MAURICIO POCHETTINO HAS accepted that “realistically” Tottenham’s hopes of mounting a Premier League title challenge are as good as over.
A run of just one win in their last five league games has seen Spurs fall 18 points off the pace, with Manchester City threatening to run away with the title.
Pochettino’s men look as though they will have a fight on their hands to even finish in the top four on current form, as they go into Saturday’s clash with Stoke City in sixth place.
And although Pochettino was quick to point out that football is difficult to predict, he highlighted the “massive” gap between them and City more than once.
“Realistically it’s so difficult to think that we’re going to win [the title],” said the Spurs boss.
“It’s true that it’s so early and maybe how we struggle now another club are going to struggle too in the future. With football you never know what’s going to happen.
“To, as always, be honest, of course the gap is massive. Manchester City are doing a fantastic job from the start of the season. Not only us, we are struggling to follow them. They are doing fantastic.
“If we compare us with ourselves in the last few seasons we are so close in a similar situation, perhaps a bit better with us finishing top in our Champions League group, but another club like Manchester City they improve a lot and the gap is massive.
“Today the gap is massive but in football if you believe always you can achieve what you want. The dynamic can change in football, all is possible.”
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I wonder might Schmidt regret leaving out Olding? Played very well against Toulon and getting two tries tonight shows he deserves a place on the panel.
Olding was terrific in what were poor conditions against weak opposition but still a fine performance. Great prospect at FB or midfield. Ulster pack were poor and Paul Marshall was bloody awful. Ulster should have scored 5 or 6 tries instead of only 3.
No doubt he’ll play a part in the Georgia game. He’s an exciting prospect, but as a 12, he’s unlikely to play a part in a game against SA if D’Arcy is available. D’Arcy’s experience will be too important.
But Schmidt called him up into the squad for the upcoming games, Conor.
Olding is in the extended squad! He’s played fullback, 12 and covered and played (I think) at 10 this year. A bolter possibly to replace mads as bench cover with possibly gilroy and marmion/redden the other bench spots for the backs
Paul Marshall was a mixed bag. He played really well in the first half but something happened in the 2nd and his performance started to deteriorate. His line breaks are instinctual and wonder if this is why they appear to end in recycled possession. Would really like to see him kick through or chip ahead in his line breaks to put the opposition under more pressure.
Olding a ray of light in an otherwise incipid ulster performance, second half especially. The team is hardly recognisable from two years ago.
How did McCloskey play?
Strangely he was subbed for Humphreys and given PJs kicking wasnt great and Stuart was doing damage. In the first half they played a broken fielding kicking game.
He was a threat. The Dragons needed to tackle him in numbers.
Lovely touch for Olding’s 2nd. Starting to look a bit more confident. He is willing to try the kick through. One lovely clearance kick too.
Defensively he remains solid, although, I’d love to see him start to read ahead a bit and really get up in some opposition faces. That said he doesn’t miss with his tackles.
A big Heineken and international future hopefully awaits. I’d imagine his physical presence and good handling could be pretty useful for executing backs moves. There’s some strength in depth at 12 in Ulster
He did fair bit of kicking and created panic in the defensive line as well as his line breaking skills.
Sorry that was Olding
I’m a huge fan of Olding and look forward to seeing him in starting Irish jersey.
I’m picking at hairs here but following your comment about his defence…he missed tackles against Toulon, so we can’t say its “solid” just yet.
He’ll need to be able to manage big opposition like Bastareaud better before Schmidt will risk starting him over another established international.
Plenty of international standard players miss tackles against Bastareaud!
Yeah but the better ones don’t.
I’m sure Bastareuad is a nightmare to defend against, but no doubt Stuart will have learned a lot from those two missed opportunities and next time his hips & feet will be in a better position.
Sorry, Chris, was referring to McCloskey.