Three Gaps That Spurs Must Plug
It might not have been the season they hoped for, but last season was definitely exciting to any Spurs’ fan, what with the prospect of the title flashing right in front of their eyes right until the very end only to finish third – a place they might not have wanted, but one that certainly left everybody happy as the Spurs really gave their max.
Their performance last year really raised the expectations for Tottenham, unloading a burden of pressure to keep their play up to the standard of last year and even surpass it – a feat that’ll take everything they got, especially with the management changes and transfers that other contenders have made this year.
The Spur’s form did not only reflect upon their fans’ expectations, but also in the betting odds for Tottenham, placing them among the top 5 once again, even higher than last year’s “shockers of the season 2016”, Leicester City. Now, this might not mean much to most but it does give a fair projection of where the Spurs will finish as the bookies rarely make mistakes, unless it’s Leicester City they’re predicting, which is where they make the worst mistakes possible. So, just saying, if you wanted to get in on the action soon and trust the Spurs to go further this year, there are plenty of mobile casinos that you can easily find on review sites like MobileCasinoSafari.com that have those sportsbooks you’re looking for.
But betting aside, this year will definitely take the Spurs to the ultimate test, now with Pochettino definitely staying for five more seasons and bent on rebuilding the team to storm the League. The challenge he’s facing will be one of the toughest Tottenham has had so far, especially after they finished third in a year were other big shots were far from their best, which seems very unlikely to happen again this year, placing the bar of expectations fairly high over Pochettino’s head.
However, nothing is impossible and everything can be achieved when you set your mind to it, at least that’s what everyone says. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what the Spurs need to set their minds to, to go further than they’ve gone before.
A Striker
First things first, the Spurs could seriously use another striker to replace Harry Kane or even keep him up and sharp. There’s no dispute to Kane’s role in the team, especially after he gradually broke out of his shell and became Tottenham’s best goal-scorer in a League season, even before it ended, rarely replaced by anyone else on the field.
However, as lucky as they were last year, the Spurs will need another striker for the next season if they don’t plan on letting Kane faint from fatigue right in the middle of a game, and just in case Kane has a bad case of shooting blanks.
Well, it seems that Spurs fans can put away some of their stress, as Tottenham closed the deal on Vincent Janssen after they failed to get Batshuayi. Janssen is just what the Spurs need: a young, fast and intelligent striker with a great passing ability and a proven scoring success from his last season in the Eredivisie, where he scored 27 goals and became the first player to do so since Ronaldo.
Centre-Midfield
Nothing spells irreplaceable in Tottenham like Eric Dier, whose presence seriously improved the Spurs’ score and shot it to pieces whenever he was off the field. His play was fantastic and only complemented by Dembélé, but Eric is not some mythical monster with a force unheard of and is bound to burnout out again if pushed too far during every game. This leaves Tottenham with the challenge of filling the midfield gap that both Eric and Dembélé’s suspension will leave this season.
Luckily, Pochettino really took his own words of filling every position with at least a pair of quality players seriously and finally got Wanyama to the team. Now, much can be said about Wanyama’s attitude problems and discipline but the fact remains that the man knows how to keep his midfield in check and he certainly doesn’t lack speed and intelligence.
Attacking Midfield
This is not a priority but it’s definitely where the Spurs can improve if they really want to win the title. Though Lamela and Eriksen are both good in their own respect and combine excellently with Alli, they are not very consistent and can be a fairly weak point at times.
The biggest concern is Eriksen, though, who at times performed impeccably only to disappoint later when the pressure was highest and he was needed the most. If Tottenham are about to take the title, Pochettino will need to fortify his attacking midfield by bringing in more fresh blood, particularly players who are good at multiple positions. It’s a good thing that he’s already on the lookout as there are rumors spreading about Götze, Wijnaldu, Lallana and Malli. Whichever player is signed, it will surely bring some much needed new force to the attacking midfield.
Whatever Pochettino’s next move, the Spurs seem to be headed for an even better season, what with most of their weak points being addressed and the already vigorous young blood in the team. Keep your fingers crossed fans, as this might just be the year.
