Big Ange criticised for failing to do ‘one of the easiest things’ at Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham’s 2-1 home defeat to Nottingham Forest followed a now all-too-familiar pattern, dominating possession yet conceding soft, avoidable goals. It’s a recurring flaw that continues to haunt the Lilywhites, and one that remains unaddressed. Former midfielder Danny Murphy didn’t hold back in his assessment, pointing the finger at the coaching setup.

Murphy criticised the glaring lack of defensive structure, arguing that instilling basic organisation at the back should be one of the most fundamental responsibilities of any competent manager. His comments reflect growing frustration around Ange Postecoglou’s inability to shore up a defence that’s repeatedly cost Spurs vital points.

Murphy believes Ange’s instructions are lacking

Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy placed the blame squarely on Ange Postecoglou, questioning why the team’s persistent defensive frailties remain unresolved after two seasons. Speaking to The Daily Mail in the aftermath of Spurs’ 2-1 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, Murphy noted that while Tottenham weren’t entirely poor, two early lapses handed the visitors the initiative, allowing Forest to drop deep and absorb waves of crosses with relative ease.

Murphy offered a detailed critique of Spurs’ tactical disarray, particularly highlighting their confusion when Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White drifted into central areas. Tottenham’s midfielders and full-backs, he argued, looked unsure of their roles, with no evident instruction from the bench or leadership on the pitch. The resulting disorganisation saw Forest race to a 2-0 lead inside 16 minutes.

Murphy was scathing in his conclusion, asserting that these issues stem from a lack of basic coaching. “Being compact, hard to break down, and protecting your goal, these are fundamentals,” he said. “With the talent Spurs have, this should’ve been addressed long ago.” His comments echo the growing sentiment that structural problems, not individual mistakes alone, are undermining the club’s progress.

“It has been a recurring theme. You don’t lose that many matches if you are organised properly, an aspect that sometimes only takes simple coaching to achieve.

“Being difficult to play through is one of the easiest things to work on. Blocking space, condensing the pitch and protecting your goal should not be difficult for the quality players at Spurs, but they have not done it.”

Murphy also underlined a key tactical flaw in Tottenham’s season, predictability. He pointed out that Premier League opponents have figured out what Spurs are trying to do, yet Ange Postecoglou has failed to offer a viable Plan B. Murphy noted that the Australian has been tactically outmanoeuvred on several occasions, most recently by Nuno Espirito Santo, whose Nottingham Forest side exposed familiar vulnerabilities.

These recurring issues have become an all-too-frustrating norm for the Spurs faithful, who have grown weary of watching the same defensive lapses and structural problems unfold week after week. As Tottenham prepare for their Europa League semi-final, there is hope that these costly mistakes were left behind in the quarter-finals. If Spurs do make it to the final, fans will be demanding that the errors and questionable decisions that have plagued this campaign are firmly relegated to the past.