What Tottenham must now do to transform themselves into Premier League champions

After another season in which they were once again pipped to the title, The Independent takes a look at those aspects which could help improve Spurs' title hopes for the 2017/18 campaign

Tottenham's future continues to look bright (Getty)

Amid all the happy emotions at the old White Hart Lane on Sunday, and all the pride in the club and what the current Tottenham Hotspur team had achieved, Mauricio Pochettino still couldn’t completely let himself go. That was because that current team had not completely achieved what he wanted.

“I’m really sad and disappointed because Chelsea, at the end, they won the Premier League,” Pochettino said. “I’m very, very, very happy with the performance of the players and everyone, and only for now, to say to our fans to everyone that we will try next season to try to give our best, and try to fight again to try to win the league.”

The big question now for Spurs, beyond how they adapt to life away from their old home, is how? How do they take that next step? What can they do? There is an argument that, because of the economic nature of the Premier League and how there are five wealthier clubs, it is almost impossible for a side of Spurs’ resources to best them all; that there is just too high a ceiling; that this might be as good as it gets.

It shouldn’t be forgotten Pochettino’s side were never expected to finish as high as second this season, though, and that they are still maturing and developing. The way that Pochettino has already broken barriers and speaks about it suggests he believes there is much more to come, regardless of how much anyone else spends.

Similarly, as much as he has creditably maximised what Spurs themselves have, there are minor elements of the team that could still be enhanced; that could yet prove the difference and, as a result, win them the title.

Start better

For all the talk about Spurs bottling the title race or any of that, the reality is not that they didn’t do enough towards the season’s end, but instead that they just had too much left to do. They might have been exhilarating in the run-ins to the last two campaigns, but there was always the sense that the gaps between themselves and Chelsea and Leicester City were a bit too big, that they required massive swings for them to really sweep home.

It wasn’t about how they finished, then, but how they started. The stats illustrate this. First, look at this campaign alone. Spurs claimed 39 points from their first 19 games, compared to 41 from their most recent 17. That meant they rose to second from as low as fifth in December. Second, look deeper and go back even further. In 2015-16, they didn’t actually win any of their first four matches. In 2016-17, they drew six from their first 11.

That suggests that they need to approach the campaign with the same vigour as they end it, that they need to balance out where they win their points. It might be down to their physical conditioning in that they are just more honed at different parts of the campaign, or it might just be psychological, in the sense that they didn’t truly realise just what it takes to win a title or how ramped up you have to be from the very start. They will be well aware of that now.

Add more attacking unpredictability

When Spurs are close to their best, they are also close to unplayable, because of how they relentlessly batter an opposition side back into their own box. It's usually a case that the opposition defence simply gives way, unable to hold out any more.

The problem, however, is when Spurs aren’t quite at their best; or the opposition defence is more physically powerful than usual. Then, a certain bluntness will come into their game. It as if they are just powering the ball forward, but with little nuance, little poise; as if they’re trying to score through brute force alone and sheer speed. The ball will just be pinballing around the box to little effect.

Harry Kane is key to Tottenham's future (Getty)

That is why Harry Kane is so key, because his clever runs and instinctive touches suddenly give them something different: a change of direction, or unexpected subtlety within the team's surge forward. As the ball is being hammered across, he appears out of nowhere, to give it direction.

It is also why they could do with just a bit more unpredictability behind him, even if Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli are themselves further developing, and why it is encouraging that they have been linked with forwards like Wilf Zaha and Nathan Redmond. Tricky dribbling players like that would offer that unpredictability, that different type of attacking creativity could provide Spurs with those important wins when their backs are against the wall.

Spend wisely, and better, this summer

There might not be a need for a player like Zaha, of course, had some of Spurs attacking signings from 2016 worked out. Unfortunately, the impact of Moussa Sissoko, Georges-Kevin N’Koudou and Vincent Janssen was fairly negligible, although Janssen did almost redeem a season with one brilliantly calm touch in that riotous comeback at Swansea City. That shows the Dutch striker may still have a future at Spurs in a certain back-up role, but also shows that Spurs still need better quality behind their certain starters.

Vincent Janssen's impact has been negligible (Getty) (CameraSport via Getty)

The only areas where you could say they have an array of options are at full-back and central midfield - where 2016 signing Victor Wanyama has been a revelation. If they are to go distance, they need to have the depth that means stars aren’t stretched at the wrong time and can call upon the bench to cover all areas on the pitch in times of trouble.

Adapt to life away from White Hart Lane… and not just at Wembley

While it is possible that too much has been made of Spurs’ difficulties at Wembley - and their record there is really down to the fact it is a short sample of games, their intense football is more used to England than Europe, and that they just happened to play a better team in Chelsea in the FA Cup - they look set to lose a significant advantage in the 2017/18 season.

Tottenham have a poor record at Wembley (Getty)

The very fact they were leaving White Hart Lane did seem to create a greater aura around the stadium, creating more of an atmosphere and making them more of a force there, and it does not feel a coincidence that this was the campaign they ended unbeaten at home. With 17 wins and two draws in 19 matches, creating a record of 2.8 points per game at the old ground, it means they have the best home form of this season's Premier League - but also the greatest discrepancy between home form and away form (1.5 points per game) than anyone except Everton, Burnley and Hull City. That is actually surprising for one of the top six. So, even before moving onto the next step, the challenge for next season is first to meet the same points return despite a different home venue.