After West Ham United extinguished Tottenham’s blazing run of form, Spurs look unlikely to secure silverware for the ninth year running. The title is all but won by Chelsea, with their fate always, but now evermore, solely in their hands.
Tottenham Silverware Drought: No Cataclysmic Concern
Spurs’ silverware drought appears to pose a serious threat to any real chance of future success. Many negative fans claim that top players and the manager will move to bigger, more successful jobs. However, this is a far gloomier outlook than the reality.
Spurs are building a new project, with beautiful football and young talent. They are constructing a world-class team, a project that keeps all those involved together. There is so much yet to come for this young Tottenham side.
Loyalty
Journalists can be quick to make the most of a manager’s decision. Most recently, Kyle Walker’s future was suddenly thrown into jeopardy over apparent discontentment. So many rumours flew around, despite the fact Walker has been favoured all season by Pochettino. Furthermore, is Walker, a loyal servant of Tottenham, really motivated by a higher paycheck? It would be very unlikely.
However, Walker’s example is but one of many past, current and present rumours to be spread. A silverware drought will also be a motivator to move elsewhere. There are worries over the futures of key players like Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Toby Alderweireld.
Suddenly, after just one defeat in the past nine matches, the entire squad is ready to depart. This is far from the truth.
Loyalty is the key element in the Tottenham squad. Contract mercenaries are no longer a part of the club. The typical Spurs player is young, hungry and willing to give all for the club. There is much camaraderie often presented in the media, between the likes of Eric Dier and Dele Alli, and even in Son Heung-Min’s handshakes.
Whilst it could be argued that most clubs have some kind of superficial high-fiving and hugging, Spurs players’ seems to have a more meaningful connection between themselves. This loyalty is what will keep the squad together for at least another season to finally hunt down the elusive silverware.
Magic Pochettino
Pochettino has not won anything during his three years at the club. Despite this, he has still transformed the Tottenham side. In the last two seasons, he has mounted two title challenges. He has reached one cup final and another cup semi-final in his tenure. He has even restored Spurs to the UEFA Champions League.
This is the mark of a successful manager. This is also why there have been rumours speculating his imminent departure to a European giant.
However, Pochettino has a much higher purpose at Spurs than just using them as a stepping stone. He is creating a project, with young players, centred around a core of English talent, playing attractive football. His project is ambitious, but is one that will certify glory. There is hard graft underlying the creative philosophy, but there is no negative football. This kind of project is that of a grand scale, which Pochettino will wish to complete. He is still a relatively young manager and thus has plenty of time to cultivate some success.
Promise
The current squad has so much promise. Spurs often have the youngest first team in the Premier League, yet have pushed Chelsea right to the wire. Even if the players fail to achieve any silverware this season, it will be a marvellous achievement to compete so well in the Premier League. More significantly, it forebodes a more promising outlook in the seasons to come. Whilst there are a few more experienced heads in Hugo Lloris and Mousa Dembélé, the wealth of youth is astounding.
Marcus Edwards and Luke Amos particularly look promising enough to break through. It is this abundance of young players, both imported and developed in the academy, that will challenge for future titles. Whilst they keep developing their talent, Spurs’ silverware drought cannot last for much longer.
Investment
More investment is needed. This season has made clear that Chelsea have had superior financial, and therefore squad, resources to sustain their campaign. In the FA Cup semi-final, Chelsea brought on Diego Costa and Eden Hazard whilst Tottenham had the likes of Georges-Kévin N’Koudou and Moussa Sissoko, both failing to make anywhere near as much impact. Thus, it is evident that Spurs must invest in the summer.
The key areas that Spurs must strengthen are in the attack, but also top-class wing-back cover. Harry Kane has lacked any competition from Vincent Janssen, who has admittedly had some impressive cameos. Winning a title or cup requires at least another quality centre-forward to help contribute to goals, but also change matches.
However, equally important is fully functional replacements for the wing-backs. Pochettino implemented this relatively new system with some capable cover for Danny Rose and Kyle Walker. Arguably, Kieran Trippier has been far more impressive than Ben Davies. Unfortunately, Davies, whilst he is a hard worker, pales in comparison to Rose’s attacking threat. This is why Spurs need a similar quality left-back. Otherwise, when injury strikes, the overall tactics are affected.
Arguably, with Rose fit all season, or moreover, a similar replacement, Spurs may have picked up a few more all-important wins.
Time
Sir Alex Ferguson himself took three years before going on to win 13 league titles and 38 trophies for Manchester United. Similarly, he had a project, which succeeded in putting Manchester United at the top of the game.
Likewise, Pochettino is just finishing his third season at Spurs. Yet, already he has been challenging for titles. Therefore, it must be remembered that success takes time. The silverware drought is frustrating, but is arguably closer to its demise than in any recent years. Give Pochettino and his squad time, and undoubtedly the trophies will come.
Verdict
Clearly, Spurs’ silverware drought is not a cataclysmic concern. There will be no mass exodus of players, managers and staff. Instead, there is much promise and excitement about the club. Players are young, fit and hungry to achieve success. This Tottenham team has come such a long way, but arguably still has some time to make further improvement.
It will be imperative that investment is made in order to achieve this. But with time, patience, perseverance and investment, Tottenham will finally achieve glory.
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