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LONDON -- Tottenham Hotspur's commitment to "Angeball" was so complete last season that their supporters reacted to a 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea in November 2023 by serenading manager Ange Postecoglou.

On Sunday, 13 months later, following a 4-3 loss to the same opposition, those same fans were left questioning more than ever whether he is the right man to take them forward.

There were boos at full-time, but the atmosphere was not mutinous. Son Heung-Min's 96th-minute consolation goal drew some of the sting from any hostility, although in truth, thousands of Spurs fans had long since headed for the exits after Chelsea's fourth goal ended the contest more than 10 minutes earlier.

When the dust settles on another undeniably entertaining but utterly manic afternoon, though, there will be many of the view that there has to be some sort of control added to all of this chaos for Postecoglou to point to progress.

After the dour football Antonio Conte served up during his 16 months in charge, Postecoglou's expansive approach felt liberating to many in this part of north London. The swashbuckling, uncompromising style was more in keeping with the club's traditions, so much so that the usually reserved chairman Daniel Levy felt sufficiently moved to declare "We've got our Tottenham back" at a fans' forum event in September 2023, barely three months after appointing Postecoglou.

What a distant memory that feels now. In fact, this game is in danger of resembling a metaphor for Postecoglou's time at Spurs: start well, generate dizzying excitement, lose players to injury, look increasingly one-dimensional and end up defeated.

Those still keeping faith with Postecoglou will point to the first 15 minutes when Spurs were mesmeric. They required two embarrassing slips from Marc Cucurella: the first punished ruthlessly by Brennan Johnson crossing for Dominic Solanke to steer home a fifth-minute strike; the second gifted a chance that Dejan Kulusevski took brilliantly, working an opening on his left foot and firing low past Robert Sánchez.

Chelsea's ongoing teething problems in playing out from the back were brutally exposed, but when Jadon Sancho jinked his way in off the left and produced a superb low finish in off Fraser Forster's left post to halve the deficit on 18 minutes, suddenly it was Tottenham's fragility that looked more obvious.

Blues boss Enzo Maresca cited an important tactical tweak at half-time. Romeo Lavia felt a hamstring injury and was withdrawn as a precaution, prompting Malo Gusto's introduction, with Moisés Caicedo switching from right-back to a more natural defensive midfield role.

"Watching the way they were pressing, we had Cole Palmer on one side and Enzo Fernández on the other side, second half we had Palmer on one side and Cucurella on the other side and we changed something in behind," Maresca said after the match. "It worked quite well."

Maresca is benefitting from a deeper squad to make such changes than Postecoglou has available to him, but there will be some disgruntled Spurs fans who question whether their manager is capable of making them, such is his resolute commitment to attack.

Tottenham's lengthy absentee list does not help him. Spurs had already lost one of their centre-backs to injury after Postecoglou gambled on the fitness of Cristian Romero, who returned to the lineup after participating in one training session on Saturday following a toe injury that kept him out for nearly a month. He lasted 15 minutes before suffering an unrelated problem with his quad.

Johnson lasted 53 minutes, forced off with illness, as the momentum and energy fell away from Spurs' performance.

A Chelsea equaliser felt inevitable, and so it proved when Yves Bissouma recklessly brought down Caicedo in the box and Palmer slotted home the resulting spot kick. Palmer probed again and his deflected shot fell perfectly for Enzo Fernandez to fire Chelsea in front with 17 minutes left.

Micky van de Ven, thrown in ahead of schedule following a hamstring injury after training well, could only play 79 minutes.

Pape Matar Sarr fouled Palmer for second penalty he converted on 84 minutes to become the player with the best conversion rate in Premier League history, now standing at 12 from 12. In fact, Palmer's 50th goal involvement -- 33 goals and 17 assists -- came in his 48th Premier League game, and only Erling Haaland for Manchester City (39), Andy Cole for Newcastle United (43), and Mohamed Salah for Liverpool (46) have ever reached that total in fewer appearances.

Son reduced the arrears late on, but by that stage the debate about Postecoglou was in full swing. The Australian suggested officials "froze" out of fear of making a difficult decision when the VAR ruled that Caicedo did not use excessive force in his late first-half challenge on Sarr.

Fan unrest has been bubbling underneath the surface. Thursday's 1-0 defeat at AFC Bournemouth ended with ugly scenes in which Postecoglou confronted angry travelling supporters, following on from similar flashpoints, including when losing at home to Ipswich Town last month.

"Fair play to them, I thought the crowd were good today, they got behind the team but when the season has gone like it has for us ... at 2-0 to lose your centre-back, it does disrupt you," Posetcoglou said. "You started the game so well and you have to make substitution, which means you are hampered making substitutions in the second half. These things come along and you go, 'Here we go, another challenge for us and nothing is running smoothly.' The crowd probably senses that as well. It almost becomes a self-fulfilling thing where you are expecting things to go wrong.

"It is a tough moment because there are all these tools you could possibly use as a manager when you are in tough moments to turn things around, and our limited resources from a playing perspective doesn't allow us to do that, so we've got to find other ways. It is not through a lack of effort. The players who are constantly out there because we can't rotate are giving all they can. It diminishes performance as well because they probably need a rest.

"It is something we need to tackle head on. Keep pushing on. There is still plenty to play for, for us. I still sense within this squad there is a real conviction in what we are doing, and if we maintain that, we'll turn our season around. At some point hopefully we hit some smoother waters."

Tottenham need to change course quickly for Postecoglou not to be thrown overboard.

Enzo Maresca has said Cole Palmer's elevation to become one of the Premier League's biggest stars has not changed him after the 22-year-old played another key role as Chelsea beat Tottenham 4-3 on Sunday.

Chelsea were 2-0 down after 11 minutes at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski capitalised on mistakes by Marc Cucurella but mounted a stirring comeback.

Jadon Sancho halved the deficit before Palmer converted the first of two penalties either side of Enzo Fernández's 73rd-minute volley.

Son Heung-Min scored a consolation for Spurs in the sixth minute of added time but Chelsea closed out a victory which takes them clear of Arsenal in second place, four points behind league leaders Liverpool.

Maresca managed Palmer during their time together working in the under-23s at Manchester City and he praised the England international's mentality after registering his 50th goal involvement from 48 Premier League games -- only Erling Haaland at City (39), Andy Cole for Newcastle (43), and Mohamed Salah for Liverpool (46) have ever reached that total in fewer appearances.

"I know Cole from four or five years ago," Maresca said. "The best thing from him is that four, five years ago when he was with me he was one way and now after two years, 20-30 goals and everyone considers him one of the [best] he is exactly the same guy.

"Loves football, humble, no strange things. This is the best thing for Cole and for young players because today, young players if they play one game good they think they are [top] and they lose the balance. He is always the same, doesn't change, and we are very happy with Cole."

Palmer's second spot-kick was a "Panenka" and meant he now has the best conversion rate in Premier League history, surpassing Yaya Toure to score all 12 of his penalties to date.

"Probably since we started [working with the team], I didn't see Cole shooting penalties [in training]," Maresca said.

"Cole belongs to that group that are not normal players. They are top players and they do things that normal players or us, we say 'how can he do that?' He scored because he's top. We can expect this from Cole."

Cole Palmer scored twice from the penalty spot as Chelsea roared back from being two goals down after 11 minutes to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 away in a frenzied London derby and close the gap with Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday.

Two comical slips by Chelsea full back Marc Cucurella led to Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski giving the hosts a dream start but their joy turned to despair as the visitors showed why they should be considered title contenders.

Jadon Sancho rifled in a shot after 17 minutes to give Chelsea momentum and Palmer equalised from the spot just past the hour mark as Chelsea dominated the second period.

Enzo Fernández powered home a shot to put Chelsea ahead and Palmer effectively wrapped it up with his second penalty late on before Son Heung-Min scored a stoppage-time consolation goal.

Chelsea are in second place with 31 points from 15 games, four points behind Liverpool whose game at Everton was postponed because of high winds on Saturday.

Tottenham's second defeat of the week left them in 11th place with 20 points and the pressure mounting on manager Ange Postecoglou whose cause was not helped by losing centre back Cristian Romero to injury early on.

"It's a sore one for sure, it's painful. We started the game really well and then we lose Cristian Romero and we had to reshuffle," the Australian, whose side have twice lost having led 2-0 this season, told Sky Sports.

"The momentum shifted pretty quickly."

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has played down the title chances of his expensively-assembled squad who are now unbeaten in seven games and have won their last four Premier League matches. They are also top scorers in the division with 35 goals and in Palmer have a player at the peak of his powers.

He now has 50 goal involvements (33 goals and 17 assists) in 48 Premier League games for the London club since joining from Manchester City.

"The first 10 or 15 minutes we conceded two easy goals but overall we were in control of the game," Maresca said. "The reaction of the players was mentally strong both on and off the ball."

Things looked bleak for the visitors early on as a tumbling Cucurella was twice left red-faced.

He lost his footing in the fifth minute and Brennan Johnson played the ball into the area when Solanke produced a poacher's finish to give his side the lead.

Minutes later the exact same thing happened, this time the Spaniard slipping over and looking on in horror as the ball was eventually played to Kulusevski who cut across the area before threading a precise shot past Robert Sánchez.

Cucurella went off to change his footwear and his side's fortunes quickly changed too, Sancho striking a wonderful shot in off the post after a surging diagonal run.

Chelsea were perhaps lucky not to be down to 10 men when Moisés Caicedo followed through on Pape Matar Sarr and soon afterwards Sarr headed a cross against the woodwork.

Tottenham were hanging on to their lead in the second half but a reckless challenge by Yves Bissouma on Caicedo was a clear penalty and Palmer beat Fraser Forster.

The hosts briefly rallied with Son going close but Fernandez volleyed Chelsea in front in the 73rd minute after a mazy dribble by the unstoppable Palmer.

Palmer then capped a great afternoon when he was brought down by Sarr and delivered an audacious "panenka" penalty.

Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool target rising star Georgiy Sudakov, while Juventus are plotting moves in defence and attack, including a loan switch for Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee.

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TRENDING RUMORS

- Spurs and Liverpool are among the clubs interested in Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Georgiy Sudakov, according to the Mirror. The 22-year-old's agent, Vadim Shabliy, revealed that as well as the two Premier League clubs, Italian sides have also been tracking the Ukrainian. He said: "Shakhtar and the player are open to offers. And that means there is a high probability that we will soon be able to see Georgiy in the top leagues." Sudakov has scored eight goals in 15 matches in all competitions, adding two assists.

- Juventus are considering reinforcements at both ends of the pitch in January, and Benfica's António Silva and Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee are among their top targets, according to Tuttosport. The Bianconeri are prioritising a defender and 21-year-old Silva, whose agent is Jorge Mendes, is the preferred option ahead of Feyenoord's 26-year-old Slovakian Dávid Hancko. In attack, much depends on the fitness of Arkadiusz Milik. If he continues to miss games due to his long-term injury, Juve may look to approach United about a loan deal for Zirkzee.

- Bayern Munich are yet to agree figures with either Hoffenheim or attacking midfielder Tom Bischof's management, but talks continue between the parties, according to Florian Plettenberg. The 19-year-old is considered a target for the summer, though Hoffenheim remain hopeful of extending his contract beyond 2025.

-Barcelona are planning for life after Robert Lewandowski, and though the Polish striker is contracted until 2026, they're gathering information on two main targets: Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting Lisbon, and Jonathan David from Lille, per AS. Gyokeres would be the trickier of the two. The 26-year-old has netted 16 goals in 12 league games and five in the Champions League, but his release clause of €106m is likely to be beyond the Catalan club. David has scored 13 goals in 19 matches this season and has made no secret of his desire to join Barca, and his contract comes to an end in 2025.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou confronted fans after his side's tame 1-0 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth on Thursday which increased the pressure on the Australian.

Postecoglou's side were unrecognisable from the one that beat Manchester City 4-0 in their last away game, producing a lacklustre display and conceding from a basic set piece.

They have now lost six of their 14 league games this season and sit 10th in the table, below Bournemouth.

Boos were heard from the visiting fans after the final whistle and Postecoglou engaged a few in conversation.

"They are disappointed, rightly so. They gave me some direct feedback which I guess is taken on board," he told reporters.

Asked what was said, he added: "Probably not for here mate. I've got no issue with it. I didn't like what was being said because I'm a human being, but you've got to cop it.

"I've been around long enough to know that if things don't go well, you've got to understand the frustration."

Postecoglou faces a crucial few weeks if the season is not to start unravelling. His stuttering side host high-flying Chelsea on Sunday and travel to Rangers for a crucial Europa League clash next week. After a trip to bottom club Southampton they face Manchester United in the League Cup quarterfinals and host leaders Liverpool shortly before Christmas.

"All I can say is I'm really disappointed with tonight and I'm determined to get it right and I'll keep fighting until we do," Postecoglou said.

Adding to his woes was an injury to Ben Davies, who was playing as centre-back in the absence of injured duo Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.

"It looks like he's done his hamstring," Postecoglou said. "Him and Radu [Dragusin] have played every game. It's the one position we can't rotate. He'll obviously be out for a period of time now, we'll just have to wait and see how long it is.

"It's a consequence of having the squad we have."

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has suggested the club will look to sign another forward after admitting his frustration at Richarlison's ongoing fitness issues.

Spurs confirmed last month that the Brazil striker, 27, had suffered a "significant hamstring injury" and would be out "long-term" having only just returned from a two-month absence due to a groin problem.

Richarlison has battled various injuries including calf, hamstring and knee problems in recent seasons, leading to doubts over his ability to stay fit for long periods.

Spurs used Son Heung-Min as a centre-forward against Fulham on Sunday with Dominic Solanke sidelined due to illness, joining Richarlison and summer signing Wilson Odobert, who last month underwent surgery on a hamstring problem. Promising teenager Mikey Moore is also likely to be missing for at least another fortnight after suffering with a virus.

When asked whether the club would look at their forward options amid uncertainty over Richarlison's reliability, Postecolgou said on Wednesday: "Yeah, there is no doubt because when you add Wilson to that, even Mikey... we had Dom out on the weekend, you kind of hope that alleviates although with Wilson it's long-term. Hopefully Mikey by the turn of year will be back as well, but he's 17.

"With Richy it has been frustrating because I see the potential in him and to be fair when he's been fit he's always made an impact, for me anyway.

"I think back to the start of last year and when he came back into the team during the year he went on a scoring run.

"Even the little games he's played this year, he's made an impact. So that's what you kind of hold on to, but there's no doubt we need some bolstering in that front third over the course of the next couple of transfer windows.

"Dom coming in has been great, but again we can't overload him either, because ultimately even if he stays fit and nothing happens, performance will invariably drop if his energy levels drop. So it's something we're aware of and need to plan for."

Ange Postecoglou has expressed his "shock" at discovering Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario had suffered an ankle fracture during the team's 4-0 victory over Manchester City on Saturday, and added he thinks it shows the Italy international is "tough as nails."

Vicario was hurt during a collision with City winger Savinho shortly before half-time at the Etihad but continued to play the full 90 minutes, producing a number of important saves that helped Spurs stave off a fightback from Pep Guardiola's side.

Spurs confirmed on Sunday that the 28-year-old had undergone surgery and would be out for and would be assessed by the club's medical staff to determine when he will be able to return to action.

"[It was a] bit of a shock first of all," Postecoglou told a news conference on Wednesday. "We obviously saw that he'd picked up the injury during the game. He was sore at half-time but there was no doubt about him continuing. So you kind of digest that and then post-game, again he was sore, but you're kind of going 'well he's played 60 minutes, sore ankle -- we'll tape it up and go again.'

"And externally now people realise it's a testament to him as a person. He's as tough as nails, as tough as they come. The fact that he played at that level for 60-odd minutes with a fractured ankle was quite outstanding. Like I said, I guess the shock of it wears off and then you've just got to process that he's going to be missing for a while.

"Knowing him he'll push the limits as to how long that is and also knowing him you'll be getting daily updates about that through his Instagram. But yeah, a big blow but for him personally because he was having an outstanding season for us and really growing as a leader within the group. But we've dealt with setbacks before and we'll deal with this one."

Postecoglou said that Vicario is set to be out for "months" rather than weeks but ruled out the prospect of signing a free agent who could bolster his goalkeeping options.

Fraser Forster, 36, is expected to deputise in Vicario's absence. Forster has made three appearances for Spurs this season, including their Europa League victory over AZ Alkmaar and defeat at Galatasaray.

"That's why he's here. Fraser played Carabao Cup, he's played a couple of European games and that's the reason we played him, it's the reason we have him in the squad. He's ready to go," the Australian coach said.

Tottenham, who are seventh in the Europa League league table, host Roma in north London on Thursday.

Claudio Ranieri became Roma head coach for the third time in his career on Nov. 14 following Daniele De Rossi's exit four games into the campaign and the 12-match reign of Ivan Juric who was sacked on Nov. 10. Postecoglou lauded the 73-year-old's coaching longevity when asked about the manager he will face on Thursday.

"It's unbelievable. It just goes to show the passion he has for the game because I'm sure there's more enjoyable, simpler ways to enjoy his life now, but he still has that in him," Postecoglou said.

"I haven't come across him before, but I'm looking forward to saying hello because it's always nice to actually meet some of these people who have made such a massive impact in football, particularly in my field, management.

"He's always come across as a gentlemen. I'm looking forward to meeting him and it just goes to show that kind of bug for being a manager on the touchline doesn't leave you."

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has undergone surgery after suffering a fractured ankle during Saturday's 4-0 victory at Manchester City, the Premier League club announced.

The 28-year-old Italy international completed the full 90 minutes of the away game Spurs said on Monday he had suffered the injury during the match.

"We can confirm that Guglielmo Vicario has today undergone surgery for a fracture of his right ankle," they wrote in a statement posted on X.

"Guglielmo will be assessed by our medical staff to determine when he can return to training. We're all behind you, Vic."

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LONDON -- We are 11 games into the Premier League season, and it is still impossible to gauge the merit of Tottenham Hotspur.

Are they the side that orchestrated a 3-0 dismantling of Manchester United at Old Trafford, a 4-1 triumph over high-flying Aston Villa and knocked Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup? Or are they the unit that contrived to lose 3-2 to Brighton & Hove Albion after being 2-0 up, and gave Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town their first -- and so far only -- wins of the season?

The simple, if frustrating, answer is that Spurs are both: capable of reaching soaring highs or crushing lows on any given day. And while the underlying numbers suggest that more of the former should be on the horizon, it's this inconsistency that is the biggest threat to manager Ange Postecoglou's unbroken career record of delivering silverware in his second year.

The two sides of Spurs

There is probably no better fixture to speak to Spurs' Jekyll and Hyde-like nature than their trip to face Manchester City on Saturday. A fortnight ago, not many would have anticipated that Postecoglou's side would fall to Ipswich at home but, at the same time, few would have been outright aghast at the concept. It just felt like the type of game that Spurs would drop.

Conversely, few will be anticipating that they will take something off Pep Guardiola's men this weekend; but it also wouldn't be completely shocking if they returned to London with all three points. Spurs have become something of a bogey side for City in recent years, and it is well-known that Postecoglou relishes the opportunity to test himself against the best in games such as this.

Given the tight nature of this season's Premier League, Tottenham enter the weekend sitting 10th, just three points back of third-placed Chelsea, but also just a point clear of 13th-placed Manchester United. Had they got the job done against Ipswich, they'd be sitting third and -- as Postecoglou would likely be the first to wryly observe -- the tone surrounding his side would likely be vastly different. But while the vibes in North London in the Australian's sophomore season are a far cry from what they were like at this point a year ago, when they sat top of the Premier League after 10 weeks and suffered their first defeat on the season only on matchday 11, a look under the bonnet will suggest the foundation Spurs are working off this season is stronger.

It's only a sample size of 11 games, but Spurs are scoring more goals and creating more expected goals (xG) per 90 than they did across 2023-24, as well as conceding fewer goals and allowing fewer xG conceded per 90. They're taking more shots while allowing fewer at the other end, winning the ball higher up the pitch, and turning it over less in their defensive third. Their PPDA (passes per defensive action) -- a metric that measures the intensity of a team's press -- is just 6.82, the lowest in the Premier League. In more tangible measurements, no team in the Premier League has scored more goals than Tottenham this season, and only league leaders Liverpool possess a better goal difference than their +10.

When they're at their best, Spurs are very good, capable of blowing all but the most elite sides out of the water with a relentless attacking approach -- something more in keeping with the club's mythos than the defensive trappings of its three previous full-time coaches: Antonio Conte, Nuno Espírito Santo and José Mourinho. And it's these flashes that will convince Postecoglou that he remains on the right track; the footballing philosophy that has painstakingly paved the way from his native Australia to the Premier League continuing to bear fruit. Probably somewhat importantly, unlike a couple of those previous coaches listed, he seems to actually enjoy being at Spurs' helm, too.

"I've enjoyed every step of the way," Postecoglou tells ESPN. "Every challenge has been different. Every club has had different sorts of environments and different kinds of cultural resets that I've had to do. But I've enjoyed all of it and I'm enjoying this as much as I've enjoyed everything else I've done in football.

"And hopefully that continues, because that's what kind of keeps driving me. If I get to the point where I'm getting up in the morning and not looking forward to what's ahead, then I know that it's probably time for me to try and look to do something else. But I'm loving every minute of it."

Nonetheless, for all the statistical positives that can be taken from Spurs' start to the season, the numbers that suggest results should reliably improve, this is still a team that has lost as many games as it has won, and the gap between their highs and their lows this season has been stark.

Just once have they won back-to-back league games -- against Brentford and Manchester United in September -- and those results were followed by the loss at Brighton that Postecoglou labelled "the worst defeat we've had since I've been here." Adept as they have proven at coming from behind to win games -- Tottenham's 10 comeback triumphs since the Australian's arrival is the best record in the Premier League, alongside Manchester City -- they've also shipped the first goal in five straight home games and 13 times overall at home this calendar year, four more times than next "best" West Ham United and just one back of the Premier League record of 14. It's a level of inconsistency and sustained run of early deficits that aren't sustainable for a side with Spurs' ambitions.

"That's down to me," Postecoglou told media after the Ipswich defeat. "That's my responsibility. The inconsistency we're having this year, ultimately it comes down to me and my approach and it's something I need to try and fix and see if I can help the players in that area."

Sophomore silverware

Postecoglou will need to find immediate solutions to these issues but, in doing so, it can be safely assumed that they won't clash with his long-term vision. In the days leading into the Ipswich loss, the coach spoke of establishing foundations for sustained success, a vision of prosperity stretching beyond the pursuit of a trophy or other short-term glories. And anyone familiar with his work will know he's not one to bend on principles.

"I don't see just a trophy as the panacea for sustained success because there is plenty of evidence that is not the case," Postecoglou said. "Not here, just sport in general. I get the fact when you're at a club this size and it hasn't won, people think: 'Well that is the missing piece.'

"What I have been trying to rail against since I've been here is there is never just a missing piece. It is always more than that. It's about having a clear idea over what you're going to build, how you're going to build it, and staying true to that."

But it's here where one of the great contradictions of modern football comes to the fore. Because while Postecoglou is absolutely correct that he leaves foundations at clubs -- Melbourne Victory, Brisbane Roar, Yokohama F Marinos and Celtic all won titles soon after his departure -- trophies are generally a pretty good omen. And he arrived at Spurs with a reputation for winning them in his second season at clubs, something he defiantly reiterated after his side's North London derby defeat earlier this season. And a fanbase coming up on two decades without a trophy-- since the League Cup triumph over Chelsea in 2008 -- tends to remember those types of things.

"I'll correct myself -- I don't usually win things, I always win things in my second year," he told Sky Sports after that derby defeat. "Nothing's changed. I've said it now. I don't say things unless I believe them."

Fortunately for Spurs, while the 12-point gap to Liverpool is already looking pretty insurmountable, they are well placed in their cup competitions to win something. Especially given cups, generally, don't tend to be as punishing on inconsistency as league play.

Despite Spurs' recent defeat to Galatasaray breaking their 100% record, they sit seventh in the league phase of the UEFA Europa League after four games, well on track to advance to the round of 16 as a seeded side. Meanwhile, having already eliminated Manchester City from the Carabao Cup, they will host Manchester United in a quarterfinal next month, and will also enter the FA Cup in its third round in January along with the rest of the Premier League sides.

Clues from Postecoglou's past

So is there anything Spurs fans can take from Postecoglou's previous trophy-winning seasons as an omen? A sign that this campaign will continue the trend? There are no guarantees, but there are hints.

Interestingly enough, the start of Postecoglou's second season at Spurs isn't too dissimilar to the sophomore seasons he has experience at three of his previous clubs, with Celtic's dominant 2022-23 campaign the outlier.

This season, Spurs sit on 16 points after 11 games, with five wins and a draw. In Postecoglou's J1 League-winning campaign with Yokohama in 2019, he also had five wins at this stage but sat on 18 points thanks to a further three draws. At Brisbane Roar in 2010-11, he'd recorded six wins and four draws on his way to what would become an A-League Men premiership and championship double. In Postecoglou's first coaching role, at South Melbourne, he started his second season in 1997-98 with five wins but -- thanks to five draws and just one loss -- had 20 points after 11 games, and an NSL premiership and championship double on the way.

"You never truly know, but I certainly got the sense that we were building something," Postecoglou told ESPN, reflecting on his second-season successes. "I've never had a predetermined sort of outcome for that but I did feel [something] and you get that mainly from the playing group more than everything else -- that they feel it.

"That's when they start believing in it and driving it. You go: 'Okay, we've got something here.' And that's the kind of thing you look for. There was certainly evidence of that in all the clubs... by the time I got to my second year, there was a real buy-in from everyone, players and staff.

"You never can never guarantee outcomes but all I have is 26 years of historical evidence that I know that when that clicks, then we give ourselves the opportunity of winning things."

Of course, if we're looking to history for clues, how Spurs perform in the immediate future will be telling; it was at about this point in his previous stints that things really began to click into gear for Postecoglou.

After the 11-match point in 2019, Yokohama would go on to win seven of their next 10 matches before ending the season on an 11-game unbeaten run. At the Roar in 2010-11 -- a side so good they would be christened "Roar-celona" -- six wins and four draws would come in their next 10 matches, contributing to what became a 36-game unbeaten run that still stands as an Australian record.

Postecoglou's 1997-98 South Melbourne side, meanwhile, would win seven of their next 10, with their other defeat throughout the remainder of the campaign coming when they rested a host of players on the season's final day -- and they would go on to avenge that defeat in one of the most memorable Grand Finals in Australian football history.

Postecoglou's difference-makers

Of course, beyond results, it's also worth noting that across his stints in Australia, Japan and Scotland, a feature of Postecoglou's trophy-winning teams has been that they've fielded arguably the best, most influential player in the league. He doesn't always have a prolific goal-scorer, but there's always that driving force in his sides.

In 1997-98, Paul Trimboli, one of the greatest players in Australian domestic league history, won his second Johnny Warren medal for South Melbourne. In 2010-11, Thomas Broich and Matt McKay finished second and third in the Johnny Warren Medal, with Broich going on to win the award in 2011-12 and 2013-14. In 2019, Teruhito Nakagawa was named J1 League Player of the Year for Yokohama, and in 22-23, Furuhashi was named PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year & SFWA Footballer of the Year.

Even at international level, Postecoglou's second season at the helm of the Socceroos coincided with Massimo Luongo being named player of the tournament during Australia's triumphant 2015 Asian Cup, securing the then-Swindon Town player a Ballon d'Or nomination.

Of course, it's an easy correlation to make; successful teams by their very nature have the best players that contribute to that success. And Postecoglou has undoubtedly been blessed to work with some top-level talent in the various leagues he has coached in across his journey.

But Postecoglou also has proven track record of finding ways to bring the best out of his players, to find new ways to get them thriving in his system or to help them rediscover their best. Just observe the renaissance that Dejan Kulusevski has undergone this season after switching from the wing to a more central role, or how signed striker Dominic Solanke not only has four goals in nine Premier League starts but is also rapidly taking to the demands of a striker in Postecoglou's system both in and out of possession.

However, injuries have haunted some of Spurs' other key difference-makers, with defensive lynchpin Micky van de Ven -- without whom Spurs' loss rate leaps to 50% -- continuing to be dogged by hamstring injuries, and talismanic skipper Son Heung-Min missing multiple games with hamstring injuries of his own.

"There's always been [difference makers] in every club I've been in," said Postecoglou. "There's always players like that. And we certainly have them here [at Spurs]."

So perhaps the best possible indication that Postecoglou's second-season trophy record will continue won't be in the stats, but the form of Kulusevski, Solanke and Son. If one, two or all three can turn in career-best seasons, then all of a sudden silverware would feel within Spurs' grasp.

Defeating Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday would certainly be a good sign.