2-7. Who loses 2-7? Not even 7-2, but 2-7! Last night's trouncing by Bayern Munich was the first time ever Tottenham had conceded seven goals at home. The team lacked spirit, lacked fight and lacked organisation. People expected Tottenham to lose but they certainly didn't expect a performance as shocking as that. The worst thing for Spurs fans is that this isn't surprising.
There were rumblings within the dressing room straight after the Champions League final. Eriksen wanted to leave as did Alderweireld and Vertonghen. None have. Tottenham's model of paying their players substantially lower than their Top 6 rivals was sustainable in the long term but not in the short term. It has allowed them to build an amazing new stadium but players won't want to stay because of that, and they haven't. Eriksen and co no longer believe in Pochettino's project and see themselves as having a better chance to win silverware at other big clubs. And they are right.
Players have been unhappy about not being able to leave but even with some of the players Pochettino wanted to offload, they stayed put. Danny Rose was offered out but no club wanted him. After singing Ryan Sessegnon, Spurs now have three players, with Ben Davies the other, than can operate as a left back but they have no depth at right back as Serge Aurier the only experienced player in that position.
The saying "familiarity breeds contempt" has never been truer to Pochettino and his players. Every manager comes to a club with a certain message and Pochettino's main aim while at Tottenham has been to win a major trophy, something no Spurs boss has done since 2008. He has had five full seasons now and he has not won a trophy. Slowly, players begin to become tired of the same message if it doesn't actually bring any trophies.
That is why Eriksen and others want to leave. The squad has become stale and Pochettino no longer seems to control the dressing room. His message is falling on death ears.
Jermaine Jenas called Tottenham's win against Southampton a "season changing win". Is their defeat to Bayern a season changing loss? Without doubt Pochettino has all the skills necessary to win back the dressing room and get Tottenham winning again. He wouldn't have lasted for five years if he wasn't good.
It is partly his fault that Spurs are in this situation. Pochettino has largely kept the squad the same for season upon season but, perhaps unluckily for him, two signings - Lo Celso and Sessegnon - have mostly been injured and not been able to bring new ideas into how Tottenham play. Brighton is now a must win game for Tottenham but will Pochettino actually see out the season?
He won't get sacked but other big clubs are underperforming and if there is a managerial vacancy, he'd be high on anybody's list to employ. Either way, we may be seeing the end of Pochettino at Spurs.
There were rumblings within the dressing room straight after the Champions League final. Eriksen wanted to leave as did Alderweireld and Vertonghen. None have. Tottenham's model of paying their players substantially lower than their Top 6 rivals was sustainable in the long term but not in the short term. It has allowed them to build an amazing new stadium but players won't want to stay because of that, and they haven't. Eriksen and co no longer believe in Pochettino's project and see themselves as having a better chance to win silverware at other big clubs. And they are right.
Players have been unhappy about not being able to leave but even with some of the players Pochettino wanted to offload, they stayed put. Danny Rose was offered out but no club wanted him. After singing Ryan Sessegnon, Spurs now have three players, with Ben Davies the other, than can operate as a left back but they have no depth at right back as Serge Aurier the only experienced player in that position.
Pochettino is no doubt a great manager and the job he's done at Tottenham is truly remarkable. There does, though, seem to be underlying problems with his management. There are no issues with his style of play or his man management but he has allowed the squad to become 'stale'. There was one new signing in the team last night (Ndombele) but the rest of the starting XI has been there for years, with the newest arrival after him being Serge Aurier in 2017.
The saying "familiarity breeds contempt" has never been truer to Pochettino and his players. Every manager comes to a club with a certain message and Pochettino's main aim while at Tottenham has been to win a major trophy, something no Spurs boss has done since 2008. He has had five full seasons now and he has not won a trophy. Slowly, players begin to become tired of the same message if it doesn't actually bring any trophies.
That is why Eriksen and others want to leave. The squad has become stale and Pochettino no longer seems to control the dressing room. His message is falling on death ears.
Jermaine Jenas called Tottenham's win against Southampton a "season changing win". Is their defeat to Bayern a season changing loss? Without doubt Pochettino has all the skills necessary to win back the dressing room and get Tottenham winning again. He wouldn't have lasted for five years if he wasn't good.
It is partly his fault that Spurs are in this situation. Pochettino has largely kept the squad the same for season upon season but, perhaps unluckily for him, two signings - Lo Celso and Sessegnon - have mostly been injured and not been able to bring new ideas into how Tottenham play. Brighton is now a must win game for Tottenham but will Pochettino actually see out the season?
He won't get sacked but other big clubs are underperforming and if there is a managerial vacancy, he'd be high on anybody's list to employ. Either way, we may be seeing the end of Pochettino at Spurs.
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