The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[Lighty64]

Well done Poch! You deserve all the credit for selection, tactics. Letting TN for example play his Lyon position. Dropping CE, Toby, and Danny. No diamond, but interplay with aggressive forwards. I know it was only RSB, who are a shit team. But! So was Watford ?

yes but Watford never gave us the space, or time on the ball. a big difference when your not trying to break 2 banks of 5 down, and be hit on the counter

 

[Gb160]

I was at the game so no point going round my gaff

It was just meant as a bit of a giggle Lighty, you should stop taking things so personally mate.

 

[wrd]

trouble is in 2 weeks time everyone will be expecting us to go over there and batter them again even if we started with the same XI. we will be playing in a different atmosphere on a shitty pitch, and playing a team that wants revenge, a team that beat Liverpool at their place last season 2-0

It won't be an easy game but we need to get that win, we're a better quality team than them and if we want to qualify then we're gonna have to get a result. Hopefully Liv losing their last season gives our players the right mentality to get the job done.

 

[The Doc]

Yep. Just imagine what could have been had we gotten a player that was injured or one that was at an international tournament sooner.

On BT post-match, he talked about the season "starting late" as his theory for the disappointing results. Don't think it's too much of a stretch to understand he was referring to the end of the tw and how unsettling that was for the whole squad. Especially as he has explicitly referenced this before, and said naff all about signings, late or otherwise, when questioned. Let's not all pile in regardless eh? Only requires a bit of calm, measured reflection and recollection by folk on here. What's that? Oh, of course. How could I be so naive?

 

[ClintEastwould]

If he keeps those excuses up he will never win anything, anywhere.

Klopp regularly blames the weather when his team loses - he’s a champions league winner.

 

[SpartanSpur]

I've finally caught up to your post, and the 6-7 post made during the game before your post shows that they haven't a clue about football.

lets play a game of spot the difference, Watford, Newcastle and a lot of teams set up as a back 10. Palace and Red Star never which makes it so much easier to play with pace

Please oh football oracle tell me how the team we played vs Watford was better equipped to break down a defensive side? Back 3 and Winks/Sissoko when the opponent is sitting off? Playing Rose ahead of Davies when Rose was coming off a shocker for England and is clearly unsettled? Leaving our best progressive passer on the bench alongside our highest scorer at the new stadium? Playing Moura up top against a low block when it's been proven to be ineffective and affect Harry's game? Poch didn't cover himself in glory in hindsight.

Red Star were poor and open but Brighton played us on the front foot too and we had no answer. Even if Watford played defensively the levels of energy and application were far superior today than they have been for months (barring brief spells vs Palace and Bayern). Plenty of movement from kick off whereas most were hiding on Saturday.

As for early goals, we spent most of 18-19 coming from behind in the majority of games because of various mitigating factors and the fact this team has really struggled to adopt Poch's tweak to a 3 man midfield/diamond. This team shouldn't be fazed by that. Low confidence is a factor but still, we were at home against a struggling side on Saturday. No excuses with the squad at our disposal.

It's not as simple as just the pace of the game. We've been told by ITK and even some of the players that they are unhappy and confused with the diamond. We've heard from numerous sources that there are unsettled players. The naked eye can see there have been clear confidence issues with the players and what they've been asked to do. Red Star were an accommodating opponent but Poch finally reverted to a setup the players are comfortable with, with more of the committed players starting (including the likes of Son, Ndombele and Davies I mentioned above), and the result was a clear improvement in all facets of the game. I fully stand by my post that you are attacking.

Talking down to people is a real shitty trait, unless you have some UEFA pro licences or a professional career to back yourself up (and even then still a dick move).

 

[Mr Pink]

There were mitigating circumstances for last years form which we all know. The new signings were an attempt to rectify some of this but they’ve been injured.

The dynamics of the squads have changed. New bonds need to be established etc... this can be solved with time.

I’ll never agree with calling for the managers head so early in the season.

There was mitigation, think most people acknowledge.

But that doesn't explain the slow starts, slow tempo which have been going on for the best part of a year.

Had this continued for another week or so I really don't think Levy would of waited much longer.

Last night was a breakthrough, now let's see if he can build from it.

But let's not pretend, had he not made the changes, that it looked like it was just a matter of time before we suddenly started playing with the tempo of old etc

 

[Cochise]

The starting late thing though isn't really anyones fault. GLC was away with Argentina and only trained for a week with Betis before transferring. Sessegnon has had a hamstring issue and Clarke was loaned back.

 

[Ronwol196061]

We know that Sissoko is limited. But what is undeniable is he strength and his work ethic.
He can go up and down and is a perfect foil for NDombele and his attacking skill. Sissoko gives us a guarantee. So the perfect mix behind Ndombele going forward gives us stability in the middle. Poch picking the right mix behind NDombele for the right game is absolutely key to our attacking strength.
Ndombele can do with one pass what 5 of our players messing around with short passes cant do...that destroy defences by finding space for Kane and Son

 

[McFlash]

All i’ve read in here the last few days is “why is he still here” “should have gone after the Brighton match” “he’s lost the dressing room” “he’s nothing more than a Argentinian Harry Redknapp”. One win and you all start changing your tune saying your willing to give him time.

Bunch of fucking turncoats ?

I doubt you'll find one person on this site that doesn't want Poch to turn things round, but plenty that are worried that he can't.
That doesn't make anyone a "turncoat", just a concerned Spurs fan.

Stupid, unnecessarily inflammatory post.

 

[Ronwol196061]

Found before the Game....

The Dressing Room

Tottenham Metropolitan Police said it was lost a couple of days ago,but they assure all those concerned that its now safely back where it should be

 

[thebenjamin]

My worry is last night was a one off rather than the start of a recovery.


Fact is Rose and Eriksen on recent form should be nowhere near the squad any longer. Poch kept picking them why exactly?! Why has it taken him so long to pick a balanced side in a formation that suits?

Also last night the opposition were absolute shit and we still looked shaky defensively.

That said of course there were positives to hold onto also! If Poch can get us winning again great but I still have huge reservations about him tactically and I still think the writing is on the wall.

Davies injury, Sessegnon injury, Dele injury, Lo Celso injury etc

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

this is where people obviously don't understand football, and were raving about how great we were v Palace.

1, last night we didn't concede an early goal

2, Red Star at no time had a 10 man defence so left spaces and gaps between the lines

3, why leave a dig in about Aurier? on Saturday he wasn't at fault for our goal, and played well. he made a challenge that meant we stayed at 0-1 v Watford, and he also put in some crosses that Walker never ever made, but thanks to Kane and Moura not challenging the crosses meant they where wasted. Last night he again played well and put some crunching tackles in

Haha yes i love this a debate i can pick holes in

Firstly having played football at a decent level myself and having also been a ST holder for over 25 years i'd certainly say I 'understand football' LOL!

Yes not conceding an early goal and scoring one makes a difference but fundamentally the tactics (4-2-3-1), energy and pressing and fluidity were much more like how we played under Poch the season we battled Leicester for the title. We've played well in a few games this season such as Leicester away and Palace and others but a lot of those games we've used the diamond and also picked a combination of players that lacks balance and has players not playing in their most suited positions, last night we put round pegs in round holes and used a formation and style of play that the players are comfortable with! (Just as the ITK's have been alluding to: @Trix @Hercules @ValenciaYid - the players were mostly unhappy with the formation and roles they were being asked to do, yesterday you had sissoko sitting, N'dombele slightly ahead in the Dembele role, Lamela RM, Son LM, Dele CAM and Kane ST and surprise surprise we played the best football we have for at least 12 months.

Also that was not a dig about Aurier I simply said that we picked a team with players mainly who we want to keep or who don't want to leave (It has been very well reported that either the club wants to get rid of or the players themselves want to leave in the case of : Rose, Toby, Eriksen and Aurier), in fact if you look back at my posts i've always actually very heavily backed Aurier and said he's a vastly better player than KWP and currently with this squad is our best RB option so you've completely missinterpreted or missunderstood what I meant when i said 'indifferent' I meant that he and the club were a bit indifferent about his future e.g. if we can find him the right club he may go but if not then we're happy to keep him.

Onwards and upwards. COYS.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Found before the Game....

The Dressing Room

Tottenham Metropolitan Police said it was lost a couple of days ago,but they assure all those concerned that its now safely back where it should be

love it lol

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Writing isn't on the wall yet, if he builds on this.

I've never been so curious to see what are line up will be this Sunday as I think it's potentially hugely significant in terms of him turning this around.

The fact he gave them today off could be telling that he's going to pick the same side, or very close to it.

Here's hoping.

We'd all love him to turn this around and last night was a start but he has to build on it and keep away the players who don't want to be here.

Also very interesting that he gave the team the day off and in the interview to BT Sport afterwards said "the media say the players are complaining I don't give the players days off so here you go 5-0, day off"... now this is either his way of playing the media or just simply saying its bollocks and he does give them enough rest/days off, OR the rumours are true and the squad have grown a little tired of his approach.

It is so hard for us to really pin-point the blame as there are a few key factors at play here but without being Poch himself or one of the players then its very difficult to see what is exactly going on and who is to blame:

1. Players we need to get out (some want to leave, some we wanted to sell e.g. :Eriksen, Rose, Toby, Aurier, Wanyama), is it Levy's fault for not accepting a low enough offer, was there just not enough interest, were the players and their agents causing issues? Who knows but they're all still with us and I imagine that effected potential player in-comings and morale. Poch is well aware that after 4-5 year cycle he needs to refresh the squad.
2. Poch management : Are players tired of his methods, are they frustrated with the formation(diamond), are decisions he's made pissing them off, is his negativity in the media causing poor squad morale or is he being royally fucked over by the players, their agents and Levy? All these things are hard to say but the likely answer is he is partly to blame but not solely to blame, if its more a case of he has been stubborn but now by giving the players and day off and moving back to 4-2-3-1 then if this is enough to get the players back on side (if he needs to do that at all)... then these are all positive signs but again without being privy to actually what is going on behind the scenes then its very hard to say.

So all in all i'm taking last nights performance as a big positive and really hope that we can build on that, I hope that in January and next summer we can really properly clean up the squad one way or another, get rid of the 5-6 we want to sell or who want to leave and bring in another 4-5 top top quality replacements and then we should be able to really see a new exciting Tottenham next season, we also have more than enough quality this season to do well in the league, CL and FA Cup so fingers crossed we can start to build on last night, Lo Celso and Sess back will also help.

COYS.

 

[Lo Amo Speroni]

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/10/...shares-his-theory-over-why-tottenham-hotspur/
Poch blames a late return to pre-season because of ECL Final for our poor start to the season. Can someone remind him who we played in the final!

Be interesting to see how both teams finish the season.

 

[wrd]

Also very interesting that he gave the team the day off and in the interview to BT Sport afterwards said "the media say the players are complaining I don't give the players days off so here you go 5-0, day off"... now this is either his way of playing the media or just simply saying its bollocks and he does give them enough rest/days off, OR the rumours are true and the squad have grown a little tired of his approach.

It is so hard for us to really pin-point the blame as there are a few key factors at play here but without being Poch himself or one of the players then its very difficult to see what is exactly going on and who is to blame:

1. Players we need to get out (some want to leave, some we wanted to sell e.g. :Eriksen, Rose, Toby, Aurier, Wanyama), is it Levy's fault for not accepting a low enough offer, was there just not enough interest, were the players and their agents causing issues? Who knows but they're all still with us and I imagine that effected potential player in-comings and morale. Poch is well aware that after 4-5 year cycle he needs to refresh the squad.
2. Poch management : Are players tired of his methods, are they frustrated with the formation(diamond), are decisions he's made pissing them off, is his negativity in the media causing poor squad morale or is he being royally fucked over by the players, their agents and Levy? All these things are hard to say but the likely answer is he is partly to blame but not solely to blame, if its more a case of he has been stubborn but now by giving the players and day off and moving back to 4-2-3-1 then if this is enough to get the players back on side (if he needs to do that at all)... then these are all positive signs but again without being privy to actually what is going on behind the scenes then its very hard to say.

So all in all i'm taking last nights performance as a big positive and really hope that we can build on that, I hope that in January and next summer we can really properly clean up the squad one way or another, get rid of the 5-6 we want to sell or who want to leave and bring in another 4-5 top top quality replacements and then we should be able to really see a new exciting Tottenham next season, we also have more than enough quality this season to do well in the league, CL and FA Cup so fingers crossed we can start to build on last night, Lo Celso and Sess back will also help.

COYS.

Maybe it's a case that we shouldn't look to see who should take the brunt of the blame but appreciate given our circumstances that sooner or later the situation was going to end up happening. Levy had longer term plans where we were going to build long term to be a top club and arguably was right not to sacrifice the long term for the sake of the short term. We hit gold by signing a manager who has managed to get the absolute most out of his squad and limited resources whilst also lucking our by having an incredible one in a billion striking talent come through our youth ranks. Unfortunately our managers style is dependant on motivation and squeezing players and needs fairly consistent turnover as there's nothing left to squeeze out of players after a certain amount of time. We weren't in a position to produce that turnover and a few of our players have decided it's time to move on but couldn't get the deals they wanted.

Now when things start to go wrong, suddenly being asked to do the running becomes annoying and the things you bought into before now frustrate you, hopefully we can turn the tide and those things start to make sense to the players again but it won't be a consistent upward trend, we'll have bumps in the road. Levy and Poch need to take responsibility sure and what's more they've made a lot of mistakes but as I say maybe looking for where to lay the blame is the wrong course of action.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Maybe it's a case that maybe we shouldn't look to see who should take the brunt of the blame but appreciate given our circumstances that sooner or later the situation was going to end up happening. Levy had longer term plans where we were going to build long term to be a top club and arguably was right not to sacrifice the long term for the sake of the short term. We hit gold by signing a manager who has managed to get the absolute most out of his squad and limited resources whilst also lucking our by having an incredible one in a billion striking talent come through our youth ranks. Unfortunately our managers style is dependant on motivation and squeezing players and needs fairly consistent turnover as there's nothing left to squeeze out of players after a certain amount of time. We weren't in a position to produce that turnover and a few of our players have decided it's time to move on but couldn't get the deals they wanted.

Now when things start to go wrong, suddenly being asked to do the running becomes annoying and the things you bought into before now frustrate you, hopefully we can turn the tide and those things start to make sense to the players again but it won't be a consistent upward trend, we'll have bumps in the road. Levy and Poch need to take responsibility sure, they're the guys in charge but as I say maybe looking for where to lay the blame is the wrong course of action.

yea agree with this approach too mate, so hard to say.

 

[TheAmerican]

He can't win really. If he tries to give players a chance to play themselves into form he gets crucified, and if he hooks them out of the lineup it's over rotation.

That’s a situation that’s of his own making. He’s in a hole he dug himself.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Maybe it's a case that we shouldn't look to see who should take the brunt of the blame but appreciate given our circumstances that sooner or later the situation was going to end up happening. Levy had longer term plans where we were going to build long term to be a top club and arguably was right not to sacrifice the long term for the sake of the short term. We hit gold by signing a manager who has managed to get the absolute most out of his squad and limited resources whilst also lucking our by having an incredible one in a billion striking talent come through our youth ranks. Unfortunately our managers style is dependant on motivation and squeezing players and needs fairly consistent turnover as there's nothing left to squeeze out of players after a certain amount of time. We weren't in a position to produce that turnover and a few of our players have decided it's time to move on but couldn't get the deals they wanted.

Now when things start to go wrong, suddenly being asked to do the running becomes annoying and the things you bought into before now frustrate you, hopefully we can turn the tide and those things start to make sense to the players again but it won't be a consistent upward trend, we'll have bumps in the road. Levy and Poch need to take responsibility sure and what's more they've made a lot of mistakes but as I say maybe looking for where to lay the blame is the wrong course of action.

Wonderful post.