Martin Keown's column:
Tactical fouls have helped Tottenham fly towards a real shot at the title
I will be entering the lion’s den on Saturday and going to White Hart Lane for the first time since winning the league there as an Arsenal player in 2004.
When I was a young apprentice I actually lived in digs not too far from the ground and used to visit quite a bit.
I’d always be watching the defenders on both teams and trying to learn a thing or two. Now I’m looking forward to seeing first-hand how Mauricio Pochettino’s side operates when they take on Watford.
It’s been fascinating to watch how his side defend this season. They press fast and high up the pitch, which panics opposition defences and makes them play at a tempo they don’t want to play at.
It forces teams to hit the ball long and in Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, Tottenham have two centre backs who will just eat that up.
Vertonghen’s injury is a big loss but Kevin Wimmer looks solid and Eric Dier can always move back to his more natural position. They have really good pace at full back, too, which means there is good cover.
It’s interesting that Spurs have committed the second-most fouls in the league and that most of them happen in the opposition half.
It shows their hunger to win the ball back in dangerous areas but tactically it allows them to reset their shape before the opposition can attack.
I’m also keen to see how Spurs play at home. It’s a tight ground and Pochettino has said in the past it hinders their style.
We had a similar thing at Highbury but if anything it made us a better team. It also means that on the road you feel you have much more space and Tottenham are unbeaten away since the opening day of the season.
Pochettino has a very clear way of how he wants to play and it’s that combination of defensive stability, which Spurs have traditionally lacked, and fluid, attacking football that means they are in with a real chance of the title.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...uls-helped-Tottenham-fly-real-shot-title.html
