Your completely correct, the 2nd point is why he left.
The first, imo, has nothing to do with it.
-
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Manager Mauricio Pochettino
- Thread starter WHITE&BLUE
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The first, imo, has nothing to do with it.
I reckon Barca, Bayern, Juve and maybe one or two other clubs could turn his head. But I don't think he is there yet.
I hope not though.
Not this again for fuck sake....
Tottenham fans should trust Pochettino, a manager who doesn’t need to spend
A failure to sign cover for Harry Kane has left many at White Hart Lane disappointed, but with a top-four place theirs to lose and a title shot a possibility, the Argentinian deserves some faith
David Hytner
Let’s start with a statistic, because it is a pretty eye-catching one. Across his four transfer windows at Tottenham Hotspur, Mauricio Pochettino is £6.3m in credit on permanent fees spent.
Daniel Levy, the chairman, is loving Pochettino right now because of how the manager has the club on course for the Champions League and, who knows, possibly the Premier League title, too, and to have done it on a shoestring makes his work even more admirable.
More than anything, Pochettino has fired a feelgood factor, having shaped a vibrant, hungry young team that can go toe to toe with any other in England. As the ludicrously overblown pre-match montage at White Hart Lane reminds us, the game is about the glory and Pochettino has allowed Tottenham’s fans to dream, which, ultimately, is one of the best things about following a club.
On Monday, as the clock ticked down towards the transfer deadline, Pochettino effectively made a demand of those supporters. He asked them, once again, to trust him. With everything that they have.
The calls for him to sign an out-and-out striker in support of Harry Kane were almost hysterical last summer but there was nobody available who he liked enough and, crucially, would fit into his playing style. And so he rolled the dice.
There is a little joke in the White Hart Lane press room before matches when the lineups are handed out: “Harry gets the nod up front.” Kane, of course, is the only established, senior option. Everybody connected to the club held their breath over the first half of the season and, happily, Kane stayed the course and he delivered. The 22-year-old has lacerated any fears that he might somehow have been a one-season wonder, after his breakthrough last time out.
Pochettino, though, rolled the dice even harder on Monday because, unlike on 1 September, the fans can now sense the glory. It is within their grasp and, frankly, a top-four finish is theirs to throw away.
With the increased expectation comes the greater fear of failure and it has crystallised around Kane who, more than ever, carries their hopes on his shoulders. It is a fair bet that Twitter would break if Kane were to suffer a serious injury and Tottenham missed out on the Champions League. Could you imagine?
Pochettino said before last summer’s transfer deadline that he wanted proper cover for Kane and he used a line that got a smile. “It’s like when you are in love with a lady – there are a lot of women around the world but you want only one,” he said. At the time, he wanted Saido Berahino from West Bromwich Albion but Levy could not agree the deal.
On 3 December, Pochettino again said that the club were tracking strikers before the winter window and he also accepted that none of his back-up options – Son Heung-min, Nacer Chadli and Clinton Njie – were specialists in the position. Njie has since been ruled out until April with a knee injury that required surgery.
But Pochettino, to draw on the famous old Ian Holloway analogy, has never been about to bundle any old thing into the back of a taxi when the night is done. He is not a desperate guy, even with his mates egging him on.
Levy was very keen for him to sign a striker at the last moment in the summer – he said that he could get Charlie Austin, who was then at Queens Park Rangers, only for Pochettino to say “No” – and, once again in January, it was Levy who was eager to do the business.
Tottenham have scouted loads of strikers, including Jonathan Calleri, the 22-year-old Argentinian, who is now at São Paulo. The club were among those to watch Oumar Niasse extensively over the first half of the season – the Senegalese joined Everton for £13.5m on deadline day – while there was no chance of them, or indeed anyone, getting Berahino during this past window.
There was also Fulham’s Moussa Dembélé, the 19-year-old Frenchman, who passed a medical with them on Saturday, with a view to a £6m transfer with a loan-back to Craven Cottage for the remainder of the season. With the consent of the player and the framework of the deal in place, Tottenham then moved to scrap the loan-back bit, which had always been set in stone from Fulham’s side. It was a liberty, Fulham felt, and they called everything off.
Dembélé was the one that Pochettino wanted but he has lost no sleep over him or the fact that Kane’s burden feels as though it has just got heavier. Kane, lest anyone forget, is prized for his durability and stamina.
Yes, Pochettino would have liked somebody else up front but not just anybody and the chemistry within the dressing-room that he has concocted remains of overriding importance. Nothing or nobody can come in from the outside to upset that.
If it is a thing of great delicacy, then there are plenty of people who would argue that there is a tipping point between Son and Chadli being able to do a job up front and doing it brilliantly.
Pochettino can counter by saying that the role of the No9 has changed, modern attacking tactics are much more fluid and he would back himself to find the collective solution, involving Son and/or Chadli, if the worst came to the worst and Kane were injured.
If any manager has credit in the bank and the right to expect a bit of faith to be shown in him, it is surely Pochettino.
Tottenham fans should trust Pochettino, a manager who doesn’t need to spend | David Hytner
A failure to sign cover for Harry Kane has left many at White Hart Lane disappointed, but with a top-four place theirs to lose and a title shot a possibility, the Argentinian deserves some faith
David Hytner
Let’s start with a statistic, because it is a pretty eye-catching one. Across his four transfer windows at Tottenham Hotspur, Mauricio Pochettino is £6.3m in credit on permanent fees spent.
Daniel Levy, the chairman, is loving Pochettino right now because of how the manager has the club on course for the Champions League and, who knows, possibly the Premier League title, too, and to have done it on a shoestring makes his work even more admirable.
More than anything, Pochettino has fired a feelgood factor, having shaped a vibrant, hungry young team that can go toe to toe with any other in England. As the ludicrously overblown pre-match montage at White Hart Lane reminds us, the game is about the glory and Pochettino has allowed Tottenham’s fans to dream, which, ultimately, is one of the best things about following a club.
On Monday, as the clock ticked down towards the transfer deadline, Pochettino effectively made a demand of those supporters. He asked them, once again, to trust him. With everything that they have.
The calls for him to sign an out-and-out striker in support of Harry Kane were almost hysterical last summer but there was nobody available who he liked enough and, crucially, would fit into his playing style. And so he rolled the dice.
There is a little joke in the White Hart Lane press room before matches when the lineups are handed out: “Harry gets the nod up front.” Kane, of course, is the only established, senior option. Everybody connected to the club held their breath over the first half of the season and, happily, Kane stayed the course and he delivered. The 22-year-old has lacerated any fears that he might somehow have been a one-season wonder, after his breakthrough last time out.
Pochettino, though, rolled the dice even harder on Monday because, unlike on 1 September, the fans can now sense the glory. It is within their grasp and, frankly, a top-four finish is theirs to throw away.
With the increased expectation comes the greater fear of failure and it has crystallised around Kane who, more than ever, carries their hopes on his shoulders. It is a fair bet that Twitter would break if Kane were to suffer a serious injury and Tottenham missed out on the Champions League. Could you imagine?
Pochettino said before last summer’s transfer deadline that he wanted proper cover for Kane and he used a line that got a smile. “It’s like when you are in love with a lady – there are a lot of women around the world but you want only one,” he said. At the time, he wanted Saido Berahino from West Bromwich Albion but Levy could not agree the deal.
On 3 December, Pochettino again said that the club were tracking strikers before the winter window and he also accepted that none of his back-up options – Son Heung-min, Nacer Chadli and Clinton Njie – were specialists in the position. Njie has since been ruled out until April with a knee injury that required surgery.
But Pochettino, to draw on the famous old Ian Holloway analogy, has never been about to bundle any old thing into the back of a taxi when the night is done. He is not a desperate guy, even with his mates egging him on.
Levy was very keen for him to sign a striker at the last moment in the summer – he said that he could get Charlie Austin, who was then at Queens Park Rangers, only for Pochettino to say “No” – and, once again in January, it was Levy who was eager to do the business.
Tottenham have scouted loads of strikers, including Jonathan Calleri, the 22-year-old Argentinian, who is now at São Paulo. The club were among those to watch Oumar Niasse extensively over the first half of the season – the Senegalese joined Everton for £13.5m on deadline day – while there was no chance of them, or indeed anyone, getting Berahino during this past window.
There was also Fulham’s Moussa Dembélé, the 19-year-old Frenchman, who passed a medical with them on Saturday, with a view to a £6m transfer with a loan-back to Craven Cottage for the remainder of the season. With the consent of the player and the framework of the deal in place, Tottenham then moved to scrap the loan-back bit, which had always been set in stone from Fulham’s side. It was a liberty, Fulham felt, and they called everything off.
Dembélé was the one that Pochettino wanted but he has lost no sleep over him or the fact that Kane’s burden feels as though it has just got heavier. Kane, lest anyone forget, is prized for his durability and stamina.
Yes, Pochettino would have liked somebody else up front but not just anybody and the chemistry within the dressing-room that he has concocted remains of overriding importance. Nothing or nobody can come in from the outside to upset that.
If it is a thing of great delicacy, then there are plenty of people who would argue that there is a tipping point between Son and Chadli being able to do a job up front and doing it brilliantly.
Pochettino can counter by saying that the role of the No9 has changed, modern attacking tactics are much more fluid and he would back himself to find the collective solution, involving Son and/or Chadli, if the worst came to the worst and Kane were injured.
If any manager has credit in the bank and the right to expect a bit of faith to be shown in him, it is surely Pochettino.
Tottenham fans should trust Pochettino, a manager who doesn’t need to spend | David Hytner
They're sycophants for whoever's in power. Man Utd have money, and power, therefore they must get everything, because that is how the system must work for yes men like them to have successful careers. They have no ability to do journalism, only to vomit forth soft columns on predictable topics. Leicester and ourselves are the end of their world.
They have one thing in common though. They're all absolute wankers.
Fuck United. At Old Trafford, Fergie is literally sat behind whoever decides to manage that shitshow like the spectre at the feast.
Stay here. Become a hero. Lead us into the new stadium. Get a statue.
Stay here. Become a hero. Lead us into the new stadium. Get a statue.
What so money people seem to ignore is that the method of success that the moneyed clubs utilize is antithetical to Pochettino's coaching and management philosophy. He's a true coach, who wants to mold and develop talent, not toss a bunch of money to purchase the finished product.
City, Chelsea, and a handful of the other "biggest" clubs simply wouldn't allow Pochettino to coach in his preferred way. He wouldn't be given either the time or the faith and backing to develop a team, he would be handed a fat transfer budget and the demand of immediate results and gratification.
Now is the winter of thine discontent Sir Bellend!
This is what Lyall sees when he climaxes.
Decent article in 442 on the same subject.
Would Mauricio Pochettino really be suitable for a club like Manchester United?
It doesn't surprise me these 'journolists' saying Poch to United, they probably all support United and are devastated that they play shit football with as Charlie from the Cock podcast said 'disenchanted superstars'. It's funny as fuck because he's not leaving anytime soon.
Premier League: Why no new signings doesn’t signify a lack of ambition
Premier League: Why no new signings doesn’t signify a lack of ambition
Yahoo Sport's Andrew Gaffney says the transfer window has created monsters - but you don't need to flash the cash to create a successful side.
The transfer window system has created monsters. The summer one sees millions upon millions exchanging hands as teams look to build squads capable of achieving – and exceeding – preseason objectives. For Spurs fans the summer tends to involve a lot of finger-crossing and nail-biting as we hope, if we don’t make too much noise, the biggest clubs in the world will just walk on by and fail to notice our latest budding star. The fear of having to rebuild the squad again, centre it around a new focal point and pray we achieve something worthwhile before those with deeper pockets begin to look our way.
The national media, on the whole, doesn’t help Spurs’ fans nervous dispositions. We spent the whole summer reading about how Manchester United were set to make a £50m bid for Harry Kane and that Real Madrid had begun scouting him, because you know, they always poach our best players. Of course none of this actually led to Mr. One-of-our-Own going anywhere and in fact, he signed a new deal. Yet that didn’t mean every Spurs fan was happy at the close of the summer window - far from it.
Fans were primarily concerned about Mauricio Pochettino’s failure to sign a defensive midfielder. Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason had nailed down starting spots last season and despite the results being more than respectable, neither of which are known for breaking up opposition’s play. Mason’s natural position is further forward, sat behind the striker, while Bentaleb tries to dictate the tempo as opposed to sticking a foot in. Mousa Dembele had excelled there once but it was alongside Sandro, a more combative midfielder, and his form had fluctuated ever since.
Morgan Schneiderlin seemed the obvious choice to come in but Manchester United flexed their muscles – and riches – to entice him up north to aid Louis van Gaal’s own rebuilding process. Football Manager experts were naming several other options that Spurs should explore but there didn’t seem to be any panic at Hotspur Way, only tranquillity.
In preseason Pochettino decided to give Eric Dier a go in midfield and most of us assumed it was because there were injuries and he plugged a gap. We were wrong. You see, before serious money invaded this great sport, coaches were famed for getting the maximum out of the players at their disposal. The answer wasn’t always to go and buy an already established player from elsewhere but to build a squad capable of playing the way you believe to be successful. Dier is an example of that.
Pochettino clearly saw something in young Eric that he thought could work further forward. I remember watching the opening game of the season against United and seeing fans irate and embarrassed that we were having to field him in a new position due to a lack of investment. Poor Eric condemned to being a utility player because Spurs wouldn’t spend £20m on someone to finally fill the void vacated by Luka Modric almost three years ago.
“We’ll be lucky to finish in the Top 10 this year!” “Look at Crystal Palace, they have a better squad than us - and show more ambition!”
What some fans need to realise is that certain players cannot be replaced and Modric is one of them, a certain Welshman being another. There is no like-for-like replacement or they wouldn’t be at Real Madrid right now. It’s easy to say, “Well why not go find the next Luka Modric then?” as if every club in the world isn’t trying to do that! When you lose players such as those two you need to rebuild from the bottom up and engrain another style of play which is achievable with lesser quality footballers. “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
It turns out Eric Dier is actually a very capable defensive midfielder, one of the best in the league even. There was no need to rush into the market when you are able to improve what you already have. This modern football model doesn’t wait for you to find your feet, adapt to the language or overcome personal issues. No, you must perform immediately and consistently or you’ll be shipped out and replaced by the next contender. Like children we always want what we don’t have, assuming it must be better. We might sign a player because another team were scouting him or he had impressed last season. Then, more often than not, like children, a few months later we’re left questioning why we even wanted it in the first place.
The January window saw fans demand a new striker to sit alongside Kane. Clinton N’Jie was injured and Son Heung-min ‘wasn’t a no.9’ so it was imperative Spurs bought someone in case Kane, god forbid, ended up on the treatment table himself or burnt out. There would be no excuses. If Spurs had any ambitions of winning the title then they simply had to sign a striker. Loosen the purse strings for once, Daniel Levy! To dare is to do, after all, right?
As the days in January ticked down two sets of fans began to form: The Blind Faith Brigade and Team Meltdown. There was no middle ground to be had; you fell on one side or the other. It felt like Groundhog Day as people’s Twitter lists were filled with the same arguments every 20-30 minutes as people disagreed over what was best for the club.
‘The Blind Faith Brigade’ were seen as people who saw nothing wrong in anything Daniel Levy did. He’s spent hundreds of millions while at the club and they backed every decision he made, especially as there’s a new stadium to fund. They didn’t want to spend £20m+ on Saido Berahino and although disappointed to see the move for Fulham’s Moussa Dembele fall through, believe the side has enough goals in it to overcome any potential obstacle.
.
On the other side we had ‘Team Meltdown’. They weren’t happy with the summer investments but had been won over by results and now saw an opportunity to win the title – if the club brought in more players. This is the best chance we’ll have in years to win the title as United and Chelsea won’t be this bad next season. Yes, forget the Top Four and let’s win the bloody thing. Daniel Levy’s a penny-pincher if he doesn’t pay what West Brom want for Berahino and at the very least made sure Dembele came in. “Show some bloody ambition!”
No middle ground given: pick a side.
It’s funny what people consider ambition these days, it really is. Daniel Levy’s spent £45m on creating a new state of the art training centre. It’s not only considered to be one of the best in the country but the world. And then there’s the £750m which needs to be spent in order to finance a new stadium. Those two investments don’t prove ambition apparently because there’s a new TV deal in place so they’re richer than ever. Tell me again, how many other clubs have invested the money Spurs have in their training ground? Just one, Manchester City, and they have money falling out of every pocket.
Every Spurs fan, in whichever group they fall under, would have liked a new striker added to the ranks. Yet it’s worth mentioning that Pochettino himself, the man who is behind this renewed faith in the side, has a very select group of players he would add to the current squad. He repeatedly states he won’t add for the sake of it and that the squad’s harmony is paramount to its success. Berahino isn’t being allowed to leave, not to anyone, not for any price. The move for Dembele fell through because Fulham wanted him back on loan for the rest of the season, so how would that have benefitted us in the here and now?
I don’t see Daniel Levy as a man who can do no wrong. He can, has and no doubt will again in the future but I’m not blind to the good things he’s brought to the club. Before him, I saw Spurs languish around mid-table and if we ever flirted with something it was more likely to be relegation as opposed to European football. I’ve seen some great players come through the ranks and the team match the best football has to offer, if only for a brief moment. There’s a new stadium on its way and at the helm of the side one of the best manager’s in recent memory, who is forming a team that everyone, deep down, feels is capable of producing at least one very special moment in our lifetime.
So while I hope Kane doesn’t get injured, I’m not going to lose any sleep over it either. Manchester City fans hope Aguero remains fit, United fans with Anthony Martial, Woolwich with Mesut Özil and Chelsea with Eden Hazard. Well, maybe the last one doesn’t make a great difference but you get my point. Losing your star player would hurt any side and the back-up options won’t be as good, yet it’s that which is surrounding Kane I find equally as special. The one thing I’ve learnt with Pochettino and this Spurs side is they’re capable of surprising us when we lose faith, as they never appear to.
If Spurs don’t win the league it won’t be because we didn’t buy a striker in January or a defensive midfielder in the summer but because we weren’t quite good enough. Pochettino has done enough to earn our trust and while I might have changed one or two things myself, there’s absolutely no reason to question him so far. It’s a testament to the man that we’re even talking about the possibility of winning the Premier League.
He’s building something special at Spurs and the scary, uncharted part for us is that he hasn’t even finished yet.
Premier League: Why no new signings doesn’t signify a lack of ambition
Yahoo Sport's Andrew Gaffney says the transfer window has created monsters - but you don't need to flash the cash to create a successful side.
The transfer window system has created monsters. The summer one sees millions upon millions exchanging hands as teams look to build squads capable of achieving – and exceeding – preseason objectives. For Spurs fans the summer tends to involve a lot of finger-crossing and nail-biting as we hope, if we don’t make too much noise, the biggest clubs in the world will just walk on by and fail to notice our latest budding star. The fear of having to rebuild the squad again, centre it around a new focal point and pray we achieve something worthwhile before those with deeper pockets begin to look our way.
The national media, on the whole, doesn’t help Spurs’ fans nervous dispositions. We spent the whole summer reading about how Manchester United were set to make a £50m bid for Harry Kane and that Real Madrid had begun scouting him, because you know, they always poach our best players. Of course none of this actually led to Mr. One-of-our-Own going anywhere and in fact, he signed a new deal. Yet that didn’t mean every Spurs fan was happy at the close of the summer window - far from it.
Fans were primarily concerned about Mauricio Pochettino’s failure to sign a defensive midfielder. Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason had nailed down starting spots last season and despite the results being more than respectable, neither of which are known for breaking up opposition’s play. Mason’s natural position is further forward, sat behind the striker, while Bentaleb tries to dictate the tempo as opposed to sticking a foot in. Mousa Dembele had excelled there once but it was alongside Sandro, a more combative midfielder, and his form had fluctuated ever since.
Morgan Schneiderlin seemed the obvious choice to come in but Manchester United flexed their muscles – and riches – to entice him up north to aid Louis van Gaal’s own rebuilding process. Football Manager experts were naming several other options that Spurs should explore but there didn’t seem to be any panic at Hotspur Way, only tranquillity.
In preseason Pochettino decided to give Eric Dier a go in midfield and most of us assumed it was because there were injuries and he plugged a gap. We were wrong. You see, before serious money invaded this great sport, coaches were famed for getting the maximum out of the players at their disposal. The answer wasn’t always to go and buy an already established player from elsewhere but to build a squad capable of playing the way you believe to be successful. Dier is an example of that.
Pochettino clearly saw something in young Eric that he thought could work further forward. I remember watching the opening game of the season against United and seeing fans irate and embarrassed that we were having to field him in a new position due to a lack of investment. Poor Eric condemned to being a utility player because Spurs wouldn’t spend £20m on someone to finally fill the void vacated by Luka Modric almost three years ago.
“We’ll be lucky to finish in the Top 10 this year!” “Look at Crystal Palace, they have a better squad than us - and show more ambition!”
What some fans need to realise is that certain players cannot be replaced and Modric is one of them, a certain Welshman being another. There is no like-for-like replacement or they wouldn’t be at Real Madrid right now. It’s easy to say, “Well why not go find the next Luka Modric then?” as if every club in the world isn’t trying to do that! When you lose players such as those two you need to rebuild from the bottom up and engrain another style of play which is achievable with lesser quality footballers. “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
It turns out Eric Dier is actually a very capable defensive midfielder, one of the best in the league even. There was no need to rush into the market when you are able to improve what you already have. This modern football model doesn’t wait for you to find your feet, adapt to the language or overcome personal issues. No, you must perform immediately and consistently or you’ll be shipped out and replaced by the next contender. Like children we always want what we don’t have, assuming it must be better. We might sign a player because another team were scouting him or he had impressed last season. Then, more often than not, like children, a few months later we’re left questioning why we even wanted it in the first place.
The January window saw fans demand a new striker to sit alongside Kane. Clinton N’Jie was injured and Son Heung-min ‘wasn’t a no.9’ so it was imperative Spurs bought someone in case Kane, god forbid, ended up on the treatment table himself or burnt out. There would be no excuses. If Spurs had any ambitions of winning the title then they simply had to sign a striker. Loosen the purse strings for once, Daniel Levy! To dare is to do, after all, right?
As the days in January ticked down two sets of fans began to form: The Blind Faith Brigade and Team Meltdown. There was no middle ground to be had; you fell on one side or the other. It felt like Groundhog Day as people’s Twitter lists were filled with the same arguments every 20-30 minutes as people disagreed over what was best for the club.
‘The Blind Faith Brigade’ were seen as people who saw nothing wrong in anything Daniel Levy did. He’s spent hundreds of millions while at the club and they backed every decision he made, especially as there’s a new stadium to fund. They didn’t want to spend £20m+ on Saido Berahino and although disappointed to see the move for Fulham’s Moussa Dembele fall through, believe the side has enough goals in it to overcome any potential obstacle.
.
On the other side we had ‘Team Meltdown’. They weren’t happy with the summer investments but had been won over by results and now saw an opportunity to win the title – if the club brought in more players. This is the best chance we’ll have in years to win the title as United and Chelsea won’t be this bad next season. Yes, forget the Top Four and let’s win the bloody thing. Daniel Levy’s a penny-pincher if he doesn’t pay what West Brom want for Berahino and at the very least made sure Dembele came in. “Show some bloody ambition!”
No middle ground given: pick a side.
It’s funny what people consider ambition these days, it really is. Daniel Levy’s spent £45m on creating a new state of the art training centre. It’s not only considered to be one of the best in the country but the world. And then there’s the £750m which needs to be spent in order to finance a new stadium. Those two investments don’t prove ambition apparently because there’s a new TV deal in place so they’re richer than ever. Tell me again, how many other clubs have invested the money Spurs have in their training ground? Just one, Manchester City, and they have money falling out of every pocket.
Every Spurs fan, in whichever group they fall under, would have liked a new striker added to the ranks. Yet it’s worth mentioning that Pochettino himself, the man who is behind this renewed faith in the side, has a very select group of players he would add to the current squad. He repeatedly states he won’t add for the sake of it and that the squad’s harmony is paramount to its success. Berahino isn’t being allowed to leave, not to anyone, not for any price. The move for Dembele fell through because Fulham wanted him back on loan for the rest of the season, so how would that have benefitted us in the here and now?
I don’t see Daniel Levy as a man who can do no wrong. He can, has and no doubt will again in the future but I’m not blind to the good things he’s brought to the club. Before him, I saw Spurs languish around mid-table and if we ever flirted with something it was more likely to be relegation as opposed to European football. I’ve seen some great players come through the ranks and the team match the best football has to offer, if only for a brief moment. There’s a new stadium on its way and at the helm of the side one of the best manager’s in recent memory, who is forming a team that everyone, deep down, feels is capable of producing at least one very special moment in our lifetime.
So while I hope Kane doesn’t get injured, I’m not going to lose any sleep over it either. Manchester City fans hope Aguero remains fit, United fans with Anthony Martial, Woolwich with Mesut Özil and Chelsea with Eden Hazard. Well, maybe the last one doesn’t make a great difference but you get my point. Losing your star player would hurt any side and the back-up options won’t be as good, yet it’s that which is surrounding Kane I find equally as special. The one thing I’ve learnt with Pochettino and this Spurs side is they’re capable of surprising us when we lose faith, as they never appear to.
If Spurs don’t win the league it won’t be because we didn’t buy a striker in January or a defensive midfielder in the summer but because we weren’t quite good enough. Pochettino has done enough to earn our trust and while I might have changed one or two things myself, there’s absolutely no reason to question him so far. It’s a testament to the man that we’re even talking about the possibility of winning the Premier League.
He’s building something special at Spurs and the scary, uncharted part for us is that he hasn’t even finished yet.
Toby Alderweireld: You don't belong at Tottenham unless you follow Mauricio Pochettino's path
Players who are not willing to follow Mauricio Pochettino's path do not belong at Tottenham, according to Toby Alderweireld.
Spurs extended their unbeaten away record to 11 Premier League games courtesy of Tuesday's 3-0 victory against Norwich and climbed to third place in the table.
Such an impressive run of results has seen the north Londoners not only leapfrog their rivals Woolwich but also shed their reputation as a soft touch on the road.
Tottenham were often accused of possessing a lack of steeliness in recent years but have discovered a clinical edge under their Argentine coach this term.
Alderweireld has hailed the strong work ethic Pochettino has instilled in the White Hart Lane dressing room and believes only those who work hard enough are recognised by the manager.
Read more
Dele Alli was born to play for Tottenham, says Micky Hazard
"He only puts in guys who work very hard," he told the Mirror.
"A lot of guys have left the club. If you don't follow the path you don't belong in Tottenham.
"The most important thing is we have no heroes in this team. When one makes a mistake the other one picks it up.
"We have a togetherness. We want to achieve something this season and I think you can see that on the pitch."
Tottenham are just five points adrift of pacesetters Leicester City ahead of Saturday's clash with Watford and the team's form has fans dreaming of a potential title challenge.
Players who are not willing to follow Mauricio Pochettino's path do not belong at Tottenham, according to Toby Alderweireld.
Spurs extended their unbeaten away record to 11 Premier League games courtesy of Tuesday's 3-0 victory against Norwich and climbed to third place in the table.
Such an impressive run of results has seen the north Londoners not only leapfrog their rivals Woolwich but also shed their reputation as a soft touch on the road.
Tottenham were often accused of possessing a lack of steeliness in recent years but have discovered a clinical edge under their Argentine coach this term.
Alderweireld has hailed the strong work ethic Pochettino has instilled in the White Hart Lane dressing room and believes only those who work hard enough are recognised by the manager.
Read more
Dele Alli was born to play for Tottenham, says Micky Hazard
"He only puts in guys who work very hard," he told the Mirror.
"A lot of guys have left the club. If you don't follow the path you don't belong in Tottenham.
"The most important thing is we have no heroes in this team. When one makes a mistake the other one picks it up.
"We have a togetherness. We want to achieve something this season and I think you can see that on the pitch."
Tottenham are just five points adrift of pacesetters Leicester City ahead of Saturday's clash with Watford and the team's form has fans dreaming of a potential title challenge.
Harry Kane is adamant Spurs must now aim higher than fourth place and Alderweireld sees no reason why Tottenham cannot beat any team in the division as long as they continue to work as hard as possible.
"There is confidence and self-belief - not arrogance - that we can beat everybody. We know that, if we don't put the effort in, we are a normal team.
"Physically we are 100 per cent. We can run all game and that is the way we want to play.
"We have quality and young guys who are eager to make the difference," said the Belgian.
Players who are not willing to follow Mauricio Pochettino's path do not belong at Tottenham, according to Toby Alderweireld.
Spurs extended their unbeaten away record to 11 Premier League games courtesy of Tuesday's 3-0 victory against Norwich and climbed to third place in the table.
Such an impressive run of results has seen the north Londoners not only leapfrog their rivals Woolwich but also shed their reputation as a soft touch on the road.
Tottenham were often accused of possessing a lack of steeliness in recent years but have discovered a clinical edge under their Argentine coach this term.
Alderweireld has hailed the strong work ethic Pochettino has instilled in the White Hart Lane dressing room and believes only those who work hard enough are recognised by the manager.
Read more
Dele Alli was born to play for Tottenham, says Micky Hazard
"He only puts in guys who work very hard," he told the Mirror.
"A lot of guys have left the club. If you don't follow the path you don't belong in Tottenham.
"The most important thing is we have no heroes in this team. When one makes a mistake the other one picks it up.
"We have a togetherness. We want to achieve something this season and I think you can see that on the pitch."
Tottenham are just five points adrift of pacesetters Leicester City ahead of Saturday's clash with Watford and the team's form has fans dreaming of a potential title challenge.
Players who are not willing to follow Mauricio Pochettino's path do not belong at Tottenham, according to Toby Alderweireld.
Spurs extended their unbeaten away record to 11 Premier League games courtesy of Tuesday's 3-0 victory against Norwich and climbed to third place in the table.
Such an impressive run of results has seen the north Londoners not only leapfrog their rivals Woolwich but also shed their reputation as a soft touch on the road.
Tottenham were often accused of possessing a lack of steeliness in recent years but have discovered a clinical edge under their Argentine coach this term.
Alderweireld has hailed the strong work ethic Pochettino has instilled in the White Hart Lane dressing room and believes only those who work hard enough are recognised by the manager.
Read more
Dele Alli was born to play for Tottenham, says Micky Hazard
"He only puts in guys who work very hard," he told the Mirror.
"A lot of guys have left the club. If you don't follow the path you don't belong in Tottenham.
"The most important thing is we have no heroes in this team. When one makes a mistake the other one picks it up.
"We have a togetherness. We want to achieve something this season and I think you can see that on the pitch."
Tottenham are just five points adrift of pacesetters Leicester City ahead of Saturday's clash with Watford and the team's form has fans dreaming of a potential title challenge.
Harry Kane is adamant Spurs must now aim higher than fourth place and Alderweireld sees no reason why Tottenham cannot beat any team in the division as long as they continue to work as hard as possible.
"There is confidence and self-belief - not arrogance - that we can beat everybody. We know that, if we don't put the effort in, we are a normal team.
"Physically we are 100 per cent. We can run all game and that is the way we want to play.
"We have quality and young guys who are eager to make the difference," said the Belgian.
