3 thoughts: Entertaining Tottenham turning heads
Ahead of every weekend this season I will give you my three thoughts on what’s going on in the Premier League and the soccer world at large. These might not always be the biggest stories, but rather my personal observations as the games approach each Saturday.
Entertaining Tottenham turning heads
Tottenham are fast becoming my favourite team to watch in the Premier League. It was in 2016 when Mauricio Pochettino’s young side enjoyed its breakthrough season, establishing itself as the team with the highest ceiling. Only a late season collapse—namely in a meltdown loss to Chelsea—deprived Spurs of finally usurping rivals Arsenal in the battle of North London. This season it isn’t even close—Tottenham will finish ahead of the Gunners, and likely ahead of every other team not named Chelsea.
Of utmost importance for Spurs has been young star after young star posing with the manager while signing a new contract. It appears this is Tottenham’s golden generation and it’s encouraging that their young talent is locked up long-term. Up next will be the manager himself, who despite speculation linking him with Barcelona, will surely sign a new deal. Why wouldn’t he?
Spurs play in Pochettino’s image—up tempo, high pressing and full of energy. This summer, Spurs surely need to improve their depth, but as this group continues to mature, I hope and expect Tottenham to be emerging as a title contender in 2017-2018.
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Pep vs. Pellegrini
Most people understand that Pep Guardiola has long-term plans, and that this season was always going to be a “feeling out” year for him. However, even though Manchester City are eight points better compared to this stage last season under Manuel Pellegrini, the Blues are also 14 points off the top—compared to 12 point adrift a year ago.
I just wonder how fans would have reacted if Pellegrini had stuck around for another year, and posted similar results? Ok, I’ll stop wondering—he would have been vilified, and there would’ve been protests and planes flying over with awful signs trailing behind them.
City have not mounted a solid attack on the championship for three years and the faithful—albeit perhaps with short memories—are restless. Pep is not Pellegrini, though, and there are global laws, legislated in Brussels, that make it illegal to criticize him, so therefore we cannot. I can feel a little sorry for Pellegrini, though.
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Liverpool lack leaders
Liverpool did it again on Wednesday, dropping points to a lower-half-of-the-table club in Bournemouth. The Reds are unbeaten in 10 straight games against teams in the top six, but they have dropped points in their last six games against bottom-half teams. One reason why is that lesser teams take Liverpool out of its comfort zone by sitting back and preventing the press, but clearly another issue is set-piece defending—15 goals conceded this season.
Jurgen Klopp has admitted his team has had difficulty in this area for several months, yet nothing seems to improve. Klopp has done many good things since arriving at Liverpool, but this is an area where he should be criticized. Sure, he has not been able to field his first-choice centre-back partnership of Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip often this campaign, but surely such defensive work is coachable? What is clearly obvious is a lack of on-field leadership.
Call me old school, but every good team needs “a general,” and although Jordan Henderson might not be everyone’s choice as captain, when he is injured—which is a lot—there is little presence on the pitch. Liverpool will spend this summer, and getting a grizzled veteran or two might not be the worst idea in the world, even if it is contrary to Klopp’s preferred philosophy.
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