Southampton sold arguably their best players and then spent noticeably less than they earned upon the replacements.
Saints may only be above us by goal difference, but the truth is they have conceded 24 fewer goals than us.
Go back and read that last sentence again, if you need to. So you’re in to know doubt where this is going.
When you look at the Premier League table this afternoon, it’s increasingly difficult to argue that the heart and soul was torn out of Southampton. In fact, it points to an extraordinarily healthy culture in place at St Mary’s.
This isn’t by way of undermining Pochettino, by the way, rather to gently make the point that dysfunctional squad won’t achieve diddly for you, no matter who you appoint.
Saints are clearly a club that continually strives to buy football players in order to build a football team. This ‘revelation’ may have some of rolling your eyes, but it’s not a charge you cannot level at Tottenham.
We’ve undoubtedly got one of the best goal keepers in the world on our books, yet we’re ‘down’ two dozen goals behind our nearest rivals.
Please note only Newcastle United and all 3 of the sides currently sat in the relegation zone have conceded more goals than us.
Whatever philosophy Pochettino has in his mind, is rarely making itself visible on the pitch.
Sure, we saw it in earnest against Arsenal – one of our best performances against them in my lifetime and to a large degree against Chelsea – in the league. But otherwise, one has to admit to tangible evidence of the philosophy has been far and few and far between.
So if those two games showcased for us the Pochettino idyl, then how come we have routinely failed to replicate it?
My best hunch is, that the players have failed him. The Pochettino approach is clearly about cohesive pressing from every sector and in the main our lot have failed to do this.
Whilst much has been made (and deservedly so) of Harry Kane’s emergence, like Bale before him, he’s papering over cracks, cracks that hint towards an underlying subsidence issue.
Going back to those pesky Premier League numbers again, we’ve scored 50 goals.
So our ability to find the net is in on a par with the teams Champions League bound. But our ability to haemorrhage goals on a par with the teams that are Championship bound.
In a nutshell, is Poch the man for the job? The answer has to be a resounding ‘maybe’.
What do know for absolute certain is that this regime is getting hugely mixed results and that to keep churning out the ‘it’ll take time to gel’ line while charitable, is not helpful to understanding the root problem.
It’ll shock nobody that my guess is, that Poch won’t make much headway in the Tottingham hall of fame with this group of players.
And …I’m getting bored going over it – yet again.
Vorm strikes me as decent enough type. A different fish to Hugo, one more suited to predominantly dwelling on his line.
Verts is a whimsy.
Danny Rose is still there you know;more than plugging away. The purchase of Ben Davies remains proved as a curious catalyst.
Bonzo actually managed to serve up a more disastrous plate of poo than usual. To top this one, a bicycle kick own goal or better is required.
The popular beat combo Mason & Bentaleb didn’t have a great gig. With the cast of Are You Being Served? behind them and the cast of It Ain’t Half Hot Mum in front of them, it’s hardly surprising.
Andros Townsend put in a performance that was nearly identically inept as his previous one at Old Trafford. This Poch indulged him with nearly twice as many minutes! before hauling his incredibly committed yet ultimately ineffectual ass off.
Eriksen is a flake.
In summation, we very unconvincingly beat some bottom of the table dross that has only won 4 games all season.
Harry Kane scoring 29 goals isn’t peanuts. If this is our springboard to a Champions League assault I’m monkey’s uncle.
On a more positive footnote, I read that Hugo may not have cut his tendon, but has instead sustained a nasty gash.
Haven’t we all, love.
