It's been a difficult summer for Spurs supporters. In all honesty and to excuse my French, we've been fed a load of bullshit in regards the clubs ambition. Back in May at the end of the 2017/18 season Mauricio Pochettino said the following
“You need to be brave. In this type of situation being brave is important and you need to take risks. It is the moment in which the club needs to take risks. We need to talk a lot with the club. I have a very clear idea of what we need to do. I don’t know if the club will agree with me or not but we are going to talk to create the new project or what I think we need to do together again to try and improve.”
Fast forward to last Thursday at 5pm and the close of the transfer window for PL clubs and Spurs had not bought in any new players or done any business whatsoever that would indicate that a brave new project was about to begin. Instead Pochettino once again faced the camera's and stated that Tottenham had "achieved their objective" and did a "great job" by keeping their best players in the transfer window. Yes. it's good news that many of the first team have committed to new contracts, although we all know that in the modern game that doesn't mean much and if the club isn't achieving then those stars will soon be off to clubs that can offer them the chance of winning trophies. The blame cannot be placed fully with Pochettino, as most Spurs supporters will know that Chairman Daniel Levy's penny pinching and micro-managing approach has cost us in similar situations over the last couple of decades and various managers.
With the knives out so early in the season, it was imperative that the team get off to a good start and won the opening game at Newcastle this afternoon.
It was certainly an entertaining game of football with both teams having plenty of chances to add to the final scoreline of 1-2. Newcastle, in particular during the 2nd half, were the better team and hassled the Spurs midfield and defence into giving up the ball in dangerous areas as Tottenham looked to play out from the back. Diame and new signing Rondon both hit the woodwork with midfielder Kennedy also missing a glorious opportunity when one on one with Lloris. Ultimately Spurs were lucky to get the win and Newcastle fans will feel that they let a glorious opportunity slip against one of the tops teams in the league.
Spurs were without Kieran Trippier, Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele, although the later did come on as a sub during the 2nd half. For me it is the clubs inability to bring in a high class player in that central midfield that is the biggest disappointment of the summer window. Dembele despite not getting the plaudits that the likes of Kane, Alli and Eriksen have received over the last few years has been a key player for Tottenham. However, time and injuries are catching up with the Belgian and his performances of late, including the World Cup, have begun to drop off. There was talk that Spurs would sell in the summer but in an ideal world I would like to see them keep Dembele and look to integrate a new player into the side. What a luxury it would be to have him and know that he only needed to start 20 games a season while also letting the new player feel his way in.
The other problem that Spurs have and have had for the last couple of years is trying to add to the forward line. With Harry Kane the undoubted number 1, it is difficult to imagine that many high calibre players in that position would want to join Spurs. Kane's performance today was patchy to say the least. He miscontrolled several balls in the box when well placed and his usual accurate passing was lacking. He has a desperately poor record in August, having never scored in the early season for Spurs or England. At some point this year, you feel he will need a rest but again Spurs have failed to find the player who might be able to afford him that without damaging results.
Jan Vertonghen was the unlikely scorer of Tottenham's first goal this season and for me personally it brought back a lot of memories. Not only was today Tottenham's first game of the season but it was also my new born son's first game "watching" Spurs. I say "watching" as he spent the entire game asleep in my arms as I paced the living room nervously. Coincidentally, in the 2012/13 season, I found myself in a similar situation with my first born son. At the time, my wife and I were living in Asia and I awoke at 2 in the morning to watch a mid-week game between Man Utd and Spurs. It was a great match which Spurs ultimately hung onto win 2-3 in early hours of the morning, me staring blury eyed at the TV with no volume and carrying a 1 month old baby in my arms for his first game "watching" Spurs. The big coincidence? Jan Vertonghen also scored in that match for Spurs! While that wasn't quite his last goal for Spurs (he did score later in the 2012-13 season against Swansea), he is hardly a prolific scorer and clearly saves his goals for such occasions. I hope he and Spurs aren't waiting for me to have anymore children before he finds the back of the net again........
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