Minor Tweaks Not Radical Overhaul Is the Summer Blueprint for Tottenham

In the most surprising season in Premier League history, Tottenham's involvement in the title race was not the headline event. 

Leicester City's championship victory overshadowed Spurs' remarkable jump from outside contenders for the Champions League places. 

Of course, Tottenham didn't win the title. They didn't even finish second after the catastrophic final-day defeat to already-relegated Newcastle. 

Mauricio Pochettino spent much of this past season chipping away at his team's reputation for softness and an inability to finish the job, but the 5-1 embarrassment on Tyneside erased much of his good work. 

It was the fourth consecutive disappointment after Spurs conceded leads to draw with Chelsea (2-2) and West Brom (1-1) and lose to Southampton (2-1). 

That string of failures is cause for concern. 

The absence of Mousa Dembele in the final three games through suspension showed just how shallow Tottenham's midfield strength really is. 

The Belgian emerged as perhaps the most important single player in the division this season; a notion underlined by the fact that Spurs did not lose a game with him playing in central midfield. 

Despite the fact that Tottenham's Premier League title chase unravelled in such spectacular fashion, there is no cause for a radical overhaul. 

Instead, the very fact that Spurs ran Leicester closer than any other team and that they were bitterly disappointed by finishing third proves that the club is moving in the right direction. 

The only sensible conclusion to draw from Tottenham's great leap forward this season is that the necessary components for long-term success are in place. 

The backline is inarguably the best in the country. 

Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld form an excellent central partnership with Kevin Wimmer a hugely able deputy. Kyle Walker and Danny Rose, England's likely starting full-backs at this summer's European Championships, are similarly backed up by Kieran Trippier and Ben Davies. 

Trippier and Davies are a step below Spurs' first-team in terms of quality but are capable understudies. 

Tottenham do need summer reinforcements. 

The brittleness of the midfield without Dembele and Dele Alli demonstrated as much. 

Similarly, Harry Kane delivered beyond what could reasonably be expected of him for the second consecutive season and is desperately in need of a back-up to help share the load. 

With a fully-fit squad, Pochettino can call upon Heung-Min Son, Nacer Chadli, Nabil Bentaleb, Josh Onomah and Clinton Njie. 

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

These are decent options but not sufficient to challenge on multiple fronts. 

Certainly, Spurs were lucky with injuries this season and can not expect to be so fortunate again. 

Evolution not revolution is something of a cliched managerial maxim but it is especially relevant to Tottenham's situation. 

Having secured Champions League football, Spurs face a tougher fixture list next season. They have also put a metaphorical target on their backs after a successful campaign. 

Not only will teams like Liverpool and Chelsea be desperate to restore their place among the elite, lesser sides will be aware of Tottenham's strengths and seek to negate them at every turn. 

This will be a tougher season and Pochettino does need to develop his team further. 

The correct lessons of their ultimately failed title challenge must be learned. 

Spurs dropped vital points against well-set defensive sides last season but their title charge faltered primarily because of an inability to resist counter-pressing, particularly when below strength. 

The defeat away to West Ham was a prime example of this, but the Liverpool draws at home and away were similar. 

Strengthening the squad will help deal with this issue but another offseason of Pochettino's coaching will also improve the team's understanding of the system. 

The better each player knows their role, the better they'll be able to deal with opposition sides playing a similar style. 

Tottenham's system has proven the equal of England's best teams when executed well, but it still must be better refined. 

Pochettino is just two years into his time at White Hart Lane, so it is reasonable to expect some flaws to remain. 

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

At this point last season, the green shoots of brilliance were evident through the deadwood and Pochettino has continued to cultivate his blossoming side. 

Pochettino's hard work nearly yielded championship fruit this season. It seems certain that, given time and resources, Spurs will get their chance to harvest a trophy soon enough.