With the score stuck at 1-1 in the 85th minute of Tottenham Hotspur’s match against Sheffield United, Mauricio Pochettino decided to use his final substitution of the game.
This time around, he opted to go for an attacking approach, bringing Lucas Moura on for Serge Aurier:
85 – Our final change:
#THFC 1-1 #SUFC pic.twitter.com/pRfha3czZ7
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 9, 2019
While the sentiment was right, the timing wasn’t in the eyes of Spurs fans, as they felt the Argentinian should have made the move far earlier than he did.
Frustration over how late Pochettino makes his substitutions is far from a one-off reaction, as there was vocal opposition to the fact that Sessegnon was brought on for his debut with one solitary minute left of the Everton game remaining.
The manager seemingly has a reluctance to change his ways, but plenty of fans are hoping he will do it soon to maximise the impact of his substitutions.
A selection of Twitter reaction to the decision, including posts from fuming Spurs fans, can be seen below:
I love you Poch, but can you stop with the late substitutions?
— Jude Foxington (@fuzzywuzzytail) November 9, 2019
Does he ever learn? Should have taken Dier off earlier and gone for it. The state we are in these changes are constantly too late. Clueless.
— John (@JohnLWumz) November 9, 2019
Bit late
— (@pochspurs) November 9, 2019
85 mins too late
— Sultan (@SultanFahad07) November 9, 2019
Too late yet again
— George (@georgespursvlog) November 9, 2019
Way too late again
— Alex Benson-Wilson (@alexbw11) November 9, 2019