The Poch has been confirmed as manager thread!

[spurs9]

We have 2 potentially world class players with Eriksen and Lamela and a quality striker in Soldado. Its up to Poch to adapt his style to them instead of trying to buy a Lambert type or Rodriguez type player.

The Rodriguez type would be in addition to Eriksen & Lamela, so it would be Lennon & Townsend making way and I stated in my initial post that I though our current attack was good enough (though if Ade does leave, I would love Lukaku to replace him).

 

[Partizan]

A few managers talking about Pochettino:

Spoiler

Mourinho:
"Espanyol are a very good team, with an attractive philosophy that I really like. I can only say positive things about them.
We know they are a team that competes well without a large budget, playing good football thanks to a manager with very clear ideas in his head, without a doubt. His team's profile is fantastic.
"His management style is great. He builds players up. When Callejon speaks about him, he only has nice things to say."

Bielsa:
"I have a deep admiration for him on a personal and sporting level. I really respect him. I believe he is a great coach."

Guardiola:
"There are teams that wait for you and teams that look for you: Espanyol look for you. They play very well with and without the ball. I feel very close to their style of football," said Pep Guardiola.
He's an extremely qualified coach, and you could tell there's a lot of work behind his teams. He's one of the best in La Liga, when you see him work you learn things.

Pellegrini:
Pre-match conference before City v Saints: “Pochettino is a great manager and someone who I know very well. I’m sure he is going to play with a strong team."

Hoddle:
"I think Pochettino is a super young manager," he told talkSPORT.
"He has done a brilliant job at Southampton and I think he would be a very good acquisition for Tottenham.
"I've been very impressed with the way he's had Southampton playing this year and I think, with the squad at Tottenham, he could do real wonders there."

Southampton players' comments. Most of them recent:

Spoiler

Lambert:
“He’s massively important and I think for Southampton to carry on going the way they have been going in the last few years he has to be in charge next season"

Lallana:
"I think he’s one of the best managers out there and I’ve got a lot of respect for him and for what he’s done for me and Southampton as a club.
Without a combination of things we wouldn’t have had the season we’ve had and he’s certainly a big factor in that.”

Jack Cork:
"Hopefully this mission we are on keeps going. It's vital Mauricio Pochettino stays next season and we keep this thing going. He's been fantastic for us. He talks to us every day and gives us the confidence to play."

Lovren:
He gives us a lot of advice, he's an intelligent man so we follow his instructions," the defender said. "We keep the line very high, I've never played like this before and it's a level with risk. But we're doing a good job.
"Our philosophy is to get the ball back very quickly when we lose it. I think you saw that against Fulham, we lost the ball in the first half and they didn't have a chance to do anything. I think it was amazing, this was the best game we've played.
"For now, everything is perfect but we still want to improve each day. I'm very proud of the team, we're young and we've already shown the character."

Schneiderlin:
"The chairman and Mauricio Pochettino are a big part of this club. They are selling the project to us and that's why I signed a new contract, as well as other players doing the same."

Rodriguez:
“Pochettino is unbelievable. Anyone will say what a great manager he is and what a good guy he is, to see how well he’s done with the football we’re playing.

“He’s worked us hard and we’ve seen the benefits from it, so I think he’s a great manager and I love playing for him.”

Ward-Prowse:
"It would be a major blow to lose him - all the players love him.
"He has played me out of position on the right, so I've had to adapt. I've had to work on my game going forward - an area I needed to improve.
"Having done that, he has added another string to my bow. I feel I can now play in a number of different positions but he has not only helped me technically, he's helped me physically.
"I'm the fittest I've ever been in terms of the running he makes us do. We do two or three gym sessions a week that involve a lot of running and running with resistance.
"He demands a lot from us, and it is hard work, but it has been proved to work. None of us want to see him go. He is a fantastic manager and he has done really well."

Osvaldo:
On Pochettino's gruelling training: "At times you want to kill him because he makes you suffer like a dog. But you get the results"

Boruc:
You can see that we've improved, we're playing very good football and it's enjoyable to see us play," said Boruc.
"That reward should easily be in the minds of the board and I think sooner or later it's going to happen.
"I think it [a new contract for Pochettino] would be the sign of a stable club so you know, he's done lots of good things for this football club, and that's how it should be looked at."

Jose Fonte:
On the importance of Pochettino getting contract extension: "I think it's massive," the Portuguese defender said. "It's one of the main things. We players love to play under him, we love his philosophy, his style of play, and the way he manages is top.
"He is definitely one of the best managers that I have played under.
"So we look forward to him signing a big, long contract so we can relax and enjoy our time with him."

Chambers:
"The manager believes in the young players and thankfully for us, they are giving us opportunities. I think we're good enough to do it, and if we can play the way we can, there's nothing stopping us."

 

[spurs9]

Schneiderlin is going to be gutted he signed a new contract considering the 2 people selling the project to him have both gone (well 1 gone and 1 on the verge).

 

[spurs9]

Some comparison stats for you. BTW, "Shot Difference" is the difference between the number of shots they made Vs what they conceded.

Also, to put the goals scored & conceded into perspective, our best season under HR, we scored 67 & conceded 41. Not much difference between that and Poch's when you consider the difference between squads.

 

[Davo99]

I think we'll be going in for Dejan Lovren.

 

[jambreck]

I must be the only one not overly worried about energy levels under Doctor Poch, alot of teams will park the bus against us, so that high pressing game he uses at Soton will be used less as we'd have the majority of possession, unlike Soton who weren't given that benefit.

Actually, Saints enjoyed more possession on average than any other Premier League team last season.

 

[tommyt]

No Gilet?

 

[jambreck]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2014/05/27/4808252/-?

I'm particularly encouraged by what the article says about Southampton's mentality under MoPo. EXACTLY what we need:

.......It also gives an important indication as to the psychology Pochettino wants to instil in his side. They never fear opponents, never go into matches feeling inferior and always look to impose themselves.

......"He's given us a belief that no matter who the team is in front of us, whether it's Manchester City or a lower-league team, we can go out and beat them," says James Ward-Prowse. That willingness to try to dominate loftier, supposedly superior opposition is exactly the type of mentality Spurs need if they are to claim a Champions League berth.

 

[makeveli]

My pal is Spain reckons thee espanyol team was just like the athletico one this season but more attacking, he says the guy is a fantastic coach and builds great relationships with fans and players, I was skeptical but now a lot more optimistic, I'll be backing poch from the off COYS . 66/1 is worth £50 cash out later in the season

 

[pablo73]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2014/05/27/4808252/-?

I'm particularly encouraged by what the article says about Southampton's mentality under MoPo. EXACTLY what we need:

Great article, this bit is particularly pertinent IMO:

and the decision to hire Pochettino has unquestionably been influenced by the successes of Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Martinez on Merseyside after they had been overlooked for the Spurs post previously.

 

[sak11]

Cracking post.

Your last sentence is key. We have had two years of utter dross and I for one have not enjoyed watching us play. Yes I want us to be successful but the reason I support spurs and look forward to watching us is for the entertainment provided. I have not enjoyed watching us at all on recent times.
I think that is the thinking behind poch and his playing style which are truer to spurs traditions.
And I am an FDB fan!

 

[Drexl]

Hope Poch goes for Lambert

Getting on in years but never stops trying and has an eye for goal, can be sure of 100% effort per game unlike Adebayor

 

[Jimmypearce7]

Just looking at our squad and how it might fit in to how Poch had Southampton playing and the first thing that is obvious is how much we need to trim the squad, especially if we want to promote youngsters.

First of all though, the Europe league. Poch didn't have to cope with this extra competition and has been quoted that he thinks it is a waste of time, but it is an extra CL place this year. Also, with the size of out squad (even with a huge trim) there is no reason why we can't play a completely different team in the group stages. Outside of the group stages, there are a total of 9 extra games to deal with if we make the final (this season we only had 4).

Southampton usually play 4-2-3-1.

Strikers - Ade probably fits the best to play as Lambert did, but I think teams would be set up differently Vs us and we will face more "parked busses" than Southampton did, so I think movement & intelligence are just as important. I think we will be fine with Ade (though rumors are he will leave), Soldado & Kane.

Midfield & wide players - Southampton had 4 players that played several positions in most matches in the 3 behind the striker. Rodriquez played LW & SC, Lallana played RW, LW & AMC, Davis played AMC, CM& RW, and Ware-Prowse played RW, CM and on the very odd occasion LW.

In the 2 CM positions, he usually had 2 of Cork, Schneiderlin & Wanyama (with Davis also playing there on occasion). These are 2 defensive CM players but, I think we would benefit from having one DM and one CM who could, though isn't defensive, could help out with closing down etc.

I think there are 4 players that stand out as not a great fit straight away.

Lennon - won't take his man on anymore, low intelligence in finals 1/3 and poor end product. I think we will try and sell him.
Townsend - Likes to run from deep rather than off the shoulder and lack of scoring ability means he is no good for the Rodriguez role. Lack of intelligence & end product mean he is not a good choice for the other 2 roles either.
Siggy - I'm probably being harsh on siggy (with the size of our squad I think we have to be), but I just don't think he has enough creativity & guile about him to fit any of the 3 behind the striker.
Dembele - Poch like to play with high tempo passing and for me, he holds onto the ball for too long. Maybe it can be trained out of him (and if it can, he could turn into a great player under Poch).

For the AMC and wide play maker role (Davis, Lallana & Ward-Prowse) we have Eriksen, Lamela, Chadli & Holby. I think this is enough considering we have Pritchard & Ceballos waiting in the wings.

I don't think we have an ideal player for the Rodriquez role, I think Lamela & Chadli could do a good job there, but we need an option with pace. We have been linked with Batshuayi, is he a similar type of player to Rodrigiez? If so, he could be an ideal signing.

For the DMC we have Sandro & Capoue, so we are spoilt for choice there and we have Veljkovic coming through the ranks.

For CM, I think Paulinho could do a job here, he has shown for Brazil that he can aid his defensive partner and he also makes runs forwards creating space and getting into good positions. I really think Poch will turn him into the player we know he can be. If Poch can teach Dembele to not keep hold of the ball so ofthen and play quick passes, he would be amazing here. We also have Holtby who can play here and Carroll & Bentelab to share some game time.


Defense & GK - I have board myself now and can't even be bothered to do defense (which we all needs upgrading) and GK (which is more than fine), so I will just say, we need to buy a 1st choice LB, CB and if Rose isn't happy being back up, a home grown sub LB too.

To Summarise I think our squad should be:

Ade, Soldado & Kane
New Wing Fwd,Chadli, Eriksen, Holtby, Lamela, Pritchard & Ceballos
Sandro, Capoue, Paulinho, Maybe Dembele, Carroll, Bentaleb & Veljkovic
New LB, Rose or new back up HG LB, Fryers
Walker, Naughton, Fredericks
Verts, New CB, Kaboul, Chiriches & Dawson
Lloris Freidel & Archer

Non HG players - 17 (assuming all new comers aren't HG)
HG Players - 7
U21 Players -6

So we would have enough space in the squad for 1 more HG player over 21.

Buy -
Wing Fwd (Batshuayi, does Kono score enough?)
LB (Rodriquez?)
CB (Schar, Lovren?)
Maybe a back up HG LB (Davies?)

Sell -
Siggy
Livermore
Falque
Lennon
Townsend
BAE
Khumalo

You would keep Chadli and sell Townsend!?

 

[Drexl]

Chadli is worth keeping, has an eye for goal, handy squad player

Townsend is fucking useless, a show pony with no end product, get rid

 

[Jimmypearce7]

I realise i am the only Spurs fan who thinks Townsend is one of our best players. He is skilful and dangerous. Chadli is bang average.
If you were a defender, who would you rather play against?
I would like to see a fast forward line next year, with Townsend, Lamela and say Lukaku, in front of Eriksson and Sandro and Dembele.

 

[sak11]

according to the Telegraph its going to be Poch. The same article says UTD will buy Luke Shaw for 27 million. Dear me, 27 million pounds for an 18 year old left back. Can this be right?

To be honest I'm more surprised that David "Nintendo" Luis is worth 50 million. Ridiculous.

 

[Shadydan]

Playstation

 

[Metalhead]

Chadli is worth keeping, has an eye for goal, handy squad player

Townsend is fucking useless, a show pony with no end product, get rid

I wouldn't mind us keeping both. I think that Chadli deserves another season under a new coach to see whether he can up his game. Townsend has shown that he can be a very decent player and it would be nice to see whether he can flourish under Pochettino's attacking style.

 

[Drexl]

I wouldn't mind us keeping both. I think that Chadli deserves another season under a new coach to see whether he can up his game. Townsend has shown that he can be a very decent player and it would be nice to see whether he can flourish under Pochettino's attacking style.

Townsend has talent and pace but like Lennon he is just not bright enough to utilise it, it is not something that can be coached out of him, Townsend either runs into areas where he can do nothing or hits and hopes from 25 yards trying to play the hero, i dont think it can be coached out of him

Chadli i would certainly not have as a starter but i think he would be useful for Europa games and to have on the bench

 

[sak11]

Townsend has talent and pace but like Lennon he is just not bright enough to utilise it, it is not something that can be coached out of him, Townsend either runs into areas where he can do nothing or hits and hopes from 25 yards trying to play the hero, i dont think it can be coached out of him

Chadli i would certainly not have as a starter but i think he would be useful for Europa games and to have on the bench

Everyone outside of spurs rates Townsend - amazing isn't it? Townsend has the raw attributes but needs to be coached better. If he can develop his decision making and final ball then he would be very dangerous. As you mention, at present he puts his head down, runs, and shoots into row z.