In times of upheaval and change, it is natural for people to look to the future with a degree of trepidation.
The unknown is a scary place and that is why people try to alleviate their fears by setting goals, sometimes realistic and sometimes ludicrously overly positive. But why do people do it? Quite simply, it gives us a theoretical roadmap to a destination that we would like to arrive.
To say that Tottenham at the end of the previous season was in a state of flux would be a gross understatement. Words like shambles, mess and somewhat less linguistically acceptable – ‘s**t show’ were commonplace – and rightly so.
At the time of writing, there has been change aplenty at The Lane. A new manager through the door in Ange Postecoglou has brought back a feeling of warmth to the club.
His demeanour, modesty and avuncular nature has begun to create a bridge back to the fans, who have felt alienated by ego-centric managers, tone-deaf decisions by the board, and of course physical divide previously caused by COVID. No disrespect to the man, but I am not sure any Spurs fan is thinking ‘What if?’ about Arnie Slot right now.
However, it cannot be overstated that these are merely the green shoots of recovery. There is a long way to go even to reach a state of equilibrium around the club. The squad is bloated and imbalanced; there is mass dissatisfaction towards those running the club, and results and performances need to be consistently better on the pitch.
Therefore, I have outlined five ways which, if met, Tottenham could argue it has been a good season.
1) Clarity and Transparency at the Top
This article is not going to address whether Daniel Levy should be at the club; that subject matter is worthy of a book at least. However, by May 2024, certain roles need to be clarified at the club because currently several individuals who could/ should be performing those roles are acting like poorly skilled undercover agents.
Firstly, our Chief Football Operator (CFO), the elusive Scott Munn, must officially start at the club and it needs to be made very clear what his responsibilities are.
The division of power between him and Daniel Levy must be crystal clear and, more importantly, adhered to. If Munn is to be effective, he needs to be given autonomy and allowed to run the football side of business – basically let him work to his job title.
Secondly, the Director of Football needs to be installed or at least a plan made clear. I have written before that my instinct is that, once his ban is over, Fabio Paratici will resume his position at the club. Initially, we held off letting him go for so long because it was clear those in positions of power were hopeful he would not have to go.
Currently, he is working in a ‘consultancy role’ for the club and was at the Brentford game this weekend (Football.London).
Let us be blunt about this – Tottenham are exploiting a loophole and he has been involved in the signings of Veliz and Vicario (Football.London), but they should acknowledge this and release a statement saying that ‘once his ban is over he will be reinstated’ – if this is indeed the case.
If Ange Postecoglu has no issue with working with ‘Don Fabio’, then I am sure the fan base won’t either. Indeed, if the triumvirate of Munn, Paratici and Postecoglu work together effectively and are left to run the football side – I think it solves a lot of problems at the club.
2. Ship out the Deadwood
I am not going to name names of players I think should be shipped. It does not need to be said. Ange himself has admitted the squad is too large (OneFootball).
This has been a problem at the club for too many years. Players with little to offer the club have either been kept on – due to some sense of loyalty; a hope that they would ‘turn it around’ or just a delusional belief in how much certain players are worth.
Tottenham fans have looked incredulously at Chelsea this summer, who have managed to flog a squad worth of players and made roughly £220m in the process (Transfermarkt). For those wildly gesticulating and asking how they escape FFP penalties – this helps explain it somewhat!
Too often Tottenham have allowed players to leave on loan when they obviously have no future – usually without obligation to buy clauses! The thinking is clear – they will show their worth on loan and then we can get a better fee. In principle this is sound, but has it ever worked?
Instead, and I have written previously about this before, Ange had to take a preseason tour with close to ten players that have zero chance of game minutes for Tottenham this season. There needs to be a line drawn in the sand now. If they do not have a future at the club – sell. Even if it means taking at hit.
Let’s be fair, we can take that hit based on how much we have received from the sale of an academy player last week. By next preseason, the squad should contain only players that have a future at the club, either immediately or in the long term.
3. The ‘Brand’ of Football
However opposition fans may scoff, there is a way of playing football at Tottenham Hotspur. It is about attacking and playing in a swashbuckling, sometimes cavalier manner that electrifies the fans.
Even the clubs lauded motto: To Dare is to Do, is all about taking risks to (potentially) achieve glory. Even though it went horribly wrong, Ossie Ardiles ‘got it’ when he played the Famous Five of Klinsmann, Sheringham, Barmby, Dumitrescu and Anderton. Admittedly, that all went horribly wrong – but Ossie dared to dream (his second dream, after getting to a final at Wembley).
More successfully, I saw attacking football under the likes of Jol, Redknapp and the current Chelsea manager. Players such as Berbatov, Bale, Modric and Dele flourished and exhilarated. After the depths of Mourinho’s bus parking; Conte’s ‘cling on until the second half’ and of course the instantly forgettable ‘Nunoball’ – I am ready to be wowed once more.
The signs are good and as Ange himself says, he will not be swayed from his principles. Let’s hope that when we have a rocky patch, as we inevitably will, the players continue to dare.
4. Give it a Shot in the Cups
For me, the ultimate nadir of last season (and there were multiple options) was the abject FA Cup defeat to Sheffield United (BBC Sport).
As a supporter of this famous football club, I have witnessed two trophy wins – The Allan Nielsen final of 1998/99 and the Jonathan Woodgate final of 2007/08. Unlike many, I am not one of those supporters that cherishes trophies above all else.
If I remember rightly, the Worthington Cup win of 1998/99 came in the typically mediocre season expected of 90s Tottenham teams (Wikipedia).
But let’s give it a go. That is all I ask. We have a good squad and should be aiming for quarter or semi-finals at least. Without Europe this year, we should attack on all fronts – in every sense. If we go out in a blaze of glory 5-3 away at Machester City – so be it.
Whimpering out against lower-level opposition, whilst fielding a second-string line-up, with barely an effort on goal is not acceptable.
5. Improve the Attack
It would be churlish of me to use the phrase ‘replace Kane’. It is just not possible, and by using that phrase it heaps instant, unnecessary pressure on any individual joining the club.
Yet the fact remains, 30 league goals have just walked out the door and they need to be scored. We need an instinctive finisher in the club because we are sorely lacking one. If it means waiting till January to make the right signing, then so be it, but we need to look at this season as being transitional (to a point).
By the beginning of next season, the personnel must be through the door and ready to fire all guns blazing at the onset of the 2024/25 season.
To conclude Tottenham’s success checklist
So, are these targets viable? I would argue they are within the realms of possibility and not impossible to attain. Fundamental changes and improvements need to happen for the club to address the fragmentation that has happened in recent years.
Tottenham are a massive club financially, but also in emotional terms. They are central to the lives of thousands and for that reason, it is essential that there is harmony, happiness and stability at the club.
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