Ange Postecoglou made a misstep by leaving Celtic for the wrong club.

Ange Postecoglou made a mistake by leaving Celtic for the wrong club. Let’s be honest: many of us recognized this even before he made the move. While it was undoubtedly a tempting opportunity, especially given his age and experience in the Premier League, the warning signs were there.

We all voiced concerns: Spurs are a chaotic club, and the job there is a recipe for frustration.

This past weekend, Postecoglou faced significant backlash from Spurs fans following a 1-0 loss to Arsenal. It’s important to note that Arsenal is arguably at their strongest in decades, having challenged Manchester City in the last two title races. With that in mind, Spurs fans need to keep their expectations realistic.

Yes, it was a fiercely contested North London derby, but it’s difficult to understand what Tottenham fans expect from Postecoglou.

A fifth-place finish last season exceeded most experts’ expectations, as nearly all predicted an eighth-place finish like the year before. While the current criticism of Postecoglou’s start to the season isn’t entirely unwarranted, some are digging into last season and this one to argue that he’s out of his depth, which is a tougher case to make.

We all understood why Ange accepted the job. The opportunity to manage in England at his age was too good to pass up. However, we cautioned him about the challenges at the club.

Spurs isn’t an environment conducive to a manager implementing their vision—especially someone like Ange, whose philosophy requires time and patience to develop. Tottenham fans have shown little tolerance for such an approach, and the board mirrors that sentiment. The English media has already deemed him out of his depth, largely due to his successful stint at Celtic, a league they often dismiss as insignificant.

Recently, Postecoglou, exasperated by the ongoing scrutiny, corrected a journalist who claimed he usually wins something in his second season, saying “always.” The English press reacted as if he had committed a major faux pas.

This sheer arrogance and Anglocentric mindset is frustrating, especially considering that managers who have won prestigious titles, including the Champions League, still need to prove themselves in England before gaining credibility. José Mourinho faced similar skepticism after winning the Champions League with Porto, only to be questioned at Chelsea.

Postecoglou’s successes across three continents—winning titles in Australia, Japan, and Scotland, along with managing a national team—seem to mean little to many in the English media. We all anticipated this.

Above all, we cautioned him about Spurs.

This is a club whose fans often overestimate their stature and feel entitled to more than they receive. They’re guided by a chairman who has cycled through more managers than anyone can count in the last decade.

The club lacks the patience for a long-term vision. The transfer strategy isn’t even in the manager’s control, and while we don’t know if Ange approved the signing of Dominic Solanke, he certainly wasn’t worth the exorbitant fee they paid.

However, it’s not just the signings that are under scrutiny. Spurs have shown vulnerabilities at set pieces, a concern that harkens back to Ange’s time at Celtic. He previously downplayed their significance, but that attitude has backfired, particularly after conceding from one in the recent match.

The storm clouds are gathering. On Monday, Jonathan Wilson released an article titled “North London Derby Defeat Raises Further Doubts About Ange Postecoglou.” He points out that Ange has garnered just 44 points in his last 32 matches. While Postecoglou’s claim that he always wins something in his second season may have set expectations high, the reality is that fans and the media aren’t sharing that optimism.

No club can easily accept only one point from their first 12, and at Spurs, it doesn’t take long for someone to pay the price. Although reports indicate that the Spurs board is content for now, their history shows that Ange is already on shaky ground.

I’m usually not sentimental when a player or manager leaves Celtic.

Once someone departs Parkhead, I rarely care what happens next—especially if their exit leaves a bad taste. To his credit, Ange gave us two full seasons and didn’t leave until his work was complete, but it still felt disappointing.

Despite this, I wanted him to succeed because it reflects well on us when our people thrive elsewhere. However, I never believed it would work out for him at Spurs—not because I doubt his ability as a top-level manager, but because the club is entrenched in mediocrity. Many good managers have tried and failed there, not due to a lack of talent, but because Spurs aren’t as big a club as they perceive themselves to be.

They aren’t elite like Liverpool, Arsenal, or Manchester City. Even Manchester United and Chelsea, despite their current struggles, have managed to win trophies in recent years. In contrast, Spurs haven’t claimed a significant trophy since 2008.

So, where does this belief come from that they should be performing better?

Better than Liverpool, recent Champions League winners? Better than Manchester United, with their rich history? Better than Arsenal, who have rediscovered their identity and are on the rise? It’s tough to understand the source of this inflated self-image.

Ange is a decent guy, but he’s in the wrong film.

If he had shown more patience, other opportunities would have arisen—at clubs where his contributions would be more appreciated than they are now.

Source: https://thecelticblog.com/2024/09/articles-and-features/ange-postecoglou-left-celtic-for-the-wrong-club