Tottenham Hotspur: Back To Basics (Take 2)

Why Spurs?

Always a side I enjoy managing - full of young talents, and with bags of potential.

Who Am I Playing As?
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No twisting this time - sticking with current spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino!

Spurs History
Premier Division: 1951, 1961
FA Cup: 1901, 1921, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1981, 1982, 1991
Capital One Cup: 1971, 1973, 1999, 2008
Community Shield: 1921, 1951, 1961, 1962
EURO Cup: 1972, 1984
Cup Winners Cup: 1963
Sky Bet Championship: 1920, 1950

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Honours

FA Cup (2015)

Index

Current Season: 2016/17
41. Lamela - I Can't Be The Nearly Man
42. Can Makes Loan Move Permanent in £25.5m Deal
43. Six Youngsters Leave, As Poch Streamlines Squad
44. Spurs Splash Cash On Nottingham Forest Striker
45. Lamela Seals £60m Switch To PSG (+ Transfer Roundup)
46. Pre-Season 2016
47. August 2016

1

Pochettino: I’ll Focus On Youth

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Pochettino Took over from Tim Sherwood In May

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New Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has hinted to fans that he will endorse a similar ideology at his new club as he made so successful with Southampton. The 42-year old Argentinian, who became only the second Argentinian to manage in the Premier League, after Spurs legend Ossie Ardilles, led Southampton to some impressive victories in his 18 months at St. Mary’s and favoured the club’s own youth products in that time.

However, at Tottenham, some have suggested that such a quality of youngster is not available to him, and he tended to agree, stating today that: ”I am of course willing to continue my philosophy of giving youngsters a chance, and after conversations with the board, they are happy to let this happen. However, at Southampton, I had players such as Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana, who were very much ready for first-team football. That is not so much the case here. So far I have been very impressed with Harry Kane, and also Nabil Bentaleb, but I think a lot of talent will be brought from outside the club. As the youth system develops I hope to incorporate that into my squad. Youth for me is very important - it brings an energy to a team that older players find very difficult to deal with.”

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Impressed: Pochettino has taken a shine to young striker Kane

Some Spurs fans have suggested that their sides needs experienced heads, but Pochettino seems content that there will be a sufficient mix of youth and experience to bring home results.

”Of course, developing youngsters is not only about throwing a team of 11 together and praying that they win. They need to be paired with the correct players, learn the correct attitudes and playing styles, and work together with their colleagues to reach their full potential. Here, we have an excellent spread of experience which will help us to develop any youngsters we bring in, and create a winning mentality at this club. That is what I want to achieve.

“Bringing in good youngsters is not a cheap practice, and in order to get a good return on our investment these young men must be given time and space to develop. I would urge supporters not to expect fireworks from the young players - instead, get behind them, give them support, and watch them flourish in years to come.”

But with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy notoriously difficult to please, will the new man get time to see his vision come to fruition?

”I have spoken to the chairman, and he understands that the project I want to undertake here is not only for one or two seasons. I want to be here for 5, 10 years, perhaps 15, and build this club into one of the world’s great producers of young talent, A Barcelona, an Ajax, clubs like this is where we must learn from. I need patience and understand, and I have been told I will get this.”

Adebayor On His Way Out Of White Hart Lane?

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Going...Going…: The Togo striker scored 11 goals last term, but is unsettled

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Spurs’ 30-year old Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor is apparently unsettled at White Hart Lane. The revelation comes after new boss Mauricio Pochettino spoke to the media last weekend about his intention to give youth a chance at the club. In the 3 seasons since his move to Spurs, Adebayor has been far from a model citizen, branded by the media and some sections of the support as lazy, but with 32 goals to his name, he does come in handy in a pinch.

Speaking on Friday morning, the striker had this to say: ”The new boss has openly come out and admitted that he is going to look to younger players. In my book, that means people like Harry Kane, not me. I will not be happy sitting on a bench watching my team-mates play every week. I need to be on the pitch and playing for the shirt. It feels like I have been ruled out of contention straight from the off, even though the other players are not that much younger than me, I have been playing for several years now, and that experience, I feel, should set me apart from others.”


Getting On: Adebayor’s teammate Soldado is 29 - and his nose is firmly in joint

When asked about Adebayor’s statements, fellow striker Roberto Soldado (29), was a lot more understanding than is Togolese counterpart. The Spaniard has put forward the view that, for the good of the team, youth must be given a chance:

”I think what the manager said last week should be seen positively. Harry [Kane] is an incredible talent, and after working with him over the Summer, I can safely say that he would push me and Emmanuel for a starting position. There is no point ruling players in or out based purely on age, and that is not what the manager has done.

“I think Emmanuel is annoyed because he is one of the oldest members of the team, but the experience that he has would be sorely missed if he were to leave. With a new manager coming in, we should all be pulling together and working as a group to help everybody reach their potential.”

With no clubs reporting any interest in Adebayor, has he thrown the toys from the pram one time too many?

Spurs Bring In Jese On Season-Long Loan

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Talent: The 20-year old is one of Madrid’s Brightest Prospects

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New Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has made his first successful foray into the transfer market, and Spurs fans will be praying that it is a sign of things to come, as the club land Spanish striker Jese on loan from Real Madrid.

The 21-year old has been at Madrid since 2008, with spells playing for Castilla in this time, and has scored 36 goals so far in his career, with 5 last season in La Liga. Known throughout Spanish football for his technique and deadly turn of pace, Jese could prove to be a real handful for Premiership defences.

Pochettino was thrilled to be introducing his new man at a press conference this morning, stating that ”Jese is an incredible player, and for us to have brought him to White Hart Lane shows just how much this club is growing in stature. I feel that, with his dribbling technique, his pace and an eye for goal, he can help us achieve our goals for this season...and possibly even into the future.”

Jese was equally complimentary about his new boss: ”Mauricio is a great manager - I remember him being at Espanyol, and they players he managed there spoke very highly of him - I am aware of his philosophy of giving young players a chance, and that was key in me deciding to come here this season. I could have stayed in Madrid and fought for the scraps from the top table, behind Karim [Benzema], but here I can gain playing time in a competitive league, and develop myself physically.

“The English game is very different to how we play in Spain - the challenges are more physical, and the players push you more, mentally and physically. I’m keen to test myself here, and become a better player for the experience. Who knows, maybe this will become home!”

Van Gaal: Vertonghen Top Of My List

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Strengthening: Louis Van Gaal is looking to White Hart Lane to solve his defensive problems

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New Manchester United boss might have already bought Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Luke Shaw, but he’s not done shopping for defenders quite yet, as he turns his attention to Tottenham centre-back Jan Vertonghen as the final piece of his defensive jigsaw.

”We have already brought in several defensive players, but I think we could still find one more player very useful - last season, the defence at this club was found wanting, and with Rio [Ferdinand] and Nemanja [Vidic] both leaving, there was a massive void to be filled. Daley [Blind] and Marcos [Rojo] are a great start towards filling that gap, but, if i’m honest, someone like Jan Vertonghen would be ideal to finish the job.

“Jan is a player I have always admired for his dedication and timing in the tackle. He is also a great player of the ball, and starts many attacks for whichever team he plays for. At 27, he is approaching the peak of his footballing time, and I would love to bring him into my team.”



Vertonghen moved to Spurs in 2012, for £9.75m and has gone on to make 57 appearances for the club, turning in some top-class performances. Speaking on Van Gaal’s interest, Vertonghen was ambivalent: ”Of course, to hear that a team such as Manchester United is interested in you is incredible for any player - they are a massive club. However, I am under contract with Tottenham, and until the manager decides otherwise, I will be a Tottenham player. If, under any circumstance, a bid is made which is accepted, then I would be mad to turn down a move to Old Trafford, but to me this is all only speculation.”

Spurs Boss Pochettino was unavailable for comment, but the club released the following statement:
”Until a formal bid has been made by Manchester United, or any other club, for the services of any of our players, then as a club, we will not comment on any speculation which may otherwise be forthcoming.”