Football is Mathematics
UEFA Champions League 9
UEFA Europa League 18
UEFA Europa Conference League 18
Premier League 10
LaLiga 10
Bundesliga 9
Serie A 10
Ligue 1 9
Eredivisie 9
Liga Portugal 7
Tottenham’s decision to dismiss Ange Postecoglou so soon after a landmark Europa League win has drawn criticism.
The data, however, suggests this decision may not be as irrational as it first appears.
Postecoglou divided opinions with his commitment, or “over-commitment” as some would rather say, to attacking football. While it drew praise from some quarters, others saw it as a flawed and unsustainable approach.
In the 2024/25 Premier League season, Spurs scored 64 goals, as many as fourth-placed Chelsea. But, they have shipped 65 goals, which is the second worst among teams that avoided the drop this time around.
Blowing a two-goal lead in the 3-2 defeat at Brighton put Postecoglou’s tactics under severe scrutiny. The alarm bells rang even louder after the chaotic 4-3 defeat to Chelsea in December, despite Spurs storming ahead 2-0 in the opening stages.
Lifting the Europa League ended a 17-year wait for silverware, but it couldn’t mask a dismal league campaign that ended with them 17th in the table, just one spot above the drop. It was their worst Premier League finish ever and their poorest top-flight showing since 1976–77, the last time they were relegated.
Before that narrow win against Manchester United, Postecoglou's fate seemed sealed. A forgettable domestic campaign had rendered even the shine of silverware insufficient to save his job. Reports surfaced right after Spurs’ historic win at Bilbao that Postecoglou will not be in charge next season, and it has now been made official.
Ange Postecoglou said this at Tottenham's Europa League parade two weeks ago...
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) June 6, 2025
He didn't make the final cast 💔 pic.twitter.com/raVl8R5NuS
The Tottenham board believes the team has regressed under the Australian even though he added a new trophy to the cabinet. There were questions over his ability to build a Spurs outfit capable of challenging at the top end of the Premier League table, a level consistently maintained by Mauricio Pochettino.
3.47 - There were 3.47 goals per game in Ange Postecoglou's Premier League matches in charge of Tottenham (264 in 76 games), the highest goals per game ratio of any manager to take charge of 50+ games in Premier League history. Entertainer. pic.twitter.com/b8MNObKXYd
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 6, 2025
Under Postecoglou, Tottenham produced an average of 3.47 goals per game across 76 league matches. It’s an all-time Premier League record for any manager overseeing 50 or more fixtures.
Tottenham’s fast-attacking football was a treat to watch for their fans when they were winning. Postecoglou was unbeaten in his first 10 games in charge. But once opposition managers solved the puzzle, the North Londoners became an easy target.
Tottenham suffered a Premier League-era low of 38 points, racking up 22 defeats – more than any other non-relegated team in the competition's history. This meager tally would have sent them down in four prior seasons and offered only a goal-difference lifeline in three more.
Many would argue that Postecoglou was unlucky with the injuries, but there’s a strong counter-argument that his insistence on high-tempo football directly contributed to the mounting list of casualties.
Postecoglou's system demanded exceptional physical output, pushing his players harder than most of their Premier League counterparts. This season, Spurs consistently ranked among the top three in the league for key metrics: distance covered (111.5 km per 90), sprints (167.5 per 90), off-ball runs (159.0 per 90), and pressures in the final third (55.2 per 90).
Postecoglou couldn’t assure the doubters that his playing style can cope with the combined rigors of the Premier League and European competition, and the data speaks against him. Ultimately, Tottenham put emotions aside to make the right, albeit difficult, decision.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | |
| 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | |||
| 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | ||||||
| 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 |
| 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 |
| OVERALL TABLE | |||||||
| OVERALL TABLE | PTS | GP | W | D | L | +/- | |
1 |
Manchester City | 18 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
2 |
Arsenal | 15 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
3 |
Brighton | 13 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
4 |
Brentford | 10 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
5 |
Everton | 10 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
6 |
Chelsea | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
7 |
Leeds United | 9 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
8 |
Hull City | 9 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
9 |
Liverpool | 9 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
10 |
Ipswich Town | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -3 |
11 |
Newcastle United | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -3 |
12 |
Crystal Palace | 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -3 |
13 |
Manchester United | 6 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
14 |
Coventry City | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -6 |
15 |
Nottingham Forest | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -3 |
16 |
Aston Villa | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -5 |
17 |
Sunderland | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -6 |
18 |
Bournemouth | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -6 |
19 |
Tottenham | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -6 |
20 |
Fulham | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -4 |
In their 40 most recent matches of all competitions, Lincoln City have been undefeated 35 times
BATE Borisov are on a poor run of just 3 wins in 20 matches (Vysshaya Liga)
Saint Louis City are on an unbeaten run of 18 games in their Major League Soccer participation
In 13 of their most recent matches in Champions League, Bodo/Glimt have seen over 2.5 goals scored
Al Shamiya have been defeated in their last 8 matches in 1st Division
Philadelphia Union have won 7 consecutive games in Major League Soccer
Zenit have succeeded in keeping a clean sheet in their most recent 7 Kubok games
Kasetsart FC haven't scored a goal in all of their last 5 league matches
A margin of 2+ goals was achieved by Markhiya SC in their last 4 Q League games
Nomme Kalju II have been defeated at HT/FT in their last 4 Esiliiga matches
Vélez Sársfield Res. haven't lost in 30 of their last 36 home matches in Reserve League
Saint Louis City are on an unbeaten run of 18 games in their Major League Soccer participation
Montreal Impact are in an unfortunate period, having won just 2 of their last 17 matches in Major League Soccer
There have been over 2.5 goals in Minnesota United's last 9 Major League Soccer games
Philadelphia Union have won 7 consecutive games in Major League Soccer
Sporting Braga have kept a clean sheet in their last 6 matches in UEFA Europa Conference League
SV Notch have been defeated in their last 5 matches in Hoofdklasse
Levski Sofia have failed to score in their last 5 matches in Europa League
In a series of 4 I Liqa games, Shahdagh Qusar have succeeded in winning at HT/FT
Dinamo Puerto have lost by 2+ goals all of their last 3 Copa Venezuela games
Chengdu Qianbao are unbeaten in 47 of their 55 most recent matches (Super League)
Chernomorets Balchik are on a run of 31 consecutive undefeated matches in their domestic league
FK Dorostol are in an unfortunate period, having won just 1 of their last 20 matches in Third League - North-East
Dunfermline's most recent games have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals in their last 11 matches in Championship
Juventus Malchika have a poor record of 11 consecutive defeats in HT/FT in Third League - North-West
Qingdao Jonoon's latest record consists of 10 straight losses in Super League
Stockholm Internazionale have won their last 10 Div 1 Norra games in a row
Tristán Suárez are on a successful run of 7 games in Nacional B where they have kept a clean sheet
Levadiakos have not been able to score a goal in their 7 most recent matches in Super League
FC Differdange 03 have won at half time/full time all of their last 6 league matches
Chengdu Qianbao are unbeaten in 47 of their 55 most recent matches (Super League)
Chernomorets Balchik are on a run of 31 consecutive undefeated matches in their domestic league
In their last 20 games in Eerste Divisie, Helmond Sport have a poor record of just 3 wins
In 13 of their most recent matches in Champions League, Bodo/Glimt have seen over 2.5 goals scored
Juventus Malchika have a poor record of 11 consecutive defeats in HT/FT in Third League - North-West
Qingdao Jonoon's latest record consists of 10 straight losses in Super League
Stockholm Internazionale have won their last 10 Div 1 Norra games in a row
At least 2 goals have separated Barcelona and their oponents in their last 10 wins in all competitions
Zenit have succeeded in keeping a clean sheet in their most recent 7 Kubok games
Kalmar FF have failed to score a goal in each of their last 7 Allsvenskan games











