The Cockerel’s Next Fight

After a season that promised so much, Tottenham Hotspur are once again left scratching their heads.

Having made a massive re-investment of the Gareth Bale transfer receipt, Andres Villas-Boas, Franco Baldini and Daniel levy were finally looking at a real tilt for the title. Chelsea, and the Manchester clubs had all installed new managers, and with Arsenal a perennial under-achiever, the Yid Army must’ve truly believed it was their chance in the limelight. Little did they know what was to come next.

The figures read like a basketball score; 34-3 is their aggregate score against Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and, with 3 derby losses (one was in the League Cup), West Ham.
This despite Tim Sherwood inspiring an improvement of sorts, but his squad’s limitations were once again on show with the repulsive excuse for a wall that helped them to a 3rd loss to Sam Allardyce this season.

Roberto Soldado, Erik Lamela, Lewis Holtby and Etienne Capoue and Nacer Chadli have been downright awful this season. Franco Baldini was the architect of many of their signings, and results weren’t helped by Villas-Boas suicidal high line. Even worse, Sherwood – a man who wears his heart on his sleeves and professes proper attacking football as well as rigorous man-management is set to be sacked, even after having coaxed out world-class performances from the forlorn Emmanuel Adebayor to keep their season afloat.

Having scored 52 Premier League goals and conceded 51, it is clear that the manager isn’t the only problem. However, too much of the squad is new to be sold. Even complete flops like Lamela and Soldado (who suffered a personal tragedy, it must be noted) deserve a chance to prove their worth in England’s difficult environment. Benoit Assou-Ekotto has been fine this season, and looks set to return from his loan to a better Spurs – if Levy isn’t as needlessly ruthless as he was when sacking a splendid Harry Redknapp for a foolish Villas-Boas.

Michael Dawson and Jan Vertonghen have often been exposed by their high-line this season, but those are tactical issues. In terms of the team, not very much is wrong, and Harry Kane has looked like an able striker to support Adebayor and Soldado. If Tottenham can keep hold of Paulinho – who is being summoned to join Jose Mourinho’s next great Chelsea team – they might be able of creating a solid midfield base. Vlad Chiriches merely needs time to prove himself – his Old Trafford performance was terrific – and Nabil Bentaleb has ably repaid Sherwood’s faith in him.

Tottenham are gearing up for another assault on the Europa League (and the Champions League spots), and would do well to establish the culture of continuity thrown into disarray when Harry Redknapp was unfairly dismissed.

They should also avoid spending too much, especially with the construction of the new stadium draining their resources. Manchester City are being fined an incredible sum – Tottenham would do well to lower their present expectations in order to have a brighter future.

If Sherwood is kept and allowed to promote his men from the academy, this squad should be enough to mount a serious tilt at Arsenal’s coveted fourth place.