Tottenham vs. Southampton: Key Issues That Will Shape Premier League Game
Tottenham Hotspur host Southampton on Sunday in both sides' final Premier League game before the international break.
Spurs' spirits have been raised following their point and positive performance in the north London derby last week. They have lost their last two league games at White Hart Lane, though, and will be further tested by strong-starting Southampton (heading into the weekend).
The Saints have exceeded the early, minimal expectations that followed a sizable exodus from the club this summer. One that, of course, included current Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Over the following pages the key issues that will shape Sunday's mini-reunion are examined.
First up, can Spurs turn last week's improvements into something close to being momentum?
Can Tottenham Maintain Their North London Derby Improvements?
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Tottenham showed some much-needed fight away at Arsenal last week. It was certainly required after their poor effort in the previous league game, a 1-0 defeat by West Bromwich Albion.
"I thought we were well-organised, fought hard for each other, showed great team spirit and that’s what Tottenham is about," reflected goalscorer Nacer Chadli, via his club's official website.
As pleasing as the spirit shown by the team will have been to fans and head coach Pochettino, it would not have counted for much if it was not backed by actual improvements on the pitch.
Even accounting for the greater space granted them by Arsenal compared to West Brom, Spurs' attacking work was sharper and more purposeful than the previous week. Particularly in the 10-minute spells either side of the interval, the visitors' passing and concentrated pressure put the Gunners on the back foot after they had dominated the early going.
Arsenal eventually found a way through with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's goal, but defensively Spurs looked in a lot better shape, too. Chadli was clear in what he thought the difference was—chiefly the return of one of his compatriots to the team.
"Younes Kaboul and Jan Vertonghen were very strong. I was pleased to see them play together. You can see they are used to each, their communication was great and I’m delighted for both, they played an unbelievable game."
There was always a good chance they were going to be motivated for a derby game, though. Genuine evidence of an upturn in form will have to be proved by Tottenham maintaining these improvements against Southampton.
Should they keep up that focus at the back, and add to the energy and endeavour they showed going forward, Spurs should have enough about them to get a win.
Pelle and Friends Will Be a Handful for Spurs
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Positive as Tottenham should be about their ability to win Sunday's match, Southampton have reasons to be confident, too.
Saints have looked sound defensively. Toby Alderweireld and especially goalkeeper Fraser Forster have immediately settled in well alongside key components of Pochettino's defence last season such as Jose Fonte and Nathaniel Clyne.
The continued form of the latter two has been rewarded with their first international call-ups—for Portugal and England respectively.
In attack, Ronald Koeman's side have, so far anyway, suggested they will not miss previous main men like Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana as much as was widely thought. How successful the current crop can be will be put under further examination in north London.
Leading the way thus far has been Graziano Pelle. With five goals already to his name this season, Gazzetta dello Sport, via Football Italia, reported on Friday that Antonio Conte plans to call up the 29-year-old to his Italy squad.
Pelle's superb scissor-kick winner against Queens Park Rangers last week was the best demonstration yet of his quality. He would do well to score another one like that this week, but it showed the threat he will pose to Spurs if they allow him even just an inch of space.
Crucially, the Italian has been well supported in the final third, too.
Dusan Tadic has settled just as well in England. The Serbian is a clever performer, again best not left unchecked for too long. Along with the Saints midfield, he should ensure Pelle has his chances.
Another summer signing, Shane Long, has not featured as prominently. He can contribute across the front line, though, and, should he appear against Spurs will hassle their defenders and do his utmost to unsettle them.
Will Southampton Continue to Deal with Top-of-the-Table Expectations?
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The expectations of others about Southampton this season have been alluded to on previous pages. The departures of previously key personnel such as Pochettino, Lambert and Lallana were looked at as being hammer blows to their chances of getting anywhere near repeating last season's eighth place.
However, if you believe an in-depth report by the Daily Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson this weekend, there was a little in the way of panic on the south coast, such was the confidence in the different departments charged with planning and decision-making at St Mary's in their rise back to the Premier League in recent seasons.
"It was a structure that has also proved sufficiently robust to not just withstand the departure of the chairman, the manager and five leading players in the space of seven months but continue even to move forward," Wilson wrote.
Manager Koeman admitted to BBC Sport last week of some uncertainty on his part and surprise at just how good his team's start has been. But he also believed in their ability, too:
"You always have to wait after a lot of changes in the team. But we had a good pre-season, we had some difficult moments in the club, a lot of people, even the press was a little bit afraid, with questions about relegation.
But we know what our qualities are, and little by little we have shown them. I'm satisfied with how we're playing.
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With all these things considered, Southampton have every right to be pleased with how things have gone post-Pochettino. Yet, with the spotlight now firmly on them following their early ascendancy in 2014-15, it will be fascinating to see if they can deal with the attention.
Spurs is their toughest league game since the opening-day loss to Liverpool. A good result would, of course, be nice. Most telling, though, will be the nature of their performance—are they an early-autumn flash-in-the-pan or a team with genuine top-six credentials?
Mason Looks to Cement His Place and Make Spurs Forget About Schneiderlin
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The aforementioned Daily Telegraph article recounts Tottenham's interest in Morgan Schneiderlin this past summer.
Southampton's refusal to negotiate prompted a public outburst from the France international. But after a meeting with Koeman and chairman Ralph Krueger, "he was given two days off to clear his head, returned fully focused and has been Southampton's best player so far this season."
Koeman's team have obviously benefited from Schneiderlin staying. So too, it has turned out, has Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason.
The Frenchman's presence may have worked against Mason getting the chance to impress he was granted in the past fortnight. Instead, a match-turning introduction against Nottingham Forest and a solid league debut versus Arsenal have finally given the 23-year-old a chance to earn more playing opportunities for Spurs.
"He had a very good performance in the pre-season tour of America and I discovered his talents there, because before I’d never seen him play," his boss Pochettino told Tottenham Hotspur.com last week.
"We first saw him when we arrived here. He deserved his moment because he worked hard, showed ambition and energy and for the team, that’s very important. He’s also a very good guy."
The Argentine was rightfully keen not to go too overboard with his assessment of Mason's recent introduction—"we need to be careful with him."
Still, Spurs' midfield was balanced as it has looked all season with the academy product alongside Etienne Capoue. His excellent goal versus Forest also showed a willingness to grab a game by the scruff of the next that few of his team-mates have displayed this season.
Southampton's own midfield is pretty well balanced. Schneiderlin offers class on both sides of the ball. Victor Wanyama is a battler, while Jack Cork and Steven Davis are two of the Premier League's more underrated consistent performers.
If Mason can hold his own with these (assuming he plays, which he should after last week), maybe imposing his own energetic game, he may soon make Spurs grateful they did not spend millions on signing someone else for central midfield.
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