Spurs can win the title under Mauricio Pochettino - just not this year

I think it’s unrealistic to talk about Tottenham winning the title this season. Their singular focus has to be finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League. That is the most important thing: getting in amongst the elite and then staying there, establishing themselves as a top club with a new stadium on the way.

But in two or three years? Absolutely, Tottenham could be title contenders. Mauricio Pochettino will know that the key is to carry on with the improvement they have shown this season and just keep getting better and better under his control. There’s no need to try and overreach this season, just get the job done.

There have been too many false dawns over the years at Spurs. The fans certainly aren’t jumping around with joy at the moment: they know all too well what can happen when expectations get out of control.

Harry Redknapp oversaw one of these false dawns when he qualified for the Champions League in 2010-11 but failed to repeat the trick the following season, as Chelsea finished outside the top four but displaced Spurs by winning the final in Munich.

Redknapp thought he could go and win the title in 2011-12 but what he forgot was that the main priority was making sure he qualified again. That Tottenham team flew a bit too close to the sun, and Redknapp was trying to get deals done in January which never came off – and which Daniel Levy might not have signed off anyway.

Instead of trying to take shortcuts it’s better to build from the base you have, and Pochettino knows that. He doesn’t make any demands of Levy; he just gets on with his job. Tottenham have a lot of good young players and he is utilising the tools he has at his disposal very well.

Pochettino doesn’t rotate his side very much, apart from keeping his full-backs fresh, which seems to be what he does for some of the lesser games. He is looking for continuity and Tottenham are a very well prepared team, with all of the players knowing exactly what their roles are. The core stays the same and that is one of Spurs’ biggest qualities.

Everyone isn’t trying to be Glenn Hoddle in this Spurs team. In previous teams I think you had a bit too much arrogance, but under Pochettino they are all about efficiency and hard work. Even if they do have players who can get fans out their seats like Dele Alli.

Pochettino has got the best out of Mousa Dembele and has found the perfect position for Eric Dier in defensive midfield. He has a great core of young players who he can build a team and a future around. He isn’t getting too much wrong at the moment.

Harry Kane continually makes the difference but it’s becoming clear that he does need a bit more support. It’s not particularly easy finding a goalscorer in January though, and signing someone isn’t always the answer.

Bringing in a big name could rock the boat. There was been talk of a possible deal for Atletico Madrid star Jackson Martinez but he is not going to want to sit on the bench. He will want to start every game – but you can hardly drop Kane. In theory it’s good to be linked with a player of his quality, it shows Spurs are progressing, but I don’t think they can have a player like him sat on the sidelines.

One bad apple could sour the barrel. One step at a time. If Tottenham continue on their gentle upwards trajectory, they don’t have anything to worry about it. Spurs are going places.