On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Yves Bissouma backs Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou to turn the fortunes around at N17
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is facing a tough time in the dugout at N17. The Lilywhites have now lost 21 league games under the Australian this season, and they sit 17 th in the Premier League table. The fans have also been frustrated with the results in domestic competitions. Many fans have grown tired of the mediocre performances on the pitch and have called for Big Ange’s sacking.
However, not all is doom and gloom for the ex-Celtic boss at N17. Against all odds, Spurs are still in contention to win a major trophy this season. The North London club faces Manchester United in the Europa League final later this week. Winning the competition would bring an end to a 17-year wait for silverware at N17. It would also mean that a European trophy would head back to Hotspur Way after 41 years.
While the fans have showcased their frustrations regarding Ange Postecoglou’s management, Spurs players have always backed the Australian to turn the club’s fortunes around. There is not a single player that does not want to give his all for Big Ange. The effort shown on the pitch, even in a losing cause, reflects that as well.
Yves Bissouma shares a ‘good’ relationship with Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou
Tottenham star Yves Bissouma has endured a tough campaign at N17 this season. The Mali international has fallen down the pecking order under Ange Postecoglou. One will not be wrong to assume that the 28-year-old’s future lies elsewhere next season as Spurs need to adopt the ‘sell-to-buy’ policy this summer.
Much like Ange Postecoglou, the midfielder is also facing the heat at Hotspur Way. But he still backs Big Ange to end the season on a high and win a major trophy. Speaking about his relationship with the Spurs manager, Yves Bissouma said (as transcribed by Football.london),
“It’s never changed. Never changed. We have a good relationship. Like I said, he’s like a dad or uncle for us. He’s always trying to make us understand what he really wants. For us, he’s Ange, he’s him. He’s got his idea. He’s trying to help us every time. It’s not easy (the style of play), especially at the start.”
The Spurs No.8 added,
“We have to stick together like what we’re doing and that’s what we’re doing. He’s always protecting us. Every game, when we lose or win. Like I said, he’s got a top mentality. He understands football. He knows it’s up and down. He never blames players. To have a coach like him is something. At the same time, with him, we are working hard.”
Yves Bissouma suggests that the relationship has never changed with Ange Postecoglou and the Tottenham boss has always been like a ‘dad’ or an ‘uncle’ for the players. The Mali international also insists that Big Ange knows what he wants and the Australian is trying to help the players improve. Bissouma also acknowledges the fact that the Spurs manager is always protecting the players from criticism and he has got a top mentality.
It is almost certain that Daniel Levy will sack Ange Postecoglou once the season ends, regardless of the outcome in the Europa League final. The ex-Celtic boss has just not managed to get positive results in the Premier League this season. Daniel Levy has also shortlisted potential managers that could replace the ex-Celtic boss at the helm.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner and Fulham manager Marco Silva are leading the race to replace the 59-year-old. Both managers are open for a move in the summer and Levy must decide on Ange’s future quickly before deciding which players to target for next season.
More must-reads:
- World Cup qualification roundup: Who's in from each continent?
- Shedeur Sanders makes promise to Browns fans ahead of first regular-season start
- The 'NFL single-game completions leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Italy’s World Cup play-off semi-final opponent revealed
The draw for the 2026 World Cup play-offs is now complete, and Italy have been drawn against Northern Ireland for the crucial one-legged semi-final in March. The Azzurri finished second in Group I in the UEFA section of World Cup qualifying. Gennaro Gattuso’s side ended the group on 18 points from eight matches, winning six but losing twice against group winners, Norway. That included a disappointing 4-1 defeat against Erling Haaland and his compatriots in San Siro on Sunday. That result against Norway confirmed Italy’s second-place finish, and their resulting place in the play-offs. You can see how the draw unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog. Italy to face Northern Ireland in World Cup play-offs Italy have learned that they will go up against Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semi-final. This will be a one-legged match, played at home, and will take place on March 26. If the Azzurri win, they will progress to a one-legged final a few days later on March 31. The draw was seeded, and Italy were among the top seeds, which meant that they had to be drawn against one of Sweden, Romania, Northern Ireland or North Macedonia. The Azzurri were the first nation to be drawn, coincidentally, by 2006 World Cup winner Marco Materazzi. That means they are in ‘Path A’ in the play-offs. Should Italy win their semi-final, they will go on to face either Wales or Bosnia in the play-off final. Italy will be away should they qualify for the final. Path A Italy vs. Northern Ireland Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina. Path B Ukraine vs. Sweden Poland vs. Albania Path C Turiye vs. Romania Slovakia vs. Kosovo Path D Denmark vs. North Macedonia Czechia vs. Republic of Ireland
Texas HC Steve Sarkisian gives bold claim on job rumors
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has been a popular name in both the NFL and college football coaching cycles. It makes sense, too. He's brought Texas back to being competitive and in the championship hunt, but he also has a wealth of great experience as an assistant in both college and the NFL. He's about as well-rounded a candidate as you'll find, so of course, programs like the Florida Gators, LSU Tigers or even the New York Giants may be interested to see if he's interested. The thing is, though, he's not. Or, at the very least, that's what he's telling the media. He's all-in with the Longhorns, according to comments he made on a recent SEC teleconference call. “I’d like to comment something before I get into our team that has been bothering me now over the past few weeks. That is people reporting that are insinuating that there’s a possibility I could leave the University of Texas, and that is absolutely false and untrue," Sarkisian said (h/t On3). "I’m not going anywhere. Never do I do this because I never want to be a distraction, so I never address these things. At this point, I feel like this is important that I do this because it’s important for our team. It’s important for our university." Steve Sarkisian has deep roots in Austin and is all-in with Texas As if that weren't clear enough, Sarkisian said that he has not had any discussions with anybody about coaching elsewhere. He even went as far as to say that even his agent hasn't spoken to anyone. Sometimes coaches can say publicly that they aren't talking about any opportunities while, in the meantime, their agents are working backchannels and putting something together. He could be lying, of course, because college football history is full of head coaches saying one thing and doing another. A full-throated statement like this seems to be a pretty clear indication that Sarkisian is serious about what he's saying, though. Heck, he went as far as calling Austin home, which is a pretty big deal for a coach to say. Those guys aren't used to staying in one place for too long. With that said, Sarkisian does have two kids actually enrolled at Texas, one on the football team. He has a third kid he wants to go to Texas in the near future. He also just had a baby. Sarkisian has roots in Austin. He also has high aspirations for the Longhorns. “We came here to win championships," he said. "We’ve built a damn good football program over the five years that we’ve been here. We’ve been to two College Football Playoffs. We won a Big 12 Championship. We went to the SEC Championship game in Year 1. We’ve had 23 players drafted the last two years, which is more than any other school in the country and our team GPA is at an all-time high. “Can we please stop putting things out there that you have absolutely zero evidence on? Can we please stop retweeting and putting it back out there as if it’s true? As if it’s the gospel? It is not true."
Three teams getting too much credit from College Football Playoff committee
The College Football Playoff committee released its latest set of rankings on Tuesday night without too many surprises. Oklahoma was the biggest mover, going up to No. 8 after a road win over Alabama, which dropped to No. 10. The Crimson Tide are effectively holding onto the last playoff spot. Miami, the top-ranked ACC team, is projected to get that league's spot for now, while Tulane would get the last automatic berth, going to the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion. That leaves BYU and Utah on the outside looking in. Vanderbilt, USC, Georgia Tech and Michigan are some other teams looming. USC can make a statement this weekend, with a road win over Oregon. The Ducks are ranked seventh, while USC is 15th. For the Trojans, a win this week likely catapults them into the top 10. It could also expose a top-10 team that doesn't have the resume of a top-10 team. Three teams are being overvalued by the College Football Playoff committee, and the list starts with Oregon. Oregon (No. 7) The Ducks have beaten up on some weak opponents, but their best wins this season were an ugly victory at Iowa and a 20-point road win over Northwestern. They don't have a single win over a currently ranked team. Alabama has beaten two teams in the top 14 and four in the top 25. Oregon passes the eye test. But it feels like the Ducks are getting too much credit for a win at Penn State that's not all that impressive, and a close home loss to Indiana, something the Ducks share with Iowa. Oregon has looked great at times. It also looked unimpressive in a 21-7 win over 3-7 Wisconsin. Saturday's game will answer some questions, yet the Ducks are being overvalued by the committee. Tennessee (No. 20) Strength of schedule should matter, but not when the College Football Playoff committee is artificially pumping up the schedule strength of one conference in particular: the SEC. The five teams in the top 10 are worthy. It's hard to argue against them. But outside of that, the SEC feels propped up. Tennessee, for instance, hasn't beaten a single team with a winning record this season. Losing to Georgia in overtime and to Oklahoma by single digits isn't a good enough reason to be ranked. Missouri (No. 22) Like Tennessee, the best achievement of the Missouri Tigers has been losing to ranked teams. SMU, from the ACC, has a similar record. It has three losses to teams with winning records, plus a win over No. 13 Miami, a better win than Tennessee or Missouri, yet the Mustangs didn't crack the top 25. No. 23 Houston is 8-2. The Cougars lost to fifth-ranked Texas Tech earlier in the season, plus to West Virginia. They also beat 25th-ranked Arizona State on the road, yet are ranked behind two teams that haven't beaten a single team with a winning record. It feels like the College Football Playoff committee continues to favor the SEC, but it's about more than that. Too much is being based on the eye test. That's why Oregon is ranked where it's at and some SEC teams, too. The resume should matter above everything. Performance on the field should be the determining factor, but once again, that doesn't appear to be the case.
MLB’s new media deal may end up being a bad deal for consumers
Major League Baseball will have a new television deal heading into 2026, with NBC/Peacock getting the best portion of the pie. The network, which already hosts "Sunday Night Football," will now also host "Sunday Night Baseball" after spending 36 years on ESPN, according to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand. NBC/Peacock will also play host to the first round of the playoffs. Marchand adds that the streaming platform Netflix will get the rights to broadcast the Home Run Derby, the Field of Dreams game and the standalone Opening Day game featured in prime time. NBC/Peacock is paying nearly $200 million per year (total of $600 million) for its broadcasting rights, while Netflix is paying $50 million (total of $150 million) for its portion. ESPN, meanwhile, was allowed to broadcast all out-of-market games for all 30 major league clubs, while also getting the right to broadcast in-market games for six teams. ESPN had opted out of its remaining three years of its deal with Major League Baseball back in March. How does MLB's new media deal affect baseball viewing moving forward? This new deal for Major League Baseball isn’t necessarily the best for consumers. Bringing three of the four major pro sports in the United States (baseball, football and basketball) under one umbrella (NBC/Peacock), Major League Baseball will now reach 42 million more people with this maneuver than it originally did. Peacock recently reached that many new subscribers this past October. However, with the U.S. population at 340.1 million people, that number is deceiving. Sports viewers don’t usually stream, with 17 percent of Americans not having streaming services, according to a Pew Research Center poll. There was a recent scandal between ESPN and YouTube TV, in which they were at odds over their deal, cutting off "Monday Night Football," college football and other sports like Formula 1 from 10 million viewers. After a two-week standoff, both sides finally agreed on a deal. NBC/Peacock had its own standoff with the streaming platform heading into October. However, both sides agreed at the final hour. The costs of streaming have gone up over the years, when the point was to be cheaper than cable. With Netflix costing $25 a month (premium), Peacock costing $14 a month ($140 a year) and the ESPN app costing $30 a month ($300 per year), fans' frustrations may continue to mount as the cost to watch sports rises.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
