This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Sky Sports pundit and former Arsenal star Charlie Nicholas has delivered his latest set of Premier League predictions ahead of the weekend, and while he thinks Tottenham Hotspur will beat Bournemouth 3-1, he still has one major concern about them despite a positive start under Jose Mourinho.
What did he say?
Well, despite two wins from two for the former Manchester United and Chelsea manager so far – which has seen them score an impressive seven goals – they have once again shown their frailties at the back, which has been a common theme this term.
The four goals conceded against West Ham United and Olympiacos weren’t the best, and sorting it out needs to be one of the priorities for the 56-year-old in the near future.
Delivering his predictions on Sky Sports, Nicholas wrote:
‘They are not a million miles away from the top six and could threaten the top four, but the defence is still not right.
‘Jose Mourinho is carrying them along at the moment. They won at West Ham, came back from two down against Olympiakos, but have conceded four goals in two games and that isn’t his style.’
Spot on
If Tottenham want to finish in the top four this season, then Mourinho needs to do something he has done so effectively in the past at the likes of Chelsea and United, and shore up the north London outfit’s backline.
Conceding 19 goals in 13 top flight fixtures isn’t good enough – second-placed Leicester City have only let in eight in comparison – and it must be improved.
It will be a test to shut out a Bournemouth side who like to attack themselves under the leadership of Eddie Howe, and it will be interesting to see if Mourinho once again sticks with the centre-back partnership of Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld against the Cherries, or chooses to mix things up in the capital.
