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End of an era

To paraphrase Sir Alex Ferguson, the maximum you can drive the same group of players is four seasons, after that either the players have to change or the manager does.

November 20, 2019 10:01
2 min read

Sir Alex was the master of reinventing his teams, brave enough to move on players who he felt had reached their peak or who were no longer able or willing to take on his messages. Crucially he had the backing of his Board and David Gill to execute on that philosophy.

If only Mauricio Pochettino had been afforded the same support. Sadly, the man who had earned the right to become Tottenham’s Sir Alex and who had called for the Club to ‘be brave’ was not backed - and now, inevitably he has been sacked.

In his place, the polar opposite character and football philosophy. From warmth and unity the club will move to ruthless practicality. From long-term vision and building a legacy the new man will execute his usual three-year plan which sacrifices all for the sake of silverware.

No doubt there will be many outside the club who will think that’s just what Spurs need. A man to take the Club up the final step. But Spurs has always been more than that, it stands for an ideal. The way of doing things perhaps more important even than the ultimate prizes. The club motto is Audere Est Facere, To Dare is to Do. Over these past five-and-a-half years under Pochettino the Club have Dared in abundance..... and thrilled and given us supporters moments we scarcely dreamed of - made all the sweeter being as it was, orchestrated by a kind, warm man, a man and his staff who genuinely seemed to ‘get’ what it meant to be a Spur.