Sam Allardyce blames Mauricio Pochettino for Tottenham mistake against Southampton

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Sam Allardyce has told Alan Brazil’s Sports Breakfast show on TalkSPORT (Monday, 8:40am) that Mauricio Pochettino must take the blame for Hugo Lloris’ howler against Southampton on Saturday afternoon.

Spurs earned all three points over the Saints with a 2-1 win as Harry Kane and Tanguy Ndombele cancelled out Danny Ings’ goal, despite the north Londoners going down to 10 men in the first half. Serge Aurier was shown two yellow cards.

Former Liverpool striker Ings cancelled out Ndombele’s first-half opener, after Aurier was sent off, as he closed down goalkeeper Lloris and tackled the Spurs skipper before tapping into an empty net.

Ex-England boss Allardyce believes it is Pochettino’s fault for instructing his goalkeeper to play out from the back, claiming the modern usage of a goalkeeper as an outfield player is wrong. He also discussed the future of Lloris at Tottenham.

“Eventually you have to make a call on a player, particularly when it’s one of your loyal and best players,” Allardyce said on Lloris’ future. “You have to make a call. It’s this extra burden on goalkeepers to become outfield players.

“That is the manager’s fault. There’s so many goals being given away because of that.”

TBR’s view – Lloris to blame, or does Pochettino need to change tactics?

Allardyce is wrong. The modern way of football, and indeed the most effective, is playing out from the back and it is evident in that the majority of Premier League sides are looking to go short from the goalkeeper – rather than long.

The risk that comes with playing out from the back is that teams can lose possession deep inside their own half, or even in their six-yard box – such as Lloris. But the tactic will save more goals and keep possession more often than conceding the odd mistake.

Lloris is good enough to play with the ball at his feet and Pochettino should continue to trust the Frenchman.