Spurs players must follow Harry Kane's example


Mental toughness - a key element in success


Many have an aversion to Wayne Rooney and will simply dismiss what he says, but on Monday Night Football on Sky TV he, and he is not alone, said he considered Harry Kane to be the best striker in Europe right now.

He did score more goals than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2017 calendar year,he wins the Golden Boot for the second year running, despite missing games injured once again and not scoring in August.

I remember writing a few years back, before he started banging in the goals with such regularity that players could learn a lot from his mental approach. Of course that went over many people's heads, those who don't understand football is won and lost in the head, the feet just do what the head tells them to do.

Rooney revealed no more than a true winner already knows, he hates losing, not just disappointed by it, but hates it. I was the same playing cricket, nobody would come near me or talk to me after the game while I ran it through in my head and figured out what I could have done better and what the team could have done better.

We are only talking 15 minutes, but to be the best you can be at any level, you have to have that element. It is inbuilt, you are a winner and have that extra drive or you are not and can never, therefore, fulfil your full potential.

Harry Kane has the drive to work at every aspect of his game and constantly look to improve it, to add new skills. Gareth Bale had the same, whereas someone like Emmanuel Adebayor, who had the ability, simply didn't have that winning mentality. He was content at the level he had got to and opted for the easy life. That isn't a problem if that is what he wanted to do, But that type of player will not turn us into trophy winners. We have to guard against that. If a player isn't prepared to fight for a place then he isn't for us.

From press comments it would seem that Mauricio Pochettino discusses with players what he can do for them, how he can improve them. The player has to have the desire to want to be the best otherwise the pairing will not work. Winners want to be surrounded by winners, those who are complacent are a weak link and need to be ushered out the door.

There will always be players who leave to win trophies earlier than we can provide them, that is the nature of the beast. No point crying over spilt milk though, you move on, work with what you have and continually look to add the right players, which isn't necessarily a household name player.


We have put ourselves in a position, even though we started the season poorly, where we can challenge for a top four spot again, where we have a tough challenge against Juventus in the UEFA Champions League, with the consolation of having helped our bank balance and a decent looking potential passage in the FA Cup.

This is traditionally the time to gain strength and for performances to go up a notch. That is a hurdle we are still learning to cope with and we need to achieve that to start winning trophies.

COYS

PS - Thanks to everyone for their messages of goodwill. My eyes will never be better, but life goes on.