Does MoPo know what he is doing?

[worcestersauce]

Why if when in the Europa we get knocked out as soon as we face a half decent team do you think we would get further in the CL where the standard is much, much higher?

We might not get a higher standard than Fiorentina, we might get an easy team like, oh I don't know, Monaco or
PSG!

 

[nightgoat]

My biggest problem with him is defensively. We are a shambles. Schoolboy errors.

The ITK in the summer stated that he wanted to build from the back first. Well he brought in 3 defenders and we are still shit!

Needs addressing

One obviously wasn't his first choice (Musacchio > Fazio), one is a kid playing his first season in this country and the other has mostly been second choice for his position but has led to Danny Rose having his best season for us.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

Pick any manager or coach from the last 4 and you'll find those who will defend them to the hilt and those who will argue that each of them were clueless. My main gripe is not that people are criticizing him. For goodness sake, there is no way that the man has not made mistakes; it's the way that everything was rosy in the garden or at least looking very positive before yesterday (well according to at least one thread that I've read on SC) and then one dodgy performance later, it's like everyone knew he was suspect all along. The truth lies probably somewhere in the middle, i.e. that even some of the better performances and results that we've had do not suddenly mean that we're on the way to a top 4 finish every season but it's also far too early to cast judgement on the man on the not so great results and performances.

Conceding fourteen goals in six games is not 'one dodgy defeat' honest.....

 

[longtimespur]

I think that tells you all you need to know about the motivation for this thread.

Agree, see my earlier post on here.

 

[shelfboy68]

I know no more than the average fan on here, but i do know that terrible defending week in week out without anything evidently changing is plain for all to see.

For mid season managers to go into relegation fodder teams and get them to concede less than our side must point to even the most pro Poch supporter that something is missing in a big way in his coaching manual. A chapter, a page or paragraph but something isn't right if Poch cannot stem the tide of goals going in especially as we have better players than any relegation fighting side.

I shudder to think how many goals we would have conceded if Lloris wasn't around!

Totally agree some managers have gone into clubs and within weeks are churning out clean sheets from previously been pourous(see palace as example).
So why cant a manager who has had nearly nine months to set us up more organised cant,it seems that maybe that area is of no real concern to him which would seem odd seeing as he was a decent defender himself.
Defending in the EPL overall has imo gone down hill as most teams seem to concede goals easier than before even chelsea, which maybe why English teams are not doing as well in Europe the last few years.
That said the goals we give away are predictable and soft and systematic of the way we are, unless he gets this shored up we wont achieve or win anything.
As for Lloris you wouldnt blame him if he fucked off in the summer not that he will but the shit in front of him is giving him more practice than he needs as i dont rate any of our back four.

 

[Metalhead]

Conceding fourteen goals in six games is not 'one dodgy defeat' honest.....

Absolutely. It's just that the post kicked off after yesterday's result. Listen, the defence is dodgy, we all know that. I said that he's not above criticism and there's no guarantee that he'll be our long term coach. I am quite sure that he's concerned about the defending too. If he's not then clearly there's a massive question mark over him.

 

[SpursSince1980]

I think the guy knows how to integrate a methodology and overarching philosophy into the framework of a club. In short, building long term. I think he is an astute evaluator of talent, and a good man manager. What he is still figuring out is how to game manage... Both before and during the match. Maybe this will get better with experience if he is willing to be flexible and creative. Know when to risk and when to play safe. So far, the latter seems to be an issue for him. If it doesn't improve he will struggle to stay in the role. This level requires a very deft and astute mind to manage the game and to respond nimbly to immediate challenges. If he can't do this, through being stubborn or just simple lack of ability, he sadly won't last.

 

[spursram]

Simple question.

Simple answer:
Pochettino grew up in Santa Fe Province, Argentina, the son of a farm labourer. After school in the village of Murphy he and his friends would play football until night fell and then cluster round the radio to listen to crackling commentary of games in far-off places. Occasionally his father would borrow the farm tractor’s battery and use it to power the family’s small black-and-white TV set and Pochettino would catch shadowy glimpses of his heroes.

The ethos of no pain no gain has never left him.

He had a reasonable career as a footballer, played for his country in WC finals, and has managed successfully enough (in Spain and UK) to convince DL that he is the right man to manage the greatest football club in the world.

He was 43 last week.

Yep, I think he knows what he is doing. Lets give him time and not undermine the overall good work he is doing.

Sunday, was abysmal and he and the team must try and learn from it.

 

[stemark44]

Look at Chelsea....Hazard only has one more goal than Eriksen FFS, and Costa two more than Kane. Factor in Chadli's 8 league goals as well and its not just Harry's goals.

Chelsea's top three scorers have a combined 34 goals, our top three have 33 goals. So no, its not just down to Kane's goals.

I said weeks ago that Kane was right up there with Costa as a striker.
I would also say that Costa's goals this season has also carried Chelsea to the top of the league.
However the big difference between Chelsea and us.......when Costa scores the rest of the Chelsea team can also do their jobs by not conceding silly goals left right and center.
We can't.

 

[Mr Pink]

I said weeks ago that Kane was right up there with Costa as a striker.
I would also say that Costa's goals this season has also carried Chelsea to the top of the league.
However the big difference between Chelsea and us.......when Costa scores the rest of the Chelsea team can also do their jobs by not conceding silly goals left right and center.
We can't.

We could if Poch would revert back to the side last month. I know we conceded 3 at Liverpool, but even still.

Starting both Chadli and Townsend is huge part of the reason.

 

[jezz]

I will be worried if the same team starts next week.
But even if we lose, I'm in for the long haul with this manager.

 

[mill]

Simple answer:
Pochettino grew up in Santa Fe Province, Argentina, the son of a farm labourer. After school in the village of Murphy he and his friends would play football until night fell and then cluster round the radio to listen to crackling commentary of games in far-off places. Occasionally his father would borrow the farm tractor’s battery and use it to power the family’s small black-and-white TV set and Pochettino would catch shadowy glimpses of his heroes.

The ethos of no pain no gain has never left him.

He had a reasonable career as a footballer, played for his country in WC finals, and has managed successfully enough (in Spain and UK) to convince DL that he is the right man to manage the greatest football club in the world.

He was 43 last week.

Yep, I think he knows what he is doing. Lets give him time and not undermine the overall good work he is doing.

Saturday, was abysmal and he and the team must try and learn from it.

Sunday was even worse

 

[stemark44]

We could if Poch would revert back to the side last month. I know we conceded 3 at Liverpool, but even still.

Starting both Chadli and Townsend is huge part of the reason.

Dembele should always be in this team...I think he had one really bad first half a few weeks ago and was rightly subbed but then the manager dropped him completely from the team.........no idea why.
Chadli has been poor for quite a while now, I would drop Chadli for him and play Eriksen on the left.
The other spot is up for grabs.....I see little difference between Lamela and Townsend.
One is more of a threat going forward but doesn't work hard enough off the ball.......the other is the opposite.
Although I would say that the system doesn't suit Townsend and I feel some players are getting hung out to dry because of it.
There are games that the system simply doesn't work well in,yet we never change.
Wen are far too predictable.
Why won't he try 4-4-1-1 now and again to switch things up?

 

[Mr Pink]

Dembele should always be in this team...I think he had one really bad first half a few weeks ago and was rightly subbed but then the manager dropped him completely from the team.........no idea why.
Chadli has been poor for quite a while now, I would drop Chadli for him and play Eriksen on the left.
The other spot is up for grabs.....I see little difference between Lamela and Townsend.
One is more of a threat going forward but doesn't work hard enough off the ball.......the other is the opposite.
Although I would say that the system doesn't suit Townsend and I feel some players are getting hung out to dry because of it.
There are games that the system simply doesn't work well in,yet we never change.
Wen are far too predictable.
Why won't he try 4-4-1-1 now and again to switch things up?

I agree that any manager should be prepared to mix it tactically at times. The top managers do this but Poch is young and still has plenty to learn I'd imagine.

But for me I would just resort back to the side that was doing well a month ago, surely that was the blueprint to work from, if Poch is insisting on sticking with this system religiously.

 

[Kendall]

Simple answer:
Pochettino grew up in Santa Fe Province, Argentina, the son of a farm labourer. After school in the village of Murphy he and his friends would play football until night fell and then cluster round the radio to listen to crackling commentary of games in far-off places. Occasionally his father would borrow the farm tractor’s battery and use it to power the family’s small black-and-white TV set and Pochettino would catch shadowy glimpses of his heroes.

The ethos of no pain no gain has never left him.

He had a reasonable career as a footballer, played for his country in WC finals, and has managed successfully enough (in Spain and UK) to convince DL that he is the right man to manage the greatest football club in the world.

He was 43 last week.

Yep, I think he knows what he is doing. Lets give him time and not undermine the overall good work he is doing.

Saturday, was abysmal and he and the team must try and learn from it.

What good work?

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Of course he bloody knows what he's doing.

We were drubbed at Old Trafford. So what? We've been drubbed at Old Trafford most seasons in our history. Yes, Sherwood and AVB won there, but they also both took absolute man handlings from Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool. In fact, AVB took one from Arsenal too didn't he? And that was with Bale in the side still.

We have seen some very good football this season, especially lately. I cannot remember any Spurs team dominating and outclassing Arsenal the way we did recently. The performance against Chelsea was magnificent, and in the past few months we've generally won by playing good, incisive football. It could be a little faster at times, and with both experience (remember how young our squad is) and some freshening up in the summer, it will be. However, we almost always dominate possession, we regularly create several good chances (as is evidences by how many of Kane's goals have been poaches goals, not just exquisite solo efforts), we get the ball into dangerous areas and we have a fairly varied attacking style. We lack a little defensively, and I am sure that this will be addressed through a combination of sensible signings and focussed coaching, but the progress we have made this season has been phenomenal. This time last year, I was seriously considering not renewing my season ticket as I'd pretty much fallen out with the club, had no affinity with the players and was bored bored bored of either stale, listless football or lottery, unstructured football. Now we play with structure, with style, with fight and with confidence. And... here's the kicker... apart from a 20 year old centre back, every single one of the players who have been starting regularly recently were available to both of the previous two managers. I actually love Spurs again, enjoy each game, feel connected to several players and believe that we are going places. I am not alone either in having gone from previous disenchantment to current hope and expectation.

Our away record is not a fluke. Our vastly improved home record is not a fluke. The huge improvements in several players (Rose, Vertonghen, Bentaleb, Mason, Chadli, Dembele and Kane) is not a fluke. Even Townsend and Lamela, though still not pulling up any trees admittedly, are vastly improved. The way the players fight for eachother, and for us, is no fluke.

With sensible, thought out backing in the summer (that doesn't mean 7 news multi million pound players, that means a couple of proven, even if old, players with winning mentality) and keeping hold of our key players, next season is already looking very rosy.

Our season might well fizzle out now, it is a real danger, but I don't think it will because this manager and the way the players have responded to him suggests that it will not give up till the fat lady sings, both during a match and over the season. Come the end of the season hopefully we will be able to look back on a strong finish which has at the very least allowed us to match, if not better, last season's final position. If that doesn't happen, we will still be able to look back with pride at a young improving side who have come on leaps and bounds, who have potential to go much much further, and who have given us some genuinely memorable and enjoyable moments along the way.

 

[Shadydan]

Why do you think Poch was hired?

Why did AVB, Mr 4-3-3 and his famous attacking football play 4-2-3-1?

Why do we consistently play 4-2-3-1, despite having the players more suited to a 4-3-3 formation?

So first you think Lamela has been playing in midfield

Then you think Daniel Levy picks the team

Absolutely hilarious, you generally don't have a scoobie do you?

 

[nightgoat]

Of course he bloody knows what he's doing.

We were drubbed at Old Trafford. So what? We've been drubbed at Old Trafford most seasons in our history. Yes, Sherwood and AVB won there, but they also both took absolute man handlings from Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool. In fact, AVB took one from Arsenal too didn't he? And that was with Bale in the side still.

We have seen some very good football this season, especially lately. I cannot remember any Spurs team dominating and outclassing Arsenal the way we did recently. The performance against Chelsea was magnificent, and in the past few months we've generally won by playing good, incisive football. It could be a little faster at times, and with both experience (remember how young our squad is) and some freshening up in the summer, it will be. However, we almost always dominate possession, we regularly create several good chances (as is evidences by how many of Kane's goals have been poaches goals, not just exquisite solo efforts), we get the ball into dangerous areas and we have a fairly varied attacking style. We lack a little defensively, and I am sure that this will be addressed through a combination of sensible signings and focussed coaching, but the progress we have made this season has been phenomenal. This time last year, I was seriously considering not renewing my season ticket as I'd pretty much fallen out with the club, had no affinity with the players and was bored bored bored of either stale, listless football or lottery, unstructured football. Now we play with structure, with style, with fight and with confidence. And... here's the kicker... apart from a 20 year old centre back, every single one of the players who have been starting regularly recently were available to both of the previous two managers. I actually love Spurs again, enjoy each game, feel connected to several players and believe that we are going places. I am not alone either in having gone from previous disenchantment to current hope and expectation.

Our away record is not a fluke. Our vastly improved home record is not a fluke. The huge improvements in several players (Rose, Vertonghen, Bentaleb, Mason, Chadli, Dembele and Kane) is not a fluke. Even Townsend and Lamela, though still not pulling up any trees admittedly, are vastly improved. The way the players fight for eachother, and for us, is no fluke.

With sensible, thought out backing in the summer (that doesn't mean 7 news multi million pound players, that means a couple of proven, even if old, players with winning mentality) and keeping hold of our key players, next season is already looking very rosy.

Our season might well fizzle out now, it is a real danger, but I don't think it will because this manager and the way the players have responded to him suggests that it will not give up till the fat lady sings, both during a match and over the season. Come the end of the season hopefully we will be able to look back on a strong finish which has at the very least allowed us to match, if not better, last season's final position. If that doesn't happen, we will still be able to look back with pride at a young improving side who have come on leaps and bounds, who have potential to go much much further, and who have given us some genuinely memorable and enjoyable moments along the way.

I'd give this 100 winner ratings if I could.

 

[eViL]

YES.

He's a great coach and is driving his beliefs and philosophy on the training field.

From a management point of view, he still relatively inexperienced in the Prem - this will come with games and a squad he can trust.

VERY early days.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I'd give this 100 winner ratings if I could.

Thank you

I just don't understand some people.

We by rights with our budget and our squad are a top 6 side who pose a threat to the top 4 and might occasionally pull it off. Anything better (like a title challenge) would be a massive bonus. This is our reality until the stadium is complete.

If we look at our season, what has actually been delivered?

Great goalscorer? Yup.

Produced some of our own talent who genuinely give a damn? Yup.

Reduced roles (in some cases seeming banishment) for players who can't be arsed? Yup.

Good football? Yup,

Convincing victories over our rivals? Yup.

Cup run? Yup (A victory would have been nice but we came into the game with far less rest against the league's best side who, to beat us, played 90 minutes of anti football with 6 defenders on the pitch).

The only real disappointment is that, apart from Eriksen and Chadli, the rest of the summer 2013 signings continue to disappoint. However, it might just be that we made several ill advised signings in one go and that this summer coming, after 2 years, is the time to cut our losses on them (though I'd personally still persist with Lamela).

Yes, there are areas which lack. We could do with another attacking midfielder capable of scoring goals to supplement Eriksen and Chadli. Someone in midfield more experienced than Mason and Bentaleb could be invaluable, not just to improve our first team but to help those two become the real deal. Another striker who inspires some confidence would be nice too, and a fast centre back would be a dream as the Fazio-Vertonghen axis is not one I want us to revisit any time soon. However, even there all of these require patience from our fans as there are players who just have to be shipped out first. We have a bloated squad. Before one centre back can arrive, both Kaboul and Chiriches need to leave. Before one central midfielder can arrive, both Paulinho and Capoue need to leave. Before another forward can arrive, one of Soldado and Adebayor (I'd guess our two highest earners) need to leave. Not easy getting rid of players who are on high wages but haven't performed well in 1-2 seasons. However, I have no doubt that the board and the manager will do everything they can to make these subtle tweaks (and subtle tweaks are all we need, nothing dramatic). In the meantime, the foundation is there for those subtle changes. Why? Because our manager has gotten some great results out of what he had available. Mason, Bentaleb, Kane, Rose, all players who at best divided opinion last season and at worst attracted pure disdain are now first team players who most fans would be happy to remain as regulars next season. Dier, costing peanuts, is developing very nicely into a very good centre back. Eriksen and Chadli have maintained their upward trajectory from last season (even accounting for recent dips in form). Vertonghen and Lloris both seem very comfortable and happy playing for us. This is all the manager.

Ugh, I'm ranting now. To summise, CHILL THE FUCK OUT PEOPLE! It's a good time to support Spurs and will remain so for a long time to come.