Postecoglou must find consistency

Ange Postecoglou faces a continuing struggle to ensure that 'good Tottenham' outweighs 'bad Tottenham', in his quest to end the years without silverware stretching back to 2008.

This was the year Spurs won the League Cup under Juande Ramos, but Postecoglou's assurance that he "always" wins a trophy in his second season means the competition in its current guise of the Carabao Cup assumes greater significance.

And it was the acceptable face of Spurs that beat an under-strength, but still high-quality, Manchester City to reach the last eight of the competition, where they will face Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The conundrum for Postecoglou is finding a solution to the maddening inconsistency that plagues Tottenham in such roller coaster fashion.

Spurs can go from the brilliance of winning 3-0 against Manchester United at Old Trafford to conceding a two-goal advantage to lose at Brighton.

They can lose in desperately disappointing fashion at Crystal Palace on Sunday then rise to the occasion against Manchester City on Wednesday.

Postecoglou has a side packed with talent, that is highly entertaining to watch when at its best, but it is accompanied by a vulnerability that ensures watching Spurs is never dull.

This giant club has waited too long for success.

If Postecoglou can find that elusive answer to inconsistency, then the success Tottenham crave may not be too far away.