I agree with Jamie Redknapp about woeful Tottenham but do have some sympathy for Ange Postecoglou

“From Tottenham‘s perspective, I cannot remember a team in my lifetime go down with less of a fight than they did tonight.

“Not having one shot on target in the semi-final second leg, when you’re trying to change the course of your history – I feel sorry for those young players. I think Djed Spence played 14 different positions, I’ve never seen anything like it.

“When you’ve got young players you’re meant to help them. Archie Gray and [Lucas] Bergvall, they’re trying their best but the senior players, I’d be looking at them to lead you to make sure you set the right tempo, they didn’t do that.

“There’s been some right lows this season, Palace, Everton, but that today, that scoreline, just horrendous.”

Those were the words of Jamie Redknapp after Spurs were thumped 4-0 by Liverpool at Anfield in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Thursday night. It was a hard night for Tottenham and those words will have resonated with almost every single supporter out there.

Redknapp speaks the truth. Everything he said is fair comment. Tottenham were woeful against the Premier League leaders, of that there can be no doubt.

There is some context. When isn’t there with Spurs? Take a look at the starting lineup and you’d probably say five – at a push – are guaranteed starters in Ange Postecoglou‘s best XI. Going up against the best team in the league – and potentially Europe – with less than half of your best starting lineup is far from ideal.

Spurs got to 33 minutes with their lead from the first leg intact. As soon as it evaporated, so did any hope of the team reaching a Wembley final. There was no chance. And no hope.

The team Postecoglou put out could not lay a glove on Liverpool. The real problem, however, is that they didn’t even look like trying to lay a glove on them. In posession, Spurs were atrocious. No one showed for the ball, there were never any options for passes and when anyone tried to do things themselves they looked like they had never seen a football before. Out of possession the team were ragged and flustered.

It was a “horrendous” night for everyone connected with Tottenham, but here’s where I do have a bit of sympathy for Postecoglou. Not too long ago, Spurs played the proper Angeball against Liverpool and were tonked 6-3 at home. The Australian went with a more pragmatic approach at Anfield on Thursday night and you could argue if he had got through to half-time at 0-0, it might have been a different story.

However, that was not the case and the second half was even worse than the first, despite Lucas Bergvall coming on and showing his senior teammates how to fight. He plays open and attacking and gets criticised. He plays more defensive minded and gets criticised. he cannot win. Unfortunately nor can Spurs.

He is right to be criticised. All the fans will have wanted, having gone one, and two, and three, and four-nil behind was to go down fighting. As far as I could see there was no fight. At all.

I normally get nervous before a big game like this. There were no nerves on Thursday night, I knew what was coming, and that just sums up where Spurs are right now.