The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[sausage]

If he is to keep his job, because I can't see levy sacking him until we end up in the bottom half, he needs a result against Watford and to somehow do something at Anfield. Nothing less is acceptable anymore.

If (somehow) United, Chelsea and Bournemouth all win tomorrow, we will be.

 

[punky]

If he is to keep his job, because I can't see levy sacking him until we end up in the bottom half, he needs a result against Watford and to somehow do something at Anfield. Nothing less is acceptable anymore.

I've calmed down a bit and realise things aren't as bleak as it seems. As bad as this season has been, we're only 3 points off top 4.

Surely things can only get dire if we're consistently 3+ wins off top 4?

 

[dricha1]

If (somehow) United, Chelsea and Bournemouth all win tomorrow, we will be.

And yet we’d only be 3points off 3rd spot...this is what keeps Poch in his job...for now.

 

[JayB]

Very unfortunate what happened to Hugo but it's a very weak excuse to use imo.

You could easily argue that it should of galvanised the team, brought them togther and shown some fight in the face of adversity.

But no, we took the easy option and collapsed. Where are the leaders in this team, I don't see any.

We're not playing with commitment and desire, and those are prerequisites for any team taking the field.

The team owed the fans today (especially our travelling away fans) and we just folded.

Yeah it was an unfortunate way to start the game, but a group with a strong mentality come together. We had 90 minutes to come back into the game and stamp our authority on it.

What actually happened was something I've never seen before, just a nothingness really.

I'd be stunned if Poch turned this round now.

I'm largely in agreement, and such a flimsy circumstance certainly shouldn't stand as the only reason to give Poch a stay of execution when you look at the totality of our form over the past nine months.

All I'm saying is that if he's retained then I don't think today's match is necessarily indicative of him having no chance of getting the players playing again. When you're in, say, a title hunt, something like a freakish injury can have a galvanizing effect, but when you're in the club's worst run of form in a decade and your confidence is rattled to begin with, such a gutting occurrence can easily make the bad feelings even worse.

Again I think Levy's got more than enough justification to make a change, and the vast majority of managers would have been sacked already, but if Poch stays there are enough players at the club whose mentalities you wouldn't question that we can cobble together an XI that would play with some pride and heart. The key thing is that he's got to drop those who don't fit that description as a final roll of the dice. For me it's the only hope he's got of staying above water until January.

 

[sausage]

Levy should back Poch, tell him he has his backing to sideline the bad eggs, get the new signings fully integrated, recharge Dier, Alli & Sanchez and get back to his philosophy of hard work and the press. We might lose more games, but long term we’d be better for it

That wouldn't be backing the manager, it'd be interfering.

It's also suggesting he has been told he can't do this, which I think is very far fetched, considering a fresher, far less creditable Poch was given full support in doing this when he first arrived. He binned off pretty much all the club captains and highest paid players back then.

From what I can observe, he has started valuing personal relationships with players over anything else. He won't step up in his ability if he is incapable of dropping or ostracising players who aren't going to help him or the team - that includes Eriksen right now.

 

[sausage]

And yet we’d only be 3points off 3rd spot...this is what keeps Poch in his job...for now.

Agreed - but still depressing to see Burnley, West Ham and Woy all above us - even if it is early days.

 

[YiddoTom90]

We have more losses then wins this season. Shocking

 

[idontgetit]

I can't comment on behind the scenes stuff but the problem seems obvious to me. Our success was built on a rock solid defence that was aggressive and freed the forwards up to play fluidly, we no longer have that. Lloris has lost confidence and doesn't dominate the space behind the back four anymore plus makes more shot-stopping errors. The CB's who were arguably one of the worlds best pairing are now past their prime and I suspect sit a lot deeper than they used to. We've lost Walkers recovery power at right back, sold Trips and Aurier offers very little. We no longer play with a DM who can drop into the back four and the only one we have anyway is Dier who's been awful for a long time. Dembele's strength was also a loss.

I think the defence lost its confidence totally, lost some pace and presses up less. The forwards still press hard but it's not being done as a unit and eventually falls apart and they back off. The lack of quality DM cover means there's less fluid play from the forwads and the fullbacks don't have as much confidence to get up the pitch and overload the midfield. With this, everything falls apart.

Answers? Buy a top class right back for a start. Besides that there aren't many.

A real out there option would be to try convert Alderweireld to a Pirlo style defensive midfielder put the pacier Sanchez into the back four. More recovery power in the back four. Alderweireld reads the game and tackles as well as anyone in the game. On the ball the fullbacks can push right up and he can drop into the back line to make a back 3/5, plus he's arguably the best passer in the entire side.

 

[13VanDerBale13]

Wonder how long the other top six would keep their managers with this form, this is 2008 levels

Honestly the race between Poch & Ole to get sacked is just as exciting as the title race

 

[Mr Pink]

I'm largely in agreement, and such a flimsy circumstance certainly shouldn't stand as the only reason to give Poch a stay of execution when you look at the totality of our form over the past nine months.

All I'm saying is that if he's retained then I don't think today's match is necessarily indicative of him having no chance of getting the players playing again. When you're in, say, a title hunt, something like a freakish injury can have a galvanizing effect, but when you're in the club's worst run of form in a decade and your confidence is rattled to begin with, such a gutting occurrence can easily make the bad feelings even worse.

Again I think Levy's got more than enough justification to make a change, and the vast majority of managers would have been sacked already, but if Poch stays there are enough players at the club whose mentalities you wouldn't question that we can cobble together an XI that would play with some pride and heart. The key thing is that he's got to drop those who don't fit that description as a final roll of the dice. For me it's the only hope he's got of staying above water until January.

Yes agree. I just wonder if the 'discontented' group is too big for him to salvage the situation.

I've a funny feeling Kane is in that group as well. Could you imaging if he drops some of them, the press will hammer him unless results improved instantly.

 

[stevenurse]

I've calmed down a bit and realise things aren't as bleak as it seems. As bad as this season has been, we're only 3 points off top 4.

Surely things can only get dire if we're consistently 3+ wins off top 4?

Things are dire now my friend. The players know they've had their golden generation and fucked it

 

[markiespurs]

I've calmed down a bit and realise things aren't as bleak as it seems. As bad as this season has been, we're only 3 points off top 4.

Surely things can only get dire if we're consistently 3+ wins off top 4?

3 points might as well be 30 points with the way we are playing.

 

[eddiev14]

I actually don’t care where we finish this season. I just want Poch to grow the balls he grew in his first year, throw out the troublemakers and promote the likes of Tanganga, KWP, Foyth etc until January and then tell Levy he either buys who he wants in January or it’s over.

Honestly, Lewis and Levy have totally dropped a bollock here. The manager warned them this would happen if they didn’t invest, and their lack of action has created an absolute clusterfuck in that squad.

As far as agents are concerned. They should tell their players to stop worrying about the manager and take a long hard look at Moussa Sissoko, his attitude, the way he has fought for his career in the hard moments. Was he complaining about playing right back today? Was he fuck. The man knows it’s about the team.

No wonder we haven’t won anything with this lot. There are so many with absolutely zero character and bottle, and now we’re in a bad moment we can truly see their colours.

I’m totally behind Poch. Not sure Levy will hold on if we keep losing like this though.

 

[wrd]

I actually don’t care where we finish this season. I just want Poch to grow the balls he grew in his first year, throw out the troublemakers and promote the likes of Tanganga, KWP, Foyth etc until January and then tell Levy he either buys who he wants in January or it’s over.

Honestly, Lewis and Levy have totally dropped a bollock here. The manager warned them this would happen if they didn’t invest, and their lack of action has created an absolute clusterfuck in that squad.

As far as agents are concerned. They should tell their players to stop worrying about the manager and take a long hard look at Moussa Sissoko, his attitude, the way he has fought for his career in the hard moments. Was he complaining about playing right back today? Was he fuck. The man knows it’s about the team.

No wonder we haven’t won anything with this lot. There are so many with absolutely zero character and bottle, and now we’re in a bad moment we can truly see their colours.

I’m totally behind Poch. Not sure Levy will hold on if we keep losing like this though.

He seemed to start the season by doing that, then lost his nerve. Mostly with Sanchez/KWP. I thought Foyth would be straight back in.

 

[13VanDerBale13]

I've calmed down a bit and realise things aren't as bleak as it seems. As bad as this season has been, we're only 3 points off top 4.

Surely things can only get dire if we're consistently 3+ wins off top 4?

Look at our performances away from home tho, absolutely diabolical, if we think we can win every home game & not win an away game & still be in contention for top 4 then we’re in even more serious trouble then I thought

 

[King Ledley 26]

It's funny how so many of you think this is not Pochs fault.

I can't name them for obvious reason but I would wager if you knew which players agents I was getting my info from you'd probably have a different opinion.

What a surprise players crying and moaning but of spineless bottle jobs throwing him under the bus

 

[rossdapep]

I actually don’t care where we finish this season. I just want Poch to grow the balls he grew in his first year, throw out the troublemakers and promote the likes of Tanganga, KWP, Foyth etc until January and then tell Levy he either buys who he wants in January or it’s over.

Honestly, Lewis and Levy have totally dropped a bollock here. The manager warned them this would happen if they didn’t invest, and their lack of action has created an absolute clusterfuck in that squad.

As far as agents are concerned. They should tell their players to stop worrying about the manager and take a long hard look at Moussa Sissoko, his attitude, the way he has fought for his career in the hard moments. Was he complaining about playing right back today? Was he fuck. The man knows it’s about the team.

No wonder we haven’t won anything with this lot. There are so many with absolutely zero character and bottle, and now we’re in a bad moment we can truly see their colours.

I’m totally behind Poch. Not sure Levy will hold on if we keep losing like this though.

He literally complained about bring tired from playing the diamond 4 days ago

 

[dricha1]

Yes agree. I just wonder if the 'discontented' group is too big for him to salvage the situation.

I've a funny feeling Kane is in that group as well. Could you imaging if he drops some of them, the press will hammer him unless results improved instantly.

If Kane is one of the “discontented” group then Poch has no chance. Kane has been indulged almost as much as any player in the squad...rarely taken off even when we were coasting to victory, brought on v Tranmere when the game was won, starts CL final when clearly not fit.....

 

[mike_l]

I've calmed down a bit and realise things aren't as bleak as it seems. As bad as this season has been, we're only 3 points off top 4.

Surely things can only get dire if we're consistently 3+ wins off top 4?

We really can't just carry on hoping that the rest of the league continue to be as shit as us though can we?

A other big thing for me is that the players just don't look fit, he's had his "famous" fucking pre-season with most of them and they look more pub fit than match fit. If he can't work out any decent tactics he could at least make sure we were fitter than the rest, which our players used to speak of regularly.

 

[Primativ]

And yet we’d only be 3points off 3rd spot...this is what keeps Poch in his job...for now.

Well that would be the wrong way to look at it as our form is relegation form since February. You can't ignore the trend and form over such a large sample size. It doesn't indicate he will be turning this around. Levy can't just think oh we are only thee points off the CL places, all is fine.

Today was a watershed. The players played like a team who have lost faith/respect for the manager.