Gradual Improvement & Giving It Time

[eddiev14]

I am pleased with our progression under Pocchetino as I can see gradual improvement in each game, things clicking in different areas of the pitch.

However part of this satisfaction is due to how little time Poch has actually had to work with the players, teach them new things, build confidence and also (crucially) get them to unlearn all of their bad habits.

Just look at our schedule since August, it has been utterly ridiculous and our progress has definitely been slowed by this.

Whether it is the Europa League, League Cup or the stupid (and monthly!) international breaks, Poch has barely had a week where there hasn't been a mid-week game to prepare for, days travelling abroad or 80% of them jetting off for 2 weeks to train with their national teams.

It has been so fragmented.

This isn't to make excuses, it's just the reality of it. We have more Europa League and League Cup matches to come, plus ANOTHER sodding international break in November.

So, I'm expecting to see a gradual increase in it 'clicking' on the pitch but probably alongside a few mixed results.

The signs are good, namely:

• Poch is not afraid of dropping players who do not perform (Dembele etc)
• Poch is giving our talented youth players a chance
• The understanding between the front four grows with every game
• Increasing signs of the high press (eg our goal v City)

We HAVE to stick with this and not focus on the league table right now.

Instead, look for and pick out the gradual improvements - because those little improvements and tactical adjustments (however fleeting they are right now) will be a microcosm of what MP has been trying to implement during his limited time on the training ground.

I know it's not easy to 'forget about the league' given where we were a few years ago, but I genuinely think that come February/March - after Poch has spent some serious hours on the training ground with them - we will be an outstanding team.

You never know, we might have a strong finish for once! Wouldn't that be nice

COYS!

 

[Mouse!]

The goals against Arsenal and City - where Eriksen and Mason robbed their respective opposition defenders high up the pitch - were very encouraging signs.

Goals that simply would not have been scored under AVB, for fear that the pressing player would be out of position, leaving us defensively vulnerable.

Looking forward to watching us develop and eventually play this exciting brand of football with some consistency.

 

[DaSpurs]

Completely agree with this. I for one though am simply immensely pleased we've now got a manager who not only recognized a massive problem for us (IMO our biggest problem for awhile now), and has been willing to drop international stars in order to remedy this problem. I am beyond delighted to finally see a genuinely dynamic forward passer in our midfield. It has already made a massive difference, and I especially look forward to seeing how we look with this new setup now that we're on the other end of a rough three game stretch in the league.

I can honestly say I'm the most genuinely excited about Spurs as I've been since the disappointment and chaotic time that was spring/summer 2012. Even when Bale was droppin' nuts on the league in the winter of 2012/13 you could feel the dooming loom of all the eyes of the monstrous continental clubs. In the summer of 2013 there were just too many questions left unanswered and positions left unaddressed to really get into it, and for once we seem to have finally found an idea as to how we want to play even if it's nowhere near completion. Very positive about Spurs at the moment.

 

[ralvy]

nah, we suck...

My Cowboys, on the other hand, best team in the NFL. Fuck yeah!

 

[eddiev14]

Completely agree with this. I for one though am simply immensely pleased we've now got a manager who not only recognized a massive problem for us (IMO our biggest problem for awhile now), and has been willing to drop international stars in order to remedy this problem. I am beyond delighted to finally see a genuinely dynamic forward passer in our midfield. It has already made a massive difference, and I especially look forward to seeing how we look with this new setup now that we're on the other end of a rough three game stretch in the league.

I can honestly say I'm the most genuinely excited about Spurs as I've been since the disappointment and chaotic time that was spring/summer 2012. Even when Bale was droppin' nuts on the league in the winter of 2012/13 you could feel the dooming loom of all the eyes of the monstrous continental clubs. In the summer of 2013 there were just too many questions left unanswered and positions left unaddressed to really get into it, and for once we seem to have finally found an idea as to how we want to play even if it's nowhere near completion. Very positive about Spurs at the moment.

Me too. The fact that he's one of our youth players makes it even more fantastic.

So many of our attacks were very fluid on Saturday, it was really good to see. I actually just had a look at the stats and we had 19 shots - that many away at City is a real positive!

I think we should expect a few high scoring games whilst we sort the defence out. That might take time but it'll sure be a lot more exciting than the dross we had to endure under AVB!

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

Giving it time?

But that requires patience and common sense and looking at things from a point of view that isn't one of a pre determined negative agenda.

Yep, unfortunately no chance of that then, going by many people on here.

Personally I agree with a lot of your post though.

 

[eddiev14]

Giving it time?

But that requires patience and common sense and looking at things from a point of view that isn't one of a pre determined negative agenda.

Yep, unfortunately no chance of that then, going by many people on here.

Personally I agree with a lot of your post though.

Yep, and I'm willing to bet that at least 50% of the people on here moaning would have been saying in the summer that Poch needs time. Yet as soon as the season starts they get sucked in by the knee-jerk media and our obsession with 'Top 4'.

I've found that as soon as you find a way of letting this go and focussing on the positives, then watching us becomes a lot more enjoyable because you're looking for progression and not necessarily just the points on the table.

Having said that, I reckon we'll all be gripped by the last two months of the season. I think we'll be a very well oiled machine by then.

 

[tototoner]

Unfortunately time is a very short word in football, good OP though - points well made

 

[Gbspurs]

Definitely happy to give it time and definitely feel there is progress but I can't help but think we need a huge clear out to rid us of the shit or the people that just aren't going to cut it. Get some money back into the club and let Poch invest in players who he believes can work in his system.

 

[Krafty]

This season its all about performance and progression for me - I don't care how we do in terms of results, top, cups, (of course I want us to do well) - and after a little blip, I think we are starting to see some positive change.

Let's be honest, there is a lot of players either poor or not meeting their potential in the current squad and its pleasing to see Poch being given the power to make changes. Until we get the squad down in numbers, and up in quality Pochettino rates, then we will have lots of indifferent results and performances as the manager tries players out in different positions, different roles, different combinations.

Once Poch has made it explicit who will be staying and who will be going we can expect a period of friction, with players speaking out, rumours in the paper, and a lot made out of what we haven't achieved. This is when we, the fans, need to stay strong because there is nothing worse than a disgruntled player, and there will be lots of them as Poch makes the changes that need to be made.

 

[prawnsandwich]

I gave Ramos time. I gave AVB time-and our performances got worse not better. It is not time that is the issue it is inflexiblilty.

The only good thing I can see so far from MoPo is with regards to identifying players that needed to go. I have confidence that the squad will improve in quality and that players that are not good enough will leave. We should then have a leaner squad and with more youngsters-more passion and ambition. But on the footballing side unless he starts playing 2 proper strikers (at least at home) I can't see our performances improving short or medium term and long term impractical stubborn tactical dogma will be his undoing.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

I gave Ramos time. I gave AVB time-and our performances got worse not better. It is not time that is the issue it is inflexiblilty.

The only good thing I can see so far from MoPo is with regards to identifying players that needed to go. I have confidence that the squad will improve in quality and that players that are not good enough will leave. We should then have a leaner squad and with more youngsters-more passion and ambition. But on the footballing side unless he starts playing 2 proper strikers (at least at home) I can't see our performances improving short or medium term and long term impractical stubborn tactical dogma will be his undoing.

Flipping hell, you're so negative it's unbelievable.

 

[prawnsandwich]

Flipping hell, you're so negative it's unbelievable.

I am making suggestions to IMPROVE our performances and praising MoPo for improving the squad-and that to you is negative?

What is unbelievable is that after getting our arse spanked by City you feel proud of that performance.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

I am making suggestions to IMPROVE our performances and praising MoPo for improving the squad-and that to you is negative?

What is unbelievable that after getting our arses spanked by City you feel proud of that performance.

Because I can identify positives as well as negatives, and I don't constantly pick out the negatives in players and performances

 

[prawnsandwich]

I praised the players that played well in the game such as Mason, Eriksen, Dier etc.
But the team performance was not praise worthy. I am trying to get something POSITIVE from the match by suggesting changes to improve our game.

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

This is the most attractive football we've played since Redknapp was in charge. But don't for one second think i'm praising Redknapp. He was lucky to inherit a squad with Bale, King, Modric and VDV. Redknapp let them play football and their natural game made us play some amazing stuff.

Poch is producing stuff that is not far off the football we played then, but with players not even half as good. Imagine if Poch had that 10-12 group of players...

I trust Pochettino and i think it'll come good. The work he has already done on Rose, Capoue and Chadli shows how good a coach he is. Those slating him already are classic doom mongers who love a good chance to say 'i told you so'.

The only mark against him was making Kaboul captain and Adebayor vice captain.

 

[prawnsandwich]

Attractive football since Harry? We were playing attractive football last season banging in 3 goals a game at the end.
1 goal scored in 3 home games and lack of goalmouth action and no players in the box just like under AVB is not attractive to me.

 

[Kendall]

Poch has made it a bit too fragmented in my view. He's been chopping and changing too much, but hopefully things will start to settle now. I do hope we got for Rodriguez in January, we could use a bit of height and composure up top.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Attractive football since Harry? We were playing attractive football last season banging in 3 goals a game at the end.
1 goal scored in 3 home games and lack of goalmouth action and no players in the box just like under AVB is not attractive to me.

Scoring goals is not the same as playing attractive football. Attractive football will normally lead to goals but one step at a time...

Under Tim, our football was better than under AVB but it wasn't "attractive" by any means but will still scored more goals.

Saying that we've played the same as we did under AVB is kind of insulting to Poch. The only game you could say that is true in the PL was against West Brom and Liverpool to an extent (although we did still play better than under AVB).


Edit: Actually, it seems you forgot about the QPR game. Good one.

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

Attractive football since Harry? We were playing attractive football last season banging in 3 goals a game at the end.
1 goal scored in 3 home games and lack of goalmouth action and no players in the box just like under AVB is not attractive to me.

We played lottery, gung ho football with no structure, personality or coherence at the end of last season. This isn't attractive.