THE lengthy absentee list which Ange Postecoglou has been forced to contend with at Spurs in recent weeks has unquestionably contributed to a sudden slump in form which has led to speculation about his future intensifying.
Postecoglou has been without Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Ben Davies, Wilson Odobert and Richarlison due to injury and suspension and Brennan Johnson, Cristiano Romero and Micky van de Ven were all ruled out at the weekend.
The Greek-Australian manager, whose men have won just one of their last seven outings, is without over £200m of talent going into the eagerly-anticipated Europa League league phase match against Rangers at Ibrox tomorrow evening.
However, could the absence of his first choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, the Italian internationalist who he signed from Empoli last summer, actually help him to enjoy a triumphant return to Scotland?
Vicario’s stand-in Fraser Forster is sure, as was very much the case when Spurs rocked up in Govan for a pre-season friendly two years ago, to receive a hostile reception from the home supporters in the sell-out 50,000-strong crowd.
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But the Englishman will not simply be targeted for abuse because he is a former Celtic player – he will be singled out for flak because of his brilliance for the Parkhead club.
Forster was invariably outstanding for the Scottish champions in their games against their age-old city rivals during his various spells in the East End of Glasgow and was very often the difference between victory and defeat.
That was certainly the case in the League Cup final at Hampden five years ago this month. The 6ft 7in keeper produced the performance of his life as Neil Lennon’s understrength side somehow contrived to run out 1-0 winners against Steven Gerrard’s totally dominant team.
The 36-year-old has been savaged by Spurs fans on social media in the wake of the 4-3 defeat to Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday – particularly for allowing Cole Palmer to dink a Panenka-style penalty past him.
Will being back in the country where he launched his career, won the Premiership four times, the Scottish Cup three times and the League Cup and once went a record 1,256 minutes in the league without conceding bring out the best in Forster?
Former Celtic manager Postecoglou, who was involved in an angry exchange of words with furious supporters after his side had been beaten 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium last week, needs the former Newcastle United, Norwich City and Southampton man to be in the zone.
Sean Hurl, the Spurs and Celtic supporter who is a regular contributor to the Paxton Road TV podcast, feels the criticism which has been aimed in the direction of the vastly-experienced player in recent days has been unjustified and anticipates him revelling in the intense atmosphere at Ibrox.
“I would expect Forster to do well against Rangers,” he said. “It's not something that will faze him in the slightest.
“I have to say I was a wee bit concerned when Vicario got injured because he’s so integral to Postecoglou’s style of play. But Forster has not been at fault for any of the goals we’ve conceded since he came in. He could do nothing against Chelsea at the weekend. Two of their goals were penalties.
“For me, he's been excellent. He's made some quite crucial saves. He's been a more than capable deputy. He is very popular amongst the playing squad and is, despite not being first choice, one of the team’s leaders. With his age, he’s not going to be a sweeper keeper, but I fully expect him to acquit himself well against Rangers.
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“Vicario is a good shot stopper, but he's also very quick off his line and is extremely comfortable playing the ball out so the No 6 or whoever can initiate the attacks. But we’re quite blessed with our goalkeepers. Fraser has assumed a leadership role since coming in and I think he will lead by example at Ibrox.”
Playing at the renowned Glasgow ground will be a new experience for one of Forster’s young team mates – the £40m summer signing Archie Gray.
But Hurl expects the 18-year-old, the grandson of former Nottingham Forest and Scotland defender Frank and nephew of Leeds United legend and ex-Scotland winger Eddie, to revel in his surroundings if he features against Rangers due to his lifelong affinity with Celtic.
“I think he's going be an exceptional player,” he said. “I've been amazed at his ability and maturity. You can tell that he obviously gained quite a lot of experience in the Championship, which is a very competitive league, with Leeds last season. He has been brilliant.
“He hasn’t actually played in the position where he wants to play. He's played right across the back four, but he hasn't played in midfield. I am sure with all of his familial connections with Celtic that he will rise to the occasion if he is chosen.”
“There's very much an anti-Postecoglou sentiment among the rest of my podcast contributors,” he said. “But I’m an advocate. I don't think they reflect the fan base as a whole. I would say that 80 per cent of the supporters still back Ange.
“There is a 20 per cent and it's growing because of the inconsistency of the team this season. But there's been so many mitigating factors. I don't think there's enough recognition of the mess the club was in when Postecoglou took over.
“Ange embraced the challenges, changed the playing style and started the rebuild which Mauricio Pochettino never got the chance to carry out. The blame for the problems lies with the hierarchy of the club, with the ownership, rather than the players or the coach.
“Rangers have performed above my expectations in Europe and have displaced Spurs in the top eight. I would like to see us win and get our automatic place in the knockout rounds. But it will not be an easy night for us.”
Spurs will need their goalkeeper Fraser Forster to roll back the years at Ibrox tomorrow evening for the visitors to prevail and pick up all three points.
