Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham Hotspur seem to be the perfect fit after Spurs’ unbeaten run since the first game and defeat of the season. Rivals, Arsenal, may have knocked the club out of the Capital One Cup, but Tottenham still remain in contention for progression in the Europa League. So, what’s behind Pochettino’s solid start?
Adaptability is very important in football, especially as a manager who has to deal with injuries. The double act of Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb were kept out of Pochettino’s usual starting line-up due to injury, yet Spurs have still managed to form another decent midfield with Mousa Dembélé and Eric Dier. Arguably, these injuries have allowed Dier to step up and prove himself, and, therefore, prove Pochettino’s tactical nous. Injuries test not only the depth of a squad or the flexibility of the players, but also the management skills; so far, the Argentinian boss has shown that his squad is deep enough to cover for injuries and, for example, some players like Dier are able to play in more than one position. Having players that can fit into multiple roles isn’t just sound cover, but also allows for greater fluidity, as players can interchange position during the match to outfox opponents.
Tactically, Pochettino has a mantra of high pressure and hard work throughout the entire 90 minutes, which often delivers much success. Spurs fans thrive on seeing Harry Kane chase down defenders like a lion prowling upon its prey. Yet, one fault is arguably the wing-play. The full-backs are usually the widest players, week in, week out for Spurs. This is great because it allows for swift counter-attacks and lung-busting runs from Danny Rose, but some fans miss the old width that Spurs used to possess. But, is that the result of increasingly modernising football? Inverted wingers seem to be all the rage; Nacer Chadli on the left, Érik Lamela on the right. There’s no doubt that it does create success, as it allows players like Chadli to add to the goal tally, but on the other hand, defenders anticipate wingers cutting inside on their stronger foot. Furthermore, inverted wingers seem to make fewer crosses because they often avoid using their weaker foot. But, nevertheless, Spurs use such wingers and, so far in the Premier League, it hasn’t worked out too badly for them.
The amount of young, talented stars that Pochettino has brought to and is bringing to the fore is one of his highlights as a triumphant manager. Harry Kane is obviously the biggest success story, but now even young Joshua Onomah is getting involved in the first team. English football fans seem to revere managers who promote young English players, and Pochettino is one of them. It’s refreshing to see academy graduates from Spurs playing for their boyhood clubs and it is still pleasing to witness the development of young, imported stars. Time and time again, Pochettino has put his neck on the line to give a youth player his first taste of first-team football, and it’s this faith that Pochettino has in these players that just keeps the young stars developing.
Ultimately, Pochettino’s success will be judged on where his team finish by the final day of the season. Where should Spurs really be finishing? It’s very hard to speculate and really it could be anywhere from fourth to sixth. If there’s any year to get the fourth spot, this really must be it, especially with the threat of the removal of one fewer Champions League spots for the Premier League. Realistically, Spurs need to have a smashing season to achieve this elusive dream. But, with possibly one of their best managers in the last few years, Pochettino may well just guide Spurs back to where they belong.
Main Photo
