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The stalled goodbyes at the heart of Tottenham's "messy" start

Last night's early League Cup exit was just the latest nadir for Tottenham this season. Mauricio ...



Videos

The stalled goodbyes at the heart of Tottenham's "messy" start

Last night's early League Cup exit was just the latest nadir for Tottenham this season.

Mauricio Pochettino's side have made a stuttering start to the Premier League campaign after a summer of mixed transfer activity.

The Sun chief sports reporter Martin Lipton joined Joe Molloy to discuss the situation as Spurs.

He pointed out that Pochettino had wanted to change up to half the Tottenham team that featured in the Champions League final. The motivation was to bring about a sense of renewal.

"Nobody wanted the players he wanted to get rid of," Lipton explained.

"So he's ended up with Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Eriksen and Rose. All very good players but all of whom he was ready to let go. And they know he was ready to let them go.

Messy

"They know they're not going to be there next season, come what may. Because they're out of contract and won't be signing new ones. And they've ended up with a bit of a messy start to the season."

Lipton explained that a tipping point is coming for those players regarding their individual performances.

"The thing with Pochettino is that unless he feels you're part of the unit and are on-side, he tends to cut you loose," he said.

"You remember two years ago, Alderweireld couldn't get into the team because he didn't sign a new contract and he wouldn't play him.

"He let Kyle Walker go because he thought Walker was no longer committed to the club as he was. Now he's done it with Trippier now and I think he feels that he'd had enough of Rose being a bit of a problem in the dressing room.

"He initially liked the fact Rose used to rub everybody up the wrong way and get them going. And then he thought, 'Hang on, this is becoming destabilising and disruptive', rather than positive and thought he could let him go as well.

"So there are a few of these that he'd like to part with. I think Wanyama was another one."

You can listen to the full chat with Martin Lipton above via our Football Show stream.

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Christian Eriksen League Cup Martin Lipton Mauricio Pochettino Off The Ball Premier League Tottenham