The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[sam1972]

Oh ffs, he's gone up against Liverpool, possibly the best counterattacking side in the country and told us to press a high line and the full backs to press up.

He's also told our players to play out from the back against the best pressing side in the country. And we know our player make mistakes when getting pressed (Think of the Man City performance).

I love Poch and I love what he's done but he set us up today to fail. You saying he doesn't derserve critism for that?

Life is so black and white

 

[The Apprentice]

Might be worth someone reminding Poch that the rules allow him to make substitutions and tactical changes before the 70 minute mark.

 

[ardiles]

Given that we are only 2 points away from sixth place that may not be the best defence to use.

It depends on which facts one likes to nitpick to prove a point though.

We are second (probably third after the City game later) despite losing at Chelsea, City and Pool.

We are also unbeaten at home in the league so far and don't have any more away league games against the top six sides.

That doesn't absolve Poch or the players for yesterday's performance though but we do normally play better than that.

 

[DIEHARD]

Might be worth someone reminding Poch that the rules allow him to make substitutions and tactical changes before the 70 minute mark.

I think his reluctance to make subs is down to his lack of faith in those bench players. I also think perhaps he is making a point by not using them as much and that point is to the likes of levy et al.

 

[VertongHen]

Life is so black and white

What do you mean by this? I shouldn't critise Poch for yesterday or what?

 

[The Apprentice]

I think his reluctance to make subs is down to his lack of faith in those bench players. I also think perhaps he is making a point by not using them as much and that point is to the likes of levy et al.

You could well be right but, If that's the case, I'd be surprised/disappointed. Using the bench is a coach's toolbox to ensure that the first XI don't think they are undroppable, no matter what sort of half arsed ambling they're producing. They may well be inferior players but on days like yesterday they could not have been any bloody worse.

It should have been treble sub territory.

 

[TheHood]

It depends on which facts one likes to nitpick to prove a point though.

We are second (probably third after the City game later) despite losing at Chelsea, City and Pool.

We are also unbeaten at home in the league so far and don't have any more away league games against the top six sides.

That doesn't absolve Poch or the players for yesterday's performance though but we do normally play better than that.

We do but the league is not over, the placings are not finalised and given the situation at hand we could easily finish 6th as we could 2nd. It is somewhat foolhardy to hold a placing as evidence of success when the situation could change in the space of a week. I wouldn't been criticising him for either positions as a 6th place would represent par for this club. The league has become somewhat of an irrelevance for me, it has no real bearing, the priority is the cups and if he does what he has done in the past then he fully deserves an avalanche of criticism

 

[Tit&Ham]

I'm probably Poch' biggest fan, but last night he got It wrong.

We were lucky in the first game against pool, and away to city. We all knew what was coming from liverpool and how other teams have figured them out. Still, we played 100% identical to the first tie vs pool. That is poor judgement imo...

I am still totally happy with our league position and we probably wount meet teams that can cause these sort of problems the remaining fixtures...

I can always accept a loss, but this game was lost before we entered the field, sadly...

 

[g_harry]

think Poch showed a little naivety yesterday. Reminded me of Rodgers when pool had chance to win the league that game v Chelsea. We had a chance to keep Liverpool in sixth and keep 4 points between and cement second place. We are not and never in a title race.

 

[worcestersauce]

Given that we are only 2 points away from sixth place that may not be the best defence to use.

On the contrary, we are second two points above sixth rather than seventh two points below and it wasn't defensive it was offensive, we are coming to the business end of the season and we are in a good place to start from.

 

[goughie1966]

What worried me most was coming up against a Liverpool side that included a goalkeeper that their own fans think is one of the worst in the league, James Milner at left back and Lucas playing as a centre half and we never troubled them. I think we'd agree that only Mane and Coutninho would get into our first team yet they completed dominated us with far worse players and had it not been for Lloris we could have lost by far more

 

[sherbornespurs]

Fair play, Liverpool were excellent, but we were awful.

Even in the second half when we didn't concede, it was still a limp, shapeless 45mins in which we barely threatened.

Mane up against Davies, with Sonny our least defensively disciplined AM ahead of him, it was only ever going to go one way.

In truth, we were second best in every department (apart from goalkeeper, possibly).

And it was another game that served to highlight what we already know: our squad is desperately thin & not remotely equipped for an assault on multiple cup competitions, let alone a realistic title challenge.

By way of example: Liverpool’s £30m summer signing won them the tie; ours didn’t leave the bench until the 77th minute.

 

[sam1972]

What do you mean by this? I shouldn't critise Poch for yesterday or what?

You can do as you wish. But there was more at play than just the issues you've stated. Do you honestly think that Poch didn't see the things you did? Lead a horse to water ect.

 

[Japhet]

Completely baffled at how we set up v Liverpool. We knew they would come out 'all guns blazing' and yet set up with a flat back 4 (and an under strength one at that). Mane and Coutinho are very dangerous if you give them space and that's precisely what we did. They've been complete shite lately and yet we made them look awesome. Poch may have gone off Wimmer but he's not had any chances to turn things around. We'll see if Dier's performance keeps him on the team sheet - it shouldn't. At least 3 at the back would have plugged the gaps Liverpool used to continually keep us on the back foot.

 

[Spurs' Pipe Dreams]

Conte dropped 2 points away at Burnley, must be the worst manager in the world

In all seriousness though, our fixtures are all on paper winnable from now till the end of season. We've Arsenal and Yanited at home and Everton and Burnley away. Those are our hardest fixtures on paper, and we can win them all*. It's bizarre questioning our manager and players for a defeat at Anfield who with Mane back are a good team. Yes we can be disappointed, but there's still a long way to go with many twists and turns along the way. Promise

*We won't but we could.

 

[Legacy]

Conte dropped 2 points away at Burnley, must be the worst manager in the world

In all seriousness though, our fixtures are all on paper winnable from now till the end of season. We've Arsenal and Yanited at home and Everton and Burnley away. Those are our hardest fixtures on paper, and we can win them all*. It's bizarre questioning our manager and players for a defeat at Anfield who with Mane back are a good team. Yes we can be disappointed, but there's still a long way to go with many twists and turns along the way. Promise

*We won't but we could.

We've got Everton at home too.

Only problem now is we're going into this run of winnable games just as the Europa League kicks off again, along with being in the FA Cup. We haven't really had the best of luck with injuries this season so I'm slightly concerned that more key players are going to fall because the squad options aren't strong enough for decent rotation now.

 

[shelfboy68]

Conte dropped 2 points away at Burnley, must be the worst manager in the world

In all seriousness though, our fixtures are all on paper winnable from now till the end of season. We've Arsenal and Yanited at home and Everton and Burnley away. Those are our hardest fixtures on paper, and we can win them all*. It's bizarre questioning our manager and players for a defeat at Anfield who with Mane back are a good team. Yes we can be disappointed, but there's still a long way to go with many twists and turns along the way. Promise

*We won't but we could.

Totally be fair mate its not wrong or bizarre to question the manager,players or even tactics because for the second away game in a row we have not been seemingly motivated or prepared which in itself is rightly questioned.
In fact our away form is distinctly average for a team with top four ambitions far too many draws and unable to get results at sides around us.
Still the game has gone now it's time to look towards the next one and see how high we can finish.

 

[Spurs' Pipe Dreams]

We've got Everton at home too.

Only problem now is we're going into this run of winnable games just as the Europa League kicks off again, along with being in the FA Cup. We haven't really had the best of luck with injuries this season so I'm slightly concerned that more key players are going to fall because the squad options aren't strong enough for decent rotation now.

Oops, thought we played at home against Everton*. My bad.Yeah, injuries have really hit us this season but we're still 2nd somehow

*edit at the start of the season

 

[Spurs' Pipe Dreams]

Totally be fair mate its not wrong or bizarre to question the manager,players or even tactics because for the second away game in a row we have not been seemingly motivated or prepared which in itself is rightly questioned.
In fact our away form is distinctly average for a team with top four ambitions far too many draws and unable to get results at sides around us.
Still the game has gone now it's time to look towards the next one and see how high we can finish.

For me all the players and manager are committed, sometimes the other team plays better than you or you have a bad day at the office. It happens, I'd have taken our current position happily pre-season. I personally think we'll be fine and with the players and manager all looking to stay (hasn't always been the case, as I'm sure you're aware). The future looks bright

 

[shelfboy68]

For me all the players and manager are committed, sometimes the other team plays better than you or you have a bad day at the office. It happens, I'd have taken our current position happily pre-season. I personally think we'll be fine and with the players and manager all looking to stay (hasn't always been the case, as I'm sure you're aware). The future looks bright

I agree like I said it's gone now we look towards to the future.