Postecoglou has had quite the impact in his opening games as manager. His free-flowing, attacking football has excited supporters and helped restore the club’s lost identity.

Fans boarded a boat sailing across the River Thames before the Fulham game to sing and celebrate the return of the Tottenham Hotspur which supporters know and love (YouTube). Songs of Ange Postecoglou and his team resounded throughout Central London.

What unfolded in the following hours can only be described as an unnecessary defeat. Spurs lost on penalties, but the win should have been secured in ninety minutes.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 29: Rodrigo Muniz of Fulham is tackled by Davinson Sanchez of Tottenham Hotspur during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage on August 29, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Nine Spurs changes for Premier League opponents

Postecoglou made nine changes from the team which started against Bournemouth (Football.London). This led to another cup exit against a lower-quality opponent.

The Australian coach made the excuse that he needed to get to know his full squad. In a post-match interview, he asked, “How am I going to find out about our players”? (Sky Sports)

Postecoglou makes a valid point. In order to trim the squad, he must first understand who meets his standards. Yet the issue is not making some adjustments, but full-on squad rotation.

No domestic trophy should be treated as inferior to the Premier League. The Carabao Cup provided a realistic chance for the Lilywhites to end a 15-year trophy drought. Fielding a first team would be a welcome move.

Despite this, Ange could have probably got away with three or four changes. The problem is he went overboard and underestimated Fulham. Nine changes was too many and resulted in a defeat.

The substitutions were too late. Ange often utilised his bench around the 60-minute mark at Celtic. When Spurs scored the equaliser, he should have brought on the likes of Maddison and Bissouma to seal the win.

The irony is that Fulham will play Norwich at home in the next round of the Carabao Cup. If Postecoglou had made fewer changes, he could have fielded a weakened squad in the next round instead and had a greater chance of success.

Postecoglou cited the Champions League as a reason for his nine changes (Sky Sports). He could not use a European competition to measure the quality of his players. This is actually a good reason why he should have played with more first-team players.

The first team will already have a quieter schedule than usual. They should therefore be used in important matches.

Also, most supporters already knew which players are not first-team quality. The midfield combination of Skipp and Hojbjerg was used enough last season to know it does not work. Meanwhile, Davinson Sanchez has been given numerous opportunities and cost the team repeatedly.

Ange may be new to the club, but he continued the ongoing rhythm of playing the same players and expecting different results.

He had pre-season to test his players. Ultimately, most fans knew what to expect the moment they saw the lineup.

Having failed to treat the Carabao Cup as an important trophy, Postecoglou now only has the Premier League and FA Cup to play for.

There is a good chance Spurs will secure a top-four spot, but this cannot compare with winning a cup. If the club wishes to be taken seriously, it must give everything to fill the void in the trophy cabinet.

Postecoglou has started well in the league, but anything other than winning the title is insignificant. When a realistic chance at a trophy comes along, it must be taken.

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With Ange Postecoglou at the helm, the back four returns. It is even more important that the centre-backs defend competently, especially with Pedro Porro having to play as a full-back.

(Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Weak defence

Cristian Romero is the only player at the heart of the defence who is near the required level. Despite this, he has been unreliable at times, receiving eight yellow cards and one red during the 2022/23 season (Premier League).

Players like Eric Dier have been loyal servants to the club, but the time to move on is long overdue.

The inability to sell players is proving costly. Postecoglou confirmed at least one new centre-half will be brought in (Express). The likelihood is there will only be one.

Everyone has seen the statistics. The Lilywhites conceded 63 goals last season, only 7 less than they scored. In the 2021/22 season only 40 goals were conceded (Premier League).

The defence is clearly becoming weaker. Now more than ever, squad turnover is necessary.

Some supporters were panicking early in the window at the lack of transfer activity. Perhaps they were impatient, or maybe they just know what Daniel Levy is like. With the start of the season upcoming, the fears of supporters are being realised.

With the signing of Micky Van de Ven, te defence will not be identical to last season, but issues look set to remain. One centre-half could significantly improve the side, but squad depth will still be lacking. With injuries and suspensions coming into play, there could be times when players like Dier and Sanchez still feature.

Other weak areas

The defence is the obvious weakness in the side. Questions should also be raised about other areas of the pitch. Dejan Kulusevski was signed on a permanent deal for £25m (BBC). The price is good for a player of his quality, but questions could be asked over whether he fits into Ange’s system.

Kulusevski had a poor first full season at the club. While the same could be said for a number of players, the Swedish winger is typically slow on the ball. Time will tell if he thrives in Postecoglou’s quick-paced style of play.

Manor Solomon looked more effective in the side’s limited pre-season schedule, but he is expected to be more of a squad player.

Ultimately, the right-wing position could still be a weakness in the team. Of course, there is every chance Kulusevski silences his doubters and goes on a run of form similar to his first few months at the club.

The real problem

Whether or not the new signings succeed, the quantity is inadequate. It was a necessity to rebuild the squad, and this is looking unlikely. Postecoglou looks set to utilise players previously out on loan which is one positive. This does not change that there has been a lack of support from the top.

With the trip to Brentford not far away, the squad still looks underwhelming for a side attempting to challenge for a Champions League spot. Players who are below the required level should be sold, and replacements should be signed immediately.

Postecoglou will face many fierce competitors during his time at N17, but his biggest enemy is Daniel Levy.

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The Lillywhite faithful went through a lot during the 2022/23 season. From finishing outside the European spots, to the banning of sporting director Fabio Paratici, the club was in a crisis.

The managerial drama dominated headlines. Antonio Conte publicly criticised the players and questioned the ambitions of the club before his sacking (BBC).

Caretaker manager Cristian Stellini was shown the door after barely over a month in charge. Any act of endearment toward the loyal supporters would have been a welcome move.

Rising ticket prices

Instead, the club has chosen to demand more from the supporters. A move which is completely unjustified following an underwhelming season. Despite freezing season ticket prices, the costs of individual tickets have risen.

Prices for some tickets have risen by 20%. Some matches have also been moved to higher categories (Football.London).

The most common argument in Tottenham’s defence is that inflation has risen. It is usual for a business to adjust itself in line with the current economic environment. This does not consider that the tickets were already overpriced.

Supporters have been condemned to dull, unimaginative football for nearly four years. It is over fifteen years since Tottenham last won silverware.

The club must recognise that it is not a European giant. A grand stadium and a state-of-the-art training facility does not compensate for poor performances on the pitch.

Tickets should be priced in line with the team’s success. The best achievement in the last decade has been reaching a final, rather than winning a trophy. The supporters have endured difficult times and deserve better.

With the promise of entertaining football under Ange Postecoglou, the upcoming season was meant to be a time for rebuilding bridges between ENIC and the fans. This cannot happen when the supporters have already been alienated.

(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Backlash from supporters

The consequence of the price hike is that some supporters have cancelled their memberships. The cost of living crisis rumbles on, making it unaffordable for some to continue attending matches.

The combined costs of membership, travel and a matchday ticket are too significant, especially for those wanting to bring their children.

Tickets may still sell out each week, but there is no guarantee those purchasing them are long-term supporters. The club ultimately risks losing a generation of fans who are unable to attend matches.

The alternative consequence is that the fanbase will continue to grow, but with more watching on from afar rather than being present at games.

Tottenham is not a team known for big spending in the transfer market. The club is most likely in a better financial position than many of the supporters. The rise in ticket prices is simply unnecessary.

There was no consultation with the Supporters’ Trust regarding the changes (Independent). This is a negative sign, particularly with the newly established fan advisory board coming into place.

Questions may be asked about how much difference it will make when the club clearly wishes to push things through without the fans’ approval.

The bottom line is that some supporters will stop attending matches due to a rise in ticket prices.

A rise which is nothing but greed from the owners of a club which just finished 8^th in the Premier League under three different managers.

If trust is to be restored, the supporters must be treated with respect.

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Although the building costs incurred were significantly higher than the initial budget, the new ground at N17 is an asset to the club. It has the capacity to host NFL matches, boxing fights and concerts. It will also host the world’s first in-stadium electric karting facility, from August 2023.

ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images

This is impressive, but many supporters are frustrated that the club cares more about running a business model that generates profits which are not reinvested into the squad.

Although the structure is a sight to behold, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will not be topping any tables for its atmosphere.

The most important aspect of a stadium on a matchday is not how aesthetically pleasing it appears, but how loud the fans inside are. The atmosphere at the new stadium has generally been underwhelming.

The issue at hand

The problem has not merely been created by supporters failing to generate a good atmosphere, but by fans being separated who used to sit together at the old Lane.

Those who have loyally attended matches for many years have been spread across a stadium with a capacity which exceeds 60,000. A stadium which attracts plenty of tourists and spectators who are unlikely to get any chants going.

The club shows little concern that younger supporters, who are often the most enthusiastic on matchdays, are being priced out. One Hotspur membership fees rose again ahead of the 2023/24 season. This is contributing to the soulless atmosphere.

The singing section

Hope remains, however, as a campaign dubbed the ‘Return of the Shelf’ has been created to unite the most vocal supporters in a singing section. Work has also been done to fly large flags pre-match in the South Stand and to create new songs about the players.

Those behind the campaign for a singing section should be commended for their efforts. It is a step in the right direction that fans have taken the initiative as a collective group to create a better atmosphere.

The club has also shown signs of progress with fan engagement by accommodating the new singing section. Yet there are still many hurdles which stand in the way of the ‘Return of the Shelf’ from succeeding.

Two separate sections

Firstly, two different sections have been allocated – areas 324 and 249 (Spurs Song Sheet). This poses an issue because the section has already been split in two, with multiple blocks in between.

To make the section as effective as possible, all the supporters involved with the campaign need to be in the same area to create a wall of noise.

The stadium should be large enough to relocate some season ticket holders without moving them too far from their existing section. This is something which needs to be done if the club is serious about backing the campaign.

Positioning of the sections

Another problem is the positioning of the sections, as they are nearer the back of the Sound Stand. The away supporters are given a good corner close to the pitch to make noise. The home supporters seeking to improve the atmosphere have been denied this privilege.

The sections benefit from being situated in a one-tier stand, but generating an atmosphere would be much easier if there was one larger section on the first few rows.

Many clubs have ultras or other supporters’ groups which are placed closest to the pitch in order to maximise the noise.

Tottenham on the other hand has slotted the new singing section into the most convenient areas. The club should have made the compromise and offered a more preferable section.

This would result in the Return of the Shelf creating a much-improved atmosphere that the players and club alike could be proud of.

No safe standing

Finally, the sections allocated are seated parts of the stadium. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has rail seating designed for safe standing, but the supporters most likely to be standing have not been allocated this.

Bans were issued in the early days of the ground for supporters guilty of persistent standing. This is no longer the case, but it would make more sense that the standing section is occupied by those singing for ninety minutes.

Instead, it is casuals on a day out and supporters who watch the game in silence who inhabit the area. Those who make little noise may as well sit down to watch matches.

The way forward

Ultimately, the Return of the Shelf campaign is a much-needed positive at Spurs. If it is to be successful, the club must do better in accommodating it in a single section close to the action on the pitch where it will best improve the atmosphere.

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