In today’s Tottenham Hotspur roundup, we take a look at what new has been doing the rounds for the Lilywhites. Alan Shearer says ‘Spurs have a softness about them’, Harry Kane makes the top 10 at the FIFA Football Best Awards, and Paul Merson questions Mauricio Pochettino after five years at the club.
Spurs ‘soft’ says Shearer
Report: All-time top Premier League scorer Alan Shearer has hit out at ‘soft’ Spurs after once again dropping points from a winning position over the weekend. Shearer said: “Tottenham have led by a goal at half-time in their past three away matches – against Arsenal, Olympiakos and now the Foxes – but failed to win any of them, which tells you they have a softness about them that they do not seem able to put right.
“They had a brilliant season last time out, reaching the Champions League final and making the top four of the Premier League for a fourth successive year under Pochettino – but they still seem a long way from reaching the next level and mounting a serious title challenge.”
Verdict: Spurs currently sit seventh in the table, having won just twice in the seven games they have played this season. Truthfully, the only convincing game so far was the 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace, as even on the opening day Spurs had to fight back late on against newly-promoted Aston Villa.
In reality, Spurs have only conceded one goal more this season in their opening seven games with 10, than they did in the first seven of last year, where they let in nine. Although, as Shearer states, Spurs have yet to make any sort of progress from reaching the Champions League final and are still way off competing for a title, as Liverpool and Manchester City continue to get better.
‘Something has to change at Tottenham’, says Merson
Report: In his Sky Sports column, ex-Arsenal man Paul Merson believes change has to come if Spurs are to progress under Pochettino. He said: “I watched Spurs beat Crystal Palace the other week. They were like the Harlem Globetrotters. They made Palace look pathetic.
“They were the last team to win at Manchester United, Arsenal and Man City – they know how to win in big games. But then Spurs go to Leicester and get beat, having been to Olympiakos where they threw away two goals. I’m not saying get rid of the manager, but everything’s getting a bit monotonous now.
“Do I think Pochettino will be there next season? No. The only thing with that is that he will start to lose his credibility if they don’t stay where they are. They’re the third-best team in the league, in my opinion, still.”
Verdict: Pochettino has now been at Spurs for five years, and although he will forever be credited for helping raise Harry Kane and for signing the likes of Dele Alli, considering him a success over these years would be slightly unjustified. As Merson stated, Spurs have got a magnificent team and boast of some of Europe’s best around in their respective positions, such as Kane, Christian Eriksen, and Toby Alderweireld. Yet, everything just seems to have plateaued within the last year, and the team has not been able to kick on form the positives of last term.
Is this because of Pochettino? It would be harsh to say so considering Spurs were just about making the Europa League before he arrived, now, they’ve been to a Champions League final.
However, reaching the final is not a success and neither is finishing second as they did in 2016-17. And although this is indeed progress, we are yet to see this progression become victorious, and perhaps now questions need to be asked of the Argentine.
Kane finishes 10th at Best Awards
Report: Harry Kane finished 10th in the FIFA Football Best Awards on Monday in the men’s category. The Spurs man was joined by Premier League stars Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Sadio Mane, who all cracked the top five.
Verdict: In theory, Kane was the only recognised out-and-out no.9 in the top 10, with the likes of Luis Suarez, Robert Lewandowski, and Antoine Griezmann all missing out, whilst it’s fair to say the other top scorers on the list are were all wingers. The Englishman was also the third youngest inside the top ten, with Frenkie De Jong, Kylian Mbappe and Matthijs De Ligt all a few years younger than the 26-year-old.
Kane made his way into the top 10 after scoring 17 goals in 27 Premier League games last season, whilst also playing a hand in England’s route to finishing third in the inaugural Nations League tournament, playing five games and scoring once. The striker also netted five times in nine Champions League fixtures as Spurs made it to the final last season.
For a while now, it has been a debate as to who is better amongst the top strikers around. But perhaps considering Kane surpassed them in the FIFA men’s award, maybe now he can call himself the best striker in the game.