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The Mauricio Pochettino thread

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Archibald Leitch

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Aug 3, 2017
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I must say that was more than a little concerning for me too.
Nah. It suits Poch to keep Daniel on his toes at the moment. There is an important summer coming up. Levy wants him to sign a contract extension (understandably). It's in Poch's interest to let Levy know that it isn't a done deal. He will be looking for assurances in terms of playing budget.
 
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Some of you are letting various shitty media outlets including a horrendous piece of writing by Duncan Castle worry you? This is after the weekend where in some corners of our fanbase - not aimed at anyone on here - Poch might have taken us as far as we can go because of a semi final loss to United ...

I'm not sure how that works but okay.

As for the priorities and League/CL/Domestic cups - we made it to the semi final of the FA Cup, if he really didn't fancy it we could have probably gone out a lot earlier and caused a different kind of shitfit both on here and in the media I guess, but at least it would have stopped Real sniffing about if we had lost to the mighty Newport ....
 

guiltyparty

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Sep 21, 2005
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I wonder if he is facing a similar situation to 2 years ago where the end of the season culminated in the Newcastle performance.

Then he subsequently said that some players were already thinking of the summer holidays, new contracts and the Euros. This led to the massive drop off in performance.

What if it’s happening again? The players beat Chelsea and think top 4 is done. They see the rest of our fixtures and just assume we will win the games. It wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened to teams.

If so, at least he’s been through it before and can address the problem players. If he’s as brave as we think he is then he will drop those who he thinks are having trouble performing because their minds are somewhere else.

The Watford game will tell us a lot.

The Watford game is pretty big now. On paper our run in looks easier than Chelsea's – 3 home games against no one in top 6 to their 2 away games and Liverpool.

But Leicester and Newcastle are proper bogey teams for us – we've lost 3 of our last 5 league games against Newcastle, including 2 at home, while our record against Leicester is W1 D2 L2, including a defeat at home – and both teams will be well up for it. It's the worst time to play West Brom, too.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are W2 D2 L1 against Swansea (tho they did lose away to them in 2016). You'd expect them to smash Huddersfield at home given as they did away, too.

The good news is that Newcastle away is a bit of a bogey game for Chelsea, with them not having won at St James's Park since 2011 - the last 4 games there amazingly seeing 3 wins for Newcastle and 1 draw - although they've beaten them comfortably twice this year already at home in league and cup.

And similarly on our side, Chelsea haven't beaten Liverpool in the league since 2014, somewhat incredibly. Last six home and away have seen 4 draws and 2 losses.

So it's still very much favouring us. However, we need to smash Watford to get a head start as that's definitely our easiest game left.
 
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Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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Yes it’s sensible to take seriously a comp we’ve never won in our history and the other we’ve only won twice in our 111 years of existence with the last one being 57 bloody years ago. In the meantime let’s sack the the biggest domestic cup in club football that’s not been won in 27 years and the other we’ve not won in 10.

If our attitude doesn’t change sharpish this team/moment in time will go down in history as a massive waste of opportunity as we’re not winning the 2 big ones anytime soon!!!!!!!!!

How is getting to two consecutive semi finals “sacking it off”?

Are you disagreeing that we should prioritise the league and CL?
 

coys200

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May 22, 2017
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Incredible people forget we were unbeaten for 14 games in PL before city. We lost to a great city team, were a bit flat against Brighton who have been great at home. And lost a 50/50 game to United. In context it’s hardly a crisis. If we struggle against Watford then I’ll start worrying. But right now there should be no panic.
 

Graysonti

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May 8, 2011
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Incredible people forget we were unbeaten for 14 games in PL before city. We lost to a great city team, were a bit flat against Brighton who have been great at home. And lost a 50/50 game to United. In context it’s hardly a crisis. If we struggle against Watford then I’ll start worrying. But right now there should be no panic.


Exactly :)
 

SpartanSpur

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Jan 27, 2011
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Apparently the former Real Madrid chairman Ramon Calderon called in to Talksport this morning, and when asked about a potential managerial change in the summer said Zidane will stay, regardless of what happens in the CL. I'd imagine that's from some insider knowledge (not that I'd expect Alan Sugar to have any idea what Levy is doing!).
 

Metalhead

But that's a debate for another thread.....
Nov 24, 2013
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Nah. It suits Poch to keep Daniel on his toes at the moment. There is an important summer coming up. Levy wants him to sign a contract extension (understandably). It's in Poch's interest to let Levy know that it isn't a done deal. He will be looking for assurances in terms of playing budget.
None of us would be sorry to see Poch leverage extra money out of Levy for transfers, that's for sure.
 

St José Dominguez

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Jul 15, 2014
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Dunno why Klopp isn't being talking about regarding the Madrid job more than Poch. Won league titles, got to CL final, massive chance of winning CL in first season in CL with Liverpool. He plays that mad attacking way that Real love, seems the perfect fit. Poch is more a project type manager currently not one with any proof of trophy success yet. Hopefully Klopp goes to Madrid and takes Salah with him.
 

George94

George
Feb 1, 2015
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Dunno why Klopp isn't being talking about regarding the Madrid job more than Poch. Won league titles, got to CL final, massive chance of winning CL in first season in CL with Liverpool. He plays that mad attacking way that Real love, seems the perfect fit. Poch is more a project type manager currently not one with any proof of trophy success yet. Hopefully Klopp goes to Madrid and takes Salah with him.

Starting to sound a bit like the people we used to laugh at when they said "Hope Poch fucks off to Madrid and takes Kane with him"...
 

NickHSpurs

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Mar 14, 2004
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I personally think Poch has squeezed all that he can out of the current squad, the only way he can take us that next level to win something is simply to improve the squad.

The fact is we swapped the best right back in the league for a couple of players in Trippier and Aurier that are very inconsistent are not quite that elite level when we come up against the very best teams. The same can be said about losing Danny Rose to injury and form vs Ben Davies for example.

There's not many but there are certain players who just don't quite cut it when we go up against the very best and that shouldn't be aimed as a negative against Poch because he has still improved these players, they just don't quite cut it at the very top.
 
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St José Dominguez

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Starting to sound a bit like the people we used to laugh at when they said "Hope Poch fucks off to Madrid and takes Kane with him"...

Last sentence was meant as tongue in cheek due to that. The constant linking of our players and manager to others and lack of regarding Klopp and Salah who would both be perfect for Madrid I find amusing and transparent.
 

Bus-Conductor

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Oct 19, 2004
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I personally think Poch has squeezed all that he can out of the current squad, the only way he can take us that next level to win something is simply to improve the squad.

The fact is we swapped the best right back in the league for a couple of players in Trippier and Aurier that are very inconsistent are not quite that elite level when we come up against the very best teams. The same can be said about losing Danny Rose to injury and form vs Ben Davies for example.

There's not many but there are certain players who just don't quite cut it when we go up against the very best and that shouldn't be aimed as a negative against Poch because he has still improved these players, they just don't quite cut it at the very top.

The full backs are probably the least exasperating factor in any performance issues we have. It would help if Pochettino rotated them more intuitively (like Aurier playing against City and Trippier against Brighton would have more logical). Just go and read what ManC fans are saying about Walker.

We've done just as well results wise, with Trippier and Davies as we ever did with Walker and Rose (finished stronger last year with Trippier than the previous season with Walker when we pissed away second place to Arsenal). Trippier and Davies are actually very consistent players. Not always setting the world ablaze, but rarely stinking the place out either, and both fulfil their remit of playing as de facto midfielders pretty well, especially Trippier who is still making more than double the key passes and created chances than Walker per 90. (and for the record has made zero errors leading to goals compared to Walker's 2).

Areas like midfield are the more major problem. We have almost zero creativity, tempo or incision from the middle of the park. Eriksen has had to become a hybrid 8/10 and is spreading himself very thinly, doing way more than anyone else in games, playing nearly every game as well.

We have erratic forward players who can do the sublime but often struggle with the simple. Alli and Son aren't brilliant at pressing, Kane goes through phases of doing it well and phases where he doesn't.

And last, but most important of all is Poch. He's a brilliant coach, but to absolve him of all blame for any of our foibles is not right. We are a really good team because of him, but some of our ailments are because of him too. He is young and still learning and there are facets of his management that can also get better, and hopefully will.
 
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St José Dominguez

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Jul 15, 2014
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I personally think Poch has squeezed all that he can out of the current squad, the only way he can take us that next level to win something is simply to improve the squad.

The fact is we swapped the best right back in the league for a couple of players in Trippier and Aurier that are very inconsistent are not quite that elite level when we come up against the very best teams. The same can be said about losing Danny Rose to injury and form vs Ben Davies for example.

There's not many but there are certain players who just don't quite cut it when we go up against the very best and that shouldn't be aimed as a negative against Poch because he has still improved these players, they just don't quite cut it at the very top.

I agree but at same time find it quite sad that we need a team and squad of utter perfection to win anything. Other teams are winning things with clear flaws in their side, guess it's just the way it is when it comes to winning your first trophy. Perfection or failure.

Cut throat summer though for us, if a player has no significant role in squad then they need shipping out and replaced. If Sissoko or Llorente for example are still in the squad come August then we've messed up the window. Don't care what anyone says this is the most important transfer window for a long time.
 

PeeEyeEmPee

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Aug 31, 2012
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I personally think Poch has squeezed all that he can out of the current squad, the only way he can take us that next level to win something is simply to improve the squad.

The fact is we swapped the best right back in the league for a couple of players in Trippier and Aurier that are very inconsistent are not quite that elite level when we come up against the very best teams. The same can be said about losing Danny Rose to injury and form vs Ben Davies for example.

There's not many but there are certain players who just don't quite cut it when we go up against the very best and that shouldn't be aimed as a negative against Poch because he has still improved these players, they just don't quite cut it at the very top.

at the risk of sounding like a broken record, Man U aren't at the very top, and those same players pissed all over them in January. now, we can put Saturday's performance and result down to it just being football, or we can look at it as being part of a pattern that we need to address. and everyone takes a bit of responsibility for that. Levy, the players, and yes the manager too. far too many on here seem to want to absolve him of any criticism whatsoever, which is just insane. it really doesn't matter how well he's done up till now, he can still do better, just as everyone else.
 

lukespurs7

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Feb 21, 2006
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Incredible people forget we were unbeaten for 14 games in PL before city. We lost to a great city team, were a bit flat against Brighton who have been great at home. And lost a 50/50 game to United. In context it’s hardly a crisis. If we struggle against Watford then I’ll start worrying. But right now there should be no panic.
Spot on.

It’s all about perspective and the way you look at things. Some negative Nellys will say under Poch we bottle or can’t get over the line in big games such as man.u fa cup semi, Chelsea semi last year, Juventus in CL.

OR you could look at the tons and tons of positive results and progress we’ve made under him and remember that he’s still a young and improving coach:
-‘challeneged for titles in 2 seasons’
-finished above arsenal first time in 20 years or whatever it was
-beat Chelsea away first time in 30 years
-gone from pre poch losing to lpool city etc 4/5/6-0 to competing with them and having beaten all of the other top 6 at least once under poch
-beating Real Madrid!
-drawing with Madrid at their place
-beating Dortmund Home and away
-undefeated at home last year
-look at all the players he’s improved!! : lloris, Davies, trippier,jan, Dembele, dier, son, alli, eriksen, Kane .....
-tactical improvements when we sat deeper at home vs lpool and dortmund
-2 up front risk away to R.Madrid

Sure he can improve and sometimes makes mistakes but fuck me look how much he’s improved us! We’ve been playing Home games at a neutral ground this year and have a much smaller wage and transfer budget.

Whatever way you look at it he’s massively overachieving with the resources he has.

Levy just needs to back him big time this summer.

COYS
 

BringBack_leGin

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Jul 28, 2004
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2017/18: FA cup semi final
2016/17: FA cup semi final
2014/15: League Cup final.

I’d say, regardless of what is said publicly, he takes domestic cups seriously enough.
 

PeeEyeEmPee

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Aug 31, 2012
1,925
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2017/18: FA cup semi final
2016/17: FA cup semi final
2014/15: League Cup final.

I’d say, regardless of what is said publicly, he takes domestic cups seriously enough.
whether or not we take it seriously, we've not beaten a single Top 6 side in a knockout game under him. we've lost to Man U, Chelsea (x2), Liverpool and Arsenal. and if we're going to use the "well they've got more money than us" excuse for not being able to manage a single victory, then how come we've also lost to Leicester, Palace, and West Ham in that time too?

if it's all down to money, then we shouldn't be losing to poorer teams. and if it's just "football" then we should be winning some and losing some against both rich and poor teams. that record tells me that at least part (and I'd argue it's the biggest part) of the problem is down to us and nothing/no-one else.

EDIT: @Vinny_Sammways_left_peg, you're how old exactly?
 
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