Tottenham are currently top of the Premier League for the first time since the end of the second matchday of the 2014/5 season. How does that team that beat Queens Park Rangers 4-0 at home compare?
Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris
Club captain Lloris is still a safe pair of hands in the Spurs goal. He kept a clean sheet in the 4-0 drubbing.
Right-back: Eric Dier
Likewise, Dier remains in the first team even six years on. This was his second start after scoring the winner on his debut against West Ham United.
He scored his second goal in the QPR win, a header from Lamela’s corner.
Centre-back: Younes Kaboul
The towering 6ft 4in French centre half was at Spurs for two stints in his career, either side of a two year period at Portsmouth, amassing 110 league caps for the Lilywhites. He left Spurs in July 2015, joining Sunderland then Watford. He left his last club by mutual consent and is currently without a club.
Centre-back: Jan Vertonghen
Jan Vertonghen used to form the heart of the Spurs defence, especially with Toby Alderweireld later on. ‘Super Jan’ has only just moved to Benfica, where he has played 90 minutes in seven matches. His team are second in the Primeira Liga, losing just twice and winning all their other matches.
Left-back: Danny Rose
Spurs have only just managed to find an energetic replacement for Danny Rose in Sergio Reguilon. Rose was really in the top of his form in this season, where he played 28 times in league, more than any other season.
Since then Rose has sadly lost his best years of form and now his place in the first team. He is longer registered for Tottenham in the Premier League or Europa League, instead fielded as an under-23 player.
He only has six months left on his contract and looks like he will run that down before leaving.
Midfield: Etienne Capoue
Etienne Capoue was one of famous seven signings that were supposedly drafted in with the help of Gareth Bale’s transfer fees. The Frenchman was a solid defensive midfielder, who sometimes played at centre-back for Spurs.
He joined Watford in 2015 where he has made 163 appearances and has scored nine goals.
Midfield: Nabil Bentaleb
Emerging from the youth academy set-up, Algerian midfielder Bentaleb initially impressed alongside Ryan Mason. This was a midfield concocted by Pochettino and for a couple of seasons it was a successful partnership despite its lack of experience.
But eventually the pairing became less effective. Bentaleb was shipped out to Schalke on loan in 2016/7 before a permanent move. He is now playing for Newcastle United, on loan from Schalke, who he scored his first Spurs goal against in the fifth round of the League Cup in December 2014.
Midfield: Erik Lamela
The Argentinian Erik Lamela is still a key part of the Spurs squad. Throughout his time at the club he has had hot and cold spells.
He set up Dier’s headed goal from a corner against QPR, as well as setting up Chadli with a great run. ‘Coco’ beat numerous QPR defenders before his cross was converted by the Belgian.
Midfield: Christian Eriksen
Arguably one of the most important players in the Spurs team until his departure in January, Eriksen is now unhappy with his minutes at Inter Milan.
The latest from Sky Sports suggests that he is “all-but certain” to leave the Serie A club this coming January.
Attack: Nacer Chadli
The Belgian grabbed a brace in this 4-0 victory over QPR, but now plies his trade at Turkish club Istanbul Basaksehir. He has made three appearances notching three assists so far.
Chadli will be fondly remembered for his goal at the Emirates, after which he shushed the Arsenal fans. Definitely worth that yellow card.
Attack: Emmanuel Adebayor
One of the most divisive figures in English football, Adebayor also split opinions at Spurs. After playing for Arsenal and even scoring against Spurs on multiple occasions, the Togolese talisman would turn out at White Hart Lane in Lilywhite strip. He was initially on loan from Real Madrid before a permanent move.
Fans would accuse him of perhaps seeming a little lazy, or a mercenary who only played for a new contract. But, he scored some great goals for Spurs, including a great run and emphatic finish against Chelsea in the 2-2 draw in May 2013.
Adebayor scored one and assisted another in the win against QPR and was playing for Olimpia before the coronavirus outbreak caused him to mutually terminate his contract.
The Premier League is known to attract a huge number of visitors and punters, and being ranked where it is now is no small feat, but there is still much to accomplish.
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