Football is full of chaos—shock results, tactical shifts, and momentum swings—but with the rise of football data analytics, could AI now serve as the ultimate football analyst?
Despite their win on Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur are in the midst of an injury crisis. With 213 absentees recorded, Spurs are officially worse off than any other English side playing in Europe.1 This crisis alongside a series of disappointing results has led to discussions on Ange Postecoglou‘s dismissal as the team’s manager.
With this in mind, SeatPick, with the help of AI, has predicted who Tottenham’s next manager could be and the team’s likelihood of recovery this season. Could silverware still be on the table?
Results: AI Predicts Spurs’ Next Best Fit
Current Situation:
- Spurs are 12th in the Premier League.
- Still in the Europa League (only trophy hope).
- Out of the FA Cup & Carabao Cup.
- Injury crisis affecting performances.
Andoni Iraola, Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Frank are the most talked about managers who could possible replace Ange Postecoglou. With each having a distinct tactical approach that would influence Tottenham’s starting XI (if fully fit), how may they line up? And how many points could they get over the next 5 games?
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1. Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth) – 4-2-3-1 High Pressing Game
Iraola’s style is high-intensity pressing, quick passing, and aggressive attacking play.
Potential Spurs XI (4-2-3-1):
GK: Vicario
RB: Porro CBs: Romero, Van de Ven LB: Udogie
DMs: Bentancur, Sarr
AMs: Kulusevski, Maddison, Son
ST: Solanke
Tactics: High press, quick vertical play, overlapping full-backs, and aggressive counter-attacks.
Predicted Next 5 Games:
- Man United (A) – Draw (1-1)
- Ipswich (A) – Win (2-0)
- Man City (H) – Lose (0-2)
- Bournemouth (H) – Win (2-1)
- Fulham (A) – Draw (1-1)
✅ Points: 8/15
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2. Mauricio Pochettino (Ex-Spurs & Chelsea) – 4-3-3 Balanced Pressing Game
Poch’s philosophy involves pressing, quick transitions, and structured buildup.
Potential Spurs XI (4-3-3):
GK: Vicario
RB: Porro CBs: Romero, Van de Ven LB: Udogie
CMs: Bentancur, Maddison, Bissouma
FWs: Son, Solanke, Kulusevski
Tactics: Structured pressing, attacking full-backs, creative midfield dominance.
Predicted Next 5 Games:
- Man United (A) – Lose (1-2)
- Ipswich (A) – Win (3-1)
- Man City (H) – Lose (2-3)
- Bournemouth (H) – Win (4-2)
- Fulham (A) – Win (2-1)
✅ Points: 9/15
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3. Thomas Frank (Brentford) – 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 Approach
Frank favors a compact defensive shape with wing-backs and two strikers, similar to his Brentford system.
Potential Spurs XI (3-5-2):
GK: Vicario
CBs: Romero, Van de Ven, Danso
WB: Spence, Udogie
CMs: Bentancur, Bissouma, Maddison
STs: Son, Solanke
Tactics: Defensive solidity, direct transitions, pressing from the front, and set-piece effectiveness.
Predicted Next 5 Games:
- Man United (A) – Win (2-1)
- Ipswich (A) – Win (2-0)
- Man City (H) – Draw (1-1)
- Bournemouth (H) – Win (3-1)
- Fulham (A) – Draw (2-2)
✅ Points: 11/15
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Final Premier League Position & Trophy Predictions
1. Andoni Iraola – High-Intensity, Aggressive Pressing
🔹 Predicted Finish: 5th (Europa League)
🔹 Points Projection: ~66-70
🔹 Trophy Chance: 🏆 Europa League Winners (Possible)
🔹 Reasoning:
- Iraola’s high-pressing system could energise the squad and cause problems for top sides.
- If Spurs gain momentum in the Europa League, they have a real shot at winning it.
- A deep run in Europe and a strong league push could see them just miss the UCL spots.
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2. Mauricio Pochettino – Balanced Pressing & Attacking Play
Predicted Finish: 4th (Champions League Qualification)
Points Projection: ~70-75
Trophy Chance: ❌ No trophies, but close in Europa League
Reasoning:
- Poch knows Spurs well, would settle quickly, and get the best out of Son, Maddison, and Bentancur.
- They would push for UCL qualification but likely fall short of winning the Europa League.
- Spurs would improve defensively while playing attractive, attacking football.
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3. Thomas Frank – Defensive Stability, Pragmatic Football
Predicted Finish: 7th (Europa Conference League)
Points Projection: ~60-64
Trophy Chance: ❌ No trophies
Reasoning:
- Frank would stabilise the defense and grind out results, but Spurs might struggle against top teams.
- Not an ideal fit for free-flowing, attacking Spurs football.
- They would close the gap to European spots but likely miss out on the Champions League.
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Best Possible Outcome for Spurs Fans?
✅ Iraola = Europa League win + 5th place (UCL if PL gets 5 spots!)
✅ Pochettino = Top 4 finish but no silverware
- Iraola has the best chance (Europa League).
- Pochettino would get them back to the UCL, which feels like a trophy for Levy.
- Frank would stabilise Spurs but fall short of silverware.
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With Postecoglou under intense pressure to deliver results in the upcoming games, here’s a quick look at the dates and ticket prices:
| Tottenham Hotspur 2024/2025 Fixtures | Date | Price |
| Ipswich Town vs Tottenham Hotspur | 22nd February | £94+ |
| Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United | 26th February | £72+ |
| Tottenham Hotspur vs AFC Bournemouth | 9th March | £54+ |
| Tottenham Hotspur vs TBD | Europa League | 13th March | £99+ |
| Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur | 16th March | £94+ |
You can find more information on ticket prices here.
