Tottenham’s performance in the Premier League this season has been plagued by disciplinary issues. With a staggering 46 yellow cards and four red cards in just 17 games, they currently hold one of the worst disciplinary records in the league. Yves Bissouma alone has been sent off twice, while Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie have each received one red card. Such reckless behavior has cost Spurs dearly, as seen in their 4-1 defeat to Chelsea last month, where two red cards in one game proved detrimental to their success.
Despite the glaring disciplinary problems, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has taken a surprising approach. In a recent news conference, he expressed no intention of addressing the issue directly with his players. Postecoglou believes that missing games due to suspension will serve as a more effective lesson for his team. He stated, “My experience in football is that the best remedy for those kinds of things is the players feeling like they’re missing out on something. It brings them back into line pretty quickly.”
While Postecoglou’s approach may seem counterintuitive, there is some merit to his reasoning. By allowing players to face the consequences of their actions, the hope is that they will learn from their mistakes and be more cautious in the future. The fear of missing out on crucial games and potentially letting their team down can be a powerful motivator for change. It remains to be seen whether this strategy will bear fruit for Tottenham.
As Tottenham prepares for their upcoming home game against Everton, they face a formidable opponent. Despite a 10-point deduction for breaching profitability and sustainability rules, Everton has managed to climb to 16th in the league standings on the back of a four-match winning streak. Admirably, manager Sean Dyche and his players have not used the deduction as an excuse but have instead responded with resilience and determination.
In more positive news for Tottenham, Giovani Lo Celso is set to make his return from injury. However, the same cannot be said for James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, who are still some weeks away from rejoining the team. Ryan Sessegnon, who underwent surgery for a hamstring problem in July, is aiming for a comeback in Tottenham’s FA Cup third-round clash with Burnley on January 5. Although there are currently no plans to loan out Sessegnon in January, this possibility has not been completely ruled out.
It is crucial for Tottenham to address their disciplinary issues and foster a culture of responsibility and self-control within the team. A high number of yellow and red cards not only jeopardize their chances of victory in individual matches but also tarnish the team’s reputation as professionals. The lessons learned from the consequences of their actions should instill the necessary discipline to avoid further self-sabotage.
Postecoglou remains hopeful that his team will learn from these disciplinary incidents and ultimately emerge stronger. Their success on the field, coupled with the absence of key players due to suspensions, may force the squad to realize the importance of self-discipline. As they strive to reclaim their position as a top contender in the Premier League, Tottenham must confront their disciplinary weaknesses head-on and strive for improvement in both their behavior and performance.
Tottenham’s disciplinary issues have been a major stumbling block this season. However, the approach taken by manager Ange Postecoglou to let the consequences teach the players a lesson may have some merit. As they face Everton and navigate through their injury concerns, Spurs must prioritize discipline as they strive for success on and off the pitch.