Tottenham may have endured a rocky last season under former boss Tim Sherwood but are looking to the future with optimism under newly-appointed coach Mauricio Pochettino. In an exclusive interview with Football Express News, ex-Spurs defender Graham Roberts offers his views on their push for the top four and urgency for a domestic cup win.
Former Tottenham hardman Roberts was a big noise at White Hart Lane in the early 1980s. Still involved with his former club but now in a media-capacity, he knows their ins and outs and says Spurs are determined to push for a top four finish next season, however tall an order it may be.
“Tottenham need to get into the top four, that will be their aim, but it would be very difficult as the competition is so great,” he explains.
“With Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool at the top, Arsenal up there, and Everton now pushing as well, Tottenham will need to really up their game but I believe they can do so under Pochettino.”
Tottenham’s new Argentine coach managed Southampton last season and when he signed to them a year ago he brought in Croatian striker Dejan Lovren.
Pochettino is said to be in direct talks with the player regarding a move to Spurs, which would enable them to continue to work together but at White Hart Lane rather than St Mary’s.
Although Roberts is not aware of any definite plans for Lovren or any other player to join his old side this summer, he says a few prospects are in discussion and points out the areas he personally thinks require reinforcement.
“Pochettino knows the sort of players he needs and is planning accordingly. He would have looked at the performances last season and thought about where there are weaknesses.
“I think Tottenham need another centre half, a left back, a left sided winger and maybe another striker. If they get the right players, they will be a really good force next year.”
With a top four Premier League finish set to be a tough task regardless of who they sign, Roberts is of the view that a strong domestic cup win-campaign would be a good point of focus.
Considering Tottenham have not won a trophy since their League Cup win in 2008, the former centre-back explains how a cup win next year would massively boost the side – in the same way it will for local north London rivals Arsenal, who recently won the FA Cup following a nine-year trophy drought.
“Spurs desperately need to win something like the FA Cup and if they do that, that’s an instant boost in confidence that sets off a winning mindset and the start of bigger things ahead.
“Look at what happened at Arsenal, they went nine years with nothing and the supporters started putting pressure on Arsene Wenger, but then they won the FA Cup and it restored faith.
“I think if you can win a cup, you’re in with half a chance of proceeding much further as it gives everyone belief they can be win bigger things.”
Graham Roberts’ autobiography ‘Hard as Nails’ is available as paperback on Amazon, here