Mauricio Pochettino: The Inevitable Ending?
As I sat somewhat in shock reading the line Mauricio leaves club, I searched for evidence that this is just a joke or a spoof post made up by fans of rival clubs. Those who want to destabilise us and laugh at our inclement, nigh torrential 2019.
Unfortunately, the need for those posts to bring down what had been an infallible team are no longer needed and Spursy had become an outdated adjective.
However, since the turn of the year, Spursy was exactly the adjective to describe our performances.
Leads thrown away, struggling against the so-called weaker teams, coming so close to success but alas returning home with a “punching above their weight” tag but nothing tangible to show.
The inevitable end?
Was this inevitable?
The team peaked in style during the final season at White Hart Lane.
Unbeaten, with teams brushed aside in a frenzy of high press, slick interchange and a defence that repelled all oncomers.
Strangely, maybe the next two years could be considered Poch’s best.
With no signings, and Wembley for home, he managed to achieve Champions League qualification and navigated us safely back from Wembley to the truly stunning Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
With all of its corners of nostalgia and the old stadium mixed into its very core, surely we would see the return of the old White Hart Laneform, but it never materialised.
Pedestrian performances led to ground out wins with the south stand sucking in goals to cover mediocrity.
Champions League Safety Harness
On the horizon stood a glimmer of hope the Champions League.
Well out of the title race, and comfortable in the champions league places, there was the potential for the ultimate glory.
As Raheem Sterling turned in the infamous last-minute winner at the Etihad, I wheeled away not angry just accepting this is the life of a Spurs fan.
However…there was redemption!
At half time during the Ajax game, I text my dad saying we weren’t in the same class as this wonderful Dutch team, but Moura proved me wrong.
No Spurs fan could sit and watch Mauricio on the pitch and not feel love for the outpouring of emotion.
He was Spurs and Spurs was him.
Then the ultimate:
We couldn’t, could we?
Alas, we definitely couldn’t.
An insipid game ruined by a debatable penalty and Spursy was back.
At the precipice of ultimate glory but failing. Poch suggested his Spurs story may be coming to an end. Win and I leave, why not?
After two barren summers, the signings brought hope but the performances did not.
This was the same turgid football. Slow, predictable, but now vulnerable, players not signing contracts and new signings making no impact.
New Beginnings
In any job, a turnover of staff is important. It brings new ideas, new enthusiasm.
In his 5 years, Mauricio squeezed every last sinew out of this squad. However, he had nothing left to give.
This was the same team bar Kyle Walker that had looked so impressive.
But, gone was the edge.
Mauricio did everything he could but the team stopped responding.
Maybe this was inevitable.
Modern football is allergic to patience.
It gives no time and Mauricio has had his.
It feels almost wrong to say but I think it was the right decision and done in a decisive clinical way.
Out was Mauricio. In was Jose.
No time for mourning, celebration of what had been, or impassioned eulogies.
Conclusion
If I’m honest, at 33, I don’t really know what true success is.
The majority of my years have overseen general mediocrity as a Spurs fan.
Two league cups, a smattering of semi-finals and finals isn’t much for a life time of investment.
However, the past ten years had seen a steady improvement.
Martin Jol to Andre Villas-Boas to Harry Redknapp. A bit of Tim Sherwood to tide us over then Poch.
He will forever be a manager all Spurs fans look back on with fondness. Like our parents and grandparents with Bill Nicholson.
Mauricio brought us back to the top table.
Sure, we didn’t win a trophy. But it suddenly meant something to be a Spurs fan again
And for that, we can thank Mauricio Pochettino.
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