The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[Lighty64]

Still think he can turn it around but have to admit I’m perplexed by his insistence on persisting with Eriksen, can only assume it’s a political decision as it’s certainly not on merit or even logical given the contract issue...

the only thing I can think of is he is hoping he performs well enough that someone actually puts an offer in for him in January. the way he is playing at the moment I'd be shocked if anyone would want him on a free, knowing that once he is bored he will down tools

 

[stevenurse]

Starting to think the 'painful rebuild' comment was a way of sugar coating 'we're gonna be shit next season'. It's genuinely the only reason I can see why Levy hasn't pulled the trigger.

If they both had a meeting over dinner and a nice ciante and agreed that this season will be a write off and that it'll take a couple of years then I'd almost respect them both more

 

[Metalhead]

I was talking about Levy in response to Steve's post who was aiming a dig at Levy, just wanted to point out the hypocrisy

Oh I see - you mean about saying previously that DL needed to back him. I guess that we all felt that if DL backed Poch in the market then the team would continue to progress. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, things are just not working out now. Poch still needs more players evidently but is it the lack of players or Poch's inability to have a settled team/formation that is causing the problems or is it both? Trouble is that people seem to want to lay the blame at Poch's door or DL's door depending on which camp they are in.

 

[Metalhead]

Starting to think the 'painful rebuild' comment was a way of sugar coating 'we're gonna be shit next season'. It's genuinely the only reason I can see why Levy hasn't pulled the trigger.

If they both had a meeting over dinner and a nice ciante and agreed that this season will be a write off and that it'll take a couple of years then I'd almost respect them both more

Absolutely - as long as people can see where we are going, some kind of plan then I think that they would be patient. It's the fact that we are not seeing youth promoted, a settled side, a settled formation and underperforming players are being picked that is frustrating people.

 

[Yiddo100]

People said the same about the Everton game

And Watford and Brighton ?

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

the only thing I can think of is he is hoping he performs well enough that someone actually puts an offer in for him in January. the way he is playing at the moment I'd be shocked if anyone would want him on a free, knowing that once he is bored he will down tools

My theory is entirely different. Pochettino picks Eriksen based on work ethics during training, based on laying low in internal controversies etc. In short, based on loyalty and ethics outside match days.

 

[McFlash]

I'm hoping we haven't become a club who is snuggly warm in our nearly men status. It seems with Poch we've found the ultimate nearly man, and a manager a lot of fans are worried about losing because this is the best we can expect.

For me, this isn't the best we should expect. We shouldn't have to settle for this, because if we do, it shows we are happy to be where we are, but scared of rolling the dice and becoming a truly big club...who wins things.

Top 4, check. CL, check, a couple of semi-finals, check. This is what we were all dreaming of for years, and now we've got it, it seems a majority of us are comfortable with our new status and scared of making that next leap.

We can tread water for another 5 years, doing the same, rolling along like we always have, or we can make a statement and go balls out for an actual world class manager. I'm certain that it will take us someone like Mourinho, for the short or long term, to elevate us into that club that does hire the best managers and buy the best players, and I think Mourinho would command that level of improvement from both the players and the owners.

I'm sick of seeing us constantly capitulate, be it the disappointment of not getting top 4, to lasagne-gate, to losing semi-finals, to not winning the CL when it was there for the taking. Is this always going to be us?

Poch for the moment is perfect, he's nearly good enough, our team is nearly good enough, the owners are nearly good enough and 60% of us, judging by the poll, are happy with it. I'm just not anymore.

Entitled? Why not? Why shouldn't we expect to win something after all these years of foundations, building and developing, otherwise what are we here for? Just to make up the numbers and give the other big clubs something to constantly laugh at? Big clubs do feel entitled and that's why we always take the piss out of ManU and Liverpool, as they expect their team to perform and win stuff. Guess what? They do.

We are just West Ham with more money at the moment. A club you can guarantee will let you down in the end. I want better now.

A little while ago our squad had the highest value squad in the world, with the best defence, a golden boot winner, and our golden age. We've now added the best stadium and the best training complex. Why are we settling for a manager who is getting worse as we are getting better? I don't have faith anymore. It's time we pulled up a chair at the big table.

We should be aiming at winning the league. Not looking at a potential relegation season. Mourinho was a failure for finishing second. We're happy with scraping 4th. As a fanbase we need to start setting our expectations higher.

That is an excellent post and sums up some of the thoughts that are floating around in my tiny little brain, far more succinctly and eloquently than I have managed thus far.

A perfect repost to those niggling digs about "proper fans", "over entitled fans" and the "who do we think we are", type bollocks that keeps getting spouted out, should we dare to question Poch.

 

[PLTuck]

Oh FFS will people stop with these bollocks posts. You can't afford to give away a whole season.

Name me one manager that has turned this around? And don't SAF me, that was not after 5 years.

Said it before and I'll say it again. Moyes at Everton.


This bit not directed at you, just a general observation on the thread: I wish we'd stop turning on each other. Absolutely no need for some of the "WAHHHHHHHHH!" that's in here. FFS folks, just respect that other people are allowed to have a different opinion to you. It doesn't make them less of a fan, it doesn't make them a ****, or a twat, or someone that doesn't "understand" football.

Are we those ****s down the road? No, WE are Tottenham. Fucking COYS!

 

[shelfboy68]

Starting to think the 'painful rebuild' comment was a way of sugar coating 'we're gonna be shit next season'. It's genuinely the only reason I can see why Levy hasn't pulled the trigger.

If they both had a meeting over dinner and a nice ciante and agreed that this season will be a write off and that it'll take a couple of years then I'd almost respect them both more

Downside is we were getting close to the top and yet find ourselves miles adrift again with no guarantee that we can get amongst it again, this is as shit as I have seen us for a long time even AVBs team wasn't as bad for this long.

 

[SpursSince1980]

Probably overthinking this... but I wonder if Levy has been hedging his bets over whether or not to let Poch go.

Hear me out...

Firstly, we know Levy is rather notorious when it comes to money. He would be reluctant to pay Poch the cost of buying out his contract, should he be fired. So, perhaps he's been in a 'wait and see' mode. Banking on two or three potential outcomes; 1) Poch resigns voluntarily. (not likely at all). 2) A big European team (PSG, Real or Bayern), shitcan their coach and come in for Poch, thereby actually needing to pay Levy 10-20M to break Poch's contract. 3) Poch miraculously turns things around. Each of the aforementioned options, make good monetary sense to Daniel. The very, very last resort is having to give Poch the boot, and pay up the remainder of the contract... and then, have to pay a king's ransom to someone like Maureen. The math for that equation is simple; if Poch stays and they don't qualify for CL, they will lose about $30M in revenue, and a few of their best players. So, does he roll the dice and take a short term financial hit, in order to make a late run at CL with a new coach in charge? Tough call.

I think if this was 10 years ago, Poch would've been sacked by now. As back then, expectations were different. The amount of money involved for the coaches was also very different. Back then, we had aspirations to be a top 6 club. There was no expectation for us to perpetually qualify for the CL. Far from it. So, the game has changed considerably. There's much more at risk now that we are where we are.

I'm sure all eyes are on Bayern right now. As should they request permission to speak to Poch, I think Daniel will jump all over it.

Granted, what I'm saying is cynical. But I do think there's a sliver of truth to what's going on behind the scenes with Levy and the board.

 

[glacierSpurs]

We are just making that up thought, aren't we. We don't KNOW whether or not Levy is concerned.

Chill, I said 'seem', not implying a definite.

But knowing Levy, he's the master of poker.

 

[McFlash]

I am one of those travelling supporters.
Totally agree with you.
Do I think he will turn it around ? Probably not this season, cannot see us getting Top 4 now.
Do I think he should be replaced ? Yes, but only by a top name, and only if it means some players that want him out stay
Am I fully behind Poch at the games ? Without doubt, and desperately want him to turn things around.

Supporters (and being controversial, the ones that travel are the only ones I really regard as supporters) don’t just turn on a manager that has given us many memorable nights, being in the Amsterdam Arena that night will never be forgotten.
I despise some of the disrespectful posts on here, telling him to f**k off etc.
If he does go, it should be with dignity and full respect.

I know that you state that you're being controversial but in fact, you are being incredibly ignorant, disrespectful and downright rude towards many people.
What an incredibly ****ish thing to think/say!

 

[Guntz]

You just have to think.

Would any of the best 10 teams in the world keep Poch barring our form since January? There's the answer of why we're nowhere near being a big club.

 

[rossdapep]

Probably overthinking this... but I wonder if Levy has been hedging his bets over whether or not to let Poch go.

Hear me out...

Firstly, we know Levy is rather notorious when it comes to money. He would be reluctant to pay Poch the cost of buying out his contract, should he be fired. So, perhaps he's been in a 'wait and see' mode. Banking on two or three potential outcomes; 1) Poch resigns voluntarily. (not likely at all). 2) A big European team (PSG, Real or Bayern), shitcan their coach and come in for Poch, thereby actually needing to pay Levy 10-20M to break Poch's contract. 3) Poch miraculously turns things around. Each of the aforementioned options, make good monetary sense to Daniel. The very, very last resort is having to give Poch the boot, and pay up the remainder of the contract... and then, have to pay a king's ransom to someone like Maureen. The math for that equation is simple; if Poch stays and they don't qualify for CL, they will lose about $30M in revenue, and a few of their best players. So, does he roll the dice and take a short term financial hit, in order to make a late run at CL with a new coach in charge? Tough call.

I think if this was 10 years ago, Poch would've been sacked by now. As back then, expectations were different. The amount of money involved for the coaches was also very different. Back then, we had aspirations to be a top 6 club. There was no expectation for us to perpetually qualify for the CL. Far from it. So, the game has changed considerably. There's much more at risk now that we are where we are.

I'm sure all eyes are on Bayern right now. As should they request permission to speak to Poch, I think Daniel will jump all over it.

Granted, what I'm saying is cynical. But I do think there's a sliver of truth to what's going on behind the scenes with Levy and the board.

I honestly just think its cause of what poch has done and I strongly feel Levy has told Poch he will be fully backed in the next two windows.

It was only a few weeks ago they went off to the FIFA awards together so he's much more inclined to give him the very most time to turn it around.

I don't necessarily agree with it as I think it could lead to a worse off situation but it woukd explain why everyone seems so calm about things.

 

[WiganSpur]

Club seems content to throw the entire season away. Disgusting.

Without regard for the consequences of Europa or worse it seems. I can't see some of our best players being too happy about it next summer and I include Kane in that.

 

[McFlash]

So you see people who have a healthy disposable income as the only supporters of the club?

Yep, only the rich and entitled are true supporters of this club now!
And those without families to support...or those whose work commitments don't get in the way of getting to games.
Utter tosh.

 

[JCRD]

Starting to think the 'painful rebuild' comment was a way of sugar coating 'we're gonna be shit next season'. It's genuinely the only reason I can see why Levy hasn't pulled the trigger.

If they both had a meeting over dinner and a nice ciante and agreed that this season will be a write off and that it'll take a couple of years then I'd almost respect them both more

I would hazard a guess that potentially they may have agreed that there needs a rebuild and itll take time

The thing is WHY the fuck could we not build rather than rebuild - i appreciate progression isnt linear but there is a difference between evolving and building and rebuilding...

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

A perfect repost to those niggling digs about "proper fans", "over entitled fans" and the "who do we think we are", type bollocks that keeps getting spouted out, should we dare to question Poch.

Have you seen the digs being dished out to anyone who still supports Poch that's been going on?

If anything both 'factions' are as bad as eachother.

 

[eddiev14]

With the poor form, all the rumours about what’s going on in the dressing room, the manager being close to the sack etc it really does surprise me how little ITK we’ve seen. @dovahkiin have you see anything over on COYS?

Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun scrolling through 20 pages of the same disagreements, but it’d really interesting to understand what’s happened/happening. The collapse in literally everything has been staggering.

If Poch did go I’d love Mourinho. He’s great at playing the plucky underdog card and I reckon our players would be really motivated to play under him. Even if it was until the end of the season. Everyone needs a lift.

 

[McFlash]

Have you seen the digs being dished out to anyone who still supports Poch that's been going on?

If anything both 'factions' are as bad as eachother.

Oh I totally agree but I ran out of my medication over the weekend and couldn't be bothered to get to the doctors today, so I'm a man on the edge!

I'm finding this constant desire by certain people to feel the need to attack fellow fans, or to accuse them of this, that and the other, even more ficking annoying today.

I need my pills...