Are Spurs finally the Real deal? Bale sale has triggered a new era at White Hart Lane



English football waited in eager anticipation to see how Tottenham would fare in the post-Gareth Bale era.

And now, it seems, we have an answer. After winning eight of their nine matches so far, scoring 22 goals and conceding only one, expectation is growing that the north London club are ready to challenge the established elite. In 54 games last season, they kept only 14 clean sheets.

A heavily changed Spurs team annihilated Aston Villa on their own patch on Tuesday. So, has a Real deal created the real deal?

Making his point: Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas has led his side to eight wins in nine matches

LATEST ODDS

Tottenham 6/5 Top 4 finish

CLICK HERE TO BET NOW

STRENGTH IN DEPTH

In terms of quality Andre Villas-Boas probably boasts the best squad Spurs have ever possessed. Pretty much everywhere you look he has options. In midfield, the club look blessed.The likes of Paulinho and Christian Eriksen have supplemented Sandro and Mousa Dembele. Tottenham’s coach can mix and match and not reduce the strength of his side.

Witness the performance at Villa Park. Eight changes made to a team who experienced a tough afternoon against Cardiff City. And there was little, if any, discernible difference, with Spurs averaging 62.1 per cent possession this season.

Strength in depth: Spurs have bolstered their squad with signings like Erik Lamela and Paulinho (below)

SPLASHING THE CASH

Spurs have adapted smoothly to life without Bale. Few could deny that there was an over-reliance on the Welsh wonder. But after seeing their team become the third-highest spenders in Europe this summer — behind Real Madrid and Monaco — Spurs fans can expect better. The club have broken their transfer record three times, recruiting Paulinho, Roberto Soldado and Erik Lamela.

When Aaron Lennon recovers from a foot injury, Villas-Boas will have the element of speed to call upon. It’s all shaping up nicely.

Without Bale, Tottenham have had 105 shots in the Premier League this season. Only Real Madrid (110), Bayern Munich (117), PSG (118) and Borussia Dortmund (136) have had more across Europe.

From Spian with love: The sale of Gareth Bale has funded marquee signings like Roberto Soldado (below) A STRIKER SHORT?

There was disquiet among supporters as Spurs failed to buy one more striker before the transfer window closed.

That leaves them reliant on Roberto Soldado and Jermain Defoe in the short term. Emmanuel Adebayor would be a useful alternative, but he has been training with the reserves. Yet, despite being second choice, Defoe has six goals from his three starts.

CHELSEA TEST

Do Spurs have to beat Chelsea this weekend to prove they are title contenders? In the words of midfielder Lewis Holtby after the final whistle at Villa Park: ‘Absolutely.’

It could be argued that the only real litmus test of Spurs’ quality came in the north London derby. And, on the day, Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud settled that argument.

As Holtby said: ‘We need to do it for ourselves. We are aiming for very high things at this club. We want top four. We want Champions League. It’s a massive game against Chelsea. We want to show what we can do.’



Special One: Spurs take on Jose Mourinho and Chelsea on Saturday in a crunch London derby

READY TO CONTEND

The Europa League could prove an unwelcome drain. Holtby again: ‘We have eight games coming up in December. A tough November, and January is always difficult. We will have to be prepared and up for it.

‘At Bayern Munich last season everyone just got on with their work and did their jobs. That’s why they won every title. They all work for the team and that’s how I see it here.’

There’s a long way to go, but Tottenham look to have the squad to be serious players in what could be one of the most exciting seasons of recent times.