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The Transformation of Tottenham Hotspur

5 min read
by Editor
Spurs are steadily building under Pochettino's reign. With another transfer window upon us, James M. Jimmerson looks at the progress so far.

For as long as I can remember, Spurs have been a club in transition. Seemingly forever existing in the void between sustained success in the top four and routine mid-table mediocrity, our beloved club has been searching for a way out. Between the almost habitual changes to the first team manager and all too frequent sale of the club’s best players, Spurs have been synonymous with change and turnover.

Enter Mauricio Pochettino.

Since being appointed in May 2014, the Sherriff of Tottenham is overseeing an altogether different sort of change for Spurs—one that is bigger, better, and more permanent. One that can be better understood as a transformation.

[linequote]Building from the back, Pochettino has constructed a dominant Spurs side[/linequote]

Both on and off the pitch, Spurs are a different organism than they were before. On the pitch, Tottenham continues its tradition of playing progressive, attractive football. However, this team has steel and grit that has been sorely lacking in seasons past. By any measure, be it attitude or outcome, this team is more determined to impose its will on a match than any previous Spurs squad in recent memory. Gone are the pre-game speeches of, “Lads, it’s Tottenham,” replaced now by opposing managers’ post-match praise of how “complete” this team is and how “impossible” it is to play against. Building from the back, Pochettino has constructed a dominant Spurs side earning the best goal difference in the Premier League, a first since the league’s inception.

But as we all know this club has had similar moments of expectation in the past, most recently under Martin Jol and Harry Redknapp. Both managers failed to deliver on that expectation and were subsequently shown the door.

This time, though, it doesn’t just feel different; it is different.

Unlike previous false dawns, Pochettino has developed this team so that the improvement we have seen become lasting and sustainable. For example, Pochettino has insisted (and in fact made it a condition of his continued management) that the club keep its best players, a significant deviation from past practice, and one that is mandatory for any club hoping to consistently challenge for the title. Without fear of the sale of the club’s marquee talent, Pochettino can go about the business of surrounding that talent with capable support.

[fullquote]The result is a team comprised of players completely dedicated to one another, willing to do whatever it takes for the team to succeed.[/fullquote]

Additionally, not simply a tactician, our manager is a coach, through and through. His system is not just designed to use his players’ already-existing talents and abilities, but to cultivate and improve them. The development of Rose, Walker and Dier is no accident, but instead the result of the manager’s hard work. Indeed, look no further than how Erik Lamela has improved since Pochettino’s arrival to see the impact he has had on the players. Once considered a bust who could not adapt to the speed of the Premier League, Lamela is now one of most important players on the squad, making key contributions to the press. When compared to his predecessors, it strains credulity to suggest that past managers like Harry Redknapp or Andre Villas-Boas would be able to get the same end product from Lamela after his first two seasons in North London.

Furthermore, Pochettino is quietly and methodically acquiring depth to allow the team to compete on all fronts. Last summer, by bringing in Toby Alderweireld, Kevin Wimmer, and Kieran Trippier, Spurs’ defence, previously its weakest area on the pitch, became its strongest and deepest. This summer, Pochettino is looking to upgrade its midfield and attack, with the likes of Victor Wanyama, Vincent Janssen, and Michy Batshuayi considered to be top transfer targets. While some of the aforementioned players are more “brand name” than the others, Pochettino’s success has been in bringing in capable players no matter their reputation or transfer fee. In a world where every Premier League team has substantial resources, the difference between Champions League football and a mid-table finish may very well hinge on intelligent transfer decisions.

Finally, eschewing any emphasis on individual praise, Pochettino’s entire footballing philosophy centres on his players sacrificing for one another and acting as one cohesive unit. In his system, a high work rate is mandatory and the failure to give full and complete effort results in a player’s inevitable departure from the club. Consequently, young players are given an opportunity to contribute, competing with the more established crop for a place in the squad. The result is a team comprised of players completely dedicated to one another, willing to do whatever it takes for the team to succeed.

[linequote]This team has steel and grit that has been sorely lacking in seasons past[/linequote]

This transformation is nowhere near complete, however. Indeed, one needs to look no further than how this season ended to see that additional development and seasoning is necessary for the club to truly contend for a title and consistently finish in the top four. Further complicating matters are the financial restrictions caused by the construction of the new stadium. While the additional revenue from the new television contract, the new kit contract (in 2017), and kit sponsorship (in 2019), will all help with the club’s bottom line, the task facing the club in the short term is not for the faint of heart. If history is any guide, Pochettino will bring in one less player than many of us think we need, leaving us all a bit anxious, but excited in the end.

Looking back on this season and Pochettino’s tenure at Spurs it is hard not to look to the future and expect something different from this club. Something better. It is no coincidence that the supporters feel closer to this team than any Spurs squad in recent memory. I believe that we feel that way because we have a collective sense that we are in the middle of something amazing, something we haven’t been a part of in decades (if ever). The transformation is real. We feel it.

All views and opinions expressed in this article are the views and opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of The Fighting Cock. We offer a platform for fans to commit their views to text and voice their thoughts. Football is a passionate game and as long as the views stay within the parameters of what is acceptable, we encourage people to write, get involved and share their thoughts on the mighty Tottenham Hotspur.

1 Comment

  1. Anup
    04/08/2016 @ 5:18 pm

    nice article.COYS

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