Harry’s Dark Horses Riding High

It’s no secret that Harry Redknap likes to indulge in the sport of the kings from time to time. By the end of the season he may be crowning a dark horse of his own. His Tottenham side have produced championship form of late, winning ten out of their last eleven Premier League games. Sacrificing their Europa League campaign, Spurs have propelled themselves up the league and sit neatly behind the two Manchester sides.

It comes as no surprise that a team blessed with the likes of Modric, Bale, Parker and Lennon should produce such devastating form. And with Van Der Vaart, Pienar and Pavlyuchenko content with a place on the bench, old’ arry has assembled a squad capable of mounting a title challenge.

Their latest victims, a Bolton side with a leaky defence, had to deal with more strikes than Cameron’s coalition, with Jussi Jaaskelainen the busiest player on the pitch. That’s if you overlook the industry of Scott Parker who seamlessly motors around the park, driving his side forward. While Parker demonstrates the English guile, Modric orchestrates with wizardry and intellect. The five foot nine inch pair complements one and other to sublime effect. They patrol the centre of the pitch with intricate passing and artistry only rivalled by that in the Camp Nou.

Racing either side of them, the dynamic wingers of Bale and Lennon. Once enduring a twenty four game spell without a win, Gareth Bale is now seen as one of the most dangerous midfielders in the country. With many Englishman cursing his Welsh roots, Bale’s electrifying pace and skill embarrassed the UEFA Defender of the year (Maicon) in a Champions’ League match in which he netted a hat trick. Aaron Lennon’s ability to commit defenders before skipping past them and turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye, make Spurs a frightening opposition. One can only imagine being a visiting full back with the two of them switching flanks throughout the game.

See Gareth Bale's Hat Trick

Jermaine Defoe has enjoyed the little and large partnership for some time, though when Redknapp replaced Peter Crouch with the loan signing of Emmanuel Adebayor, the ruthless nature of the strike force was amplified dramatically. The Togo international contributes to the goal tally considerably more than the gangly Crouch who was simply the supporting act during his time at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham have progressed to a side with creativity, steel and momentum in equal measure. With a trip to Stoke before hosting Sunderland as their next two fixtures, Harry’s Tottenham can expect to close the gap on the leaders. Their real test will come when the free flowing football deserts them and results are harder to come by. Right now, Spurs are the dark horse with a cunning jockey at the helm, chasing the pack. And if form is anything to go by, their worth more than an each way bet.