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Ahead of Saturday's game at The Hawthorns, we spoke
once more with Alan from the Spurs' blog
Tottenham On My Mind.
He gives us his views on Spurs' season so far, their Europa League
campaign, Saido Berahino,
and more. You can follow
Alan on Twitter @spursblogger.
With Spurs
placed nicely in the Premier League, and through to the last 32 in the Europa
League, supporters must be happy with the season so far?
If any Spurs fans are unhappy
they must be living in a parallel universe. The team have exceeded expectations,
playing exuberant, high tempo football with skill and creativity allied to a
prodigious workrate. The teamwork and consistency is remarkable, the unstinting
commitment and intensity almost scary.
The emergence of young English
players like Kane, Dier and Alli has been wonderful to see but the real success
is the way in which Pochettino has shaped the team and established the work
ethic. Crucially he’s sorted out the defence. Alderweireld and Vertonghen have
been excellent at centreback, protected by Dier in front of them and Lloris
behind. It’s taken him 18 months (a lesson for all fans on the virtues of
patience perhaps) but now the movement and understanding is fluent. Everyone
seems to know what they are doing.
After a long period when the
club created a growing gap between themselves and the supporters, there’s a good
feeling around the Lane these days. Again much of the credit lies with the
younger players, who give everything and acknowledge the fans.
This is Spurs, right?
Given
Chelsea's struggles, how confident are you of a top four finish this season?
Evil uncle Roman will buy
Chelsea something nice for Christmas so they will be around come May but there’s
uncertainty around all the usual suspects. Right now we have a chance but I’m
just pleased we are playing so well at the moment.
How important
is success in the Europa League for the club and for the supporters?
The EL gets going in the New
Year when we get to proper European football, two legs home and away knock-out.
I think we should really have a go at it but then I’m old and old-fashioned –
many fans think it is a waste of time.
Albion striker
Saido Berahino continues to be linked with a move to White Hart Lane, is he a
player you would like to see at Spurs? Is it a move you could see happening?
Thought you might bring this
up…
I can’t say I ever saw Berahino
as the messiah to lead us to the promised land but he’s a promising young talent
who could fit into our set-up, a striker with a different style to Kane and by
all accounts Pochettino wanted him. Chairman Daniel Levy’s negotiating tactics
were foolish and outmoded in the extreme, neglecting the fact that TV income
means clubs are not under so much pressure to sell. The fact that we have played
so well this season should not obscure the fact that Kane is our only striker
and if he’s injured we have a major problem. That’s real neglect on Levy’s
part.
We still need another striker.
In the end, money talks. Probably this is down to Peace – if he’s willing to
talk and Levy’s willing to pay a deal may be done.
Who’s caught
the eye for Spurs so far this season?
Plenty of competition here. At
19 Deli Alli has poise and presence with real talent and a desire to learn. Eric
Dier plays with the maturity and positional sense of a veteran. Hard to believe
he’s a centre half turned DM only this season. Kane is adding more to his play
game by game.
Less well known is the emergence
of Moussa Dembele from 3 years of sleepwalking to become a game-changing
influence in midfield, while at £10m Toby Alderweireld is the buy of the season
given the stability he’s brought to our defence.
Anyone been
particularly disappointing?
Pochettino gave everyone a
chance then ruthlessly got rid of the slackers. Everyone left has substantially
upped their game, save for Andros Townsend. Hampered by injuries admittedly but
in the last 18 months he’s contributed more in one game for England than he has
for Spurs in the entire time.
Prediction for Spurs'
season?
Honestly don’t know. I’d like a cup run and worry about injuries/tiredness
because we’re short of cover in the spine of the team. Oh, what the hell – 4th.
Prediction for
Albion’s season?
12th
Premier League
champs?
Manchester City have the players but all the contenders have their faults so
hard to predict
Relegated?
Bournemouth, Villa and
Sunderland
Thoughts and
prediction for Saturday's game? How are Spurs likely to line-up?
Spurs play 4-2-3-1 with plenty
of movement in the front four plus full-backs and one of the DMs eager to get
forward when we have the ball. West Brom might try to avoid our pressing by
shifting the ball forward directly but may have more joy on the flanks where we
sometimes leave the back four exposed, especially in the later stages as
tiredness becomes a factor.
Team: Lloris, Walker,
Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier, Alli, Son, Dembele, Eriksen, Kane.
Spurs to win 1-0.
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