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Three reasons Tottenham is likely to pass on Graham Potter as manager

By Aaron Coe

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Ralph Hasenhuttl of Southampton and Graham Potter of Brighton & Hove Albion greet each other before the Premier League match between Southampton and Brighton & Hove Albion at St Mary's Stadium on March 14, 2021 in Southampton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Ralph Hasenhuttl of Southampton and Graham Potter of Brighton & Hove Albion greet each other before the Premier League match between Southampton and Brighton & Hove Albion at St Mary's Stadium on March 14, 2021 in Southampton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham, Ndombele and Hojbjerg
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 31: Pascal Gross of Brighton & Hove Albion is challenged by (L – R) Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Tanguy Ndombele of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur at American Express Community Stadium on January 31, 2021 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Glyn Kirk – Pool/Getty Images) /

No real success for Potter in the Premier League

Graham Potter has managed to keep Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League for the last two seasons, which is a big deal. However,  Potter has never led a team in English to a finish above 10th, Swansea’s finish in his one season there. With Brighton finishing 15th last season and likely finishing 16th or 17th this season, those are not exactly astounding performances.

When Mauricio Pochettino came to Tottenham he had Southampton fighting for spots in Europe, which Brighton is quite far from. There is a big difference between fighting a relegation battle and fighting for Europe or even the Premier League crown.

Graham Potter has never been in the battles for Europe, never really been forced to fight on three fronts at once, nor has he had to manage the kind of personalities he will have at Tottenham. Is Harry Kane going to be satisfied with a Graham Potter hire as sufficiently ambitious enough?

Yes, Graham Potter and Brighton play pretty football but they do not consistently win. Eventually, if a team consistently underperforms against metrics like expected goals, maybe one starts to question the tactics, metrics, or both.

Potter has won one trophy in Sweden, which is more than Pochettino could say before his appointment but winning a cup in a non-top-five league country is no major feat. Yes, Potter seems personable and likes to attack but that lack of overall success is a red flag.

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