It has been a season full of ups and downs for Tottenham Hotspur, who, despite being favoured to put on a strong challenge for the title at the start of the season, failed to even tread anywhere near the relentless Manchester City side.
The Lilywhites finished the season in third place with 77 points on the board, four behind second-placed Manchester United and a whopping 23 points behind champions Manchester City. However, finishing above Liverpool, who have done so well this season, will be one of the few takeaways for Mauricio Pochettino’s men this campaign.
In fact, Spurs have finished inside the top four in their past three consecutive seasons, therefore reflecting the improvement that head coach Mauricio Pochettino has overseen with this highly talented squadron.
Top 3 players
When it comes to Tottenham’s top performers this season, Harry Kane‘s inclusion is a no-brainer.
The talismanic forward has once again lived up to his potential this season, scoring 30 goals in 37 matches. His incredible goal-scoring tally in the Premier League was only bettered by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, the winner of this year’s Golden Boot.
Kane’s dominant presence in the opposition box has given Tottenham an edge when it comes to offensive play lately and this season has been no exception either. Therefore, the England international has definitely been the best performer for Spurs this campaign.
Another player who has fared significantly well is key centre-back Jan Vertonghen. Despite his fair share of troubles, the Belgian international has transformed into a much more reliable and matured centre-back under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino and he has definitely proved it this season.
With the prolonged absence of star defender Toby Alderweireld, Vertonghen has emerged as a real force in the Spurs backline, often leading his side through thick and thin.
Christian Eriksen has also been a key figure for Tottenham Hotspur this campaign. The Danish playmaker has turned out to be a vital cog in Pochettino’s dynamic offensive play in the final third, often helping out his team with some terrific passing, ball distribution and chance creation.
Three players to disappoint
Fernando Llorente definitely tops the list of disappointments for Tottenham Hotspur this season. The Spaniard, who was brought in last summer as a back-up for Harry Kane, largely thanks to his impressive stint with Swansea the season before, Llorente has turned out to be a huge flop for Spurs.
The former Juventus forward has featured in just 223 minutes of Premier League action throughout the whole 2017/18 season, which is clearly unacceptable for a player of his calibre. He has scored only one goal in his 16 appearances and is already linked with a move out of London this summer.
Moussa Sissoko was another huge disappointment for Mauricio Pochettino. Although the Frenchman was earlier deemed as a flop, following his disastrous campaign last season, few fans had hoped that he may make a solid come back this term.
However, Sissoko did his best to ruin that hope, as the former Newcastle star churned out awful performances throughout the course of the season. Moussa Sissoko is definitely not an ideal fit for Mauricio Pochettino’s tactical system and it’s only a matter of time before the 28-year-old settles for pastures new.
And finally, it’s Erik Lamela, who has been somewhat of a disappointment this season. The highly talented Argentinian forward, often struggling with recurring injuries throughout his Tottenham career, has once again failed to make a long-lasting impact in the Premier League after recovering from his injury.
Lamela featured in 832 minutes of Premier League action, where he has scored only two goals. With Spurs looking at various attacking candidates in the market whilst already securing the services of PSG starlet Lucas Moura, it’s clearly evident that Lamela’s long-term future with the club will be closely examined in the upcoming weeks.
Season Rating
Overall, it’s been a decent season for the North London giants. They sealed Champions League qualification for next season and will be happy with their fine display in the group stages of the UCL against the likes of Real Madrid and Dortmund. Spurs have also managed to finish above their arch-rivals Arsenal, which will definitely make the fans proud.
Score: 7/10
