Tottenham Hotspur: Mauricio Pochettino has to be the choice for Spurs after Antonio Conte’s departure

While no Spurs fan is so starry eyed as to think that Mauricio Pochettino is the perfect solution, he is the right man for the job now.

When Antonio Conte arrived 16 months ago, there was the optimism that comes with a proven trophy winner but there was also the awareness of the acrimony that tends to accompany his departures.

His outburst following the Southampton game made today inevitable, but there was tension from the start.

The Antonio Conte era

From the first game, Conte played his system, rather than the cards he was dealt. Players were forced into a very rigid system of three at the back, long-distance-runners on the wings, overworked centre midfielders and a front three trying to find their spaces.

Watching from behind the dugouts, you could only feel sympathy for the wing-backs, who would spend 45 minutes of each game with the manager yelling and gesticulating, sometimes within touching distance.

But he did succeed in moulding them last season, and the players seemed to buy into the project. A top-four finish was an achievement.

This season Spurs sit fourth primarily due to the inconsistency of the clubs around them, and the atmosphere has been sour, with moments of joy few and far between.

The players and fans have been despondent - the manager too, though he has also been dealing with bereavement and health issues. Everyone at the club will wish him well.

And, it has to be said, much of the fan dissatisfaction has been directed at the ownership, Joe Lewis’s Enic Group.

Conte came in off the back of the short-lived, failed tenure of Nuno Espírito Santo and the Jose Maurinho experiment, which itself had a fair amount of rancour.

The unhappiness aside, what they had in common was drab football. Fans will demand that whoever comes in at least addresses that.

The club, after all, has one of the best strikers in the world in Harry Kane (for now) - arguably two if Son Heung-Min returns to his peak. Backed up (for now) by Brazil international striker Richarlison, who is still only 25.

The front line is supported by talent including Dejan Kulusevski, Ivan Perisic and Rodrigo Bentancur.

If a manager can’t get a tune out of that, something is really wrong.

Tottenham manager candidates

Julian Nagelsmann seems to be one of the favourites, but he was recently sacked by Bayern Munich after, apparently, overseeing an unhappy dressing room.

Former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique is also mentioned, but Spain’s recent failure in the World Cup remains fresh in the memory.

Chairman Daniel Levy might go for one of the exciting newer managers doing brilliant jobs in the Premier League - Brentford’s Thomas Frank or Brighton’s Roberto de Zerbi - but it feels like he wants a ‘name’ manager to re-cement the club’s Champions League status.

Mauricio Pochettino

No one’s under any illusion that Mauricio Pochettino is the perfect solution.

Things had gone on the slide when he left last time around, and in case fans forget that Poch didn’t actually bring the club any silverware, Tottenham’s north London neighbours will be quick to remind them.

His time at PSG is not viewed as a great success, although that is not an easy dressing room to negotiate.

Furthermore, as a general rule in football, “never go back”.

But what Pochettino would bring is a good feeling around the club, and the chance of good football on the pitch.

What Spurs fans and players need is a smile on their faces.

The team is fourth in the league, and may still make the Champions League under caretaker Cristian Stellini, backed by Ryan Mason.

The club has the best stadium in the country and a few world-class players, with some promising young prospects. That’s enough to work with, for now.

Give Poch a chance.