Spurs Season Review

jack-nicholson-48th-annual-academy-awards-1976_grandeIt certainly didn’t end well, but the 2015/16 season was a riotous bag o’ fun for the loyal followers of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. A third place finish and express entry into the Champions League group stage is nothing to complain about; there was even the very distinct whiff of a title challenge, sustained right up until the final fortnight.

All this, accomplished with a serious crop of capable youngsters— the most fresh faced squad in the League, no less— under the  stewardship of one of the division’s finest coaches, Mauricio Pochettino.

However much cash Spurs decide to splurge this summer on new recruits, no contract will be as important as the one that secured the Argentine’s services for another five years. No, ma’am.

Here, then, after literally zero requests, are some End of Season awards.

Player of the Season

Look no further than Toby Alderweireld. It’s a simple enough formula. Before the Belgian’s arrival, Tottenham’s defence was as leaky as an old tin boat; in 2014/15 they managed to concede as many goals as relegated Burnley (53).

With Alderweireld, however, even after the 5-1 shellacking at Newcastle, Spurs finished the season with the joint-best defence in the League (35). The former Southampton defender’s impact on our backline has been considerable.

Notable Mentions: Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Moussa Dembélé

Underappreciated Player of the Season

Kevin Wimmer. When Jan Vertonghen fell amuck of some MCL troubles in January, reducing the formidable Belgian central-defensive axis by half, many feared the worst for our gathering title push. They needn’t have worried— not yet, anyway. The crafty Austrian giant wasn’t just an able deputy, Spurs were actually a more frugal proposition with him in defence.

Notable Mentions: Erik Lamela, Kieran Trippier.

Young Player of the Season

As much I’d like to be a contrarian and go against the PFA grain, Dele Alli is a worthy recipient. With good reason, perhaps the most fashionable individual narrative of the season has been Jamie Vardy’s improbable ascent from an unpolished non-League Sellsword to international-grade striker in less than five years.

Equally impressive, though, is Alli’s fast-tracking to the Big Time; hopping from League One to the Premier League at 19, looking for all the world a ready-made superstar. 10 goals and 9 assists in his maiden campaign.

Notable Mentions: Eric Dier, Harry Kane, Christian Erkisen

Goal of The Season

Again, there could’ve been only one winner: Dele Alli. Here’s what I wrote at the time:

“The goal caused seismic judders in the footballing community. Twitter lost its collective sh*t, obviously; Vines looped so frequently that the app might well have burst into flames and MOTD provided so many action replays that it could’ve spilled over into MOTD2.”

“On the streets, heads sprung out of windows in wintry North London Town, perfect strangers asking; you boy, have you seen the goal? before demanding they fetch the biggest goose they could from the market.”

I quite enjoyed it.

Notable Mentions: Harry Kane (Arsenal, home), Heung-min Son (Leicester, away. F.A Cup), Ryan Mason (Sunderland, away)

Save of the Season

Hugo Lloris’ superhuman post-clinker against Crystal Palace will take some beating. With the game balanced precariously at 0-0, and Spurs looking for only their second win of a so-far-sluggish campaign, the Frenchman tipped a bouncing bomb of a volley from Bakary Sako, onto the far-post when a goal looked a certainty. Hugo doing what Hugo does.

Notable Mentions: Hugo Lloris (Swansea, away), Hugo Lloris (Southampton, away)

Celebration of The Season

There’re few greater joys in football than watching someone go full-Marco Tardelli in the post-goal furore . Harry Kane did just that when he walloped Spurs into the lead against Arsenal in March. Protective mask hurled to the turf in wild abandon; the young England striker celebrated like no-one was watching.

Notable mentions: Hugs-and-handshakes-a-plenty with Pochettino and the gang after beating City at the Etihad. The pile-on after Son’s late winner at Watford.

Bromance of the Season

Eric Dier and Dele Alli are BFLs and they don’t care who knows it. Whether it’s gate-crashing each other’s interviews for Spurs TV or putting up a human blockade when one of them were wronged in the heat of a riotous encounter; they’ve got one other’s back. If I had to live without you, what kind of life would that be? Oh, I…

*sniff*

They grow up so fast.

Game of the Season

Both North London derbies were tense, chaotic affairs, as is so often their want, but for sheer entertainment, the award has to go to Spurs 4-1 Man City. The game quite literally had everything; fine goals, dodgy offside decisions, Harry Kane finally breaking his early-season duck, Lamela playing his socks off. Spurs sent the then League leaders into a tailspin from which they barely recovered and simultaneously kick-started their own season.

Quote of the Season

Fans should be going to matches thinking they are getting some level of value. One measure of that is players who care for the badge, the shirt, who run around an awful lot, who look as if they hurt when the fans hurt. And a manager who is giving opportunities to the club’s own talent, making them dream.”

Gary Neville on Spurs.

Image of the Season

The Lads.

**Orignally posted on Yahoo! Sport**


About the Author

avatar

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Back to Top ↑