Another season, another mediocre start for Tottenham Hotspur. Their worst start to a Premier League campaign in six years and already pressure begins to mount on new boss Mauricio Pochettino. After nine games played Spurs have a total of eleven points on the board. So what is going wrong for Spurs? Why does their start to the season look all too familiar?
This time last season Andre Villas-Boas was being made out to look like a complete novice. Someone who was clearly not fit to cut it in the Premier League. He could not get his team motivated because of his age. The more experienced players at the club did not respect him. Fast forward one year and AVB has just come off the back of a sixteen game unbeaten run with Russian side Zenit Saint Petersburg while Tottenham lose 2 - 1 at home to struggling Newcastle United. Is this just a case of Pochettino being the new guy at White Hart Lane or is there more?
The former Southampton man now faces a difficult situation in which so many who have gone before him have suffered from. Tim Sherwood to Juande Ramos, the list of failed managers at Tottenham is a long and at times justified one. The manager of a club is often made the scapegoat when things start to go belly-up, but in the case of Tottenham that excuse has gone on long enough. At what stage do the players stand up and say "No more same old Tottenham".
In a recent book tour Roy Keane reminisced about a half time team talk when he was with Manchester United, in a game they were trailing Tottenham at the break. Alex Ferguson, known for his abusive and motivational rants towards his players simply came out with the epically harsh "Lads, its Tottenham", and walked away. The principle still applies today. Their ability to flatter to deceive year upon year still stands.
l to r Franco Baldini and Daniel Levy
At the beginning of this season they were many peoples favourites to finish ahead of both Liverpool and Manchester United to a top four finish. However, two months down the line and it appears they have taken a step backwards. The sale of Gareth Bale for a world record transfer fee gave them plenty of cash to bring in enough quality to secure a Champions League position. With the exception of Hugo Lloris their new acquisitions have not delivered. Even an exceptional 'Rabona' from Erik Lamela last week in the Europa League is not enough to justify his price tag. Pochettino must get him along with Roberto Soldado and Christian Eriksen playing well if their to have any chance this season.
The confusion with fans in relation to transfers goes on. Who is actually calling the shots in the transfer market? The manager, chairman Daniel Levy or technical director Franco Baldini? It remains a mystery. One thing is for certain if Pochettino is to follow in the success he had at Southampton, were he was given one hundred percent control by the board, then he has to lay it on the line with Levy. Demand that he needs to be the one in charge. Whether Levy will accept that, remains to be seen.
It can go two ways for Tottenham again this season but they would be foolish to consider getting rid of the Argentine manager. He needs time to build his own team and get the players playing the football he wants. The problem with that is, the players don't look up to the task. A clear out maybe needed. The club needs a facelift.
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