As a neutral, it is hard not to like almost everything about Tottenham. They play good football. They bring young talent through the ranks and actually play them. What’s more, they are almost definitely going to finish in the top 3 of the league. So why is there are still question marks over them, and more pertinently for those who actually are Spurs fans, is this – finishing third, decent run in the Champions League – as good as it gets?
Missed Opportunity?
Last Summer everything was looking rosy for Spurs. They had an incredible new stadium they were very shortly going to move into; they had more representatives in the world cup semi finals (nine) than any other club, and they had five players in an England side that was finally (finally!) performing at a major tournament. Eyebrows were raised and brows furrowed when they failed to add to their squad, but even then there were voices – experienced voices – who were able to put a positive spin on that.
The season started well, and despite the disappointment of the ground move, they were always in the conversation for the league title. Though even the most ardent Spurs fan will admit that Man City and Liverpool were always favourites, it wasn’t until very recently that Spurs officially bowed out of the race. Let us also not forget, they are still in the Champions League.
So is it all that bad, why the hand wringing from certain quarters? The reason is this is good, but there is the knowledge that it could be so much better, and you can’t stand still in this league or you will be dragged down and overtaken.
There will always be a whiff of flat track bullies surrounding this Tottenham team. They will go to St Mary’s on Saturday heavy favourites, not just for the full three points, but also as a shoe in on most people’s away wins footy acca. Those aren’t the games where titles are won or lost though. Too often in the crucial 6 pointers they are found wanting. Furthermore, it is in those games when the bringing in of top-quality talent in the Summer could have made the difference.
Peer Review
For all intents and purposes, Spurs are in a similar situation to Arsenal and Liverpool financial-wise. Similar sized clubs without the incredible backing the two Manchester clubs enjoy. Liverpool’s owners have put their hands in their pockets, while Levy has preferred to go down the route ironically preferred by Wenger’s Arsenal.
Money is not and should not be the over-riding factor when judging a club, but this is the EPL, and just look at Arsenal’s last half dozen years and compare that to what Klopp has managed to achieve at Anfield. Judging by reports, nothing is likely to change anytime soon, which with the way Levy has nailed his colours to his mast, that should not surprise anyone.
The year Leicester won the title is often held up as the time Spurs really should have stepped up and shown they have title winning calibre, when all the other so called big clubs singularly failed to perform. That may well be the case, but this year they could end up regretting it even more. Back in 2015/16, Spurs were a club on the up. They have probably reached their peak now. Unless they have investment, they will be the same standard next season at best. And what we have learnt in this league, being the same level for two years in a row is tantamount to going backwards, because next season several things are likely to happen.
An Unclear Future
Spurs fans could be forgiven for taking almost as much pleasure in Solskjær’s performance since arriving at Old Trafford as United supporters. How close Pochettino was to having his head turned we will perhaps never know, but it is now unlikely that he will end up moving to the North West this summer. It is inevitable they will lose players, either due to age, the lure of bigger wages or more trophies. That is inevitable and more often than not Spurs have been able to replace like for like in terms of quality. If they were to lose the Argentinian however you really do fear for them.
Even if that does not happen, the EPL landscape nest season will be different. A Spurs team finishing 3rd behind an incredibly good Liverpool and Man City side is palatable. Finishing 5th is not. Next season Manchester United are going to be top four contenders at least. Arsenal have improved. Chelsea are always hard to predict but will be there or thereabouts. Then you have the likes of Wolves who have the money and ambition to improve further, and will be doing it from a very good base. Suddenly the waters for Spurs are looking choppy.
All this is speculation and educated guesswork. The other side of the coin is that no one is entitled to have success, and as football fans, followers of Tottenham should be loving every minute (give or take a few…) of this. Unfortunately they are also human, and there will always be that nagging voice in the background, whispering “what if…?”