Spurs have had a familiar season. A Cup final with such a young team was a good learning curve, as was the amount of starts and the encouraging performances of youngsters like Eric Dier, Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason. And then there’s Harry Kane - far beyond encouraging he’s been sensational.
What’s been frustrating, however, has been the form of players like Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela. They’ve shown in very small glimpses what they can do, they’re clearly world class players, so why can’t they show that more often? This is a make or break season for both of these players. If they can do it, Spurs could be on course for something special. If not, it’ll be same old, same old at White Hart Lane.
On the basis that Spurs aren’t that far off the Champions League, perhaps the key is their form more than their personnel. This is perhaps more of Pochettino's dream XI, but if gets Champions League football, who cares?
[interaction id=“none”]
Hugo Lloris
This is a big one. If they can keep hold of their goalkeeper this season they’ll have kept hold of one of the best in the league. The France captain is now vastly experienced and established as a very good Premier League goalkeeper.
If Manchester United are forced to see David De Gea, though Spurs may have to fight hard to keep their number one. If they don’t manage to it’ll be tough to replace him. If United come calling, keeping Lloris would be like the signing of the summer for Spurs.
Kieran Trippier
One of Burnley’s stars of the season, Kieran Trippier is a new Spurs signing, and he’ll probably get the chance to prove his worth to his new club right from the off.
It’s a little harsh on Eric Dier who has done well this season and is still very young. Dier, however, is probably more of a centre back than a full back and someone more suited to this position would do Spurs’ defence a world of good.
Toby Alderweireld
The rumours are that Spurs are about to complete the signing of Toby Alderweireld. Perhaps he’s not the most exciting addition to a Dream XI, but if he’s on his way, he’ll probably be in the starting XI come September.
He also knows Jan Vertonghen quite well from the Belgian national team, and perhaps Pochettino is counting on the two Belgians forming a bond in the centre of the Spurs defence.
Alderweireld is an accomplished defender who was part of one of the league’s best defences last year at Southampton. He’d be a good fit for Spurs.
Aymen Abdennour
So if Alderweireld comes to Spurs it would be natural to see Vertonghen alongside him. Spurs have also signed former Cologne centre back Kevin Wimmer, and Pochettino probably sees him as the man to play alongside Alderweireld.
But this is a Dream XI. We know that Spurs need to sort out their defence - they conceded more goals than relegated Hull and the same amount as relegated Burnley - and a sought-after centre back like Abdennour from one of the meanest defences in Europe would be a great signing.
Monaco conceded only 26 goals last season and Abdennour is one of the main reasons why.
Danny Rose
If Spurs can sort out their back line they’ll be a force to be reckoned with next season. Pochettino has gambled a little bit, if Wimmer and Alderweireld are his starting centre backs and Kieran Trippier will be his right back, he’ll be using at least two players who aren’t accustomed to life at the top of the league - and that’s where Spurs are hoping to be.
Danny Rose, however, has been a rare standout player in Spurs’ defence this season. He’s done well from full back and is certainly progressing into a good player. It’s not quite make or break this season for Rose, but he is getting to a point in his career where we expect him to be an established full back.
At 24, he’s not a kid anymore and he’ll be 25 before the end of next season. It’s a big season for Rose especially if he hopes to be England’s left back after Leighton Baines retires from internationals - but he has stiff competition from Luke Shaw. But play well this season and he might find himself in the Euro 2016 squad, that might be the motivation he needs.
Nabil Bentaleb
Bentaleb has come on really well over the last year or so and has created a partnership with Ryan Mason that has got Spurs fans excited. They’re both young and promising and that could be a midfield pairing for the North London side for years to come.
It’s a big season, though. Like Harry Kane, many people will be watching to see if they are just a flash in the pan rather than the real deal. Pochettino will give youth a chance as always, but if Spurs are to kick on and mount a serious challenge to the top four then they need to have their midfield playing well.
Morgan Schneiderlin
Well it’s been on the cards for a while.
If Spurs can sign Schneiderlin they’ll have to sacrifice one of the youngsters in the centre of midfield, but they’ll be replacing him with real proven quality.
The Frenchman is well-known to Pochettino of course, and if he takes over from Ryan Mason Spurs fans shouldn’t be too disappointed. After all, they’re not far off a Champions league spot, and improvement is just what they need.
Christian Eriksen
This is a huge season for the Dane. Eriksen has shown in fits and starts that he’s a good player, he even looked to be showing it towards the start of the season.
But he faded after the Capital One Cup Final. He wasn’t the only one, but he’ll need to do it for the whole of next season if Spurs are to challenge for the Champions League.
He’s well capable of taking the game by the scruff of the neck, and if Spurs can get him firing he’ll be like a new signing. We said that last year, though.
Erik Lamela
Another player who we all know is quality but who needs a big season to prove it. We all remember the rabona he scored in the Europa League, we know he’s quality, we just need him to show it!
Just like Eriksen, if he gets going he’ll be like a new signing, but just like Eriksen we said that last year too. These two are like the Spurs side in microcosm - if they do well Spurs will do well.
Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco
Spurs have been linked with the Argentine youngster currently plying his trade at Monaco in Ligue 1. He’s a tricky, speedy player and has done well in a Monaco side that came good towards the end of the season to nab a Champions League place ahead of one-time title challengers Marseille.
With Moussa Dembele, Nacer Chadli and Andros Townsend still at the club he’d be taking the place of an established player, and as always with this type of signing there’s a risk to be taken - just look at the flops that Spurs bought with the Gareth Bale money! But if he does it in the Premier League Spurs could have a player on their hands.
Harry Kane
It’s going to be hard for Kane this season. The eyes of the world are going to be on him and they’ll expect him to display the Midas touch that he exhibited last season. You just know that’s not going to happen, though. Not unless he gets some help from those behind him.
The trick will be how he deals with dry spells. Everyone striker has them but that doesn’t mean they aren’t good players. Kane will no doubt have to deal with that this season, but if Spurs find Lamela and Eriksen on form too then it won’t be so much of a problem.
And without the whole of the Tottenham expectation weighing on Kane’s young shoulders then he’ll have the chance to recover from any dry spell. He’ll do well this year, but only if the media and even the fans let him.