Can Spurs win a trophy this season? It’s a question many Spurs fans will be pondering, but is it merely a distant dream, or closer to reality than one might think?
Most recently, Newcastle bowed out of the Capital One cup after a fantastic 4-0 thrashing at the Lane. It was a night for many fans to remember with a raucous atmosphere including chants of “Que sera sera”, with all hopes firmly set on getting to the League cup final. This hope buoyed by the draw for the next round which matched Sheffield United up against Spurs over two legs. This was the best tie the club could have hoped for. A match is never won on paper, but let’s be honest, out of Chelsea, Liverpool and Sheffield United, there’s only one team that can be seen as a “free ticket” to the final. It’s very important the players do not underestimate the strength of the underdog though as the Sheffield side progressed by beating the likes of West Ham and Southampton, two teams higher than Spurs in the Premier League table. Cup games bring an entirely different situation to regular league games, but this should suit Spurs, who have always been recognised as a cup team. Importantly, even if Sheffield United prove to be unworthy opponents, a final against either Liverpool or Chelsea certainly will be a hard fought match. But once again, its a cup final. Anything can happen. The League cup seems a very appetising offer for many fans, who are only two matches away from seeing their team play at Wembley. It’s currently the best chance Spurs have at winning a trophy.
Fiorentina provides a tough opponent in the round of 32 of the Europa league. Spurs have never faced them competitively throughout their 132-year history. This will be a tough game, but over two legs, with enough hard work it’s certainly possible to progress to the next round. However, Fiorentina aren’t the only good team left in the competition. Inter Milan and Zenit are just two examples of stellar former champions league opponents. Winning a European cup would bring a lot more glory than a League Cup but with at least 10 matches until that all important final, there is a lot of hard work yet for Spurs. Don’t forget that the excuse of the European hangover seems to affect the players when they play again on the weekend. So, perhaps the Europa League is simply an audacious possibility which could compromise Tottenham’s position in the League? But, then again, it may be the only way Spurs can reach the Champions League as currently a top four finish doesn’t seem very likely. To win this cup, a club must be fully committed. No longer can a bunch of under 21’s coupled with a few out of favour senior players do the job. If Spurs want to be lifting the Europa League trophy, the full squad must be involved. This poses risks such as fatigue and with that comes an increased chance of injury. Key figures such as Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen would be sorely missed through injury. It all depends on how Mauricio Pochettino decides to split his resources into all of the competitions this year. No fan wants to see their team slip from top six to midtable mediocrity. But, ask them if they’d take a European trophy for it and the answer may be very different indeed.
Finally, the FA cup provides yet another chance for a bit of Spurs cup glory. It’s the big cup in England, the only one that matters, or at least, used to matter. The club will be hoping to build on the previous 8 FA cup wins out of 9 finals. With Burnley in the next round, it’s at first glance a favourable tie, but a check on which ground will host the occasion changes it all. Turf Moor. Burnley home territory. This is the kicker, the game changer. Spurs have had a poor record in history away to Burnley, but this is just history, right? What matters is the current situation. At this time, surely Spurs should be able to dispatch newly promoted Burnley? The FA Cup has not even started for Premier League clubs though, so it’s very hard to assess the possibility of the North Londoners lifting it.
Could Spurs win all three? It would be a massive surprise for most fans and would require a huge slice of fortune, but is it doable? Probably not. Even the best teams cannot win every trophy. The club isn’t in its finest form lately. In all three competitions, there are still many giants to kill. Which then makes it very hard for a double cup win too. At best, it’ll be just the one cup. But, one cup alone could be a special something for the Tottenham faithful who’ve been waiting for some silverware for six years now.
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