'Ange Postecoglou can say what he likes about his ear cupping – he can't react like that'

about his ear cupping. The Tottenham boss can continue to claim that it was looking for the Spurs fans to cheer. But he knew as he stood near the halfway line after that he had messed up.

Now it is understandable to get angry when you’ve got thousands of people criticising you at work. It’s not nice, it can be argued it is not right . It was recently that Postecoglou was complaining that other professions don’t have to suffer people questioning their job security in interviews.



Yet Postecoglou gets paid handsomely not just because he’s supposed to be a good manager, but because he and his contemporaries have to deal with more than most do in work. And, by the way, if you are failing at work then it may not be the media questioning your position but your boss will. What you cannot do is react in the way Postecoglou did on Thursday night as Spurs limply lost to London rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

It showed a smugness which won’t serve Postecoglou well. He was upset after being serenaded by the away end with chants of "you don't know what you're doing" because ]midfielder Lucas Bergvall was replaced by Pape Sarr in the 65th minute. So when Sarr smashed one in from distance not long after, Postecoglou thought he had the last laugh.

Yet he would have been better served keeping that chuckle to himself. Not just because the goal was about to be ruled out for a foul on Moises Caicedo. Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Football email newsletter! From the latest transfer news to breaking stories, get it all in your email inbox.

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You can also sign up for our sport email, Off the Ball, for all the latest darts, boxing, snooker, F1 stories and more, But cupping your ears towards the fans of your club who pay thousands each year to follow the team around the land is not a wise move. Even less so when the team is currently 14th in the Premier League having lost more than half of the games they’ve played this season. That’s why, as he hugged the half-way line at full-time rather than go towards the away end at Stamford Bridge, he knew the damage was done.

There’s not enough “mates” he could throw out in his post-match interviews and press conferences to diffuse the situation. That tactic has now been seen through. When Postecoglou arrived from Celtic 21 months ago, everyone thought he was charming and open.

But he had shown signs in Scotland that when there’s pressure on, he can be snappy. Yet his move to cup his ears was sniggering. Even if Sarr had scored a winner it would have been a ghastly move.

Spurs fans are losing patience fast with the manager. Trying to take shots back at them isn’t going to win back any favour. It’s getting to the stage that even winning the Europa League might not be enough to save him from the sack.

Antics like Thursday night are making him unlikeable as well as underperforming. Mikel Arteta should bring Arsenal’s U21s to Goodison Park today. The Gunners have no hope of winning the Premier League title and finishing second or third in the table won’t make much of a difference apart from some prize money.

Yet if Gabriel popping his hamstring against Fulham wasn’t a warning to wrap up their stars in cotton wool then nothing will be. Yes there’s an argument that Arteta will want his side in a winning rhythm heading into this week’s Champions League first-leg quarter-final against Real Madrid. But the odds are already stacked against the Gunners.

They cannot afford another serious injury or they’ll have no hope. Jack Grealish and his lovely tribute to his late brother after scoring on the 25th anniversary of his death A horror tackle from James Tarkowski on Alexis Mac Allister but death threats sent to him? Toxic social media..