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The Mauricio Pochettino thread

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Coyboy

The Double of 1961 is still The Double
Dec 3, 2004
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To be fair, and BBLG doesn’t need me fighting his corner, but he didn’t say that he was doing everything right.

I think all Levy supporters rightly criticised him for the pathetic display in the summer window

I didn't and don't because I don't know what exactly went on and there wasn't one player that I thought we needed and could have got.
 

The Mourneview Ace

Well-Known Member
Jan 8, 2019
197
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Arsenal have won the FA Cup three times in the last 5 years. Anyone want to swap places with them?

The last three managers to win the FA Cup were Conte, Mourinho and Wenger - three managers sacked for 'failing' in the league (i.e. not being in the top 4).

It's all about the Premier League and the Champions League.

I’ve been a Spurs fan since 1994 and never ever got to even see us in the cup final. Would be nice to. Cups aren’t the be all and end all certainly but it’s still as annoying as hell when our reserves go out to Palace next weekend.
 

scat1620

L'espion mal fait
May 11, 2008
16,285
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Arsenal have won the FA Cup three times in the last 5 years. Anyone want to swap places with them?
Clearly you don't think the same, but for me that's a tricky one. My personal objectives for what I want to see Spurs do in A.N. Other season are, in order:

1) Win a trophy
2) Finish above Arsenal
3) Qualify for the CL with our league finish

Reasoning it out for myself, if we swapped places with Arsenal for the last 5 years then we'd win the FA Cup but finish below them for 3 out of 5 seasons - but given that winning a trophy is at the top of my list, then yes I think I would swap on balance.
 

spids

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2015
6,647
27,841
Clearly you don't think the same, but for me that's a tricky one. My personal objectives for what I want to see Spurs do in A.N. Other season are, in order:

1) Win a trophy
2) Finish above Arsenal
3) Qualify for the CL with our league finish

Reasoning it out for myself, if we swapped places with Arsenal for the last 5 years then we'd win the FA Cup but finish below them for 3 out of 5 seasons - but given that winning a trophy is at the top of my list, then yes I think I would swap on balance.

Fair enough. But if we'd not been in the CL the last two years do you think we'd still have Dele, Eriksen, Kane, etc.?

Personally I think CL qualification is essential.

FYI - My list of priorities for A.N.Other season is:

1) Qualify for CL
2) Challenge for the PL title
3) Win a trophy

... and, whilst we are building / paying for the new stadium, if we only achieve #1 then it's been a successful season.

And whilst I am at it, I have to go on the record to say I have enjoyed the last 4 years, where we have seen us emerge as a real force and go away to Nou Camp and the Bernabeu and give Barca and Real Madrid a real run for their money, much, much, much more than I enjoyed the 1999 League Cup Winning season where we won a pretty crap final against an average Leicester side.,
 
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dudu

Well-Known Member
Jan 28, 2011
5,314
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I don't think many Levy fans are actually looking at a blank transfer window as any sort of badge of honour. Nobody is under the impression that there's a trophy for having a low net spend. I think it's more about accepting the current financial position of the club and realising that our success on the pitch is going to be achieved gradually rather than in a flood of money over a couple of seasons.

It can be frustrating as hell to watch other teams spend a tonne of money and they see success from it. But I think it's important to remember that there are also teams spending huge money and not seeing anything from it. We can look at graphs and tables of spending and use it as a negative, but surely the table that matters most is the league table and we have done well in that despite the lack of belief from some fans.

For the past few years our club has been disproving the notion that the only way to get to the top is to spend more than your competitors. Teams like Leicester and Bournemouth have also shown just how competitive you can be without breaking transfer records and putting up massive spending numbers. But the core principle of "pay to win" is a hard one to fully shake because it's wonderfully simple and has all sorts of evidence to back it up which is easier to shout about than the evidence to the contrary.

I can't imagine there are many Everton, Newcastle or Villa fans out there who wouldn't be jealous of the team we have been able to put together over the past 10-15 years, during a period when we would have been judged as a similar "sized" club to them. The fact Arsenal have spent 5 times as much as us during the "power shift" should also be telling.

As with life generally, in football money makes things much easier but is far from being everything. Wouldn't it be great if we could focus less on money and more on what our club represents and what our playing and coaching staff are capable of achieving?

Good post mate.

Personally I view alot of the complainers like kids whining when their parents won't buy them the latest and greatest new toy that costs beyond what they can afford.

Levy, for me, has shown he will spend money when he has it, but simply won't spend what he doesn't have. I haven't got a problem with that personally, it makes sense to me.

We are trying to show ambition as a club in a number of ways other than just paying huge prices for players, I know for a lot of people it's a disgrace to have not bought a player or two in the last windows but I am comfortable with the bigger picture here.
 

Fredo

Realist
Jun 8, 2018
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Astonishing how we are one game away from a very achieveable final but we are gambling with it because we are too tight in the market. Not confident away from home against them without Kane Son Alli..
 
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Deleted member 27995

Astonishing how we are one game away from a very achieveable final but we are gambling with it because we are too tight in the market. Not confident away from home against them without Kane Son Alli..
Backs to the wall, siege mentality, them Vs us, never say die, blood and thunder, chicks dig scars night it is then.
 

vegassd

The ghost of Johnny Cash
Aug 5, 2006
3,356
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I agree with all of this, however I think it's fair to say the last piece of the puzzle right now is a couple of real quality additions to pull us over the edge.
Totally. I think that we need maybe four more impactful players actually, and I think those players are going to be ones that likely stretch/break the spending model we have had to this point.

What's crazy is that having Poch and Levy seemingly on the same page is both heartwarming and terrifying at the same time! I love the idea of not buying players just for the sake of it but that risks leaving holes in our squad whilst we wait for those "correct" players to become available. I'm personally happy with short-term pain for long-term gain but can totally understand fans who aren't.

The most comforting factor I find is that by most accounts Poch has very good relationships throughout the club and as such has a lot of control of what goes on. I'm happy to trust the board with their long-term plans, partly because of past improvements and partly because Poch appears to believe in that plan as well. His incredible success on the pitch has got us ahead of schedule so it's natural for us fans to start hopping about with anticipation, but I'm not sure that breaking the plan early would be beneficial in the long run... especially while there is still uncertainty about the stadium opening date.
 

allatsea

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Aug 31, 2012
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Astonishing how we are one game away from a very achieveable final but we are gambling with it because we are too tight in the market. Not confident away from home against them without Kane Son Alli..

Don't understand this argument. If Liverpool lost through injury etc Salah, Firmino and Mane they would be struggling as well perhaps even more than us. They have no adequate replacements for those three. We have to just struggle through and do our best. There are other areas of the team that need strengthening before we start panicking trying to find temporary cover for Kane, Son and Alli.
 

hakano

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Apr 26, 2005
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Don't understand this argument. If Liverpool lost through injury etc Salah, Firmino and Mane they would be struggling as well perhaps even more than us. They have no adequate replacements for those three. We have to just struggle through and do our best. There are other areas of the team that need strengthening before we start panicking trying to find temporary cover for Kane, Son and Alli.

Totally agree. CM and FB's need reinforcing more than anywhere else on the pitch. Son will be back in a week or two. Kane latest in 6 weeks. By the time you get someone in and they are up and ready the injured will be back. We are short of quality however in CM first and then FB regardless of injuries and in my opinion easily improved.
 

Fredo

Realist
Jun 8, 2018
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Don't understand this argument. If Liverpool lost through injury etc Salah, Firmino and Mane they would be struggling as well perhaps even more than us. They have no adequate replacements for those three. We have to just struggle through and do our best. There are other areas of the team that need strengthening before we start panicking trying to find temporary cover for Kane, Son and Alli.
Well thats the point isn't it, IF liverpool lost them. They haven't. In this situation it is mostly about luck however we could of avoided this if reinforcements were brought in in the summer. Therefore e.g., we play Sissoko less, so less chance of getting an injury related to overworking.

I know there's the argument of 'we wouldn't of seen the real sissoko then' but sorry we're becoming a real big club now that shouldn't rely on a certain player to be fit all the time and magically become world class.
 

allatsea

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
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Well thats the point isn't it, IF liverpool lost them. They haven't. In this situation it is mostly about luck however we could of avoided this if reinforcements were brought in in the summer. Therefore e.g., we play Sissoko less, so less chance of getting an injury related to overworking.

I know there's the argument of 'we wouldn't of seen the real sissoko then' but sorry we're becoming a real big club now that shouldn't rely on a certain player to be fit all the time and magically become world class.
Mixing two arguments I feel. Liverpool spent a lot of money in the Summer Transfer Window but they didn't spend it on replacements for Mane, Salah or Firmino so were they wrong ? Luckily for them so far those three have stayed fit. But would you be criticising them if they had got injured etc like our three ?
 

Legacy

SC Supporter
Mar 29, 2007
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Well thats the point isn't it, IF liverpool lost them. They haven't. In this situation it is mostly about luck however we could of avoided this if reinforcements were brought in in the summer. Therefore e.g., we play Sissoko less, so less chance of getting an injury related to overworking.

I know there's the argument of 'we wouldn't of seen the real sissoko then' but sorry we're becoming a real big club now that shouldn't rely on a certain player to be fit all the time and magically become world class.
We have reinforcements in Lucas and Lamela. Both of whom started the season in great form.

How many central midfielders do you think we need? We started the season with Dembele, Dier, Wanyama, Winks and Sissoko competing for 2 positions. Are we supposed to spend big money on a sixth central midfielder in case 4 out of 5 current midfielders get injured?

And you're also forgetting the point that we already have too many players on the books as it is. Are you recommending that we spend big money on more players and leaving more players unregistered from the squad?
 

Colonel Dax

Well-Known Member
Jul 24, 2008
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How many central midfielders do you think we need? We started the season with Dembele, Dier, Wanyama, Winks and Sissoko competing for 2 positions. Are we supposed to spend big money on a sixth central midfielder in case 4 out of 5 current midfielders get injured?

We knew about Wanyama and Dembele's injury and fitness issues before the season started. We've just sold Dembele and Wanyama is currently injured (again).

We can't feign surprise now - our problems in central midfield have existed for some time.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,337
329,029
Astonishing how we are one game away from a very achieveable final but we are gambling with it because we are too tight in the market. Not confident away from home against them without Kane Son Alli..
It's fuck all to do with being tight. There have been plenty of times in the past where Levy could be solely blamed for us missing out on targets, but now we are not signing players because he is backing the manager. Levy copping all the blame because either we can't afford to spend £80mil on individual players or because they would rather go elsewhere is why we haven't brought anyone in. I have said it before Poch has become very AVB like with his wishlist and doesn't want to consider others. That of course is his perogative, it's his job on the line at the end of the day and he's earned the right imo to say who he does/doesn't want.

To say though it's all because we are being too tight is plain wrong though, on this occasion at least.
 

Fredo

Realist
Jun 8, 2018
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It's fuck all to do with being tight. There have been plenty of times in the past where Levy could be solely blamed for us missing out on targets, but now we are not signing players because he is backing the manager. Levy copping all the blame because either we can't afford to spend £80mil on individual players or because they would rather go elsewhere is why we haven't brought anyone in. I have said it before Poch has become very AVB like with his wishlist and doesn't want to consider others. That of course is his perogative, it's his job on the line at the end of the day and he's earned the right imo to say who he does/doesn't want.

To say though it's all because we are being too tight is plain wrong though, on this occasion at least.
I love Poch but if this is the case then he has to have a look at himself, as well as the whole recruitment staff. It's already been spoken about but maybe he needs to be less picky with his targets because if he is as great of a coach we all think he is, surely there are exciting players out there that can improve our team, that he'd also be happy to work with.
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
We knew about Wanyama and Dembele's injury and fitness issues before the season started. We've just sold Dembele and Wanyama is currently injured (again).

We can't feign surprise now - our problems in central midfield have existed for some time.

Dembele has had issues for a few seasons, but has still been a big part of our progress. we didn't sell him in the summer, and felt if managed correctly like we have previously then we could cope.

Wanyama was a worry at the start so not a lot of hope someone putting in an offer. I'm sure if 1 of our targets did want to join us, he would of been omitted from the 1st team squad

we wanted to sell Sissoko, now we are pissed off he is injured.

after our preseason I believe Poch had high hopes Amos could step up, unfortunately injured early on.

the signing of a new CM wouldn't of taken the pressure off. they wouldn't be cover for our 2 injuries up top, or Son, and would of meant Sissoko wouldn't of been so important, or no guarantee a new CM might be out injured or managed to settle
 
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