 |
| Tottenham went cold towards the end of the season but, a fifth-placed finish after losing Harry Kane at the start of the season and, under a new manager should be celebrated. (Photo credit: GOAL) |
Everyone at Tottenham will agree that the white side of north London, with the cameras turned off, curtains drawn, phones in holsters, and humans tucked in duvets, is more of a perception than a reality.
Reflecting on the previous season, Tottenham struggled to secure a spot in the top four, losing out to league champions Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, and surprisingly, Newcastle. Meanwhile, Brighton, West Ham, Liverpool, and Aston Villa secured tickets to the Europa League and Conference League.
In hindsight, it appears that Tottenham Hotspur's absence from European football during the recently concluded season hindered their ability to concentrate on the league in the 2023/2024 season due to the demands of continental travel.
The club named Ange Postecoglou as the head coach, but had to bid farewell to their best player, record goal scorer Harry Kane, who Bayern Munich prized away as he went in search of silverware.
The Australians arrived with key signings in each department. Gigi Vicario came in to replace long-standing skipper Hugo Lloris; Destiny Udogie returned from loan; Micky Van De Ven in centre back; James Maddison in midfield; and Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson.
Postecoglou and Spurs got off to a strong start, scoring freely and playing sensational football based on high-line and intense pressing. By the end of game week ten, Spurs were leading the Premier League.
The rumors about Harry Kane faded away; they were scoring goals in equal measure, and no one seemed to be complaining. Late goals, convincing wins, and an impressive playing style led many to rank them among the early contenders until the Chelsea game happened.
Spurs hosted a struggling Chelsea side, and many expected the hosts to win cleanly, but it went sideways too early in the game. Christian Romero gave up a penalty and received a red card, Destiny Udogie also received a red card, and Van De Ven and Maddison both sustained injuries.
That began the downward spiral for the Spurs. Many more injuries led to bad results even as the manager refused to change his playing style; it went on and on until the tail end of the season. The top-four spot, which looked assured, now became a prayer point; it was too late to cry.
Van De Ven caught the eye alongside Vicario in goal. Many saw Udogie as a revelation in their team of the season; Madison could have performed better if he hadn't sustained a long-term injury, and Heung Min Son's performance throughout the season left much to be desired.
The major talking point of the season was the game at home against Manchester City. Their fans were happy to lose the game to stop Arsenal from winning the league, but Postecoglou couldn’t understand the mentality. He tore into all of them at his post-match press conference; he couldn’t come to terms with how they dreamed.
The new season is coming, and the manager will have a full pre-season. He is already eyeing new signings to improve his squad. Van De Ven, along with Romero and Vicario, is undoubtedly their player of the season, but Emerson Royale stands out as the most disappointing member of the squad due to his unsatisfactory role during crucial moments when players in his position sustained injuries.