Tottenham Hotspur Must Make Statement in Match vs. Newcastle

In Tottenham's last two games, they have beaten Asteras Tripolis 5-1 and been beaten 4-1 by Manchester City. Now is the moment to make a statement.

The scoreline at the Etihad didn't reflect the nature of the game and, truthfully, Spurs have strung together 180 minutes of relatively competent football. Combine that with the 1-0 win over Southampton in their last match before the international break and Spurs are on something of a run.

Thrashing a European minnow and giving a credible (but ultimately fruitless) performance against the English champions is all well and good, but Tottenham have little to show for their upturn in form. 

Looking purely at results, Spurs are still struggling to recover their early-season vitality. 

In truth, Mauricio Pochettino has vastly improved his Tottenham side. The results have been mixed, but the team are playing far more attractive football and giving the impression that they have a plan.

That alone is a major step forward from last season. Under Andre Villas-Boas, Spurs had one idea, one style of playing and were utterly unable to adapt to changing circumstances.

When Tim Sherwood took over, there was even less clarity. The players were lost. Given far too much freedom, the players did not have any structure and looked out of sorts. 

Pochettino strikes a happy balance between the rigid Villas-Boas model and the chaotic Sherwood approach. He is ideological but remains flexible and able to respond to the opposition. 

The performance against Arsenal is the best example of the progress that has been made under Pochettino. Spurs were defensive—an approach that has rarely been adopted by Tottenham teams—but single-mindedly countered and were extremely effective. 

Against Newcastle, a team that has frustrated Spurs in recent years, Pochettino needs to produce a result. To do so, he must adapt his approach once more. Spurs should line up with the same formation that blew away Asteras in midweek.

It will be a gamble, but it will also be an opportunity for Pochettino to build upon. The victory over Asteras can form part of the foundation, but Pochettino can only truly build on Premier League wins. He must accept the risk and push Newcastle from kick-off. 

Newcastle are short on players and low on confidence. Spurs won't need the extra defensive cover that their usual 4-2-3-1 formation provides.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Against Asteras, Pochettino pushed the central midfielders forward (with Moussa Dembele playing in particularly advanced position). He also selected Harry Kane to provide additional strike power.

Kane scored three goals, including the crucial opener. Just as Spurs looked to be getting frustrated, Kane ripped a shot across the face of goal to give them the lead.

After the match Thursday, Pochettino refused to commit to starting Kane against Newcastle, but the young forward has done all he can to catch the manager's eye.     

Andre Villas-Boas' first league game in 2012 ended in a 2-1 defeat at St James' Park. Tim Krul set a Premier League record for saves in the 1-0 reverse fixture at home last November. 

Spurs need to attack from the beginning to avoid frustration. 

For all the positivity around Tottenham right now, they have only won one league game since August.

Sunday will be a special day for Spurs fans. The club have selected this fixture to commemorate Bill Nicholson's impressive career on the 10th anniversary of his passing. The energy in the crowd is sure to be high. White Hart Lane will be rocking and Pochettino should use that motivation to get on top early. 

Newcastle have made a dreadful start and continue to struggle with injuries. Cheick Tiote and Papiss Cisse remain in doubt and their absence would leave Alan Pardew's side light on talent. This is a game that Spurs need to win. 

Tottenham won admirers with their performance at the Etihad. Michael Cox of Zonal Marking described it as Spurs' best since the sale of Gareth Bale. 

Unfortunately, the impressive display earned no points.

Spurs need to produce a performance of similar quality but also find the ruthlessness that had eluded them in Manchester.

With Aston Villa, Stoke and Hull City lining up as Tottenham's next three opponents, victory against Newcastle is key. It would place them in perfect position to exploit a kind fixture list and collect critical momentum ahead of matches against Everton and Chelsea at the end of November. 

Victory against Newcastle would leave Spurs level with Arsenal and Liverpool. If the Sisyphean task of Champions League football is ever to be achieved, Spurs must make the most of this run of winnable games.

Christian Eriksen was brilliant against Manchester City. Perhaps in response to criticism from Denmark coach Morten Olsen, Eriksen scored once and was involved in everything positive from Spurs. He has found his place in Pochettino's system and begun to thrive once again. 

Erik Lamela scored one of the greatest goals in Spurs history against Asteras. A wounded and defensive Newcastle team gives him the perfect opportunity to carry that form into the Premier League. 

If Pochettino accepts the risk and allows his players greater freedom in attack, they can overwhelm and subdue their opponents.

The most difficult decision facing Pochettino is whether to select Emmanuel Adebayor or Roberto Soldado in attack. Despite Soldado's impressive performance against Man City and the fact that he was rested in midweek, Adebayor is far better suited to this match. The Togolese striker should get the nod ahead of Soldado to start. 

If Spurs win this match, this week will have been the best in Pochettino's young Tottenham career. If it sparks a great run in the Premier League, it could be seen as a truly momentous one.