‘He took liberties’ - Pundit critical of Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou

Sky Sports pundit and former Tottenham Hotspur player Jamie Redknapp has criticised Ange Postecoglu for making so many changes to the starting XI for the midweek clash against Coventry City, saying that it nearly cost Spurs their place in the competition.

The Carabao Cup is seen by many as Spurs' best route towards ending their 17-season trophy drought. The competition is the last trophy the club won, back when it was known as the "Carling Cup."

As a result, most expected Ange Postecoglou to go with a stronger starting XI for the game against Coventry City. Ange playing a weak team against Fulham last season cost Spurs a place in the third round, and you would have thought he would have learned from that night.

It was very nearly Deja vu for Spurs, but for late goals from Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson to keep the Carabao Cup hopes alive, at a point where their hosts really should have been out of sight with no way back for Ange's side.

Jamie Redknapp accuses Ange of taking liberties in midweek

The selection did not have the approval of Jamie Redknapp, who told Sky Sports (via the Daily Mail) “I didn’t like the team he picked. He took liberties. I thought he would’ve learned from Fulham last season, but he didn’t pick a strong enough team. But he’s got away with that one.

You can tell they have a lack of confidence right now. They didn’t pass the ball well enough and they let Coventry creep into the game. I do struggle when managers leave out these big-name players – I don’t know why they don’t start the likes of Son and then bring them off when you’re winning.

This was always going to be a tough game and a potential banana skin because of what Coventry have done in recent years. The team he’s picked has given them a problem and they were very, very fortunate.”

You can see where Redknapp is coming from. A few changes to keep the squad fresh is okay, but eight felt a bit overboard. As he says, playing some of the senior players and bringing them on having gone a couple of goals ahead would have felt like a more sensible move.

Still, it is done now, and it didn't cost the club, even if from luck rather than design. This gives Ange a chance to again learn from it, whilst not costing Spurs their Carabao Cup status at the same time.