The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[Tucker]

Ok, guess we will have to agree to disagree on that one.

Mhm.

Llorente is what he is. He’s certainly not Harry Kane for starters.

Not sure what more you’d reasonably like him to do given his limitations.

 

[jonnyp]

Mhm.

Llorente is what he is. He’s certainly not Harry Kane for starters.

Not sure what more you’d reasonably like him to do given his limitations.

I do not disagree with you on that point and i do not blame llorente for being what he is. We knew that before he was even a Spurs player. Still does not mean I think he had a good game.

 

[archiewasking]

Mhm.

Llorente is what he is. He’s certainly not Harry Kane for starters.

Not sure what more you’d reasonably like him to do given his limitations.

Move around more? Make himself more of a nuisance?

 

[spursfan77]

We looked woefully under prepared for this game tonight. Surely Poch won’t be making the same mistakes in the second leg?

 

[JCRD]

We looked woefully under prepared for this game tonight. Surely Poch won’t be making the same mistakes in the second leg?

I thinm the starting formation was wrong but instantly looked better when Rose went into midfield and had four at the back

I wouldn't say we were under prepared but Ajax looked far fresher... We looked nervy

We will hammer them in Dam. 2 1

 

[Yid121]

5 at the back against this type of team. Jesus. Saw it coming as soon as the starting XI was released. At least he changed it at the 30 min mark and credit for that but he got it very wrong as we were then playing catch up with a thread bare team already so it ultimately cost us.

Makes me wonder when it's so obvious you don't pay 5 at the back against a ball playing team. Simple logic

 

[SpartanSpur]

Feel for Poch. Fair play for admitting he messed up with the early tactics but he was almost railroaded into them.

This is like some hardcore football manager scenario. Look at our bench tonight FFS.

Had Sissoko been ok to start he might have played the 3, but obviously it was just too soon.

He can't really trust our FBs against dangerous attackers, and keeping a clean sheet was key so he erred on the side of caution, aided by the fact its the only area with depth currently.

He couldn't play Dele deep as Son was suspended and Lamela and Kane are injured.

Imagine getting to this dream tie and have to bodge it. He's spent the whole season putting out fires and patching up holes. Such a shame.

I'm glad we still have a chance. Hopefully one huge peformance for Weds and we make it. Kane and Winks back for the final. He deserves that bit of luck.

 

[SpartanSpur]

5 at the back against this type of team. Jesus. Saw it coming as soon as the starting XI was released. At least he changed it at the 30 min mark and credit for that but he got it very wrong as we were then playing catch up with a thread bare team already so it ultimately cost us.

Makes me wonder when it's so obvious you don't pay 5 at the back against a ball playing team. Simple logic

Problem is we tried that against City away playing a diamond and they absolutely destroyed us getting one on one with our full backs. He probably looked at Neres and Ziyech and thought the same could happen. He's lost the trust he had a couple of seasons back.

Plus when you consider the lack of squad he had to choose from it was almost forcing him that way. His options for midfield are probably either 2 DMs with Skipp or Dier alongside Wanyama which may invite just as much pressure or playing Danny Rose in midfield. Not the best options for a CL semi final. He couldn't play anyone else deeper as he had our whole fit attacking contingent already on the pitch!

Had Sissoko been fit to start I think he goes with a back 4. No such luck.

IMO it wasn't just the formation either, it was the personnel and application too. Some of our best CL wins over the last couple of years came with this formation. Players were hiding in that first 20, Eriksen basically admitted it.

 

[Krule]

Problem is we tried that against City away playing a diamond and they absolutely destroyed us getting one on one with our full backs. He probably looked at Neres and Ziyech and thought the same could happen. He's lost the trust he had a couple of seasons back.

Plus when you consider the lack of squad he had to choose from it was almost forcing him that way. His options for midfield are probably either 2 DMs with Skipp or Dier alongside Wanyama which may invite just as much pressure or playing Danny Rose in midfield. Not the best options for a CL semi final. He couldn't play anyone else deeper as he had our whole fit attacking contingent already on the pitch!

Had Sissoko been fit to start I think he goes with a back 4. No such luck.

IMO it wasn't just the formation either, it was the personnel and application too. Some of our best CL wins over the last couple of years came with this formation. Players were hiding in that first 20, Eriksen basically admitted it.

Let's be fair when players like Alli and Eriksen don't turn up and the final crosses from Rose and Trippier break your heart, then Llorente just stands there like a giant Redwood waiting for the ball to deflect off him into the goal...it doesn't matter one bit which formation you play. Very disappointing but the fact they let us out of jail free gives me positive hope for next week.

 

[SugarRay]

You can’t polish a turd but you can throw glitter on it.

Poch threw glitter on it tonight. Semi final champions league and chasing the game at home.

We bring on Ben Davies & Juan Foyth.rhats without getting into certain players ( Eriksen and Dele ) absolutely shitting it and disappearing up their on arses.

Poch trying mission impossible

Thing is, honestly, this Ajax team aren’t anything special at all

 

[onthetwo]

You can’t polish a turd but you can throw glitter on it.

Poch threw glitter on it tonight. Semi final champions league and chasing the game at home.

We bring on Ben Davies & Juan Foyth.rhats without getting into certain players ( Eriksen and Dele ) absolutely shitting it and disappearing up their on arses.

Poch trying mission impossible

Thing is, honestly, this Ajax team aren’t anything special at all

totally agree - when i think about our squad going into these huge games im reminded of the Bill Connolly sketch about the Swiss Army going into battle wielding the blade for getting stones of horses hooves!

 

[blackburn]

I love Poch, how he's got us to CL semi and 3rd in the league with so many bang average players is nothing short of a miracle. Imagine what he could do with a few more proper players.

We'll find out soon enough if Levy doesn't back him.

 

[greaves]

We'll find out soon enough if Levy doesn't back him.

And, presumably, if he does...

 

[blackburn]

And, presumably, if he does...

Big if isn't it? Poch clearly loves Spurs, not sure if Levy is prepared to take the next step. If not that's fair enough this is as good as its been for decades but Poch can't continue making silk purses out of sow's ears.

 

[SteveH]

Pochettino knows we where set up wrong at the start. Rose was once again outnumbered on his side. Which lead to the goal.

On Levy backing Poch, I’m not sure Levy will have a ‘choice’ as the finances will dictate the transfer situation.

 

[ohtottenham!]

You can’t polish a turd but you can throw glitter on it.

Poch threw glitter on it tonight. Semi final champions league and chasing the game at home.

We bring on Ben Davies & Juan Foyth.rhats without getting into certain players ( Eriksen and Dele ) absolutely shitting it and disappearing up their on arses.

Poch trying mission impossible

Thing is, honestly, this Ajax team aren’t anything special at all

Agreed with your post re our squad options, a glaring problem; but Eriksen and Alli weren't shitting it IMO. Neither had good games, but both were also trying to cover for our CM problems. Wanyama was a worry, and then we had Llorente up front, and we really had very little threat going forward.

 

[SteveH]

Big if isn't it? Poch clearly loves Spurs, not sure if Levy is prepared to take the next step. If not that's fair enough this is as good as its been for decades but Poch can't continue making silk purses out of sow's ears.

Agree!
But Poch must stop getting the initial setup in games wrong. He has become a serial offender of late.

I don’t also think Levy has the luxury of being “prepared” or not to take “the next step”.
The finances call the shots no the Levy.

 

[rossdapep]

Big if isn't it? Poch clearly loves Spurs, not sure if Levy is prepared to take the next step. If not that's fair enough this is as good as its been for decades but Poch can't continue making silk purses out of sow's ears.

Whilst we all know what Levy is like we do need to take into account that the likes of Janssen, Aurier and Nkoudou were Poch signings, so we can blame levy for many things but if Poch can't identify the right player or is only interested in the De Jongs/ De Ligts we will keep having this issue of having a light squad that can burn out.

 

[Tucker]

Move around more? Make himself more of a nuisance?

You’re expecting him to do something that he probably just can’t do anymore. Especially over 90 minutes.

Anyway, all that talk is likely better off in the Llorente thread.

I understand people excusing the starting formation because of fitness to our midfielders. But he changed it to a four before he was forced to bring Sissoko on. He could and should have started with four at the back.

All our injuries and fitness issues are a massive drawback, but he was not forced to play a three, which has generally been very iffy.

 

[Metalhead]

Big if isn't it? Poch clearly loves Spurs, not sure if Levy is prepared to take the next step. If not that's fair enough this is as good as its been for decades but Poch can't continue making silk purses out of sow's ears.

I agree. OK, admittedly Poch is not perfect and he was honest enough to admit that the initial formation last night didn't work but on the other hand, would another manager have achieved so much with the resources available?