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The good news just keeps piling up

The good news just keeps piling up for Tottenham fans

Mauricio Pochettino

The good news just keeps piling up for Tottenham fans this summer and it bodes well for the next Premier League campaign. First manager Mauricio Pochettino turned down overtures from Real Madrid and signed a new five-year deal that kept the world’s most coveted manager at the helm of the club. Then Harry Kane penned a six-year contract that tied in with the CIES Football Observatory naming him the world’s most valuable player. As statements of intent go, it was emphatic, and Daniel Levy deserves great credit for nailing down the club’s two greatest assets in such decisive fashion.

A sense of disappointment after another trophy-less season could have driven the duo out of the club and into the welcoming arms of Champions League winners Real Madrid this summer. Their decision to stay put should inspire their team-mates to follow suit. Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli are now set to commit their futures to the club, which is a blow for La Liga champions Barcelona, who are known to covet the Danish playmaker. That trio must be worth £450 million now, and it is hard to imagine a single club in world football that can boast such a valuable attacking triumvirate. Perhaps Barcelona, Real Madrid and that’s about it.

This Tottenham team seems so close to glory. It has all the right ingredients: world-class manager, goal machine up front, magnificent playmaker, dynamic number 10, rock solid midfield, watertight defence, dependable goalkeeper. Issues around strength in depth have been resolved, and only one thing remains: mentality. Spurs simply need to start acting and playing like winners, and learn not to crumble under pressure in the latter stages of the season.

The whole empire could have come crumbling down in spectacular fashion this summer. Had Pochettino decided to leave, an exodus would have ensued. Had Levy decided to cash in on Kane, to pay back a chunk of the new stadium, the likes of Eriksen and Alli would be clamouring to follow him out of the door. Securing Champions League football for the 2018/19 campaign was crucial. Now they need to start winning trophies, and there is every reason to think next season could be the one.

Not only do they have world-class players in all departments, Spurs also enjoy great cohesiveness. These stars have been playing with one another for many years now, and there is a strong collective mentality in the group. There are a couple of issues to address, but that is always going to happen. The big one is Toby Alderweireld, who seems determined to force his way out of the club. That would be a blow, but he might well change his mind. Tottenham also got through most of the season without him and still had the league’s third best defensive record. If he does go, Spurs can reinvest the cash and bring in another solid centre-back to compete with Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez for a place in the starting 11.

A bookmaker review will yield the most reputable odds on the market, and they are offering long odds on Spurs winning the title next season. For instance, Tottenham are all the way out at 16/1. That might be worth a bet. It has been a decade since a team successfully defended the Premiership title, so there could be value in opposing Man City, who looked vulnerable towards the end of the 2017/18 season. Man Utd struggle going forward under Jose Mourinho, while Liverpool struggle at the back and Chelsea are a mess. Spurs have continuity, stability and consistency, and they have more than enough individual and collective talent to seize glory next season. A couple of defensive reinforcements and perhaps a game changing attacker to compete for a place with Son Heung-Min for a place in the team could make all the difference.

P.S - There was more good news today (June 14th) when the Premier League fixture list for 2018/19 was disclosed, confirming that we will play a first "home" game at Wembley before our first Premier League game at the new stadium against Liverpool on the weekend of 15th/16th September! I can't wait!

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