Evaluating Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham Hotspur's Player-Exit Choices
Prior to Tottenham Hotspur's 5-0 win over Swansea City, manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed his disappointment at selling Gylfi Sigurdsson to their opponents two summers earlier.
"I think after he moved to Swansea and we saw his development, he was a perfect player for us," he said, per BBC Sport. "But in that moment it was the club decision and his decision to move to Swansea and find another way."
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Just how Pochettino would have involved Sigurdsson is unclear. Though a useful role player in his two years with Tottenham, the attacking midfielder had struggled to establish himself in the first team.
Latterly he competed with Christian Eriksen for the nominal playmaker spot, and it was difficult to see him getting ahead of the Dane. Given how well both have largely done since at Tottenham and Swansea, respectively, Sigurdsson moving back to a club with which he previously spent time on loan was the right call.
Still, it was intriguing to see Pochettino express regret at losing a player of undoubted quality.
This week his side face Hull City, home to four former Spurs players in Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore, Michael Dawson and Ryan Mason. The exit of the latter two has bookended Pochettino's transfer dealings as manager, and it is in starting and finishing with them that we take the following look at the significant departures of this period.
What were the factors behind letting each go? How did the choices end up affecting the Tottenham team?
While the decisions were rarely clear-cut, Pochettino's and the club's judgement has largely proved sound.
Michael Dawson to Hull City
So far as the short term was concerned, Tottenham were worse off after letting Dawson leave for Hull City.
Rather than persist with the former captain's familiar, albeit not flawless, central-defensive partnership with Jan Vertonghen, Pochettino opted to trust in Younes Kaboul as skipper and also brought in Federico Fazio. Spurs consequently suffered early in 2014-15 from a lack of real leadership, the frequently rotated defence disorganised and, frankly, soft.
Moving Dawson on proved the right call long-term. Though the disappointing Kaboul was ultimately sold to Sunderland, Fazio and Vertonghen had some success together while youngster Eric Dier gained valuable experience, too.
Altogether, the process allowed Pochettino to more firmly figure out what kind of defence he wanted. The more mobile Toby Alderweireld arrived in summer 2015 and, teamed with Vertonghen and full-backs Danny Rose and Kyle Walker, has formed one of the Premier League's best defences.
Verdict: The bold choice changed the defence's direction and eventually paid off.
Sandro to Queens Park Rangers
Sandro's performances against AC Milan in the 2010-11 Champions League are up there with the best midfield displays by a Tottenham player in recent times. Disciplined and dominant, he gave crucial steel to a side largely renowned for attacking flair.
A regular presence in Spurs' social media output (see above), the charismatic Brazilian's popularity quickly grew with the club's fans. Unfortunately, injuries frustrated his attempts to establish himself as a permanent fixture in his team's midfield.
Likely aware, if not informed, of Sandro's fitness issues, Pochettino decided to sell him to Queens Park Rangers shortly after his own appointment and try some of the club's other, ample central midfield options.
Verdict: Sandro's continued injury problems and forgettable career since have validated Pochettino's judgement.
Kyle Naughton to Swansea City
Kyle Naughton was a frequently called-upon backup player during his time at Tottenham. Though more comfortable on his natural right side, the full-back also filled in out left when needed.
He made 11 appearances under Pochettino in the new manager's first season, but the inconsistent game time and a fit-again Walker saw him take up a move to Swansea City during the January transfer window.
Though not one of Spurs' big-name players, his departure was one of the first notable examples of Pochettino revealing the results of his in-season evaluation of his inherited squad.
Verdict: Pochettino gave Naughton his chance and did not dally deciding to go another route.
Aaron Lennon to Everton
For Aaron Lennon, 2014 had been perhaps the most underwhelming year of his nearly decade-long Tottenham stay. Ending the previous campaign off form, the winger did not begin life under Pochettino’s management too impressively either.
Later on that autumn, Lennon looked closer to his old self in influential displays against Hull City and Everton. Perhaps he had not stagnated after all.
The mini-resurgence was not enough in Pochettino's mind.
By the end of the year, he decided Lennon was surplus to requirements. He did not feature again after a miserable Europa League loss to Besiktas and left for Everton on loan in February, joining permanently the following summer.
Verdict: Lennon benefited from a fresh start elsewhere, and others, like Erik Lamela and Andros Townsend, got valuable opportunities in his place.
Roberto Soldado to Villarreal
By summer 2015, Pochettino had got a good enough look at his squad to know who he wanted to keep.
Roberto Soldado lasted longer in the evaluation than team-mates such as fellow striker Emmanuel Adebayor. The Togo international had not featured in months, but the Spaniard continued to play up until the end of the campaign.
Still, it had been apparent for some time that Soldado's days were numbered. An admirable trier even during barren periods in front of the goal, his previous heart had disappeared by that final spring.
With academy graduate Harry Kane overshadowing his older team-mates and more suitable to Pochettino's aggressive playing style anyway, Soldado transferred back to Spain. Despite his stay not working out, he at least left with fond memories of a good relationship with the fans (see above tweet).
Verdict: Soldado was not suited to Pochettino's Spurs, though not replacing him with a backup for Kane caused issues.
Etienne Capoue to Watford
Etienne Capoue got his fair shake under Pochettino.
He made 18 appearances in 2014-15, but as Adebayor and Soldado had been with Kane, youngsters Nabil Bentaleb's and Mason's greater energy and enthusiasm in central midfield impressed the manager more. (Paulinho and Benjamin Stambouli also fell out of favour as a result.)
There was no second-guessing transferring Capoue to Watford ahead of 2015-16. Although unlucky with injuries during his two years at Tottenham, he had not done enough to warrant much more of a look.
That the Frenchman has done so well with the Hornets, developing into an impressive all-round Premier League midfielder, might have given Pochettino second thoughts since.
Verdict: Transferring Capoue was the right call at the time, but his Watford form has left Spurs wondering what might have been.
Andros Townsend to Newcastle United
Townsend lost the faith of Pochettino after losing his temper following a win over Aston Villa in November 2015. The England international had inconsistently been involved for months, and this was the final straw.
Pochettino did not call on Townsend again, and he left for Newcastle United during the January transfer window (see his farewell, above). The Argentinian admirably stood his ground in showing nobody could step out of line without consequences. However, it is intriguing to wonder if he has since regretted the severity of his stance.
Temperamental a performer as Townsend could be, Spurs would miss the width he provided. That they have since moved to sign another winger in Georges-Kevin Nkoudou suggests Pochettino has been aware of the deficit.
Verdict: Pochettino and Spurs might have benefited from allowing a way back in from the cold for Townsend, but the manager's punishment was understandable.
Nacer Chadli to West Bromwich Albion
Nacer Chadli followed Townsend out of the door seven months later, joining West Bromwich Albion. Unlike his former team-mate, he was not being forced out
"He asked me before the end of last season about the possibility to go and play more in another team," Pochettino explained during a press conference before Spurs' 1-1 draw with the Baggies in October, a game in which Chadli scored.
"I said to him, 'You are in my plans. But if you want to leave, and it’s the right club at the right price, all right, then okay. It's not a problem'."
After taking a little while to adapt after joining in 2013, Chadli proved an important attacking-midfield option for Tottenham. While a contributor to some significant moments under Pochettino, an amalgamation of injuries, off-field issues and good form of others stopped him from becoming a fully fledged success.
Verdict: Chadli needed more playing time than Pochettino could offer, but his scoring threat particularly has since been missed.
Ryan Mason to Hull City
Mason's earning and then taking his chance in the Tottenham first team was a big reason why Capoue and Paulinho were sold and, for a time, why even Mousa Dembele was a bit-part player.
Though not as naturally talented as those previously mentioned, his versatility and good work ethic made him a reliable midfield starter. Partnered with Bentaleb throughout 2014-15, they looked capable of establishing themselves for years to come.
Unlike Bentaleb, who never got going last season and has since switched to Schalke on loan, Mason began his second campaign in the first team well. Unfortunately, he got hurt scoring a match-winning goal against Sunderland that had made him so liked by Pochettino.
In his absence, a sturdy Dier and precocious Dele Allia joined the resurgent Dembele in taking over the Spurs midfield. They brought not only grit and dynamism but also a level of quality Mason could not consistently match.
Though he would come back to contribute to Spurs' title challenge, by its unsuccessful conclusion, he was performing shorn of his trademark determination.
Verdict: Time waits for no man in football. Tottenham moved forward, and a fringe role was no good to the 25-year-old's development. Letting Mason leave has since allowed space for the emergence of another academy man in Harry Winks.
Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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