Troy Deeney: Poch’s Tottenham were one of the best teams I EVER faced… but NOBODY will be scared of Spurs any more
MAURICIO POCHETTINO’S Spurs were not only a fine footballing team, they were a big, nasty, intimidating bunch to play against.
They might never have won a trophy — though they came close to both the Premier League and Champions League — but they were one of the best teams I ever faced.
Harry Kane was one of the last remaining links to the Pochettino era but the strong identity that team possessed had disappeared long before his departure.
From Jose Mourinho to Nuno Espirito Santo to Antonio Conte, Tottenham lost their positivity, energy and aggression.
Back in the day, you’d be facing Mousa Dembele, a wonderfully-gifted player but also a massive unit who would not be afraid to use his physical strength.
Moussa Sissoko would often stick one on you, the centre-halves Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen were big and mean.
Kyle Walker loved a tackle and Danny Rose would delight in lifting opponents off their feet and ditching them in the stands.
You lined up against them in the tunnel and they looked like a side not to be messed with — most were over 6ft, including Kane. You also knew they were a team who would never be outrun.
I just can’t imagine opponents fearing them like that any more.
Kane’s Bayern Munich move leaves Spurs without a genuine centre-forward — and that is something they must resolve before deadline day.
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That is not going to be easy with just two weeks left in this window and with selling clubs knowing they have £100million burning a hole in their pockets.
I find it hugely surprising that Spurs haven’t already bought a striker this summer because Kane was always likely to leave this year, or next at the very latest.
But with Spurs, there never seems to be any long-term planning or strategy any more — that’s why they were overtaken by a small, brilliantly-run club like Brighton last season.
Newcastle replaced them in the ‘Big Six’ and it could be a long way back for Ange Postecoglou.
The obvious ready-made replacement for Kane would be Ivan Toney, if only the Brentford striker wasn’t banned until the New Year for breaking betting regulations.
Toney is outstanding but would Spurs be prepared to strike a deal now for someone who can’t play for half of this season?
My old Watford team-mate Richarlison led the line in Tottenham’s opener at Brentford and the team showed some decent signs in that 2-2 draw.
But Richarlison is not a centre-forward, it’s simply not his natural position. He is a left-winger who can cut inside and score goals.
I don’t remember him ever playing through the middle during his season at Watford.
And although he had some success filling in there for Everton, you will never see the best of Richar in that role.
That visit to Brentford was Postecoglou’s first competitive game in charge.
There were some encouraging signs that he wants Spurs to get on the front foot and dominate games, like they used to do under Pochettino, but rarely since.
But too often Richarlison and Son Heung-min, who both prefer to operate as wide-left attackers, occupied the same positions.
They were creating overloads but when the ball got into the box, either there was nobody there, or the ball fell to the ‘wrong’ players.
And, yes, I know that Emerson Royal scored Tottenham’s equaliser but the full-back is hardly going to get double figures this season.
I was surprised that Richar only scored one Premier League goal in his debut campaign for Spurs last season.
But they have a genuine player there as long as he is able to operate in his best position.
He arrived at Watford from Brazil six years ago as a 20-year-old who barely spoke any English — but we taught him all the right swear words and he had great fun learning.
Richar is a great character to have in the dressing room. His only fault is sometimes he seems to want it too much and can get too wound up on the pitch.
But I don’t want to see him playing centre-forward for much longer.
Spurs face Manchester United on Saturday and watching Erik ten Hag’s men struggle to their season-opening victory over Wolves was much like seeing Postecoglou’s team at Brentford.
Marcus Rashford — just like Richarlison — is a wide-left player filling in at centre-forward and it was a frustrating night for him on Monday.
While Spurs are missing Kane, United were the club that most people expected to sign the England captain.
Instead, Ten Hag brought in the striker he wanted — the unproven Danish youngster Rasmus Hojlund, 20, who is now currently out injured.
At least United have found a sense of identity under Ten Hag and perhaps we will be saying the same about Postecoglou’s Tottenham before too long.
But if either club are to make forward strides this season, they need a proper goalscoring centre-forward.