Yahoo Sports 'Urgency in market' - but Postecoglou still believes
Tottenham fell to a fourth defeat in five Premier League games as they were beaten at Everton on Sunday, and it's starting to become a "familiar story".
They might not have been the words manager Ange Postecoglou wanted to hear at the start of his interview with BBC Match of the Day, but it's becoming an unwanted trend at the club.
Spurs trailed 3-0 against relegation-threatened Everton at half-time before a late fightback meant the game ended 3-2.
Defeat left the north London side 15th, and put Postecoglou under further pressure.
"It is a difficult result," the Australian said. "We struggled to really get in the game in the first half and that gave Everton momentum.
"We gave ourselves a mountain to climb. The players certainly tried to claw the game back but we just fell short."
Tottenham are eight points above the relegation zone after 22 games and have won just seven times in the league this season.
Asked if his confidence wavers, Postecoglou said: "No it doesn't.
"If you look at the situation we're in, it will eventually dissipate. I certainly hope and believe it will.
"I certainly haven't lost belief or determination to turn it around and the players showed in the second half that they haven't either."
How bad is it for Spurs?
Tottenham have lost 12 games in the Premier League this season, making it only the sixth campaign in which they have lost as many as 12 from their first 22 league matches, and the first time since 1997-98 (also 12 defeats).
The only sides who have lost more in the league this season are Wolves, Leicester and Southampton.
Since beating Aston Villa 4-1 on 3 November, Tottenham have lost nine, drawn four and only won five of their 18 games in all competitions, although three of those victories have been against Manchester City (4-0 away), Manchester United (4-3 home) and Liverpool (1-0 home).
Tottenham have failed to win in their past six games in the Premier League; their last joint-longest winless streak was 13 December 2008 to 18 January 2009.
Spurs have lost 18 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season - only Fulham (19) have lost more.
Tottenham have won just one of their past 10 Premier League matches (drawn two, lost seven), with that victory coming at bottom side Southampton (5-0).
Spurs have not finished outside the top 10 in the Premier League since 2007-08 when they came 11th, but did win the League Cup.
'Stretched' Spurs targeting January deals
Tottenham's injury issues deepened prior to their trip to Merseyside with the news £65m summer signing Dominic Solanke would be unavailable because of a knee issue.
Postecoglou said he had "literally 11 players fit enough to start the game" and had to name six teenagers, including 16-year-old Malachi Hardy, on the bench.
Regular first-team players Brennan Johnson, Cristian Romero, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Guglielmo Vicario and Micky van de Ven were among those sidelined.
"We are pretty stretched," Postecoglou said.
"There will be urgency [in the transfer market] but it doesn't need me to say it, everybody can see that. I have no issues with how the club are going about it, they are working hard and trying to find solutions.
"These players need help and hopefully over the next 10 days or so we'll find a solution. It is really tricky, we're not the only ones in the market. The club are trying hard."
Ben Davies returned from an 11-game absence with a thigh injury to play the full 90 minutes.
The Wales defender has been with the club since 2014 and was part of the squad that lost the 2019 Champions League final 2-0 against Liverpool.
"It is probably the toughest period since I've been at the club," Davies said.
"We'll see the players who are willing to fight and show they really care about this. It is a tough time for the club and squad. We need people who will really fight.
"I see the work we put in every day. Everyone is hurting. It is a very difficult period and we're hurting too like the fans."
'Like watching a kids' academy play'
Postecoglou is Tottenham's fourth permanent manager since Tottenham parted with Mauricio Pochettino in 2014.
Since the Argentine was sacked, Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte have all attempted to crack the code.
Mourinho lost 24 matches during an 86-game stint, Santo only lasted only 17 games and Conte was beaten 23 times in 76 fixtures.
Postecoglou, meanwhile, has overseen 27 losses in 74 games.
Spurs also have the seventh worst defensive record in the Premier League this season, conceding 35 goals.
"You cant be losing 3-0 at Everton at half-time - and it could have been worse," former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports.
"This is a mess. Tottenham are just so naive in everything they do.
"It's like watching a kids' academy play, where the manager keeps telling them to play and results don't matter."
In September, Postecoglou said "I always win things in my second year" following a 1-0 loss against Arsenal in the north London derby.
There could still be a happy ending to the campaign with Spurs leading Liverpool 1-0 after the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
"I think the pressure will crank up now because as manager of Tottenham you need to get results but it feels like there is a lot resting on the cup competitions," Carragher added.
