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Tottenham Hotspur Links: Paul Merson is Convinced Spurs Will Finish in the Top Four

By Alexander Balano

Jul 28, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino talks with his team during training in advance of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 28, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino talks with his team during training in advance of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Hotspur HQ is praying for the families who were caught in the Paris attacks last night due to terrorism. #PrayForParis. And now, onto another afternoon edition of Tottenham Hotspur Links.

It’s Saturday November 14, 2015 and the first weekend of the international break, with one more week to go before club football returns around the world. Tottenham players have one more international friendly to play, against France, and then afterwards will head back home in preparation for West Ham United on November 22. Plenty of news as usual and we start it off with former Arsenal winger, Paul Merson, and why he’s convinced Tottenham can finish in the top four this season.

With each passing day, week and month, more people are starting to believe — convinced, even — to the point that they truly do see Tottenham finishing the season inside the top four come May 2016. The latest person to put their name out there is former Arsenal winger, Paul Merson.

RELATED: Tottenham Links: Five Underrated Tottenham Players this Season

“After watching Spurs at Arsenal I’m convinced they can do it. Not many teams go there and give Arsenal the runaround. Fair play to them. I thought they were outstanding. They surprised me. Mauricio Pochettino is a top manager. I didn’t think he had the players there to play a pressing game. But he’s slowly brought players into the team who can do that. I’m impressed with them. They’ve got young players who haven’t played loads of football and they won’t tire like other teams.”

Through 12 Premier League games, Spurs have accumulated 21 points out of a possible 36 points. Last season Tottenham earned 17 points out of 36 in 12 league games, so they’re definitely improving from a year ago.

While this article is two days old, it’s still relatively newsworthy. Tottenham midfielder, Ryan Mason had this to say about the Europa League and why it will help Spurs’ homegrown talent in preparation for international football with England.

“The Europa League is massive, it’s a top European competition and I’m sure the experience that players gain from playing in it will only benefit them when they get called up for playing internationals. If I’m honest I’ve not played much Europa League football but you could say it’s more similar to international football.

It’s more of a more tactical game and a bit slower – teams tend to sit off and play counter-attacking football. It’s different to the Premier League and hopefully I can get more game time to see what it’s like.”

Before getting into this article, there has been reminders of how Spurs signed the “next Drogba” or “new Drogba” in reference to Souleymane Coulibaly who was sold only three years after he arrived — which includes Coulibaly’s youth career as well. Basically a “flop” for a majority of people since his departure.

Now while Souleymane Coulibaly has scored at least one goal for each club that he’s played for, in case people have forgotten, he’s only now 20-years-old. Sure, in 84 appearances he’s scored 14 goals and registered eight assists in 4,111 minutes of playing time in all competitions, which could be better. But the problem is, he isn’t or was supposed to be the “next/new Drogba” he’s just Souleymane Coulibaly.  It’s like calling Cameron Carter-Vickers the “next/new Ledley King”. What happens if Carter-Vickers flops? Should Tottenham just sell CCV at 20-years-old, three years later?

Victor Osimhen, should he sign with Spurs, has a better coaching staff in the youth academy all the way up to the first team that Coulibaly never had when he first arrived in 2011. Youth players getting first team minutes wasn’t a focal point, if at all, before Mauricio Pochettino arrived and now it is.

And now onto the quote by Osimhen’s agent, Yusuf Shira Ayila:

“We have not agreed anything with Tottenham Hotspur, it’s just speculation. Victor Osimhen needs to rest, they shouldn’t unsettle the player with these transfer stories. How will a player be in Lagos and they are speculating he has signed a contract with Tottenham Hotspur? For now we don’t know where he’ll play. We have a lot of top clubs in Europe that are after Osimhen but in due course the public will know where he is heading to. We can’t decide without the player.”

Sofiane Feghouli, 25, is an Algerian midfielder currently playing for Valencia in La Liga and could be signed this January or next summer on a free transfer.

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Should Feghouli sign with Tottenham, he would bolster Mauricio Pochettino’s midfield ranks and can play as a right winger or attacking midfielder.

Although Spurs don’t necessarily need the 25-year-old — his age isn’t a problem — it would be wise to continue adding more players to the right midfield/wing and attacking midfield positions.

So far, three players have been injured who play in these positions this season. Four if you include Ryan Mason, who has spent a couple of games in the number 10 role.

Anymore injuries even if Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen and Ryan Mason are healthy would cause problems with a depleted unit. So far, Spurs have managed to go on an 11-game unbeaten streak through the first four months of the season despite key injuries to players, but it won’t last for the entire year.

Next: Eric Dier Turns Tottenham Success into England Debut?

Manchester United and AS Roma of Serie A, are two other clubs who are interested in the Algerian international as well. But for Roma, the Italian club is willing to sign Sofian Feghouli during the summer so that they can get him on a free transfer and only pay his wages. But apparently, Feghouli wants €2.5 million per season which Valencia has decided to not even go as high as €2 million.