Ange Postecoglou could turn a worrying Tottenham outcome into a positive that will certainly please supporters. Anger and frustration will be the main emotions being felt by all Spurs supporters over the November international break following a shock Premier League defeat to Ipswich Town.
As a result of missing out on three points that would have taken them up to third, questions from Spurs fans on Postecoglou have increased significantly with the same issues continuing to occur. In four of their last seven games, Spurs have conceded a goal at the back post having either failed to defend a cross or react to a loose ball.
With similar problems going unresolved, that is largely where the frustration comes from as it could be so easily fixed. Stopping it at source may improve matters, but a key component in doing so could be absent from domestic action until Boxing Day.
In recent weeks, Rodrigo Bentancur has been slowly getting back into form having displaced Yves Bissouma as the defensive midfielder in the starting XI. But, football.understands he now looks set to be sidelined for seven matches for his comments about Spurs teammate Son Heung-min in pre-season.
With the punishment to be dished out by the FA, Bentancur can still play in Europe but he will seemingly miss key league games against Manchester City and Liverpool along with the Carabao Cup quarter-final at home to Manchester United.
As such, a replacement will be required and as Bissouma has struggled to make a case for that, Archie Gray could finally be utilised in his natural position. The summer signing from Leeds has played in every position across the back four with Postecoglou a huge fan of his versatility.
“I thought Archie was brilliant today," he told football.london after the 2-1 win against Ferencvaros where the teenager started the game at centre-back before being moved out to left-back. "We asked him to play in two different positions and it's incredible how he just adjusts and he's able to bring his game to wherever we put him.
“I just wanted to use Archie’s energy, as much as anything. He did a good job for us first half but I just felt in the second half we could put them under more pressure if we had somebody on the left-hand side in the same way as the right-hand side who could get forward and get back.
"I thought he did that really well. In his first run he ran the whole pitch. It helped us balance our attacks on both sides." He also featured at right-back in the cup win over Man City but a start in midfield could now be on the horizon.
Bissouma may still be the favoured No.6 initially, but given the upcoming fixtures and lack of depth given Bentancur's impending ban, Gray finally looks set to for a more prominent role in his favoured position, something that supporters have been demanding for some time.
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