This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Uncertainty hangs over Tottenham Hotspur as they prepare to face West Ham United this weekend.
A report from The Daily Telegraph prior to the international break claimed that Mauricio Pochettino could be sacked if Spurs lose at the London Stadium.
But it doesn’t seem to make sense, to make that kind of change at this point in the season.
A separate Football.London report has claimed that there is no sense of “impending change” at Spurs as they prepare for this weekend’s derby.
And with the January transfer window looming that seems like the more accurate of the two.
Indeed, whenever there is upheaval at a managerial level, a club suffers. There is a period of uncertainty over who will take over and there are also questions asked of the playing staff.
Will the new manager take to the old manager’s signings? Is he likely to implement a completely new style of play? Will he want to splash the cash himself?
The issue with this at Spurs is that they are in a phase of rebuilding. Three first-team players – Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon – were signed in the summer but one feels that January could be a perfect time for them to continue that and attempt to bring in one or two more.
That is not to mention the problems that Pochettino is currently being forced to deal with in terms of contracts, with replacements likely to be needed for Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen. The trio’s contracts expire this summer.
Thus, one has to feel that Pochettino is the man best placed to steer Spurs through this period, at least until after the January window.
If the form turns around and he is backed, then everything looks rosy.
If not, if Spurs are still in mid-table come the turn of the year, then they will have an excuse to spend.
Either way, Pochettino is the man who should be allowed to shape this squad as he wants and to identify the new players that are required.
Bringing in a new boss after this weekend would be madness and could lead to a high turnover of players this January.
It simply isn’t how Spurs should operate.
