There may be a promising future ahead for Tottenham Hotspur. There was a time when Tottenham Hotspur were quite openly used as a stepping stone to bigger things by players. That may still be the case but less overtly so. With European power houses sweeping up players at will it seems that every talented player wants to play for Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester Utd. Two of these sides were particular banes in Tottenham’s pursuit of progress.
A Promising Future for Tottenham Hotspur
But something has changed for the better at the club. Not only are they adding new players to the squad but there have been a plethora of contract extensions in recent months with current players committing their futures to Spurs. Cynics will say that this is merely an economic tactic to secure a certain value when a player is sold. They may have a point. However there are no noises of disgruntlement coming out of the club at present. Players are young, hungry and happy to be at the club it would seem.
Much of this has to be down to Mauricio Pochettino. It appears that Daniel Levy may have stumbled on to his ideal manager after much trial and error over time. Pochettino doesn’t need to shop at the equivalent Harrods store for players. Waitrose will do (think Victor Wanyama, Vincent Janssen or Toby Alderweireld) or even dare I say it Asda (Dele Alli and Eric Dier – both signed for less than £5m). The point is that developing players and a team ethic is what he does best and this certainly seems to be the way forward for the club.
Tom Carroll was the latest player to extend his contract. It has left many Spurs fans bewildered but then we only need recall the outrage at the Danny Rose contract extension a couple of seasons ago. That left many fans with egg on their faces. It may not mean much that Carroll has extended in fairness. After all Ryan Mason extended his contract last season and he is now a Hull City player.
Whatever fans think of Carroll, it is clear that Pochettino likes him. Carroll was first introduced to the team by Harry Redknapp as a baby faced 19 year old. His style hasn’t changed. Comfortable in possession, never hiding, he keeps demanding the ball and keeps the ball moving. Precisely what Pochettino likes from his players. Carroll won’t be a first team regular but he may have a role to play whilst Pochettino continues to mould his squad.
Player Contract Extentions are Key
September saw three other players extend their contracts. Harry Winks is another prospect that is now on the fringes of the first team squad. He signed a contract extension just fourteen months after signing his previous contract.
Eric Dier signed for Spurs in 2014. He signed an extension in September 2015 and a further extension this month. As talent progresses it seems to be rewarded. Dier is now a regular England international in his new central midfield role after being signed as a centre back.
The most high profile signing made by Spurs this month was that of Christian Eriksen. An instrumental part of Tottenham’s attacking play he has been sought after by other teams. Juventus and PSG were two to express an interest. That Eriksen chose to stay at White Hart Lane says a lot about where Tottenham Hotspur are as a club right now. Back in the Champions League again after their best placed Premier League finish, they will be looking to build on their achievements.
Mousa Dembele, Kevin Wimmer and even Pochettino himself recently penned new contracts. The club will be looking to extend Kyle Walker and Erik Lamela soon and Harry Kane will no doubt be getting another uplift. Given the fear and trepidation with which most Spurs fans entered each new transfer window, it is a little alien and somewhat refreshing to sense that players are happy and want to stay at Tottenham.
With the average age of the squad being one of the youngest in the Premier league then this squad could potentially be together for some time to come. The future does indeed look bright if team performances keep improving. The next objective will be to ensure that Champions League qualification is achieved on a more regular basis. Perhaps some much needed silverware is added in order to give these young starlets that winning mentality. With a new stadium in the offing then the timing of Tottenham’s progression as a club could not have been better.
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