Tottenham are finally headed in a positive direction again
This has a great deal to do with the genius of their current boss, Antonio Conte, who, I imagine, will likely stay in north London moving forward unless the team collapses in some manner, or PSG throw the checkbook at him. In any event, no one will be able to rag on Conte for his time in north London as he took a team that had floundered under its previous two bosses post-Mauricio Pochettino, and were being laughed at for being, dare I say, a bit “Spursy”.
But that has changed since the new boss got some names in his side like Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur. While they haven’t been the entire story, they have helped this team run more in the way Conte wishes it to, which has created better space and opportunities for Son Heung-min, Harry Kane and the rest of the forwards.
This has been a real positive for a side struggling mightily after a hot, but unconvincing start, which got a new manager, experienced some rocky roads and has now seemingly come out to the other side as a better, more complete and resilient club.
They sit in fourth place, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference. Arsenal has a game in hand against them but they have recently been hard hit by injuries and their youth means maintaining this position will be difficult, yet not impossible. Beating Arsenal in mid-May will be the best way to ensure that they cannot surpass them, but slip-ups can occur at any point and Spurs could very well give their leverage back to Arsenal by the next match.
If last weekend’s match was any indication, Spurs are starting to feel themselves and that could be trouble for not only Arsenal, but even Chelsea as well.
Tottenham are flying and everyone is contributing
Harry Kane is always going to be a threat, as will Son Heung-Min, but when the entire side is getting theirs, you know things are clicking for Spurs. Kulusevski, Steven Bergwijn, Lucas Moura and really anyone who is coming on to the pitch to positively contribute is finding opportunities to do so. This will not only make Tottenham more dangerous, but will also keep Kane in north London beyond the rest of this season.
Against Newcastle United, who looked a right new club themselves after the winter transfer window, scored the first goal of the match, Spurs would go on to take the next five, and the match ended 5-1. While each team will not be like Newcastle, the Magpies aren’t nearly as bad as they were pre-Eddie Howe. Spurs are building something positive and it could be enough to get them a top-four position and into European competition next season.
Had the team been able to get through the UECL and into the subsequent rounds, they might have been favorites to win that competition given the additions the club has made since then. As it stands, they have one mission, which is to get into and stay in a European place for next season, or else the entire team is basically unkeepable beyond this year.
But those are worries that must be assuaged by winning matches. There is no way Tottenham will find themselves out of Europe if they continue to play as they have, even with a difficult schedule coming up. There is nothing that can be done but win the matches that lay ahead of you, and that is precisely what Tottenham seems intent on doing.