The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[crywolf]

I know what you mean, I’m just saying, to add a little perspective that although they have done slightly better than us, no one has done that much or signed anyone I’m genuinely scared about, it has been an odd window for most teams.

That's a fair view, but I disagree.

Most teams in the PL have done more than _slightly_ better than us. They've all taken steps to fill at least one weakness in their squad. Courtois is the only top starting player to leave a top6 side from last year, and he was replaced by a very good goalie + Chelsea added Kovacic as well as Jorginho, and they will this season be without the constant turmoil that surrounded Conte last year.

Liverpool have over the last two windows addressed their weaknesses step by step. They finished 7 points behind us last season, and have now added a goalie, Keita, a very intelligent DM (who can over at RB) and Shaqiri.

 

[robin09]

If after one month, we have players who give up, are difficult to manage, it's difficult to create a good atmosphere in the training sessions. Look, I was open to fixing it if some player is not happy at the club... we are open to finding the solution. But if they choose to stay here with us, they need to behave the way we want. Being professional means that

Assuming this is Toby and/or Rose, Dembele.

Does that mean he was willing to sell them and they decided to stay, or he was willing to sell them but Levy wanted too much money/nobody wanted them?

Because that's two very different scenarios for the squad harmony going forward. He says 'if they choose to stay' which implies they chose to not leave the club. But then 'they need to behave the way we want. Being professional means that' implies they're stuck here but have to lump it.

Pretty confusing.

 

[robin09]

It's actually so depressing to to increase the season tickets in the manner they have and to get this. Before anyone points out, yes I'm aware our season tickets are not going to get us martial, but it still sticks in the throat.

Higher ticket prices + no summer investment does not make for a good atmosphere in the stadium if we start to play poorly.

I am amazed we didn't even sign a cheap, unknown youth prospect from a random league. What are the scouts doing?

 

[mrlilywhite]

This is what Ben Pearce has quoted from Poch, regarding our upcoming season - "Sure we are going to be better, no doubt about that." Is Poch sure about that, after all our rivals have strengthened?

 

[RichieS]

If after one month, we have players who give up, are difficult to manage, it's difficult to create a good atmosphere in the training sessions. Look, I was open to fixing it if some player is not happy at the club... we are open to finding the solution. But if they choose to stay here with us, they need to behave the way we want. Being professional means that

Assuming this is Toby and/or Rose, Dembele.

Does that mean he was willing to sell them and they decided to stay, or he was willing to sell them but Levy wanted too much money/nobody wanted them?

Because that's two very different scenarios for the squad harmony going forward. He says 'if they choose to stay' which implies they chose to not leave the club. But then 'they need to behave the way we want. Being professional means that' implies they're stuck here but have to lump it.

Pretty confusing.

I can't imagine Mousa is anything other than a consummate professional.

 

[werty]

If after one month, we have players who give up, are difficult to manage, it's difficult to create a good atmosphere in the training sessions. Look, I was open to fixing it if some player is not happy at the club... we are open to finding the solution. But if they choose to stay here with us, they need to behave the way we want. Being professional means that

Assuming this is Toby and/or Rose, Dembele.

Does that mean he was willing to sell them and they decided to stay, or he was willing to sell them but Levy wanted too much money/nobody wanted them?

Because that's two very different scenarios for the squad harmony going forward. He says 'if they choose to stay' which implies they chose to not leave the club. But then 'they need to behave the way we want. Being professional means that' implies they're stuck here but have to lump it.

Pretty confusing.

I don't see how it would be Dembele. There's never been a bad word about his professionalism and everyone seems to respect him. He just wants a long term commitment from someone.

I don't think it's Rose either.

 

[Johnny J]

I can't imagine Mousa is anything other than a consummate professional.

I don't think most people are worried about Dembele. It's Rose and Toby.

 

[LondonOllie]

I'm not going to allow myself to get too emotionally caught up in the drama and disappointment.

I will say that I'm a little surprised we didn't make one or two moves for exciting players that would have energized the fans as we move into our new home. Obviously I have no clue what goes on behind the scenes, but I did believe we would take a little financial gamble on new talent that would improve us.

If we don't close any last second deals, I just hope that we can still compete for a CL place. I think that if we drop out of the top 4 this coming season, we are going to look pretty stupid. I do think that the teams around us have improved. Even if it's only a little bit, that might be all that is needed to push us out to 5th or 6th. Let's hope not, eh!

 

[ajspurs]

This is what Ben Pearce has quoted from Poch, regarding our upcoming season - "Sure we are going to be better, no doubt about that." Is Poch sure about that, after all our rivals have strengthened?

He's not gonna try and say anything that doesn't put a care free or positive spin on the situation and I mean that in a complimentary way. He may be very frustrated for all we know but he's not going to say that. As disappointed as he may be all that I've seen of him and Levy is that they do have a good relationship, regardless of how things have panned out.

 

[chinaman]

This is what Ben Pearce has quoted from Poch, regarding our upcoming season - "Sure we are going to be better, no doubt about that." Is Poch sure about that, after all our rivals have strengthened?

Maybe to compensate for that, triple training sessions to make them superfit.

 

[Vulcan10]

That's a fair view, but I disagree.

Most teams in the PL have done more than _slightly_ better than us. They've all taken steps to fill at least one weakness in their squad. Courtois is the only top starting player to leave a top6 side from last year, and he was replaced by a very good goalie + Chelsea added Kovacic as well as Jorginho, and they will this season be without the constant turmoil that surrounded Conte last year.

Liverpool have over the last two windows addressed their weaknesses step by step. They finished 7 points behind us last season, and have now added a goalie, Keita, a very intelligent DM (who can over at RB) and Shaqiri.

Ha, yes that’s cool mate. I probably should have left it as better rather than slightly better.
Liverpool have bought well the past couple of years there’s no doubting that, but I guess they were always going to add a keeper this year, we were lucky they didn’t last year. They also lost Coutinho which gets forgotten as they coped well without him.
I’d rather we signed no one then lost Eriksen for example and have signed a few players with the funds.
Chelsea I’m sure will be stronger, they can’t be much worse in the league at least, but we don’t know yet how the keeper will adapt (even de gea took a year to settle) , midfielders from Italy don’t always work out in the premier league, people were worried last year when they signed the fella from Monaco and he’s been a bust so I’m just reserving judgement I guess.

Like I said I’m no happier than anyone else that we’ve brought no one in, to be honest I’m not sure why I’m being so reasonable, maybe it’s just nice that we haven’t lost anyone this year & our rivals haven’t signed anyone that I think will punish us too much (a few days ago I was worried about Arsenal getting O Dembele).

Without knnowing for sure if the board royally messed up clear opportunities to bring in Poch’s targets or if we just had bad luck in a crap market I guess all I can do is look at the (few) positives and hope.

 

[mrlilywhite]

He's not gonna try and say anything that doesn't put a care free or positive spin on the situation and I mean that in a complimentary way. He may be very frustrated for all we know but he's not going to say that. As disappointed as he may be all that I've seen of him and Levy is that they do have a good relationship, regardless of how things have panned out.

It's quite condescending of him to think that the clubs fans can really believe that though, was my point. He could have said I think we will still be competitive, which is more realistic, but hey on his head be it I guess..to be better means we have to be better in the CL and/or league. I don't see either of that happening tbh.

 

[ajspurs]

It's quite condescending of him to think that the clubs fans can really believe that though, was my point. He could have said I think we will still be competitive, which is more realistic, but hey on his head be it I guess..to be better means we have to be better in the CL and/or league. I don't see either of that happening tbh.

Yeah I see what you mean to be honest.

 

[Gb160]

This is what Ben Pearce has quoted from Poch, regarding our upcoming season - "Sure we are going to be better, no doubt about that." Is Poch sure about that, after all our rivals have strengthened?

IMO he's referring to us compared to us last season, in that with all our players being a year older, and another year playing together with his tactics under their belts, we'll improve.

I don't think he's saying we'll be better than city for example, or we'll do better in the CL, just that we'll be better than we were last season, which kind of makes sense.
English isn't his first language, forensically examining every single word is pointless.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Why can't we be better?

Kane - better - world class
Eriksen - better - world class

Dele - better
Lucas - better
Trippier - better
Aurier - better
Sanchez - better
Foyth - better

Son - still at his peak
Davies - still at his peak
Lloris - still at his peak
Vertonghen - still at his peak

Lamela - healthier
Rose - healthier
ALderweireld - healthier
Winks - healthier


Sissoko - not worse


Llorente - non-factor
GKN - non-factor

Wanyama - was injured last season - still injured. Not better, but not worse

Dembele - only player who will be worse this year than last - because of age and injury

 

[mrlilywhite]

IMO he's referring to us compared to us last season, in that with all our players being a year older, and another year playing together under his tactics under their belts, we'll improve.

I don't think he's saying we'll be better than city for example, or we'll do better in the CL, just that we'll be better than we were last season, which kind of makes sense.
English isn't his first language, forensically examining every single word is pointless.

That's not how I read the article in the context of it tbh. The fact that the team was the same last season, I don't necessarily see how just one more season together makes us better, even more so given that a lot of the team were away at the world cup and won't be starting the first few matches at least.

 

[lami]

Sorry people, I know that I'm gonna get a lot of spam for this but here it goes;

I strongly believe that this is the beginning of the end for us. Poch was very clear last season that he wanted backing this season, this hasn't happened and will take its toll on Poch no matter how loyal he is.
This for me gives him a clear indication of what Levys ambitions are, now was the time to back him but he has failed to do so.
If I was a betting man, I'd put some coin on Poch being in charge at Utd by the end of this season.

I think that we'll still be strong this season and be up there near the top 4, however I can see a fair few players getting burn out and cannot see Kane going a full season without a long term injury.
Hooefully we make it to January and Levy makes up for this poor window.

The biggest damage from this window will be how Poch feels towards the job after being given false promises.

 

[Gb160]

That's not how I read the article in the context of it tbh. The fact that the team was the same last season, I don't necessarily see how just one more season together makes us better, even more so given that a lot of the team were away at the world cup and won't be starting the first few matches at least.

He said we'll be better, not that we'll do better.
I think you're interpreting it wrong mate.

 

[glacierSpurs]

I'm worry about Poch commitment to stay for long now TBH..

 

[dtxspurs]

Why can't we be better?

Kane - better - world class
Eriksen - better - world class

Dele - better
Lucas - better
Trippier - better
Aurier - better
Sanchez - better
Foyth - better

Son - still at his peak
Davies - still at his peak
Lloris - still at his peak
Vertonghen - still at his peak

Lamela - healthier
Rose - healthier
ALderweireld - healthier
Winks - healthier


Sissoko - not worse


Llorente - non-factor
GKN - non-factor

Wanyama - was injured last season - still injured. Not better, but not worse

Dembele - only player who will be worse this year than last - because of age and injury

We need Dele to take a massive step up this year in his consistency and his input over a complete game.