For AVB and Spurs, the season has just begun

41 points from 23 games and sitting pretty in 4th place (3 points clear of Everton in 5th), things couldn’t get any better for Andre Villas Boas and his swashbuckling Tottenham side. Not many expected them to get this far, especially after the way AVB performed at Chelsea; a spell in which he managed to alienate the big dogs of the dressing room and failed to form a cohesive unit that could play as one.

Trademark: Spurs coach Andre-Villas Boas sits pensively by the touchline.

But his time at Tottenham has been markedly different. For one, there are no rumours of dressing room bust-ups or shouting matches, no egos being trampled, and no one breathing down his neck with advice on who to play as the centre-forward. There seems to be genuine team spirit running through the squad, exemplified by the last-minute comeback against Manchester United and the ensuing celebrations. AVB has learnt his lesson, having worked on his man-management skills to foster a healthy atmosphere at the club.

Secondly, his tactics seem to suit Spurs. The same high defensive line that was put in place at Chelsea and quickly abandoned because certain players could not adjust to it, is serving Tottenham well in their quest for Champions League football, albeit with a few tweaks. AVB has proven that he can be flexible as well, and is not the dictatorial and tactically stubborn manager he was made out to be. He has done well in a competitive league with a decent squad on a decent budget. Daniel Levy will be happy, but certainly not ecstatic. In fact, Mr. Levy will probably be a bit subdued, wanting to smile but holding back due to the memories of last season, when Spurs collapsed spectacularly and managed to scrape 4th position, although Chelsea’s Champions League victory rendered their attempts futile.

AVB has also managed to shoehorn his new recruits into the side, and will be pleased with Dempsey’s equaliser on Sunday. Even though it wasn’t his best performance in a Spurs shirt, Dempsey showed a willingness to work hard for the vacant second striker role, now that Adebayor is at the AFCON. 7 goals is still a decent return from the American, who has taken time to settle in at a bigger club with bigger demands.

In midfield, Dembele has been in sublime form, and Spurs missed him when he was out injured. The defense has seen some re-shuffling, but it would be fair to say that Vertonghen has done well and has kept his place in the first XI on merit. Caulker and Dawson are forming a burgeoning partnership, and with Gallas as a back-up and Hugo Lloris behind them, the defensive triangle is rock solid. Bale and Lennon have provided ammunition down the flanks with Defoe’s 14 goals upfront completing the equation. It’s a well rounded team, with team being the operative word.

It’s well documented that Spurs have a wafer-thin squad and that they rely heavily on certain individuals to play in their unique style of moving the ball quickly, looking to pin the opposition in their own half, while their defenders move up to the halfway line to prevent open spaces in the middle. They are genuinely exciting to watch, because almost every player in their side seems to be the quickest player on the pitch, no matter the opposition. Walker, Bale, Lennon, Defoe and Naughton could give Theo Walcott stiff competition in the fastest players in the EPL race, if there ever was one.

And as paradoxical as it may sound, Tottenham’s strength could end up being their biggest weakness. An injury or loss of form for any of their wingers or fullbacks could lead to the whole system breaking down, which relies on players covering up for their overly attacking instincts by raw pace. Kyle Walker is not a stable defender by any stretch of imagination, but it’s his agility that bails him out of trouble when he has over-committed in attack.

Gareth Bale has been almost unplayable this season, but because Lennon stretches play on the other side as well, Tottenham find it easier to create gaps in the opposition third even if Bale is being double-marked. The two wingers are hunting as a pair at the moment, and their sum is greater than the parts. However, if that partnership were to be broken, Spurs would lose more than just winger; they would lose their effectiveness down the wings altogether.

And Bale does more than just running down the wing like a man trying to outrun a swarm of vengeful bees. Defoe and him have been shouldering the goal-scoring burden, and collectively, they have scored 25 of the team’s 40 goals, a classic case of over-reliance. And with Defoe being the only recognized striker at the moment, an injury to either him or Bale could be catastrophic for Spurs’ season target of Champions League football. A new striker is the obvious solution, but after having spent good money on Dempsey and Sigurdsson, two attackers noted for their goal-scoring abilities, AVB will find it difficult to convince the chairman to dip in to the market for a proven goalscorer.

Nemesis: Summer signing Clint Dempsey has scored on both occasions vs Manchester United this season.

In spite of what the table might suggest, Tottenham are not in the clear at the moment, and danger is lurking around the corner. They have done exceedingly well so far, but run the risk of their main players burning out due to lack of equally good options on the bench. Sandro is out for the season and Scott Parker, hardworking as he is, fails to provide the same security and calmness as the Brazilian. For the moment, AVB’s perfect little world has been invaded by the injury monster, and if the situation is not addressed, more first team players could be joining Sandro on the treatment table.

It’s been a great start, but February and March are notorious for derailing league campaigns and destroying carefully created plans. If every one in the first XI remains fit, Spurs will hold on to 4th place, and maybe even snatch 3rd. But then, if everyone remained fit all the time, Arsenal would have won at least one league title in the last 7 years. If Tottenham are serious about their hopes of finishing 3rd, then they will not leave that to chance. They need to ensure that they do not get engulfed in their own fiery start, and instead, extend it for 15 more games.

This is AVB’s acid test. Can he do what Redknapp couldn’t last year and take Spurs back to the promised land?