So many positives!

There are so many positives to report and reflect upon for Spurs this month!

We've played 7 games, including three in the FA Cup, winning four of those games, drawing two and losing just one. Unfortunately, the defeat came at home in the Premier League crunch game against our top four rivals, Leicester. That defeat hurt on the night and could come back to haunt us at the end of a season in which we are rightly considered to be Premier League title contenders.

I can't help thinking that with the early season lack of form for Mourinho's Chelsea (now Hiddink's Chelsea, of course), and the fact that next season Manchester City will be managed by Pep Guardiola, this season gives us our best chance of securing something better than just finishing in the top four. Although Leicester currently lead the Premier League by three points, City and Arsenal are shorter odds than Spurs to win the league. Our Valentine's Day clash at The Etidhad will be crucial.

Those positives include the following facts and events:-

· We are still fourth, and moreover we are five points clear of Man Utd with a far superior goal difference. That goal difference is 22, equal to that of Man City.
· We are through to the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in four years, and only the second time in six. Interestingly, on both those occasions, we reached the semi-final.
· We've achieved two more 4-1 victories (out third and fourth of the season so far). One was over Sunderland in the league. The other was our fourth round win last Saturday at Colchester.
· We've won four consecutive games, and only been beaten once in our last 10 games. Make that twice in our last 20 games, 13 of which have been won.
· Goals have been coming more freely, particularly in those last four winning games. Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen have both scored three goals this month, but even they have been out-scored by Nacer Chadli, who has scored four goals in the last three games. Three of Chadli's goals have been crackers too!

All the above positives have been trumped surely by Dele Alli's magnificent goal at Crystal Palace, which is most definitely a contender for goal of the season. Dele has now scored 6 league goals, and most have been of high quality too. Alli scored two goals this month. The first, at Everton, was similar to his goal at West Brom in December, consisting of a long ball by Alderweireld, before one touch control and conversion by Alli, who is having a magnificent first Premier League season.

Mauricio Pochettino is managing the minutes of most of the players, and even Toby Alderweireld has had a couple of games off this month - one spent sitting on the bench. Eric Dier and Christian Eriksen were required to start all seven games this month though.

The injury to Jan Vertonghen (sustained at Selhurst Park) is a worry, but Kevin Wimmer has not let us down on any of his appearances so far, and ought to step in well. Kieran Trippier is settling into the right back role so well that it is becoming hard for Pochettino to decide between Trippier and Kyle Walker.

There have been 8 different winners of your man of the match vote (Two shared in one game), with Dele Alli winning two votes. The player of the month though has been Hugo Lloris, although he has been rested for the three cup games. Dele Alli played 6 and finished close behind Hugo this month. Toby Alderweireld leads the group of players chasing Hugo, with Alli and Dembele also close behind.

We've said goodbye to Andros Townsend, and got a good fee for him from Newcastle. Milos Veljkovic, most recently seen leading our under 21 side on Thursday night at Stevenage, has got a move to Werder Bremen. Federico Fazio has gone back to Sevilla on loan. We've hardly seen him this season, but he has a contract till June 2018, and might not be so easy to sell. Alex Pritchard has also gone out on loan (again) - this time to West Brom.

The saddest news this month was the passing of another member of our legendary double winning side, Peter Baker at the age of 84. Wouldn't it be great if the team could achieve something special this season in Peter's memory?

There are plenty of Spurs fans disappointed at the lack of a signing to support/back-up Harry Kane, and also to cover in defence now that Jan Vertonghen is injured. Mauricio Pochettino seems to be happy that the likes of Chadli, Son, Alli, Eriksen and Lamela are capable of offering goal-scoring support. Should we worry so much? Similarly there is cover for the centre-back position in the shape of firstly Wimmer, secondly Dier, and maybe even another protege from the development squad - Cameron Carter-Vickers.

February sees another seven games in our programme with the return of Europa League action; that FA Cup game, and four more League games starting tonight at Norwich.

COME ON YOU SPURS!

· Review the 2015-16 Premier League season here

Don't forget to check out the players' current figures re. appearances, cards, goals scored and accumulated ratings to date at the bottom of this page.

...if you want to read reports of the matches played during this season, then links are on the Spurs Odyssey Fixtures/Reports page here. By working your way back through the previous month's figures, you can review the performances over 15 years!