How can we be so unfit?

[UpTownSpur]

It honestly seems like they were unaware when the season started - it's almost like they received a phone call the day before the Man Utd game telling them the season was about to start, and they'd been expecting another month before it did. We just look totally unprepared for it. Look at Leicester, they've hit the ground running and have already got six invaluable points that will go a long way to making sure they're safe this season.

 

[Lilbaz]

No, I don't believe it should be an excuse. However, you can't say that playing 2 games in succession, 3 days before the PL kick off is good preparation though.

Kane came off yesterday because he appeared tired according to Pochettino? No fecking shit.

A pointless trip to Australia, pre-season in America and the pointless Audi cup 3 days before PL KO isn't good preparation in my book and neither is leaving the squad light in important areas 2 games into the season but that's another argument.

Poor preparation is part of the reason we will start this season poorly IMO.

Did anyone play more than 90 minutes in those 2 games? A lot of other teams had friendlies on the weds before the season started.

 

[double0]

There's no way we're unfit with all the personal data on fitness per player. It's a mental thing. We gave away a weak penalty that wouldn't have been given at old Trafford or Stamford Bridge Kane went off and our heads dropped.

 

[Metalhead]

Our pre-season was pathetic.

Money spinning vs preparation unfortunately.

Really hard to mount an argument against this.

 

[slartibartfast]

He's a podgy AVB with a fraction of the charisma.

I actually do want Levy to stick with him because the constant changing of the guard isn't working, but I'm not seeing much progress . I guess we'll all have a better idea of his prospects once the transfer window closes.

Spot on.

 

[shelfboy68]

He's a podgy AVB with a fraction of the charisma.

I actually do want Levy to stick with him because the constant changing of the guard isn't working, but I'm not seeing much progress . I guess we'll all have a better idea of his prospects once the transfer window closes.

I Can see what your saying the football is similar with lots of possesion while creating very little and a midfield that parts too easily and a high back line that again doesnt suit us and is breached with consumate ease.
Having said all that we need to stick with and this program for now because we really need stability for once.

 

[HW61]

Let's be honest here. Do we really think Poch wanted the post season Australian trip, the random game in the U.S., or the ridiculous timing of the Audi Cup with 2 games in 2 days three days before the season starts with a game away to Man U. Of course not. It's all about squeezing extra money that ENIC and Levy are not prepared to invest themselves.

The result. Poor preparation for the start of the season.

Poch, like AVB, Is a coach of players not a manager. Decisions on playing staff and preseason schedule are made for him. Both hands tide behind his back.

 

[dk-yid]

I don't think it had anything to do with fitness. I think we lost our shape and discipline, and ended chasing for that reason. Especially our right side.

 

[Nebby]

No need to panic. We'll finish somewhere between fifth and eighth, which is par for the course. Anyone that believes we are serious about top four is deluding themselves. Our pre-season speaks volumes.

 

[shelfboy68]

Let's be honest here. Do we really think Poch wanted the post season Australian trip, the random game in the U.S., or the ridiculous timing of the Audi Cup with 2 games in 2 days three days before the season starts with a game away to Man U. Of course not. It's all about squeezing extra money that ENIC and Levy are not prepared to invest themselves.

The result. Poor preparation for the start of the season.

Poch, like AVB, Is a coach of players not a manager. Decisions on playing staff and preseason schedule are made for him. Both hands tide behind his back.

That is the reason why we have poch because he is willing to sit quietly in the background coach the players preferably young into something of a reasonable outfit.
It is debatable whether a real top manager would be willing to come in under those conditions like working with your hands tied, this appeals to coaches like poch.
I think he is a decent man but have serious doubts about his lack of tactics and strange decisions plus his brand of boring football to date.
I believe we have to stick with him now for the greater good unless we start having mid table finishes.

 

[spursfan77]

Some great posts in this thread. I was going to comment but agree on lots of what everyone has said.

Carry on!

 

[For the love of Spurs]

He's a podgy AVB with a fraction of the charisma.

I actually do want Levy to stick with him because the constant changing of the guard isn't working, but I'm not seeing much progress . I guess we'll all have a better idea of his prospects once the transfer window closes.

A fraction of the charisma? AVB was the weirdest little man I have ever seen managing a football club.

 

[HW61]

That is the reason why we have poch because he is willing to sit quietly in the background coach the players preferably young into something of a reasonable outfit.
It is debatable whether a real top manager would be willing to come in under those conditions like working with your hands tied, this appeals to coaches like poch.
I think he is a decent man but have serious doubts about his lack of tactics and strange decisions plus his brand of boring football to date.
I believe we have to stick with him now for the greater good unless we start having mid table finishes.

I agree. The irony is that we were so close to landing Van Gaal. No idea how that would have worked in practice given his pachance for spending big. He would have walked by Christmas.

 

[shelfboy68]

I agree. The irony is that we were so close to landing Van Gaal. No idea how that would have worked in practice given his pachance for spending big. He would have walked by Christmas.

Totally agree he just never would have lasted he probably be on the phone to Levy every day during the summer asking where his players are.

 

[Nocando]

Levy can't be allowed to pick another Manager

To be fair Levy's appointments have generally exceeded expectations when compared to our spending / turnover / finances. I know it's a complicated thing for many to get their heads around, but it doesn't matter who we have in charge. We could have Jesus Fucking Christ, with Gandolf as his assistant and we would finish roughly in the same place. We were in touching distance a couple of times, and got over the line once, but lets not kid ourselves here, we are well behind the top four and get further behind every year, with or without CL football. It's not the holy grail that it was 10 or so years ago.

The club doesn't generated as much income, it doesn't spend us much, it doesn't pay the same wages, it doesn't have a big ground, it doesn't have same appeal / coverage to both UK and overseas supporters, it doesn't have the same appeal to players, it doesn't have an owner who pumps in as much money and believe it or not our history isn't as good as the top clubs. We are behind on every front.

If anything those behind have a much better chance of closing the gap to us, than we do with those ahead of us.

Does all of this, and how we do, really surprise people?

 

[thekneaf]

This negative doom bullshit is embarrassing

 

[Doomchicken]

Levy can't be allowed to pick another Manager

His recent track record isn't that bad:

Martin Jol - Turned us into a top five side with consecutive fifth place finishes. Did very well in the transfer market, with signings of young British talent (Lennon, Huddlestone, Dawson, Bale) and talented foreigners (Berbatov, Zokora). Went south suddenly in 2007/08.

Juande Ramos - Rescued us from a relegation scrap and won us silverware for the first time in years. Forgot how to manage in 2008/09, despite good initial signs. Transfer market signings were good, with players like Corluka and Modric coming in, and deadwood like Ghaly shifted.

Harry Redknapp - Perfect choice. Was able to motivate our highly talented team and bring us Champions League football for the first time. Had great upwards momentum until he was distracted by the England job - just another example of the FA crushing our chances.

Andre Villas-Boas - Got the most out of Bale, and built a solid, possession-based team around him. When Bale was sold, the problems with our attack became clear. Lacked any flexibility. 2012 signings were good, the less said about the 2013 ones the better.

Tim Sherwood - Very consistent against weaker sides, and very tactically flexible - to the point where it became a joke. Introduced youth prospects into the team. Never got to make any transfers. I think we made a huge mistake letting him go.

Mauricio Pochettino - AVB all over again. Sticks to his system, which is possession-based and far too often relies on our star player for a moment of magic. The difference in AVB got 6 more points. Transfers in his first season were a mixed bag, those this season seem decent.

 

[Spurs 1961]

Absolutely on our knees from 55 minutes gone. Stoke were faster, fitter stronger. Their greater stamina was startling all over the pitch.

We were absolutely hanging on simply because we could not physically keep up with them. Somebody has got pre season terribly wrong on this evidence.

This whole pre-season thing is interesting. Chelsea seem to be suffering atm from lack of preperation but their official line seems to be that they made a choice to give players a break in the summer. Did I hear that Fergie used to do the same? Is the idea to start the season slower so that players have the stamina to produce the results at the end of the season?

I am not saying that this is our plan but for years we have faded badly in the last few months so maybe we can learn from clubs who always finish strongly.

 

[kmk]

A fraction of the charisma? AVB was the weirdest little man I have ever seen managing a football club.

Nigel Pearson says hi.

 

[thelak]

I think we would have been better having about 4 matches away to championship clubs then a home game against stronger opposition a week before. Did Verts and Alderweireld even play together in pre season? Did Chadli start any games upfront considering he's our backup striker?

Not sure if lack of fitness is to blame more like poor preparation.

The only reason Poch is not getting a hard time for being such a yes man in all of this is because we dotn want to see more managerial turnover but pretty underwhelmed by him agreeing to go along with all of this and not making a more public push to get what he wants player wise sorted properly by now