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Brave New World: Inside Pochettino's Spurs

homer hotspur

Well-Known Member
Dec 7, 2014
2,868
4,637
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Worth a read.
IMO it gives a good insight into him, his character and what he expects from his players and his staff, These have been with him for a long time.
Seems to get on very well with DL as well.
i am not much of a reader but raced through this book, given on Christmas day. The format of a chapter for each month of the season was perfect ,as I tend to read things in chapters and then come back later. Also, the matches were so recent that I could easily bring them to mind - my memory is not like it used to be when I could easily recall matches from many years ago. Poch is very clearly the absolute beating heart of the club and , having read the book, you can clearly see that it would be an absolute disaster if he were to leave. The majority of players identify with him more than the club- I think we have to hope that his 'era' is a long one, because nothing which follows will be quite the same. One thing that surprised me was that he does seem to have a few 'Hoddle tendancies' , some rather unusual thoughts and beliefs about how he can forsee certain traits and read ' aura's'. He is a very intense and sensitive person - i would think that some of the stories about how he has personally interacted with players(eg Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Danny Rose, Harry Winks) make him unique as a 'father figure' type of manager. He has somehow got the balance of totally respected 'boss' and very close friend with most of the team.
I think we are very lucky to have him and his close knit team I don't see him going elsewhere as things stand- my guess is he will be aiming to see this contract out and then probably head back to Spain, He definitely won't go to Barcelona but Real Madrid could prove troublesome. He could get disillusioned if we lost any of our top players, he was really upset when Luke Shaw left Southampton but I don't think it will be the club's doing with DL in charge, it would only be if the player demanded to go( Dele Alli possibly could go this way-only my thought?)
I also think DL deserves credit for how he has built up the relationship with Poch. It is quite clear that DL is not guilty of not releasing funds for transfers etc, it is more likely to be Poch who says No and Poch fully understands our financial restrictions compared to the big 3 if we are unable to compete for a player he does want.

Recommended book for any Spurs fan.
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
Finally got my book today - late christmas gift as my wife did not realize she had to order the hardcopy from the UK - wont be released until May in the US. Looking forward to reading it this weekend!
 

mickdale

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2016
1,069
1,409
I enjoyed it.
Not a great work in a literature sense but a good insight into Pochettino and his team.

Obviously there’s no real earth shattering secrets revealed.

If you remember the author has English as a second language it’s more forgiving.
 

ChristianBaler

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2010
1,877
1,246
I enjoyed it.
Not a great work in a literature sense but a good insight into Pochettino and his team.

Obviously there’s no real earth shattering secrets revealed.

If you remember the author has English as a second language it’s more forgiving.

I found this bit interesting....since most of us really dont know who sanctioned the deal for him. Sounds like Levy did

"1 September. The transfer window has closed and Sissoko's signing was confirmed late last night while I am spending my last hours in Ibiza. I think Daniel's thought process was, "he's a good player, but Mauricio will make him better". We'll see."
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
I found this bit interesting....since most of us really dont know who sanctioned the deal for him. Sounds like Levy did

"1 September. The transfer window has closed and Sissoko's signing was confirmed late last night while I am spending my last hours in Ibiza. I think Daniel's thought process was, "he's a good player, but Mauricio will make him better". We'll see."

Doubt we'd have got him if poch didn't agree. Doubt he'd have got as much game time if poch didn't like him.

He wouldn't have been my choice though.
 

ChristianBaler

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2010
1,877
1,246
Doubt we'd have got him if poch didn't agree. Doubt he'd have got as much game time if poch didn't like him.

He wouldn't have been my choice though.

There isn’t really anyone else to play though? Sure Lamela is back but I’m sure they want to ease him as shown by his appearances. I don’t think Poch really want him especially with the context of those quotes above
 

markdadude

Well-Known Member
Oct 25, 2007
445
470
How can a man who has literally said nothing of any interest in all of his interviews write a book that is in any way interesting to us as fans?
 

JimmyG2

SC Supporter
Dec 7, 2006
15,014
20,779
Poch might not have wanted Sissoko
and accepted him somewhat reluctantly.
Not worth upsetting the Chairman over,
he could always not play him much.
But he does even when he performs woefully
he stays on and on and on
( See W:Ham)

Considering the consultation, care and video analysis of everything
toilet procedure and stools included
well not quite but nearly
how can he be so wrong on this.

Fascinatingly insightful book about Mauricio
toilet paper to any non Spurs or Southampton fan.

Emotional bonding with players exceptional
Lallana, Shaw, Mason, Dele
He's like the dad they never had.
Very principled and strict man with a huge sentimental side.

Loved it
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,957
I found this bit interesting....since most of us really dont know who sanctioned the deal for him. Sounds like Levy did

"1 September. The transfer window has closed and Sissoko's signing was confirmed late last night while I am spending my last hours in Ibiza. I think Daniel's thought process was, "he's a good player, but Mauricio will make him better". We'll see."

I think I've quoted that paragraph on here before. The most revealing bit I've bolded. Poch obviously didn't have much faith that the player would turn out differently under him.
 

Gb160

Well done boys. Good process
Jun 20, 2012
23,646
93,315
How can a man who has literally said nothing of any interest in all of his interviews write a book that is in any way interesting to us as fans?
Interviews are contractual obligations, he has no choice but to give them.
 

JimmyG2

SC Supporter
Dec 7, 2006
15,014
20,779
How can a man who has literally said nothing of any interest in all of his interviews write a book that is in any way interesting to us as fans?

Mainly because he didn't write it.
It's ghosted through interviews with
a well known Spanish pundit and biographer.*
Gained something in translation obviously

*Guillem Balague

Read it, if your a Spurs fan you'll love it.
 

Gassin's finest

C'est diabolique
May 12, 2010
37,355
87,828
Having read it, it's a little bit vanilla in terms of the insight into the club and pochs methods... But then you would expect that I suppose. The stories of MP's playing career, youth in Argentina etc, are good reading.
 

THFCSPURS19

The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
Jan 6, 2013
37,886
130,485
How can a man who has literally said nothing of any interest in all of his interviews write a book that is in any way interesting to us as fans?

I guess you haven’t actually read a lot of the stuff he’s said in press conferences (usually after the press embargo is lifted).
 

Hazardousman

Audere est Facere
Jul 24, 2013
4,619
8,944
Does it have a chapter in the book where he talks about the bravery of failing to make subs because he is afraid of a club in the bottom 3 getting a result against us?
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
I couldn't resist mate lol.

When you gonna publish your book 'Poch needs to take a long hard look at himself'?

Guaranteed top seller round these parts especially after we've dropped points and missed out on a transfer target ;)
 

Hazardousman

Audere est Facere
Jul 24, 2013
4,619
8,944
This was my favourite quote:

"4th January 2018 It was a cold wet night at home to West Ham, I noticed Andy Carroll still looked like a greasy member of some forgotten boyband of the 90's, they have decided to keep him on the bench for now (possibly to avoid embarrassment.)

69 mins into the game, I am watching Sissoko glide around the pitch with elegance, surely the breakthrough has to come soon, I am concerned if I make a substitution that the mighty West Ham will score, they have such quality players, you can never doubt a team of such world class talent and being brave against a team like this is foolish!

Then the worst possible thing happened, on 70 mins the thought crossed my mind that I might have to sub Sissoko (not because I doubt his talent but because he is tiring from all the excellence he has shown for the first 69 mins) for some reason, when this thought crossed my mind, Sissoko felt it, he picked up on my thoughts, such is his genius he can read minds, that distracted him for a split second which then allowed West Ham to score, a typical strike for one of their players where every single goal is a worldie.

"This is football" I say to myself under my breath as I clutch on to my Alex Ferguson autobiography, gazing at my bench, looking at the wasteland that stands before me, none of these players will have an ounce of the talent Sissoko does, it makes me feel physically sick and just as I open my mouth to vomit a bubble lands on the tip of my tongue, it's them again, the bubble blowers...I won't sleep again tonight after reading the SC match thread"
 

Hazardousman

Audere est Facere
Jul 24, 2013
4,619
8,944
When you gonna publish your book 'Poch needs to take a long hard look at himself'?

Guaranteed top seller round these parts especially after we've dropped points and missed out on a transfer target ;)

I could make a killing mate, number 1 on the christmas gift list for SC lol.

I will name it "Poch, takes a long hard look at himself"
 
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