Mauricio Pochettino is afraid to bring big names to Tottenham
Tottenham may sign someone in January, but Mauricio Pochettino doesn’t want the headache of integrating a big name player into his squad.
Given the current state of affairs at Tottenham it’s very likely that Spurs will make a last-minute addition this month. Fans shouldn’t expect an established star to arrive in North London though. The simple truth is that Mauricio Pochettino has no interest in acquiring big name stars.
Recent reports from England claim that Daniel Levy and company have been prepared to purchase Ross Barkley, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jack Grealish in the past 12 months only for Pochettino to decline their services. Instead, the Argentine gaffer wishes to continue the club’s philosophy of purchasing young players he can mold and develop.
On one hand, Pochettino’s staunch refusal to add quality veterans will incense one portion of the club’s passionate fan base. There are obvious holes in Tottenham’s squad. Adding an established centre forward to provide cover for Harry Kane or a rugged midfielder to stabilize the club’s midfield could be hugely helpful this season. The manager’s unwillingness to do so could very well cost Tottenham a Champions League berth next season.
It seems pretty obvious that Pochettino fears the challenge of managing a player who might clash with his personality. In fairness, he hasn’t had a great deal of luck with veteran players in the past. Pochettino clashed severely with established starters at Tottenham when he first arrived. Younes Kaboul, Emmanuel Adebayor and others were quickly jettisoned by the Argentine gaffer.
Pochettino didn’t fare much better at Southampton. He’s been quite clear about his negative experiences with Dani Osvaldo on the South Coast. He arrived at Southampton with massive expectations but clashed mightily with his manager. Predictably, Osvaldo left the Premier League without ever making a significant impact.
The Argentine’s rigorous training regimen and strict dogma don’t sit well with players who are used to more passive managers. That sort of potential conflict is clearly guiding a lot of his decisions in the transfer market.
The other way to look at Pochettino’s choice to avoid established players is to view it as a progressive choice by a manager who is dedicated to giving youth a chance. Signing and developing Dele Alli into a world-class attacker is arguably Pochettino’s biggest contribution to football as a manager. Can anyone really blame him for wishing to replicate that with other underrated talents?
Next. Tottenham won't sign Jonas Hofmann in January. dark
Spurs fans can argue for ages about the merits of Pochettino’s philosophy, but the proof will ultimately be in the pudding. If Tottenham can win trophies without spending big in the transfer market then he’ll be hailed as an innovative genius. If Spurs never progress any further than they have under Pochettino to date, he’ll be labelled a stubborn fool who never mustered up the courage to really go for glory. Pochettino’s legacy is teetering on his dangerous transfer policy.