Of course, the 2015-16
Premier League season was all about Leicester City, but the Foxes’
exploits overshadowed Spurs’ best finishing position since the
start of the Premier League era. Indeed, Mauricio Pochettino’s side
were title contenders with only a few weeks of the season remaining
and, despite a bizarre 5-1 defeat by ten-man Newcastle United at
St.James’s Park in their final fixture, the Lilywhites have plenty
to look forward to next season.
Their third place
finish in the Premier League means that they automatically qualify
for the Champions League group stage, albeit not as a seeded team,
and they have reached a deal to play their Champions League home
games at Wembley next season.
Since the inception of
the Premier League in 1992, Tottenham have won the Football League
Cup twice and finished runner-up in the same competition three times
but, two years into a five-year contract, Pochettino must surely
have his sights set on more prestigious silverware next season.
The former Argentine
centre-back has built a team full of energy and desire, with Harry
Kane, who scored 28 goals in all competitions in 2015-16, well on his
way to establishing himself as England’s first-choice striker. The
emergence of Dele Alli who, at the age of 20, set a Premier League
record by becoming the youngest midfielder to score 10 goals in a
single season, provides further cause for optimism. It’s no secret
that Pochettino wants more attacking options, but the club is well
positioned to attract the crème de la crème of striking talent.
At the other end of the
pitch, the addition of Belgian international Toby Alderweireld to an
erstwhile ‘leaky’ back four had the desired effect, with
Tottenham conceding 0.92 goals per game, against a league average of
1.35.
None of Pochettino’s
first-team players are out of contract so, if he can secure the
services of the striker he wants, the 9/1 available with Paddy Power
for Spurs’ to win the Premier League might prove a little generous.
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