Which of these three statements seems the most credible? (a) Pigs will fly. (b) Flying pigs will form a squadron and begin novelty air displays to the delight of vegetarians. (c) Spurs will introduce a new, innovative management system; spend, spend, spend in the transfer market; and remain unbeaten after six Premiership games. 

Before the start of the season, most long-suffering Spurs fans would have gone for (a) or (b). Come the opener against Liverpool, we witnessed six - six - new faces on the pitch - Robinson, Naybet, Edman, Ifil (via Spurs youth), Davis, Mendes - with two more on the bench: Atouba, Silva. We went on to buy Michael Carrick and Noe Pamarot, having already cherry-picked youngsters who will develop to compete for first team places. In all, one new buy over the age of 25. More heartening still, The Doc went! 
No more creeping terror every time he was required to defend.
Against Liverpool, we drew 1-1 after going a goal down, Defoe twisting eel-style, slotting one into the corner beneath Dudek, from a mad angle. A month later, he'd put another one past the Pole, making his starting debut for England - that goal still more impressive - alongside Robinson and King. Three Spurs players in the national starting XI - greater representation than any other Premiership side.
The byword of this column has always been 'optimism', readily prefaced with 'misplaced' or 'laughable'. Yet here we are.
It's a wonder that the newlook side has gelled so quickly - respect due to Santini - beating Newcastle and holding Chelsea, both away, while bearing in mind that we only managed draws against West Brom and Norwich. Each new face looks like a decent buy - respect to Arnesen/Jol - with Robinson (just three goals conceded from seven), Naybet and Mendes in particular offering inspiration.
What Spurs have lacked for so long is motivation. Now there is genuine competition for places, and if any thing's going to motivate a Premiership hotshot, it's the potential ignominy of the reserves. When Davis, Mendes and Carrick are all available, our captain, no less, might find himself warming the bench. His lovely wife could always treat the piles.
Santini now needs to create a between that midfield and the strikers, frustratingly missing in the game that broke the unbeaten run, against a rejuvenating Manchester United.

The start of another slide? Not this time. Everton beaten away, whose manager helpfully deemed their sparkling start to the season, 'a flash in the pan'. Spurs' pan, on the other hand, is lightly oiled with a garlic infusion and the heat. cough, let's leave that analogy. visit their website: www.spurs.co.uk