Being better than Arsenal is all well and good, but in the Premier League, you have to look a bit further.
But hey it’s been a long time coming, and you can’t blame Spurs fans for lauding it over their North London rivals after looking up at them for the best part of a quarter of a century. Now though, they need to take another big step and win something.
It’s been ten long years since they won a trophy…and that was the League Cup!
Prior to that, they lifted the FA Cup in 1991. It’s also over 50 years since they won the league. I fear the Whites will never have a better chance to win the Premier league than in 2016 when they bottled it to let Leicester complete their amazing feat.
Now they have to start again. But when you see the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool strengthening—all while Chelsea and Arsenal have new head coaches—it’s clear that 2018/19 will be another big test for Tottenham.
Key Strengths
They will finally arrive in their new Stadium for their second home game of the new season and I bet Spurs fans can’t wait. They were always lodgers at Wembley and played like that in the early stages.
While Coach Mauricio Pochettino is unwilling to lay any blame for their slow start on that factor, it certainly took them a while to get going.
They need to get their new 62,000-ground bouncing and start quickly, but the first visitors will be…Liverpool.
One of the most exciting talents at Spurs is wing-back Kieran Trippier who has been one of Pochettino’s best players since moving into Kyle Walker’s place so easily. The former Manchester City man is a talented and tough defender and a brilliant attacking wing-back with world-class delivery and dead ball skills, as we all saw in Russia.
And then, of course, there’s King Harry. In Harry Kane, Spurs have its best goalscorer since the great Jimmy Greaves, and England its best since Alan Shearer. His goals almost, almost took England to the World Cup final as he won the Golden Boot. Last season, he was only outscored by the incredible Mo Salah.
Kane’s value comes not only in his undoubted talent, able to score with both feet from distance and a brave header of the ball, but in his down to earth approach to life as an example both on and off the field.
But how long he’ll stick around if Spurs draw another blank is anyone’s guess.
Major Weaknesses and Concerns
Can the club’s biggest strength also be a weakness? The massive reliance on Kane to deliver probably put paid to England’s World Cup hopes, but it can be a danger for Spurs too. An injury to their talisman could cost them dearly and end any hope of winning something.
At the time of writing, Pochettino has yet to complete a signing this summer. And although the team has had a pretty decent pre-season, Whites fans can be excused for getting twitchy with the cash that has been splashed all around them.
Tottenham have previously been blessed with quick wingers; but since the departure of the likes of Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale, they have relied more on playing through the middle with advancing wing backs in support. That can work, of course, but an attacking speed merchant on the wing can put the wind up most full-backs.
Key Players to Watch
I’m hoping that Dele Alli can recapture his form of 2016/17 after a rather disappointing effort last season—by his own high standards. He could do with learning from his skipper and maybe worry a little less about what he’s doing off the field. And if he can stay on his feet more, he’ll endear himself to opposition fans!
Georges-Kevin Nkoudou starred in the ICC and could become an exciting player with the wing trickery the fans love to see. He had a fruitless loan spell at Burnley last season, so this term is an important one for the youngster if he is to become big Premier League 2018 news.
Fearless Forecast
SBOBET football fans will know that Spurs are fifth favourites in every domestic competition next season, at odds of 9.00 for the Carabao Cup, 10.00 for the FA Cup and 16.00 for the league.
So will it be another potless year for Poch? I’m going to stick my neck out and say ‘NO’! My Premier League 2018 predictions for Spurs are good and bad I guess.
This year, I believe there might just be a frenzy to find the keys to the Spurs’ trophy cabinet as they win one of the two cups.
But I’m afraid that will probably be a consolation for missing out on a top-four place as I do think we have that one right.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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