In my experience, most Tottenham fans think they have a team capable of winning the title and providing the England team with its core for the next ten years.

I even heard that when White Hart Lane was enthralled to the likes of Paul Stewart and Justin Edinburgh. Look them up, kids, football existed before the Premier League.

The carping usually peaked in August/September before subsiding to a murmur at Christmas, by which time it had become obvious their best hope of glory lay in the cups.

Forgive me, therefore, for having a built-up resistance to all things Tottenham. Except, this year, Spurs fans might actually have a point and a team to back it up.

The jokers, Emmanuel Adebayor, Paulinho etc, were pushed to the sidelines a while ago and in their place are the likes of Harry Kane, Danny Rose and Dele Alli. Young, ambitious and English, always helpful in getting the fans fully on board.

It’s all held together by Mouricio Pochettino, who is proving he has a better grip on White Hart Lane than he did on Michael Owen back in 1998. They are probably the last team Chelsea want to come up against right now.

Tomorrow’s games

11am kick offs unless stated

Aston Villa v Watford

Jack Grealish clearly likes a nightclub, who doesn’t at 20. But the player must up his game if he is to add substance to his potential. In his present state, if what is written is true, he is of little value to new manager Remi Garde, who has banished him to the under-21s. Ouch.

Prediction: 1-1

Bournemouth v Everton

The worrying thing for Eddie Howe’s side is that even in good performances, they are shipping goals. Everton will relish this after smashing 11 in their past three games.

Prediction: 1-3

Crystal Palace v Newcastle

The one saving grace for Newcastle is Palace’s home form, and their lack of goals. Steve McClaren seems to be getting nowhere fast with too many of his squad looking ill-equipped for the Premier League.

Prediction: 1-1

Man City v Southampton

Two defeats on the spin for the expensively assembled home side. A response is inevitable with all that quality, but Saints can be wily opponents. They are, however, without Graziano Pelle, their leading goalscorer.

Prediction: 2-0

Sunderland v Stoke City

Have you ever wondered how Jermain Defoe’s personal assistant is getting on with the new job? Me neither. At least he has things together on the pitch. Sam Allardyce is getting Sunderland organised, but Stoke are the form team right now, having taken ten points from 12.

Prediction: 0-1

Leicester City v Man United

1.30pm

Jamie Vardy goes for the Premier League record of scoring in 11 consecutive games, and it would be a fool to bet against him given his team’s football this season. Claudio Ranieri deserves an apology from all those sniffy critics who denounced his appointment. Got a feeling for United in this one, though.

Prediction: 1-2

Sunday’s games

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea

8am

The home side are unbeaten in 12, since the first day of the season in fact. They are looking good and, with Kane well and truly back in the goals, a genuine bet for the top four. The corresponding fixture last season does not bode well for Chelsea, with Spurs tearing them apart 5-3, some people have even suggested that is when their malaise began.

Prediction: 2-1

West Ham v West Bromwich

10.05am

Dimitri Payet’s injury leaves West Ham looking vulnerable. Big Andy Carroll, I suspect, may not be the answer. West Brom are dull, but incredibly efficient and safety already looks a given, albeit at the cost of entertainment.

Prediction: 1-2

Liverpool v Swansea

12.15pm

Daniel Sturridge has a sore foot, which sounds like a builder complaining of sore hands. Just get on with it, for all our sakes man!

Still, Liverpool fans will feel reassured that Christian Benteke appears to be getting his eye in. Swansea are reportedly weighing up manager Garry Monk’s future. This game will not save him.

Prediction: 2-0

Norwich v Arsenal

12.15

Familiar collapse from Arsenal, cue fans questioning squad depth, training methods etc. They’ll be OK, but already look too fragile to win the title. Famous last words, perhaps.

Norwich will scrap away but the gulf in class should shine through.

Prediction: 1-3