It has been a rollercoaster of a year for Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham Hotspur, and it’s time to examine the evidence.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
There has certainly been a lot of talk about Mauricio Pochettino over the last twelve months. The general opinion surrounding the Argentine’s management of Tottenham Hotspur has fluctuated from one end of the spectrum to the other, with many Spurs fans also getting involved in the conversation.
It’s difficult to make a final statement regarding the whole situation. Given the fact they started 2016 with a very realistic chance of winning the title, things have not exactly panned out how they expected. One of the big things that was attributed to Poch was that he could break the “bottle job” mentality that has coincided with Tottenham over the years. Given the disappointing way in which the club slipped to third in May, it appears as if the man still has work to do.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
When you look through the recent history of Spurs managers, the same pattern can be followed. A strong feeling initially among supporters before a hopeful start, before that hope is extinguished by the weight of the pressure the job brings. When Spurs have their strongest XI possible, Pochettino can get them playing brilliant football within his system. They have the quality to flourish in an attacking sense, whilst also being able to maintain a sturdy back four.
But injuries certainly have not helped. Pochettino has spent a good period of time clearing out the deadwood at White Hart Lane, but the recent string of setbacks seems to have caught him off guard. There seems to be some confusion in terms of his team selections, which has directly led to their inconsistency over the last few weeks.
Tottenham’s Dele Alli
Some of the business the club have done in terms of transfers does raise some questions as to how much influence Poch has in proceedings, but he’s had long enough now to cement a strong relationship with the squad at his disposal. The Champions League failure has been a big talking point among fans in regards to where Pochettino has been poor in terms of his man management.
General view of construction at White Hart Lane before the match
Overall, it’s been a year of expectancy and renewed hope at White Hart Lane that didn’t quite live up to expectations. Pochettino has been their best manager in years, but whether he can sustain that quality for years to come remains to be seen.
Overall Rating: 8/10
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
