Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur have fallen behind in 15 Premier League home games in 2024, the most ever by a team in a calendar year in the history of the competition.
Wolverhampton Wanderers took the lead against Spurs after just seven minutes, and though the hosts were leading 2-1 by the half-time interval, Wolves scored an equaliser in the 87th minute, condemning the London club to a bottom-half finish in 2024.
Spurs have now conceded 12 goals in their last four matches in all competitions and have kept just two clean sheets in their past 16 games.
Tottenham's recent form in terms of results is also poor, with the club losing six, drawing four and winning just three of their 13 most recent fixtures.
Postecoglou can have no complaints about the fact that he is under pressure at the moment, as while he is dealing with an injury crisis, his team have long displayed a tactical rigidity that has cost them points.
© Imago
Will Tottenham Hotspur's form improve?
The Spurs boss infamously remarked earlier this season that he "always wins things" in his second season at teams, and though he has guided Tottenham into the EFL Cup semi-finals, his side are set to take on Premier League favourites Liverpool.
Tottenham face a difficult start to 2025, with matches against Newcastle United, Arsenal, Everton and Brentford, as well as two games against Liverpool, all to come by February 6.
The Australian manager has often defended his team's adventurous style of play by arguing that it is better to stick to his principles rather than abandon them in favour of short-term benefits, but it is difficult to see how Spurs come through the next months without further embarrassment.
This is especially the case given defenders Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies and Destiny Udogie are all out injured, as is goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
By playing the same way regardless of available personnel, backups like Fraser Forster will inevitably make mistakes when trying to play in the way that Postecoglou demands, and it will mean that Spurs continue to lose football matches.
Perhaps reinforcing in the January window would allow Postecoglou to sign the players needed to better implement his distinctive style, but it remains to be seen whether the 59-year-old will be trusted with further expenditure on the squad.
Lewis Nolan
