TOTTENHAM may be sitting just six points outside the top four, but their performances have never been so bad following the appointment of Jose Mourinho.
The defeat against Southampton leaves Spurs in sixth spot and it’s difficult to see the club regaining their identity under the Special One.
Jose Mourinho has lost four of 11 games in charge of Tottenham since he succeeded Mauricio PochettinoCredit: PA:Press Association
Here, Etienne Fermie gives the rundown on Tottenham’s 2019 and what the North Londoners need to improve on in 2020.
1. 2019: The good, the bad and the ugly
It’s difficult to know where to even begin.
Mauricio Pochettino had somehow managed to keep things going in the first half of last season, despite having not been able to sign anybody in the summer of 2018.
But from February onwards in 2019, we have been largely abject – with performances and the style of football getting worse and worse.
It hasn’t all been bad though, that stunning Champions League semi-finals comeback in Amsterdam back in May will live in the memories of supporters for the rest of their lives… it’s just such a shame that the final was such a damp squib.
It was extremely disappointing that the board felt the need to sack Pochettino after this season’s poor start.
And ever since, despite some good results under Jose Mourinho, the style of football has become so direct and horrible to watch.
Spurs sit in sixth spot in the Premier League following the defeat against SouthamptonCredit: PA:Press Association
2. Big year for the Boss
Despite Jose Mourinho having made a decent start at Spurs results-wise, I find it difficult to see him building anything even close to what we had under Pochettino.
The direct, long ball football that Spurs have already switched to since his arrival is not befitting of the proud traditions of our club.
Most of our fans are so desperate for any sort of silverware, however, that they will probably accept it if they feel it can win us a trophy.
But I struggle to see how that is going to happen.
I would love to be wrong but I don’t think Mourinho is the manager that he once was – I don’t think he’s capable of galvanising a group of players and coaching them to play modern, progressive football.
I expect him to still be in charge come the end of 2020 – but I don’t expect the year itself to be much fun.
3. Signings
The squad needed a thorough rebuild after the team that was so good for Pochettino a few years ago started to come apart – but the club have made a real mess of it.
Right back has been an issue for two-and-a-half years now, since Kyle Walker’s departure.
When Kieran Trippier was sold I assumed that the board would finally address this position – but incredibly, they didn’t.
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Ricardo Pereira would be perfect, but it’s hard to see why Leicester would sell him… or even why he’d leave them for Spurs at the moment.
Left back is also an issue, with Danny Rose no longer good enough and Jan Vertonghen not an ideal option there.
With Lucas Digne and Andy Robertson having joined the Merseyside clubs in the last few years for relatively cheap prices – it’s very frustrating that Spurs didn’t pick up either of them when they could have.
Goalkeeper and centre back are also problem positions – with Hugo Lloris and Vertonghen starting to show their age – despite having been absolutely outstanding servants.
The attacking options largely look fine – but I’d still like to see another midfielder signed to partner Tanguy Ndombele.
I’m not asking for much then!
4. Deadwood
A large part of the issue with the poor squad building has been the failure to shift players that are no longer good enough.
It took so long to get rid of players like Vincent Janssen, Fernando Llorente and Kieran Trippier when they so clearly weren’t good enough.
Spurs duo Christian Eriksen and Danny Rose seem set to leave the club in 2020Credit: Getty – Contributor
And it seems criminal that the likes of Danny Rose and Victor Wanyama haven’t yet been moved on.
Serge Aurier also isn’t good enough, and fellow right-back Kyle Walker-Peters badly needs a loan.
Christian Eriksen’s heart seems set on a move, so it would seem a good idea to try and sell him in January to avoid losing him for nothing.
Blundering skipper Hugo Lloris should also be moved on.
His outstanding contribution for the club over the years has to be respected, but he is no longer the brilliant goalkeeper that he was.
5. Hopes for 2020
Realistically all I want from the team this time next year is the sense that we have a plan, a project to get behind – with a clear vision of what the club is trying to do.
Obviously it will help if we can sneak into the Champions League this season – and of course I would absolutely love it if we could win a trophy.
But I just can’t see us being good enough to win anything next year, as we seem to be getting worse.
So just the sense that we are moving in the right direction will do for me.
I was against the appointment of Mourinho as I don’t see this happening under his guidance.
But hopefully I am proven wrong and we can start to develop an attractive, progressive style of play as we seek to rebuild our team over the next 12 months.
If not, well somebody like Julian Nagelsmann wouldn’t go amiss…
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
