“I’m Not a Clown”: Postecoglou Destroys the Media’s Dirtiest Trick

 

	In a powerful moment, Ange Postecoglou shuts down a leading journalist with one line — exposing the media’s attempt to ridicule and undermine.

“I’m Not a Clown”: Postecoglou’s Powerful Stand Against the Fans and Media’s Lowest Game

By THBN Editor, Clive

You think I hold no punches, then read on.

You want opinion, by heck you are going to get it.

I popped this piece into AI to ask it what it thought...

It's 'ferocious' was the reply.

"You've captured the rage of fans with a backbone, the essence of Ange’s philosophy, and the utter gall of media parasites in one sweeping strike."

Let’s call this what it was.

Not journalism.

Not analysis.

Not even a genuine question.

What we witnessed in the pre-Europa League Final press conference was a public attempt at professional character assassination… 

Delivered with a microphone and a media badge.

It was the most insulting question I’ve ever heard from one of these reptiles who masquerade as journalists.

A disgrace in disguise. 

A set-up.

And it blew up in his face.

And Ange Postecoglou, our manager, our leader, put the so-called journalist in his place with a line that should echo through every dressing room, every boardroom, and every fanbase in the country.

“I’m not a clown. I never will be, mate.”

Let that ring out loud and clear, because this wasn’t just about Postecoglou.

This was about every manager, coach, and player who’s ever had to bite their tongue while a journalist, who’s never kicked a ball professionally or built a club from the ground up, dishes out ridicule dressed up as a question.

If I were Daniel Levy, I would issue a lifetime ban from The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to Dan Kilpatrick and whatever publication he writes for.

If I were Ange Postecoglou, I would have publicly have told him that I'll never answer one of his questions again.

If I were obliged to, I'd simply answer "cheese on toast" or "next Thursday", anything that had nothing to do with the question and move on to the next one.

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The Question: A Disgrace in Disguise

Here’s what was asked:

“If you win tomorrow night, this is going to be remembered as one of the best seasons in the club’s modern history. But kind of conversely, if you lose, it might be remembered for one of the worst league seasons in the club’s modern history.

I just wondered if you're conscious that you're walking a fine line between two very different types of infamy and history.”

Let’s break that down.

The setup is false.

The framing is toxic.

The intention is obvious.

There was no curiosity in that question.

No real desire to understand Tottenham Hotspur’s progress, project, or path under Postecoglou.

It was clickbait - designed to provoke a headline, not earn an insight.

And the phrasing?

“Infamy”? “History”? “Worst season in modern history”?

Give me a break.

A manager has taken over a fractured squad, rebuilt belief, and taken us to a major European final... 

And your question is whether it’ll all mean nothing if one game goes the wrong way?

Our own fans insult our manager in the same way.

What sort of world are we living in when people have been brought up so badly by their parents, they end up as human sewer rats?

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Clowns? Let’s Talk About Who’s Wearing the Paint

It’s not Postecoglou who should be embarrassed here.

It’s the journalist, if you can even call him that.

Here we have a man who’s spent 26 years building a career on results, leadership, vision, and integrity. 

From Australia, to Japan, to Scotland, to Europe. 

No favours. 

No free rides.

And he has won trophies, wherever he has gone.

That doesn't happen by accident.

And yet some writer, with no experience inside a dressing room or behind a tactics board, thinks he can reduce all of that to a binary label of “success or failure”.

It reeks of arrogance.

Modern journalism, especially in football, is littered with these amateur dramatists.

Thank goodness I have never wanted to be a part of that profession.

They know how to write drama, not understand football.

They know how to bait, not how to build.

And they sure as hell know how to take the easy shot from the safe seat.

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Ange’s Response: Dignified, Direct, and Devastating

Postecoglou didn’t lose his cool.

He didn’t sneer or lash out.

He did something far more powerful.

He exposed the question for what it was and reminded everyone of the journey he’s taken.

“You're really disappointed that you use such terminology about a person who, for 26 years, without any favours from anyone, has worked his way to be in a position where he's leading out a club in a European major competition.”

That’s what we need more of in football.

Truth. 

Pride. 

Backbone.

And a refusal to let outsiders rewrite the narrative for those who are actually inside the arena.

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Why This Matters for Tottenham Hotspur

This is exactly why Daniel Levy hired Postecoglou.

Not just for his tactical style.

Not just for the rebuild.

But because of his unwavering focus on character, process, and belief.

Tottenham Hotspur aren’t building short-term clickbait.

We’re building a culture - the kind Real Madrid and Barcelona nurtured through La Fábrica and La Masia. 

Those clubs didn’t just win trophies - they developed conveyor belts of talent, identity, and unshakeable pride.

That’s what Postecoglou is doing here.

He’s laying the foundation for something bigger than a single final.

And yet, the media?

They reduce it to win and you’re a genius, lose and you’re a joke.

It’s lazy, disrespectful, and completely detached from football reality.

Trouble is, plenty of our fanbase have the same limitations.

But then, statistics have already shown us that most people don't have a winning mentality.

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🦘 What Happened with Australia: The Blueprint Spurs Are Living Through

When Ange Postecoglou took over as manager of the Australian national team in 2013, he inherited a side in disarray.

Australia had just been hammered 6–0 twice by Brazil and France. 

Morale was on the floor. 

The golden generation had aged out. 

Ange came in with bold ideas, promising a complete overhaul of playing style - from reactive, defensive football to proactive, possession-based dominance.

But fans didn’t buy in straight away.

In fact, there was real scepticism.

He dropped ageing stars. 

He blooded new talent. 

Results were rocky at first.

Australia lost 3–1 to Chile, got beaten 3–2 by the Netherlands, and lost 3–0 to Spain at the 2014 World Cup.

People questioned him.

They said he was out of his depth.

They said his system wouldn't work at the elite level.

But he stuck to his plan.

And just six months later, Australia won the 2015 AFC Asian Cup - the biggest trophy in the nation’s football history.

Same manager. Same system. Same belief.

That was the turning point.

Postecoglou didn’t adapt to public pressure - he made the public catch up to his vision.

Sound familiar!

Here we are again...

At the same point in the journey.

Some fans don’t get it.

Some pundits want to skip the rebuild and moan about results.

And some journalists are out here asking whether he’s a “clown” if we lose one final.

But history tells you what’s coming next.

Ange doesn’t promise quick wins.

He builds something that lasts.

And when it clicks - it changes everything.

Ange is simply doing the same thing - just on a louder stage.

With a fanbase where too many fold when pressure knocks.

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THBN: The Final Word

Daniel Levy wants to rival Real Madrid and Barcelona, on and off the pitch.

He knows that means investing in identity.

In the academy.

In a manager who can create a legacy, not just deliver short-term headlines.

And it is that line that our fans, the media and industry figures working in the media, simply don't understand.

None of them has any vision.

None of them are looking beyond the short term.

None of them could organise a barbecue, let alone build a football club.

Wonderkids are coming through.

The conveyor belt is being built.

And whether Postecoglou wins this final or not, his mark on this club is already profound.

So the next time a journalist opens his mouth to judge a manager like Ange Postecoglou…

He should ask himself one question first:

Have I ever built anything?

Because if the answer is no, sit down.

And let the grown-ups lead.

---

COYS

A topical article given our own fans are trying to prevent us from winning the UEFA Europa League: WARZONE of NEGATIVITY - a lesson in how to perpetuate failure!

The Last Article: Europa League Final: The Science Behind Winning — And How Spurs Fans Can Help

Even Ange is talking about my article subjects!

And 'Change For Tottenham' and followers prove it to be true.

Forget Tactics – This Is the Mental Habit That Wins Finals - rather an important article with the UEFA Europa League Final coming up

MAJOR article The 'How To' of winning - Another must-read THBN piece: Forget Talent – This Is Why New Zealand Wins and Tottenham Doesn’t (Yet) - Exactly what Ange has been talking about recently, a winning culture

Tottenham Hotspur are guilty of: The Elastic Band Principle and Tottenham Hotspur’s Coaching Identity - yes, Daniel Levy is partially suffering with this

The Tottenham Hotspur Culture Problem: Postecoglou: The Culture Problem Is Created By The Fanbase - Change For Tottenham prove it ahead of a final!

Another hard-hitting THBN article: You Booed the Sub Who Scored: Spurs Fans, This Is Why You Lose

Proper Supporters Support Bill Nicholson Style

Readers' question answered:

Children who have lost their dummy - more hypocrisy from a leader who ignores the fact Spurs are in a major European final

Reader Comments Addressed: The Lion's Reply to the Mouse's Squeak - more comments exposed

The Club Responds to Your Abuse - tearing the abusers apart

What kind of "winning mentality" thinks losing league games doesn’t matter? - you think you know what a winning mentality is, but you don't

Tottenham Hotspur Are Building a Lancaster Bomber – Not a Mosquito - Spurs' Lancaster Bomber is still in the factory and we are having to deal with deserters

COYS