I disagree with Teddy Sheringham, Tottenham stars such as Harry Kane and Dele Alli would be better off pursuing their careers elsewhere after — seemingly — twice missing out on the Premier League title.
Spurs may have made great inroads recently, but they will never be a massive club, and this two season spell was their best chance to end their 56-year wait for a top flight league title.
We said it last season, after Leicester City pipped Spurs to the post, that the big four would come back with a vengeance to crush Tottenham’s newfound ambition. It didn’t happen as expected this season, only Chelsea really provided a response, but next season it will be different.
Not only will Chelsea go all out to defend their likely title but Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal must awaken, and once that happens you can’t help but think Spurs will get swept by the wayside again.
Don’t get me wrong they are the best and most exciting team to watch in England at the moment and have been for two seasons, but as Sheringham says, unless they can go out and considerably strengthen their bench, they will always be nearly men, who crumble once injuries and suspensions take their toll.
They don’t have the spending power or squad size of the big four to compete once every club is on song, and have always been a selling club, as soon as the big clubs come calling, like Real Madrid did in 2012 and 2013 with Luka Modric and Gareth Bale.
Kane and Alli will be similar targets for big clubs this summer and if they’re honest they will realise that their careers — like Sheringham’s — will only truly flourish to potential if they join a bigger club. England fans should want that too, as the more varied a player’s experience, the better it is for the national team.
For Sheringham to advise that the pair stay and hold out for silverware to come Tottenham’s way — as he did at ‘An audience with ...’ at the Dhow and Anchor at Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai on Sunday — seems a little cruel given what he achieved once he left. Privately you can’t help feeling he might have some different words of advice for the players.
You only have to look at Leicester’s players this season after that remarkable campaign last year, to see what happens if you don’t take your chance when it comes.
Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Kasper Schmeichel, to name but a few, were the world’s hottest property, after last season’s freak Premier League title win, but now they are back to being basic and will probably never demand the fees they perhaps could have done.
Football is business, and a club will sell you the minute it suits, therefore the minute it suits you as a player, you should also be as ruthless. Loyalty went out with the dawn of professionalism. Besides what would Sheringham’s career have looked like without the seven trophies he won at United? Answer: two second division titles and a Championship play-off win.
