Tottenham go from bad to worse

What a weird night. Tottenham fired Pochettino and then a few hours later hired Jose Mourinho.

This was all so sudden. If you were to poll football writers, fans, and players which North London team would have fired their manager first, I don’t think many would have said “Tottenham”. Though there were signs.

Yes, Spurs got into the Champions League final but they had also lost 7, drawn 2, and won just 3 of their final 12 League matches of last season. In fact they have won just 3 away points in the Premier League since February 23rd – the worst away record of any team, including Arsenal.

They also crashed out of the League cup (to Crystal Palace), the FA Cup (to Chelsea), and lost the Champions League final to Liverpool. And this season they only have 3 wins in the first 12 League games, 14 points (3 fewer than Arsenal). And they recent lost 7-2 to Bayern Munich at home in the Champions League thanks to four goals by former Arsenal man Serge Gnabry.

As much as Arsenal supporters would like to think that Arsenal have been just as bad, if not worse, we really haven’t. Our record in the final 12 games of last season was W6-D2-L4 – which includes 2 away wins. And yes, Arsenal also lost a European final and crashed out of all the domestic cups as well.

So, while it was a shock that Spurs would fire Pochettino, it shouldn’t have been. They just did what needed to be done when a manager begins to turn stale. If you were ever curious whether Pochettino could “pull an Arsene” and stay at Tottenham through the lean years with their new stadium, you found out last night that he might have stayed – but Levy couldn’t.

What they did next was a bit of an actual shock. They hired Jose Mourinho. Apparently, they have been after Jose for a while and they finally got their man. It’s a match made in Tottenham.

I don’t have to catalog all of the reasons why I don’t like Jose Mourinho. You all can do it just as well as I can. He’s a spotlight manager. He loves the spectacle, creating it, bathing in it, stoking the fires, just generally being annoying and grating on everyone who doesn’t toe his party line. And the party line is that the Great Leader is infallible.

It won’t be long before he throws Harry Kane under the bus – the bus that he parks to get a point at Man U. It won’t be long before he reminds everyone how many trophies he’s won or how special he thinks he is and how all ofthe other managers in the League are failures compared to him. It won’t be long before he’s picking fights with Levy – saying that he needs £100m to spend on Matic, Fellaini or Maguire.

Tottenham is in a pretty big mess with their salaries right now. Vertonghen, Alderweireld and Eriksen are all going to let their current deals lapse this summer and possibly even sign new huge deals in January. My guess is that Eriksen is gone to Real Madrid, where he will almost certainly treble his current salary of £3.9m a year. I doubt Spurs will get a transfer fee for any of these players. They have been underpaid for years (Alderweireld is on £2.6m a year) and will certainly be looking to cash in on that Bosman payout.

So that leaves a pretty sizeable rebuilding project in the hands of Jose Mourinho, Jose the destroyer. Look at what he’s done to Manchester United. It’s going to take them years to dig out from underneath the rubble he left that club in. And United have a fair bit more money to waste than Tottenham.

And he’s reportedly on £15m a year until 2023! Imagine it. They gave Jose Mourinho a contract for longer than he has ever been at any club. They will be paying Pochettino his £15m remaining, plus £15m for Jose, and then in a year and a half or so, they will fire Jose and have to pay him the rest of his salary on top of the salary that they will pay the new manager. I don’t know where they are getting this money. They didn’t seem to have money for transfers this summer.

But if you were one of the people who wanted to see Jose at Arsenal, well, now you get a chance to see what it would have been like. He is taking over a team in similar disarray, should be saddled with similar transfer constraints, and has similar personnel problems in the team. My guess is that he will win a League Cup or something, that he will park the bus all the time, that he will pick fights with the press and the fans, that his team will play filthy football, and that he will remind everyone just how awful he is.

There is a cautionary tale here for Arsenal. We are only slightly better off than Tottenham at this moment with our current manager/coach. While I understand what Spurs did in firing Pochettino, I have to say that hiring Mourinho looks like it will be a huge mistake. Arsenal have to move on from Emery, the football we are playing isn’t working, but we need to be very deliberate about that change. We cannot go out there and hire someone awful and destructive like Jose Mourinho. We need to get the next coach right.

Qq



60 comments

    1. Ah, wisdom from an obvious wellspring of maturity. What with all the name-calling and all…

    2. LOL. I welcome Mourinho in North London, and hope he stays until his contract is up-and does more damage to the Tots that he did to the Mancs- but you and I both know he’ll be gone before then.

  1. Jose would have taken either job, Arsenal or Spurs, and I wouldn’t have put it past Arsenal to hire him. So if you hate Jose, you should be grateful — in an ironic kind of way — that Raul is not as ruthless as Daniel Levy. Certainly Spurs’ run is dire, but I’d argue that Arsenal’s is just as bad, if not worse. Point for point, probably not, but even on their worst end of season run with harder games, they beat us by a point.

    Jose was a once great manager, who is now in decline. Peak Jose was leading Inter to the treble a decade or so ago. The evidence of Chelsea II and United is that he is going to get a bounce (which’d probably mean them finishing above us again), but that it’ll all go tits up in season 2.

    We should take the lead of Levy and remove Unai Emery by new year. He has shown us all of his inadequacies, and he’s a worse coach than Pocchetino.

  2. It’s a match made in Tottenham.

    Ha. That made me laugh out loud. There are some funny memes out already.

    I wonder if our front office will keep an eye on Pochettino while planning for life after Emery. Spurs played some good football under him and Arsenal, despite all the things that have gone wrong, have shown some willingness to be involved in the transfer market. I wouldn’t be opposed to it.

    1. Speaking of funny memes, I can’t wait to see the Squires emo Mourinho comes to Spurs cartoon.

    2. I cannot see Pocchetino ever coaching for us, because from what I’ve read of him, he wouldn’t take the job out of respect for Spurs fans. Also, he’s an Espanyol man; he’d never associate with an ex-Barcelona man like Sanllehi.

      1. Somehow Pochettino to me doesn’t come across like a man who puts loyalty first. The Sanllehi factor sounds like a legit road block but differences can be overcome. All depends on our results over the next few matches and how desperate we become. I know Pochettino wants to manage a “big” club but most avenues appear closed atm. I think United will go for Allegri after the OGS experiment ends and that only leaves Barca if they fire Valverde.

      2. He just got sacked by them, what loyalty?

        If we don’t move for him now, it’ll be a mistake comparable to not moving for Klopp in the hope that AW figured it out.

        All the details – backroom staff, Sanllehi, salary etc. – are just that.

  3. Very hard to see this working out well for Spurs given Mou’s recent history.
    If it wasn’t already a remote possibility, this would seem to essentially guarantee that Mou will never manage Arsenal. Definitely an upside as far as I’m concerned.

  4. Jose would have taken either job, Arsenal or Spurs, and I wouldn’t have put it past Arsenal to hire him. So if you hate Jose, you should be grateful — in an ironic kind of way — that Raul is not as ruthless as Daniel Levy. Certainly Spurs’ run is dire, but I’d argue that Arsenal’s is just as bad, if not worse. Point for point, probably not, but even on their worst end of season run with harder games, they beat us by a point.

    Jose was a once great manager, who is now in decline. Peak Jose was leading Inter to the treble a decade or so ago. The evidence of Chelsea II and United is that he is going to get a bounce (which’d probably mean them finishing above us again), but that it’ll all go belly up in season 2.

    We should take the lead of Levy and remove Unai Emery by new year. He has shown us all of his inadequacies, and he’s a worse coach than Pocchetino.

  5. Another great reason to dislike the Totts!
    Sadly, I’m sure Mourinho will win something for them but I’m also sure he’ll take them down with him, creating financial havoc, team disarray and fan self loathing in equal measure.
    We also need a change but please someone progressive, forward thinking, with an attractive style.
    Not an antediluvian, ego maniacal, ‘special’ throwback from the dark ages.

    1. Enrique went BACK to the Spanish national TEAM.

      Yes, ARTETA has learned at LOT from Guardiola, like how to set up THE cones for DRILLS.

      1. That’s unfair to Arteta. He does a lot of work with young players, correcting their tactical positioning, drilling them, improving their skills.

      2. Honestly– who would you want a potential young manager to train with for 3+yrs– other than Pep? To play for than AW?

        How could he NOT know what goes on in the mind of a man he’s studied and conversed with during every match for several years? Arteta has the pedigree of a great manager. WTF-else is required? Piddling at a two-bit club for years.

        Could it be worse than what it is now? Than who else?

        #BlindersOff

  6. This was a disastrous appointment – so we should all celebrate the meltdown of a rival.

    I have lots of Spurs buddies, so I know more about their problems than I probably should. Erikson wanted to leave not for footballing reasons, but because he’d been caught in a tryst with Vertonghen’s wife. That split the dressing into factions and Vertonghen then decided that he also needed a clean start somewhere else. No Vertoghen and Alderweireld decides he should probably go then too and decides not to negotiate an extension. Then you had Pocchetino grumbling and musing about quitting and it put other players who were Pocchetino loyalists, Kane, Son, Alli, Lloris, all wondering about their own future. It all adds up to a very unhappy brew.

    Mourinho is exactly the wrong manager to fix these problems. It’s hilarious the logic of bringing him in, unless the Spurs brass think that the players will unite in hatred of the new boss. Pocchetino didn’t lose the dressing room, he was still quite popular, but the team had descended into in-fighting amongst themselves.

    What’s truly wonderful is this – on that salary, no way are Spurs going to dump Mourinho until 2023. We have at least three years of drama over there that will distract us from Arsenal’s problems.

    Over/under on when he starts publicly bitching about transfer signings? I say it starts in January already.

      1. Highly probably that I have it wrong. I don’t pay a high degree of attention when my friends start talking Spurs.

    1. Jack , do you honestly believe that your Spurs friends know anything more than what anyone can read from the tabloids ?

      1. No idea. I don’t read the tabloids. They tell me they read Spurs related blogs, so there’s that.

  7. My only worry with Jose taking the Spurs job is that he has learned his lesson.
    I once compared Jose to Trump because they share many behavioral traits but unlike Trump, Jose is highly intelligent and by now he might’ve figured out that setting fires to clubs is a sure way for performing extensive studio work.
    This might be his last chance at managerial relevance.

    He may not be peak Mourinho from his Inter years but I can easily see him take the Spurs to top four this season, which he would proclaim as his greatest achievement to date I’m sure lol.
    The bigger issue Tottenham face is the whole cadre of players wanting to leave
    the club.
    If Jose can convince the likes of Eriksen to stay – with the help of Levy throwing enough money at him of course- Spurs should finish above Arsenal so long Emery is in charge( I use this term very loosely).

    1. Jose’s Man U transfers weren’t exactly great.
      What makes you think he can rebuild Tottenham if their best players leave?

  8. Considering that I feel like i’ve been hearing about how great Poc is from Arsenal supporters for years, I’m surprised nobody on any of the Arsenal blogs seems interested in him now.

    Would you have him at Arsenal Tim?

      1. You’re really that convinced by him? I’m not smart on football matters but I agree. Like he got Tottenham to a champions league final. Are we going to get a better manager than that in our current state. If we’re interesting in a manager to come in now he seems like a good choice right?

        Maybe a poll would be interesting for the crack.

        (I know my previous comment is kind of snarky, but I am surprised by how few people (here I guess) have actually said ‘Hey we should get him’. Being an a$%hole, I kind of think like nobody is saying anything now, but as soon as he takes over at another club and does well, everyone will be talking about how we should have gone for him.

        I say go for him.

        1. A number of things here:

          First, Poch was the one who insisted on Kane. Kane has been absolutely brilliant and is the main reason why they have been able to get into the top four and stay there.

          Second, he plays a pretty good brand of football. The main problem is that his style requires so much work that his players burn out. I think if Poch went to a club with a larger and deeper squad he could fix that flaw and win more trophies.

          Third, he’s more tactically flexible than people give him credit. I’ve seen his teams play a mix of styles from high press to low box depending on the needs of the game. I also think he has a pragmatic side to him which I like and others don’t, that’s the side that kicks people and forces restarts.

          I suspect that he will get the big appointment that he’s been working for soon. Then we will know for sure if he’s a Fugazi or the real deal.

        2. I wrote a comment in the previous article that it would be fun if Arsenal get Poch and Spuds hire José. Looks like half of that prediction has come true. I would be happy to see Poch at Arsenal. Even though he has not won any trophies in his career, his high intensity style is exciting to watch. He has potential to win a few so that would be something to look forward to. He does bring a bit of nastiness to his teams (niggling fouls etc) which is something we Wengerphiles find beneath us. But I think overall our team can do with bit of that. Even Pep’s teams indulge in it. So ya, I am all for him.

          1. I actually noticed your comment and meant to give you a shout out. 🙂

            Yeah, he seems like a good choice. I’m surprised so few here seem interested in discussing him as an option for us.

  9. I think the appointment gives them a bump, and I fully expect them to finish above us this season. Actually, I think they would have finished above us with Poch in charge. For example, I’m looking at our next twelve Premier League fixtures between now and the end of January, and I’m predicting we take 10-12 points (assuming Emery is in charge)…and even that might be a touch generous. So I’m not quite in the mood to laugh at Spurs right now. We’re a complete mess, and it’s going to be a long, long season, I’m afraid.

    With that said, next season I think we’ll be grinning as we watch Mourinho and his team endure the usual meltdown. That’s right, I think it’s happening in his second season this time, not the third.

    1. Bun,
      There’s a good chance Mou will blow up next season but there’s also a decent chance, if other things and events work out, that he might thrive for them next season.
      If Klopp wins the league and Pep wins the CL( harder to do) they both might call time on their PL stints.
      Pep seems burned out already and I can definitely see Klopp getting there sooner rather than later( Bayern job is waiting).
      Take these two out of the equation and you’d be hard pressed to name a better coach than Mourinho still in the league.

      1. You think Klopp is nearing burnout or calling time? I think Klopp is at Liverpool for another 5-6 years at least, longer if they can successfully replace some of the aging players. If they win the league this year he will be untouchable, he’ll be legendary in that city and Liverpool has more money than Bayern.

        1. Maybe burn out is not the right term in his case but I can definitely see him walk away at his peak Liverpool and go to , say , Bayern.
          What else would there be for him to prove in England? A double maybe. Treble too hard to do in this league.

          He strikes me like a guy always up for a new challenge.
          Besides , have you been to Liverpool?
          It’s not Munich lol.

          1. I dunno… he’s got a sweet thing going at Liverpool. At Bayern there’d be way too much interference from the board level. They have a real problem with too many chefs in the kitchen.

    2. Seems entirely possible for them to finish above us, particularly if we keep Emery. But it’s also a pretty long shot for them to make top 4, given they are even further back than us. And not great odds for them in CL. Maybe Europa if they don’t qualify for CL knockout.
      But if they don’t appear headed for top 4 and don’t get anywhere in CL/EL, things could go sideways very fast.

      1. On the flip side would you bet against Mourinho winning the EL with Spurs next season?
        I can already see the headlines or Mourinho raising his fingers for amount of European trophies won when booed off the pitch after a loss lol.

  10. I think he will win the Europa with them once they get knocked out of the CL. That’s why Levy has got him.

    1. What a horror show thought – that we run up against Spurs in Europe. If I’m not mistaken, Mourinho has had Emery’s lunch the times they’ve gone head to head.

  11. spurs have made 13 brilliant managerial changes since wenger joined us..
    2 league cups to show for it. one of them was george e grahams.
    they have replaced and half decent coach with one with serious issues. he imploads earlier with every new club he joins.
    no class never have had since bill nicholson.
    this us why I am patient with our manager in the long run loyalty rules.

  12. It was ridiculous how Tottenham was able to get away with perennially underpaying their players for the last five years or so. If they aren’t able to pay more than that and they need to get replacement players in, I could see even relegation in their not-too-distant future. Paying for these managers is definitely going to cut into their budget.

    1. Every player dives now. Arsenal players dive all the time. Until the laws change to actually to get diving out of the game in a fair and equitable manner, I also condone diving.

    2. I am sorry but even Wenger condoned it. I remember Santi winning a penalty with a faintest of touch once. And all the time Wenger has selective blindness to his player’s nasty fouls? What would you expect a manager to say publicly? The media will tear into the player.

  13. I get that the results are not there this season (ha, ha and all that) but Pochettino is a better manager than Emery will be ever be.

    They were in the CL Final for crying out loud and Gooners everywhere were hoping the Scousers would do us a solid. Why it went all pear shaped I don’t know but I was enjoying their season more than ours.

  14. Levy has been in charge nineteen years. In that time they’ve won (wait for it) drum roll please – one league cup.

    Look at the roll call of managers he’s been through before “lucking out” on Poch. Sherwood, AVB, Redknapp. Need I go on? Levy doesn’t have form for making good appointments.

    Poch, by the way, needs to rest until next Summer as he’s been acting like a petulant child all year and his magic dust is no longer working. His severance terms will ensure we don’t see him again at an EPL rival in the foreseeable.

    How does it affect Arsenal? It doesn’t. They’re always more likely to finish above us this season and probably next season so long as we fail to jettison UE.

  15. Yeah this week talking point’s about Poch, Mou and Spurs! But between now and the new year, Emery, Arsenal will be on the front burner. Any slip up and Spurs is ahead. In fact there is not much gap between 6th and 16th at the moment. We need the balls on pitch and in the boardroom. That what we need if we must finish top 4 this season and win Europa!

  16. Actually, I really hope that the players meet up with manager and get some plan for the rest of the season. The team is full of experienced professionals and I am sure they want to do good. They don’t need to be idle bystanders. If the whole team tells Emery this system needs to be modified, he will need to change. In fact I hope they did just such a thing during this break.

    Emery is not a dumb manager. He is maybe an overanalysing, tactical tinkerer. Maybe a Ranieri from his Chelsea days (just doesn’t have the charm so fans feel no connection). Or he is just an indecisive coach who keeps trying different combinations until he lucks out and finally gets a combination which works like Ranieri of Leicester.

    Whatever it is, something needs to be done. If the management doesn’t want to fire the coach then the team needs to get together and sort out the mess together. Players like Luiz have been through this at Chelsea. Conte tweaked his system when it was not working to go on and win the league. I am under no illusions what UE will manage that. But even a top 4 finish will feel like a trophy at this stage. Especially if Spuds don’t make it there.

  17. This must be the only industry in which people who are hired are mostly fired from their previous jobs.

  18. Seriously you lot are having a laugh if you think we can make top four. What makes it even more laughable is the debate about having Poch, when it’s quite clear Real, Barca or Bayern is his next destination. Why come to a club who aren’t pro-active in the market. Are adverse to change and have no identity. It would be a backward step for him. We will finish where we are currently. I’m predicting even Sheffield United will finish above us. I’m also predicting Wolves might push us for 6th

  19. Agree,HNDS,
    the debate over Pochettino to Arsenal is probably moot anyway,
    his severance package likely says he can’t join another Premier League club (without forgoing millions) Man United might pay those millions – Arsenal wouldn’t.
    He will probably end up at Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or some other elite club,maybe Inventus after Sarri falls out with Ronaldo,ha ha.
    I would have liked him at Arsenal,his team’s play intelligent football, not going to happen though.

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