It was of little surprise that Tottenham despatched Queens Park Rangers at White Hart Lane on Sunday, but so big was the difference in the two teams that it was tough to spot where the line was between Spurs being good and QPR being awful.
To start with the positives, Spurs look an infinitely better side than they were last season.
It is early days and there will be far tougher tests than Sunday but they now look a team with a very distinct identity.
Last season it was hard to ascertain whether the numerous players they had signed to replace the Madrid-bound Gareth Bale were actually any good. Trying to figure out their best 11 was too difficult for both André Villas-Boas and Tim Sherwood.
Mauricio Pochettino has mainly kept his powder dry since his arrival at White Hart Lane. Spurs already had a full squad but little cohesion. New players was not the answer.
Spurs on Sunday looked a team with energy and purpose completely aware of their roles in the side. It was hard to judge the defence with any real certainty given the paucity of attacking from QPR, but the pair of Nabil Bentaleb and Etienne Capoue bristled with intent in the holding midfield positions.
They offered the platform for both Spurs’ attacking full backs and the attack minded triumvirate of Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela and Nacer Chadli.
Presumably it was more than just a hunch which persuaded Spurs to part with over 25 million for Lamela last Summer. His first season was an unmitigated disaster but his performance against QPR offered many clues as to the talent that he possesses.
At 22 years of age and with a countryman for a manager, he may well yet prove to be a very good Spurs player.
Of all Spurs’ signings last year, Eriksen looked the best and again on Sunday he looked a midfield schemer supreme and the 11 million Spurs spent on him looks an absolute steal.
Whether Lamela and Eriksen can impose themselves in such a manner away from home and against better sides remains to be seen, but with a rejuvenated (and interested) Emmanuel Adebayor up front also they should have too much firepower for most premiership teams.
Adebayor looks a far more potent goal threat than the toiling Roberto Soldado, who has only two premiership goals from open play to his name.
For Spurs, real progress in the league will be tough as the top-four ceiling is made of very thick glass, and over the duration of a season Arsenal still hold a huge psychological advantage over their North London neighbours.
But Pochettino has so far made a positive start to his tenure at White Hart Lane and one must hope that Daniel Levy gives the talented coach the time to leave his mark on the club.
Harry Redknapp enjoys wonderful press in the UK, he has cultivated a relationship and status with the red tops that only Terry Venables in recent times could rival.
However 4 premiership wins from 27 in his time at QPR tells another story of his latest stewardship.
QPR were dreadful on Sunday – bereft of shape, energy and pace. Neither their central midfield nor their creaking backline looked capable of coping with premiership football.
What is also less than clear is who exactly is calling the shots at QPR. The other Spurs managerial alumni Glenn Hoddle cast a very long shadow over Redknapp from his seat in the directors’ box on Sunday.
The three at the back system was widely mooted upon Hoddle’s arrival at Loftus Road, but a trio of Steven Caulker and the badly ageing pair of Rio Ferdinand and Richard Dunne hardly look equipped to deal with the quality that the likes of Spurs possess.
Dunne in particular looked horribly out of position on the left side of the back three. A natural right-footed player, he was left badly exposed as Chadli stole in for the opener.
Presumably Redknapp resumed the reigns at half time as QPR reverted to a back four, of course by that time the hoops were already dead and buried.
Joey Barton remains a class act for all his antics but he was offered little support in a midfield simply unable to cope with Spurs’ high press and energy.
Jordon Mutch, Caulker and Leroy Fer were three of QPR’s Summer signings. It is worth noting that all three were relegated from the premiership last season and on this evidence, all three may become serial offenders.
Loic Remy has been the subject of much transfer talk and he must indeed be wondering what exactly the point is in his role at QPR given the lack of service he receives.
What is so galling for QPR fans is that they have apparently learnt nothing from their previous premiership stay under the ownership of Tony Fernandes.
Mr Fernandes is presumably an intelligent man given the wealth he has accumulated, but his acumen at running sports teams (take a look at Caterham F1’s recent history) belies a man out of his depth and without the financial resources required to succeed in the glamorous worlds he so craves.
The transfer window has not yet shut but QPR look to be in deep relegation trouble again this season. The situation between Hoddle and Redknapp could cloud matters further.
For Spurs however, while there have been many false dawns, their squad looks far more balanced – more quality at centre back wouldn’t go amiss however – and in Pochettino they look to have a class act in charge.
Southampton ran out of steam last season pursuing Pochettino’s high energy pressing game, Spurs have far more depth to their squad and should last the course.
It could be a bright season at the Lane, far less so Westward at Loftus Road.
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