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Tottenham rely on old players for new stadium
by Jimmy Whitehead
Last season results
Premier League: 3rd
FA Cup: Semi Final (Lost vs Manchester United)
Carabao Cup: 4th Round (Lost vs West Ham)
Champions League: Round of 16 (Lost vs Juventus)
Prediction 2nd
Not much has changed in the summer months for Tottenham Hotspur. i=In fact, they have just become the first EPL club to sign nobody in a summer transfer window.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino is still in charge. They haven’t bought or sold anyone in the transfer window. All is quiet on the North London front. This is a surprise to most people as the team had a lot of the first team starters in the World Cup this past summer which ended in mid July.
Having finished third last season, the North London Team has qualified for the Champions League for the third season running. Now the team has started to qualify for Europe’s Premier competition regularly, they need to start pushing on to the next step. Silverware.
It would be a shame for a team as talented as this to not have anything to show for it. With the likes of World Cup Golden Boot winner Harry Kane and World Cup winner Hugo Lloris being part of this talented side, they may not be able to keep hold of their players when the rich clubs come knocking. The way to avoid that is to become one of the rich clubs.
If Spurs get the silverware that has eluded them over the past three seasons this year then it can help them retain the players. No team ever wants to be known as the team that almost won the league, ask any QPR or Hearts fan.
Keeping hold of the players is equally as important as bringing new players in. Yet no business in the transfer window, the only team in EPL history to do so, could be a more of a curse than a blessing. Pochettino must be confident it won’t lead to complacency among the starters due to a lack of competition.
One of the best qualities for Spurs is youth promotion. The likes of Harry Kane, Dele Ali and Eric Dier have taken chances with both hands when the opportunity is given. The next home-grown superstar could be waiting in the wings for the North London club. Outsiders were given a chance and the likes of Oliver Skipp and Paulo Gazanigga impressed in the ICC Cup in the USA in San Diego and Los Angeles. Fernando Llorente and Lucas also made a good impression.
Spurs celebrate Llorente’s first goal of two against Roma in San Diego
Photo: Ali Gilmore/ Prost Amerika
The team has been criticised of late about their slow starts over the last couple seasons. Some of the critics have been blaming the sluggish starts as the reason for Tottenham not having any rewards at the end of the season. It was difficult for Spurs last season because of the new stadium being built. The team played at Wembley as their home ground while the construction was completed. This season could be equally difficult because of the team playing in the new stadium, in that the lack of familiarity can negate home advantage.
Preseason
Tottenham have had a mixed preseason. Having drawn with Barcelona and defeated AS Roma and AC Milan, the team endured a heavy defeat towards the end of the preseason against newly promoted La Liga side Girona. More of the first team played than was expected considering the World Cup was only three weeks ago. With the high paced style of Tottenham, the players have good fitness levels. We could see more of the players from the latter stages of the World Cup than expected at the start of the season.
With the talent Tottenham have in their squad the team should be competing for the Champions League again. The team have enough power up-front with Kane and Heung-Min Son. The playmaking abilities of Christian Eriksen will provide plenty of chances in front of goal. Keeping Toby Alderweireld at centre back is key to the defence because when fit, he is one of the leagues best. Spurs need to be on pace from game one to games thirty-eight to be a League winning threat.
