WITH their next four games against Bolton, Charlton, Fulham and Ipswich, this could be a very merry Christmas for Glenn Hoddle and the team.o

Seeing Spurs currently on the same amount of points as Manchester United and only five behind league leaders Liverpool, might come as a bit of a shock to most football fans who had got used to seeing Spurs as mid-table mediocrity, but for anyone who has been watching them perform this season, they would agree that their position is justly deserved.o

With 12 points up for grabs for Tottenham between now and Christmas, this will be an ideal opportunity for the north London outfit to climb the table in time for the new year when it will be their resolution to stay there and fight for a European spot.

Hoddle has never hidden the fact he believes that his team is good enough to fight for a place in Europe and the style of football that they have been playing so far this season has been the best way to back up his claims.

Against Arsenal, they showed that they can match the biggest clubs in the league and when they faced West Ham last week, Spurs proved they can fight on and break down teams with ease, using a cool, calm, collected passing game.

When Hoddle returned to his old stomping ground as manager in April of this year, he asked for time, not money, and he never promised miracles, but so far what he has achieved at Spurs has been little short of that.

The re-signing of crowd favourite Teddy Sheringham, topped with handing him the captaincy was only the icing on the cake, as was acquiring Chelsea's Gus Poyet.

The real achievement was giving the Spurs faithful what they were crying out for, and even though they had to wait for the new season to start, finally, it looks as though they now have, "their Tottenham" back.

December will be a crucial month in which the team will have to be ruthless and view their opponents as easy pickings.

With all of the teams they are due to face currently below them in the league, Tottenham will have to make their superiority pay off.

This weekend alone could see them leapfrogging Man United should they falter against visitors Chelsea while Spurs play host to newly promoted Bolton.