Following the conclusion to the season with back to back away wins scoring 13 goals and conceding two the mood amongst Tottenham fans was good. Highest ever league finish, statistics to be proud of and records broken. We ended our last ever season at the Lane unbeaten.
YET just a week after the season ended our nearest and dearest rivals Arsenal lifted the FA Cup for the third time in four years and suddenly our season was poor. I simply do not get how people can say this.
To be clear, I would have loved us to win the FA Cup and to win it three times in four seasons would be fantastic however I am also realistic about where we are as a club compared to our rivals. Arsenal and Liverpool both have larger stadiums and wage budgets which dwarf our own whereas Chelsea and the Manchester Clubs not only have the wage budgets but also can happily spend £250m a window on players.
The fact we are even competing with them at all is an achievement and people seem to forget that. We as a club have won the FA Cup once and the league cup twice since 1991. Compare that record to the clubs we are competing with.
We however are a club reborn. From the ashes of decades of manager changes and players moving on has come a new era under the guidance of Pochettino who is building something for us. The achievements of others should not detract from what we are building.
Yes they can mock, I have seen all of the memes and the tweets but I do not care and nor should you. We are focused on our club, our team and where WE are in our progression. As Pochettino says he has a philosophy and it is a project we are ahead of schedule.
The new stadium is now (if all goes to plan) just one season away and the experience of playing at Wembley for our squad will be a valuable one. Bigger stadium and every team raising their game is something the whole squad will have to get used too, its what happens when you are a top team no matter where you play.
We all want trophies and glory, that is what the game is about however at the same time I do not wish our fan base to become the entitled ****wits that I see supporting our neighbours. If Pochettino won three FA Cups for us in four years can you imagine fighting in the stands and demanding he be sacked? I hope that day never comes.
Winning a trophy and/or the league in England is an achievement. Well done to Arsenal on their FA Cup win but it has no bearing on us. What we achieved for Tottenham in this past season was great. The trick now is to achieve more the next season and again and again.
Under Pochettino I am convinced we will.
-SJ
