Tottenham Hotspur Links: Assessing Spurs’ Title Hopes In Seven Games
Here’s the latest Tottenham Hotspur Links for the day.
There’s two stories to get to. First up, Mauricio Pochettino will assess Tottenham’s title hopes in seven games. By then he should have a good idea of where Tottenham are at points-wise and squad-wise. Of course, right now the Argentine manager isn’t ready to say that Spurs are true and legitimate title contenders. So hopefully it gives Tottenham less pressure throughout this season.
Finally, the last story involves Tottenham’s youth academy Head of Coaching and Player Development, John McDermott, being a target for Manchester United who will be losing Derek Langley at the end of the season. Because Spurs’ have seen plenty of youth team players succeeding with the first-team since Mauricio Pochettino took over, the Red Devils want to achieve the same success too. To the links below.
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The only answer that Mauricio Pochettino will give regarding Tottenham’s title hopes this season is to have a wait and see approach. It’s a cautious move for sure, but it’s something that won’t put pressure on himself and his squad to live up to a lofty prediction such as lifting a Premier League title when there’s so much that has to go right for Spurs.
And for starters, drawing nine games hasn’t helped Tottenham. Now while Leicester City have seven draws, they’ve won two more games than Tottenham and are currently playing against Aston Villa right now. When comparing Spurs’ record to Manchester City and Arsenal’s, both clubs have just four draws and 13 wins each. That’s the record that Spurs need in order to be taken as viable contenders for the Premier League title.
Maybe some new players will help Tottenham continue their current form in starting strong but actually putting games away instead of drawing or suffering a late defeat? Well that too is another wait and see approach. Here’s Mauricio Pochettino on what the club’s plan is for January signings:
“We will see, we will see in seven games,” said Pochettino.
“We need to keep working, we feel very proud with seven English players and a young squad. It’s a good thing for Tottenham but we need to keep working hard.”
“I think not too many [transfers]. In the squad, we have the quality and good balance. If we can add players to improve us then we are open to that. It’s always like this in football but it’s not easy.”
“The squad have balance and energy, there is a fantastic atmosphere in the dressing room and that’s important to keep.”
Manchester United has been known to sign players, a lot of them in fact, and spend hundreds of millions of pounds/dollars/euros what have you. To sign young talented, established and world class footballers to play for one of the world’s most known and biggest football clubs.
However, that kind of philosophy has mostly — if not — completely abandoned their youth academy. Sure there are youth players coming into Man United’s first-team this season and in the past couple of seasons, but the fact that Tottenham’s John McDermott is being targeted to replace Derek Langley at his current position of Head of Youth Player Recruitment is telling.
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It says that the Red Devils’ academy is a massive concern for the club and probably a failure in their point of view.
So why not try to poach from one of the best Premier League youth academies right now in Tottenham and take McDermott who is the club’s Head of Coaching and Player Development?
Because when you consider that Harry Kane, Ryan Mason, Tom Carroll, Andros Townsend, Josh Onomah, Alex Pritchard and Harry Winks have come through the ranks and been with the Lilywhites for their entire football career as young boys. Then Spurs are doing something right and Manchester United wants to emulate that success.
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Of course if the Red Devils think that trying to lure John McDermott to a lateral job and one that doesn’t look visually pleasing from afar, then they’re in for a rude awakening. Because just like Mauricio Pochettino being linked to Man United, why would the Argentine leave what he has helped build at north London? Same for Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris who are both enjoying another good year with Tottenham.
In other words, there’s no way that — outside of money, championships, stadium and fan base — that Manchester United are a better club than Tottenham as of right now this season. Whether that’s coaching, youth academies, individual players or the entire squad.
Basically, just carry on and move along Manchester United.