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Tottenham Hotspur are certainly the team that have been so close yet so far on a number of ocassions. Be it the time when they missed out on top 4 by a single point to Arsenal or when they did enter the top 4 only to be denied a Champions League position at the hands of 6th placed Chelsea who won the Champions League. This season, however, the one component missing from the Spurs game, that should be infused by Mauricio Pochettino is belief.
Limited transfer activity
While Spurs have been quiet this season in the transfer market, they've bought in useful defensive reinforcements in Eric Dier, Ben Davies and experienced goalkeeper Michel Vorm. 20 year old Eric Dier has already shown why he could be a real bargain at 4 million pounds with excellent displays against West Ham and QPR including that memorable debut goal. Ben Davies too quietly impressed in his debut against Limassol.
With another week of the transfer window remaining, expect Mauricio Pochettino's side to go all out for one or two attacking options. Memphis Depay, Loic Remy and Mattia Destro are all heavily linked to sign up for Spurs as at the same time Sevilla captain Federico Fazio closes in on a Spurs switch. All this does not change the shape of the team in as drastic a manner as last year’s summer signings did.
Moreover, it seems that Spurs have managed to keep hold of star players Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen, which is another good sign.
Mauricio Pochettino and his philosophy of intense pressing
Last year Spurs players were continuosly labelled lazy, tired and extremely careless in possession. We can be rest assured that there will not be much of the same this season. Mauricio Pochettino is known to make his players work hard in training. They say you need an extra pair of lungs to play for him. And at Spurs that is all that is needed. A motivational coach who demands it all from his players to deliver on the pitch.
During the season he lightens the load but is still unrelenting in his pursuit of fitness. At Southampton he had players walk over coal, quite literally, so as to improve mental strength and fitness.
Moussa Dembele has recently stated that the biggest change in the training session since Pochettino’s arrival has been stress on improving the players’ fitness. Mauricio Pochettino on the pitch likes to play a fluid attacking game with flair which is the Tottenham way. Applying intense pressure and ball retention are some of the basic qualities he tries to infuse in his team’s style of play.
A second season for Erik Lamela, Nacer Chadli and Etienne Capoue
Against QPR we saw an Erik Lamela who seemed to be missing last season but was everywhere, running through QPR’s weak fragile defence at will and setting up two beautiful goals. The confident Lamela from Roma seems to have finally arrived. The 30 million pounds record signing seems to have finally arrived. When Nacer Chadli signed for Spurs from FC Twente, there wasn't much excitement and expectations and most fans seemed disinterested with his arrival.
After last season, many were of the belief that following his disappointing season, Chadli would be the first to exit the club. However, following Sunday's performance there is a belief growing within Tottenham fans that Chadli will be the one to really make a difference for Spurs. His killer instinct and ability to get into goalscoring positions capped with his delightful vision should be a vital component of Spurs' game, with Pochettino likely to play him as a winger cum forward, a role Jay Rodriguez played under him at Southampton.
Etienne Capoue was another player who has put in extremely valuable performances in all 3 of their games thus far. Being the perfect destroyer in the centre of the pitch, his balance and composure should be ideal for the Spurs attack going forward. Finally with Christian Eriksen having a brilliant first season at Spurs, expect much more from the visionary playmaker as most of Spurs's attack should arise from his play.
Looking ahead
Combining the manager’s attacking style of play with players like Eriksen, Lamela and Chadli is a recipe for success. The top 4 seems very much a reality. However tougher tests lie ahead, starting with Liverpool next week and Pochettino needs to find a way to right all the wrongs Spurs seemed to have done last season against the top 6. With belief in this Spurs camp, everything seems possible. COYS!!
