Does Angeball have a winning future at Spurs?

Head coach divides supporters with his ultra-attacking tactics

-  DAN KILPATRICK

For the third time this season, Ange Postecoglou spent the international break stewing on a rotten result. Back in September, Postecoglou had a fortnight to sit on Tottenham's first defeat of the campaign - Newcastle's smash-and-grab at St James' Park. The next month, the head coach had no time to dress down his departing internationals after Spurs' collapse from 2-0 up to lose 3-2 at Brighton. And during the past fortnight, he has been mulling over the limp display against Ipswich, Spurs' second defeat to a previously-winless club after the 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace.

In among these bad results, though, have been good ones. Spurs won 3-0 at Manchester United and scored four times at home against Everton, West Ham and Aston Villa. They dumped Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup and have won three of their four matches in the Europa League.

It has been a wildly inconsistent start to Postecoglou's second season, his side lurching between outstanding and atrocious. After 11 matches, Spurs sit mid-table in the Premier League, with five wins and five defeats. The optimists see a developing team, devastating in bursts. The pessimists see a fundamentally flawed team, prone to losing even when playing well. As Postecoglou prepares for his 50th League game in charge against City, it is difficult to get a handle on the prospects of Angeball. Are Spurs progressing towards challenging for the biggest trophies, as the head coach believes? Or are they destined to remain entertaining but unserious, unlikely to push for honours under Postecoglou and their current ownership?

Divisive Ange