Mauricio Pochettino cut for Spurs exit
How quickly things change in the life of a Premier League manager.
Mauricio Pochettino led Spurs to the Champions League final in June but now finds himself as short as 5-1 to be the next top-flight boss to leave his current position following Tottenham's League Cup humiliation at the hands of Sky Bet League Two outfit Colchester on Tuesday.
A goalless draw followed by a penalty shootout defeat sparked wild scenes of jubilation in Essex and left some Spurs supporters pondering whether they are on the road to nowhere under long-serving boss Pochettino.
The Argentinian, who joined the London outfit in May 2014, is a best-priced 9-1 with Betfair and Paddy Power to be the next Premier League boss out and performances have been below the standard expected for most of this season.
It could be argued that Tottenham have been off the boil for much longer and the surprise run to the Champions League final papered over the cracks.
They have not won a domestic away fixture since a last-minute success at Fulham on January 20 and have lost 12 of their last 26 matches in all competitions.
Pochettino, who has been linked with Real Madrid and Manchester United, admitted it was a difficult summer for the club and their team unity has been questioned with stalwarts Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen entering the final year of their current contracts.
Dele Alli, dropped from the squad for last week's league loss at Leicester, has failed to score since the victory at Fulham and was one of a number of players to disappoint when given their chance to impress in the second-string side sent out on Tuesday.
For some the Pochettino-Tottenham dynamic is on its last legs and comparisons could be drawn to Jurgen Klopp's final season at Borussia Dortmund in 2015 - a top coach with good players but the chemistry no longer worked after seven years in the role.
The intensity which was integral to the Spurs framework under Pochettino has been missing, however he could point to being only three points off third spot after six league games and having already been away to Arsenal, Leicester and Manchester City.
None of those involved at Colchester would currently get into Tottenham's strongest side - Pochettino made ten changes with reserve keeper Paulo Gazzaniga the only player to keep his place from the Leicester loss.
Tottenham probably would have gone on to win at the King Power but for a controversial VAR offside call which denied the Londoners a 2-0 second-half advantage before the Foxes fought back.
Fine margins can make a huge difference and Pochettino will also be frustrated at injuries denying him the chance to freshen his team with new signings Tanguy Ndombele, Ryan Sessegnon and Giovani Lo Celso playing a combined 333 Premier League minutes this term.
Tottenham's last home match was a 4-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace and they get an opportunity to show this is not much more than a minor wobble when Southampton visit the new White Hart Lane on Saturday.
Spurs are 4-9 for a much-needed victory and still 4-6 to nail their primary target for the campaign of a top-four Premier League finish.
