Tottenham are comfortably inside the top four at the halfway point of the season and have shown signs of being ready to push through and secure Champions League football. The squad is fundamentally strong, with a hungry, young core of players who are growing with every passing game.
There is quality outside the starting lineup, too.
The match-winner against Watford, Heung-Min Son, has started just five of Spurs' 19 games so far. Established internationals like Nacer Chadli and Nabil Bentaleb are also waiting for their chance to break back into the team.
Mauricio Pochettino has built his team through three conservative but successful transfer windows in his 18 months as manager, but January 2016 could prove vital.