West Ham first-team manager Kevin Nolan has said Tottenham Hotspur are not yet at the level to challenge the likes of Manchester City.
Hardly anyone expected the Lilywhites to go into the October international break sitting comfortably at the top of the Premier League, but that’s exactly what Ange Postecoglou’s men managed to do, having won six and having played well in two of their opening eight games .
While Spurs fans have remained largely unmoved by talk of a title challenge, it is a topic that has been widely discussed in the media in recent weeks.
Several pundits, including Gary Neville (on his Sky Sports podcast), have pointed out that Spurs don’t have the depth needed to mount a title challenge and will eventually fade away.
However, the likes of Ian Wright (PL Productions via The Metro) and Louis Saha (King Casino Bonus) have suggested that the Lilywhites cannot be written off from the running just yet.
Should Tottenham be considered title contenders?
Nolan agrees with Marcel and states that, despite the excellent start, Postecoglou’s men are not yet fully ready.
The 41-year-old told talkSPORT (16/10/23): “Tottenham have made a fantastic start but I don’t think they’re there yet.”
Apart from some extremely optimistic Spurs fans, I don’t think most fans expect the club to sustain a title bid this season.
Most fans recognize that this is a transition year and that a top-four finish would be an excellent result.
‘Fantastic’ – BBC pundit says Ange has a “really” powerful youngster at Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur have a “really” powerful young star in their ranks who is “absolutely fantastic”, says former Premier League defender Matthew Upson.
The tracks are formed under Postecoglou
Judging by their sensational start to the season, this is a promising time to support Spurs.
Ange Postecoglou’s arrival at N17 has brought with it a real sense of positivity and renewed optimism, following former boss Antonio Conte’s regrettable last hurrah in office.
Conte’s public tirade criticizing the club’s culture and those in charge seems like a lifetime ago, given that Tottenham are currently top of the table following their unbeaten start.
It is the best opening to a top-flight season for the Lilywhites since the 1960/61 season, when they won a domestic double.
There have also been some suggestions that Spurs could challenge for the title, but it may be too early to make such claims.
Nonetheless, Postecoglou guided his new club to six wins out of a possible eight in the league, cementing himself as one of Tottenham’s most popular managers in recent years.
Famous players like James Maddison and Son Heung-min wowed the spectators, while other team members like Destiny Udogie also made outstanding contributions.
The Italian international star has already been praised by Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who said his performances have flown under the radar.
“You know someone who also needs a little love to stay under the radar, Udogie,” Wright explained (as relayed by Spurs Web).
“You look at Spurs and they have put together players that you think are a team that will shut everything up.
He gave them very impressive stability and ball development. The man remains under the radar. I can’t wait to see this guy, I can’t wait to see him live.
Destiny Udogie
The 20-year-old was recently called up for Italy by Luciano Spalletti and impressed in the 3-1 away defeat to England.
As a result, Udogie received further praise from pundit Upson, who told BBC Radio 5 Live that Postecoglou had a “really” powerful gem on his hands.
On the left-back’s role in setting up Italy for the only goal of the match, Upson told the BBC (as transcribed by The Boot Room):
“Udogie, the way he moves forward, the athleticism of this kid is absolutely incredible. He plays a deep one-two at left back.
He then drives past Bellingham as the ball is placed inside. He has the strength to break the ground.
“From what I’ve seen, there’s no one better than Udogie at moving forward in those situations. He is a really powerful player. Good speed.
And he is very direct when he runs. When he makes a decision, he is fully committed.”
Destiny Udogie’s gameplay style
He likes to dribble
He likes to play with short passes
He likes to tackle things
Udogie joined Spurs after spending the 2022/23 season on loan at Udinese, and could prove invaluable to Postecoglou as the season progresses.
