Tottenham seem set for a bright future even without Gareth Bale

Two league games played for Tottenham and two wins. As Andre Villas-Boas pointed out, it’s a lot better than last season, when they took just two points from their first three games. And better also than the season before, when they conceded eight in losing to Manchester United and Manchester City in their opening fixtures.

And yet, for all the satisfaction there must be at Spurs’ best start to a season in four years, there must also be just a niggle of doubt: is this how it’s going to be in a Bale-less world? All 1-0 wins in games decided by penalties?

Roberto Soldado of Spurs celebrates after scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at White Hart Lane on August 25, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Well as Tottenham have played, utterly as they have dominated games against Crystal Palace and Swansea, there must be a concern that it has taken penalties to settle the games. Both games followed a similar pattern: Tottenham on top without creating handfuls of chances, a gradual cranking up of the pressure early in the second half culminating in an opposing defence finally losing its discipline and conceding a penalty. Both have been wins rooted in attrition, in starving the opposition of meaningful possession and gradually wearing down their resilience.

To an extent, perhaps, it was the same last season; it’s just that the brilliance of Gareth Bale tended to overshadow the slightly functional nature of some of Tottenham’s play. Six times in the second half of the season he found a late winner.

Andros Townsend, having impressed in the demolition of Dinamo Tbilisi in midweek, was the major threat with his direct running, particularly in combination with the right-back Kyle Walker, while Paulinho had four decent chances – two wasted with poor finished and one stopped by an exceptional save from Michel Vorm.

But there wasn’t much in the way of guile, of a player who could unlock a defence with a moment of intuition, by seeing a space where nobody else recognised one.

What there was, was physicality. Historically, Spurs have gained a reputation as a team with rather more style than substance, as a side that could on occasions be bullied. This team, with Etienne Capoue at the back of midfield alongside Mousa Dembele, bristles with muscularity. Villas- Boas spoke of the new “winning mentality” brought by his new signings, but there is also heft. If that can be combined with a little more subtlety and fluency in the attacking third, the future could be extremely bright for Tottenham.

And the flair could come. The deal for Willian is off, but Erik Lamela, a powerful but imaginative runner from wide, is still a possible arrival. And as the new players settle, as they begin to understand one another’s games, they should be able to play with greater fluidity and adventure.

The huge positive is that the defensive foundations are there – although other sides will provide a sterner test than Palace and Swansea; it’s up to Spurs now to build on them. And even if there has been a shortage of thrills so far, there are at least four more points than at the same stage last season.