Why We Need A Squad Rebuild: Minutes Played Since 2015

[JKendall13]

It's no secret that during the Pochettino era we had thin but wonderful squad, having looked back at minutes played and qualitative value since the 2015/2016 season (the year we got rid of a lot of weird deadwood), it appears to me there were only 19 players that "mattered" during the Pochettino era. They are as follows sorted from top to bottom by league minutes played from 2015-present with current age and year acquired in parenthesis.

In 2015/16, the group of players below played 91% of the available league minutes, 2016/17 was 97%, 2017/18 was 95%, 2018/2019 was 93%.

(Key: Red-Left the Club; Blue- Over 30; Green-Linked to leaving soon; Yellow- Serious Injury Concerns).

1. Kane (26) (Academy)
2. Eriksen (27) (2013)
3. Lloris (33) (2012)
4. Alderweireld (30) (2015)
5. Vertonghen (32) (2012)
6. Dele (23) (2015)
7. Dier (25) (2014)
8. Son (27) (2015)
9. Davies (26) (2014)
10. Rose (29) (2009)
11. Sissoko (30) (2016)
12. Dembele (2012)
13. Sanchez (23) (2017)
14. Walker (2009)
15. Trippier (2015)
16. Lamela (27) (2018)
17. Wanyama (29) (2016)
18. Winks (23) (Academy)
19. Moura (27) (2018)

You look at all the color on there and it doesn't paint a pretty picture.

This season it is still 85% and the biggest reason it is lower is because of Serge Aurier, excluding Aurier it is 91%. This group of players did incredible things for us, 4 straight UCL qualifications, title chases, the UCL final, and the best football of my life. But you look at that list now and due to aging, departures, decline, and injuries they simply cannot be playing anywhere close to 85% of our available minutes.

Pochettino was right this summer when he said we need a full rebuild, the teams that he took us to those heights were withering and Levy didn't believe it. He brought Mourinho in to get the best of what we had in the side and it has been a rude awakening. Considering Eriksen, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier, Wanyama, Lamela might not be on the team next season in addition to the previous departures of Dembele, Walker, and Trippier we're looking at replacing 42% of our minutes played over the last 5 years. Plus another 30% (Lloris, Toby, Davies, Kane, Sissoko) falls in the over 30/injury problems category.

That is a rebuild, full stop. The club needs to start behaving as such rather than pining for lost quality. Ndombele, Lo Celso, Sess, and the academy lads are a good start but this is a steep hill to climb and should be treated as such.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Well duh

 

[JKendall13]

Well duh

Hahah yeah, I don’t claim this is a new idea. Was just trying to provide some analytical/historical backing for how bad things have gotten.

 

[dtxspurs]

The starting lineups from 16/17 to now are the ones that make it so painfully obvious.

 

[double0]

Thanks for your efforts. Pochettinho knew it, I totally agreed, many people knew it. I bet Levy deep down also knew it but thought hey may be I can save money with Mourinho.

 

[WePlayWednesday]

Thanks for your efforts. Pochettinho knew it, I totally agreed, many people knew it. I bet Levy deep down also knew it but thought hey may be I can save money with Mourinho.

I agree, Poch knew. I think Levy wanted to spend through a more proven manager, to get better value for money. That more than saving money, as Jose always spends, and some of Poch’s signings and tactical choices weren’t all that. Aurier? Our formations at the start of the season?

 

[Monkey Bastard Hands]

Thanks @JKendall13 this is interesting.

Although we've all known for a while that we needed to freshen things up, it's very interesting to see it from a statistical point of view like this. I was sad when Poch left and this makes it even more difficult to swallow - the facts are in front of us, Poch knew it was time to rebuild and he said it a number of times, but we didn't do it. I'm not saying that Poch was blameless as his stubbornness and frame of mind throughout most of 2019 clearly wasn't right, but it's frustrating that we could have come on leaps and bounds had we made some shrewd moves in 2017 and 2018, potentially fighting Liverpool at the top of the league, but instead we find ourselves stagnating and arguably going backwards now, facing potentially some panic buys to keep us where we should be.

 

[double0]

I agree, Poch knew. I think Levy wanted to spend through a more proven manager, to get better value for money. That more than saving money, as Jose always spends, and some of Poch’s signings and tactical choices weren’t all that. Aurier? Our formations at the start of the season?

Pochettinho wanted Pereira but Levy wanted a better deal