Can Spurs keep up their momentum?

Just over a year ago, Tottenham Hotspur seemed to be in disarray. Much-respected manager Mauricio Pochettino, who had made Spurs a top-four Premier League regular and who, just months earlier, had taken the club to the final of the Champions League, was sacked. His replacement was controversial to say the least. Former Chelsea and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho was not exactly greeted as the new saviour by the club's fans. It isn't hard to see why. Mourinho had a long and famous association with London rivals Chelsea, the English club with whom he made his reputation. The spiky Portuguese boss is also known for a style of football that is far less fun to watch than the all-action, high-pressing play of the Pochettino era. And then there was the perception that Mourinho, whose last three appointments had involved plenty of drama, was past his best and a potentially divisive figure. Fast forward to November 2020, however, and most of those fans have changed their tune. Spurs are top of the table, boast a rejuvenated squad and are playing a brand of football that is positive enough to keep the home fans happy, while steadily collecting an impressive points haul. After an opening day defeat to Everton, the North Londoners have gone unbeaten and at the weekend put in their best performance yet, beating Manchester City 2-0 to move ahead of Leicester City and claim top spot. Where last season the team was sometimes cautious, this time round they are committed to attack and have tended to start each game with positive intent. Some of that has been down to the impressive rebuilding job that Mourinho oversaw during the transfer window in the summer. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Sergio Reguilon and Gareth Bale were all brought in, adding valuable energy, star quality and experience to the squad. And it hasn't just been in the transfer market that Mourinho has excelled. He has managed to get the best out of the Harry Kane and Son Heung-min partnership, with a tactical tweak that has resulted in Son leading the way in the Premier League top scorers' charts, and Kane topping the assist charts. Mourinho's successes have extended from the first team to those players who might potentially have been a problem for him. Both Dele Alli and Tanguy Ndombele have been handled well, with Ndombele playing some of the best football of his Tottenham career. So, should we be gambling online on Spurs for the title? Well, maybe. There are a lot of trustworthy providers out there, and Betspin.com offers their expertise on live dealing games. On a regular basis they bring you the best sites offering casino bonuses and plenty of games to choose from.

There are some issues that could yet trip up this new-look Spurs side, besides the normal risks of injuries and misfortune. While the squad has been overhauled, there are still one or two weak areas. In particular, there is little depth in the defensive areas, with doubts over the defensive qualities offered by Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld. And then there is Mourinho. His spells at Internazionale, Real Madrid and Manchester United, as well as his second spell at Chelsea, were all marked by controversy and a deteriorating relationship between manager and club, and in some cases, between manager and players. There were arguably some mitigating circumstances, particularly at Manchester United, but the perception of a 'third season curse' that sees Mourinho self-destruct in his third campaign at a club has some substance. Currently, the crucial relationships between manager, club, players and fans are all good, but there is still the sense that these bonds are fragile, and a run of poor form could test the resolve of all parties, while the pressure of being Premier League title frontrunners can cause some to crack. Against that pessimistic view, it can be said that Mourinho is a proven winner. He has won trophies at every club he has managed, and few managers in the modern game can boast his experience at guiding a squad through the business end of a season. Besides, even if the third season curse is real, that won't kick in until September, so there's plenty of time to win a Premier League title. But the greatest cause for optimism comes in the nature of this season's competition. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everything and has produced an unpredictable, fascinating Premier League race in which both Liverpool and Manchester City, who have seemed untouchable over the last few seasons, are looking surprisingly vulnerable. There is a genuine sense that this year's trophy is up for grabs. It is entirely possible that we could be looking at a new champion by the end of the season and Spurs have given themselves every chance of being involved in that title contest.