If you ask the majority of Spurs fans, this season has been very disappointing especially when you look at where we were earlier in the season.
The losses to Everton in the FA Cup, Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League and then to the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and most recently Manchester United has shown exactly why we are far from where we want to be and it has done no good for the team’s morale.
When the likes of Leicester and West Ham are above us in the table with just over a month of Premier League football to go, it is quite clear that the season has not went to plan at all, and Jose Mourinho’s future as manager at the club remains uncertain.
One player though who has had a very impressive season at Spurs is Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who arrived from Southampton last summer in a move that saw Kyle Walker-Peters head the other way permanently.
The former Bayern Munich prospect who was hailed by Pep Guardiola while they were both at the club as potentially ‘the Sergio Busquets of Bayern’, but now he finds himself trying to help Spurs to get Champions League football, and he still has that target in his sights despite the recent poor form.
This season could have been so different if half the team had the mentality of Højbjerg.
Always one of the few players to speak out when things aren’t going well. https://t.co/YvoWj6y7p2
— RC 🇯🇲 (@ReeceAC_) April 14, 2021
“If you compare with December, where we were at the forefront of everything, it looks different,” said Hojbjerg.
“But I do not want to paint hell on the wall. We are in the League Cup final and top four is not impossible.
“If you are not prepared to fight for every metre or ball, you will be punished. It is class that there is so much interest and a lot of pressure and expectations. That comes with playing for a big club like Tottenham.
“I am convinced that the future is bright for Tottenham Hotspur.”
Hojbjerg just gets it. One season with Tottenham and he has already shown immense passion. Great asset to the team 👏🏻.
— Maisie ≅ (@maisierp_x) April 14, 2021
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – The midfield general. Only been here a year but I already don't know where we would be without him. Keeps things ticking over, breaks up play, and has an eye for attacking returns too! Best signing of the summer!
— Seb Jenkins (@SpursWebSeb) April 9, 2021
Spurs take on Everton on Friday night in a clash that could see the two sides swap positions should the Toffees come out victorious for the third time against Mourinho’s team this season.
A win for us however, would put daylight between us and them at least temporarily, and put the pressure on the teams directly above us for when they all play at the weekend.
I have been a Spurs supporter since 1963. Been proud of Spurs but very sad of the performances this season especially the last 3 months. My observations despite the talent on the field:
1. The defense is weak. We get beaten always from the flanks. While defending, defenders get “out jumped” and leave gaps on the flanks (during our attacks) that get exploited by other teams. At the corners we are always vulnerable.
2. Our counter attacks always get broken down easily. Moving forward- our attacks must bite into opponents defense and cause them pain, if not a goal. Opposing defenses found it easy (most of the time) to break our attacks down. During attacks, bringing the ball back you enable opposing defenses to recoup. We should bite in rather than allow the opponents to reorganize – defeat the purpose of a counterattack.
3. In most games, we sit on one goal lead and get beaten or end in draws when opposing side fight back and show great “will” to win. We somehow lack this fightback ourselves- “battle of wills”. Mentality here need to improve. Refer to Roy Keane’s comments – “Spurs DNA has been week for last 40 years”. Study this – there is truth in this.
4. We have lost some 15 to 20 points unnecessarily this season and past seasons too, cannot afford any more losses. We need to “run in” strong for the rest of games like our lives depend on the results to qualify for Europe. Learn how to protect slender leads like most teams do, do not give even an inch away.
5. Keep Harry Kane at all cost and review our defense structure – need a central “GENERAL” who can control the defenses.
Note: losses to London teams is a gauge of our standing. It is not so much the coach’s battle alone but the teams performance on the field. Good luck.