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Vertonghen and why his repeated 'clashes' with Pochettino at Spurs are no bad thing

Everlasting Seconds

Well-Known Member
Jan 9, 2014
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Wait, what? I though fans consensus was that everything Pochettino says to the press is always a word by word literal representation of the situation, and that his words never hide controversies or carry any hidden meaning.

There is not starting Vertonghen, and there is not having him in the matchday squad. In the case of the latter, of course that is controversial.
 

ginola007

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
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Against Aston Villa, Poch used Sanchez at the left side of the central defence, which I don't recall I had seen before. Sanchez either played on the right side of a back 4 or sometimes central in the back 5. So it was interesting for us to watch and an education for Sanchez. As usual, Poch got it absolutely right. I've absolutely no doubt Vert will be restored against MC on Saturday.
 

davidmatzdorf

Front Page Gadfly
Jun 7, 2004
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The quotations from Pochettino in that article have been assembled from things he has said over a long period, perhaps a year. Most of them are not from this week.
 

Gassin's finest

C'est diabolique
May 12, 2010
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87,816
Goodness, we rest a key player against the newly promoted side, ahead of a major clash against the champions. It's not rocket science.
 

double0

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2006
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I am of the reasoning that Sanchez should be first chioce anyway.

Just my humble opinion.
 

Johnny J

Not the Kiwi you need but the one you deserve
Aug 18, 2012
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Goodness, we rest a key player against the newly promoted side, ahead of a major clash against the champions. It's not rocket science.
He doesn't need resting, it's the first game of the season. Assuming he's fit, ofc.
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
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he could have still have been rested but be on the bench....

it wouldn't of been a rest if we had, had to use him though.

Jan only played 22 games last season due to injury, surely it's best he plays v Man C without any kind of knock, which could of happened if an injury occurred
 

Jules77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2008
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it wouldn't of been a rest if we had, had to use him though.

Jan only played 22 games last season due to injury, surely it's best he plays v Man C without any kind of knock, which could of happened if an injury occurred
He didn’t need a rest, it was the first game of the season ffs.
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
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He didn’t need a rest, it was the first game of the season ffs.

just because it was the 1st game, it doesn't mean you can't get injured. next season we might be losing both Jan and Toby, and games against Villa with Man C, Arse and Leicester around the corner means not having to play every player for every game.

be honest would you really be happy if Jan picked up a knock with the fixtures we have coming up?

edit: if he had played and got injured, so many in here would of said, why did we have to risk him v Villa
 

Cinemattis

Fully Functional Member
Aug 5, 2013
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Against Aston Villa, Poch used Sanchez at the left side of the central defence, which I don't recall I had seen before. Sanchez either played on the right side of a back 4 or sometimes central in the back 5. So it was interesting for us to watch and an education for Sanchez. As usual, Poch got it absolutely right. I've absolutely no doubt Vert will be restored against MC on Saturday.
Both in the World Cup last summer, and in the Copa America this summer, Sànches played on the left side of the central defense for Colombia. And have looked steady as a rock. But as you say: this is the first time/one of the first times we´ve seen him in this role for Spurs. For the future, with a possible pairing of Foyth and Sànchez, this might very well be his position for us long term.

It could be that Poch wanted Toby closer to the young KWP, and/or that he sees Toby´s long passes to be most effective when he plays on the right side of the central defense.
 
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Jules77

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Aug 13, 2008
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just because it was the 1st game, it doesn't mean you can't get injured. next season we might be losing both Jan and Toby, and games against Villa with Man C, Arse and Leicester around the corner means not having to play every player for every game.

be honest would you really be happy if Jan picked up a knock with the fixtures we have coming up?

edit: if he had played and got injured, so many in here would of said, why did we have to risk him v Villa
It still doesn’t explain why he wasn’t on the bench.

I don’t really get your logic, you could apply it to any player. If any player had got injured I’d have just been disappointed, I wouldn’t have thought they should have been rested. This was the first game, not a midweek league cup match against a 2nd div side.
 

Lighty64

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Aug 24, 2010
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It still doesn’t explain why he wasn’t on the bench.

I don’t really get your logic, you could apply it to any player. If any player had got injured I’d have just been disappointed, I wouldn’t have thought they should have been rested. This was the first game, not a midweek league cup match against a 2nd div side.

If Poch feels that with Jan’s history over the last 2-3 seasons means he has to rest him for a game to save him for a bigger match, then so be it.

As I said in my 1st response to you, if you want to keep a player fresh for the following week why put him on the bench. Putting him on the bench when you’ve no intention to use him is pointless. The club have all the physical stats at the training ground, they also see the players efforts, perhaps Jan let himself down and never did enough to be included.

The way some are commenting on this you would of thought we lost 3-1
 

Jules77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2008
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If Poch feels that with Jan’s history over the last 2-3 seasons means he has to rest him for a game to save him for a bigger match, then so be it.

As I said in my 1st response to you, if you want to keep a player fresh for the following week why put him on the bench. Putting him on the bench when you’ve no intention to use him is pointless. The club have all the physical stats at the training ground, they also see the players efforts, perhaps Jan let himself down and never did enough to be included.

The way some are commenting on this you would of thought we lost 3-1
I just disagree that you can’t rest people by having them on the bench. It happens all the time in cup games. It’s rest but with a backup for the team in case they’re needed. Jan could have been used as either CB or LB cover.
 
Apr 28, 2018
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But surely not at the expense of Jan, right?
Jan and Toby are different class to Sanchez, unfortunately ageing and slowing down.
whilst sanchez is still learning the game.He undoubtedly will be top class,but was bullied against Villa
and does get caught out of position.with hes pace and passing ability.I think Poch will use him behind Jan
or Toby so he can play them alternatively to save their legs.
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
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I just disagree that you can’t rest people by having them on the bench. It happens all the time in cup games. It’s rest but with a backup for the team in case they’re needed. Jan could have been used as either CB or LB cover.

Dier could of played CB. Aurier or KWP could of played LB, and if needed Wanyama can play as a CB, so think it's best we agree to disagree, with a fully fit Jan hopefully away to City. if he doesn't play then perhaps there is a problem deep down
 

Spurs 1961

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
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Dier could of played CB. Aurier or KWP could of played LB, and if needed Wanyama can play as a CB, so think it's best we agree to disagree, with a fully fit Jan hopefully away to City. if he doesn't play then perhaps there is a problem deep down

Yet all three mentioned have been sidelined for a while with injuries so it made no sense to me that they were all on the bench together. Unless it was as I mentioned before to put them all,in the shop window
 
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