TOTTENHAM'S TAILSPIN, POCHETTINO'S PUZZLE

What next? Where next? Who next? The question ardent Spurs fans would be asking themselves as the Seagulls ruthlessly plucked away at them. After a week of utter humiliation, Pochettino faces his most arduous task as he seeks to identify the bogeys that knocked the usually vibrant Spurs team into a tailspin.

A seemingly successful season last season papered over what was a seemingly normal 2019 for Spurs as they blinded the world with their moxie but unfortunately, the statistics revealed the malaise that has been hidden. Since the turn of the year, Spurs have played forty-one (41) games in all competitions which have produced 19 wins, 7 draws and 17 defeats while scoring sixty-nine (69) goals and conceding fifty-four (54) in return.

So, what has gone wrong and what can be done? For starters, Pochettino has to be the man to solve this puzzle as he has been all year long. it is not an understatement to say his coaching has saved Spurs all year hence giving him the boot will be doing the team more harm than good. His 2019 has been dogged by rumors that centered around Real Madrid while managing a team without signings and absence of key players at points in the season. Despite all these near catastrophes, he managed to lead Spurs into the group stage of the Champions League. All these setbacks and strenuous circumstances led Poch to channel his inner innovator as he navigated successfully to the Champions League Final. 

The start of the season has been a nightmare that has culminated with humiliations at the hands of Bayern and Brighton, as well as the loss of Club captain Hugo Lloris for an extended period. This international break and season will require some more soul searching as he seeks to realign and push towards a major title for Spurs.  

 

Pochettino has to come up with a tactic or system that will confound the Premier League. A system that will maximize the full potential of the players at his disposal. It doesn't necessarily have to be a new formation, just a slight tweak in his existing one. Similar to the one that made Kieran Trippier a focal point in the offense and later creating an “Air Raid” style offense that bypassed the midfield altogether. Also, he must find a way to incorporate the threat of Lucas Moura into his side as he has shown he holds the key to a shift in system.

Upgrading the current personnel by signing new players or promoting from the youth set-up to gradually phase out the old guard in defense, and midfield while planning the future of the attack. Included in this should be the sale of under performers and players with uncertain futures. The likes of Eriksen, Alderweireld and Aurier should have their futures sorted out as soon as the January window as two of them reach the end of their contracts. 

Making a splash in the transfer window by making a marquee signing as seen in the pursuit of Dybala

should rejuvenate the side and give Spurs a fear factor among clubs in the Premier League and Europe.

He seems to have the board on his side but not the players and that might be a problem. Getting to the players can make this transitional period bearable for the coach, players and the fans. Not to say there is a problem but a gradual unrest has been seeping into the club especially among the senior players and this can lead to a full-blown mutiny and jeopardize the club. 

As a football purist, it is disheartening to see one of the game's brilliant minds in a sorry state but it is time the board and the players drag the downhearted yet genius figure of Pochettino for some time as he tinkers and get his team back at a cruising altitude.