To the outsiders - Why this season has meant so much for Tottenham

On Monday night, Leicester City were crowned champions of the Premier League after Tottenham could only manage a 2-2 draw vs Chelsea.

Spurs needed all three points to keep their slim hopes of winning the title alive, but after passing up a two goal lead with some sour scenes in between, the Foxes secured their first ever championship.

Then came the Twitter tirade. The general consensus that Tottenham had ‘bottled it’. Same old Spurs and all that malarkey. It was all a bit confusing.

The point at Stamford Bridge meant that, barring a huge goal difference swing, Spurs would enter next season’s Champions League at the group stage phase – a feat that seemed highly improbable back in August.

However, despite a breath-taking campaign that has won admirers all over the globe, Tottenham were somehow on the end of a nationwide joke.

Spurs fans have certainly been put through the ringer

It seems the only way people weren’t going to laugh at Spurs is if they had actually won the league against all odds.

For many football fans, nothing matters if you don’t win a trophy. It’s a philosophy that signals a desire for short term success, and the methodology of getting to silverware is rendered meaningless.

My friend Billy (@BilbertoSilva) wrote a wonderful piece on this topic, and if you haven’t read it, I urge you to do so - https://tikitakatriangles.wordpress.com/2016/03/17/football-and-ludicrousy-of-fine-lines/.

Tottenham have announced plans for a celebratory atmosphere at White Hart Lane for their final home game of the season vs Southampton. Undoubtedly, fans of other clubs will take to social media to mock Spurs for ‘celebrating 2^nd’, but it’s so much more than that.

Those not associated with the club seem to be missing the point, and its time to understand why this season has meant so much to Tottenham Hotspur.

AN IDENTITY RETURNED

When Harry Redknapp left in 2012, so did the identity that he created during his time in north London. His sides were quick, relentless and were incredibly difficult to beat at White Hart Lane. His successors tried to turn Spurs into a neat, passing outfit, but it wasn’t until Mauricio Pochettino came in that Tottenham became a recognisable side.

Everyone associates Spurs with their high press, their endless energy, their ability to rip teams to shreds without getting out of first gear. This side has recovered 19 points from losing positions this season, a league high.

Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores, Swansea’s Francesco Guidolin and Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe all claimed that Tottenham were by far and away the best side they’ve come up against all season.

Teams fear Tottenham again, and the squad have been reaping the rewards of Pochettino's infamous fitness schedule.

A UNIFIED TEAM

When Spurs sold Gareth Bale to Real Madrid, they replaced him with seven players – none of which had ever played in England. I oppose the notion that players have to be ‘Premier League proven’ in order to succeed on these shores, but that wasn’t the issue. The squad became heavily unbalanced and disharmonised. No one cared for the club or even one another. Rifts were evident, with many of the French speaking players forming their own group (which would ultimately fall flat when Mauricio Pochettino dropped them all a year later).

Andre Vilas-Boas couldn’t bring together the mercenaries, and Tim Sherwood only disillusioned everyone at the club even more. From the board, to the manager, to the players, to the fans, everything at Tottenham Hotspur was toxic. Heading to White Hart Lane became a chore. Watching Spurs on the TV was like watching an extended version of You’ve Been Framed.

Tottenham players in the tunnel at Anfield before a 4-0 loss to Liverpool

We’ve come a long way.

Eric Dier and Dele Alli’s ‘bromance’ is the face of what is now a squad of best friends. The players are constantly seen out and about with each other, making jokes and taking the general piss out of one another. It gives us as fans another reason to smile about this season.

The atmosphere at the Lane is at it’s peak, and there’s a clear feeling upon arriving in N17 that all is good again.

Fan consultation regarding issues such as the new stadium has also improved drastically. Before, there was a sense that the club hid everything from the fans, but thanks to organisations such as the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust, matters are far more transparent.

PLAY FOR THE SHIRT

A lot of analysis in football comes down to tangible quantities. Expected goals and Goal Impact are coming to the forefront of team breakdown, and whilst that leaves stereotypical ideologies such as passion and desire in the dust, they shouldn’t be completely overlooked.

Tottenham got their ‘typical’ reputation because they’ve always been soft. They build you up to let you down. The archetypal pushovers. ‘Lads, it’s Tottenham” said Sir Alex Ferguson, as his Manchester United side came from 3-0 down to win 3-5.

Paulinho and Emmanuel Adebayor move out of the way of Stewart Downing's goal

Not anymore.

Monday night was pretty horrid viewing at times, but it makes a change to the Tottenham that would be bullied off the park. A video showing the ‘ugly’ side the encounter has already passed one million views on YouTube. It’s certainly sent a message to the rest of the world.

Following a 4-1 win over Manchester City in September, Eric Dier came out and defended Tottenham in the wake of comments about the team and the club.

“I think we don’t get the credit we deserve. We’re an extremely young squad, and I hear people say stuff about Tottenham and I don’t like it and I don’t think the other boys like it either.

“Stuff like ‘we choke against the big teams’ and ‘we don’t put our foot in’ and ‘we can’t grind out a result’ and I think in the last couple of weeks we proved them wrong.”

When was the last time a player of any club gave an interview like that? It deviated so far away from the usual clichés we’re used to hearing, and it made Spurs fans feel proud.

Hell, Toby Alderweireld’s Twitter bio says ‘Defender of Tottenham’, and whilst that probably wasn’t intentional, it speaks volumes.

A RECORD HIGH

A win against Southampton would ensure Tottenham finish 2^nd for the first time since 1963. It’s easy to get lost in the story of Leicester City, but Pochettino’s wonderful work has gone largely unnoticed.

Securing Champions League football is massive for the club, but to finish 2^nd? Every Tottenham fan across the land would have ripped your arm off for that at the start of the season, probably at the start of any season.

Even if they don’t make it across that line, a top three finish is nothing to be ashamed of either.

Tottenham have come on leaps and bounds since the winter

In Pochettino’s first interview when becoming Tottenham boss in May 2014, he promised that he would “give everything to make you proud of this football club”. He certainly delivered.