Sunday 12 February 2017 13:10, UK
Mauricio Pochettino still has some way to go to change the mentality of Tottenham and turn them into genuine title contenders, according to the Sunday Supplement panel.
Tottenham's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday pushed them further back in the race for the Premier League title, another unimpressive show at the home of one of their top-six rivals.
The Independent's Miguel Delaney says Pochettino may have hit a ceiling at White Hart Lane, and that he's started to change the mentality of the club, but there is more to do.
He said on Sunday Supplement: "If you look at that Spurs first XI in comparison to that Chelsea team. Chelsea have around four properly world-class players, who is really at the top level in the Spurs team? Kane is probably on the brink, the two full-backs perhaps, but there just isn't that strength in depth.
"I think there is an argument that Pochettino, in terms of the quality of the squad, is getting the best return in the entire Premier League.
"The big hope with him is that he can defy these limitations, break barriers, and so far I think he has a little bit of a ceiling, and you can see that in his away games against big teams.
"Since taking over in 2014, he has won just one of his 15 away games against top six clubs.
"After his first game for Spurs, a 1-0 win at West Ham in 2014, Pochettino's big statement was: 'We have to change the entire mentality of the club'.
"I think he's started to do that, but has got some way to go."
Tottenham have finished in the top six every season from 2009/10 onwards, and the Daily Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson believes the club deserve more credit for their consistency over the years.
Nevertheless, Wilson adds that their period away from White Hart Lane while their new stadium is being built, as well as the move back into the new ground, could be a make or break time for the club.
"I think they have done a phenomenal job, and don't think they get the credit they deserve in the last five to 10 years.
"In terms of the structure of the club, the training ground and the consistency they've had in the top five or six under a succession of managers is impressive.
"The big challenge for them is obviously this stadium move, playing away from White Hart Lane for a period of time.
"How they come out of that will be really telling. Obviously Pochettino is going to be a manager that when jobs across Europe come up he will be linked and notice.
"Does he do a Wenger and stay with the club? Because those three or four years are when Tottenham could dip down. Overall I think they've done one of the best jobs in the Premier League. But the big challenge is to come."
