Man United: Mauricio Pochettino’s future at Spurs – Why he would be wise to remain

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 13: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks on prior to the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on January 13, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 13: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks on prior to the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on January 13, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
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The latter half of the midfield is the area of struggle for Pochettino, as Victor Wanyama, Moussa Sissoko and Harry Winks provide good depth. However, a truly impactful player would be substantial here.

One may claim Eric Dier is this player, yet when analyzed, one will come to know this claim for the folly it is. The English midfielder is a thick and physical player, who seems to have been born thirty years too late with a robust style of play.

He can deliver a crushing tackle and does provide a bit of intimidation for opposing attackers. However, he should in no way be relied upon, and against tougher opponents probably should be considered a liability.

Dier, at times, struggles to complete forward passes, thus leading to a stagnation of plays or even costly turnovers of possession. Also, he is not the fleetest of midfielders, so a quick opponent can easily slip by him, and work his way towards the back line.

The main point here is that there is room for improvement in the midfield for Spurs, as well as an improvement on the club’s overall depth. Lucas Moura is a good extra attacker, as is the Argentine midfielder Eric Lamela. The club can use more of such talent to contend with injuries and dips in form.

Jack Grealish was rumoured to be coming to North London, but money restraints determined otherwise. Pochettino is in the process of parlaying the Manchester United interest into a bigger budget.