Stan Collymore blasted Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino for not subbing off attacker Harry Kane in the 2-0 lost to Liverpool on Saturday.
The outspoken pundit also appeared frustrated that Spurs winger Lucas Moura was only brought on from the bench against the Reds with 25 minutes left on the clock.
Collymore also claimed that Moura should have replaced Kane rather than take Harry Winks off, as after gambling on the forward’s fitness by starting him at times it was like the club were playing with 10 men.
“Pochettino finally introduced Moura with 25 minutes to go but for the wrong Harry,” wrote Collymore on the Daily Mirror.
“Harry Winks was one of Tottenham’s best players, maybe even their best, and I’d have taken Kane off.
“Pochettino continued to gamble but it didn’t pay off and there were times, especially before half-time, when Spurs were almost playing with 10 men.”
OPINION
Collymore subtly raves about Winks as he suggests that he was perhaps the best player for Tottenham on Saturday, and it’s fair to say the 23-year-old deserves his praise. The central midfielder was one of the only players who wasn’t sloppy in possession and it was a weird decision to see him leave the pitch when he did. Winks was constantly trying to force the issue for his side and didn’t deserve to be the hooked. The only reason you feel that Pochettino may have benched Winks when he did, was due to concerns about his fitness. The 23-year-old, just like Kane, missed the last few league games of the season due to injury and maybe Pochettino was aware the player couldn’t last much longer. However it’s fair to say that Winks looked closer to being 100% fit than Kane. The 25-year-old forward started the game, which was a risk, and Collymore was right to blast Pochettino for not taking him off once the gamble clearly looked like it had failed. Kane hardly made any impact on the match and was not at the races on Saturday.