Spurs Title Dream in the Bin

It’s the end of the world as we know it…and I feel fine.

end-is-near

Well that looks to be that. In normal circumstances a draw at Anfield would be greeted with a satisfied can’t-complain-can’t-complain nod of approval as we hopped on the Mega Bus and tootled off back down the M6. A record of 1 win in the last 21 visits suggests we’re generally happy with whatever we can get from the Merseysiders in their own roost.

But we are living in strange times. When Leicester City are opening up seven point gaps at the summit of the Premier League in early-April, you know you’ve crossed the Rubicon and there might be no going back.

It was crucial that Tottenham beat Liverpool on Saturday, because Leicester would be winning 1-0 on Sunday—whoever the opponents. That’s just the way the world works now.

And the North London club did plenty right. Perhaps on another day the slight edge they had over Jurgen Klopp’s side would’ve been enough to take all three points. But, alas, through some uncharacteristic competence from Dejan Lovren and Simon Mignolet— and Philippe Coutinho at his virtuosic best— it wasn’t to be. Pochettino’s post-whistle fist thump on the turf said it all. That looks like goodnight from us.

Spurs are now left praying for some divine intervention or the slim hope that Leicester might suddenly wake up from whatever crazy cheese dream they’re having and remember this shouldn’t be happening.

What to do as a Spurs fan? In an alternate universe, we’d all be rooting for the lovable Claudio Everyman and his ragtag bunch of heroes and miscreants like the rest of you. Just why did the most miraculous of miracles have to happen in a season in which Spurs had decided to get their act together, too? What are the chances? Around 5000-1 if you read the papers. Oh Spurs, you do choose your moments.

Ever since this unlikely challenge has been mustering for Tottenham, there’s been a popular opinion that this might be their one big chance at ultimate glory. If it doesn’t happen now: it never will.

Mauricio Pochettino, perhaps throwing a few reactionary haymakers in the wake of the weekend’s disappointing result, realising this year’s title challenge has taken one ding too many, has come out fighting. In his eyes, the argument couldn’t be wider of the mark:

We have the youngest squad in the Premier League and yet here we are fighting for the title,” said Pochettino, in the Independent on Monday. “We are ahead of where we should be in our programme and we are only going to get better.

“For a lot of players this is our first season in the Premier League and I am sure they will be better next season because they have more experience. You always need time to develop your quality.”

 Nothing is certain in football and club loyalty might be as quaint an idea as Buckminster Fuller’s Spaceship Earth or tofu but the relative youth of this Spurs team suggests that another title push is within our capabilities.

The only way is up for Chelsea under new, Antonio Conte-shaped management, tooled with untold wealth and Pep Guardiola will be branded a first-rate bonehead if he doesn’t stroll to the title at City— so you’d expect them to be fierce contenders.

Mediocre win ratios aside, Jurgen Klopp appears to have set Liverpool on the right course again and his high-octane, full-blooded tactics might be easier to implement with an exhaustive preseason under his player’s belts. Elsewhere, Man United and Arsenal, under heaven knows whose leadership, will be banking on a more assertive challenge than they’ve offered this year.

Leicester City, of course, will be too distracted by their charge to the Champions League final to make any serious impression on the League again. At their current rate of development, however, they’ll no doubt win the quadruple.

Despite all the possible upturn in our rival’s fortunes, there’s a lot to be said for continuity. Barring any serious, record-breaking windfalls landing in the lap of Daniel Levy over the summer, in exchange for one of our highly coveted youngsters, we should be looking a relatively unchanged side for the new season. A side that’s looked for the majority of the season like fine candidates for the title. Erik Lamela, Dele Alli, Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Christian Eriksen will all be a year wiser; Toby Alderweireld a year closer to having a street named after him around the  Paxton Road area. All with one crystalline clear vision, with Pochettino leading us loudly into the night: we’re in good shape. We’ll be back.

 


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