Premier League: Stable yet stronger, Tottenham Hotspur could make it another season to remember

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs — Rudyard Kipling In a manic summer, a weird serenity has rested over White Hart Lane. The focus has not been on getting the next big signing but to land acquisitions that push the Mauricio Pochettino project forward. There’s a sense at Tottenham Hotspur that calmness and restraint will do the job; past experiences with rash decision-making and cash splurging are probably behind the current management style. Chairman Daniel Levy seems more pleased with this approach. Let Pochettino do as he likes. Little to no interference in the running of the side has borne fruit, after all. Last season Spurs achieved its best league finish since 1990. The late collapse that allowed Arsenal to steal the second spot notwithstanding, the Lilywhites had much to be pleased about. Spurs start a third season with Pochettino and stability is now a constant theme at White Hart Lane. [caption id=“attachment_2943396” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File picture of Mauricio Pochettino (R) and Harry Kane (L). Getty[/caption] However, the Argentine manager was conspicuously dissatisfied with the way the season finished. In the larger scheme of things, finishing below Arsenal may mean little, but the fact that it was allowed to happen made for uncomfortable reading. Either the players worried too much about Arsenal sneaking past them in the final weeks or they did not care at all. As Spurs seeks to heighten its ambition, both scenarios can hamper the development of the club. Pochettino’s stated aim is to build a side that plays in the Champions League every season while competing for the league title. He was able to achieve the latter last year, but to be able to accomplish the former, his charges need to look beyond local rivalry and view themselves as players who play at an elite European club. Pochettino has been able to stamp his ideas in terms of the way Spurs play and the players’ physical conditioning. But mentally the squad needs to toughen up. Fortitude is a necessary prerequisite for the club to place itself among the world’s best. Part of that exercise includes displacing Arsenal as the ‘Big Brother’ in north London. While the local rivalry cannot be allowed to dominate the minds of the players, it’s important to recognise the weight of history. Spurs has not finished above Arsenal since the 1994-95 Premier League season. If Pochettino’s men can change that this season and stay in the Champions League, the manager will be able to tick off quite a few boxes. One of the reasons behind Spurs’ late falter last term was the tiredness that the high-intensity style wrought. It was no surprise to see Harry Kane labour for England at the Euros in France after more or less leading the attack on his own all season for the club. Pochettino recognised the effort that the Spurs players put in last season and the inadequate recovery time due to the Euros. Hence, Tottenham has played only three pre-season matches. Losses to Juventus and Atletico Madrid in Australia meant little as many first-choice players were yet to return to action. A 6-1 thumping of Internazionale in Norway on Friday gave a fairer idea of where the team is at the moment. While it would be foolhardy to read too much into the scoreline, Pochettino expressed his satisfaction with the way the pre-season has gone. He feels his squad is ready to face Everton in the opening Premier League game. Perhaps, the acquisitions over the summer have allowed the confidence to flow. A major issue for Spurs last year was limited resources in defensive midfield and in attack. In the former case, it was not so much a case of low numbers as of poor quality. That has been addressed with the signing of Victor Wanyama for a fee in the region of 11 million pounds. Wanyama is a player Pochettino knows well, having recruited the Kenyan for Southampton in 2013. Wanyama and Eric Dier could go on to make one of the best midfield partnerships in the league. Spurs will feel more defensively secure by their presence; at times the team looked shaky when defending counter attacks last season. Upfront, Eredivisie top scorer Vincent Janssen has joined from AZ Alkmaar. The 22-year-old, reportedly bought for 18.5 million pounds, will provide Pochettino with an option to play a genuine striker when Kane is unavailable. Last season, attacking midfielder Son Heung-Min was forced to deputise as a lone forward. While Kane continued to smash the goals, he was left visibly exhausted by the effort. The arrival of Janssen should mean that the burden is shared more equitably. Although Janssen is still young and inexperienced at the highest level, his rise has been meteoric. Pochettino needs a fast learner as he seeks to mount another title challenge. Another signing is on the cards soon, with Olympique de Marseille’s Georges-Kevin N’Koudou expected to join and wide attacker Clinton N’Jie going the other way in a separate deal. N’Koudou is a player in a similar mould but probably has a smaller skill set. However, N’Jie’s underwhelming and injury-dogged time at White Hart Lane might mean that his stay is over. Pochettino is known to have little time for those who do not fit his plans and this may force N’Jie’s departure. Another player considered surplus to requirements was central defender Federico Fazio, who left on loan to Sevilla. While the Argentinean was not among the core squad members, his departure means that Spurs are left with only three centre-backs in Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Kevin Wimmer. Of course, if the need arises, Dier could return to the position where he started his career. In all, Pochettino’s squad seems more stable and stronger than last season when it surprised quite a few people with a top four finish. Moreover, this time, only one of Spurs’ first-team starters is above the age of 30. It would not be a stretch to expect an improved display from a predominantly young squad. Unlike his mentor Marcelo Bielsa, Pochettino adds an element of pragmatism to his coaching style. Although Spurs collapsed in the true fashion of a Bielsa side, the manager acknowledged the faults and set about to correct them. The activity over summer should lend quiet optimism to Spurs fans. It could be another season to remember.