Tottenham Dropping From Elite Status?

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One fixture that brings nightmares to all the Tottenham fans with Tottenham tickets is the one against Newcastle. 

The Spurs have never done well with Newcastle, and this time around, it was the same. 

And there are even more grave signs emerging from this Tottenham side that sound alarming. Despite having a very successful summer transfer window, the Spurs are missing something. 

It’s definitely not a good sign. 

Life After Newcastle 

There are statements to be made in the transfer window or, if not, immediately after it. If much of the preface to this game concerned itself with Eddie Howe’s feelings on Newcastle’s summer of trading – or lack thereof – then Tottenham had their questions to answer on this pilgrimage north. After this harsh defeat, doubts may linger in the mind for at least an uncomfortable international break.

On surface level, a relatively tidy Tottenham transfer window, bringing in players such as Dominic Solanke and Wilson Odobert – the latter the author of a bright cameo in the win against Everton – had almost been forgotten. 

Much to the fans’ disappointment with Tottenham tickets, Solanke did not play the game against Newcastle, but the rest of the squad still looked unsettled. 

Giovani Lo Celso’s departure back to Real Betis on deadline day, curiously, cast a shadow over that work by harking back to the big window of summer 2019, with none of Tanguy Ndombele, Ryan Sessegnon or Lo Celso working out (or recouping costs) after being recruited at considerable expense. 

Unfairly so, perhaps, but optics are everything, especially with Jack Clarke – another of that summer’s eight-figure recruits – sold on by Sunderland to Ipswich later in August for a healthy profit.

With the sense that, like yesterday’s hosts, Spurs may find themselves trapped in a just‑below‑elite-level netherworld in this season’s Premier League – too swelled with expectation to be satisfied with a Europa League spot, not quite proactive enough in the marketplace to push themselves back into the orbit of the Champions League – there was a response to be crafted. 

It was not a gung-ho riposte. If Ange Postecoglou is sometimes accused of tactical idealism, Tottenham seemed keener to be committed than ritzy.

With reason, perhaps. It is not easily forgotten by the fans with Tottenham tickets that Spurs had lost by a margin of at least four goals on three of their past eight visits to St James’ Park and by an aggregate of 10-1 in the past two seasons, the sort of results that prompt near existential crisis.

Bringing Pape Sarr into midfield as an extra layer of protection, with Dejan Kulusevski pushed further forward, was perhaps a nod to those recent horrible histories.

Postecoglou might have lamented needing more muscle on hand with Solanke, Richarlison, and Micky van de Ven absent at the back. After Radu Dragusin cut through Harvey Barnes to concede a corner in the first five minutes, he rose to dust off his hands. It almost seemed to signal that Spurs were ready for an afternoon of battening down the hatches. 

However, if either Joelinton’s or Barnes’s early efforts had gone in, they might have been looking at being buried under another Geordie avalanche.

Spurs were also the first guests after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund took over in October 2021, emerging with a 3-2 win after conceding early to Callum Wilson. This time, with sporadic local concern about what the future may hold for the first time under the PIF, one wondered if the visitors could again capitalise with cold clarity.

The fans with Tottenham tickets would have hoped that the result could be improved, but Newcastle ensured the curse stayed on. 

While Spurs quelled the early storm well – “no noise from the Saudi boys” was the chant tumbling down from the visiting supporters – this was not an adventurous first‑half display, and it ultimately did them little good when Barnes’s deliciously adroit finish put Newcastle in front against the run of play. 

There is no point pretending to be what you’re not, and the more quintessential Postecoglou plan emerged with Spurs trailing. Brennan Johnson replaced Sarr at half-time to reprise the lineup that rolled over Everton the previous weekend, save Dragusin standing in for Van de Ven.

Postecoglou might reflect on 45 minutes wasted, given how hard his team were to handle for the second half. Then again, he may be pleased that Newcastle’s away is done and dusted for another season.

The Manager Has Plans for January Already 

As per close sources, Ange Postecoglou and the Tottenham recruitment team are already working on a plan for the January transfer window. In his own words, Postecoglou said: “You always do [plan to January].”

Continuing, Postecoglou said: “[Technical director] Johan [Lange] and his team now have already started the process of looking at guys who maybe fit that profile of what we’re looking for… It’s a constant process that must be done that way. I’ve never done knee-jerk or a ‘hail Mary’ approach to things.”

So, Tottenham fans can rest assured that Ange Postecoglou is already looking ahead to the January transfer window. Not only could new signings be made, but they would be the necessary signings and not products of panic-buying.

Given how poorly Spurs have started this Premier League campaign, the January transfer window could be a critical turning point for their season.

In the opening three Premier League matches, Tottenham won, drew, and lost one. This is not great for a team with loyal fans and Tottenham tickets that wishes to finish in the top four.

Solanke Back? 

Two vital squad returns for Tottenham’s Premier League derby clash with Arsenal on September 15 could boost the team.

The coming days will give Postecoglu a chance to prepare for a crucial home tie against their arch-rivals and assess changes to his squad.

The Australian coach has also been aided by some positive injury news, with Dominic Solanke and Micky van de Ven both in line to return against the Gunners.

Spurs completed a club-record £55m ($71m) deal to sign England international Solanke from Bournemouth in August after scoring 19 EPL goals for the Cherries last season.

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