Tottenham fans have taken to social media to lament a report linking them with a move for England manager Gareth Southgate.
According to a piece in the Daily Star, Spurs have identified the 49-year-old as their number one target to replace Mauricio Pochettino, should the Argentine leave north London.
It is understood that Southgate has been on the club’s radar since the end of last season, and that he is viewed as an ideal candidate based on his affiliation with several key members of the current Spurs squad – many of whom he manages at international level.
It’s safe to that supporters aren’t best pleased about the links, however, and have been quick to vent their ire on Twitter.
Here are some of the best tweets from fans.
Please don’t do this to me
— L (@lspurss) September 28, 2019
Please no
— Max (@smudgerb452) September 28, 2019
NO NO NO. i wouldnt want mr sideways and backwards.
— Kaden (@Kaden_FM) September 29, 2019
Would Southgate be a good fit for Tottenham though?
On the face of it, you can kind of see why the powers that be at Tottenham might believe he could be the right man to continue Pochettino’s stellar work.
Southgate has a reputation for freshening things up, as shown by his willingness to give youth a chance on the biggest stages.
A recent England debut for Mason Mount, plus the continued inclusion of players like Harry Winks, Jadon Sancho, Declan Rice, and Ben Chilwell in his starting lineup have shown him to be bold in his selection choices and acutely aware of planning for the future.
That too is something that Pochettino has done exceptionally well during his time at Spurs.
Troy Parrott is the latest prodigy to be knocking on the door in north London, but before him we have seen the likes of Oliver Skipp, the aforementioned Winks, and even Dele Alli work their way into his first team plans.
Furthermore, Southgate’s average of 2.06 points per game for England, as per Transfermarkt, actually outstrips Pochettino’s 1.86 during his Tottenham tenure, as per Transfermarkt.
Perhaps the issue, therefore, isn’t that Southgate wouldn’t be a good fit, but rather that losing Pochettino is an unthinkable prospect.
Tottenham riots gonna start again if that happens.
— Philip ?? (@philip_thfc) September 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/THFC_Lane_/status/1178194141882322947?s=20
But it could well be something that Spurs have to face up to.
Recent comments from the manager made after the penalty shoutout defeat to Colchester United in midweek hinted at a fractured dressing room, with The Sun reporting that some players are “furious” over his allegations that certain members of his playing staff are operating under “different agendas” to his own.
Moreover, Paul Merson, speaking on Sky Sports, as quoted by This is Futbol, is convinced that there is a rift at the club, claiming that he was “shocked” by the boss’ outburst.
And that’s a view shared by Ian Holloway, who has suggested that “something isn’t right” during an interview with The Sack Race.
In short then, there is a general consensus, fuelled by Pochettino’s own indignation, that things aren’t what they should be in north London, and if these rumours about unrest come to fruition, a new manager could be a necessary evil.
https://twitter.com/shane87654/status/1178070399545950208?s=20
Seriously? That's incredibly depressing.
— Don Adriano (@AJG8919) September 28, 2019