ANGE POSTECOGLOU may be experiencing a wildly inconsistent season – but for Gus Poyet, things at Spurs are the same as they ever were.
Tottenham started off last week beating Southampton 5-0 and Manchester United 4-3 in the Carabao Cup – but then were trounced 6-3 at home to Liverpool on Sunday.
Gus Poyet played for three seasons at Spurs before going on to be a managerSportsfile
It means supporters never know what to expect from Postecoglou’s side.
But Poyet sees no difference to how things were when he was playing for the club 20 years ago.
And the Uruguayan does not believe that will change until the club fundamentally switches at its core.
Poyet, who assisted Juande Ramos the last time Spurs won a trophy in 2008, told SunSport via Odds comparison: “It was like that when I played for them. I promise you, it was.
“We were there, we were able to beat the best team and then have the worst results. I remember being 3-0 up against Manchester United at home and we lost 5-3.
“How can you be so good in the first half and so bad in the second half?
“This year against Brighton was the same. Two-nil up at half-time and then they lost 3-2.
“Things, they don’t change, until there is something from inside, and I mean right from the core, that change.
“In Spurs, that core didn’t change over the years. It’s more or less the same.”
Some supporters believe that change would involve chairman Daniel Levy and owners ENIC departing the club.
Ange Postecoglou’s side have won seven and lost eight in the league – but scored more goals than any other team
There was a protest ahead of the Liverpool game, and some balloons were released in the 24th minute to signify 24 years of ENIC ownership.
But Poyet did not single out Levy or the way the club is run as the core switch that is needed – more a mentality shift akin to opponents Liverpool where everything is calmer.
The ex-midfielder, who scored 23 goals in 98 Spurs games between 2001-04, added: “It’s a situation with Spurs where every year is like this wish from everyone that it’s going to be the year that something will change.
“For whatever reason, I cannot explain, it’s unique, something always happens.
“A bad result, or a terrible second half, or an incredibly bad performance.
“The ups and downs are too dramatic. For a team to improve over the years, to be consistent, or to be there, you need to be more calm in the good and bad times.
“We can talk about Liverpool, being good for so many years, but because you are competing with someone like Man City who are so good as well, it doesn’t mean you are going to win.
“But you need to maintain it and not get frustrated for one bad result or one bad season.
“With Spurs, everything is a bit up and down.
“It has to come from inside, the consistency, from the core of the club. That’s something that will be important for Spurs if they want to achieve some stability.”
A driving factor for the frustration that has engulfed Spurs in recent years is their 17-year wait for silverware.
Postecoglou will hope to end that this term and is into the Carabao Cup semi-final, where they face Liverpool.
Poyet, who won the FA Cup as a Chelsea player, added: “If I was a Tottenham coach, I would not be thinking about anything else except winning a trophy.
“You’re not going to win the Premier League but can I win a cup? Yes. Winning a trophy makes players winners. When you become a winner, it becomes a habit.”
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