Oh not another transition season? Unfortunately, that seems to be the feeling for the upcoming season for Tottenham Hotspur, but with a lot more influence from the manager Mauricio Pochettino than last season. As fans, we have some expectations for where we want our club to be this season, but this season will be the typical rollercoaster that we have all grown accustomed to recently, whether we enjoy it or not.
With the club lacking in the transfer department, I would expect that in the next few weeks, Daniel Levy might flex his business muscles and bring in a few players for a reasonable price, but as a fan, I would like to see a striker and midfielder be signed, just so we have some depth in the team.
Season Targets:
Well, we all know what we want, and what we aim for, and that is the Champions League places. But in the real world, where Tottenham only have one fully operating striker, we know it is going to be a while before Spurs are near them places again.
However, we were only 6 points off Manchester United last season, so if one of the big teams doesn’t live up to expectation, combined with us putting in fine performances week in and week out, then maybe we may be able to sneak back into the top 4.
Alongside our hopes to gain Champions League football, but also retaining Europa League football, we will want to go far in all the Domestic trophies and the Europa League. In the previous season, we all remember our run to the Capital One Cup final, and Pochettino will want to go one better and win the trophy this season, as well as doing well in the FA Cup.
With the Europe League, however, it offers a completely different prospect. If Tottenham win the Europa League (and at this stage, it is looking like a big if), then we will be automatically entered in the next seasons Champions League. The club may see the Europa League as the best and easiest way to enter the competition if our league season isn’t going great.
I would expect that Spurs will do well in at least one of these cups, with the Capital One Cup possibly the best chance of capturing the cup, but Pochettino will be ambitious enough to try for the Europa League.
Manager: Mauricio Pochettino:
A man that I can only imagine was rather frustrated at how last season went for Tottenham. Brought in from Southampton amongst their mass exodus from 2 years ago, Pochettino has been allowed time to develop his own tactics, bring in young players and get after transfer targets that are clearly his own.
This season, as shown by the Pre Season, Pochettino is looking to blend in a good mixture of youth in his first team, with Dele Alli, Shaq Coulthirst and Josh Onomah playing big parts in the Pre Season, and unless any clubs come in with loan bids that could benefit the players, these youngsters could play a part in our season.
Let’s just hope that Levy and the board give Pochettino enough time to work his magic at Spurs, and hopefully, we could have a successful reign at White Hart Lane, and the new stadium!
Key Players:
Harry Kane:
This one is a simple one. Without Harry Kane, we would not have had as nearly as great as a season as we had. But the only thing that is stopping us from being even better is the worry that whether Kane can do it again? We know it will be difficult to replicate the form he had, but as long as he keeps banging in the goals, then we have the first genuine goal scorer since Jermaine Defoe and Robbie Keane.
Hugo Lloris:
Our new captain! Hugo was arguably our most important player last season, and hopefully if our defense improves this season, he could be one for the Fantasy Teams. Keeping hold of Lloris this summer is one of the best pieces of business that Tottenham have done. Our summer could have been a lot worse if we didn’t have Lloris keeping the goal. Lets hope to another season where he performs as well as he usually does.
Christian Eriksen:
Our creative gem in the midfield last season, Eriksen has proven to be pretty much the only player from the “Magnificent Seven” summer spending spree that hasn’t fully flopped. His set piece threat, coupled with his occasional touch of class can turn games on their head at the touch of a button, and hopefully another year in the Premier League can enhance his performances.
