It has been a week to forget for Tottenham Hotspur and Ange Postecoglou.
When Tottenham were beaten at Newcastle United on April 13, they had 15 days to stew on it before they were in action again.
In the space of a week, Spurs have lost a north London derby, suffered another defeat at Stamford Bridge and were comfortably beaten by Liverpool on Sunday.
One constant theme that has proved to haunt the Champions League-chasing side is conceding from set-plays, especially corners.
Two of Arsenal’s three goals were from corners, whilst Chelsea also scored from dead-ball situations.
Many have questioned Ange Postecoglou on this and how he possibly needs a set-piece coach, but he has always shut it down.
That hasn’t impressed Tim Sherwood because he claimed that the former Celtic boss ‘talks too much to the press’ and is ’too honest’, as he told Premier League Productions (06/05/24 at 2:30 pm).
He also highlighted how goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, after making a strong start to the season, has now been ‘found out’ and is ‘very weak’ from corners.
Guglielmo Vicario and Tottenham’s issues from corners
“Ange, I love him, he looks like a guy you want to go out and have a pint with on a Sunday, but he talks too much to the press and he is too honest,” said Sherwood.
“He is talking about the set-pieces. The high line and this is us. This is where we are going to play. I think they have been found out. It looks like they have a little bit. When he is talking there about the set-pieces is not important. It is important. He has no reason to say it isn’t important. Why would you say that?
“The goalkeeper has been found out. He has been a target and seems like he is very weak from crosses. People are highlighting that. This is the Premier League. This is the most competitive league in the world. You are going to get found out. It’s not Scotland, with respect. Or Japan. Or Australia.”
Ange Postecoglou doesn’t need a set-piece coach
Aston Villa have a set-piece coach – Austin MacPhee – who is highly rated and has done wonders for the club.
But, from a defensive aspect, Villa have been off it this season and conceded the same amount as Tottenham from set-plays (14).
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So, calls for Postecoglou to bring in a set-piece coach are off the park. Tottenham just need to trust him. Give him time and let’s see what he cooks.
That won’t require just time and patience, but also the marmite-like figure Daniel Levy backing his manager in the transfer market.
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