Australia's first English Premier League manager has survived the immediate aftermath of Tottenham's humiliating home defeat to Leicester City, but the pressure on Ange Postecoglou continues to grow.
While club chairman Daniel Levy remains the focus of most supporters' ire, criticism is rising of Postecoglou's inflexible approach amid a mounting toll of injuries.
Spurs are now 15th in the 20-club league, eight points off the relegation zone after losing nine and winning one of their past 11 Premier League matches.
The defeat to Leicester, who had lost their previous seven league games, led England's back pages with headlines such as 'Get Ange out of here', 'How long have I got: who knows?' and 'Oh, mate', the latter a reference to Postecoglou's habit of ending most sentences with the endearment.
Postecoglou is Tottenham's fifth permanent manager in six years. Of the previous four, Mauricio Pochettino was sacked despite reaching the Champions League final and four top-four finishes, while Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte were axed with the team seventh, eighth and fourth respectively.
There is recognition, however, that the 59-year-old is handicapped by an injury list that has not only ruled out a raft of first-choice players but has left the remaining ones exhausted after 19 matches in 66 days. Teenagers Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall are having to play every game, with Gray also playing out of position, and the only new signing this January transfer window is a 21-year-old goalkeeper.
In addition, there are few immediate options to replace the former Brisbane boss and Levy's experience in recent seasons of appointing interim managers after axing the permanent incumbent is that it has not improved results.
The club is thus being reported by English media as sticking with Postecoglou, for now, and trying to buy a striker to strengthen his resources. Record signing Dominic Solanke, a $160m recruit in the off-season, is among those injured and will not be back until March.
But the January market is a difficult one and despite a modest season with Ajax, Netherlands forward Brian Brobbey is being linked with Tottenham.
"I'm a football manager and I get judged on results, that is the way of the world," Postecoglou said following the loss to Leicester.
"Hopefully over the next 10 days to two weeks we should get some significant players back which I think will help this group a lot.
"Where we are in the league is nowhere near good enough. That's a reflection on me and my coaching, but we still have some fantastic opportunities to make an impact in the second half of the season and I'm sure that will happen."
Spurs remain in three cup competitions and will secure a place in the last 16 of the Europa League should they win Thursday's tie with Swedish minnows Elfsborg.
AAP
