Another Trophyless Season Beckons: Who to Look to for a Blueprint to Spurs Success

The 2024/25 season reached something of a nadir when Chris Wood scored what proved to be the winner at the Tottenham Stadium in a 2-1 win for Nottingham Forest. Not only did it condemn Spurs to their 18th defeat of the season, leaving us in 16th place, but it also bolstered former boss Nuno Espirito Santo’s battle for Champions League qualification.

Richarlison’s late goal proved to be nothing but a consolation goal that did little to undo the damage done by 20 minutes of madness that saw Forest score twice and have another disallowed. It showed just how far the team is from competing for the top spots and underlined that a new direction is needed. This is a Forest side that was competing in the Championship just three years ago.

As we look for a new blueprint for Spurs success, it’s easy to see the City Ground as being home to one. However, this is potentially just a flash in the pan for a side that has experienced massive player turnover since returning to the top flight. However, another Midlands team might be the real heavyweight to emulate.

Former Arsenal Man Taking Aston Villa to Heights Not Seen in Decades

Villa Park has experienced true turmoil in the last ten years or so. It’s not so long ago that the now-always-laughing pundit Micah Richards was part of a god-awful Aston Villa side that plummeted into the Championship. It took the Birmingham side three seasons in the second tier before they returned to the dizzying heights of finishing 17th in the Premier League.

Since then, they’ve built year-on-year. The sackings of both Dean Smith and his replacement, Steven Gerrard, were learning curves that led them to former PSG and Arsenal man Unai Emery, who has managed to mastermind Champions League qualification and a deep run into domestic trophies. After being dumped out of Europe at the quarterfinal stage by PSG, they’re looking to win the FA Cup this year.

They’re second favourites in the online football betting for the FA Cup at 13/5 as of April 22. If they come through their semifinal against Crystal Palace unscathed, few would bet against them piling further (relative) misery on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City with a win in the final. If Villa claim a major trophy before Spurs can add to their one Carling Cup in the 21st Century, it shows what needs to be done.

Pragmatism Over Tactical Perfectionism: The Successful Approach

Ultimately, the reason Unai Emery is so highly regarded and why Villa are performing extremely well in both league and cup competitions is due to the pragmatism of both parties. The Spanish head coach has delivered success in Europe’s secondary continental cup on four occasions, finishing runner-up once more.

He may not be the most decorated coach in world football, but that’s exactly why he was available to a club like Villa. The board took a gamble on a man who has not won the biggest trophies, but has a pedigree in winning finals nonetheless. He has a pragmatic approach to the game, balancing tactical defensiveness with space for attacking brilliance when the game allows, as evidenced by the impressive rally against PSG.

That is a stark contrast to Ange, who is much more dogmatic in his tactical approach, almost unwilling to shift from his desire for silky, fluid, and aggressive football. That is despite a long list of injuries, meaning that the squad is simply incapable of fulfilling his wishes. If the Spurs are serious about winning, they will need to look for a manager who can be flexible in their approach to winning.

A Tough Year for Spurs and Ange: Could He Continue?

A win in the Europa League would surely buy Big Ange another go at it next season. Champions League qualification and a trophy would be the best Spurs season for some time, and would finally seem to end the winning hoodoo. However, capitulations like the one at Wolves continue to lay bare the problems with Australians’ approach to the game.

If the board were to relieve the head coach of his duties, it would be important for them to do so only after carefully planning the next appointment. If a club like Aston Villa can become so successful in such a short span of time, there are lessons to be learned from their approach.