Pochettino's New Year Revolution
Hola. Here's 500 or so words I scribbled for the Metro. The essence of it has been shared here in recent weeks, but the relevant discussion is around what we can do to elevate some concerns during the month of January. Or rather during the last few hours on the last day of the transfer window.
Momentum. Consistency. Winning more homes games. It's not exactly far fetched ambition, is it?
Pochettino's New Year Revolution
Can Spurs win the title?
It's an attention grabbing question for sure. There's a fair amount of the Tottenham fan-base that want to see the side push as hard as they can for it. There's a difference between thinking you can win it and actually winning it. I'm quite happy for the players to take responsibility for the former whilst we enjoy the ride. What will be will be. Personally, I like immersing myself in the chase. That's where most of the excitement and heartbreak exists. If you're too reserved then by the end of it you'll have missed out on all the fun. You don't sit with your eyes closed on a roller-coaster. Then again, you wouldn't find yourself sat on one if you're of a nervous disposition.
So can we win it?
Mathematically, yes. Logically, probably not thanks to a variety of reasons concerning squad depth and inexperience. We never set out to challenge for it but half way through and thanks to our consistency it would be silly not to oblige. With the squad we have and the way we're playing, all we need to do is keep on going. There isn't a set in stone expectancy from anyone that reeks of deathly finality where we 'fail to achieve' and the team gets dismantled and sold on. We have 'potential stars' we don't have a full fledged mega-star that Real Madrid can steal in for. We're not built around a single player. Just the one coach.
Spurs don't lose often and make it immensely difficult for the opposing side to inflict critical damage. We've yet to be outclassed or outplayed this season. Games we've lost have been down to our own making rather than being brushed aside. This is actually a positive. We're not calamitous, we don't give it away in comical fashion. Occasionally there are stark reminders that we need to fix one or two things to consolidate and aid Mauricio Pochettino to continue to build this new era of hope.
We can contend for certain if we:
Buy a striker, an alternative option to the lung-busting Harry Kane
Start to rotate a little more to bring the likes of Nacer Chadli, Nabil Bentaleb and more academy players into the fold. Impact substitutions are not enough. Will also help in avoidance of burn-out
Work to intensify the pressure we create during the moments in games when we're on top. Second killer goals are required more often, especially at home. We've done brilliantly over Xmas period in displaying this trait. If we want to keep in touch with the top two, we have to be ruthless at home
More is required but I'm under no illusions and have no sense of expectancy either. I'm loving this Spurs side and our team spirit, identity and style. Challenging for the title sounds daunting and almost ridiculous. In context of this season, it isn't. Just take it as accidental fortune. If we fall short then that simply confirms the work that's still required. But by retaining our focus - as a team - that's the on-going creation of a winning mentality that will serve as an undeniable foundation for beyond this 2016.
Poch is future proofing. Happy new year.