Mauricio Pochettino

[McFlash]

So ahead of the reunion I heard an interesting debate as to who has had the better season and who has the more reason to be optimistic going in to next season, spurs or Chelsea?
Chelsea got to a cup final and a semi final but their league position is terrible but the context is that they have had a fair few games where their XG was way higher than the team that they lost to, they’ve also had horrendous injuries pretty much all season. For spurs we had a near perfect start to the season but since then our form is mid table at best and the goals against column is shockingly bad. We’ve obviously had our fair share of injuries too but can’t really think of any game that we’ve lost and come away thinking wow we should have won that.

for me with all things considered I’d say that Chelsea have more reason to be optimistic going in to next season and I think in a couple of years time we’ll be lamenting Levy’s decision to overlook Poch in favour of Ange.

Blimey, this mindset is completely based off the last few weeks, not the entire season at all.

At the beginning of the season, most on here thought 6th would be a good season, with many predicting us to finish 8th.
With losing Kane, many opposition fans thought we'd struggle to finish top half.

But you seem to think that losing our best player, implementing a new style with half a new squad and still looking to finish 5th is worse than Chelsea?

Chelsea have spent an absolute fortune, very likely hamstringing themselves for a while in the market and apart from a recent upturn in form, have been terrible all season.

I know that love is blind but I thought the final embers of love for Poch had all but burnt out by now, yet here you are, still lamenting that we didn't get him back?!

I didn't want him back in the first place, because I've seen nothing since he left all those years ago to change my mind.

 

[thebenjamin]

Chelsea fans absolutely hate Poch

 

[Monkey boy]

Fucking hell.

not sure what’s so controversial in that post. Is it not right to say that if Chelsea had a better striker or not so many injuries that they’d have done a lot better this year? If they avoid the injuries next season then they will naturally become a lot stronger and therefore have alot of reason to be optimistic. It’s also not controversial to say that we can’t defend despite having a back 5 that all of us say can’t realistically be improved upon as it’s the style of play that Ange sets us up that causes most of our issues.

a lot of people have expressed concern that Ange inflexibility to tactics will lead to his downfall.

 

[Tucker]

not sure what’s so controversial in that post.

It’s utter bollocks.

We’ve had tonnes of injuries and disruption too. You don’t seem to want to factor our own mitigations into your thinking.

 

[Trix]

not sure what’s so controversial in that post. Is it not right to say that if Chelsea had a better striker or not so many injuries that they’d have done a lot better this year? If they avoid the injuries next season then they will naturally become a lot stronger and therefore have alot of reason to be optimistic. It’s also not controversial to say that we can’t defend despite having a back 5 that all of us say can’t realistically be improved upon as it’s the style of play that Ange sets us up that causes most of our issues.

a lot of people have expressed concern that Ange inflexibility to tactics will lead to his downfall.

Isn't that the same for every team? Remember Chelsea have spent gazillions compared to every other team you could make similar excuses for.

 

[easley91]

not sure what’s so controversial in that post. Is it not right to say that if Chelsea had a better striker or not so many injuries that they’d have done a lot better this year? If they avoid the injuries next season then they will naturally become a lot stronger and therefore have alot of reason to be optimistic. It’s also not controversial to say that we can’t defend despite having a back 5 that all of us say can’t realistically be improved upon as it’s the style of play that Ange sets us up that causes most of our issues.

a lot of people have expressed concern that Ange inflexibility to tactics will lead to his downfall.

And if we didn't have our injury crisis from the Chelsea game onwards we'd be in a better position. If United didn't have theirs they'd be in a better position. You could do it for pretty much every team up and down the country.

 

[McFlash]

not sure what’s so controversial in that post. Is it not right to say that if Chelsea had a better striker or not so many injuries that they’d have done a lot better this year? If they avoid the injuries next season then they will naturally become a lot stronger and therefore have alot of reason to be optimistic. It’s also not controversial to say that we can’t defend despite having a back 5 that all of us say can’t realistically be improved upon as it’s the style of play that Ange sets us up that causes most of our issues.

a lot of people have expressed concern that Ange inflexibility to tactics will lead to his downfall.

It can also be said that if we had a better striker and less injuries, we'd be doing a lot better...yet we're currently 5th, having spent a fraction of the money they have.

This is basically a convoluted way of having a moan about Ange and his tactics again, isn't it?

I would say that more signs point to us being vastly improved improved next season, than they do Chelsea.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

They’re a Cole Palmer injury away from a relegation battle next season

 

[Albertbarich]

So let me get this right. If they had a proper striker they would be amazing but our own manager who lost our greatest striker of all time days before the season starts doesn't get that excuse because he has the team scoring ?

They're in turmoil having spent a billion quid if you think the seasons are in any way comparable because they got a couple of cushty cup runs that's your own bias and impatience talking.

 

[Monkey boy]

It’s utter bollocks.

We’ve had tonnes of injuries and disruption too. You don’t seem to want to factor our own mitigations into your thinking.

I stated quite clearly that we have also had our injury issues. It’s my opinion that Poch is a better manager than Ange and therefore Chelsea have more reason to be optimistic. Just because you don’t agree with me doesn’t render my opinion as “utter bollocks”

 

[easley91]

It is all ifs, buts and maybes. But on the whole if you watch them they do tend to create chances, they just have nobody clinical enough bar Palmer to take them on a semi regular basis. If they get that striker and have better luck re injuries to Chilwell, James and the like then they should do well. They also need to replace Silva who is leaving though, and that won't be easy.

I know there have been plenty of bad results and performances throughout the season, yet I have watched a few games like the cup semi v City and I can see the positives. Poch is building a young squad and needs patience. I get the spent a billion pounds stuff, but it's still going to take time for them to find a groove with a young core. I do like Gusto, Madueke has shown glimpses and of course Palmer has been a shining light.

More negatives than positives for Chelsea, but I think they should stick with Poch.

 

[McFlash]

It’s my opinion that Poch is a better manager than Ange

What makes you think that?
I understand that he's had the higher profile jobs but that's mainly due to playing career and where he's come from, as opposed to Ange having to take the long route but I'm not sure it's easy to say who's the better manager.

Poch isn't particularly versatile tactics wise and he rarely seems to make game changing substitutions.

 

[Monkey boy]

What makes you think that?
I understand that he's had the higher profile jobs but that's mainly due to playing career and where he's come from, as opposed to Ange having to take the long route but I'm not sure it's easy to say who's the better manager.

Poch isn't particularly versatile tactics wise and he rarely seems to make game changing substitutions.

@easley91 has put it much better than I could in his post above. Chelsea have had games where they’ve created chance after chance but missed them and have looked far more solid defensively than us. Poch has also shown he adapts his tactics to different games even if it’s just a slight tweak whereas Ange plays the same way no matter who we play which in my opinion is a sure fire way to ensure that you won’t win anything of note because better teams will pick you apart time and time again. The element of surprise is sometimes enough to win you a game.

 

[RuskyM]

@easley91 has put it much better than I could in his post above. Chelsea have had games where they’ve created chance after chance but missed them and have looked far more solid defensively than us. Poch has also shown he adapts his tactics to different games even if it’s just a slight tweak whereas Ange plays the same way no matter who we play which in my opinion is a sure fire way to ensure that you won’t win anything of note because better teams will pick you apart time and time again. The element of surprise is sometimes enough to win you a game.

Right, but how does that square with the fact that Chelsea have won five games fewer, scored less goals, conceded more and are twelve points behind?

 

[allatsea]

They’re a Cole Palmer injury away from a relegation battle next season

Or an good striker away from challenging for a top 4 finish.

 

[aliyid]

I'll never understand the anti-Ange stuff at this point of the season and that's even without considering the state we were in when he took over, losing Kane, not getting a replacement, all the disruption and (admittedly lilywhite tinted) rough decisions going against us from officials ever since the Liverpool game.

If we'd had those 12 penalties Chelsea have been gifted through the season not only would we be comfortably in the top four but we'd probably have a shot at the title

 

[ItsBoris]

not sure what’s so controversial in that post. Is it not right to say that if Chelsea had a better striker or not so many injuries that they’d have done a lot better this year? If they avoid the injuries next season then they will naturally become a lot stronger and therefore have alot of reason to be optimistic. It’s also not controversial to say that we can’t defend despite having a back 5 that all of us say can’t realistically be improved upon as it’s the style of play that Ange sets us up that causes most of our issues.

a lot of people have expressed concern that Ange inflexibility to tactics will lead to his downfall.

Personally I think both managers are quite likely to do well given time. I can see in how Chelsea play the same qualities that our team under Poch had, albeit more raw. And like us Chelsea have had terrible injuries this season, but for more of the season I would say.

Just to put things in context, this season we're probably going to score more goals than we have in the last 5 or 6 seasons (not bothered to check the exact stats right now but I know 70 is the most we've scored in a season) after losing Kane. If you blame Ange's system for how much we've conceded then you should also credit it for how much we've scored, no?

 

[Kingellesar]

Still a lot of issues within that Chelsea squad but I feel like 2 good signings (CB and ST) would sort them out to get them competing for top 4 again. They have a lot of deadwood to shift but they will manage it, like they always do.

If it wasn't for Palmer this season though, it would have been a different story. I think they have enough in that squad to turn it around and get back to the top end of the table.

 

[easley91]

I haven't said Poch is a better coach or manager by the way. Just that if they are able to do the right business in the summer then there is something there for Poch to work with.

I think with regards to certain games they probably lost games they should have won. Had they had say a Costa or Drogba then those chances would be put away more often than not.

All I'm saying is be wary of them next season IF they get the business right and if PSR/FFP of whatever allows it.