The AVB revolution is finally taking shape; the seemingly inevitable loss of star man Gareth Bale over the summer allowed for the acquisition of as many as seven new first team names to bolster the club’s ranks.
Progress for Tottenham has been gradual, if not always spectacular. A much more solidified approach under AVB has seen the Premier League club boast one of the meanest defensive records in all of Europe and has left them well poised just a point of the Champions League places. Yet the transition hasn’t been without its criticisms; a laborious and somewhat uninspiring approach has seen the club get away with it somewhat in recent weeks and for some defeat against Newcastle is a sign of things to come.
The reality though is that aside from an early season battle with Arsenal, the credentials of Tottenham as a potential title contender have hardly been challenged. Even the game against Arsenal came at a point when both clubs were still finalising a number of their transfers and as such hardly reflected fairly on the state of play.
This is all about to change though. Over the next two weeks Spurs have to face both Manchester clubs in the league, with a gruelling trip to the Arctic Circle to play Tromso neatly sandwiched in between. Both clubs look set to challenge for the title and indeed Champions League places, a calibre of opposition that Spurs have rarely come up against this season and in my opinion a true test of how far Spurs have come this season under AVB.
Defensive rock and Spurs stalwart Jan Vertonghen spoke to Sky about the enormity of the task facing his club ahead of the weekend:
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“It’s really crazy,” Vertonghen told Sky Sports News.
”I think if we’d won against Newcastle, we’d be joint second now – but we’re seventh. It’s unbelievable how we play City and United next. It’s very hard this year.
“(Vincent) Kompany already said it will be the toughest league in years to finish top. We have to be at our best to finish in the top four.
“City I think is the best team in the league,” he added. “Arsenal are doing very well of course. But especially in home games, City is the team to beat.”
City’s dismal away form aside, I think many would accept them as the most eye-catching football side in our league at the moment and this is especially the case when playing at the Etihad. The creative influence of the likes of Silva and Nasri will be a totally different prospect to what Spurs have come up against of late and in my opinion it may well favour the North Londoners.
Spurs have often come unstuck against sides keen to frustrate and nullify Spurs, against City on the weekend it will be totally different. At home City will look to carry wave after wave of attack, allowing Spurs a greater degree of space to exploit than they may be used to. The key for Spurs will be to continue their same defensive rigidity whilst maintaining that crucial ability to hit City hard on the break with the likes of Lennon and Townsend bursting forward with pace.
The United challenge will be wholly different but no less telling. I expect Spurs being at home to have the lions share of possession and probably control proceedings. That said don’t expect United to play for a draw, a side with the pedigree of a United will always harbour an attacking threat no matter how subdued it appears and Spurs will have to be as cautious as ever. United are a shadow of the side they were last year, and this offers Spurs the opportunity to continue their recent run of good form against the Champions. A game for once that they may not be expected to win at home; with an ease on the burden of expectation we could well see the lilywhite flourish.
The next two games for Spurs are crucial, the indication as to whether they will be up there or simply the best of the rest as they are usually accustomed to. With AVB struggling under the weight of expectation, a couple of fixtures as potential underdogs may well be a blessing in disguise.
How telling will the next couple of weeks be for the fortunes of Spurs?
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