Squad depth. It is a term I see and hear used a lot over a course of a season with fans often commenting on a teams bench as some sort of sign of how good they are.
Last season more often than not Tottenham would be in close games and when changes were needed fans would let out a collective groan at the options. Big old Vincent Janssen failed to find the net and of course there was Sissoko last season who’s first touch summed up just how poor he was.
However this season we have already seen a marked improvement in our options. We have been missing Danny Rose, Erik Lamela, Victor Wanyama and now you can add Dembele to that list however this has given game time to Davies, Dier etc and they have shown they are more than capable to step up.
Also returning from injury and playing very well is academy graduate Harry Winks – with game time he also looks more and more the settled Premier League player.
Unlike some other clubs Pochettino likes his squad to be fairly small so he can create a closeness and a bond – no clicks – just one squad all working together and moving forward. He has also said on a number of occasions he would rather promote from the academy than just sign a squad player to make up the numbers.
It is the faith he puts in the young players and the bond he builds with players he brings in that has allowed Spurs to compete against the sides spending quarter of a billion every summer and has also allowed the club to sell the likes of Kyle Walker for £50m – sign a replacement for less than half – and give game time to an academy graduate who was shortlisted for the FIFA Golden Boy away – not bad for a right back.
In addition to the players getting games in absence of injuries Pochettino also changed his policy this summer and allowed players he rates highly to go out and get game time. Josh Onomah and Cameron Carter-Vickers are playing in the Championship and getting good reviews – when they return next season they will have that full seasons experience under their belts and yet are both academy graduates at the club – love the club and will add to the club.
I know there seems to be this fantasy out there, possibly due to computer games, where you have Harry Kane and then on the bench Lukaku – in reality – not only would that cripple a wage bill its would also be impossible to keep those players happy and that in turn causes problems in a squad.
What Pochettino has done is sign wisely. Last summer he signed Janssen who was a youngish striker but he was unable to challenge Kane – so this summer an older experienced striker was signed in Llorente – who not only adds a genuine goal threat and a different option to the squad but a winning mentality.
As we enter the second international break now we are in a good position. Still in all cup competitions and the top four of the league. The serious business starts when the season resumes though and that is make or break time – we have game after game in all competitions – the squad will be tested.
The good news is Rose, Lamela and Wanyama are all due to return in the next few weeks and providing our players make it through the internationals unscathed we will be in great shape to take on all comers! COYS!
-SJ
