Defoe rips pathetic Southampton apart.

Brilliant win and a good performance shoved Spurs up to seventh in the Premier League this weekend. It finally looks like Spurs will have a succssful Christmas period, almost unheard of.

Spurs did what they hadn't done in recent weeks and finsih teams off. Against Citeh and Blackburn Spurs took all the points but at 1-0 a team can always sneak something. At 5-1 Southampton never had a hope in hell of taking the points and that was the most pleasing aspect of the performance.

After the 'Boro game I wrote about how important it was to do well in the string of fixtures up to January 1st. The teams are all the rubbish in the Premier League and failure to take points form them would have seen Spurs in big trouble right now. However, I never imagined four wins on the bounce especially with difficult away fixtures which we always seem to screw up in. Four straight wins is our best run since 1995 and has really turned the season around. Full credit must be given to Jol especially as we have had a few difficult injries to Ziegler and Edman. Jol has really began to motivate the team is a style similar to Martin O'Neil. I was ridiculled by a few supporters back then but now even the press are making the link.

Kanoute's confidence is sky high, Brown is playing some of the best football in his career and even Carrick is starting to make a contribution. In fact, and you won't see me write this often, Kanoute and Carrick were a revalation for Tottenham yesterday and long may it continue. When I make the trip to Norwich come Boxing Day I will be quite happy if Kanoute partners Defoe with Carrick pulling the strings in the middle if they produce a similar performance as they did against SCBC.

However, we must not get carried away yet. Hopefully by Jan 1st Spurs will have seen off Norwich and Palace for 6 straight wins which is probably the best run since the double! Then it gets tough. Everton at home, Manchester United away and the Chelsea at the lane. We finsih January with an away trip to Palace and Spurs could be with one win in four so I'll hold off judgement on our progress until then. We will also see if Defoe and King are still at the Lane. I firmally believe they will be but remarks by Arnesen today could suggest otherwise. Chelsea could easily put in a "ridiculous offer" to prize Defoe away. Whether he would want to go and warm the bench is another matter but Spurs should be coming out and saying Sod Off to any offer, ridiculous or otherwise. If we are to make progress we should hold onto key assets whatever the cost. Money is all well and good but the replacememnts need to of the same quality and it's highly unlikely we would be able to get them and have money to spare to stregthen other areas. It makes no sense to sell any of our key players and if January ends with one or both gone then Spurs will never be great again.

Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy new Year from "The Shelf".

COYS!