The value of collective leadership

My general process when Spurs win a game, which oddly seems more often than not these days, is to spend the following hours watching Vines or the goals then tune in for Match of the Day and relive it again. In that sense, Sunday was a productive Valentine’s Day.

Something struck me watching MOTD2 at the weekend. Mark Chapman asked an innocuous enough question about whether Sunderland’s chances of avoiding relegation are stronger than Newcastle’s because they have ‘more leaders’. Then I remembered the thoughts (and I use that word in the loosest possible sense) of he who shall not be named that Spurs do not have enough leaders to compete.

There’s this idea that leadership is something innate – that you are born a leader. Particularly in English football the image of a certain type of leader – Terry Butcher or Paul Ince with their heads bandaged like an extra from Holby City – reigns supreme. But, without sounding like a David Brent-esque management manual, leaders are created and shaped, not just born. Given how easy it is to deny any responsibility for improving players technically and mentally, Harry Redknapp formerly of our parish has been vocal that football is about having good players rather than good managers, it has been refreshing to see a manager develop a Spurs team that takes a collective responsibility to drive itself forward.

[linequote]This season, journalists who’ve witnessed the squad at close quarters have spoken about an understated yet firm confidence which each of them carry[/linequote]

Mauricio Pochettino talked in January about the need to balance strengthening the squad against maintaining the positive atmosphere that he and his staff had worked hard to create. Looking at that with a degree of scepticism that can only be developed from years of flawed squad building and repeated mistakes, it’s tempting to see that as a cop out. But when you look at the side celebrating after a win against City, or Toby Alderweireld screaming the Park Lane on in the dying minutes against Watford, you begin to see what he means.

Compared to Spurs squads of the past, this lot would probably have the tamest Christmas party ever. Dele Alli uploads team night out photos where he’s pointing to a bottle of water like a normal 19 year old would to a cheap bottle of champs in an Oceania somewhere in a non-descript garden city. It’s possible Tom Carroll has been ID’d so many times trying to buy a pint that he’s just given up and decided to stick to the soft drinks. Robbie Keane and boozy trips to Dublin this is not.

Yet it would be a mistake to see this as a lack of character – a word forever associated with hard-playing, hard-living mavericks from Garrincha to Gascoigne. This season, journalists who’ve witnessed the squad at close quarters have spoken about an understated yet firm confidence which each of them carry. Unlike say Chelsea, we don’t have a gobby badge-kisser, pleadingly desperate for everyone to see them as an inspirational, Churchillian figure, but it’s remarkable just how many different types of leadership and responsibility you can see at every given game. The onfield influence of the likes of Lloris, Kane and Alderweireld is obvious to anyone who has taken even a fleeting interest in our performances this season, but it doesn’t stop there.

You have someone like Son, possibly the most silky footed player I’ve seen play for Spurs in a generation, who is brave enough to take on multiple opponents in tight areas and resilient enough to emerge with the ball. Christian Eriksen capable of keeping his head as more feted opponents like Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany lose theirs. A 22 year old centreback by trade, having grown up in Portgual, has returned to his native land to calmly dominate all infront of him in midfield.

[linequote] I don’t know what to expect or even hope for. But whatever we do or don’t achieve this season, it feels like something solid and sustainable is being built[/linequote]

Players like Dembele and Vertonghen, whose attitudes and mentality were questioned for the best part of 2 years, stepping up to become important senior players. Then there are those like Rose or Lamela who appeared to many consigned to the dustbin of Spurs history, alongside their respective contemporaries like Kyle Naughton or Etienne Capoue, who have developed into gritty and tough campaigners.

It’s in this team atmosphere where a £4m signing from a non-descript German club can seamlessly slot in at the back – compare that to the chaos of a post-Ledley King back four – or an 18 year old Josh Onomah can be brought on in tight games against Woolwich and Villa.

It’s an exciting time to be a Spurs fan but also, for me at least, an increasingly odd one. We haven’t been in a title race in my life time. Within the space of 3 days we’ll play West Ham away and Woolwich at home. My brain can’t comprehend the notion of Tottenham as a resilient yet still entertaining team; I scan the fixture list and see threats everywhere. I don’t know what to expect or even hope for. But whatever we do or don’t achieve this season, it feels like something solid and sustainable is being built. Those are perhaps the last words the outside world would associate with Tottenham, but it’s certainly something I could get used to.