Tottenham Hotspur: Are They EPL Contenders?

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is more than just adept at giving the media a good quote; he is also a master at managing expectation.

A year ago, with Spurs topping the Champions League group and going great guns in the Premier League, Redknapp bullishly claimed that his team were within a shout of winning the league for the first time in 50 years. 

Then when the rigours of European football—specifically a 5-0 aggregate humbling at the hands of Real Madrid in the quarterfinals and a slip out of the title race—became too much for Spurs, the veteran cockney coach stated that such lofty ambitions were always above his players.

With Tottenham again riding high in the table as we enter the hectic December schedule, Redknapp is once again talking up his side's chances of putting the glory back in 'Glory, Glory Tottenham Hotspurs'.

"We are on a real good run and if we continue the form that we are in now we will win the league," he said after last week's 2-0 win over Aston Villa last week. "That will be very difficult. The top six is so tight. Chelsea, Manchester United and City will be there.

“Arsenal are playing well and have come back. Liverpool had a great performance at Chelsea. I don’t think there’s a lot between the six of us.

“If I’m being honest the top four will come from Man City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and ourselves.”

There were plenty of caveats inserted in his post-match comments, but the intention was clear: Tottenham are title contenders.

But is his optimism again misplaced, or will Spurs really be in the title shakeup come next May? No one, not even Redknapp, would have pegged Spurs as table-toppers back in August. After their opening-day fixture against Everton was cancelled due to the rioting which began a stone's throw from White Hart Lane, Tottenham's season finally began with a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United and a humiliating 5-1 loss at home to Manchester City.

While there is no shame in any side losing at the home of the reigning champions and then to the most upwardly mobile team in world football, these reverses were hardly cause for Spurs fans to eye the top of the table with any sense of entitlement. 

Since then, however, Spurs have been unrecognisable from their summer selves. The Luka Modric-to-Chelsea saga ended with the Croatian playmaker still plying his trade in N17 rather than SW6. Some canny business on deadline day saw misfiring striker Peter Crouch and combative yet erratic midfielder Wilson Palacios swapped for Emmanuel Adebayor and Scott Parker, while veteran goalkeeper Brad Friedel was brought in to usurp the error-prone Heurelho Gomes. 

Adebayor, formerly of bitter local rivals Arsenal and the man who scored the first two goals in that 4-0 schooling at the Bernabeu back in May, has proved an instant hit at Spurs, scoring seven goals in his first 10 games and setting up five more. 

Parker, meanwhile, has shown just why he was voted the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year last season despite being relegated with West Ham. The England midfielder has immediately become an integral part of Redknapp's team, to such an extent that Tottenham fans have been left wondering what might have been had the perennial Tottenham target had chosen them instead of making his respective moves to Chelsea, Newcastle and the Hammers over the past decade.

Best of all, the on-loan Adebayor's hefty wage is being contributed to by parent club Manchester City; Friedel was a free agent and Parker arrived for a £5 million fee that already looks to be an outrageous bargain.

With that trio installed, Tottenham have gone on a 10-game unbeaten run in the league, the 2-2 draw at Newcastle the only blemish on a sequence of results that has earned them 28 points from the 30 available. If they beat Bolton at home on Saturday, they will record their first ever six-match winning streak of the Premier League era. Recent results include home wins against Liverpool (4-0) and Arsenal (2-1), proving it is not just a generous autumn fixture list which has helped them march up the standings.

But it is not just the new recruits who can claim credit for Tottenham's electrifying form. Reigning PFA Player of the Year Gareth Bale has been terrorising full-backs up and down the country, claiming four goals and three assists in the league so far, while his fellow winger Aaron Lennon has rediscovered the form which once made him an England regular.

It is no coincidence that, given the form of Tottenham's two wide men, 56% of their goals have come from crosses, the highest proportion in the league this season.

Kyle Walker could become the future of England at right-back judging by his rampaging performances down that flank since returning from last season's loan spell at Villa.

Ledley King, one of the most talented centre-backs in the country but also one of the most injury-prone, has played in all but one of Tottenham's league fixtures since the back-to-back defeat to the two Manchester clubs. The White Hart Lane faithful have once again been able to sing about their defensive talisman having only one knee but being better then John Terry with gusto.

And all of this is without even mentioning Rafael van der Vaart and Jermain Defoe. Those two and Adebayor have scored 18 league goals between them already this season. Last term Van der Vaart, Defoe and Crouch managed 21 between them for the entire campaign.

Spurs have all of their best players playing well, sticking to a defined system which is as entertaining as it is effective. Beneath them, with people such as Roman Pavlyuchenko, Sandro, Niko Kranjcar, William Gallas, Michael Dawson and Carlo Cudicini either injured or not getting a look in, Spurs have quality cover in every position. They are seven points behind leaders Manchester City with a game in hand on all of their title rivals. All looks rosy.

But, as the old adage goes, nobody ever won the title in November. Injuries to a couple of key players could affect the momentum Spurs have built up, while wins against the likes of West Brom and Fulham were not exactly convincing. Given they have suffered defeats to the likes of Wigan and Wolves in recent seasons, there is always the nagging feeling that Spurs could press the self-destruct button.

They have been able to compete in the Europa League group despite sending out the stiffs, but when that competition resumes next year they will have to begin risking more and more of their top players. Progress in that tournament, and perhaps a run in the FA Cup, will stretch their squad still further.

While a trip to Stoke and the visit of Chelsea appear to be the only testing fixtures for them between now and Christmas, come the end of January they will embark on a run of nine games in which they will face both Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle and Chelsea. That is the sort of schedule that would break any side.

And of course, there is the strength of the other teams vying for the title. City have set a record for the best start to a Premier League season. United are champions for a reason. Chelsea are still not to be fully discounted despite their current malaise. Arsenal may not be in many people's thoughts for the title, but they will surely still be in the top four picture come the business end of the campaign. Each of those clubs—with the exception of Arsenal—will have much greater cash and cache when it comes to augmenting their respective squads when the transfer window reopens in January.

Tottenham are on an incredible run of form, but for now it is just that. For all of Redknapp's confident bluster, it is not until that aforementioned run of games is over in late March that we can fully judge their title credentials. Historically they have often been their own worst enemy, but this side does seem to have a unity and brash vigour about it.

They are often pigeon-holed as a side who can beat anyone on their day. If Tottenham can still be at their brilliant best come the spring, then perhaps it could just be their year.