Tottenham fans will undoubtably be disappointed with the way that the team performed in the last few games of the season. That said, I am sure all Spurs fans would have been delighted if they were told that they would finish 3rd in the Premier League back in August. However the last few games were almost unbearable to witness as Tottenham slumped to finish below rivals Arsenal for the 21st year in a row.
Tottenham had a great transfer window before the season started. The acquisition of Toby Alderweireld from Atletico Madrid definitely didn’t go unnoticed throughout the season – the Belgian centre back was named in the Premier League team of the season. Tottenham also signed Heung-min Son, Kevin Wimmer, Kieran Trippier and Clinton N’Jie, as well as seeing January arrival Dele Alli enter the squad for the first time. Tottenham’s wasteful players of the previous season such as Paulinho, Roberto Soldado and Etienne Capoue all headed for the exit door.
Tottenham started the season against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Mauricio Pochettino’s men lost 1-0 through a Kyle Walker own goal, but the visitors looked impressive and there were signs of what was to come of the young side. However Tottenham continued to struggle in the opening few games of the season, letting a 2-0 lead at home to Stoke City slip to eventually draw the match 2-2. In the following week, Spurs drew away to Leicester, letting go of a lead – Dele Alli’s goal was cancelled out within a minute by the hosts. At the time, nobody would have expected these two sides to battle out for the title. Tottenham drew at home 0-0 with Everton in their last game in August meaning that they were without a win in their opening four matches.
It was in September where Tottenham’s season really kicked off. Returning from the international break, Tottenham won their first match of the season away at Sunderland with a late Ryan Mason goal. Tottenham began their Europa league campaign with a 3-1 win at White Hart Lane against Azerbaijan outfit, Qarabag. Tottenham won a London derby three days later against Crystal Palace before the visit of arch-rivals Arsenal in the League Cup. Tottenham lost 2-1 to an Arsenal team inspired by two goals by Mathieu Flamini, although they looked threatening throughout. But Tottenham did not falter after the North London Derby, as they slaughtered Manchester City 4-1 in their final match of the month.
October began with a 1-1 draw away at Monaco before successive draws in the Premier League against Swansea away and Liverpool at home. Tottenham lost for the first time in Europe, away at Anderlecht before smashing Bournemouth 5-1, with Harry Kane netting a hat-trick. Tottenham got their revenge on Anderlecht by beating them 2-1 at the Lane before travelling to the Emirates three days later. Tottenham were phenomenal against Arsenal. A Harry Kane goal looked to have won it for Spurs, Arsenal were completely out-classed in a match that could have seen them top the league, but an unlikely equaliser from Kieran Gibbs levelled it for the hosts.
Tottenham returned after the second international break, destroying West Ham 4-1 with ease, with another two goals for Kane, who added to his season’s tally with the winner against Qarabag a few days later. Tottenham, however, failed to beat Chelsea in north London. A week later, Tottenham failed to beat West Brom at the Hawthorns – the 1-1 draw was Tottenham’s 7th League draw of the season. Tottenham swept Monaco away, 4-1 in the final game in the group stage of the Europa League but astonishingly, they fell to only their second defeat of the season at home to Newcastle, 2-1. Tottenham were not down-hearted though, and won three on the trot against Southampton, Norwich and Watford to end 2015 on a real high.
Tottenham didn’t start 2016 in the best fashion, drawing again with Everton at Goodison Park and losing to Leicester 1-0 at home a few days later. Tottenham did manage to claim a 2-2 draw against the same opposition in the FA Cup, with Harry Kane tucking away a controversial penalty to take Tottenham back to the King Power Stadium for a replay. Tottenham sealed their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup after beating Leicester 2-0 away from home. Tottenham won 3-1 against Crystal Palace with an absolute wonder-strike from Dele Alli. Kane, Alli and Eric Dier were becoming a real force in the race for the top four. January ended with an easy 4-1 win away at Colchester to send Tottenham to the FA Cup quarter final.
February was perhaps Tottenham’s best month of the season. Tottenham went undefeated throughout the month, without dropping a single point, beating Norwich, Watford and Swansea, while also registering a 2-1 away at Manchester City. Tottenham also qualified for the Europa League round of 16 after drawing 1-1 away at Fiorentina and then finishing the job with a 3-0 win in north London. Despite the good football that the side were playing, Tottenham’s side lacked experience and maturity, evidenced by Alli when he kicked an opposition player whilst he was down injured at Fiorentina away. Tottenham were, however, knocked out of the FA Cup by Crystal Palace, surprisingly losing 1-0 at home in a seemingly easy clash.
Tottenham fell to a 1-0 defeat in their last game at the Boleyn Ground against West Ham but their north London rivals were in a slump of their own, so Tottenham were still ahead of Wenger’s men before Arsenal travelled to White Hart Lane. Arsenal led the match through an Aaron Ramsey flick before Francis Coquelin stupidly got himself sent off. This gave Tottenham a clear advantage and Alderwiereld and Kane scored two goals in a matter of minutes to turn the game on its head. Tottenham actually topped the league after Kane’s strike but Spurs stayed top for a mere 13 minutes after Alexis Sanchez grabbed a point for Arsenal. Tottenham then travelled to Dortmund where they were given a footballing lesson by the Germans, Spurs lost 3-0 at the Westfalenstadion but Spurs recovered with 2-0 win at Villa Park, with none other than Harry Kane helping himself to a brace. Spurs were chucked out of the Europa league after losing 2-1 at home to Borussia Dortmund, but Tottenham turned their focus to the league. Spurs finished March beating Bournemouth with yet another two goals for Kane.
Tottenham drew 1-1 at Anfield in a great match, Kane scoring yet again but the following two games really showed Tottenham’s quality. Spurs smashed Manchester United 3-0 before the tricky task of Stoke away, a game Tottenham cruised to a 4-0 victory in. The next match, however, Tottenham failed to beat West Brom at White Hart Lane. Leicester drew 1-1 at Old Trafford meaning that anything less than a Tottenham win at Stamford Bridge would give Ranieri’s side the title. Tottenham were amazingly 2-0 up at half time against Chelsea but Tottenham’s players behaved appallingly. A Gary Cahill goal switched the momentum to the Blues and an Eden Hazard wonder strike concluded that Tottenham could no longer win their first title since 1961. Tottenham players picked up nine yellow cars throughout the match.
Despite the game at Chelsea, Tottenham knew that three points more would mean that they would finish above Arsenal for the first time in 20 years. Somehow, Tottenham let another lead go, and lost 2-1 at home to Southampton. Arsenal were three points behind on the final day of the season as Tottenham travelled to face already-relegated Newcastle. The Tottenham players did not look up to the task and fell to their worst defeat of the campaign, losing 5-1. Arsenal won 4-0 against Aston Villa meaning that there was yet another St Totteringham’s day for Arsenal fans to celebrate.
Despite Tottenham’s crumble, there were plenty of bright things for Spurs fans to be pleased about. A Champions League position was secured at White Hart Lane and the future looks bright for Spurs. The core of the Spurs side is under 25 years old and Pocchetino has signed a new deal. Harry Kane claimed the golden boot with 25 goals in the league, 28 in all competitions. Perhaps the ‘failure’ at the tail end of this season will give the Spurs players the experience and hunger for the upcoming seasons.
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