Darren Anderton believes that Tottenham "missed the boat" when it came to appointing Eddie Howe as head coach. Earning rave reviews for the job he did at Bournemouth after helping the Cherries climb from the foot of League Two to the Premier League, the 45-year-old was linked with a number of top jobs during his time at the Vitality Stadium.
Parting with the south coast club following their relegation to the Championship in 2020, Howe is now working his magic at Newcastle United and has his new club on the verge of a Champions League finish. Having elected against going for Howe in the past, Anderton believes that Brendan Rodgers has all the qualities to be a successful Spurs boss, although his choice is former manager Mauricio Pochettino.
"I quite like Brendan Rodgers. I think when he's given top, top players. I mean, what he did at Liverpool I thought was so unlucky to not win the Premier League there," said Anderton when speaking to AceOdds.com. "I think the fact that he plays a brand of football that Tottenham fans want to see, I think that's fair to say. I think since Poch, with Mourinho and Conte, the football has been dour at times.
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"I think we've got some wonderful footballers, but two very defensive managers that have certainly made for some very dull afternoons at White Hart Lane. So I think that comes into it. I feel like he plays a brand of football that is the Tottenham way and I think that would work. As I said, Pochettino for me.
"But another one I think they missed the boat on was Eddie Howe. I think that Eddie, who of course I know from my time at Bournemouth, has done miracles down there and now I think he's probably getting the credit he deserves from everyone within the country.
"What an amazing coach and manager he is. He's obviously very happy up there at the moment, but that's why I feel like the club missed out on him."
Graham Potter's name has been mentioned with the vacant Tottenham hotseat following his Chelsea exit. Linked with the job in the past after transforming Brighton & Hove Albion, Potter is another with the qualities to be a good fit for Tottenham but turning to another former Chelsea manager may be something chairman Daniel Levy steers away from this time after previously moving for Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho, Andre Villas-Boas and Glenn Hoddle.
"Who knows? Fans want winning football, to be successful and when a new manager comes in, fans always give them a chance," said Anderton when asked if Tottenham fans would be happy with another ex-Chelsea boss. "I was there when George Graham came in and that was never going to work because of the Arsenal connection. Long-term, I would say. But it was the most successful period I had there during my career. Where we won the Worthington Cup, we were in a couple of FA Cup semi-finals, George was a winner and that's all that we want.
"And I think that when Mourinho and Conte came in, they both were proven winners. I think there was always a worry that the football might not be as fans would like to see and be entertained, but if you're winning and winning trophies, then you're okay with that.
"But if you don't win football matches, you don't win trophies, and the football is defensive and dour, then of course, fans aren't going to be happy."
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