Eriksson strike clinches crucial win for Poch

A penny for Mauricio Pochettino’s thoughts as the confident Southampton juggernaut rolled into town. As you didn’t pay the requested penny, you don’t get the benefit of Senor Pochettino’s actual thoughts; just this writer’s best guess of what must have been going through his mind as kick off approached. Spurs have not won in the league for four games, were not playing particularly well and had dropped out of the top ten. Southampton, the club he left in the summer to join Spurs and who sold nearly half their first team had won four games in a row, were third in the league, five points ahead of Spurs and playing well. So much so that some saints fans were happy to taunt their former boss. Pochettino is far too decent and respectful to speak ill of his former club, but for all the understandable reason of taking time to improve Spurs, this was a game he dared not lose and he knew it.

After the energy sapping efforts of Thursday’s Europa league effort against Besiktas, it was no surprise that only Hugo Lloris retained his place in the starting eleven. Academy product, Ryan Mason was given another chance to impress against Morgan Schneiderlin, the one player Pochettino really wanted this summer and who has made a superb start for the Saints. Two big beasts, Etienne Capoue and Victor Wanyama collided in a thundering midfield tussle that lasted all match as no quarter was asked or given by either.  

Spurs slumbered their way to a disappointing defeat against West Brom at home last time out. However, with the personal stakes for Pochettino so high this time, there was no repeat of that sluggishness as Spurs pressed with far greater intensity from the very start. A feature of Southampton during Pochettino’s time there was the high intensity pressing game and perhaps for the first time this season, we saw evidence that he might just be able to implement the same style at Spurs. It must be said that Ronald Koeman has created a good side from the traumatic summer he walked into at Southampton and his side came prepared to give Spurs a game. There was to be no hiding place for Spurs and to their credit Spurs fought for every inch of territory throughout the game. Saints striker Grazianno Pelle had shown good form but was well handled by Younes Kaboul who often seems to have at least one mistake in him every game, even when playing well. Kaboul also joined the attack often and could be seen putting crosses. Like him or not, it’s never dull with Kaboul in the team. Danny Rose also dealt admirably with the dangerous Tadic and managed to get forward well.

With the midfielders cancelling each other out, chances were few and far between. Christian Eriksson had another quite game and despite his well taken goal which proved the winner, still is not playing at the level of last season as he adjusts to the demands of Pochettino. Erik Lamela continues to give the ball away a bit too often for comfort, but he is trying and can often be seen tracking back and pressing the opposition defenders. He needs a few goals to really boost his confidence. Nacer Chadli, whose confidence has no doubt been boosted by a few goals already this season had a decent game, creating the breakthrough goal for Eriksson and was unlucky not to score himself when his shot struck a post and stayed out. I can’t escape the feeling that there is much more to come from these two and it is my firm opinion that if these two, along with Eriksson really start to fire, Pochettino and Spurs will have a really good season.

For all that, Spurs’ Achilles heel this season is the lack of a dynamic number nine. The style Pochettino wants to play at Spurs requires either three attacking players who are reasonably prolific, good for at least fifteen goals a season or a dynamic number nine good for twenty five goals, preferably both.

Emmanuel Adebayor tried manfully but does not seem to have the energy required to make this role work in a way that threatens the opposition. Neither Roberto Soldado nor Harry Kane, the other strikers at his disposal seem suited to this role so there is real issue for Pochettino to resolve there.

All in all, Spurs fans would have left the stadium satisfied with what they saw and there are encouraging signs that Pochettino is getting his message across and the players are responding to him. Following on from the spirited draw against Arsenal last week, it sets the standard by which future performances will be assessed.