And then there was one. Tottenham Hotspur are the only team remaining in the Premier League who have not lost a game. Three years back, that would have made for surprising reading, but after their fantastic last season, they are serious contenders and last week’s resounding 2-0 win over favourites Manchester City just goes to stake that claim.
Spurs are known to have a squad bursting with youth and talent but also willing to run that extra mile to win it (3rd in the league for most distance run). Here are five reasons as to why Tottenham can win the league this year:
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#1 Experience is the best teacher
Last season, any Spurs fan would have been forgiven for thinking that top 4 was a challenge that was daunting in itself. With the wealth of the squads that the other big guns had, Spurs weren’t given much of a chance in terms of pushing for a top 4 spot but what happened was truly awe-inspiring as Tottenham took the league by storm and pushed Leicester all the way till the last few games till they finally ran out of steam and finished a respectable 3rd on the last day of the season.
Sure, losing out on breaking the St.Totteringham’s Day jinx to Arsenal on the final day of the season would’ve stung, but their performance throughout the season will be just the impetus needed for them to push for the title this year. The experience of having failed will serve as a strong reminder to the mistakes they have committed and they seem to be on track to push for another title run-in this year with their current form.
#2 Super gaffer with his tactics
The main man at the helm, Mauricio Pochettino deserves all the praise that he is getting at the moment. The coach loves his 4-2-3-1 formation and knows exactly the players he has to help him get the results he wants. This season he has used the 4-1-4-1 formation more often that play to the strengths of his midfield four in attack allowing his wingbacks to bombard ahead more often. His mild-mannered and affable nature too, make him a coach who is approachable and someone who is loved by his players.
Most of the players in the squad under Pochettino were given their debuts by him and they are all ready to give it their all on the pitch for him. His high pressing formula up the pitch coupled with his insistence on strikers doing the extra bit of work seems to have paid off as Spurs have a buzz about them and are all playing for one another. This great team ethic along with a great understanding of the manager’s tactics are paying off bit by bit and a great season is on the cards for the Lilywhites.
#3 Ideal transfers
The transfers that were bought in the summer are all ideal to fill in the gaps that were missing last season. The midfield is absolutely beefed up with two superb additions with proven Premier League experience – Victor Wanyama (who played under Pochettino at Southampton) and Moussa Sissoko from Newcastle. Though Sissoko was a last minute purchase, he seems to have fit in well with the squad and Wanyama does the holding midfield job to perfection, protecting the back four and allowing the wingbacks to push ahead whenever needed.
Also, N’Koudou from Marseille is a great addition to inject more urgency in attack and Vincent Janssen is a proven goalscorer in the Dutch league and it will be interesting to see how he is used in view of the long season ahead thanks to the Champions League and EFL cups to look forward to.
#4 Defensive rocks
Spurs were one of the best defensive teams last season and that trend looks set to continue this season too. They have conceded only 3 goals in 7 games this year in the league and with the back four of Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Danny Rose and Kyle Walker ably supported by captain Huo Lloris between the sticks and the big Victor Wanyama in midfield, teams will find it extremely hard to score a goal past them. This, with Dembele and Dier still available, goes to show the high level of competition that players in the squad face.
The age old adage of “Attack wins you matches, Defense wins you titles” seems to be the principle under which this Spurs team are working and thriving on. The only difference is they are making good defending look like an art that is pleasing on the eye and their attack takes care of itself. Spurs are a team that also depend on vital contributions from their fullbacks and their central defenders are not goal-shy either and have been known to contribute some important goals, especially during set-plays.
#5 Attacking prowess and team spirit
The talent of the players that Spurs have in attack cannot be questioned. Spearheaded by 20+ goal man Harry Kane (injured for now, but number one pick when fit), ably supported by the likes of Son Heung-Min, Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela, Dele Alli and Moussa Dembele and Janssen for backup goes to show the kind of speed that Spurs have in their ranks.
Each of these players have their own brilliant individual attributes and complement one another extremely well. Also, with the likes of Georges-Kevin N’Koudou available, Spurs will be looking to their attack for inspiration. Eriksen, Alli and Dier are some of the brightest young prospects in the Premier League and with their new contract extensions, Tottenham will be looking to get into this Premier League season with no distractions at all.
Son seems to have found his feet in the league and if his form continues, Spurs will be amongst the top places come May.
So, with the kind of squad at his disposal, Mauricio Pochettino will be looking to make a bigger impact on the league than last season. The team have begun extremely well and are holding their own in this season. For a league studded with some of the biggest names in world football, Tottenham Hotspur are one squad that are depending on their close-knit team spirit and youth to see them mount a challenge on the title this year.
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