Spurs Squad Analysis: What THFC need in the next window

In this piece we will explore where Spurs should be improving come the summer in order to be assured of success in an ever improving EPL.

Seat belts on

The 2022/23 season so far has been a more turbulent one than I can remember as a Tottenham fan, and I have been a Spurs supporter since 1990!

It is something that all football fans are guilty of,  but due to the ups and downs, there is a boom or bust reaction and approach to our results and performances.

Since around the last year or two under Martin Jol and certainly since the start of the Pochettino era, THFC has become a club genuinely fighting for a place in or around the top four. The question is when can the fans expect to make a serious push on a league title?

Realistic Expectations 

And although yet to win a trophy since this upward curve began, the supporter expectations have been enlarged massively from the dire decades since circa 1991/92.

The EPL is stronger than ever however and even making the top six will be extremely difficult with the likes of Newcastle, Arsenal and Man Utd all looking set to be title challengers if not this season, then definitely next.

This campaign has been doom and gloom one week and elation the next, even this last week where Spurs were hammered in Leicester only to comprehensively despatch London rivals West Ham and amazingly, find themselves back in the fourth spot.

Inconsistencies 

So what Tottenham Hotspur football club need in the next window is almost like asking how long is a piece of string during this rollercoaster ride of a season! In other words, one week they will look like a side capable of beating anyone in the globe, and the following week play like they look like a club that should be fighting relegation.

And so if this question is posed on the back of the types of performances like at Leicester (L4-1 away), Aston Villa (L0-2 @ home) or Arsenal (L0-2 @ home), the answer will be far more reactionary and dramatic as opposed to being asked after a comprehensive and deserved win over Man City, who are arguably the best in the world right now.

The obvious solution is to buy players that increase stability and that limit mistakes, those should be players that make up the nucleus and spine of the team such as the keeper, centre-backs and centre-midfielders. 

Solutions

Spurs 100% need at least one very powerful and commanding centre back and ideally, a creative midfielder.

For example, If Spurs signed Ronaldo Araujo and James Maddison in the summer, the club would be hugely stronger, but still not title challengers. Araujo however, who I rate as Van Dijk at his peak, is not going to come to Tottenham unless the club is taken over with the type of owners at PSG or Newcastle.

To be title challengers THFC needs a World class keeper too, even if the club signed a centre-back or two that becomes an important starter.

In the same way Spurs stole Danjuma from Everton’s grasp, I was surprised Keylor Navas’s agent was not approached before he pulled up at the City ground to sign for Forest. I expect during the summer that Tottenham will make an approach for the likes of Emi Martinez who could become unhappy at Villa on the back of his fame during the Qatar WC.

Heung Son Min is a crowd favourite particularly as his presence brings in significant income and attention from his home country, South Korea.

However, Son is flattered to have clocked up so many starts despite playing without conviction and like he is on ice skates most weeks. I love the player and appreciate all he has done for Spurs, but my view is the club should sell him for good money this summer and bring in a stronger, younger player which is more consistent and capable of playing as a number nine.