EXCLUSIVE: EPL legend Michael Owen analyses 'split' that will define Ange Postecoglou's Premier League career

Ange Postecoglou is the enigma the Premier League loves.

In his second season at Tottenham, the honesty is still there and so is the exciting brand of football.

But there's a "split" on one very important aspect of his time at Spurs, according to EPL legend Michael Owen.

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"Ange is very popular out here. He plays great football," he told Wide World of Sports.

"I suppose there's a little split. In terms of popularity, there is no split, everybody loves him, loves his interviews, he's very direct, very straight, he's got a sense of humour, he plays in a really attractive way so from that point of view there is no split, everybody loves him.

"From the way he plays, and whether he can go and win a Premier League, there is a split, I think fans, pundits, etcetera doubt whether you can be that open, that expansive and that one-dimensional to go and win a league.

"When I say one-dimensional I don't mean the way they play I mean it's this way or not."

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Discussing Postecoglou's philosophy, Owen's mind drifts straight to THAT Chelsea game.

It was his first defeat in his first season at Spurs.

It went down as one of the most chaotic matches with Spurs receiving two red cards at 1-1.

Despite being down to nine men, Postecoglou maintained his high line.

It was met with confusion by many pundits.

"We had an extreme a year ago where they went down to nine men and it just continued and it was almost suicide in front of your eyes and that made a lot of people question, surely you have to adapt to certain scenarios," Owen said.

"But, on the other hand, I and a lot of other people like the way (he has an attitude of) what's the point in having a plan B? It's important you try to perfect a plan A.

"You look at the great teams, Liverpool, Manchester City. If things are going wrong they don't all of a sudden say, 'right let's put a big man on and let's play long ball.'

"You try to perfect the one way you think is the right way of playing and I respect that because it's hard enough to get that to work rather than having a second plan and a third plan. So I get it, I like it, I love watching it and actually as a neutral I want him to do really well because people like that bring fans to football. It's great watching his team play."

While Postecoglou's philosophy was branded as madness, it could've been taken as a line in the sand.

Early in his tenure, this was his way of showing his players this is what we do.

Owen likens it to Jürgen Klopp and his start at Liverpool in 2015.

"It was a little strange way of setting down the markers and rules I guess but I do remember Klopp being very, very similar at Liverpool," he said.

"It used to feel like every other week they'd go 3-0 ahead and just didn't know how to defend the lead. And then people would say you've got to bring in another defender, another central midfielder and tighten things up but he was like 'no, no, no this is how we're playing, they need to learn'.

"What it also does is exposes the weak links in your team, if you continue playing in the right way then it does expose the players that actually can't carry out what you want. And then Jürgen Klopp went out and bought Virgil van Dijk, he went and bought a new goalkeeper, and more new players because, as I say, I think it exposed the players that couldn't cope.

"So there is definitely that train of thought and the end of the day like anything you'll just have to judge people on results over a period of time and that will be the test I guess but I do like process and I do understand the process that certain managers do to get there."

This season, Tottenham defeated Manchester United 3-0 in late September.

In the aftermath, United copped a baking off pundits and the curiosity around Spurs continued. These dominant matches are prevalent but there's also games when the wheels fall off.

Speaking on TNT Sports, Owen compared the current situation between Spurs and United. The former United striker was delighted there was at least a debate with Spurs around their credentials, but for his former club there's simply just confusion.

Asked if that's the most positive aspect of Postecoglou's reign, Owen agreed.

"Absolutely. If I was a football fan of a certain team, if I can buy into a plan and the manager's on the TV saying we'll get there in two or three years, however we just need to go through this process, we need to be this type of team and then when I switch on the TV or go to the stadium, I actually see that in front of my eyes then I'm happy as Larry. I've bought in and I'm ready for the ride," he said.

"With Manchester United I just see nothing. I see no plan, after watching them for two and a bit years under Erik ten Hag, I don't know whether they're a counter-attacking team, I don't know whether they're a possession team or pressing team.

"I have no idea what they're trying to do and that would scare the life out of me if I was a Manchester United fan."