How long will Levy give Pochettino to prove his worth…?
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Tottenham have announced Argentine Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, following the sacking of Tim Sherwood at the end of last season.
Here’s what the CaughtOffside team makes of the appointment…
Have Spurs made the right decision to appoint Mauricio Pochettino manager?
Jordan Chamberlain:
I think it was probably harsh to sack Tim Sherwood in the first place, but once the Englishman had gone, Pochettino seemed like his natural and obvious successor.
Mark Apostolou:
In short, no. One solid season at Southampton is not enough to suggest he has it within him to secure a top four finish.
Tom Seymour:
Despite not having much experience in English football, something feels right about Pochettino’s appointment. There’s a problem in the Premier League that if a manager/player has not had experience, they’re often dismissed. He’s good enough for the job.
Robert Summerscales:
The club seemingly decided to sack Tim Sherwood a long time ago, so they have had plenty of time to decide who would be a suitable replacement.
There is no doubting that Pochettino is a talented boss, but only time will tell whether he was the correct appointment.
Richie Morgan:
Absolutely, easily the right man for this historically tough job.
Adam Davies:
Yes. Pochettino is young, hungry and has done extremely well at Southampton playing a modern brand of football.
What will he bring to Tottenham?
JC:
A possession brand of football that will delight fans if it works, and frustrate them if it doesn’t. (Think Brendan Rodgers’ first season at Liverpool…)
MA:
Probably a couple of Southampton players.
TS:
Some much needed attacking flair, with Spurs seemingly incapable of being able to utilise the talent they have at the club in the final third. Plus, Erik Lamela could turn out to be a £30m player after all under Pochettino.
RS:
He has already promised to deliver attractive and attacking football. Judging by Southampton’s style of play this season and the players available to him at White Hart Lane, he will surely deliver just that.
RM:
Organisation, tactical nous and a proven ability to get the best out of whatever players he is given to work with, but especially youngsters, which is what most appealed about the Argentinean to chairman Daniel Levy.
AD:
At Southampton, Pochettino showed strong proactive tactics. The high intensity pressing game he brought in naturally required immense stamina and fitness, but also needed the squad to be exceptionally well drilled in their respective roles and positions in and out of possession.
Pochettino improves players – as the international selections of Luke Shaw, Morgan Schneiderlin, Adam Lallana, Jay Rodriguez and Rickie Lambert illustrate.
Spurs fans can expect all of the above.
Click through the pages to read the rest of the Q and A!
Would there have been anyone better available instead?
JC:
Frank de Boer was mooted, and I don’t think any Spurs fans would have been disappointed if the Dutchman had been given the job.
MA:
Yes, Frank de Boer. No Premier League experience but a bigger name and a manager who’s enjoyed huge success in Holland.
TS:
Other than Frank de Boer probably not. Michael Laudrup would have been in the running 12 months ago before everything went very wrong at Swansea.
RS:
I reckon Everton boss Roberto Martinez would have been the best man to lead Spurs. However, after the Toffees finished above the North London club and with Daniel Levy’s reputation for quick-fire sackings, the Spaniard would have had to be crazy to consider a move to White Hart Lane.
RM:
Possibly Ajax boss Frank de Boer, who made it clear he wanted the job -but his lack of Premier League experience counted against him in the end, while Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was never really a viable option.
AD:
Frank de Boer was the strongest linked, but Pochettino’s Premier League pedigree probably tipped the odds in his favour.
Which Southampton stars do you think he’ll look to bring with him to White Hart Lane?
JC:
Pochettino loves Adam Lallana, and Liverpool are so slow to move in the transfer market, I think he’ll get his man.
MA:
He will look to bring in Lallana and Shaw, but may have to settle for Wanyama and Rodriguez.
TS:
There’s a lot of talk surrounding Adam Lallana, but I think a better signing would be Nathaniel Clyne. Kyle Naughton is not good enough and there are doubts over Kyle Walker defensively – Clyne could be the perfect signing.
RS:
Adam Lallana seems like the obvious choice. The versatile 26-year-old could form part of an exciting three-man attacking midfield three, along with Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela, who may well thrive under the stewardship of a fellow Argentinean.
RM:
Jay Rodriguez, Morgan Schneiderlin and Dejan Lovren.
AD:
I don’t rate Danny Rose particularly highly, but Luke Shaw is likely out of Spurs’ price range if rumours of a £30m asking price are true.
Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana may be more affordable options – though the latter is still likely to command a considerable fee.
Morgan Schneiderlin is another possibility, but only if Pochettino does not think Sandro is up to the job.
How long will Daniel Levy stick with him if he starts poorly, baring in mind the chairman’s penchant for sacking, and the fact Pochettino’s been awarded a five-year-contract?
JC:
Not very long. Levy trusted AVB to spend over £100m, and then sacked him before Christmas! The lengthy contract seems unnecessary though.
MA:
The five-year-contract is pretty much meaningless as anything less than a top four finish will be seen by Levy, rightly or wrongly, as failure.
TS:
I doubt Pochettino will see out the five years whatever happens – either he’ll get a big job back in Spain or sacked – but Levy is making himself increasingly unpopular with every dismissal and it could well be him leaving next.
RS:
If he is feeling particularly generous, he may give him 18 months. No matter how well he starts, I would be amazed if he stays at White Hart Lane for five years.
RM:
Until the end of the campaign, with Levy surely now tired of constantly having to find new managers every summer. The new man has been told he must qualify the north London club for the Champions League, which will be no easy task even for a coach of Pochettino’s undoubted ability.
AD:
As good a manager as Pochettino is, it’s hard to see Levy giving him a full season if he doesn’t compete for the top four immediately.
Where will Spurs finish in the table next term?
JC:
6th, tucked between Manchester United above them and Everton below in 7th.
MA:
7th
TS:
It’s going to be very difficult to break the Champions League places. Chelsea and Manchester United will probably improve and Manchester City and Liverpool should keep up their form. I think they’ll finish 6th.
RS:
Above Southampton! Anywhere between third and seventh, probably 6th again, but ahead of Everton and behind Manchester United.
RM:
4th
AD:
6th. They’ll beat Everton to 6th thanks to a significantly higher budget, but Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal all have greater resources and playing squads at their disposal.
Finishing higher than 6th will be a tough task, but Levy’s great expectations may mean Pochettino may not last longer than a single season at White Hart Lane.