The absence of a clear plan and identity has been evident for the last four years. In that time, Tottenham has lost its way and failed to win a trophy for 15 years.
Pochettino’s time at Tottenham was marked by a clear style of play
Tottenham Hotspur has been struggling to recapture feelings of optimism and possibility in recent years. The absence of a clear plan and identity has been evident for the last four years. In that time, Tottenham has lost its way and failed to win a trophy for 15 years. However, the saddest part of the story is that they have squandered the legacy that was left by their former manager, Mauricio Pochettino. Pochettino’s time at Tottenham was marked by a clear style of play and an intense pressing game that was the envy of Europe. He achieved a trio of top-three finishes and led the team to their first-ever Champions League final.
The team had to be set up to cope with the handful of games in which they might be outgunned
Despite the success, Tottenham’s front-foot approach was not maintained. After Pochettino’s departure in 2019, the club abandoned the style of play that had made them successful. Instead of finding the next Pochettino, the club’s chairman, Daniel Levy, was seduced by the need for a so-called winner. This led to the appointment of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, both of whom preferred a reactive game with low blocks and lower-risk football. The idea was that the team had to be set up to cope with the handful of games in which they might be outgunned, rather than reveling in the vast majority of matches they could reasonably expect to dominate with a swagger. Games became something to endure rather than enjoy. The result has been a paucity of ambition that has sapped players as well as supporters.
Spurs had now employed three consecutive coaches who all preferred a reactive game
Tottenham’s recent managerial appointments have failed to bring the success that was expected. Nuno Espirito Santo’s 17 games were barely worth mentioning, but it meant that Spurs had now employed three consecutive coaches who all preferred a reactive game. The future has become the past, and the baby has been thrown out with the bathwater. The false dichotomy that Spurs supporters must choose between entertaining and winning has been reinforced in recent years. However, George Graham and Juande Ramos lifted more trophies than Pochettino, showing that entertaining football is not a basis on which to build. Instead, the journey should be as important as the destination, and the process itself should be fun.
The supporters deserve a team that they can be proud of
Tottenham now needs a new vision, and a process must start and be allowed to finish under a coach who wants to embrace a more expansive brand of football and stick around to see it through. It could take time, but the quick fixes have only broken Tottenham. They must put their missteps behind them and recapture the feelings of optimism and possibility that have been absent for too long. Despite their recent struggles, Tottenham has the best training ground in the country and the best stadium. It is a club that should be shooting for the moon, not settling for mediocrity. The supporters deserve a team that they can be proud of and that plays with passion and commitment. They should never go back to the past, but they must learn from it and build a brighter future.
In conclusion, Tottenham must find a new identity and style of play that will bring back the success and optimism that was once present at the club. The journey should be enjoyable, and the supporters deserve a team that they can be proud of. Tottenham’s recent failures have shown that quick fixes do not work, and a long-term vision is needed to bring back success to the club.