Tottenham are in with a shout of winning the Premier League but their reliance on Harry Kane worries me
Tottenham have been quietly growing in confidence this season and recent results, culminating in Sunday’s 4-1 drubbing of West Ham, show they currently have no reason to fear anyone.
Spurs tick all the boxes you want from an effective team. They are technically very good, the team is well balanced, and spirit appears to be excellent.
Everyone knows what is expected from them in Mauricio Pochettino’s 4-2-3-1 system and, to a man, they are all playing well.
They have a very good spine, with a great goalkeeper in Hugo Lloris, and Eric Dier’s deployment in defensive midfield is working a treat. Next to him, Dele Alli has come nowhere to a very high level.
Christian Eriksen’s set-pieces are as good as any in the Premier League, and they have centre-backs ready to attack those quality balls into the box.
Son Heung-Min has been very effective on the right of the attack, and even Mousa Dembele, who can be frustratingly inconsistent, has really lifted his game.
You have to say that a key factor in their form, however, is Harry Kane’s rediscovery of his scoring touch. He is so important to Spurs, not just for his goals but also for his link play.
They lie four points off the top heading into a busy part of the season and will need to stay lucky with injuries, but the youthfulness of the squad should stand them in good stead.
When you’re playing as well as this you just want the matches to keep coming anyway, and players don’t feel as weary.
A concern is the reliance on Kane. No other Tottenham player has scored more than two this term and they should buy another natural goalscorer in January, because if he gets injured it will leave a void.
But for now their goal should be the top four, and it is certainly a realistic one. Momentum is with them, and they will take encouragement from the fact that no team has succeeded in pulling away.
Of the teams you’d expect to last the pace, their form is right up there so if they can keep it going then others may well fall away.
I struggle to imagine Spurs winning the title – I don’t think they have the experience to go toe-to-toe with Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United in the run-in – but they are in with a shout.
They face Chelsea on Sunday, followed by five very winnable league fixtures against West Brom, Newcastle, Southampton, Norwich and Watford, and they should be aiming for as close to maximum points as possible.
A good December could put them in a very strong position by the turn of the year. If Tottenham are serious title candidates, then the next month is a golden opportunity to prove it.