Article by Joe FishFollow e-Spurs on Twitter
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Excitement and intrigue teased my mind as I prepared for transfer deadline day.
My flat-mate and I had even made Monday-morning plans to order our favourite chicken wings and pizza combination to celebrate the event.
Disappointment, frustration and a single tear down my left cheek met the close of business hours at 11pm, or whenever was appropriate to Manchester United.
And that was not because of the chicken wings. They were as good as ever.
But Spurs had failed to secure that one signing that would renew enthusiasm for a season that was brought back to reality quickly by our defeat to Liverpool.
French midfielder Benjamin Stambouli came in, and as many as six players left, but the day only served to cap what was an underwhelming summer window.
I was hardly expecting the sort of spending spree of 2013, but not bringing in a single player to improve us in attacking areas is nothing other than a mistake.
And to see a hungry, young forward who could have done just that slip through our fingers and join our biggest rivals only rubs salt into the wounds.
The likes of Romelu Lukaku, Adam Lallana and Loic Remy were all available targets, and yet went elsewhere to signal that we have fallen behind our rivals.
Age and value are on the side of the majority of our six new recruits, but we are shopping on the shelf below we were 12 months ago, and our squad now looks worryingly weaker when compared with the rest of the top seven.
Now this is not to say that I am pessimistic about our chances this season. It just means that we need Mauricio Pochettino to be as good as everyone says he is.
Brad Friedel spoke incredibly highly of him on MOTD2 last weekend, only days after Gordan Strachan labeled him one of the best three managers in the world.
Liverpool’s rise under Brendan Rodgers shows what can be achieved when everybody at the club believes in a manager and buys into their ethos.
And Pochettino and Rodgers arguably share many of the same philosophies. The Reds are 26 months into a journey that we are only just starting, and that was one of the differences in our 3-0 loss at White Hart Lane last Sunday.
Where one or two of our players pressed well, they pressed as a team. Where we had one runner in the final third, they had options left, right and centre. They know the responsibilities of their roles, and our players are still learning theirs.
This is not an exercise in Rodgers adulation. Liverpool were laughable at times in his first season, but stability, patience and damn good coaching has changed that.
Considering that we are in a stronger position now than when Rodgers took over at Anfield in 2012, there is no reason why Pochettino cannot emulate or even surpass what he has done.
Quickly establishing a system of playing and the personnel that best suit it is key.
There were signs against QPR of a fluid front four and that should be visible more often and against better opponents once given time to hone.
Attacking full-backs and disciplined central midfielders also seem to be Pochettino staples and we are well stocked with talent in these areas.
Impact signings were at a premium, but there are untapped resources already at the club that are pieces of coal waiting to be transformed into diamonds.
If Rodgers can make players out of Jordan Henderson and John Flanagan, then the likes Kyle Walker, Mousa Dembele and Paulinho can excel under Pochettino, if he is more Alex Ferguson than David Brent when it comes to man management, as Friedel suggests. Although, Brent had his moments:
David Brent: "Trust, encouragement, reward, loyalty... satisfaction. That's what I'm... you know. Trust people and they'll be true to you. Treat them greatly, and they will show themselves to be great."
And while the arrivals this summer have not generated any major excitement, they might go some way to addressing the leadership that was lacking last term.
Federico Fazio and Stambouli have captaincy experience. Ben Davies already knows the rigours of the Premier League, and Eric Dier has endeared himself to Spurs fans with goals, determination and one thumping tackle on Mario Balotelli.
Reforming the defence and acquiring the right type of characters seemed to be a Pochettino priority this summer, but he could turn out to be our best signing.
I will eat pizza and wings many times again this season, and I have faith in Pochettino that the Spurs-related aftertaste will be joy more often than sorrow.
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wish I felt the same way Poncho to me is an inexperienced blokewith big hype but has actually acheived very little.The shite rated Sherwood beat him twice finished above in points and position but was vilefied for saying we had an exceptionaly average team which most people now seem to think.6th-8th about the best we'll do
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