After match week 8, this is what the stats tell us about Tottenham – 2 points from the last 30 on the road, 2 wins from their last 10 and no away win in the last nine months. Stats aside, the team’s approach and attitude tell us even more. There does not seem to be any desire or heart and something HAS to change!
Looking at some of the individual players, there is some undeniable talent in the squad that could get into some of the best teams in the world. But as a team, everything is falling apart at White Hart Lane and the question many are starting to ask is – is it the end of the road for Mauricio Pochettino?
Their shortcomings this season have been shadowed by the failures of Manchester United so far, but that does not take away any of the criticism that the Tottenham squad is facing. Questions are being asked by fans and pundits, but the manager and the players don’t seem to have any answers. Their latest results include a 0-3 loss to Brighton, which is a game they were expected to win comfortably. And then came a 2-7 drubbing at home at the hands of a Bayern Munich side that showed no mercy. This is probably the worst way to go into the international break, but it is now a reality for Tottenham.
Their next EPL fixture is against Watford, who are yet to win a single game and remain cemented at the bottom of the table with just three points. Tottenham goes into this game as favourites with odds of 1.39 (71% chance of winning) but somehow, the confidence is not there. If Watford manages their first win of the season against Tottenham, it could be a real slap in the face. Considering Tottenham’s away form, it is not far-fetched either.
Looking for more odds for the upcoming Premier League fixtures? Manchester United have had a horror show thus far, and Liverpool have been flying, will it be embarrassing for United when they face Liverpool this weekend? Well, Liverpool has 4/6 odds of winning, a draw is at 3 and Manchester United have a 9/2 odds of winning. In Sheff Utd vs Arsenal game, Arsenal win is at 91/100, a draw is at 11/4 and a Sheff Utd win is at 14/5.
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Is Pochettino getting the resources he needs?
This team exceeded expectations just last season, finishing third in the Premier League, ahead of even Liverpool and Chelsea. They were so good that they made it to the UEFA Champions League finals in Madrid. So, where has it all gone wrong?
Well, everyone has their theories – some are firm believers that the defence is not up to the mark. Some think that the club is being cheap and needs to spend the big bucks. But not many are pointing their fingers at Mauricio Pochettino, the manager (which is usually what happens when a club’s performance starts deteriorating throughout a season).
But how could you blame the Pochettino? He has emphasized the need for change multiple times, using terms such as “a new chapter”, “a fresh cycle” and a “rebuild” for a long time now, but the rebuild has never materialized. Is it farfetched to deduce from this that Pochettino is not being assigned the resources he is looking for?
Tottenham stars like Eriksen have put in performances that pale in comparison to what they delivered last season. His assists and goals have gone down remarkably and so have the manager’s trust in him, as he hesitates to start him in games.
Pochettino expected certain players to move on from White Hart Lane in the summer transfer window, but a lot of the transfers (like Eriksen to Madrid for example) fell through. The transfer window closed and Pochettino still has players he expected would have been replaced by now.
Pochettino has not been shy in trying different tactics, formations and starting 11’s in the hope that something will click, but nothing seems to produce consistent results for Tottenham who now find themselves 9thin the table.
To add insult to injury for Tottenham, there are actual injuries that have foiled plans as well. The latest one being afflicted upon goal keeper Hugo Llrois who is confirmed to miss the rest of the season after having dislocated his elbow against Brighton.
If there is one positive, it is of reports that Dele Alli is going back to the drawing board to regain his form. He has supposedly hired a nutritionist and decided to forego all commercial activities to concentrate on football. We think other players need to look at themselves and maybe follow in his footsteps to bring an end to the woes of their club.
The problem at Tottenham is that there is more than one problem, and there is a disconnect between the players and the managers. There is even talk about some of the players not wanting to play for this manager anymore. The question is – who needs to go? Is it the players or the manager?
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