The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[WiganSpur]

If he hadn't have played Kane and we lost, the cries would have been 'why didn't he play kane ffs?'

He had to play Kane. If anything to get him sharp again for the league as he's a rhythm player. He'd also had two weeks in training and 3 games under his belt so I think Kane himself has to be blamed more than Pochettino for playing him.

 

[TorontoYid]

Must say I am a little concerned with the stories that Real Madrid want him. They traditionally treat us as their feeder club and take our best talent so stealing our manager wouldn't be out of the realms of possibilities. Hope the stories are made up.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I don't think there is much point in arguing to minute detail whether or not Kane should have played. As far as the match goes, I don't see what would have been drastically better given how we played (or didn't play). As far as Kane's form goes, well he is enjoying a long week off from matches and I have every faith in him being back next week in his best form. I probably would have played Kane my self, actually.

That being said, I would be curious to learn what SC'ers think could be actual and beneficial changes in Pochettino's general approach to rotation and use of subs. For me, I think it is strange why Pochettino so frequently leaves subs to very late in the match, and often does not succeed with drastically changing the game through substitutions.

 

[Colonel Dax]

Must say I am a little concerned with the stories that Real Madrid want him. They traditionally treat us as their feeder club and take our best talent so stealing our manager wouldn't be out of the realms of possibilities. Hope the stories are made up.

Agreed. Hopefully it's just tittle tattle. In the event Madrid decide to change their head coach this summer, it's inevitable that Poch will be on their shortlist. Whether he'd actually take the job if offered is open to question but I'd imagine he'd be interested and would listen to what they have to say. Who wouldn't?

I must admit his "with me or another" comment after the cup semi, though made in the heat of the moment, was slightly concerning.

 

[Krule]

I don't think there is much point in arguing to minute detail whether or not Kane should have played. As far as the match goes, I don't see what would have been drastically better given how we played (or didn't play). As far as Kane's form goes, well he is enjoying a long week off from matches and I have every faith in him being back next week in his best form. I probably would have played Kane my self, actually.

That being said, I would be curious to learn what SC'ers think could be actual and beneficial changes in Pochettino's general approach to rotation and use of subs. For me, I think it is strange why Pochettino so frequently leaves subs to very late in the match, and often does not succeed with drastically changing the game through substitutions.

I totally agree...the point I was raising was really about how much decision making has changed. In the old days the manager was God and whatever he decided happened. If his top striker was having a lean spell or not on top form then he'd have a quiet word, explain that he wanted to give him a bit of a break and bring him on as a substitute later in the game...keen and hungry and with fresh legs.
These days managers run the gauntlet of upsetting the player and his agent if they make such choices....displeasure is expressed and the threat of 'fresh pastures' is made. A contract means very little and a player's demands carry a lot more weight than they used to. As soon as a player is 'benched' the media jump on it and blow it all out of proportion, trying to create a situation and atmosphere that simply does not exist. I just expressed a view that we "ought to consider the possibility that" our number one striker is 'demanding' to play rather than listening to the boss.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I totally agree...the point I was raising was really about how much decision making has changed. In the old days the manager was God and whatever he decided happened. If his top striker was having a lean spell or not on top form then he'd have a quiet word, explain that he wanted to give him a bit of a break and bring him on as a substitute later in the game...keen and hungry and with fresh legs.
These days managers run the gauntlet of upsetting the player and his agent if they make such choices....displeasure is expressed and the threat of 'fresh pastures' is made. A contract means very little and a player's demands carry a lot more weight than they used to. As soon as a player is 'benched' the media jump on it and blow it all out of proportion, trying to create a situation and atmosphere that simply does not exist. I just expressed a view that we "ought to consider the possibility that" our number one striker is 'demanding' to play rather than listening to the boss.

It's a good point actually in general. I think a manager is under heavy pressure from both players, agents and club owners, too. When it comes to Kane, I think he is different breed, for good and bad. I'm in no doubt that he is very vocal about playing every match he can play. It's just in his nature.

 

[Disconosebleed]

It's fair enough to consider that possibility, but I don't see anything about the personality of Kane that suggests he would use his position of power to demand the manager play him, nor anything about the personality of Pochettino that suggests he would accede to that demand if he did.

 

[Krule]

It's fair enough to consider that possibility, but I don't see anything about the personality of Kane that suggests he would use his position of power to demand the manager play him, nor anything about the personality of Pochettino that suggests he would accede to that demand if he did.

Your opinion and I respect it....

 

[Disconosebleed]

Well it's all conjecture isn't it, for all we actually know Kane is secretly a conniving sneak and Pochettino is an enormous drip behind the bluff Argentine exterior.

 

[Krule]

Well it's all conjecture isn't it, for all we actually know Kane is secretly a conniving sneak and Pochettino is an enormous drip behind the bluff Argentine exterior.

Ahhh but we are not allowed 'conjecture' on here my friend....as Sir Henry told me :
Are you really going to base what you think, on what if's and complete lack of any factual information to back up those thoughts ?

 

[thfc1973]

I don't think there is much point in arguing to minute detail whether or not Kane should have played. As far as the match goes, I don't see what would have been drastically better given how we played (or didn't play). As far as Kane's form goes, well he is enjoying a long week off from matches and I have every faith in him being back next week in his best form. I probably would have played Kane my self, actually.

That being said, I would be curious to learn what SC'ers think could be actual and beneficial changes in Pochettino's general approach to rotation and use of subs. For me, I think it is strange why Pochettino so frequently leaves subs to very late in the match, and often does not succeed with drastically changing the game through substitutions.

What he should have done was drop Kane and revert to the line-up he chose when Kane was out injured? i.e Play Son up front. Whenever Son has been called upon to deputize for Kane, he has consistently played exceptionally well and scored lots of goals.

 

[shelfboy68]

Have to feel for son a bit last year's semi he was played at LB and was shocking and this year he never got going and like many either looked nervous or disappeared.

 

[Metalhead]

What he should have done was drop Kane and revert to the line-up he chose when Kane was out injured? i.e Play Son up front. Whenever Son has been called upon to deputize for Kane, he has consistently played exceptionally well and scgored lots of goals.

We did manage comfortably when Kane was injured but I guess that because he was scoring for fun prior to the injury, it was always going to be tempting to get him back asap but then again, the fact that the club applied to have the Eriksen goal reviewed in favour of Kane also demonstrates that Kane had a personal interest in getting back asap.

 

[sunnydelight786]

Why is it laughable to only take seriously the two most important competitions? It's sensible, no?

Every summer is "a big one" for every club.

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!!!!!!!!!

 

[Metalhead]

Agreed. Hopefully it's just tittle tattle. In the event Madrid decide to change their head coach this summer, it's inevitable that Poch will be on their shortlist. Whether he'd actually take the job if offered is open to question but I'd imagine he'd be interested and would listen to what they have to say. Who wouldn't?

I must admit his "with me or another" comment after the cup semi, though made in the heat of the moment, was slightly concerning.

I must say that was more than a little concerning for me too.

 

[thePessimist]

Must say I am a little concerned with the stories that Real Madrid want him. They traditionally treat us as their feeder club and take our best talent so stealing our manager wouldn't be out of the realms of possibilities. Hope the stories are made up.

Taking the Real M job would be quite a change for Poch's philosophy. He seems to like a long term project where a lot of emphasis is put on the collective rather than individuals and egos. He also wants to have a say in signings. Can't see him going there any time soon tbh

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

What he should have done was drop Kane and revert to the line-up he chose when Kane was out injured? i.e Play Son up front. Whenever Son has been called upon to deputize for Kane, he has consistently played exceptionally well and scored lots of goals.

Alright captain hindsight. And what if we still lost? There narrative on here would have been: ‘why was our best player not out there?’ ‘If he’s fit enough to be on bench why did he not start?’ Etc.. etc..

 

[Sevens]

Must say I am a little concerned with the stories that Real Madrid want him. They traditionally treat us as their feeder club and take our best talent so stealing our manager wouldn't be out of the realms of possibilities. Hope the stories are made up.

I genuinely believe Poch wouldn't cut it at a club like Madrid. His strength is getting younger players bought into his philosophy. If he goes to a pre-made successful club full of egos then Poch will have to change his style and approach and I am not sure that he would be willing to do that.

 

[dagraham]

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!!!!!!!!!

Indeed. No one is suggesting that the FA Cup is more important than the PL or CL, but you have to readjust your priorities as the season goes on. Not think, "well we can't win the league or CL so everything else is just meh, let's just turn up and see what happens."

Put simply, if we can't even get to an FA cup final, how the hell are we going to win the league or CL?

 

[Oh Teddy Teddy]

I’ve always thought the same about Poch/Madrid: that his philosophy wouldn’t cut it with the dressing room egos.

That being said, this Madrid team is in need of a shake-up and they have some young talented players coming through. If they’re bold enough to go through with a ‘out with the old...’ approach, Poch would surely be top of that wish list.