December - vital for Tottenham's future
4 min read
Tottenham have entered possibly the most important month of the season for us. It's not because of the fixtures, who we are playing is irrelevant.
There is no denying Spurs have been poor and as in a previous season, it's only because other teams are dropping points while they 'gel' that we are as close to the UEFA Champions League places as we are. We have been very fortunate to have won the last two away games because the opposition have had a man sent off.
The mentality within the camp has been all wrong. The players are decent players, quality players some of them, but their attitude has been far from it. We have a new system that is working in training but when it came to match day the players simply didn't operate it, they just reverted to type, reverted to how they had been playing previously, pass sideways all the time and create nothing.
It has taken a rocket from Pochettino where he laid down the law, which clearly a few players didn't believe and then has had to reiterate his position again. That is that he has the total backing of Daniel Levy over playing matters, that if anyone didn't pull their weight they could be sold or left to rot, whoever they were. Emmanuel Adebayor has had to learn that being vice-captain doesn't give him immunity.
The importance of having the right mentality Pochettino has mentioned before and regular readers will know my view, it's impossible to achieve anything without the right attitude. After the Everton game the Argentinian reiterated it's impportance.
Brad Friedel said it would be November, December before everything clicked and performances improved. December is now here.
There have been stories of unrest, Vertonghen is disappointed not to be captain and has refused a contract extension, Paulinho has been making noises about Italy, Real Madrid are said to be circling Hugo Lloris, with Manchester United another possible suitor. There is constant speculation over Lamela, Soldado, Lennon and more.
If players want a future at White Hart Lane now is when they have to perform, now is when they have to put into practice what they have learnt and do on the training ground. This month is the last chance saloon for some. There will be changes in the summer and changes in January so players are under no illusion that they are playing for their places now.
Put into practice Pochettino's plans are go somewhere else because Pochettino isn't. The Everton game gave us the first sign that that was going to happen, it was the first game that gave the fans some hope. With Bentaleb and Mason centrally Everton didn't really crate much, they kept getting in at the end of the game on their right, our left but apart from that were handled well.
Will these two now form a partnership and Capoue, who doesn't look up to playing a defensive midfield role, not at the pace we want the game played anyway, consigned to the bench once more. Will Yedlin arrive in January and join the squad or be given a rest? Walker played 67 minutes for the Development Squad last night, we have managed to give Eric Dier a rest so he can cover centre-back allowing Chiriches to leave.
Recent Articles
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Will Pochettino repeat Sherwood's mistake?
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If Tottenham don't start performing then there will be plenty of players looking for a way out, Hugo Lloris will certainly be open to offers and who can blame him, he is head and shoulders above any other player we have both in ability and mentally. His attitude is first class, his attitude is that of a winner, he doesn't make excuses but looks to improve.
Pochettino has been here 5 whole months now so the players should have grasped what he wants and be operating it. They had better in December or they had better look elsewhere. The time for doing us a favour by playing for us must end.
December
v 3rd, 11th, 12th, Promoted, Promoted, 7th
03rd Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur
2012/13 Finishing Positions: 3rd v 6th
2012/13 HT/FT Results: 1-0/1-1 (h) 0-0/4-0 (a)
06th Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace
2012/13 Finishing Positions: 6th v 11th
2012/13 HT/FT Results: 0-0/0-1 (a) 0-0/2-0 (h)
11th UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE Matchday 6
Besiktas v Tottenham Hotspur
13th Swansea City v Tottenham Hotspur - (game expected to be moved to Sunday)
2012/13 Finishing Positions: 12th v 6th
2012/13 HT/FT Results: 0-0/1-0 (h) 0-1/1-3 (a)
20th Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley
2012/13 Finishing Positions: 6th v Promoted
2012/13 HT/FT Results: No corresponding fixtures
26th Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur
2012/13 Finishing Positions: Promoted v 6th
2012/13 HT/FT Results: No corresponding fixtures
28th Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United
2012/13 Finishing Positions: 6th v 7th
2012/13 HT/FT Results: 1-1/2-2 (h) 0-1/1-2 (a)
There is no denying Spurs have been poor and as in a previous season, it's only because other teams are dropping points while they 'gel' that we are as close to the UEFA Champions League places as we are. We have been very fortunate to have won the last two away games because the opposition have had a man sent off.
The mentality within the camp has been all wrong. The players are decent players, quality players some of them, but their attitude has been far from it. We have a new system that is working in training but when it came to match day the players simply didn't operate it, they just reverted to type, reverted to how they had been playing previously, pass sideways all the time and create nothing.
It has taken a rocket from Pochettino where he laid down the law, which clearly a few players didn't believe and then has had to reiterate his position again. That is that he has the total backing of Daniel Levy over playing matters, that if anyone didn't pull their weight they could be sold or left to rot, whoever they were. Emmanuel Adebayor has had to learn that being vice-captain doesn't give him immunity.
The importance of having the right mentality Pochettino has mentioned before and regular readers will know my view, it's impossible to achieve anything without the right attitude. After the Everton game the Argentinian reiterated it's impportance.
“Our mentality and our spirit was fantastic and this is something we want.
“We need to keep this feeling. It isn’t always possible to win but with this spirit and mentality we showed, it is easier to arrive at our objective to win the game.”
Brad Friedel said it would be November, December before everything clicked and performances improved. December is now here.
There have been stories of unrest, Vertonghen is disappointed not to be captain and has refused a contract extension, Paulinho has been making noises about Italy, Real Madrid are said to be circling Hugo Lloris, with Manchester United another possible suitor. There is constant speculation over Lamela, Soldado, Lennon and more.
If players want a future at White Hart Lane now is when they have to perform, now is when they have to put into practice what they have learnt and do on the training ground. This month is the last chance saloon for some. There will be changes in the summer and changes in January so players are under no illusion that they are playing for their places now.
Put into practice Pochettino's plans are go somewhere else because Pochettino isn't. The Everton game gave us the first sign that that was going to happen, it was the first game that gave the fans some hope. With Bentaleb and Mason centrally Everton didn't really crate much, they kept getting in at the end of the game on their right, our left but apart from that were handled well.
Will these two now form a partnership and Capoue, who doesn't look up to playing a defensive midfield role, not at the pace we want the game played anyway, consigned to the bench once more. Will Yedlin arrive in January and join the squad or be given a rest? Walker played 67 minutes for the Development Squad last night, we have managed to give Eric Dier a rest so he can cover centre-back allowing Chiriches to leave.
Recent Articles
Kyle Walker helps Under 21's to victory
Will Pochettino repeat Sherwood's mistake?
Paulinho to find form before the transfer window?
If Tottenham don't start performing then there will be plenty of players looking for a way out, Hugo Lloris will certainly be open to offers and who can blame him, he is head and shoulders above any other player we have both in ability and mentally. His attitude is first class, his attitude is that of a winner, he doesn't make excuses but looks to improve.
Pochettino has been here 5 whole months now so the players should have grasped what he wants and be operating it. They had better in December or they had better look elsewhere. The time for doing us a favour by playing for us must end.
December
v 3rd, 11th, 12th, Promoted, Promoted, 7th
03rd Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur
2012/13 Finishing Positions: 3rd v 6th
2012/13 HT/FT Results: 1-0/1-1 (h) 0-0/4-0 (a)
06th Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace
2012/13 Finishing Positions: 6th v 11th
2012/13 HT/FT Results: 0-0/0-1 (a) 0-0/2-0 (h)
11th UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE Matchday 6
Besiktas v Tottenham Hotspur
13th Swansea City v Tottenham Hotspur - (game expected to be moved to Sunday)
2012/13 Finishing Positions: 12th v 6th
2012/13 HT/FT Results: 0-0/1-0 (h) 0-1/1-3 (a)
20th Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley
2012/13 Finishing Positions: 6th v Promoted
2012/13 HT/FT Results: No corresponding fixtures
26th Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur
2012/13 Finishing Positions: Promoted v 6th
2012/13 HT/FT Results: No corresponding fixtures
28th Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United
2012/13 Finishing Positions: 6th v 7th
2012/13 HT/FT Results: 1-1/2-2 (h) 0-1/1-2 (a)
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