1. Has Kept In Touch With The English Game
Hoddle is a member of the
new commission to assess English football. The FA has earmarked him as one of the key voices to listen to, as the national team attempts to make up lost ground on the world stage. As part of this role, which commenced in October, he will already be well up to speed on the state of football in this country. He possesses an astute tactical brain, despite his well-documented man-management flaws, and should Tottenham appoint him they will be getting a manager who will know exactly how to set up against the bigger sides. Football at the top level may have changed a lot since Hoddle last managed a team, but he will have changed too. Managers of similar age are often accused of being tactical 'dinosaurs' but he has always demonstrated reason and good sense as a pundit. Another complaint from many Spurs fans of late has been the club's attempt to shoehorn
too many foreign players into a cohesive unit far too quickly. AVB deserves some sympathy in that regard as it must be doubtful what signings were is. Technical director Franco Baldini will have had a huge influence on transfer matters, and Villas-Boas's comments after the Liverpool game raised questions as to whether he was happy with the signings. Hoddle would undoubtedly attempt to bring some form of English identity to the club. Should he get the Spurs job, Southampton would definitely be looking over their shoulders in the transfer market, as they currently possess the cream of the technical crop of young English players. If there are young players in the Spurs academy ranks capable of flourishing at a higher level, Hoddle would be an ideal man to help them progress, given time. It would undoubtedly be a romantic option, but Hoddle's appointment would also tick a number of the rational boxes - he deserves consideration. Whoever Daniel Levy appoints, he has a lot of thinking to do, as Spurs cannot afford further slip ups in the race for Champions League football.