5 Things for Tottenham Fans to Look Forward to in 2015/16 Premier League Season
Tottenham's 2014-15 season started smoothly enough before hitting rough seas in September. They emerged from that difficult period and rapidly improved. They found their way into the top-four conversation, a cup final and the knockout stages of the Europa League before falling away once again.
In the end, a fifth-place finish was more than Spurs could realistically have hoped for in a transitional season.
New manager Mauricio Pochettino's tough fitness regime needed time to take root but a series of excellent performances showed that the Argentinian's unique approach to the game had merit.
Next season will provide different challenges as expectations rise.
The top-four clubs, Liverpool, an improving Everton and likely Southampton will all provide a stern test but Spurs have plenty to look forward to in the coming campaign.
Pochettino 2.0
1 of 5
In his first season as head coach of Tottenham, Mauricio Pochettino was not afraid to push his Marcelo Bielsa-inspired footballing philosophy.
His team took on some aspects of his Argentinian mentor's aggressive smothering style but the transition remained incomplete by season's end.
Players complained of gruelling fitness sessions but results bore out the value of Pochettino's infamous double training sessions and meticulous preparation.
Spurs routinely picked up points late in matches; full of energy as their opposition stumbled, Pochettino's players pounced.
The process reached its temporary apogee in the 2-1 win over Arsenal.
On that day, Spurs smothered their eternal rivals with an uncommon aggression and viciousness in the best sense of the word. They allowed Arsene Wenger's men mere fractions of a second in possession. Closing down every inch of space and forcing them to concede possession.
Bewildered, the Arsenal defence dropped ever deeper and Spurs' eventual winner was a long time coming.
A lack of squad depth, fixture pile-up and particularly unhelpful injuries hamstrung the project but it has clearly taken root.
That famous derby victory will be the blueprint for next season. After another summer and a transfer window that should provide the necessary tweaks, that fantasy can become reality.
Pochettino will be desperate to take his philosophy to the next level and, as his team has shown on occasion, that can shake even the largest of Premier League clubs.
A European Tour
2 of 5
The Europa League has problems. Bloated and directionless in the early stages, it is a competition lacking in soul.
There has been a cacophonous gnashing of teeth at the prospect of another draining Europa League campaign but there are plenty of upsides among the obvious problems.
The coming season will see Spurs compete in Europe for the sixth consecutive season (and nine of the last 10 years). That in itself is an achievement but the Europa League does have value.
In the early stages it is an opportunity to rotate the squad, work on partnerships and give youngsters their chance.
Harry Kane did not start in the Premier League last season before his excellent showings in Europe virtually demanded it.
The defensive partnership between Jan Vertonghen and Federico Fazio was fast-tracked by playing back-to-back fixtures in the league and Europe.
Beyond the group stage, and it is inevitable that Spurs will secure one of the two qualification places, there are genuinely glamorous ties.
Fiorentina this season was disastrous on the pitch but a delightful away trip for the fans.
Similar excitement beckons in the next edition of the tournament and, for the eventual winners, a Champions League place.
The Boy King of White Hart Lane
3 of 5
Tottenham have wished for a great striker since the departure of Dimitar Berbatov. Not since Ledley King's retirement has there been a home-grown star in the starting lineup.
Now they have both in the same brilliant youngster.
Harry Kane enjoyed a remarkable season, his first full year in the Premier League. Finishing as the third-highest scorer in a team that finished 23 points off the pace is a remarkable achievement.
He broke into the England squad, helped tear Jose Mourinho's Chelsea apart and scored a match-winning brace against the old enemy.
Kane has achieved so much in his first season. Fans, and everyone else in English football, will be desperate to find out what he can do next.
Can he maintain the same level of brilliance, drop away or reach even greater heights? Only the next season can tell.
Transfer Time
4 of 5
Tottenham's team is not far away from being truly special.
Improvements in a few key areas could put them in position to challenge for the top four and beyond in coming seasons.
While the greater integration of youngsters like Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb will assure a degree of improvement, the transfer window is an opportunity to accelerate the process.
For all football fans, the transfer window is a source of intrigue and excitement.
The appointment of Mauricio Pochettino's former Southampton colleague Paul Mitchell as Spurs' new scouting chief adds an additional wrinkle.
Should Spurs find the necessary players to take them to another level, it will certainly help to break the tedium of a summer of cricket.
Children Are the Future
5 of 5
Last season Spurs handed Premier League debuts to Ryan Mason and DeAndre Yedlin. Next season, there is the prospect for many more.
Their academy is thriving and youngsters like Harry Winks, Josh Onomah and Kyle Walker-Peters are just a few candidates to make their bow in the next campaign.
Spurs' youth system has the chance to earn a reputation as one of the leading talent production lines in Europe.
Ledley King was the sole success story of Tottenham's youth system for many years. Now there are a host of youngsters in the first team and many more on the way.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
