Mauricio Pochettino offers Daniel Levy solution as Tottenham threaten to spiral out of control
ottenham’s defeat by Bournemouth on Saturday was certainly the nadir of their joyless season, a day when supporters’ frustration manifested in shameful abuse of Davinson Sanchez and the stress elevated on the membership’s hapless possession and performing boss Cristian Stellini.
The defeat left Spurs’ top-four hopes in jeopardy forward of consecutive six-pointers towards Newcastle, Manchester United and Liverpool, and raises the query of whether or not they can proceed to muddle via to the tip of the season with the established order.
After three matches of Stellini’s proposed 10-game interregnum, his tenure has already soured. Next week’s triple-header is an opportunity to rework the temper however, given the way in which Spurs are taking part in, the scenario may simply grow to be poisonous, maybe unsustainably so.
Conte’s former assistant has modified subsequent to nothing about his former boss’s method, irritating followers, and his choices, together with the introduction of substitute Sanchez on Saturday, have largely been ineffective and dear.
Unsurprisingly, a coach whose solely beforehand managerial expertise was 16 matches within the Italian third tier has shortly appeared out of his depth.
Spiralling: Tottenham’s top-four hopes took an enormous blow with their defeat by Bournemouth
/ Getty ImagesThe fanbase is break up between fury and apathy, and the temper within the squad is bleak; each Sanchez and Pedro Porro deleted social media accounts after receiving abuse from supporters within the wake of this 3-2 defeat.
Sanchez was the conduit for followers’ frustration on the day, however they recognise that Daniel Levy and the board are the basis trigger of the chaos, and the fury is probably going to be directed on the chairman if Spurs wrestle of their subsequent residence sport towards United on Thursday week.
The notion that Levy is thick-skinned and unconcerned by criticism might be beneficiant, and if the temper worsens and the stress intensifies, the chairman’s most blatant recourse is one other change within the dugout.
Stellini has modified subsequent to nothing about Conte’s method, irritating followers
At this stage, the membership’s choices are restricted. Levy may flip to one other interim coach, such as Ryan Mason, who took cost of the ultimate seven video games of the 2020-21 season after Jose Mourinho’s sacking and tried to get Spurs again to taking part in on the entrance foot. Or Levy may speed up the appointment of a everlasting successor to Conte and take a look at to get a brand new supervisor in place earlier than the tip of the marketing campaign.
Spurs are nonetheless doing due diligence on potential candidates as they goal to keep away from the repeat of their chaotic 72-day seek for a Mourinho successor in summer season 2021, and a few of the main contenders are presently employed and, due to this fact, tough to poach earlier than the summer season.
But there are out-of-work candidates who may probably take the job instantly, together with former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, whose identify has been sung by supporters within the final two residence matches.
Whatever the outcomes, followers are sure to proceed calling for the Argentine — and for Levy to go — at St James’ Park on Sunday and through United’s go to.
The hierarchy have reservations about bringing Pochettino again, given the way in which the ultimate months of his five-and-a-half 12 months tenure performed out, however re-hiring him would instantly elevate the temper and ease the stress on the board.
Levy and the membership might have to weigh up their want to take their time in appointing a brand new supervisor with the necessity to shortly handle a scenario which is threatening to spiral out of control.
