Mauricio Pochettino was recently introduced as Spurs new manager. It was announced on May 27th that the Argentinian had signed a five-year deal that could see him at White Hart Lane until 2019. The appointment was not surprising for most, especially Tottenham fans as he was the odds on favourite for the last week or two.
With the pen-to-paper out of the way, it is now time for the 42-year-old to deliver on what could potentially be the start of something special at the club. With Pochettino bringing a unique, diverse, fast-paced attacking style of football at his previous club, Southampton, one should expect that a similar approach will be made at Spurs, with only what seems to be on the cards a more successful future than what had been at St Mary’s. He has a wider range, more experienced and seemingly more talented bunch of professionals at his hands today. Pochettino does bring a question to the North London side which seems to have been quickly resolved in his decision to unwillingly speak to the media in the English language, previously raising a few eyebrows now unsettling a few Tottenham supporters.
Club chairman, Daniel Levy, told the official club website that “He has a proven ability to develop each player as an individual, whilst building great team spirit and a winning mentality. In Mauricio we have a coach who, with high energy, attacking football, will embrace the style of play we associate with our club.”
Mauricio brings with him a certain desire to develop and inject younger players into the side of each club he has managed. Having youngsters such as Tom Carroll and Zeki Fryers will hopefully benefit from this as I alongside many others see that they have potential to add to this already deep squad. Pochettino will come to manage a side that demands a fair amount, but at the same time is happy to get their money’s worth week in week out.
Notable wins versus Liverpool and Chelsea at home last season provides a hint at how he is able to lift a team’s moral and spirit before matches, to fight for the fans and the badge on the front of that shirt to beat teams, even when they are clear underdogs. I for one am very enthusiastic about this change and believe it can and will work. The only problem is the underlying fact that Tottenham has seen off far too many mangers in recent years,as Mauricio becomes the 10th in the last 12 years.
Daniel Levy along with the fans will have to give him time. It may not click as we would like in the first season. The seven transfers made last summer have not gelled as quickly as was expected, and the only two considered to have settled well and imposed themselves on the team is Christian Eriksen and Paulinho.
With the young and exciting Argentinian, Erik Lamela will get a somewhat fresh start under Pochettino. He never really had the chance to impress under Andre Villas Boas and Tim Sherwood, making just 17 appearances since joining from Italian side Roma. So perhaps under his the influence of his fellow countryman we can really see what this “Wonder Kid” is capable of.
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