Dele Alli’s decision to renew his contract until 2024 sees him become the fifth Tottenham player to sign a long-term contract in recent months following the deals for Harry Kane, Harry Winks, Son Heung-min and Erik Lamela. Considering Tottenham are enjoying one of their best starts to a Premier League season, you would expect the mood at the club to be buoyant.
Yet the fanbase are disgruntled. Even their normally upbeat manager Mauricio Pochettino has admitted he currently has the worst feeling he has had since he took charge. The much anticipated development of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was supposed to herald a new, prosperous era for the club this season. However, one delay after another has seen the club push back their planned move-in date and prolonged their stay at Wembley Stadium. The fact that the club’s match against Manchester City on Monday night wasn’t a sell-out was an indication of the low level malaise which has seeped into the club.
Top of the list of fans’ gripes is the club’s failure to strengthen the squad before the season started. In doing so, Tottenham became the first club in transfer window history to make no summer signings. This was particularly surprising as the club had nine players competing in the World Cup semi-finals, more than any other team. While Tottenham’s players won plaudits for their ability at the tournament and the club’s board earned praise for its financial restraint, it is hardly surprising some players are already feeling fatigued.
Tottenham’s more pessimistic fans may also wonder if the side has already peaked. Manchester City were clearly superior against Spurs on Monday and, under Pep Guardiola, one can reasonably expect The Citizens to have a stranglehold over domestic silverware during the years ahead. Worse still, Liverpool’s recent investment in players, which stands in stark contrast to Tottenham’s parsimony, appears to have put them in closer proximity to the pinnacle than The Lilywhites. Closer to home, Tottenham’s supremacy in the capital also appears at risk, as Chelsea and Arsenal are both rejuvenated forces under their new managers.
Spurs’ eventual arrival at the new ground will be a major step forward for the club. But if the players initially find it difficult to feel at home at the new stadium, as has happened repeatedly at other clubs, Tottenham can be expected to drop a few points along the way. Doing so would put their ambitions to qualify for the Champions League in jeopardy. And then – new contracts or not – the vultures will really begin to circle over some of the club’s star players.
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