Three things Pochettino must change to fix Spurs’ home form

If there’s one thing fans hate, even more than consistently being drubbed by the Premier League’s biggest teams, it’s being upset at home by supposedly smaller sides.

Already this season Tottenham Hotspur have been beaten at White Hart Lane by West Brom, Newcastle and Stoke, as well as being thrashed 3-0 by Liverpool in north London.

Mauricio Pochettino is getting used to the sound of booing from his own fans, and Spurs’ odds to make the league’s top four this term have risen to 9/1.

Here are three things Pochettino should try to improve his side’s fortunes at base camp.

Play Harry Kane with another striker

Spurs have been clamouring for the youngster, who has bagged 10 goals in all competitions this term, to get a Premier League start, and he finally did against Stoke.

However, for reasons known only to himself, Pochettino played Kane as a lone striker, rather than just off Roberto Soldado or Emmanuel Adebayor as he has done in the Europa League and Capital One Cup.

Kane is undoubtedly better behind another forward, and playing two strikers would give Spurs more attacking options at home when teams sit deep against them.

Ensure at least one of his wingers stays on their flank

For most of the season so far, Spurs have started with two inverted wingers and a central playmaker, who have all ended up stepping on each other’s toes just outside the opposition box.

This is especially true at White Hart Lane, as its pitch is the third-smallest in the league, and opponents have been able to nullify the Lilywhites’ congested attack with ease.

Starting at least one winger on their natural flank will stretch the play and provide Spurs with more avenues of attack.

Bring Benjamin Stambouli into his first team

Etienne Capoue and Ryan Mason have both gone through fine patches of form this season, but as a pairing they don’t seem to work, with Spurs’ back four often left defenceless as they wander up the pitch.

Stambouli has impressed in his midweek outings, and would add more defensive fortitude than Capoue has been providing of late.

The Frenchman is also the kind of tenacious, all-action player fans can get behind, something that might help bring the tetchy White Hart Lane crowd back onside.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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