How to Fix "Broken" Spurs

Let’s play a little game – forget this weekend’s emphatic result and assume for the sake of this exercise that Tottenham Hotspur, a team who once again have the stingiest defense in the league, have been defeated only once in the league, and sit in fifth place in the league, only three points below fourth, are not OK. Let’s accept the case that the team’s underlying numbers are just “meh” and that they trail the top tier clubs in terms of creating good goal scoring chances. For the sake of argument let’s also throw out the team’s injuries as the key source of the “problems” they’ve faced in the first 13 games of the season. The biggest clubs in England have re-loaded after Leicester City’s fairy-tale title win a season ago and poor, cash strapped Tottenham are once again lagging behind. So, what can they do? How do they go up a gear from a decent, well-drilled battering ram into a truly elite big-chance creating title/top 4 contender again? How do they “solve” Christian Eriksen and Mousa Dembélé, two ridiculously talented players who, according to some Spurs fans, are playing badly enough to warrant losing their spots in the lineup? How do they mature tactically despite Mauricio Pochettino, a manager who excels at creating team spirit but struggles with tactics and in-game adjustments? Here are three simple fixes that might help kick-start things:

Think Before You Rosterbate

It’s funny how fans and even writers, who should know better, still so often boil the transfer market down to a trip to the local bodega. “Oh, we need a striker. I’ll just check to see what coins I’ve got in my pocket and mosey on over to aisle three.” Then again, if you’re Chelsea step one is to check and make sure you don’t already have that striker sitting in the garage (Vitesse). For the rest of the world, evaluating and upgrading a squad involves an array of variables beyond simply identifying a good player and checking out their value on Transfermarkt.

When you think you know what players Tottenham Hotspur should buy this summer perhaps ask yourself some or all of these questions:

How much money do Spurs have to spend, and how will this purchase affect their ability to address other needs?

Is there a “War Chest” or “Transfer Kitty” and if so, how big/small is it? Have Spurs sold players to raise funds? Side Note: Am I the only one who imagines a "transfer kitty" as a small, pink, frilly coin purse? I am? OK, just checking.

Is the player even available?

Like, does his current club have any intention of selling him? Will they sell to Spurs?

How much would he cost? What are his wage demands? Does he expect to be a starter?

Buying Manuel Neuer would be cool and all, but…

Would he want to play for Spurs, live in London or play for the manager?

With Tim Sherwood the answer would always be no.

 

Does he replace a current player? How does his signing affect the current squad?

Or rather, when Danny Rose threatens to leave do you really care beyond needing to buy another left back?

How will he adjust to his new team, the style they play, or the players already at the club?

Hmm, did anyone ask these questions during the negotiations for Erik Lamela?

Is this a short-term or long-term signing? Does it fit with the club’s overall player development strategy?

In Football Manager I buy almost exclusively players under 25 with serious growth and re-sale potential. But sometimes in real life a 30-year-old veteran on a free is actually a sensible move.

How would you rate his current hair quality and style? Will he be willing to change his hairstyle to fit in with his teammates?

These are probably optional (No, they are not).

Once you've answered these questions you are safely free to Bleacher Report.