arunspurs
Well-Known Member
- Aug 31, 2012
- 8,836
- 35,649
So ends the PL season 2019/20 - longest football season in every sense. CL final appearance seems like last years ago. Usually in a season where there are 2 managers, we review it pre & post new manager. This season is special - we got to review pre & post lockdown.
Pre-Lockdown :
Manager - Pochettino
Poch said we are in for a painful rebuild & it came true. Eriksen never left in summer. Toby was looked over. Game by game we just degraded. From 23Feb2019 to last Poch game, we got 25 points from 24 points - a near relegation form. I remember ,even Kane & Sonny stopped running in last couple of games. Lo Celso finally got his start and Poch sacked after the game.
It was not a case of Poch lost the dressing room...It was more of Club management lost Poch and Poch became disinterested and invariably reflected on team performance. In hindsight, everyone understood Poch frustration but at same time, agree that it was right decision to sack Poch
Manager - Mourinho
Looking Ahead
Fans got to be ready for functional team with predictable qualities - Defend as a team, minimum risk, minimum creativity - but more or less guaranteed result. I can certinly see us getting 2 points per game for the 38 game season - meaning a points tally minimum of 76 - which in most seasons guarentees top4. I do not expect anything less.
On trophy side, I certainly see a vigour & hunger in manager & player. Lets hope we can get into couple of semis/final and then Mourinho experience could help us lift the trophy.
Transfers :
Finally addressing the elephant in the room. This squad needs repair. Daniel Levy got to deliver. We cannot wait for sale to happen. Had we paid the money for Fernandes instead of waiting for Eriksen sale money to be available, we would be in top4 this season.
Time is running out for Kane & Son. I cannot see them hanging around for 2 more season. This is a make or break time. We need to spend and spend wiseless - not on Ndombele, Jack Clarke and Sessegnon and not playing any of them consistently.
This squad cannot function on a Winks-Sissoko partnership anymore. Aurier played all 33 games - no wonder we were dreadful defensively.
We need a starting RB, a starting Defensive midfielder, desperately need a no9 backup to Kane...then a CB.
If Jose is backed, I am convinced we will get top4 and may be a chance to get a trophy.
7 weeks to go...
Pre-Lockdown :
Manager - Pochettino
Poch said we are in for a painful rebuild & it came true. Eriksen never left in summer. Toby was looked over. Game by game we just degraded. From 23Feb2019 to last Poch game, we got 25 points from 24 points - a near relegation form. I remember ,even Kane & Sonny stopped running in last couple of games. Lo Celso finally got his start and Poch sacked after the game.
It was not a case of Poch lost the dressing room...It was more of Club management lost Poch and Poch became disinterested and invariably reflected on team performance. In hindsight, everyone understood Poch frustration but at same time, agree that it was right decision to sack Poch
Manager - Mourinho
- First 7 games we scored like 20+ goals all competition - but still leaked goals.
- Lloris, Lamela injured before he took over. Lo Celso just started 1 game. Ndombele not much
- First game started Davies at LB. Davies got injured.
- Then we go on a decent run of results for the first time in season. Dele gets back on some form.
- Son picks up a stupid red, which meant Harry is overplayed in Christmas period
- Kane picks up injury & surgery
- Next week, Sissoko picks up injury & surgery
- Eriksen out, Bergwijn in.
- Son gets injured.
- No Kane replacement in window...Out of CL, FA Cup in a week. Chelsea loss seals the deal on top4
- Players back from injury - Jose has mini preseason
- Played 9: 5Wins 3 Draw 1Loss. 18 pts. 4 cleansheet. 14 scored. 7 conceded
- 3 of the goals conceded from a soft pen & 2 super strikers. Defense improved finally
- Points per game - 2 after Dec 2018
- Players clearly playing for Jose with likes of Kane onside
- Dull football but results are coming...No crowd certainly helped
- After Sheffield loss, I gave up on EL. But surprisingly, team fought back and able to clinch EL place last day of season
Looking Ahead
Fans got to be ready for functional team with predictable qualities - Defend as a team, minimum risk, minimum creativity - but more or less guaranteed result. I can certinly see us getting 2 points per game for the 38 game season - meaning a points tally minimum of 76 - which in most seasons guarentees top4. I do not expect anything less.
On trophy side, I certainly see a vigour & hunger in manager & player. Lets hope we can get into couple of semis/final and then Mourinho experience could help us lift the trophy.
Transfers :
Finally addressing the elephant in the room. This squad needs repair. Daniel Levy got to deliver. We cannot wait for sale to happen. Had we paid the money for Fernandes instead of waiting for Eriksen sale money to be available, we would be in top4 this season.
Time is running out for Kane & Son. I cannot see them hanging around for 2 more season. This is a make or break time. We need to spend and spend wiseless - not on Ndombele, Jack Clarke and Sessegnon and not playing any of them consistently.
This squad cannot function on a Winks-Sissoko partnership anymore. Aurier played all 33 games - no wonder we were dreadful defensively.
We need a starting RB, a starting Defensive midfielder, desperately need a no9 backup to Kane...then a CB.
If Jose is backed, I am convinced we will get top4 and may be a chance to get a trophy.
7 weeks to go...
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