Ben & Rob talk Spurs... the season so far

As the football world goes World Cup crazy, time for N17 Live presenter Ben Haines and Club commentator Rob Daly to bring it back to all things Spurs with their review of the season so far...

After a gruelling run of 13 matches in 43 days leading up to Qatar, we find ourselves sitting fourth in the Premier League thanks to our third-best start after 15 games - 29 points only topped by 2011/12 (34) and 2018/19 (33) - and through to the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League after a thrilling end to the group stage saw us finish top of Group D. 

Here's what the chaps had to say...

Where we are...

Ben: “The thing we always come back to when we discuss this on N17 Live is that if someone had offered this at the beginning of the season - win the Champions League group, then draw AC Milan in the knockout stage, sitting in the top four of the Premier League, in sight of all the teams above us – okay, we’re out of the League Cup, but I think we’d have all taken it. Fact is, we’re about to play a 23-game season. Yes, it’s a fresh season, starting on Boxing Day. When do we ever have a five, six-week break at this time? I think Antonio Conte has played it well. We’ve finished matches strongly and I think, in the second half of the campaign, we’ll be peaking when many teams might well be wilting.”

Rob: “I think my feelings on the season so far would match those of Antonio Conte. Fundamentally, yes, there were tough games on October and November, and the team had to slog out some wins, fighting back to win games, but ultimately the team is in the knockout stage of the Champions League as group winners, and currently in the Champions League positions in the Premier League as we break for the World Cup. It was a brilliant end by beating Leeds in such dramatic fashion (3-2 down, 4-3 win, 12 November) and it’s been a good start to the season.”

Player of season so far...

Ben: “So many players have done really well, but we need to recognise what an incredible season Harry Kane is having. He just continues to score and put his body on the line right the way through to the start of the World Cup. We have to mention Rodrigo Bentancur, absolutely incredible. He would get my Player of the Season if we were dishing out the rewards now. Also, a mention for Dejan Kulusevski, it’s such a shame we lost him for six weeks through injury. We all saw how much of an impact he can make once he returned.”

Rob: “For me, it has to be Rodrigo Bentancur. He’s scored five goals, which is more than he scored in four years at Juventus, vital goals of late, and a driving force for so many comebacks. We’ve seen a different side to his game recently with Antonio Conte playing a 3-5-2 system and asking more from him in an attacking sense. He’s arrived as a multi-title winner from Juventus, and he plays like it. He’s been outstanding. The two goals to beat Leeds were a fitting way to end the period.”

Goal of season so far...

Ben: “I’m going to go for Heung-Min Son’s first goal of his hat-trick against Leicester City, all the questions around him, so much going on, but for him to burst back into the team and score from 30 yards was incredible.”

Rob: “I’m also going for Sonny’s first against Leicester, the goal he, of course, told me and Ben was, ‘lucky’. It ended his drought, gave the team a cushion at 4-2 in a game that would end 6-2, the game he started as a substitute but came on to have such an impact with a hat-trick. The roar from the fans, not just for the quality of the goal, but for Sonny, was memorable.”

Moment of season so far...

Ben: “It has to be Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s last-minute goal against Marseille to take us through top of the table in the Champions League. It changed the complexion of the season at that point, top of the group, through to the knockout stage, not in the Europa League, and just a special night. We handled the atmosphere so far. Pierre, he’s worth another mention, he’s performed so consistently this season.”

Rob: “There have been some great moments. I immediately think of Pierre’s late goal in Marseille, Rodrigo Bentacur’s two late winners against Bournemouth and Leeds, even Harry Kane’s late equaliser against Chelsea, but I’m going to go for Richarlison’s double against Marseille. That night was very special, Champions League football back in N17, Richarlison’s debut in the Champions League, he scored the two goals in a tough win, Marseille made it difficult. Afterwards, he was so emotional with his family. It clearly meant a lot.”