Spurs in the Spotlight: Can Tottenham Mount a Title Charge?

Tottenham have had an outstanding start to the 2023-24 Premier League season, leading the table as they head into the international break.

Despite playing with ten men for the entire second half, they secured a 1-0 victory against Luton last Saturday, maintaining their unbeaten record after eight games. This achievement marks their highest points total at this stage of the season in the Premier League era.

Their north London rivals, Arsenal, have also reached the top of the table alongside Tottenham. They secured a significant 1-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday, their first league victory against them since 2015. However, Arsenal remains cautious, as they find themselves in a similar position to last season when they were one point ahead of City at this stage. Unfortunately, they lost their momentum towards the end of the season and finished five points behind City, who became the champions under Pep Guardiola.

This time around, The Citizens may face an additional challenger for the title, Tottenham Hotspur.

Premier League Top 5

(The Premier League table following Matchday 8, Oct.8, 2023)

Historical Context

Many Tottenham loyalists could be viewed as optimistic in their belief that this squad can make a title charge, but it’s a lot easier to be pessimistic given the club’s track record.

Spurs haven’t lifted silverware in all competitions since their League Cup triumph in 2008. In addition, there hasn’t been much to cheer for in the last four/five decades, and the historical record below shows you why:

• Tottenham’s last First Division/Premier League title – 1961
• Tottenham’s last FA Cup win – 1991
• Tottenham’s last Community Sheild win – 1991
• Tottenham’s last Europa League win – 1984
• Tottenham’s last Champions League win – Never! 

One of the reoccurring questions is often asked; “Why do Spurs fail to win any silverware,” and there isn’t a simple answer. However, we can probably credit the following factors as to why this club is the most unsuccessful team within the “Big Six” of English football:

• Inconsistent in the transfer market policies
• Over-reliant on star players, e.g. Kane, Son
• A lack of focus on youth development
• Consistent defensive failures
• Minimal support for managers

Squad Analysis

After eight games, there is a slight indication of the teams competing for various positions as the season progresses. Surprisingly, Tottenham Hotspur is currently leading the pack. This outcome would have been highly unlikely at the end of last season, and I guarantee there weren’t many non-Spurs fans rushing to the bookmakers to wager on the current setting – especially considering the departure of Harry Kane and the lack of a replacement centre-forward.

But While Manchester City is facing obstacles, Arsenal is adjusting its tactics, and Liverpool is rebuilding their midfield, Ange Postecoglou’s team looks prime for contention.

The speed at which the new signings have adapted to life at Spurs has been one of the most positive outlooks of their early season tenure. James Maddison, in particular, has been exceptional since arriving from the Midlands. In nine games across all competitions, Maddison has netted twice and delivered five assists.

In defence, Van de Ven has also made significant strides. He bagged the winning goal in the Luton clash and has demonstrated his ability to handle the physical demands of top-tier football.

Micky was added to every starting XI with Romero, and together, they have soon evolved into one of the most formidable partnerships in the division. Not forgetting the left-hand side, where the youngster Destiny Udogie has stood out as a top full-back early in the season.

And, of course, it goes without mention that Son Heung-min is now the star of the show in Kane’s absence, and with six goals from eight domestic games, he’s spearheading the goal-scoring responsibility emphatically.

EPL 2023/24 Title Odds

Despite surging challenges from Tottenham and Arsenal, Guardiola’s men remain the bookmakers betting favourite to claim the title.

(Average odds to win the EPL title taken on 12.10.2023)

Interestingly, the most trusted UK online betting platforms placed a substantially larger price on Tottenham to win the Premier League pre-season at 25/1. Hats off to those who hit this number, as they would’ve already received a tidy cash-out from the 16-point difference in today’s odds.

Managerial Impact

I don’t think it is fair to compare to last season and speak about what happened then. It is all credit to the players and how they have bought into what we are trying to do.

We are tight as a group, which you see because not only are we winning games, but apart from the football, which has been good, our resilience has been great.

The players want to change the destiny of this football club, and that is what they are trying to do on the pitch.

Wise words from the Spurs boss – taken from a recent interview with TNT Sports following Tottenham’s 1-0 success over Luton – and this exact attitude and non-egotistical nature have assisted the North London club in making a title chase achievable.  

Under the management of Conte, Nuno Espirito Santo, and Jose Mourinho, Tottenham Hotspur adopted a cautious, counter-attacking style of play. They were content to sit back with defensive numbers and secure victories by narrow margins, resulting in a lack of entertainment for their supporters.

However, since the arrival of Postecoglou, there has been a significant shift in the team’s approach. The new manager encourages players to express themselves and take calculated risks even under pressure. As a result, Spurs now invite opposition teams to press them. Still, they have displayed the quality and ability to play through it consistently, leading to an increase in scoring opportunities.

In their thrilling 2-2 draw against Arsenal, which marked the first North London derby of the season, ‘Ange-ball’ was fully on display. Tottenham Hotspur should have emerged as victors from the Emirates Stadium. Spurs took the initiative as the game progressed and pushed for a winning goal, not Arsenal.

The Big Question: Can Spurs mount a title charge?

Despite the departure of their club’s top goalscorer, Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur has scored the fourth-highest number of goals (18) in the league. Losing a striker of Kane’s calibre at the beginning of the season was a setback. Still, the team’s Australian manager, nicknamed Big Ange, has handled it well and created an entertaining group that the fans adore.

The team’s performance in the first eight league games has been remarkable, with six wins and two draws. This is particularly impressive considering they have already faced tough opponents like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool and have secured seven out of a possible nine points.

The underlying statistics speak for themselves. Spurs have scored the fourth-highest number of goals in the league (18), with only Brighton, Newcastle, and Aston Villa scoring more. Additionally, they have conceded the fifth fewest goals (eight in eight games). To put this into perspective, last season, Spurs conceded 63 goals in 38 games and had only the eighth-best goal difference in the league (+7). They are performing significantly better this season, especially considering that most of their regular defensive players are in their first full seasons with the club.

So, with that said, yes, Spurs can certainly mount a title charge this season. Thus far, they’ve shown significant quality, which was lacking last term. However, eight match days of data aren’t good enough to solidify that prediction, and we’ll have to continue evaluating their progress as we head into the winter months.