Mauricio Pochettino plays the long game as reality bites at Tottenham

[jolsnogross]

Levy & Spurs have a new pragmatism whereby finishing 4th isn't imperative. Our transfer activity reflects this new reality. Poch is ideally suited as manager during this period of lowered expectations

Read the full article at The Guardian (Hytner)

 

[jolsnogross]

At the outset, I thought Hytner might have some new interviews with Poch or new insight. But it's more of an opinion piece and he's just joining some dots. And maybe 'helping' to lower expectations ahead of City's visit to the Lane.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

Nice balanced article.

 

[Misfit]

Maybe the reason I'm not pulling my hair out over this new direction the club is going in is that 10 years of doing the same thing - betting against the house - is clearly never going to lead us to the promised land.

The stadium guarantees nothing either. We'll have more money of course but the right moves need to be made with it. It will, however, give us a platform not built on sand from which to launch an attack on CL football and any failures we will have to live with will be more of our own making than just desperately hoping forces outside our control go in our favour.

Whatever we do and however long we take to do it, without having a sheik or oligarch simply drop half a billion pounds on the table, this is our only viable long-term solution.

 

[Springerding]

Wish we'd play the long game in terms of cup runs but a really naive team selection put paid to that too.

If Levy's latest vision for us is to sign promising youth and finish mid to top half then cups runs should be taken more seriously.

When the top four play a second string in the cups its to rest their players who are challenging for the title.

 

[slartibartfast]

When the top four play a second string in the cups its to rest their players who are challenging for the title.

We're resting our players for ....

no, ya got me.

 

[yankspurs]

Wish we'd play the long game in terms of cup runs but a really naive team selection put paid to that too.

If Levy's latest vision for us is to sign promising youth and finish mid to top half then cups runs should be taken more seriously.

When the top four play a second string in the cups its to rest their players who are challenging for the title.

I really dont understand the crying over the team selection. Is it not better to rest your players in a competition that has very little prestige and reward money attached to it. We are in 2 competitions that can end up really having an impact on the clubs future stature, and another competition that is looked upon very highly in England. I understand the want for trophies. But I dont understand the want for just any trophy.
When it comes down to it, I would gladly sacrifice this competition in order to keep fitness levels up and go all out for a top 4 finish, a Europa League win or an FA cup win.

 

[Mullers]

Do people really believe this shite? Especially after the other night?

 

[ginola007]

Contrary to what a lot of people are saying here, IMO, we are doing the best we can with the resources we have. Obviously, if money is no object (see Man. City, Chelsea, even Man U.) we would do things a lot differently. But reality is we have to compromise in many directions. That we still have Lloris is an indication we are not doing all that badly.

 

[Kilkenny Cat]

Do people really believe this shite? Especially after the other night?

Er, what's shite about it? Please specify.

 

[Mullers]

Er, what's shite about it? Please specify.

That finishing fourth is no longer seen as imperative.
To me Poch is definitely under pressure to get top 4 I've seen one or two articles with him referring to top 4. I really think this is a millstone around his neck. I just want him to be able to concentrate on building the side and bringing young players in and developing them and to try and take the most of the opportunities to win something, we are definitely not doing the latter.

 

[Jenko]

That finishing fourth is no longer seen as imperative.
To me Poch is definitely under pressure to get top 4 I've seen one or two articles with him referring to top 4. I really think this is a millstone around his neck. I just want him to be able to concentrate on building the side and bringing young players in and developing them and to try and take the most of the opportunities to win something, we are definitely not doing the latter.

Well we're definitely good enough to be 5th or 6th, so it would still be ludicrous to not set a target of 4th. I think the difference that the author points out is that Levy will not be so trigger happy. It's a big difference if true in fairness and is worth discussion. I sensed it recently too but I'm glad journos are putting it out there

 

[Mullers]

Well we're definitely good enough to be 5th or 6th, so it would still be ludicrous to not set a target of 4th. I think the difference that the author points out is that Levy will not be so trigger happy. It's a big difference if true in fairness and is worth discussion. I sensed it recently too but I'm glad journos are putting it out there

There is a big big difference between coming 5th or 6th and coming 4th, we've managed it only twice in our premiership history. The top 4 have strong enough squads to rotate and still win things, we do not. If we put ourselves on a par with them it's really asking for trouble because of the expectations involved.

 

[Jenko]

There is a big big difference between coming 5th or 6th and coming 4th, we've managed it only twice in our premiership history. The top 4 have strong enough squads to rotate and still win things, we do not. If we put ourselves on a par with them it's really asking for trouble because of the expectations involved.

I agree but I don't think wanting to be close and putting ourselves on a par with them is the same thing. It's nearly always close between those positions every year. 2 extra wins and we could take advantage of a slip up from one of them.

This year we could be miles away, but you can't coach that to the players. We have to motivate them with a top 4 mentality at least.

 

[Mullers]

I agree but I don't think wanting to be close and putting ourselves on a par with them is the same thing. It's nearly always close between those positions every year. 2 extra wins and we could take advantage of a slip up from one of them.

This year we could be miles away, but you can't coach that to the players. We have to motivate them with a top 4 mentality at least.

I mean we've been close and Levy has said we need the stadium to compete with the top 4. 5th place last season was punching above our weight, if we want more than we need a better squad, we failed to get a back up striker, we have a defender playing a DM role and people praying that he doesn't get injured.
Motivate them yes but motivate them to be winners not just motivating them to get 4th place which is not winning anything, it's just a chance to qualify for a bigger competition.

 

[parj]

I would take 5th today. We need a bit of stability in the squad. Still some changing to be done.

 

[JoeT]

Wish we'd play the long game in terms of cup runs but a really naive team selection put paid to that too.

If Levy's latest vision for us is to sign promising youth and finish mid to top half then cups runs should be taken more seriously.

When the top four play a second string in the cups its to rest their players who are challenging for the title.

Didn't Spurs rest their back 4 plus Hugo, Kane, Son and N'jie v's Arsenal?

 

[Japhet]

The way things are going England could easily lose a CL place in which case Top 4 is irrelevant. Winning the EL becomes a whole different prospect.

 

[Jenko]

The way things are going England could easily lose a CL place in which case Top 4 is irrelevant. Winning the EL becomes a whole different prospect.

Oh yes, gauranteed we'll come 4 th the 1st year that happens. You just know it

 

[shelfmonkey]

Wish we'd play the long game in terms of cup runs but a really naive team selection put paid to that too.

If Levy's latest vision for us is to sign promising youth and finish mid to top half then cups runs should be taken more seriously.

When the top four play a second string in the cups its to rest their players who are challenging for the title.

I feel the long game doesn't include the Cups.Levy wants to be where the money and the kudos is, CL, then hopefully, in our thoughts anyway, winning the league. As for going out of the League cup early, with a reserve team, to them scumbags, I'm not really too bothered as long as we do them in the league games. COYS