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Tottenham Hotspur Links: Dele Alli an Early Candidate for Young Player of the Year Award

By Alexander Balano

Jul 29, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli (20) plays the ball while defended by MLS All Stars defender Drew Moor (3) of the Colorado Rapids during the second half of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. MLS All Stars defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 29, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli (20) plays the ball while defended by MLS All Stars defender Drew Moor (3) of the Colorado Rapids during the second half of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. MLS All Stars defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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A Boxing Day edition of Tottenham Hotspur Links is here.

Following Tottenham’s 3-0 win over Norwich City, take a look at some of the stories that led up to today’s fixture or happened after Spurs’ victory. The first story takes an early look at one Young Player of the Year award candidate, Dele Alli. He’s already won the Football League Player of the Year award last season, could Alli make it two-for-two at the end of this season?

Next up, Mauricio Pochettino quoted a couple of lines from a will.i.am song that featured Brittney Spears. This would be his response to a question if he would like to see Tottenham finish in the top four but have to watch Arsenal lift the Premier League title once again. And lastly, one talking point that seems to go unnoticed about Tottenham this year is their ability to overcome their mistakes, specifically following a loss. Now onto the links below!

RELATED: Tottenham Links: Dele Alli Needs to Play in His Best Position

The 2015-16 Premier League season is just reaching it’s halfway point once the January transfer window opens up. And for one player, Dele Alli, he’s already in contention to perhaps pick up an award if ballots were already open right now to vote.

Due to Alli’s season so far: 23 appearances, four goals and three assists in all competitions the statistics themselves point to becoming an early contender for the PFA Young Player of the Year award. An award created by the Professional Footballers’ Association for players under the age of 23. It’s to help look at which young players have stood out and did well in the Premier League.

But, when you take away the stats and just look at Dele Alli plays. To make the leap from League One last year to the Premier League this term, he has not only adapted well but has made an impact for a 19-year-old.

Making his senior team debut for England a couple of months ago also helps build the case that Dele Alli has a real shot to bring home some silverware for the second consecutive year after winning the Football League Young Player of the Year award last season while as a member of MK Dons.

If Dele Alli is a nominee and wins the PFA Young Player of the Year award. This will give Tottenham their fourth Young Player of the Year award in the past five years (’11-’12 Kyle Walker, 12′-13′ Gareth Bale and ’14-’15 Harry Kane) and fifth overall with Glenn Hoddle winning the award after the 1979-80 season.

The song in question was Scream and Shout by will.i.am featuring Brittney Spears. The lines that Mauricio Pochettino used were “Everybody in our club, all eyes on us, all eyes on us”. What did this have to do a day prior to today’s fixture against Norwich City?

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Well, Pochettino was asked a question regarding Tottenham and finishing in the top four. Would he like to see Spurs qualify for the Champions League at the expense of watching Spurs’ north London rivals, Arsenal, claim their fourth Premier League title, and 14th First Division title overall, or no?

It’s an interesting question no doubt, but the obvious answer is to say you’d rather see Tottenham make it into the top four.

It’s about Spurs first and foremost, and not what Arsenal does or any other club for that matter. You don’t construct your 25-man squad to only win against your rivals. You assemble your team to play in 38 Premier League games and improve each season while reaching your goals whatever they might be.

Here’s Mauricio Pochettino summing it up perfectly with this quote:

“For me, it’s important to assess our season and how we can compare with us not how we compare with another team. If you finish in the top four it’s a success because we will have improved on last season.”

The first four points are more or less understood and known. As in, every Tottenham supporter knows these things:

  1. Harry Kane is no one-season wonder
  2. Tottenham are a legit top-four club
  3. Spurs could challenge for the Premier League title
  4. Tottenham have steel in their bones (they’re not a soft team)

What probably doesn’t get talked about enough though, is how Tottenham overcome their mistakes. Remember the last two times that Spurs lost a match this season? In the League Cup (Arsenal) and Europa League (Anderlecht), respectively? Well they would go on to beat Manchester City and Bournemouth in blowout fashion in the Premier League.

Next: Tottenham's Boxing Day Unbeaten Run Continues

After losing to Newcastle United 2-1 at home, Tottenham traveled to St. Mary’s Stadium and pulled off a 2-0 win. Clearly, Spurs are understanding what they need to work on after suffering a loss. And after their training sessions leading up to their next game, they’re able to eventually pull off a win.

Even on their 2-2 draw to Stoke City in the second game of the season, after losing to Manchester United in the season opener, Tottenham almost won and would have been a perfect 3W-0D-0L following a loss. Well, they’re still undefeated with two wins and one draw. But it goes to show you that, when Tottenham lose this season, they’re going to be tough the following game and almost assuredly going to get points whether it’s a win or a draw.