Writer: Jod
I read a piece earlier that spoke of a season that started “rich with promise”. I had to check the writer meant this season. To me this season was always full of peril.
First of all, there was the World Cup.
Spurs had more players going deeper into the competition than anyone else in the Premier League. There was always going to be a price to pay. Of course, those who believe sportsmen don’t get tired no matter how many matches they play and that you can always make someone fitter by paying them more money didn’t see the problem.
Then there was the stadium.
To anyone not familiar with big construction projects the delays came as a shock, to those that were it was just depressingly normal. Add on the injuries and it’s been very tough as we try to get the points we need for a top four finish. At Fulham the grind continued with our top four goalscorers all missing by the end of the game.
Somehow though we are still in third place. If we are there at the end of the season I’ll be relieved and satisfied. However, I’m a lot more optimistic about next year.
No World Cup means proper rest and a proper pre-season for our players. We should also have seen the back of Wembley and playing in our own stadium must help. There’s also player development. Normally I work on the assumption we can develop one player a year in house, there isn’t enough game time for any more.
Not this season though, Foyth and Skipp seem to be moving inexorably forward which must help us next year. We also seem to have found a really good keeper in Gazzaniga. There’s another factor. When you keep overcoming obstacles no matter what is thrown at you it builds belief, what you’ve done once you can do again.
That too must surely help going forward.