The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[stonebrow]

There's no real reason there would be any, with transfers there are multiple parties involved from within the club and outside of it, where info can leak from. With this it's basically down to Levy to decide then tell Poch, then announce it. If he sounds out a new manager in advance that may leak, but he's not likely to WhatsApp message the itks so that we get a heads up.

OK

 

[pablo73]

As others have said he really hasn't helped himself by playing the same out of form, disinterested players over and over again.

I'm not sure where his reputation for promoting youth comes from, there hasn't really been a great deal of evidence of that over the past 5-6 years. Brave my arse.

 

[Spurzinho]

Its a weird feeling alright. I've loved the football he had us playing a couple of years ago. It was bliss, but all that time at the back of my mind I was thinking...can this last? This is so intense, it requires things to be so "perfect", to have exactly the right blend of players...

I was always slightly worried that Poch didn't seem to have a plan B beyond just getting the ball high and wide and flinging it into the box and hoping someone got on the end of it. We've always struggled under Poch when conditions are not perfect. Sure, exceptional individuals have saved us a good few times, but again, that relies on having those gamechangers fit, motivated and in-form. We've known for 18 months to 2 years that when Ericksen plays well we play well and when he doesn't...we look flat as a pancake. Individual moments of brilliance are not vindications of the manager or his philosophy or system.

I was always taught that a coach must be adaptable, flexible and guided by the actual conditions. You can wish to play like Pep era Barca but if you're the manager of Basilbrush United in the Peatbog League then its not going to happen. Your tactics must first of all reflect the physical, mental and technical capabilities of your players.

 

[danielneeds]

Its a weird feeling alright. I've loved the football he had us playing a couple of years ago. It was bliss, but all that time at the back of my mind I was thinking...can this last? This is so intense, it requires things to be so "perfect", to have exactly the right blend of players...

I was always slightly worried that Poch didn't seem to have a plan B beyond just getting the ball high and wide and flinging it into the box and hoping someone got on the end of it. We've always struggled under Poch when conditions are not perfect. Sure, exceptional individuals have saved us a good few times, but again, that relies on having those gamechangers fit, motivated and in-form. We've known for 18 months to 2 years that when Ericksen plays well we play well and when he doesn't...we look flat as a pancake. Individual moments of brilliance are not vindications of the manager or his philosophy or system.

I was always taught that a coach must be adaptable, flexible and guided by the actual conditions. You can wish to play like Pep era Barca but if you're the manager of Basilbrush United in the Peatbog League then its not going to happen. Your tactics must first of all reflect the physical, mental and technical capabilities of your players.

I think for this squad this season we needed to transition to a sort of Juve under Conte style, we’ve got excellent defenders but they need to be protected from pace and wide open spaces at this stage of their career. We have excellent attackers who function best on the break. If we played a lower block and became more belligerent defensively, I’m sure Kane, Son, Lucas and others would thrive on the counter.

 

[Nicki78]

On the flip side to that first point - a new manager might be better at picking a best team to put out *because* he hasn't been here for 5 years and can look at it objectively. It's obvious from (to pick the most obvious one) Eriksen's performances and demeanour that he shouldn't have been anywhere near the first team this season yet Poch keeps playing him.

Agree - I’m not a poch out person by any means but his persistence in playing Eriksen is baffling.

 

[rossdapep]

It does seem like for now Levy isn't panicking and Poch has probably been told he's still the man for the job.

I imagine that Levy is prepared to wait for Poch to at least get Sess and Lo Celso in and depending on where we are in January. Reassess and see if he can still turn it around.

But Poch has to show something, he has to start to sideline the unwanted players as soon as the others get back.

 

[Styopa]

As others have said he really hasn't helped himself by playing the same out of form, disinterested players over and over again.

I'm not sure where his reputation for promoting youth comes from, there hasn't really been a great deal of evidence of that over the past 5-6 years. Brave my arse.

Yeah his reputation for promoting youth is somewhat over-hyped. I think what he has actually been successful at (in the early days at least) is making already good young players even better. However most of them were already established in the first team squad. Kane is clearly the exception and he has brought Winks through but most of the others - like Walker, Rose, Eriksen, Trippier, Lamela, Son - had already played a good deal of first team football though Poch did get more out of them than previous coaches. Even Dele came into the squad having played first team football albeit at a lower level.

Paradoxically his style of working seems much better suited to younger players yet increasingly he has relied on older players in the squad. Although some of that may be due to the fact the younger players we have - KWP, Foyth, Sanchez, Winks are not as good as the players they are being asked to replace - Walker, Trippier, Rose Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Dembele.

 

[Dougal]

 

[Dougal]

Agree - I’m not a poch out person by any means but his persistence in playing Eriksen is baffling.

Imagine if he could be bothered.

 

[WalkerboyUK]

View attachment 56397

So if Verts & Toby sign new deals, that bus can be backed out of the way, Eriksen can then bugger off, and Poch wins trophies.
It's as simple as that...

 

[rez9000]

Well after reading Jack Pitt-Brooke's bit they're clearly not happy...
'The place is a regime and they’re sick of him' is the quote from a 'dressing room source'.
That's pretty brutal.

I don’t think it’s the regime per se that’s making them sick of him. I think it’s his returning home to Barcelona instead of travelling back with them to London after Madrid. THAT, for me, would explain the feeling of malaise. And it’s that feeling of malaise that makes something tolerable become complaint-worthy.

We all have aspects of our jobs we don’t like, but we put up with them because we don’t think They’re that big a deal. But then something happens that makes us unhappy and then that unpleasant yet previously tolerable thing becomes intolerable. The insignificant becomes significant.

If I had to select one thing as Poch’s biggest mistake it would be that one. If he’d flown back with the squad, spent the flight and a day or two putting his arm around shoulders, it would have made the squad feel that he was with them in their grief.

By flying straight back home after, it would have left them bereft and wondering what he thought of them and the game. HUGE mistake. Cripes he didn’t even have to fly back with them - he could have told them he was flying home but that he’d meet with them shortly after and talk.

He could have invited each of them out to dinner or his pad or done it in small groups and talked with them. Not just about the game, but about the future.

He could have used the loss as a watershed moment to refocus minds and strengthen relationships. Maybe told them that he’d organised a group get-together to happen a few days after of the whole squad and coaching staff to give them a chance to grieve, but also celebrate their achievement together. Not just fly away. I was gobsmacked when I read in the Athletic that he’d done that.

That to me suggests a BIG problem. Why he did that when it seems so out of character to his previous MO when it comes to man-management is something that concerns me. THAT, for me, would be reason to question whether he’s the right man to take us forward. If it was an aberration, a one-off, stemming from something else, then it can be forgiven as long as it doesn’t happen again. But if it’s his become a default pattern of behaviour, that’s bad.

 

[Now it's Spursonal]

Whats eating at me is say we show huge loyalty and stick with Poch and he actually somehow manages to turn things around. Well after all his flirting with Madrid and Utd who's to stay he doesnt jump at the first opportunity to leave when things get good again?

 

[Stamford]

Now in the stage of sadness. That night in Amsterdam was one of the best ever and didn't think it would unravel this quickly

 

[DelBoyN17]

My feelings on our current squad & the massive shake up needed, I just can’t see Poch getting the full support from upstairs to completely overhaul our squad that’s clearly come/coming to the end of its road .......

Lloris - French David James
Gazziniga - Decent No 2
Aurier - Not good enough (Headcase)
Toby - Passed his best & leaving
Vertonghen - On the decline, 1 more year at best
Sanchez - Colombian Chiriches, however Potential
Foyth - Potential
Davies - Not good enough
KWP - Not good enough
Rose - Passed his best & probably leaving
Sessegnon - Potential
Dier - Squad player
Winks - Quality
Sissoko - Good but really a squad player
N’Dombele - Potential
Wanyama - Finished & leaving
Skipp - Potential
Dele - Good
GLC - Unproven
Eriksen - Leaving
Son - Quality
Lamela - Squad player but not good enough
Moura - Good
Kane - Class
Parrott - Potential

So basically we need a new RB, another CB, another CM, an attacking AMF going forward, possibly another ST, to add real quality we’ll need to spend at least another £150/200 million minimum !!!

I just can’t see DL parting with that kind of money, my fear is we could end up selling HK for circa £150+ million & reinvesting that way, similar to Countinho at Liverpool, & Bale years back, hope I’m wrong but knowing how Levy works that’s the most likeliest outcome .......

 

[nicdic]

I don’t think it’s the regime per se that’s making them sick of him. I think it’s his returning home to Barcelona instead of travelling back with them to London after Madrid. THAT, for me, would explain the feeling of malaise. And it’s that feeling of malaise that makes something tolerable become complaint-worthy.

We all have aspects of our jobs we don’t like, but we put up with them because we don’t think They’re that big a deal. But then something happens that makes us unhappy and then that unpleasant yet previously tolerable thing becomes intolerable. The insignificant becomes significant.

If I had to select one thing as Poch’s biggest mistake it would be that one. If he’d flown back with the squad, spent the flight and a day or two putting his arm around shoulders, it would have made the squad feel that he was with them in their grief.

By flying straight back home after, it would have left them bereft and wondering what he thought of them and the game. HUGE mistake. Cripes he didn’t even have to fly back with them - he could have told them he was flying home but that he’d meet with them shortly after and talk.

He could have invited each of them out to dinner or his pad or done it in small groups and talked with them. Not just about the game, but about the future.

He could have used the loss as a watershed moment to refocus minds and strengthen relationships. Maybe told them that he’d organised a group get-together to happen a few days after of the whole squad and coaching staff to give them a chance to grieve, but also celebrate their achievement together. Not just fly away. I was gobsmacked when I read in the Athletic that he’d done that.

That to me suggests a BIG problem. Why he did that when it seems so out of character to his previous MO when it comes to man-management is something that concerns me. THAT, for me, would be reason to question whether he’s the right man to take us forward. If it was an aberration, a one-off, stemming from something else, then it can be forgiven as long as it doesn’t happen again. But if it’s his become a default pattern of behaviour, that’s bad.

I do know what you mean, but it's pretty standard that everyone goes their own way after the final game.

After the debacle at Newcastle a few years back, he was left seething as everyone went their own way after the game.

 

[For the love of Spurs]

My feelings on our current squad & the massive shake up needed, I just can’t see Poch getting the full support from upstairs to completely overhaul our squad that’s clearly come/coming to the end of its road .......

Lloris - French David James
Gazziniga - Decent No 2
Aurier - Not good enough (Headcase)
Toby - Passed his best & leaving
Vertonghen - On the decline, 1 more year at best
Sanchez - Colombian Chiriches, however Potential
Foyth - Potential
Davies - Not good enough
KWP - Not good enough
Rose - Passed his best & probably leaving
Sessegnon - Potential
Dier - Squad player
Winks - Quality
Sissoko - Good but really a squad player
N’Dombele - Potential
Wanyama - Finished & leaving
Skipp - Potential
Dele - Good
GLC - Unproven
Eriksen - Leaving
Son - Quality
Lamela - Squad player but not good enough
Moura - Good
Kane - Class
Parrott - Potential

So basically we need a new RB, another CB, another CM, an attacking AMF going forward, possibly another ST, to add real quality we’ll need to spend at least another £150/200 million minimum !!!

I just can’t see DL parting with that kind of money, my fear is we could end up selling HK for circa £150+ million & reinvesting that way, similar to Countinho at Liverpool, & Bale years back, hope I’m wrong but knowing how Levy works that’s the most likeliest outcome .......

This is what happens when you let the squad go stale over 2-3 seasons. Even with Ndombele, Lo Celso and RS fully fit we still have gaps.

 

[WiganSpur]

It's a good point but we are not in a position where we can just give players away and we also can't make them leave if they don't want to. Modern day football is like this unfortunately. As for bringing players in that's more on him than Levy.

I was talking to someone yesterday who is pretty well connected and in his words... If MP was so adamant on playing this diamond with two up top, why on earth wasn't a CF prioritised. We've had issues when Kanes been out playing one CF let alone wanting to play two.

Nothing regarding this formation change makes any sense.

Totally agree selling and replacing 6-7 first team players just isn’t realistic in modern football. Managing these sorts of situation is what any coach is paid to do. It’s almost as if he thinks he can only do his job in a perfect world.

 

[dontcallme]

Whats eating at me is say we show huge loyalty and stick with Poch and he actually somehow manages to turn things around. Well after all his flirting with Madrid and Utd who's to stay he doesnt jump at the first opportunity to leave when things get good again?

What flirting with Utd and Madrid?

The papers talked about it a lot and take Poch's comments out of conext but I'm genuinely surprised people think Poch is looking at the Utd job.

 

[Stamford]

What flirting with Utd and Madrid?

The papers talked about it a lot and take Poch's comments out of conext but I'm genuinely surprised people think Poch is looking at the Utd job.

Talking about celebrating a Utd winner in Madrid for instance. Look at the way Klopp responds to such suggestions, clear he isn't going anywhere.

 

[rez9000]

There needs to be ground given on both sides. Poch needs to listen to player grievences and change things up accordingly. They should be allowed to have a say in training methods and tactics in a no holds barred, clear the air meeting. Poch also needs to work out which players he can trust and sideline the ones he can't. Levy needs to give a cast iron assurance that he'll back Poch, whatever the realistic cost, in January. Poch needs to put a lid on all the speculation about his own future and try to repair some of the damage he's done, and take responsibility for that.

As I've said before, professional footballers are generally pampered prima donnas with fragile mentalities and overly inflated opinions of themselves. Our lot have just landed with a bump in the real world and need to recognise that the ony way out of this is to pull together and just for a moment, stop thinking only about themselves.

I want to find a medal-maker to forge an actual Winner’s medal for this post!

I probably won’t, because it’s a lot of bother and expense and I wouldn’t know where to post it...