A CHASM of 51 years may lie between Tottenham Hotspur and the last occasion when they were champions of England, but there is no credibility gap in their current bid for the title.
Harry Redknapp’s side have lost once on that front since the end of August and the defeat when it came was in a highly contentious match at Stoke City. The habit of victory is hard to acquire but Tottenham currently have it in their nature.
There has been no pretence of interest in any other matter, even if it was impossible to avoid the fourth round of the FA Cup once they had been handed a home tie with Cheltenham Town.
Tottenham have been consistent in their policy and hardly pretended to be enamoured with the Europa League as they extricated themselves from it. Despite that narrow perspective, there is a breadth to the squad that suggests they could have coped with a variety of challenges.
On Wednesday they lacked Scott Parker and Sandro in central midfield, but Jake Livermore operated effectively as Everton were beaten 2-0 in the Premier League. Challengers of a higher order might not have allowed Tottenham to win with so little fuss, but the better sides have the habit of gathering points out of habit.
The Everton game highlighted another trait expected of those with true aspirations. They come up with goals from unexpected sources. Tottenham, 1-0 ahead, eliminated any lingering tension when Benoit Assou-Ekotto scored with a handsome drive from distance, even if it also had the benefit of a deflection off Tim Cahill. It was only the second goal the left-back has scored for a club he joined in 2006. Tottenham are in one of those spells when old and limited expectations no longer seem relevant.
While Gareth Bale can be devastating, there is an extensive squad at the moment to sustain the challenge.
No one feels obliged to ask when next Ledley King’s problematic knee will allow him to take the field. Wonderful as the centre-half can be, there is scant fuss about his condition. Tottenham, after all, are being well served in most departments for the time being.
There are little pieces of encouragement with, for example, Emmanuel Adebayor on hand since Togo did not qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The record sum paid by Tottenham is generally given as the €20.3 million fee to Blackburn Rovers for David Bentley in the summer of 2008. Wages can also be a burden, but the general impression is that the club has advanced while retaining some sense of prudence.
If there is a barrier to Tottenham in this campaign it is likely to be the inhibitions in their own minds as much as the form of the opposition.
In practice, there ought to be abundant conviction. The Manchester clubs could not even make it out of their Champions League groups. Chelsea still have some squad reconstruction to complete and Arsenal seem permanently to be a work in progress.
Tottenham are cheered by all that although their manager had an odd ambivalence when speaking of his club’s chances.
“We have to keep believing and you never know,” he announced tentatively. “We can give ourselves a chance to have an amazing second half of the season.”
It was not the sort of declaration that will ever appear on a banner, and nor was it intended to be. The term “amazing” was not specific. Redknapp could safely apply it to, for example, the clinching of a Champions League place, although Tottenham had been in that competition just last season. There is an unspoken dread that impetus cannot be sustained.
There are real barriers. The club has often referred to the restrictions on revenue until it has a stadium with a greater capacity. That overlooks the fact current circumstances of another sort are in their favour. There are no overwhelming rivals. Even Manchester City, 5-1 victors though they were at White Hart Lane in August, have won five away matches in the league and their points total on the road is 18. Tottenham have 20.
Redknapp will recognise that there are gruelling days before them, with the side still to visit Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Guardian Service
