The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[JayB]

Not if you look at what they have done since Fergie left. They all said that OGS was going to get all the transfers he needed etc. Woodward is no better than Levy when it comes to taking risk solely for footballing results and not thinking of the financial aspect.

They broke the world record for a CB, held onto their best player despite an onslaught of tapping up from Real Madrid, got rid of who Ole wanted out, and brought in some excellent young signings. They could have done with a No. 10 but Dybala's image rights holder refused to sell up, Eriksen elected to run down his deal and leave on a Bosman, and they rightly refused to be held to ransom for 80m for Bruno. They didn't address each and every area of need but if Levy had given Poch anywhere near the level of backing over the past three years that Ole was given this summer we'd be in a completely different situation.

 

[Cavehillspur]

What I don’t understand is how the club clearly were happy for Aurier, Rose and Wanyama to leave this summer (and wanted Eriksen to leave or sign a new deal). And yet Poch has used them all this season, some almost in every game. All 4 of them should not have made a match-day squad this season.

In fairness to Aurier he has only featured recently and was outstanding against Palace and played a massive role in that game.

 

[wrd]

Like I say, not based on reality

Well the reality would be that Levy will have to remove Poch before January if he isn't willing to help him begin an overhaul in January. If he decides to keep Poch on then we don't see any signs of an overhaul then further fingers would need to be pointed at Levy because he'd be leaving us in purgatory

 

[pablo73]

Well the reality would be that Levy will have to remove Poch before January if he isn't willing to help him begin an overhaul in January. If he decides to keep Poch on then we don't see any signs of an overhaul then further fingers would need to be pointed at Levy because he'd be leaving us in purgatory

January is a notoriously difficult time to do deals and Levy is notoriously difficult to do deals with. Even if he wanted to I don't see Levy being able to change the habits of a lifetime and selling players below his valuations and/or pay over the odds for players we need. No doubt he'll tell Poch that he tried though...

 

[PeeLee]

Is it really coincidence Allegri was at the game Tuesday?

It was one of the games of that round of the European Champions League, looked forward to by many people. The chance to attend appealed to many people, and appealed to even more people across the continent watching on TV. It'll be much the same when Bayern Munich host Tottenham in the next leg. I imagine Spurs will look at a video of the Bundesliga match on Saturday when Bayern Munich lost 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim just days after the home side's visit to London a few days before.

 

[pablo73]

I have noticed that some of the happy clappers who were telling us all that not buying anyone in the summer of 2018 wasn't a problem have been some of the first on the #pochout bandwagon

 

[wrd]

January is a notoriously difficult time to do deals and Levy is even more notoriously difficult to do deals with. Even if he wanted to I don't see Levy being able to change the habits of a lifetime and sell players below his valuations and/or pay over the odds for players we need. No doubt he'll tell Poch that he tried though...

Yeah I agree, especially on the DM/RB, I'm holding out hope for the Dybala/Fernandes possibility simply because we were so close on both deals.

 

[pablo73]

Yeah I agree, especially on the DM/RB, I'm holding out hope for the Dybala/Fernandes possibility simply because we were so close on both deals.

I guess that's possible but I'd say the DM/RB are much higher priority anyway

 

[Hakkz]

Yeah I agree, especially on the DM/RB, I'm holding out hope for the Dybala/Fernandes possibility simply because we were so close on both deals.

So we are desperate for a more solid defense, and you're hoping for an AM?

 

[morris25]

If its the players that want to leave Or we want to leave causing the issues, dump them and ship them out in Jan at any cost and back Poch

 

[Metalhead]

If poch got sacked tomorrow surely Ole would follow five minutes later

He doesn't sound like a great replacement.

 

[spids]

In fairness to Aurier he has only featured recently and was outstanding against Palace and played a massive role in that game.

It’s not about being fair to anyone. The player wanted out. He should have been sold, or frozen out. Yes, he was good against palace. But he was awful in the other games. Poch has allowed the squad to become stale. Levy also to blame. But Poch needs to take the squad to task immediately. He should freeze out (i.e. not even train with the first team) anyone who doesn’t want to be here, or anyone he doesn’t want to be here. Rose, Eriksen, Aurier, Alderweireld, Wanyama, etc. If Verts wants to be here he needs a new two year contract signed ASAP, or frozen out as well.

Poch still has a fairly strong squad to pick a team from...

3 x CBs from: Foyth Dier Verts Sanchez Davies Tanganga
2 x FB/WBs from: KWP Sissoko Verts Sessegnon Davies
3 x CMs/AMs from: Ndombele Winks Sissoko Lo Celso Dier Lamela Dele
2 x CFs: Moura Kane Son Parrott

​

Get them properly fit and aggressive. High line, full press.

That’s the only way Poch can survive, but it is an approach needs Levy’s support, and further investment in the team in January (GK, RB and CB (if Verts frozen out too))

 

[VegasII]

The tricky thing is if it's more than just a handful of players that are pissed off with Poch and his training/tactics etc. If Kane, Son, Lamela, Alli, are pissed off as well as CA, Jan, Toby, Rose, then it's adios Maurice.

 

[JayB]

I guess that's possible but I'd say the DM/RB are much higher priority anyway

Our best bet would be players from Spain who have release clauses. I very strongly doubt that Thomas Partey would leave Atleti for us considering the mess we're in, and I don't think Marc Roca is actually what we need (he's like a souped-up Winks whereas we need a Fernandinho/Fabinho type), but I wonder whether there might be any other players there who would fit our needs.

 

[canadacelt]

Worrying about Poch going to Utd is no reason to keep him,he could end up there in the future anyway, we should be thankful if anyone takes him off us right now especially if they're going to pay a fee and we save having to pay him out, would prefer it to be out of the Premier League though like Madrid. Imagine a couple of years ago thinking that Poch could be at United and Mourinho at Spurs, it's a funny old game..

 

[sausage]

They broke the world record for a CB, held onto their best player despite an onslaught of tapping up from Real Madrid, got rid of who Ole wanted out, and brought in some excellent young signings. They could have done with a No. 10 but Dybala's image rights holder refused to sell up, Eriksen elected to run down his deal and leave on a Bosman, and they rightly refused to be held to ransom for 80m for Bruno. They didn't address each and every area of need but if Levy had given Poch anywhere near the level of backing over the past three years that Ole was given this summer we'd be in a completely different situation.

Change a few words around and that's the same as our summer.

 

[spursfan77]

If its the players that want to leave Or we want to leave causing the issues, dump them and ship them out in Jan at any cost and back Poch

It’s that or get rid of the manager. What’s the easier and what’s levy likely to do.

I suspect Poch has three games to save his career. One was yesterday and Watford and Liverpool are the next two. Personally I can’t see us winning either and Watford are awful.

 

[JayB]

Change a few words around and that's the same as our summer.

Mate, according to the Mirror, United have spent £968m in the transfer market since 2013. It's totally delusional to think they wouldn't back Poch.

 

[canadacelt]

Well the reality would be that Levy will have to remove Poch before January if he isn't willing to help him begin an overhaul in January. If he decides to keep Poch on then we don't see any signs of an overhaul then further fingers would need to be pointed at Levy because he'd be leaving us in purgatory

 

[JCRD]

If you sack Poch the problem still remain i.e. the squad is stale and well a bit shit... Would you rather another Manager spend the money or have Poch rebuild the squad again?

The squad wouldnt need rebuilding if we spent a bit int he last couple of years particularly in the last year in the build up to this summer.