Fine Tottenham start shows Nuno Espirito Santo laying foundations for brighter future

It was a blessing in disguise for Tottenham that fans were not allowed into the stadium last season.

The club was toxic enough under Jose Mourinho without outrage pouring down from the stands every other week in north London. How things have changed over the summer.

Nuno Espirito Santo, the first ever Tottenham manager to win their first three games in the top flight, looks to be bringing the good times back to these parts as they head into the first international break top of the Premier League and yet to concede a goal following a third straight win over Watford.

Heung-min Son’s first half free-kick, bent into the far corner and aided by some appalling goalkeeping by Watford’s Daniel Bachmann, ensured Spurs continued their perfect start to the season and helped the South Korean mark his 200th Premier League appearance in style.

With Harry Kane having confirmed he will stay at the club after a summer spent looking to force his way to Manchester City, Tottenham fans can look ahead with hope for the first time in nearly two years and the days of Mauricio Pochettino.

Things are not quite that good just yet. The results have been fantastic for the new Spurs manager, especially their opening day win over Manchester City, but the performances against Wolves and Watford were more functional than free-flowing.

Ahead of the new season, Nuno and chairman Daniel Levy promised the Tottenham fans the exhilarating football they had grown accustomed to under Pochettino.

They have made a bright start towards that goal and patience is required, but if they are to make good on that vow then a playmaker will also be needed.

The former Wolves manager has offered Dele Alli a path back into the fold at Tottenham and he rewarded the Portuguese with a goal from the penalty spot at Wolves last week, but he is a different player from the cute creator seen during the days of Pochettino.

Alli was the most creative of Tottenham’s three midfielders but there is currently more of a focus on his workrate than his wizardry with the ball. The 25-year-old covered more ground than any other player on the pitch here and was given a warm embrace by Nuno following the full-time whistle.

The hope from both will be that foundations of a new role have been built and that, in time, they will see flashes of the old, electric attacking talent added in over the course of the season.

There is a chance that a playmaker is added before the close of Tuesday’s window but for that to happen another club will have to take an expensive gamble on Tanguay Ndombele which appears unlikely, while the club have already invested in Bryan Gil.

Add spark to their solid base and Spurs will certainly be on the up once again this season.

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