange deserves criticism at times, but a lot of the discourse around him feels very disingenuous, and a lot of it feels quite sheepish, with people just going along with the consensus that he is naive, stubborn, all of that.