Opinion: Is Tottenham failing or not - Is the loss at Inter a further symptom of malaise?

Pochettino

Pochettino's team did not have a great start of the season

Mauricio Pochettino hasn't won anything as a manager before - and this is a continuous stick rivals use to beat him with.

But if this is indeed a failure, then the Liverpool and Inter games are examples.

Another criticism of Poch is that Spurs don't have a plan B. If they are under trouble, then they cannot resort to another playing style or tactical base.

Liverpool exploited this to their cost.

And Inter managed to up the game in the latter stages since it was pretty dominant from Spurs up until then.

So whilst the players must take some responsibility, the manager (Poch of course) has to take the ultimate responsibility. Players don't formulate tactical plans - managers and coaches do. If Spurs lack a plan B, then he has to be called out, not Kane, Alli, Alderweireld, Lloris, Son, or Eriksen.

Pochettino is a top manager, no doubt. But this is an evident failing and something that he needs to correct, for his own sake/reputation if anything.