Advertisement

Spurs are miles off Man City and Arsenal - but I'd never turn the TV off when they play

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou.
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


Jamie Carragher reckons Tottenham Hotspur are in danger of being seen as flat-track bullies.

The former Liverpool defender claimed in his column with The Telegraph that this notion 'must change' for Ange Postecoglou's side, who face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

Spurs came away with just four victories in 18 matches against sides that finished in the top-nine last season. This term, the trend has continued with victories against bottom-half outfits Everton, Crystal Palace, and Leicester City coupled with defeats against Newcastle and North London rivals Arsenal - as if to justify Carragher's thinking.

The stats surrounding this afternoon's fixture are not happy reading for Tottenham supporter. United have beaten Tottenham 24 times at Old Trafford, in the Premier League alone, and only Arsenal have beaten an opponent more at home (Everton) since the competition was rebranded in 1992.

Carragher, 46, went on: "Cynics will say the chairman has been proven right.

"Under [Ange] Postecoglou, Spurs are pleasing on the eye, but inconsistent, miles off being a title contender and their best chance of a successful season is winning a cup."

Carragher did concede that he would 'never turn the TV off' due to the entertainment value the north Londoners bring at both ends of the pitch. With Spurs, then, comes the classic debate; Would you rather win more games or be entertained?

For now, Postecoglou's name is, often, heard reverberating around the Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium and, for the most part, fans appear pleased with an expansive, attacking style of football even if, at times, game-management has come under question.

READ MORE: How to watch Manchester United vs Tottenham - TV channel, live stream and kick-off time

READ MORE: Premier League to make key transfer window change impacting Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs

Supporters who pay big money want to look forward to watching their side on the weekend. At what point does this overtake the importance of three points? Last season, Spurs' wait for a trophy went on; their last one came in 2008 and they also missed out on a coveted fourth-place finish.

That resulted in them entering the UEFA Europa League. On this, Carragher continued: "After finishing in fifth last season, at any other of the biggest clubs in England the next logical step would be regarded as qualifying for the Champions League and winning a trophy."