Tottenham have to start thinking like a big club if they are to be successful... as none of Mauricio Pochettino's side make my team of the week

  • Tottenham decision to sell Kyle Walker now appears to be a bad bit of business  
  • Mauricio Pochettino's side trail Pep Guardiola's City by 11 points in the title race
  • Paul Pogba has all the ingredients to become a modern Eric Cantona at United 
  • It's surprising no plans have been made for a statue of Sean Dyche at Turf Moor 

When Kyle Walker joined Manchester City in the summer, the talk was that Tottenham had pulled off a great bit of business, that £54million was an excellent deal for a 27-year-old right back.

With Tottenham now trailing Pep Guardiola's side by 11 points in the title race, it is increasingly looking like a bad decision.

Spurs have now lost their last two away trips to Manchester United and Arsenal without scoring a single goal. Their right backs in these games, Serge Aurier and Kieran Trippier, failed to create a single chance.

Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham must find a way of thinking big in order to grow as a club

Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham must find a way of thinking big in order to grow as a club

Tottenham's decision to sell Kyle Walker to Manchester City now looks like bad business

Tottenham's decision to sell Kyle Walker to Manchester City now looks like bad business

Tottenham's attacking full backs in Walker and Danny Rose have been such a big feature of their game in the last couple of years. Trippier and Ben Davies are very good players who have done well this season but they do not offer the same attacking threat.


Spurs may have one of the best young squads in the country but the club's mentality has not changed since I played for them 13 years ago.

Chelsea were hammered for letting Nemanja Matic join a direct rival in Manchester United but when Walker went to City, it was seen as a shrewd move for Tottenham.

Regardless of whether Mauricio Pochettino and Rose have fallen out, Tottenham cannot afford to lose another star wing back.

Kieran Trippier has done well filling in a right full back but he isn't at Walker's level

Kieran Trippier has done well filling in a right full back but he isn't at Walker's level

This summer, Europe's biggest clubs in Europe will be circling to buy Harry Kane and Dele Alli. If Rose is allowed to leave, it gives his team-mates a reason to move elsewhere, too.

Walker's former team-mates will know how much money he is on at the Etihad and there is a danger that this promising team will be broken apart.

Pochettino, too, will wonder what he can achieve at Tottenham if their best players are sold.

Pochettino's away record against Spurs' top-six rivals now reads one win in 17. That is not good enough. Unless Spurs can adopt a big-club mentality, they cannot be considered title contenders.

Spurs will struggle to hang on to Harry Kane and that shows a sign of their weakness

Spurs will struggle to hang on to Harry Kane and that shows a sign of their weakness

 

Pogba can be the modern day Cantona 

Paul Pogba has all the ingredients to become a Manchester United icon. He is pure showbusiness.

He'll get plenty of stick from old-school fans for the haircuts, the emojis and his Instagram profile but the kids love him. He is a modern football star.

Pogba is a showman on the pitch, too. He has all the tricks and flicks - and his dinked cross for Anthony Martial to head in the equaliser against Newcastle was pure class.

Paul Pogba has the ingredients of a player who can be a big star at Manchester United for years

Paul Pogba has the ingredients of a player who can be a big star at Manchester United for years

What really impressed me was how he thrived as the midfield saviour, returning to inspire United to a resounding victory. This is what we hoped to see from him last season.

The pressure seemed to get to Pogba last year. Now, with Nemanja Matic in midfield, he has licence to roam. Jose Mourinho has realised you cannot rein in a stallion and it is a joy to watch Pogba just go and play.

Now, the challenge for Pogba is to grab the big games by the scruff of the neck. He is a natural leader and has the leadership skills to captain this team. He should be looking at United legends such as Bryan Robson, Roy Keane and Eric Cantona and setting his sights on emulating them.

 

Chelsea shouldn't regret Salah sale 

Mo Salah's start at Liverpool has been sensational. He has scored nine Premier League goals already - more than any other Liverpool player after their first 12 games for the club, overtaking Robbie Fowler.

When he left Chelsea, Salah must have questioned whether he was good enough to play at the top level. After thriving in Italy he has returned as one of the most exciting forwards in our league. 

Three high-profile ex-Chelsea players scored on Saturday - Salah, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne. The club have been criticised for letting them go but De Bruyne - now the Premier League's best player - can be their only real regret.

Would Antonio Conte trade Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata for Salah and Lukaku? And let us not forget that Chelsea have won the title in two of the last three seasons without this trio. 

Mo Salah continues to get better and better in front of goal for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool

Mo Salah continues to get better and better in front of goal for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool

Jamie Redknapp's Premier League team of the weekend

Jamie Redknapp's Premier League team of the weekend

 

Having suffered my fair share of injuries, I know the pain Callum Wilson will have experienced in the last couple of years.

I'm delighted that he marked just his second league start of the season with a hat-trick for Bournemouth.

Before doing his cruciate in both his knees, Wilson was being talked about as a future England star.

Now, he needs to remain injury free and keep showing his undoubted talents.

Callum Wilson has had his fair share of injuries so it was great to see him bag a hat-trick

Callum Wilson has had his fair share of injuries so it was great to see him bag a hat-trick

 

They really should build a statue of Sean Dyche at Turf Moor.

After their great start, Burnley only need five more wins and a few draws to book their place in the Premier League next season. They are on the same points total as Arsenal and Sunday's showdown between the sides could be a shootout for a place in the top four.

All this has been achieved after losing two key players in Michael Keane and Andre Gray.

Everton have looked at Marco Silva and Sam Allardyce to replace Ronald Koeman but Dyche is staring them in the face.

Dyche may be wondering for how much longer he can keep Burnley punching above their weight. Reputations can change quickly in the Premier League and chances to manage a club of Everton's stature do not come along that often. But look at it this way: would you swap an outside chance at European football for another relegation battle? 

It is actually quite surprising that nobody at Burnley has thought of a Sean Dyche statue yet

It is actually quite surprising that nobody at Burnley has thought of a Sean Dyche statue yet

 

Hard graft starts now for Watford wonder

I wish I had been blessed with the unique talent to drift past defenders that Richarlison possesses. The Brazilian dazzled in Watford's win over West Ham and, with the right application, he can reach the very top. Cristiano Ronaldo became a great player through his dedication as well as ability. He was the last man on the training pitch and in the gym. I see real promise in Richarlison - now he's got to put in the hard yards.       

Richarlison, signed from Fluminese in the summer, has shone for Watford so far this season

Richarlison, signed from Fluminese in the summer, has shone for Watford so far this season

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