Ahead of the North London Derby, former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson echoed a widely agreed saying: "With Spurs, you never know what's going to happen." But the reality is becoming increasingly clear, especially domestically, as Ange Postecoglou's side become increasingly predictable.
The 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in midweek was a case in point. Tottenham were struggling against a defensively-stabilised side. The passing was disjointed, lacking in creativity and showing no signs of breaking through the Gunners’ defence. The players passed the ball back and forth, sometimes taking it to the corners and losing control.
There was no denying Arsenal's brilliance, though. Even when they conceded, Mikel Arteta's side remained composed and unfazed.
After an impressive start to the season for Postecoglou, with 26 points from their first 10 games, Tottenham have fallen into a slump. They have now picked up just five points from their last nine games, placing them 18th in the form table at this stage.
Ange Postecoglou is no stranger to the coaching world. Although the leagues he has worked in such as the A-League, J-League or Scottish Premiership are not highly regarded, his achievements cannot be underestimated.
At each place, Postecoglou faced doubts and familiar criticisms such as: "He needs to change his style of play", "This tactic is not working" or "There is no plan B". Each time, the Australian coach proved otherwise.
A case in point is his time at Celtic, where Postecoglou helped the team dominate the Scottish Premiership with his modern possession-based style of play, leaving fans wondering whether he could do the same in a much tougher league like the Premier League.
Injuries are one of the reasons why Tottenham have been inconsistent. The loss of key players such as the first-choice goalkeeper, the mainstay centre-back and recently the left-back has disrupted the squad. Furthermore, with a thin reserve force, the remaining Spurs players have to work continuously, which can easily lead to fatigue and a decline in performance.
The question is whether Postecoglou’s style of play, with its demands on intensity and speed, has led to his fitness problems. While this has not been noted in previous tournaments, the Premier League’s brutal nature clearly presents a greater challenge.
Another issue is chairman Daniel Levy’s transfer strategy and team management. The “Roosters” entered the season with only 3 central defenders and a reserve goalkeeper whose style is completely different to the main goalkeeper. Contracts such as Arnaut Danjuma or Manor Solomon are not enough to fill the gap the team needs.
According to The Guardian, Tottenham's loyal fans said that the problem with the team lies more in the way it is run than in the head coach. The low wages compared to revenue show a lack of ambition from the team's leadership.
Looking back, Ange Postecoglou has overcome difficulties many times to create miracles. Tottenham need to continue to be patient and give the 59-year-old strategist time to build the team. The positive signs from his possession-based style of play and his ability to develop young players are reasons to put faith in him.
At worst, Spurs will remain an average team for the next few years, something fans have become accustomed to. But if successful, Postecoglou could help Tottenham write a new chapter for the London club.
