With Tottenham Hotspur at the top of the Premier League table as things stand, Paul Merson has been assessing their credentials for a title challenge, and insists the North London club should focus on securing a place in the top four.
Things could not be going any better for Spurs under new manager Ange Postecoglou. Six wins and two draws from their first eight league games have left the Lilywhites at the summit of the Premier League as we head into the international break.
The team have very quickly bought into Ange-ball, with performances delighting the Spurs fans and getting positive results, too. It seems the Australian is getting the best out of his squad, with players like Heung-min Son and Yves Bissouma back to their best.
Summer signings James Maddison, Guglielmo Vicario, and Micky van de Ven are also flourishing in their new surroundings.
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 09: General view of the Premier League logo during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City at Wembley Stadium on December 9, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Should Spurs settle for a top-four spot?
But, while Spurs are now being mentioned as potential title contenders, it remains to be seen quite how long they can remain in the race. Speaking to Sky Sports, Paul Merson doesn’t believe the Lilywhites can take top spot come the end of the season.
On the win over Luton, Merson said: “It was a funny game. I was sitting there in the first 15 minutes thinking, ‘If Harry Kane was playing now, the game would have been over,’ given the number of chances they missed.
“Then Spurs didn’t look like scoring after that, bar the goal. But fair play to them, going down to 10 men, digging in and getting a result, you have to hold your hands up.
“I know Luton are right down at the bottom, but it’s still hard. Spurs gave away a few chances, but in the end I thought they dug in and showed a new side to Tottenham.”
When discussing where Spurs will end up at the end of this campaign, Merson added: “Fair play to them, they are top of the league at the moment – will they stay there? No, but that is not the point.
“If they were to get in the Champions League next season, then that would be an unbelievable season for Tottenham.”
Spurs Web Opinion
It’s nice to dream, and hopefully, we can stay in the race for as long as possible, but I honestly don’t see us challenging for the title this season. A top-four spot would be more than what I predicted for us at the start of the campaign, so I would absolutely be happy with that.
Have something to tell us about this article?
