Although I haven’t been a Spurs fan as long as most you, I am all too familiar with Spurs’ recent run of late season failures resulting in Spurs playing in Europa rather than Champions League. I sense that Spurs fans are starting to accept these failures as the norm. Soccer analysts are already hinting of another late season Spurs collapse. I am here to tell you that Spurs will not fail this season because this is a new team with a new manager and together they will produce a new result.
The current roster is
much different than the roster of the last few seasons. 6 new Spurs
have made this a better and more importantly, a resilient team. Hugo
Lloris, Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele, Clint Dempsey, Gylfi
Sigurdsson, and Lewis Holtby have all experienced different levels of
success at other clubs or on international duty. These players are
mentally tough and expect nothing less than success. Each of them
brings professionalism, a high work rate, positive attitudes, desire,
and the belief to achieve Champions League qualification. More
importantly, none of these players were part of past Spurs teams and
have no memory of past Spurs failures, which will be a key to victory
in last 4 matches.
In addition to the new
players, Spurs have a new coaching staff. Andre Villas-Boas and
Steffen Freund bring a youthful exuberance to Spurs. Along with this
exuberance, AVB appears to trust his players and allows them to play
the game. AVB has implemented his attacking, pressing, and open
style and the players have embraced it completely. AVB has learned
from his failure at Chelsea and has developed into a true player’s
coach. Players like him, want to play for him, and want to achieve
victory with him. At this time last season, the club was dealing
with rumors and speculation of Harry Redknapp taking over as the
England boss as well as his tax evasion issues. This was huge
distraction to the coaching staff and the players and this resulted
in a lack of focus down the stretch and ultimately kept Spurs out of
Champions League.
I personally feel that
AVB and his squad are embracing this top 4 race. Attitudes are
positive and energy is high in the squad and coaching staff going
into the last 4 matches. This team expects to finish in the top 4
and they know they are in control of their own destiny. Spurs have
the quality, the mental toughness, and the desire to finish in the
top 4.
Spurs fans must emulate the club and embrace this challenge. Don’t dwell on the possibility of failure, relish the opportunity for success! Herb Brooks (USA Hockey Coach) told his team before playing the Soviet Union during the 1980 Olympics that “Great Moments are born from Great Opportunity!” Spurs have a great opportunity to finish in the top 4 and qualify for Champions League. Spurs fan must believe to help these new players and the new staff take advantage of this great opportunity!
COYS!
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Great points, I too believe the Spurs will surprise the ones who choose to disbelieve.
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