In previewing the 2018-19 Tottenham Hotspur season, one must start with their silent summer in the transfer market. It hasn’t been just a quiet transfer window at White Hart Lane, it’s been total radio silence. With Joe Hart officially leaving Manchester City for Burnley today, Spurs are now the only Premier League club not to make a single addition this window.
It could be worse though- they also have not sold a single senior team player, and thus return the same exact team which has established stability within the top four.
Reasons for Tottenham Hotspur fans to be Optimistic:
The club is coming off three straight top three finishes, and they move into their high class new digs in September. The new and very impressive Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is certain to provide a multitude of wide-ranging benefits going forward. It should be a boon both on and off the pitch, and could aid in recruiting new players.
England went on a surprising deep run in the World Cup, and given how Spurs provided a higher percentage of that roster than any club team in the entire world, perhaps those good vibes will carry over?
Reasons to be Pessimistic:
When you’re standing still in anything in life, you’re actually falling behind, and that encapsulates Tottenham’s moribund transfer window. Beyond just the fact that they haven’t acquired anyone, they haven’t even been strongly linked all that much with acquiring new players this offseason/preseason either.
That really says a lot, because you know the gossip pages like to make as much of a something out of nothing as they can regarding potential transfer activity. Spurs just haven’t provided them with much material.
Spurs are yet to win a trophy under manager Mauricio Pochettino, and the way to fix that isn’t by…well the photo below summates their transfer activity:
Summer Transfer Window/Offseason Analysis:
We’re done criticizing their transfer window, now it’s time to say some good things, because “Too much of something is bad enough,” the Spice Girls told us in 1997. “But something’s coming over me to make me wonder.”
“Too much of nothing is just as tough…”
You have to commend Spurs for locking down their leaders, key players and star men to long term deals this summer. A nucleus that has elevated the club, and could propel it forward down the line is staying put, not bolting for a bigger club/higher pay grade.
Tottenham Hotspur Players to Watch:
Harry Kane (goes without saying, expect him to continue his positive goal scoring trajectory this season after a Golden Boot winning campaign in Russia), Dele Alli (he’s won Young Player of the Year and several other individual honors for a reason), Christen Eriksen, Hugo Lloris, Kieran Trippier (we saw several Spurs players shine at the World Cup and that provides even more cause for optimism)
Tottenham Hotspur League Title Odds According to Betway: 16/1, fifth most favorable
It all Kicks Off: Saturday when Spurs go Tyneside to take on Newcastle United
Bottom Line Outlook/Prediction: Fifth
Success can be defined in north London by venturing further in UEFA Champions League and/or deciding to take a domestic cup competition more seriously, and thus winning some silverware again, finally. The top three in league however, seems to be out of reach given the prospectus for the Manchester clubs and Liverpool right now. We also think Chelsea will just edge past Spurs for the final UCL qualification spot.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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