Spurs are yet to find their stride this term but are still in contention after seven league games. Here are five conclusions from their season so far.
Pochettino doesn’t know his best XI yet
What has been most abundantly clear about Tottenham Hotspur’s season so far is that new boss Mauricio Pochettino is yet to discover his best starting XI.
The Argentine was never going to do so overnight and has only been at White Hart Lane for a few months but his experimentation with team selection has seen him try everything under the sun in the way of starting line-ups. Once Pochettino finds out more and more about his players, a clearer picture will develop. But the longer that takes, the more hit-and-miss this season will become.
Europa League is a never-ending conundrum
A lot of the Spurs boss’s tinkering has come as a result of having to play in the Premier League on weekends and the Europa League on Thursday nights.
After so many years in the competition, it is difficult to tell whether it is truly beneficial or harmful to the north London side. The negatives of having to play in Europe’s second-tier event are obvious, especially as Spurs just haven’t gotten particularly close to winning it in recent years.
This season, however, the Europa League winner qualifies for next term’s Champions League. And, with competition so high domestically, that may sway Pochettino and co slightly more towards trying to go far in Europe again this campaign.
What’s happened to Chiriches?
In terms of individuals, Tottenham have had a mixed bag so far this term. Erik Lamela is developing as always, although he is, once again, not quite there yet. Nacer Chadli, meanwhile, has flourished.
But one man whose decline in form has been rather worrying is Vlad Chiriches. The centre-back’s troubling displays were summed up by the penalty he gave away against Besiktas in the Europa League. Will he ever return to form for Spurs?
Lloris the best at the Lane by a country mile
In terms of star performers, there is only one man you can single out: Hugo Lloris. Yet again.
The France goalkeeper has always produced in a Tottenham shirt and that has been no different again this season. Pochettino needs to do all he can to keep Lloris at the Lane, although the 27-year-old will need more commitment from some of his team-mates.
Goals are needed
After Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Besiktas, ex-coach Tim Sherwood told ITV Sport that his former club needed to sign either Demba Ba or Danny Welbeck in the summer.
Now, forget the names of the strikers – and the man who made the claim – for a second and think about it… A clinical striker would indeed take Tottenham to a level so much higher than their current one.
Emmanuel Adebayor scores once every few games, Harry Kane is yet to really produce in the Premier League and the Roberto Soldado of old is currently being searched for all over the country.
Imagine this Spurs side with a 20-goal-a-season striker to pass the ball to?
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