Are Tottenham Genuine Title Contenders Once Again?

Tottenham have made a superb start to the season and look well equipped to go one step further in their pursuit of Premier League glory.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side came within touching distance of winning their first league title since 1961, but although Leicester undoubtedly stole the show with one of the greatest shocks in football history, Spurs have come back even stronger.
Their 2-0 victory against early pace setters Manchester City was a prime example of just how strong Tottenham have become under Pochettino, with a combination of superb free-flowing football and excellent defending culminating in a thoroughly deserved victory.
Pep Guardiola was honest enough to say that Spurs were the better team as his side were given no time on the ball by a rampant Spurs side who always looked one step ahead of the game and kept Manchester City under severe pressure. They are the first team to get the better of Guardiola in all competitions this season, and with Coral lowering the odds on Tottenham to win the 2016/2017 Premier League title after their impressive start, there is growing belief that Pochettino and his players can mount a serious challenge.
There was always likely to be a question mark over whether Tottenham would be able to handle the disappointment of last season after they tailed away towards the end and allowed local rivals Arsenal to pip them into second, but they have more than made a statement of intent in the opening weeks.
Pochettino has not only built a side that is watertight at the back, but also one that attacks with real pace and flair that often culminates in goals; the former has let Tottenham down in the past, but the current quartet of Kyle Walker, Toby Alderweireled, Jan Vertonghen and Danny Rose have stood out as one of the best defensive units in the Premier League.
An injury to star striker Harry Kane has not hampered their progress either, with Heung-Min Son emerging as a real star by scoring five in his last six matches. Pochettino’s decision to keep faith with the South Korean who requested to leave the club during the summer has proved a shrewd move, with Son transforming into a completely different player from the one that struggled to make an impact during his first season in England.
Although it is difficult to read too much into how teams will fare after just seven games into a new season, early indications would suggest that Tottenham have all the ingredients to be a major player in the race for the Premier League title. An excellent start to the campaign, combined with confidence and quality flowing throughout the team, could take Tottenham a long way towards making amends for what some considered to be a disappointment in falling short last season, even though Leicester had built up an unassailable lead at the summit.
Coral, amongst many others, are getting fully behind them to bring the trophy back to White Hart Lane as one of their latest football tips, and while some fans may be too focused on predicting who will replace Sam Allardyce as the new England manager following the recent controversy, Tottenham winning the Premier League carries more possibility than a number of potential candidates who have been suggested.
What is for sure, however, is that in Pochettino, Tottenham have one of the most talented managers in charge of their club who has created a style of play that is not only appealing on the eye, but also hugely effective in picking up positive results, both home and away.
The most ominous part of Tottenham’s rise to prominence is that, given the relative young age of the squad, there is the potential that they could become even better in the future. Hugo Lloris, Vertonghen and Moussa Dembele are the oldest players in what is generally considered to be their strongest line-up at the age of just twenty-nine, and with the likes of Eric Dier (22), Dele Alli (20) and Kane (23) already showing real signs of quality at such a young age, the future certainly appears to be bright at White Hart Lane.
It remains to be seen if Tottenham can handle the pressure of expectation, and although critics would point to last season’s collapse as a sign that a fragile mentality may cost them when it really matters, tough upcoming away fixtures against West Brom and Bournemouth, followed by a home clash with defending champions Leicester, after the international break may offer a greater insight.
Extending their winning streak from four games to seven would unquestionably make the rest of the Premier League sit up and take notice of Tottenham’s presence near the top of the table, and with the team playing on top of their game at present, Pochettino’s side could fire their way to league glory.