You can talk about projects and processes as much as you want, but failing to beat the worst team in the Premier League could potentially do irreversible damage for Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham.
Spurs have struggled through the past month as a result of several key defensive absences. They haven’t won since their remarkable 4-0 triumph away at Manchester City and headed into the weekend’s games 11th in the table.
After last season’s promise, Postecoglou’s project is yet to ignite in year two. However, the Lilywhites are competing on multiple fronts and do at least have a chance of claiming silverware.
Thursday’s draw at Rangers further depicted Spurs’ issues without their two leading centre-backs, but Tottenham’s decline cannot solely be attributed to the injuries sustained by Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.
Postecoglou’s squad remains depleted for Sunday’s game. Here’s how he could set his side up against Southampton.
GK: Fraser Forster – Spurs supporters feared the worst when the extent of Guglielmo Vicario’s injury was revealed, but Forster has perhaps been the Lilywhites’ standout performer in recent outings.
RB: Djed Spence – Pedro Porro needs some respite. His form has fallen off a cliff over the past month. Spence hasn’t been given much of a look-in this season, but he could get a run out on Sunday.
CB: Radu Dragusin – The Romanian international is currently Spurs’ only senior centre-back who’s fit and available. Not ideal.
CB: Archie Gray – Gray has done everything but play in his preferred role since joining the club. The teenager started alongside Dragusin at Ibrox and will retain his place at the heart of defence at St Mary’s.
LB: Destiny Udogie – The Italian international has struggled through 2024/25, with fatigue undoubtedly taking its toll. Unfortunately, Spurs simply don’t have any alternatives.
CM: Pape Matar Sarr – Gray could’ve got the nod at the base of midfield if Romero, Van de Ven or Ben Davies was available. Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma are both suspended, so we should see Sarr, who has potential as a #6 but has plenty to learn, start in a deeper midfield role.
CM: Lucas Bergvall – The young Swede has shown flashes in recent cameos, and Postecoglou hinted that he would’ve started on Thursday hadn’t he been bogged down by illness. Sunday could be the time to hand Bergvall his first Premier League start.
CM: Dejan Kulusevski – Kulusevski bailed Spurs out in midweek, with the superb Swedish international coming off the bench to rescue a point. The Lilywhites can’t function without him.
RW: Brennan Johnson – The Welshman leads the Tottenham scoring charts in the Premier League this season with six goals. Often scapegoated, but Spurs have far greater concerns than Johnson.
ST: Dominic Solanke – Solanke’s been one of a few bright sparks for the Lilywhites since joining the club in the summer. He’s scored five times in the Premier League but offers much more than mere goalscoring.
LW: Son Heung-min – Postecoglou was quick to call out Timo Werner after Thursday’s draw in Glasgow, but Son’s another who could’ve easily faced public scrutiny from his manager. The Spurs skipper has been miles off the pace as of late.
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