Postecoglou has made it clear several times since managing in the Premier League that he is unhappy with where certain elements of the modern game are heading.
During Wednesday’s match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a decision by the video assistant referee (VAR) was announced to the stadium for the first time in England, after Dominic Solanke had a second-half strike ruled out for offside.
After the game, Postecoglou embarked on a lengthy critique of football and where it could be heading.
He said: “I’m really surprised at how, what’s the word I’m looking for, how people in this country are so easily letting the game change so much so quickly. It’s changed more since VAR has come in since I’ve been involved than in the past 50 years.
“We never used to debate offsides, we never used to debate handballs, we never used to debate holding in the box, we never used to debate so many things.
“I mean, did everyone really love the announcement today? Did that give you a real buzz about, you know, I mean, seriously, but now I’m, and again, look, I understand, my understanding of it is, this is what the people want. That’s what I keep getting told.
“I understand that. I understand VAR is going to be there, technology’s going to be a part of life, but it’s like my wife and our kids. We know technology but she limits screen time. Why? You know, slow things down, I think.
“We’ve just got to be careful about constantly – why do we want to change the game so much? And I know I’m going to be the old bloke in the stands that keeps shouting ‘boo’ every time and I’ll be the only one, but I just thought people would be a little bit more protective about the sanctity of the game.
“That’s what I was talking about. I wasn’t criticising referees, I wasn’t. I’ve never criticised, I didn’t think the decision was right, but it’s just the way the game, I think there’s a lot of confusion at the moment.
“That’s my belief that the game is changing on the basis of technology, and I’m saying why isn’t anyone speaking up about it? Especially in this country who, for all intents and purposes, you feel, you guys think you’re custodians of the game, you’ve got a song that says ‘it’s coming home’, this is your game, and yet it takes an Aussie from the other side of the world to be the one that’s most conservative about changes.”