Coral analyse Tottenham’s title-chasing squad
Spurs are proving the critics wrong
Before a ball had even been kicked at the start of this season, the doubters had already begun to malign Tottenham Hotspur’s chances of success.
With Manchester United and Manchester City flexing their spending power over the summer, there was certainly a degree of truth in those accusations.
But with nine games of the campaign completed, Spurs are defying the odds once again. After an impressive start, the Lilywhites are now 1/4 for a top-four finish and 10/1 second-favourites to win the Premier League.
The Coral News Team take a look at how Mauricio Pochettino has built one of the division’s most feared sides…
The Harry Kane factor
Tottenham’s most obvious asset is star striker Harry Kane. After bagging 94 goals across the past three campaigns, Kane has already hit 13 in 12 games this season for the Lilywhites.
For club and country, his record is even more impressive. The 24-year-old has plundered 17 goals in 16 games domestically and internationally since the start of September. Incredibly, that includes six braces and a hat-trick.
In effect, Spurs are the current owners of Europe’s most feared out and out striker. His clinical eye in front of goal gives the Wembley-tenants a chance in every game, regardless of the overall team performance. Kane is currently 5/4 to be the top scorer this season and 9/2 to become the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer.
A balanced midfield
Mauricio Pochettino has engineered a midfield that covers all bases. Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli provide creativity and swagger going forward. Meanwhile, Victor Wanyama and Eric Dier are excellent defensive pivots who are quick on the ball and allow Spurs to break forward at a rate of knots.
Even Moussa Sissoko – the forgotten man at White Hart Lane last season – has proved a worthwhile addition this season. And what about Mousa Dembele? The Belgian star has been out injured since September and could find it difficult to break back into a Spurs side which is flourishing at the moment.
However, it’s the emergence of Harry Winks that has the Coral News Team most excited. While it’s common to overhype a young player after just a few games, Winks looks as though he has the quality, composure and assurance to make sure he continues to develop.
Unlike most English midfielders, the 21-year-old is comfortable on the ball. For Jack Wilshere’s breakthrough performance against Barcelona in 2011, see Harry Winks v Real Madrid in 2017.
Case for the defence
A good defensive unit is a characteristic that a lot of sides lack in the Premier League. However, Spurs don’t have that problem. Their two reliable centre-halves from last season – Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld – have been supplemented perfectly by the addition of Davinson Sanchez.
Meanwhile, Serge Aurier has proved an ample replacement for Kyle Walker, while Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies and Danny Rose provide plenty of further defensive and attacking options in the full-back areas. Even in goal, Michael Vorm is a tried and tested Premier League performer in the absence of the world-class Hugo Lloris.
Essentially, Spurs are blessed with a remarkable level of strength in depth at the back. While some sides challenging for the title or the top-four lack quality in their first-choice options, Tottenham have it two-fold across the back-line.
It all adds up to show that while Tottenham have one of the best pound for pound first XIs in the Premier League, they now also have the depth to mount a sustained challenge in the longer term.
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