Third place, into the knockout stages of Champions League Football and a FA Cup Semi Final. You ask most Spurs supporters if they'd take that at the beginning of the season and the vast majority bites your hand off. This was our first term away from historical and magical White Hart Lane. We would in essence have no true home games. Much was made of the "Wembley Curse." It was widely believed this season would be one of attrition, and the pay off would be next year at the new stadium. The Champions League draw was unkind, with both Real Madrid and Dortmund in our group. Spurs made a mess of a much easier group the year prior when forced to play European nights at Wembley.
The season began somewhat as expected. Harry Kane continued his run of barren Augusts. Spurs did not seem to have the same swagger on the adopted home pitch. Naturally, Harry got into his groove. Spurs realized a game of football is a game of football and to make the most of the situation at hand; even breaking the Premier League attendance record 3 times.
There were a few turning points in the season, those that came to define the term. The first big moments in my mind were the back to back European nights against Madrid. Tottenham Hotspur showed on the big stage that they are capable of playing with and beating anyone, and can do it in style. From this came belief, and to the fans a sense of hope and optimism (with that expectations) about the season that wasn't there from the offset. In one of those matches the ground was also laid for something that would prove to be another big story later: Toby Alderweireld went down with a serious injury.
Meanwhile in the league, Manchester City were running rampant. As the matches continued it became apparent that every other team was fighting for second place. Citeh were that good this year. Spurs should have been good enough to be the second place team. United were awful to watch; absolutely pitiful football on display. Mou had his hands full with his players. Liverpool had not yet gotten their act together at the back, they were amazing going forward but you always knew you could break them down as well. Conte and Chelsea went from formidable to farcical from the Christmas period on. Wenger and Arsenal played were just plain terrible.
The Round of 16 saw Tottenham draw Italian giants Juventus. Within minutes of the tie, all had seemed lost as they capitalized on early errors. Spurs, led by a dominant performance by Moussa Dembele, lifted themselves up from this early disappointment and went on to dominate the rest of the tie -- that is of course until in typical "spursy" fashion capitulating near the end. All the champagne football is for naught if you can't play with a bit of nous in these ties. Magical Pochettino, as he often does, lacked a plan B. The defense made some foolish mistakes and we didnt finish our chances. These three characteristics would define the disappointments of a season. This tie broke the spirit of the fans and team for a bit.
Missing from the Juve tie was Toby Alderweireld, despite being fit. Jan the man marshalled the defense well in his stead. New signing, young Davidson Sanchez, had deputized well for Toby, but you always felt when fit he would slot back in or we would go to a back three. Toby, after all is a top 3 center back in this league when fit... if not the best. It was not just at the back where we missed him, but in giving another option going forward with his long diagonal balls from the back. It was not just his place on the field that made this a big turning point, but in the press and off the pitch. Although by all reports Toby was a consumate professional about it, he was seemingly frozen out a la Kyle Walker last season for not signing a contract extenstion. Alderweireld wanted to be paid parity, or close to it , with the other top defenders in the league and Levy was unwilling to move the goal posts in respect to the Club's wage structure. As fans, we all fear the ripple down effect from this. There are a bevy of players who are not being paid their relative worth and will have clubs sniffing around, and agents in their ears. Kyle Walker lifting the Premier League trophy in a record breaking Man City side on over double his previous wages will be lost on no one.
The final moment that I would like to pinpoint in this season was where I feel the team packed it in, robbing themselves and the fans of a second place finish. There were two major things left to play for in April: Champions League qualification and the FA Cup. They would still play Chelsea in what was largely believed to be a top four decider. A first win at the Bridge in my lifetime saw the last time it seemed the league mattered the lads. In what has become somewhat of a regular event, Spurs were knocked out of the cup in a wildy disappointing Semi Final. Kane had rushed himself back from ankle injury too early and we were simply not good enough.
Although not actual pinpoint moments, there were two periods of poor form by important players that could have seen points swing in our favor had they played better. Captain Hugo Lloris has a poor season by his standards, particularly following his early season injury. I expect this to be a temporary dip in form and that his class will show again next season. , but he had costly mistakes. Star man Harry Kane may have topped his goal scoring best of seasons past, but was a shadow of his former self after returning from yet another ankle injury. You have to wonder what could have been had he rested it a couple more weeks.
I would have loved the accomplishments of this season at the beginning of the season, but I feel that the FA Cup was there for the taking and this group of players need to lift a trophy. We should have made it past Juventus. Second was attainable. Though it is worth pointing out we finished as the top team in London, ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal. It's a testament to Poch and this group of players that the day after the season finished, that there is a small feeling of let down rather than pure accomplishment.
Player of Season: Jan Vertonghen
Signing of the Season: D. Sanchez