Silverware may have remained elusive, but those heady days of Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure now look brighter amid Tottenham Hotspur’s woes since.
The Argentinian side were a joy to watch in their splendour, sending teams back and forth, led by a small attacking group of Harry Kane, Heung-min Son, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli.
Dele, who was originally signed by MK Dons in February 2015, before arriving in north London six months later, was the last of the famous four to join the club, yet his impact was swift, finishing that Premier League campaign with 18 goals and helping his name.
Few youngsters, before or since, have reached such lofty heights in England’s top flight. Can new manager Roberto De Zerbi help Tottenham’s current crop enjoy similar growth?
Why De Zerbi could be Pochettino 2.0 at Spurs
Spurs have tried everything when it comes to appointing managers, especially in recent years, from the almost kamikaze style of Ange Postecoglou, to the pragmatism of Thomas Frank and the old-school approach of Igor Tudor.
|
Poch (Saints) vs De Zerbi (Brighton) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Poch |
Mathematics |
De Zerbi |
|
528 |
Administration days |
651 |
|
60 |
The same |
89 |
|
23 |
It wins |
38 |
|
18 |
Drawings |
20 |
|
19 |
Loss |
31 |
|
33 |
Unused players |
42 |
|
1.45 |
Points per game |
1.51 |
In De Zerbi, the Lilywhites may have found someone close to Pochettino in that regard, a manager who aims to play attacking football, yet with greater control than was seen during Postecoglou’s tumultuous tenure.
In 2022/23, for example, Italian side Brighton and Hove Albion finished third in the league on average per game, with his team climbing from behind before hitting the bottom third.
The approach in terms of formation is also similar to Pochettino’s rule, De Zerbi often prefers 4-2-3-1, using the natural number nine as the head, like Kane under Argentina.
What is also very important is the hope that the 46-year-old puts in his youth, and like Pochettino, his time at the Amex coincides with the real rise of Moises Caicedo, as he also encouraged the young Jack Hinshelwood for almost two seasons.
De Zerbi will give the Tottenham youngster a chance to ‘impress’ in one important situation
The whole team started again under Italy.
That previous work with strong players should bode well for the core of young players at Spurs, be it Xavi Simons, Archie Gray or Lucas Bergvall, and those who could enter the picture next season.
De Zerbi could soon release Spurs’ next Dele
In Dele’s case, Spurs swooped in early to land the then 18-year-old in a £5m deal during the 2014/15 campaign, with the Englishman joining Pochettino’s side that summer.
After finishing that last season at Milton Keynes with 23 goals and assists in 39 League One games, his stock had soared even after the deal was agreed, fans were no doubt watching his progress, expecting to see him in action in north London.
A similar feeling emerges in the case of Luka Vuskovic so far, where the young Croatian is already tipped to star at Spurs, like Dele before him, despite not making a competitive club appearance so far.
The wait, it has been said, has been too long for the defender, as a £12m deal for the former Hajduk Split man was confirmed from September 2023, ahead of the planned 2025 transfer.
Vuskovic then spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan from Split at Belgian side Westerlo, scoring seven league goals in his defensive position, while taking another step forward after signing for Hamburg, this time from Spurs, in the summer.
To say that the recent short-term move has been a success would be an understatement, as the 19-year-old is getting a Bundesliga update, and is proving that asset in both boxes with five goals in 25 Bundesliga games so far.
The giants won a remarkable 75% of their aerial contests per game, as well as winning 69% of their individual games, while back in north London, Micky van de Ven averaged 45% and 53% in those two same metrics, respectively.
Such form has already fueled speculation that he could be sold before kicking off at Tottenham, amid talk of a £60m fee, but in Vuskovic’s own words, he appears set to return to his parent club this summer.
“You never know in football,” said Vuskovic, as quoted by the Evening Standard. “It could happen next year, or in ten years. I don’t want to promise anything to anyone.
“After this season, I will be a Tottenham player again. I have a contract until 2030.”
Like Dele before him, the youngster could quickly hit the N17 under De Zerbi’s watch, not least with Van de Ven and Cristian Romero both working hard this season.
Touted as a possible captain-in-waiting, according to European football expert Andy Brassell, it looks like Vuskovic could prove to be worth the wait.
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