Tottenham Hot Spurred: Why Mauricio Pochettino was sacked

Mauricio Pochettino is not so magic anymore…

Mauricio Pochettino has been fired from Tottenham Hotspur; after five years in North London, the Argentinian boss is boss no more.  That news came out on Tuesday, in the midst of the third international break; Tottenham currently sit in 14th position on the Premier League table.

While Poch fell from grace as one could imagine Icarus to have done, in speed and totality, it is still shocking that he was not given the year to finish. What Mauricio Pochettino has given to Tottenham in his five year stint with the club has catapulted them into consistent top five consideration.

Their run to the UCL Finals should be proof of Poch’s ability as a manager; what Tottenham is experiencing currently is a lull in performance, not ability or vision. If anyone at Tottenham had earned time and patience, Mauricio Pochettino was likely it; why then was he fired?!

Mauricio Pochettino: His own worst enemy

Mauricio Pochettino was ultimately sacked because of the standard he had established at Tottenham. Building such success and expectation can undercut a regime in an off year, in a year requiring patience. There is no shame in having an injury plagued year, in which results are simply not as easy to achieve as in years past; this dismissal in my mind, is without proper cause.

Reactionary responses to small setbacks often doom the health and trajectory of much greater ambitions. While Tottenham had a list of candidates ranging from José Mourinho, to Max Allegri and Carlos Ancelloti, it turned out that only one ever had the clubs eye in North London. José Mourinho was quickly hired to take over the club, ushering a new era for both club and coach; how things move from here is anyone’s guess.

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Mauricio Pochettino however, is very likely a more promising manager for the future than anyone Tottenham looked to replace him with. In all likelihood, Spurs released the younger and more promising boss in search for a midseason spark which may or may not ever come. A more foresightful club may very well take advantage of Poch’s unique abilities and skillsets better than Tottenham.

It should be noted that Mauricio Pochettino is and has been top of multiple clubs wish list for new managers for months. His dismissal will do little to quell the interest from more well-funded organizations.

Firing a manager who is immediately top of the list for other clubs is a fairly reliant indicator that the decision is reactionary and premature in nature. The names connected with Mauricio Pochettino prove this soundly enough; below are but a few examples.

Mauricio Pochettino: No Lame Duck Boss

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure has been rough and inconsistent at Manchester United. Since taking over for Jose Mourinho towards the middle of last season, his teams have surprised and disappointed in near equal pace. While United’s form has been better in recent weeks, the long term confidence in Solskjaer’s regime may be tested with this Mauricio Pochettino news. United are far from the only club whom could call for his services.

Real Madrid have been inconsistent throughout the season so far, in both La Liga and UCL competitions. While Zinedine Zinidane has accomplished much in his time with Madrid, this stint is proving more difficult. The age of many of his most crucial players, alongside the loss of Christiano Ronaldo has turned Los Blancos into a pale facsimile of the former glory. Poch was rumored there not too long ago and it seems difficult to imagine this news would dissuade speculation, or interest for that matter.

Arsenal are running ragged; Unai Emery is not accentuating the talent for the Gunners, but smothering it. In his time in North London, he has arguably had more talent at his disposal than Mauricio Pochettino, surely a greater transfer war chest. And yet, Arsenal are despondent in play and emotionally weary; Emery has not seen an offensive explosion nor a defensive invigoration. Surely

Mauricio Pochettino can provide more structure and creativity to his players? And how nice would it be to stick it to their North London rivals as well?

Poch is clearly going to land in as good, if not a better position than before. Tottenham are in perhaps a more difficult position between injuries and poor form dogging formidable players; who is the boss to potentially save Tottenham?

As for Tottenham…

José Mourinho was the first big name and big news in relation to this story. His name immediately came up in interest with the position, this interest being mutual and not exclusive to either party. With him receiving the position, it naturally foments questions about the fit; is Tottenham a Mourinho type squad? I can understand it from his point of view of course, it boggles the mind from that of Tottenham’s perspective however.

After seeing what José Mourinho styled clubs do in today’s Premier League, I would for one be anxious to give him the keys to a Tottenham side that still has much talent and potential. Harry Kane is as dangerous as anyone when healthy and in form; Lucas Moura, Son Heung-min and Dele Alli have not all sharply declined in a span of six months.

How the team responds with José Mourinho now ensconced as boss until 2022/23 will be telling; the sheer level of talent at Tottenham is at the Special One’s disposal. Clearly the hierarchy believed that a new spark had to be created, and Mauricio Pochettino was the sacrificial lamb.

A Special Fix

José Mourinho is one of the greatest managers of all time; Football is markedly better for having him, and having had his Championship clubs all across Europe. This position will truly demonstrate whether the game Mourinho loves so much has passed him by on a tactical level.

With Tottenham in14th place, only a place above a nightmare like Everton, it may seem a reason to panic. Between 15th and fifth place are only three points; Mauricio Pochettino could easily have reorganized the outfit to recapture top five ambitions. José  Mourinho now looks to have the opportunity to do the same; can “The Special One” do something truly special for Tottenham?

Only time will tell; what Mauricio Pochettino does in his next stop will always be compared to how Tottenham moves forward. They will have to overachieve once again, and José Mourinho has his work cut out for him. Meanwhile Poch will wait for his preferred next stop; the Argentinian seems to be in the best position moving forward. Tottenham have no time to lose!