It is now 94 consecutive matches since Mauricio Pochettino named an unchanged team and, at this rate, you would not bet against the Tottenham manager reaching a century.

Injuries, bad luck and a multitude of factors have contributed to a run that long predates this troubled season but, nonetheless, Pochettino’s ongoing chopping and changing confirms that he, like everyone else, is still searching for answers to Spurs’s nosedive.

In Saturday’s frustrating 1-1 draw with Sheffield United, the Argentine came surprisingly close to sticking, making just two changes from the 4-0 win at Red Star Belgrade in midweek, with Serge Aurier and Ben Davies replacing Juan Foyth and Danny Rose at full-back.

His significant decisions came in the middle, with Eric Dier and Giovani Lo Celso keeping their places at centre-back and central midfield ahead of contract rebels Toby Alderweireld and Christian Eriksen in a welcome indication that Pochettino is finally preparing to jettison players with no long-term future at the club and embrace the “next chapter”.

The manager seemingly remains caught in two minds, however, trapped in limbo between the old guard and a brave new world.

Pochettino seems to know, for example, that Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen remain his two best centre-backs but, with neither likely to be at Spurs next season, he has to start playing Davinson Sanchez. How else could the Colombian, who partnered Dier in Belgrade and on Saturday, be expected to step into the Belgians’ shoes at the start of next season?

You expect better results than you get. Of course we are in a process to build and we'll see if we have time to build what we want." Pochettino after Saturday's draw at home to Sheffield United

Pochettino also went against his cautious instincts by continuing with Tanguy Ndombele against the Blades, just three days after the summer signing played 90 minutes in Serbia. The France midfielder is still getting used to the pace of the Premier League and it was not a great surprise that he seemed to tweak his groin early on, with Pochettino afterwards claiming the 22-year-old’s discomfort unsettled Spurs until he was replaced by Harry Winks at half-time.

In Pictures | Tottenham vs Sheffield United | 09/11/2019 20 show all In Pictures | Tottenham vs Sheffield United | 09/11/2019 1/20 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 2/20 REUTERS 3/20 Action Images via Reuters 4/20 AFP via Getty Images 5/20 AFP via Getty Images 6/20 REUTERS 7/20 AFP via Getty Images 8/20 AFP via Getty Images 9/20 AFP via Getty Images 10/20 Getty Images 11/20 Getty Images 12/20 AFP via Getty Images 13/20 Getty Images 14/20 AFP via Getty Images 15/20 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 16/20 Getty Images 17/20 Getty Images 18/20 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 19/20 AFP via Getty Images 20/20 Getty Images 1/20 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 2/20 REUTERS 3/20 Action Images via Reuters 4/20 AFP via Getty Images 5/20 AFP via Getty Images 6/20 REUTERS 7/20 AFP via Getty Images 8/20 AFP via Getty Images 9/20 AFP via Getty Images 10/20 Getty Images 11/20 Getty Images 12/20 AFP via Getty Images 13/20 Getty Images 14/20 AFP via Getty Images 15/20 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 16/20 Getty Images 17/20 Getty Images 18/20 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 19/20 AFP via Getty Images 20/20 Getty Images

Winks is a curious case himself, having started the season as first-choice in central midfielder and a player Pochettino looked set to build the team around, only to find himself left out of the starting XI for the past three matches. He was not even included in the squad for the trip to Red Star.

There are other examples, like Kyle Walker-Peters, who began the season as Kieran Trippier’s replacement at right-back but has not played since the League Cup defeat at Colchester. Pochettino has also switched between formations, using 4-2-3-1 and 3-5-2 on Saturday, having spent much of the season in a 4-4-2 diamond.

The inconsistency is a far cry from Tottenham’s heyday of 2016-2018, when it was possible to predict Pochettino’s XI nearly every week. Now, only Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and, perhaps, the recovering Dele Alli feel like certain starters in an ageing squad caught between two eras.

It is hard to blame the manager for experimenting, particularly when everyone at Spurs from Pochettino himself to Kane have struggled to pinpoint the cause of the malaise that leaves them cut adrift of the top four and even beginning to look over their shoulders down the table.

Mauricio Pochettino's best results as Tottenham boss 24 show all Mauricio Pochettino's best results as Tottenham boss 1/24 A new era begins..... May 28 2014: Mauricio Pochettino signs a five year deal to become Tottenham's new manager. Getty Images 2/24 Tottenham 5 Chelsea 3 1 January 2015 - Harry Kane announces himself on the big stage as Spurs sweep Jose Mourinho's men aside at the Lane. Getty Images 3/24 Tottenham 2 Arsenal 1 7 February 2015 - Spurs come from behind to see off the Gunners and climb one point above their rivals. 4/24 Tottenham 4 Manchester City 1 26 September 2016 - Manuel Pellegrini's side have no answer to a potent Spurs attack and are powerless to prevent a rout. 5/24 Tottenham 4 West Ham 1 22 November 2015 - Spurs come flying out of the blocks and put a talented Hammers team to the sword with another four-goal haul. 6/24 Manchester City 1 Tottenham 2 14 February 2016 - Christian Eriksen caps a superb away performance at the Etihad Stadium. Pochettino leads the passionate celebrations at full time. AFP/Getty Images 7/24 Tottenham 3 Manchester United 0 10 April 2016 - Louis van Gaal's side are blown away in six second-half minutes. Getty Images 8/24 The next chapter.... Mauricio Pochettino reaches a verbal agreement to extend his contract until 2021. 9/24 Tottenham 2 Manchester City 0 2 October 2016 - An Aleksandar Kolarov own goal and a Dele Alli strike help Spurs sweep Pep Guardiola's men aside. Getty Images 10/24 Tottenham 2 Chelsea 0 4 January 2017 - Dele Alli scores twice to help Spurs bring Chelsea's 13-game winning streak to an end. Getty Images 11/24 Tottenham 2 Arsenal 0 30 April 2016 - Harry Kane and Dele Alli are on target as Spurs confirm a superior league finish to their rivals for the first time since 1994-95. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 12/24 Tottenham 2 Manchester United 1 14 May 2016 - Spurs bid farewell to White Hart Lane in style with Victor Wanyama and Harry Kane on target for the Lilywhites. AP 13/24 Tottenham 3 Borussia Dortmund 1 13 September 2017 - Tottenham banished last season's European disappointment with a thumping opening win at Wembley. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 14/24 Real Madrid 1 Tottenham 1 17 October 2017 - A depleted Spurs impressed in the Bernabeu to record a vital Champions League point. Getty Images 15/24 Tottenham 4 Liverpool 1 22 October 2017 - Spurs put their top four rivals in their place with a resounding win under the arch. Stu Forster/Getty Images 16/24 Tottenham 3 Real Madrid 1 1 November 2017 - Tottenham follow up their result in Madrid with a memorable victory over the Champions League holders at Wembley. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 17/24 Juventus 2 Tottenham 2 13 February 2018 - Tottenham fightback from being 2-0 down inside ten minutes to claim a memorable draw. However, they would lose the second leg 2-1 at Wembley. Getty Images 18/24 Chelsea 1 Tottenham 3 1 April 2018 - Spurs record their first win at Stamford Bridge since 1990 thanks to goals from Christian Eriksen and a Dele Alli double. REUTERS 19/24 Barcelona 1 Tottenham 1 11 December 2018 - A draw a Camp Nou clinched Tottenham's progression to the Champions League knock-out stages. AFP/Getty Images 20/24 Tottenham 3 Dortmund 0 13 February 2019 - Tottenham thump the Bundesliga side in the first leg of their Champions League Last 16 tie. REUTERS 21/24 Dortmund 0 Tottenham 1 5 March 2019 - Harry Kane's goal sealed a 4-0 aggregate win and an impressive 1-0 victory in Germany. Bongarts/Getty Images 22/24 Tottenham 1 Man City 0 9 April 2019 - Heung-min Son scored the only goal of the game as Tottenham won the opening leg of their Champions League quarter-final. AP 23/24 Man City 4 Tottenham 3 Fernando Llorente was the hero for Tottenham as his late goal sent Spurs through to the Champions League semi-finals on away goals. Mike Egerton/PA Wire 24/24 Ajax 3 Tottenham 3 Lucas Moura's stunning hat-trick saw Spurs come from behind to book their place in the Champions League final. Getty Images 1/24 A new era begins..... May 28 2014: Mauricio Pochettino signs a five year deal to become Tottenham's new manager. Getty Images 2/24 Tottenham 5 Chelsea 3 1 January 2015 - Harry Kane announces himself on the big stage as Spurs sweep Jose Mourinho's men aside at the Lane. Getty Images 3/24 Tottenham 2 Arsenal 1 7 February 2015 - Spurs come from behind to see off the Gunners and climb one point above their rivals. 4/24 Tottenham 4 Manchester City 1 26 September 2016 - Manuel Pellegrini's side have no answer to a potent Spurs attack and are powerless to prevent a rout. 5/24 Tottenham 4 West Ham 1 22 November 2015 - Spurs come flying out of the blocks and put a talented Hammers team to the sword with another four-goal haul. 6/24 Manchester City 1 Tottenham 2 14 February 2016 - Christian Eriksen caps a superb away performance at the Etihad Stadium. Pochettino leads the passionate celebrations at full time. AFP/Getty Images 7/24 Tottenham 3 Manchester United 0 10 April 2016 - Louis van Gaal's side are blown away in six second-half minutes. Getty Images 8/24 The next chapter.... Mauricio Pochettino reaches a verbal agreement to extend his contract until 2021. 9/24 Tottenham 2 Manchester City 0 2 October 2016 - An Aleksandar Kolarov own goal and a Dele Alli strike help Spurs sweep Pep Guardiola's men aside. Getty Images 10/24 Tottenham 2 Chelsea 0 4 January 2017 - Dele Alli scores twice to help Spurs bring Chelsea's 13-game winning streak to an end. Getty Images 11/24 Tottenham 2 Arsenal 0 30 April 2016 - Harry Kane and Dele Alli are on target as Spurs confirm a superior league finish to their rivals for the first time since 1994-95. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 12/24 Tottenham 2 Manchester United 1 14 May 2016 - Spurs bid farewell to White Hart Lane in style with Victor Wanyama and Harry Kane on target for the Lilywhites. AP 13/24 Tottenham 3 Borussia Dortmund 1 13 September 2017 - Tottenham banished last season's European disappointment with a thumping opening win at Wembley. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 14/24 Real Madrid 1 Tottenham 1 17 October 2017 - A depleted Spurs impressed in the Bernabeu to record a vital Champions League point. Getty Images 15/24 Tottenham 4 Liverpool 1 22 October 2017 - Spurs put their top four rivals in their place with a resounding win under the arch. Stu Forster/Getty Images 16/24 Tottenham 3 Real Madrid 1 1 November 2017 - Tottenham follow up their result in Madrid with a memorable victory over the Champions League holders at Wembley. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 17/24 Juventus 2 Tottenham 2 13 February 2018 - Tottenham fightback from being 2-0 down inside ten minutes to claim a memorable draw. However, they would lose the second leg 2-1 at Wembley. Getty Images 18/24 Chelsea 1 Tottenham 3 1 April 2018 - Spurs record their first win at Stamford Bridge since 1990 thanks to goals from Christian Eriksen and a Dele Alli double. REUTERS 19/24 Barcelona 1 Tottenham 1 11 December 2018 - A draw a Camp Nou clinched Tottenham's progression to the Champions League knock-out stages. AFP/Getty Images 20/24 Tottenham 3 Dortmund 0 13 February 2019 - Tottenham thump the Bundesliga side in the first leg of their Champions League Last 16 tie. REUTERS 21/24 Dortmund 0 Tottenham 1 5 March 2019 - Harry Kane's goal sealed a 4-0 aggregate win and an impressive 1-0 victory in Germany. Bongarts/Getty Images 22/24 Tottenham 1 Man City 0 9 April 2019 - Heung-min Son scored the only goal of the game as Tottenham won the opening leg of their Champions League quarter-final. AP 23/24 Man City 4 Tottenham 3 Fernando Llorente was the hero for Tottenham as his late goal sent Spurs through to the Champions League semi-finals on away goals. Mike Egerton/PA Wire 24/24 Ajax 3 Tottenham 3 Lucas Moura's stunning hat-trick saw Spurs come from behind to book their place in the Champions League final. Getty Images

In fact, Pochettino deserves credit for his determination to find solutions for the worst slump since he arrived at the club but increasingly feels like he is trying a new tact new every week in the hope that something, anything will stick.