Tottenham at Rock Bottom: Why Eddie Howe Deserves to Replace De Zerbi?
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- Tottenham Hotspur terpuruk di posisi juru kunci Premier League setelah belanja besar musim panas, memicu spekulasi pergantian manajer.
- Roberto De Zerbi dianggap belum mampu mengoptimalkan pemain mahal seperti Mateus Fernandes dan Omar Marmoush, dengan lini serang tumpul.
- Eddie Howe muncul sebagai kandidat kuat karena rekam jejak stabilitas dan manajemen pemain, meski biaya pemecatan De Zerbi mencapai £50 juta.
Tottenham Hotspur concluded the international break at the bottom of the Premier League table, a stark contrast to their ambitious summer transfer window. A string of defeats has intensified pressure on manager Roberto De Zerbi, leaving the club's board with a difficult choice: stick with him or make a move mid-season.
Last season, Spurs narrowly avoided relegation, only securing safety after a prolonged struggle. Instead of building a solid foundation, they spent over £300 million to bring in players like Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, and Savio. However, this massive investment has yet to pay off; the team only scored their first league goal in their fifth match and has shown no signs of resurgence since.
De Zerbi, known as a tactical architect, faces sharp criticism for allegedly misplacing players. Mateus Fernandes, a costly acquisition, was forced to play as an attacking midfielder and was substituted at half-time in the last game. Meanwhile, Omar Marmoush and Dominic Solanke have struggled to score, leaving Spurs' frontline blunt. Although the defense has slightly improved with the presence of Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, and Andy Robertson, the main issue lies in the sharpness of the attack.
If poor results continue, ENIC management, the club's owners, are reportedly forced to take action. However, the high cost of contract termination makes them inclined to give De Zerbi a chance until the next international break. Top coaches like Julian Nagelsmann and Arne Slot are being linked, but one figure is considered a better fit: Eddie Howe.
"Eddie Howe is the best English coach by a very long way," said Jamie Carragher, as quoted by Football FanCast. "He also deserves to be the next England manager."
Howe, 48, boasts an impressive track record. He guided Bournemouth from League Two to the Premier League, and at Newcastle United, he ended a 56-year trophy drought with the Carabao Cup, also leading the Magpies to compete in the Champions League. Despite significant financial backing from PIF, Howe still faced Financial Fair Play rules and lost key players, yet managed to maintain stability with three top-half finishes.
For Tottenham, Howe offers more than just tactics: a humanistic approach to player management. Current Spurs players are believed to need a figure who can embrace them and boost their confidence, and Howe is known for his strong personal touch. If De Zerbi fails to turn things around, Howe could be the answer to the leadership void in North London.
Indonesian Context: Tottenham's turmoil reflects how even big clubs with massive spending can falter if there's no alignment between the manager, recruitment, and club culture. For Indonesian football fans, this dynamic is interesting to observe as it shows that money doesn't always guarantee success, and long-term stability is often more valuable than transfer splashes. The Indonesian league can also learn lessons about the importance of vision and patience in team building.
The question now is: can De Zerbi utilize the international break to fix the attacking line, or will Spurs management soon contact Howe? Time is ticking, and the pressure is mounting.
