Bring Poch Home: Why Spurs Must Plot a 2026 Reunion as Frank Feels the Heat

Another blunt afternoon, another restless away end. Tottenham’s goalless New Year’s Day at Brentford told its own story: neat enough between the boxes, precious little bite where it matters. Thomas Frank, back on old turf, copped the boos at full-time and that noise is getting harder to ignore.

The mood in the away end

Frank arrived from the Bees in the summer with a brief to steady and sharpen. Instead, the figures are stark: just two goals in the last four matches and a style that isn’t exactly getting bums off seats. Supporters don’t demand champagne every week, but they do want purpose, punch and patterns. They didn’t see enough of any at the Gtech.

Frank deserves time — but the football must change

Let’s be fair: mid-season upheaval rarely helps, and binning managers in January can create more problems than it solves. Frank should get the chance to coach his way through this spell. But ENIC will be asking a cold question: is he truly the long-term answer beyond this season? Right now, it’s a tough sell.

ENIC’s big call: Pochettino 2026

One option looming on the horizon is Mauricio Pochettino. He is tied up through the 2026 North American World Cup, so a swoop today is fantasy. But tomorrow? That’s the conversation Spurs should be having. Privately lining up a 2026 reunion with Pochettino is the smart, ambitious move this club needs. Reports suggest the ownership regard him as the preferred candidate if Frank’s project fizzles out, and you can see why.

Why Poch fits the bill

Pochettino is adored by the fanbase for good reason: he gave Tottenham an identity and took them to a Champions League final in 2019. Since his departure, the post-Poch carousel hasn’t truly cracked it — Mourinho, Nuno, Conte and then Ange Postecoglou had flashes (a Europa triumph will always raise a smile) but also that grim 17th-place finish, and consistency has been elusive. A Poch encore would unite the place overnight and restore a front-foot style that fits the club’s DNA.

He wants the league back

Pochettino has already told the BBC he’d love a Premier League return someday — the door is ajar. He’s 53, battle-tested, and still a genuinely elite coach. After his World Cup commitments, Tottenham should be first in the queue.

The timing and the market

Another in-season switch would be messy and, frankly, unlikely to tempt Poch mid-cycle anyway. The sensible play is to hold nerve, improve the attacking patterns now, and quietly sound out Pochettino for the summer of 2026. If Spurs want to act like a club with a plan, this is the plan.

A quick word on January

Short term, a fresh face up top wouldn’t go amiss — and there’s talk Spurs could move for a Brazilian forward this month. Add a cutting edge and the mood changes fast. For those weighing form and futures, you’ll find plenty of angles on the best betting sites, but the headline here is simpler: this team needs goals, not just good intentions.

Verdict

Frank can still right the ship, but the football has to breathe. ENIC, meanwhile, must think big and think ahead. A 2026 Pochettino return has an air of inevitability about it — not just nostalgia, but a coherent blueprint to reconnect the club and its supporters. Line it up now, and when the World Cup dust settles, bring him home.