Ange, Ange, when will the clouds all disappear?

JOHN CROSS

Here’s the thing about Tottenham: Big Ange is just not afraid to say Spurs can win the title. And it is that fearless attitude which makes Tottenham so good to watch on the pitch and why they can finish above Arsenal.

Winning the Premier League is beyond Ange Postecoglou this season. But they are very capable of gatecrashing their way into the top four. But will Postecoglou care if they fall short having said they can do it? Of course not.

While other teams are getting nervous, Spurs are playing their high line, going all-out attack and getting their fans excited.

And then you have to think: Who is vulnerable? Arsenal look tired and it remains to be seen whether eating steak with

Salt Bae in Dubai will recharge the manager’s batteries, let alone the players.

Aston Villa show no signs of slowing down. They are in the mix and Unai Emery (far right) has them so well drilled and so hard to beat. But Manchester City will win the title and Liverpool will be their closest challengers and those

two are a step ahead of the rest. That is why three into two does not work and Tottenham will edge out either Arsenal or Villa.

SIMON BIRD

Spurs aren’t getting anywhere near the top two, but the neutral should be willing them to shake up the predictable top four. Man City are back on it, and Liverpool desperate to break their grip on the title, which is a two-club race. Arsenal’s blip may have opened the door but they are the only team with the ability to mix it with the current top two. I’d go as far to say that if the Gunners put down £100million in the next fortnight to buy Newcastle’s Alexander Isak (above), they could become title contenders this season. And

that goes for Spurs too. Isak would be a game-changer for any title contender, guaranteeing goals and offering all the qualities needed in a modern day striker.

I expect Aston Villa to dip a bit and end up fifth, with Spurs squeezing into the top four. But even that would represent massive progress having lost Harry Kane’s goals and leapt up from eighth last season.

MIKE WALTERS

Lads, it’s Tottenham. For once, Sir Alex Ferguson’s withering half-time pep talk to inspire a spectacular Manchester United comeback against Spurs doesn’t ring so true. Under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham are made of sterner stuff now, and the fair dinkum Lilywhite boss has transformed the mood around their place.

Champions? Sorry, but that’s going to be a stretch – Manchester City are catching a wave and Liverpool look their likeliest challengers for the title.

Third? Arsenal have dipped, but they are not going to concede the crown in north London without a fight.

That leaves top four – and Spurs are certainly right in the mix there, probably in a straight fight with Aston Villa for Champions League football next season.

Big Ange has been a breath of fresh air, sticking to his guns and sticking two fingers – in a manner of speaking – up at the critics who question his high defensive line.

When James Maddison and Son Heung-min are back, and Spurs have a full deck of cards to choose from, they are going to be serious players in the race for a top-four finish. And even if the top two is beyond them, Postecoglou’s greatest achievement will not be where Tottenham finish: It will be simply that they are worth watching again.

ANDY DUNN

Injuries or no injuries, if Spurs had serious top-two credentials, they would have won at Old Trafford on Sunday. Yes, they dominated possession. Yes, they produced more attempts on goal. Yes, they had more corners.

But they never really went for the Manchester United jugular, as a Manchester City or a Liverpool would have done.

Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp will now go head-to-head in a battle for this season’s Premier League title.

After the next couple of rounds of fixtures, it will be confirmed as a two-horse race. But can Spurs finish best of the rest? Absolutely.

Of their five Premier League defeats, a couple have been a little unfortunate and this is a squad that is still getting to grips with Ange-ball. And getting to grips with it in a good way. Enjoying it. Loving it.

Dynamic defenders, a combative midfield and, when the cavalry is back, plenty of goal threat.

With no European distraction, Spurs fans can be extremely confident that their team will have a strong second half of the season.

Threaten City and Liverpool? No. Top four? Yes.