The most frequent criticism levelled at Ange Postecoglou last season was over the Australian’s apparent unwillingness to be flexible.
For the most part, Tottenham fans loved Postecoglou’s up-tempo, attacking football but wanted him to be more adaptable with his selections and tactics.
This season, there have already been signs of Postecoglou showing increased flexibility and one of his big changes, using Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison as twin No8s, was at the heart of Tottenham’s 3-0 thrashing of Manchester United on Sunday – which felt like a landmark result for the head coach.
Kulusevski played centrally last term but always as a replacement for Maddison at No10, and never alongside the England international in midfield.
The Swede has said it is his best position but Postecoglou did not appear convinced, claiming in April that he still saw Kulusevski predominantly as a winger.
Since the start of this season, however, Postecoglou has plainly changed his view, with Kulusevski stepping into the role most frequently played by Pape Sarr last term as a hard-running, box-to-box No8 and proving a revelation next to Maddison.
The 24-year-old was phenomenal at Old Trafford, doubling Spurs’ lead at the start of the second half with a deft finish from Brennan Johnson’s deflected cross and creating nine chances – three more than any other player, including United players, have managed in total at Old Trafford this season.
Twice, Kulusevski sent Timo Werner clean through on goal, only for United goalkeeper Andre Onana to save from the German, and he also set up a chance for Brennan Johnson, who struck the base of the post, having already opened the scoring.
Kulusevski’s most eye-catching pass, though, was a back-heeled one-two with Maddison, who burst into box and forced another smart save from Onana.
It was one of a number of lively interchanges between the pair, who completely overran United’s plodding midfield.
"They're both really good, intelligent footballers,” Postecoglou said afterwards. "The way we play suits their characteristics because Madders does so much damage with the ball and Deki does so much damage with his running, that it's a good balance for us in that attacking third and they also had to show good discipline today.
“Because we knew that the main threat Manchester United have is in the transition.
“They're pretty lethal with the front guys they've got so we really wanted to make sure we locked them in today and that was the full-backs and for Madders and Deki to be really disciplined in their football. They're both going really well and working really hard and improving.”
With Rodrigo Bentancur as Spurs’ deepest midfielder, and also excellent again on Sunday, Postecoglou has managed to make his side even more dynamic and attacking, yet Spurs did not look lightweight or open in the middle of the park against United, constantly disrupting the hosts’ attempts to establish a rhythm.
Bentancur – who could soon face a six to 12 game ban if he is found guilty of discrimination by an independent panel – was calm in possession and a willing outlet, while Maddison was full of verve and ingenuity on the ball – surely impressing England’s interim head coach Lee Carsley in the stands.
You know Maddison is feeling confident when he starts spraying passes with the outside of his right boot, as he did against United, and he was unlucky to not score a second cute chip in as many weekends when Onana was quick to block his shot from Kulusevski’s pass.
It was, though, Kulusevski who stole the show, with a landmark performance of his own in his new role.
With Spurs captain Heung-min Son failing a late fitness test, Postecoglou could have moved Kulusevski back to the wing and brought Sarr or Yves Bissouma into the midfield.
As a right winger, though, Kulusevski has tended to be predictable, usually looking to cut inside on his favoured left foot, and Postecoglou was clearly vindicated in keeping him in midfield and bringing in Werner in a straight swap for Son.
Kulusevski finished the United game back on the wing, and has also deputised as a false nine recently, but it feels increasingly clear where his future lies for this Spurs team.
“This is my position," Kulusevski said after the game, "and I grew a lot because now I can defend. Before maybe I didn't defend as much, and that was why I didn't play in the midfield.
"But now I'm growing as a player and then I can play to my strengths. I'm best in the middle, I can score goals, I can find good passes, then I play with Maddison who's unbelievable with the ball.
"We have Bentancur who when he plays like this is an unbelievable player, so it looks offensive on the paper but right now it's working really good."
