General feeling moving in the right direction or way off?

[thinktank]

1. I think towards the end of the first season though that, whilst you may not see it every single game, there should be clear signs/hallmarks of how the team will play. Currently what do we have... We know they will work pretty hard and battle away and have belief, but the team pressing game has only been shown on the odd occasion and I think our play with the ball at tempo has also been hit and miss. Whilst I'm not expecting perfection, I don't think its unreasonable to expect that we string a few clear and defined performances together between now and the end of the season to set us up well for next year, especially when its one game a week and we will have more time on the training pitch etc.

I think our adoption of the pressing style has been decent overall, considering how many games we've played and the depth quality (or lack thereof) of player we have in the squad to rotate with.

What sort of things have you noticed?

Pace, pressing, fullback play, quick passing.

 

[mrlilywhite]

So much depends on the summer

If we have the opportunity to get rid of all the detritus at the club and bring in a couple of players poch actually wants and needs, and supplant this with an injection of at least 3 or 4 youth players, then i think we can get an identity in playing style, as well as the identity of academy products, pressing team,late goals from talisman. Moving forward

But if we continue to be have the squad hamstrung by negative influences because we split hairs over a torn 500k in the selling fee, to continue to top up the squad with bland bargain signings rather than bringing in genuine quality or signing yoof players before they become the next big thing, then this is about as good as it will get

Would love a squad overhaul to get us going forward but with an injection of yoof rather than dozens of incomings, and then grow together like leeds in 2000. Even though it might be some time before we would gel and compete, id feel a lot more positive of long term competitiveness than i do now

That might be ok with a few fans, but you can bet your bottom dollar that most won't see it like that. Expectations of fans at our club just won't accept that as good enough and would be calling for Levy to make one of his knee jerk reactions. An element of trust is far beyond most peoples rationale at our club.

Forsaking short term ambition over long term potential isn't exactly risk averse. Leeds in 2000, was in principle idealistic, but it didn't end up that way.

 

[The Scarecrow]

Have 100% faith in Poch and I think he has a clear vision of where he wants the club to be in a few years. He's got us playing good football with limited resources and has taken our young players to the next level. If we want to get somewhere we need to invest this Summer though and can't be selling our best players no matter what club comes in for them. I don't think missing out on Europa for a season would do us any harm either. Feel like he needs a season where he has 6 or 7 days between games to really get his philosophy across.

I'd love us to win the Europa League, but we don't look like doing that any time soon. As long as we go out in the last 32/last 16, it really is a meaningless competition, and I think we'd be better off without it next season.

 

[mpickard2087]

I think our adoption of the pressing style has been decent overall, considering how many games we've played and the depth quality (or lack thereof) of player we have in the squad to rotate with.



Pace, pressing, fullback play, quick passing.

'Odd occasion' was underplaying it on second reflection, I still wouldn't say it has been consistent so far. With some players its a struggle though, I agree.

As for the youth teams, they have done some things (such as pressing) better than the first team for about 3 years now. I'm not sure that's down to Poch... Though selecting him as manager I'm sure was a reflection of his way of playing fitting how the club has been developing its own way of playing the game.

 

[thinktank]

'Odd occasion' was underplaying it on second reflection, I still wouldn't say it has been consistent so far. With some players its a struggle though, I agree.

As for the youth teams, they have done some things (such as pressing) better than the first team for about 3 years now. I'm not sure that's down to Poch... Though selecting him as manager I'm sure was a reflection of his way of playing fitting how the club has been developing its own way of playing the game.

Have you watched any recent games?

 

[mpickard2087]

Have you watched any recent games?

Yes, I've seen two or three of the televised games this season. What in particular?

 

[lillywhites61]

I have to say I am not as gutted as I thought I would be, when we lost to Pompey I was more disapointed as we should have won it. Today I think we gave as good as we could with a team looking knackered.

We have some cracking youngsters coming through who look to be future stars, for me Bentaleb stood out today and looked brilliant in the middle, such composure for a lad of his age.

I am very positive, a week like this will be the making of this team because it will hurt! And they will learn from it.

 

[scat1620]

I'm far happier than I was when we were under AVB and Ramos, less happy than I was when we were under Redknapp, and probably about par with how happy I was when we were under Jol.

 

[THFC_67]

Definitely moving in the right direction. Stick with Poch and the younger players, only buy players that fit the way he wants us to play and we'll be fine. We need to be patient, the team and manager are still learning and there will be setbacks along the way, but keep in mind the bigger picture. I've seen a few false dawns in my time but I genuinely feel that we're moving forward, one step at a time and we'll get there.

 

[dontcallme]

I'm still a little on the fence.

We've seen some good perofrmances and some bad performances this season. Always to be expected.

Some think our inconsistent form is to do with the cups. They might be right.

I will start to form a more complete vision of Spurs under Poch from now until the end of the season. No more cup games and less rotation.

I don't see any reason why our form shouldn't considerably improve between now and the end of the season.

 

[thinktank]

Yes, I've seen two or three of the televised games this season. What in particular?

Saints most recent.

Spoiler

http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015...layers-have-played-this-s/&utm_source=Twitter

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Seeing as the Youth team has been mentioned, the FA Youth Cup semi-final (against Chelsea) is live on one of the ITV channels this week.

 

[Larryjanta]

Are we likely to see any of these youngsters promoted this season or are they all out on loan? Would be good to use the remaining 12 weeks to plan for next season.

Possibly but also, perhaps just as importantly, would help them get good, potentially Prem, loans

 

[Spurger King]

I'm far happier than I was when we were under AVB and Ramos, less happy than I was when we were under Redknapp, and probably about par with how happy I was when we were under Jol.

Feel about the same. Under Jol we looked like we were on the verge of being a decent team. Under Harry we were a decent team. Under AVB we ruined a decent team, and now we're back to being on the verge again.

I love seeing young players breaking into our first-team, and we have a real possibility of establishing an identity that the fans actually care about. On the flip-side, when I see those knuckle-dragging racist window-licking pond life scum celebrating, I can't help harbouring hopes of seeing us having the expensive and proven players that would allow us to compete on a level playing field.

In answer to the OP's question - I think we're treading water, but have switched from a team that had lost the will to stay afloat, to a team that is learning to swim.

 

[beats1]

Saints most recent.

Spoiler

http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/02/24/tottenhams-under-21s-the-best-team-my-players-have-played-this-s/?utm_medium=share+button&utm_campaign=social+media&utm_content=/en-gb/2015/02/24/tottenhams-under-21s-the-best-team-my-players-have-played-this-s/&utm_source=Twitter

Honestly the youth teams have always been like that, its nothing new

 

[thinktank]

Honestly the youth teams have always been like that, its nothing new

That intense?

 

[beats1]

That intense?

Yes, we have always dominated possession and press our bollocks off

Its why most of us rather watch the U21's then the crap pretty trying to convince us that was WIP under AVB

 

[Spursidol]

Seeing as the Youth team has been mentioned, the FA Youth Cup semi-final (against Chelsea) is live on one of the ITV channels this week.

Yup ITV 4 - both legs,

White Hart Lane - Thursday 5th March KO @ 7.45 http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/fayc-sf-1-date-230215/

Stamford Bridge - Wednesday 18th March KO @ 7.00

There's usually a good turnout for these matches in the youth thread

 

[Bobbins]

I'd love us to win the Europa League, but we don't look like doing that any time soon. As long as we go out in the last 32/last 16, it really is a meaningless competition, and I think we'd be better off without it next season.

I'd love us to not be in it next season - I'm aware being in Europe is important, and it's good experience, but if we're going to be pulling through more youngsters and integrating these infamous 'Poch's own players' (whoever they are), we could really do with a less hectic season and more time on the training ground to integrate everyone in the way Poch wants. One full season without the Europa distraction could do us good for several seasons to come.

 

[ButchCassidy]

The reason Europa was such a struggle this season was because we only have maybe 9-12 players who truly fit in Poch's system, which has left us having to choose every Thursday whether to use players we need at the weekend, or use players who don't fit and play like shite. Let Poch shape the squad, let Europa be a proving ground for blooding youth and for players trying to break into our top XI, and I don't think we'd have a problem really. Very unfortunate how the timing coincided with the cup final this season.