In circumstances like this, if you are a Tottenham supporter, you have to take the rough with the smooth.
The 3-0 defeat at Fulham, and the manner of it, was probably a signal of how things used to be previously, certainly from a defensive aspect.
But one reason behind this latest defeat is how Ange Postecoglou set up his team at Craven Cottage, how he didn’t let up and how he also pushed forward his fullbacks Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie.
Yes, Tottenham lost and the fans will be bitterly disappointed, but Tim Sherwood was keen to look at the positives.
The former midfielder acknowledged how ‘aggressive’ Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie were during the game by pushing into midfield and how it’s like ‘putting you in a tumble dryer’, as he told Premier League Productions (16/03/24 at 6:25 pm).
The ones who are looking at this with their glasses half full would say that Spurs would lose these types of games under previous managers by sitting back.
Yet now, it’s happening whilst they are still trying to attack and be on the front foot, it’s just a case of coming up against a Fulham side that produced their performance of the season yesterday.
Tim Sherwood was certainly one of those people, as he hailed Ange Postecoglou’s style of play and the job of the fullbacks.
Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie
“Tottenham play so aggressive,” said Sherwood. “So high all the time. If you could pick your way, pick the pass at the right time, then you can open Tottenham up.
“Look at Udogie. Look at Porro on the far side. They are the fullbacks. They have so much trust in the fullbacks. When you give up possession. They are right in you, then you have a real problem.
“We love it. We want to see Tottenham play like this. Look at him bursting forward now. As soon as the fullbacks release themselves and jump into them areas (in the final third), they leave big gaps.
“But, on the positive side, they overload the midfield and outnumber the opposition – look at the aggression of that. You wouldn’t fancy playing midfield against that. It’s like putting you in a tumble dryer”
Tottenham’s style of play
There will be doom and gloom in the Spurs camp, for sure, especially after their win over Aston Villa last week and now this.
To beat your top-four rivals, in the manner in which they did, and then lose to Fulham is going to be quite frustrating, especially in this race for the top-four.
But the London club are still in a better position than 12 months ago.
Back then, the team was on the decline, playing negative football and more than a few dark clouds were over the club.
If you look at what Postecoglou has done as a whole. It has certainly changed and is still changing for the better.