TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

While he was quick to praise the “real spirit and character” his team showed as they squeaked past Coventry City by the skin of their collective pearly-whites in Fizzy Cup on Wednesday, it’s difficult to imagine that Ange Postecoglou was particularly pleased with what he saw from his Tottenham side. And while what’s said in the dressing room tends to stay in the dressing room, it’s not difficult to imagine him having gone berko as he chucked a traditional Australian wobbly at the assorted boofheads, bludgers and drongos who had so nearly left him looking like a flamin’ galah. Just last Sunday, following his side’s defeat at the hands of Arsenal, Big Ange became a little impatient with an interviewer who seemed to be questioning his team’s ability to emulate previous clubs he has managed by winning trophies during his second season in charge.

“I don’t usually win things in my second year, I always win things in my second year,” he bugled, before confirming he was confident things would be no different at Spurs than they were at the clubs in Australia, Japan and Scotland where he has previously hung his slouch hat. Surprised at the reaction generated by his comments, Postecoglou told reporters at a subsequent press conference that he wasn’t bigging himself up, as some suggested, but merely spewing facts. “Am I supposed to just lie or just say it never happened,” he asked. “Do you really think it’s me sort-of-boasting? It’s just confusing to me that people are making a big deal out of something. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to answer something that is true.” While it could be argued that the fact his team rode their luck to beat a Coventry side who took a second-half lead through Brandon Thomas-Asante is another thing that is true, it was Postecoglou’s approach that will have infuriated many Spurs fans.

Having been heavily criticised for sending out a second-string side that got knocked out of the competition at the first time of asking last season, Mr Plan A only went and did the same thing against those renowned disrespectors of reputations, Coventry City. Luckily for him and despite trailing 1-0 after 87 minutes, on this occasion Spurs got away with it, although he did have to send on the heavy artillery to get the job done. “We had to hang in there and it was really hard just to stay in the game,” parped Postecoglou. “But we [did] and showed some real spirit and character, which has probably been missing in the first four games. But the last 10 minutes we got some really good belief going.” For Coventry it was another opportunity lost after coming up a fraction short in last season’s FA Cup semi-final and playoff final, and it was a wistful Mark Robins who spoke after the game. “We have to be more ruthless,” he sighed. “Life presents you with chances and we seem to not take those chances.”

After feeling compelled to deactivate his Instagram account due to the amount of abuse he was receiving in the wake of Tottenham’s north London derby defeat, the game was a happier occasion for Brennan Johnson, although you wouldn’t have known it to look at him. A young player who has clearly been so wounded by reaction to his performances in recent weeks that he barely celebrated his equaliser and had to be shoved forward to take the post-match plaudits from grateful travelling fans, it is to be hoped Johnson realises that, while far from the be-all and end-all of life, their opinion matters a lot more than that of an army of sad internet clowns.

LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE

It’s Thursday night so that must mean … ah. Well, do join John Brewin at 8pm BST for hot Big Cup coverage of Atalanta 1-2 Arsenal.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It was very difficult. I told [their coach] Míchel that this was worse than giving birth, with all due respect” – PSG’s Luis Enrique, there, not quite managing to put their last-gasp 1-0 win over Girona in Big Cup into context.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

Ciao and Godspeed then, Totò Schillaci! Everyone in Ireland (and several other countries too, no doubt) cursed your shooting-star brilliance at Italia ‘90. But how could we begrudge you when your radiant smile lit up the screen? Even the ‘[Eff] Schillaci’ T-shirts that soon appeared in Dublin that summer (and later in Roddy Doyle novels) were only funny because you were held in such warm esteem. You brought joy to all of us who loved the drama of football, and yes, as you hoped, your memory will linger around the world long after you’re gone. Thanks for the very fondly held memories, Signore Schillaci” – Justin Kavanagh.

The latest Knowledge on failures being marked by open-top bus parades (yesterday’s Still Want More, full email edition) could have gone back even further. You’re made of sterner stuff than hardman goalie Iam McFaul if you’re not moved by this. Can you imagine the scenes on Tyneside if we ever actually won something again?” – JD Laux.

Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is … Justin Kavanagh. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.

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