Why does it always happen to Spurs? Start a season with hope, only for it to drizzle away with a few games remaining. We look to blame the finger and eventually the manager gets blamed. But there is only so much one man can do. Has the board finally accepted that they are to blame for the inconsistency and poor signings in recent years? Not really, as poor players are still being signed and sporting director Franco Baldini still has a job. Is there even anyone to blame for this season? No one can solely be blamed, as it is finally being shown to be a club failure. The players aren’t good enough; the board doesn’t seem to be ready to take the blame as of yet. But where does that leave Mauricio Pochettino?
It’s not like he’s doing a bad job. I mean, the team is playing much better than last season, and fitness seems to be improving, but in his defense, there is only so much he can do with players like Paulinho and Erik Lamela. I understand they need to adapt to the style but including Roberto Soldado, the amount that was paid for them, they should be able to at least play well consistently at this level. That is a defense for Pochettino, as not even Jose Mourinho could win anything with these players. He’s implemented his style of play as well as he could to the team, but the consistency levels vary week to week that it must be frustrating for the manager, even more so than for the fans, as he has no choice but to start these players, who we as faithful fans know aren’t that great.
After seeing the reaction to managers such as Andre Villas Boas and Tim Sherwood, its safe to say that Pochettino is getting a fairly easy ride. Yes, some fans want him out, but every club has fans that constantly want change, mainly for the sake of change. Some wanted Frank de Boer, others didn’t. That’s fine, but it’s the Pochettino supports from the beginning that seem to be turning on him, but why? Because we cant finish top 4? Well, it took us 20 plus years of the Premier League to do it one time, so don’t panic if it doesn’t happen straight afterwards.
Would it be best for business to change manager once again? Not when Tottenham have a track record of changing a manager and replacing him with someone who starts off well, finishes the season poorly and gets the boot without affecting the team at all. If Pochettino were to be sacked, the Spurs cycle of “lose, sack, appoint new manager, and repeat” would continue. How does this cycle stop? By the looks of it, until someone comes in and wins everything immediately, it is set to continue. And quite frankly, if that’s how the club will be run, I will struggle to believe that we will ever achieve much under the current regime.
This has been something bugging me since the backlash of the draw against Burnley and loss at home to Aston Villa. Boos were expected at the end of the Villa game, but it made me wonder who is really fully supportive of the current regime.
