Typical of Spurs? No, now they’re the real deal
TYPICAL Spurs. As news filtered through on Wednesday night that Mauricio Pochettino’s side had lost at West Ham, many will have said those two words.
That is what happens to Tottenham, isn’t it? They get into a great position, threaten to achieve something significant but, when it comes to the crunch, they fluff their lines. A 1-0 defeat, then, was a result plenty would have felt was in keeping with tradition.
The thing is, nothing’s typical about this Tottenham side. As they go into the most significant North London derby since the 1991 FA Cup semi-final, Pochettino (below) remains on target to pull off what would be the greatest managerial job in Premier League history.
We have, for good reason, been swept along with the story of Leicester City. If they were to be crowned champions, it has to go down as the greatest feat in English football.
However, the attention Leicester have commanded has taken some of the spotlight away from the remarkable results Pochettino has masterminded. What we’ve seen from the Argentine is a success story for coaching, one that could take his team to the pinnacle of the domestic game.
You don’t associate Tottenham with being anywhere near the title. Yes, they are one of England’s biggest clubs but they’ve been champions only twice in 133 years (1950-51 and 1960-61). Never mind the West Ham defeat. Spurs, with the best defensive record in the league and the second-highest scorers, look ready to fight to the end.
So much impresses me. If I were a manager, I’d want my team to play like Pochettino’s. Powerful and relentless, with a great balance between defence and attack — it’s what Jurgen Klopp is striving for at Anfield.
Pochettino improves players. Harry Kane, Jan Vertonghen, Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Mousa Dembele: they were all there before he arrived but have thrived under him.
Young players respond to him, too. Look at the strides Dele Alli has made since arriving from MK Dons. Look how Eric Dier, who was a centre-half, has been reinvented as a midfielder. Tom Carroll, too, is starting to fulfil his potential.
Then, above all, there’s the balance sheet. Tottenham are £6.5million in profit for the last four transfer windows since they lured Pochettino from Southampton and followed that up by appointing Paul Mitchell, who worked with him at St Mary’s, as head of recruitment.
A title challenger in the black? In an era when clubs invest vast sums just to stay in the top flight, it’s remarkable that Pochettino has Spurs placed to attack in the final straight. Even Leicester have spent £48.5 min the same period.
It’s why Tottenham are on the cusp of outstripping all other champions since 1992.
Blackburn, in 1994-95, would perhaps come closest. It’s a myth to say they bought the title, as Graeme le Saux, Colin Hendry, Stuart Ripley, Tim Sherwood and Jason Wilcox were signed for pennies.
Yet they broke the British transfer record twice for Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton, while Tim Flowers became Britain’s most expensive keeper. They spent when they needed to. Know-how might be an issue f or Tottenham come to a crunch.
They are entering new territory in terms of pressure and it will be fascinating how they handle today’s derby.
Pochettino is working to remove the inferiority complex Spurs have had with Arsenal and maybe Kane’s double in the corresponding match last season will help change that.
They have an opportunity now that may not come around for 20 years or more.
Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City have all experienced problems and change and there is no way they will all underperform next term.
Even if Tottenham win the league this season, the best they could hope for in 12 months is finishing in the top four, so it gives you a sense of what’s at stake and how well Pochettino has done. If he pulls it off, it will be the best success of the modern era.