Tottenham Hotspur appeared set down a path in direction of regular success underneath Mauricio Pochettino, with the Argentine taking on in 2014 and slowly build up a workforce able to preventing for constant silverware, though he would by no means fairly grasp it himself.
His sacking brought on a shock, because it primarily unravelled the progress he had made throughout his five-year spell in north London.
Not solely this, however that call additionally marked a divergence within the technique of chairman Daniel Levy, who assumed that as a result of the membership now sat amongst the elite they need to begin in search of out the ‘elite managers’.
Straying fully from the mannequin that had earned them reward, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte had been each appointed and anticipated to win trophies immediately, but neither appear set to have carried out so.
This summer time will see the Italian’s contract conclude, however his reign could possibly be lower quick earlier than then, marking one other crossroads for the hierarchy to navigate.
Do they persevere with their present methodology, in a determined seek for a trophy of any sort, or do they return to their trusted outdated methodology which might see them take a couple of steps again earlier than they will transfer forwards?
Both method, the touted appointment of Steve Cooper would primarily simply see them safe a downgrade on their present boss, so it’s one avenue that should be averted.
Might Steve Cooper go to Spurs?
Together with his youth and spectacular begin to life in administration, the suggestion is that the 43-year-old might properly reignite the membership as they tread down the latter of the 2 aforementioned paths.
Nonetheless, he has hardly carried out sufficient to advantage a soar up from a relegation battle to difficult for Champions League spots.
His work in seeing Nottingham Forest promoted was admirable, together with his fluid three-at-the-back system incomes reward, however since returning to the Premier League his aspect have admittedly struggled.
The Difficult Bushes at the moment sit sixteenth, firmly entrenched inside the myriad of groups vying to keep away from the drop; however their goalscoring statistics make for miserable viewing.
Forest are at the moment the joint-lowest scorers within the division, and with 49 conceded in simply 27 video games, solely AFC Bournemouth have shipped extra objectives.
The truth that they’re nonetheless afloat after posting such abysmal numbers is arguably a testomony to the weak spot of the underside half of the league.
Regardless of overseeing one thing of a mini-turnaround on the flip of the 12 months, it appears they’ve now reverted to type, having not gained since mid-February.
This abysmal play model paired with a scarcity of defensive safety truly attracts comparisons with Conte’s Spurs aspect, who probably solely boast an enchancment due to the upper high quality of gamers they boast.
With their system and the outcomes yielded boasting hanging similarities, to ditch Conte for Cooper could be a baffling determination that might solely see them compound their preliminary mistake.
Gabby Agbonlahor had instructed solely again in October that he was “out of his depth” on the Metropolis Floor, so to improve him to a good greater membership with far better expectations would probably solely exacerbate that assertion.