Tottenham were not holding too many hopes at the start of the season, having enjoyed a decent but not exactly successful first season under Mauricio Pochettino. Indeed, the team struggled to really set the pace in the early weeks and seemed to be still finding their feet. They failed to win any of the first four games and only seemed to come to life at the end of September. That was during a big game against Manchester City at home where they really obliterated the title favourites with the sort of superb attacking performance that has rarely been seen in recent seasons. The template was set from this game onwards as Pochettino maintained his faith in Eric Dier as a defensive midfielder, even he has not played there prior to this season, and continue to play the precocious teenager Dele Alli in the position behind the striker. The team started to really catch fire in the next few weeks and maintained a long unbeaten run too. They outplayed big rivals Arsenal on the road but had to settle for a 1:1 draw while a strong West Ham side was blown away in late November too. The basis of these strong showings was a watertight defensive pairing of Jan Vertonghen and summer signing, Toby Alderweireld, who were enjoying a great rapport and were complementing each other very well. Moussa Dembele emerges as a pivotal figure in midfield too, providing muscle and drive, while Harry Kane gradually found his rhythm and goals after a quiet start of the season. Spurs finally lost a league game for a first time since the opening day of the season in December when lowly Newcastle stunned them at White Hart Lane. Yet the manager did not let the setback deter a young side that was still excelling in every game and the results remained steady. They won nine out of 11 games from December to February and installed themselves as a title contender, along with the surprise package Leicester. The lack of injuries and the stability of team selections was contributing to success but it was quite incredible to see this youthful side playing as well as they were doing. A win away at Manchester City in February seemed to really make everyone believe that they can actually win the title but then came a tough week at the start of March as West Ham defeated them and then ten-man Arsenal were let off the hook in a 2:2 draw at White Hart Lane. That meant that Spurs started April five points behind Leicester and generally up against it in the battle for the top spot. They maintained their relentless pursuit until a costly draw away at West Brom. Then came an ill-tempered 2:2 draw at Chelsea when they let a two-goal slip and the title was gone. Still, there was the second place to battle on and the chance to finish above Arsenal. But Spurs were mentally exhausted by then and just collapsed in the final few games. A hefty loss at relegated Newcastle on the final day ensured a bitter end of the season as the Gunners just about piped them and maintained a record of always finishing above them in the last 20 years. Barring that late disappointment, it has been a nearly flawless campaign from Pochettino and he has received the due credit as one of the very best managers around. He is not going anywhere and one imagines that this hugely promising and young side is only going to get stronger in the seasons to come.
