Expect A Very Real Title Challenge From Spurs

Tottenham are no longer on a whirlwind ride in the land of the giants. No longer the plucky underdog having it’s day in the sun. We are a serious threat to any side in the Premier League and as a result, I’ll admit the romance has gone out of it a little. These days rather than looking at the table with a big goofy grin I have more the cold eyed analytical stare of the fan of a top side. And I couldn’t be happier.

Last season’s holy grail of nicking a Champions League place would now be an anti-climax for the average Spurs fan (although I know from experience there are many out of their comfort zone, itching for us to screw up so they can say ‘we’re Spurs, what do you expect? Stop being greedy!’ You know who you are.) The least I want now is third place and automatic qualification, but what I honestly believe is achievable is to win the title. To be crowned the best team in the country in the 2011/12 season, while playing the best football (obviously).

At the start of this season we were a very different side. We had no Adebayor, no Parker, no Sandro, no King and a Modric who was frankly in a bit of a sulk. We played the two almighty Manchester clubs at that time and lost two of the mere three games (along with one against the 12 men of Stoke) which we have lost all season. Since our third game our form has been superior to every other team. Mancini and Ferguson who, unlike us, also have Europa League games to worry about are acknowledging that ours is title winning form. Admittedly to put pressure on us, but it is nonetheless a fact.

Our climb up the table from the bottom has been relentless. Many an opposition fan has been gleefully waiting for the inevitable collapse, but it hasn’t come. The reason is that our team now has no weakness. There is no chink in the armour. For starters, we have a sound, experienced goalkeeper. We have a great defence with two terrific full backs and arguably one of the best central pairings in King and Kaboul. As a unit probably not the best in the league, but it’s up there.

Our midfield though, is something else, and if you’ll permit me I’d like to go all misty eyed and wax lyrical about it for a moment.

We have bar none the best midfield in the country. You would have to look to Spain to find one better, and then arguably not in every position. It contains two world class players of such ability that they would get in any squad in the world, and a level of pace and attacking threat down the wings which I believe to be virtually unique in world football.

The jewel in our crown is undoubtedly the absurdly talented Gareth Bale; the only white player ever to get monkey chants. The word ‘unplayable’ is often used wrongly by over excited commentators. I define unplayable as when the opposition knows what a player is going to do and how he is going to do it in advance, but still cannot do anything to stop it. That is incredibly rare, but young Gareth sometimes plays at that level.

It has to be said though that the key to the consistency which has made all the difference this season is the man in the middle. Scott Parker’s arrival has transformed us and given our talented team a solid platform to attack from. He and that other vital player Modric have teamed up to form the heart of the team and are the main reason we are where we are.

Finally up front we have somehow manged to snaffle ourselves a world class man to lead the line for this season at least, and behind him sits a genius. A genius with dodgy hamstrings and sometimes in my opinion a bit of an attitude problem, but a genius all the same.

So there you have it. That’s why we haven’t had our customary collapse, and why we will not. Or will we..?

Manchester City are favourites for the league this year, and why is that? Their squad of course. I’d take our first team over theirs, but oh, that squad. For us on the other hand, our squad could prove our achilles heel. We have great players on the bench at Spurs, but we have a couple of glaring deficiencies in our ranks which, unless addressed, will almost inevitably see us falling short.

The most obvious one is of course up front. If Adebayor gets injured, then what? Pav? No thanks. Ade doesn’t score as much as he should but the reason we play so well when he is on the pitch is his skill, movement and ability to hold the ball up to bring others into play. Not Pav’s game I’m afraid. We have been lucky with Ade so far but we cannot rely on that all season. We also have an incredibly important game against Man City coming up which the big fella will obviously be ineligible for. We need to buy now.

The other major problem position is on the wing. Lennon gets injured and suddenly our whole team shape goes down the Swanee. Modric needs to stay in the centre, we can’t use him as our utility man. Perhaps that could work when Huddlestone is fit and we can have his creativity in central midfield instead, but that won’t be for some time and is not ideal anyway. Van der Vaart can’t/won’t play there effectively so a winger is the other priority.

Ideally I’d sign Leandro Damiao and Eden Hazard; a top class forward and winger. Realistically though, lesser and more affordable players who can act as decent cover could be enough. That way even with Dawson back another centre back could be on the cards also, to be on the safe side. I’d welcome suggestions as to who you think would make the difference.

Although it would be great, I don’t think a marquee signing is necessary in this window. I think we should keep our powder dry and save our money for the summer when we should have Champions League football to offer. If we managed to end up as title winners, who knows who we could entice to The Lane?

So, can Tottenham really win the title? Of course we can. Don’t just look at the table, look at the form charts. Manchester City are rightfully favourites but until recently most were saying that was ‘because they have such a big points gap’. Well that’s not such an issue now, is it.

COYS!

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