Mauricio Pochettino gets Tottenham tactics, team wrong against Newcastle

Mauricio Pochettino has to take accountability for setting his side up negatively against a Newcastle side who were always going to make life difficult for Tottenham. 

For all Pochettino’s excellent managerial qualities, the gaffer failed his side on Sunday, making the same mistakes he committed against Aston Villa in the season opener two weeks ago. This time, though, Spurs weren’t able to recover from a 1-0 halftime deficit.

Midfield mistakes

While I understand the merit of starting Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko together in the heart of midfield in difficult away fixtures, I can’t comprehend why the defensive pair got the nod against a team cemented to the foot of the Premier League table.

In tandem, Winks and Sissoko are too defensive and negative in possession. Too many lateral balls made life simple for a resolute Newcastle side, who were set up to combat Spurs’ listless side. It was a match tailor fitted for either Christian Eriksen or Giovani Lo Celso. The omission of Lo Celso, considering his lacklustre fitness, is understandable.

Some will say Eriksen’s muted performance against City last week made it easy for Pochettino to leave him out of proceedings today, but the Magpies offer a perfect platform for the Dane to demonstrate his on-the-ball majesty. Eriksen’s skill set is uniquely suited for a match against a bottom side, his creativity and ability to pick a decisive pass so often the difference maker in such fixtures.

While Poch swears his team selections have nothing to do with contractual circumstances, it’s hard to believe Eriksen’s current situation doesn’t have a part to play in his omission from the team. It seems the out of favour Dane is floating around in limbo land with the continental transfer deadline looming.

Harry Kane had only three touches in Newcastle’s box and 24 overall. Whether because the supply was suffocated or possession was too narrow, Kane’s threat was completely quashed, the talisman embarrassingly ineffective throughout.  Trying to continually feed the ball through the eye of a needle, Spurs lacked width, again playing right into the away side’s game plan.

Calls for Jan as Davinson Sánchez disappoints

Jan Vertonghen will be incandescent with annoyance after watching his teammate struggle mightily against the Magpies. Davinson Sánchez was culpable for Newcastle’s opener, the Colombian over committing and leaving Joelinton completely unmarked. Regrettably, Sánchez was out of sorts against Newcastle, his sometimes erratic positioning rearing its ugly head.

His anguished performance will pour kerosene on the controversial Vertonghen fire. The Belgian hasn’t featured in three matches, the stalwart being relegated to the bench in the last two. He wasn’t even in the squad against Villa in the opener. Surely Jan should have been selected against a side who, before today’s match, were embedded at the foot of the table.

Only those closely associated with Pochettino and Vertonghen know what is transpiring behind closed doors. Whatever the gripe, it is having a severely harmful effect on the team’s performances. Sánchez is certainly Spurs’ centre back for the future. Vertonghen, though, offers a calming presence the Colombian cannot emulate. And he needs to be in the team to rally his troops, especially with the North London Derby looming next Sunday.