The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[Metalhead]

That just further solidifies my point which is that we have the money to spend if we want to, we're agreeing about the same things but the bit I disagreed with is that you think Levy is telling Poch, IMO Poch is well on board with what Levy wants and what he's trying to achieve.

Now far does Levy think that he can take us? I think that we're maxed out on what we can currently spend.

 

[thfc1973]

Lol.

Manager works fucking miracles for years, finishing above clubs with the biggest wage bills and transfer budgets in world football, with the net spend of a championship club.

Before the summer he literally comes out and says the club need to be more proactive than ever before in the transfer market because otherwise we will stop moving forward, and particularly because of the world cup as much of our squad will have no pre season, and therefore the start of the season will be very difficult. He literally says we need to be ready with fresh players at the beginning of the season.

So the club (presumably) agree to his demands and he turns down a move to the world's biggest club to sign a new deal. But instead of fulfilling the manager's wishes, the club spend the summer doing the square root of absolutely fuck all while all our rivals somehow manage to strengthen despite the 'impossible' market, and we are left with a tired and jaded squad in desperate need of freshening up. ie just what he warned would happen if we didn't sign players.

So the managers's been led down the garden path by a chairman who promised him substantial backing and instead gave him a half built cheese room. The only club in all top leagues across Europe to not sign a player, at the precise moment we desperately needed to freshen up the squad, more than at any time in recent history.

Then when exactly what the manager predicted would happen, happens, to the letter, exactly as he predicted it would, it's somehow his fault?

Lol.

So in mid May, Pochettino tells the board and Levy they need to be brave and take risks, and then in late May he decides to sign a new contract....What does that tell you? He had ample opportunity to get what he wanted in writing before signing a new contract if he had doubts or concerns.
Instead he's managing to coach a top 4 team to produce a shower of shite week in, week out this season so far. His fault!

No one is disagreeing that Poch was wrong about the need for incomings. In fact every single Spurs fan in the world would say we needed incomings. So why didn't it happen? Why didn't Poch say prior to signing his contract, get rid of all these players I don't want and here's a list of players I do want. Sort it all out an I'll sign on the dotted line Dan!

All summer Poch deliberated and dicked about.. So we wanted Martial or Zaha.. And if we couldn't get them, there was/is no other attacking player in the world we couldn't get??? Do me a favour!!!
There was no other midfielder out there better than Sissoko? No better striker out there better than Jansen?

Don't believe the hype that its all DL. Poch is equally to blame on transfers. There's a board, they all sit and talk, if players are needed the board comes up with names. If Poch doesn't like them then he should have had other alternatives to just the 2 players he insisted on.

This is deja-vu. This is AVB all over again with Moutinho..And look what happened after that disastrous season.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Bottom line is if a club wants to really challenge and win things then you have to take a calculated risk along the way.

Frustrating thing is we’ve put ourselves regularly in a position to challenge several times over the last 7 or 8 years. It’s not like being a mid table team and needing to go crazy to get there. We’ve had the opportunities to push on with a bit of investment and failed to do so.

The best time to invest is from a position of strength as it helps keeps your competitors at arms length and you are also a more stable and atttactive proposition for players to come into. If you don’t then you run the risk of undoing all the hard work to get into that strong position and you have to drop down a rung or two and start the process again. And rinse and repeat.

But I think the current owners although they’d obviously like to win stuff are quite happy with where we are and ensure we take as little risks as possible when it comes to investing in the football side of the club.

Cannot disagree with any of that

Clearly Zaha would have been a risk at 70m+ and would have smashed our transfer record but that is where we are now

It’s DL's move.....

 

[dtxspurs]

Our M.O needs to change as well. Get players in and then worry about selling after. Its not like we have a squad of deadwood that will be hard to shift.

I mean, they did prove hard to shift as we moved none of them. Whether that is due to Levy asking too much or just no interest I suppose we'll never know. But Dembele (not saying he's deadwood but he should have been moved on from), Sissoko, Nkoudou, Llorente and Janssen is quite a group to find new teams for.

 

[mpickard2087]

Yes the summer could have been better, and it was disappointing not to get in a couple of additions, but on the whole as I have said repeatedly in the last year or so, i find it extremely difficult to sympathise with Poch if he hasn't got the squad he wants and it can't be an excuse.

The guy is in his 5th season here now, how long does he need to shape something in his style and to have the correct depth for all competitions? Ok we might not be able to (like some clubs) have like for like quality replacements, that will have to remain a long term aspiration, but we are perfectly capable of having everyone in the squad who can offer some of the fundamentals of the Poch style - for more fringe players to be busy ****s with high energy who will press hard for 90 minutes and work their bollocks off for the team. Instead we have people like Llorente (and Janssen to an extent) who cant run, Nkoudou who is a headless chicken and shows no understanding of 11 a side football, Sissoko, even if he tries, isn't actually a great presser or all action type, when he wants flying fullbacks we're still stuck with someone like Ben Davies..... I could go on.

As I say, I'm not expecting like for like in terms of quality but they should at least be able to come in as and when and be dependable enough to be competitive and ensure the opposition has a real battle and aids what we do tactically. Towards the fringes of the squad I think we could be doing a lot better and the manager has had enough time to sort it, after 4-5 years who else do you blame.

 

[shelfboy68]

So in mid May, Pochettino tells the board and Levy they need to be brave and take risks, and then in late May he decides to sign a new contract....What does that tell you? He had ample opportunity to get what he wanted in writing before signing a new contract if he had doubts or concerns.
Instead he's managing to coach a top 4 team to produce a shower of shite week in, week out this season so far. His fault!

No one is disagreeing that Poch was wrong about the need for incomings. In fact every single Spurs fan in the world would say we needed incomings. So why didn't it happen? Why didn't Poch say prior to signing his contract, get rid of all these players I don't want and here's a list of players I do want. Sort it all out an I'll sign on the dotted line Dan!

All summer Poch deliberated and dicked about.. So we wanted Martial or Zaha.. And if we couldn't get them, there was/is no other attacking player in the world we couldn't get??? Do me a favour!!!
There was no other midfielder out there better than Sissoko? No better striker out there better than Jansen?

Don't believe the hype that its all DL. Poch is equally to blame on transfers. There's a board, they all sit and talk, if players are needed the board comes up with names. If Poch doesn't like them then he should have had other alternatives to just the 2 players he insisted on.

This is deja-vu. This is AVB all over again with Moutinho..And look what happened after that disastrous season.

I would have taken moutinho this year he has looked good so far in the games I've seen been heavily involved in their general play.

 

[Shadydan]

Now far does Levy think that he can take us? I think that we're maxed out on what we can currently spend.

Depends on whether he sees us as a title challenging team/top 4 or a title winning team.

Certainly in this climate the fact that we're in the middle of building a stadium has made him realise that he needs to tighten the purse strings, it's obviously taken up a lot of the budget.

The key to this is Poch IMO, if he stays it means that there's a means to an end he is willing to take the team forward as he genuinely sees a positive outcome, if he leaves that will tell you all you need to know, we're fucked.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Yes the summer could have been better, and it was disappointing not to get in a couple of additions, but on the whole as I have said repeatedly in the last year or so, i find it extremely difficult to sympathise with Poch if he hasn't got the squad he wants and it can't be an excuse.

The guy is in his 5th season here now, how long does he need to shape something in his style and to have the correct depth for all competitions? Ok we might not be able to (like some clubs) have like for like quality replacements, that will have to remain a long term aspiration, but we are perfectly capable of having everyone in the squad who can offer some of the fundamentals of the Poch style - for more fringe players to be busy ****s with high energy who will press hard for 90 minutes and work their bollocks off for the team. Instead we have people like Llorente (and Janssen to an extent) who cant run, Nkoudou who is a headless chicken and shows no understanding of 11 a side football, Sissoko, even if he tries, isn't actually a great presser or all action type, when he wants flying fullbacks we're still stuck with someone like Ben Davies..... I could go on.

As I say, I'm not expecting like for like in terms of quality but they should at least be able to come in as and when and be dependable enough to be competitive and ensure the opposition has a real battle and aids what we do tactically. Towards the fringes of the squad I think we could be doing a lot better and the manager has had enough time to sort it, after 4-5 years who else do you blame.

I agree in part but I think Poch has build that squad and now only wants top quality additions

We paid 30odd mil for Sissoko and he’s miles away from starting if everyone is fit

Surely it’s about bringing in players you think can push the 1st XI for a starting spot and creating true competition for places?

 

[Grey Fox]

So @Grey Fox, with that optimistic rating are you suggesting Poch won't last 'til the end of the season?!!

Fat fingers removed

 

[Metalhead]

Depends on whether he sees us as a title challenging team/top 4 or a title winning team.

Certainly in this climate the fact that we're in the middle of building a stadium has made him realise that he needs to tighten the purse strings, it's obviously taken up a lot of the budget.

The key to this is Poch IMO, if he stays it means that there's a means to an end he is willing to take the team forward as he genuinely sees a positive outcome, if he leaves that will tell you all you need to know, we're fucked.

Definitely. It would be nice to win a trophy of some description but unfortunately the FA cup and league cup will never be a priority now.

 

[mpickard2087]

I agree in part but I think Poch has build that squad and now only wants top quality additions

We paid 30odd mil for Sissoko and he’s miles away from starting if everyone is fit

Surely it’s about bringing in players you think can push the 1st XI for a starting spot and creating true competition for places?

Depends how you look at it. If I am Pochettino, and knowing his approach to the game, the first thing I'd want in a player is that they are high workrate, aggressive, and can press all day. Especially for fringe players - If you have players who are going to give you all the off the ball stuff, high energy, and 110% effort then I'd like to think that they'd keep you competitive in matches and provide a nuisance factor to the opposition and can rotate them in alongside the established stars (giving some of these a breather) and still win games. 'Top quality' across the board is a more long term aim, I'd be more focused on the fundamentals, which quite a few of the squad still don't have.

 

[robertgoulet]

Fat fingers removed

Painful?

 

[jurgen]

So in mid May, Pochettino tells the board and Levy they need to be brave and take risks, and then in late May he decides to sign a new contract....What does that tell you? He had ample opportunity to get what he wanted in writing before signing a new contract if he had doubts or concerns.
Instead he's managing to coach a top 4 team to produce a shower of shite week in, week out this season so far. His fault!

No one is disagreeing that Poch was wrong about the need for incomings. In fact every single Spurs fan in the world would say we needed incomings. So why didn't it happen? Why didn't Poch say prior to signing his contract, get rid of all these players I don't want and here's a list of players I do want. Sort it all out an I'll sign on the dotted line Dan!

All summer Poch deliberated and dicked about.. So we wanted Martial or Zaha.. And if we couldn't get them, there was/is no other attacking player in the world we couldn't get??? Do me a favour!!!
There was no other midfielder out there better than Sissoko? No better striker out there better than Jansen?

Don't believe the hype that its all DL. Poch is equally to blame on transfers. There's a board, they all sit and talk, if players are needed the board comes up with names. If Poch doesn't like them then he should have had other alternatives to just the 2 players he insisted on.

This is deja-vu. This is AVB all over again with Moutinho..And look what happened after that disastrous season.

You literally have no idea how many players Poch did or did not suggest at this transfer board. What we know is that most players who could add something more to the squad, rather than simply fill it out with more average bargains, would have cost a lot. Of course there is better than Sissoko and Janssen, but last time Poch tried to get an upgrade he got Llorente.

Given what Poch has achieved with us, comparing him to AVB is a bit of a joke.

 

[Jamturk]

Don't know what people expect, we have hit our ceiling.
Have'nt you enjoyed the last few years?

 

[dricha1]

My two pence worth is as follows;

At the start we weren’t regular top 4, so Poch could use the younger players; Mason, Bentaleb, winks and so on without too much pressure. Then we became title contenders amd the impending stadium move whereby Top 4 became a necessity, means Poch couldn’t risk youth players for fear of missing out on top 4. He doesn’t like to buy ready made players, they come with ego and he’s all about the collective.

We are literally stuck, a manager who prefers the mid-range player he can improve, plus a director who thinks these mid-range players are now over priced.

But the new stadium makes CL football a must to help pay off the stadium and generate advertising, sponsorship....and our current youth teams are not coughing up anyone first-team ready. Poch does not have the luxury of risking a few results by bringing in youth players to help bring them on.

 

[thfc1973]

You literally have no idea how many players Poch did or did not suggest at this transfer board. What we know is that most players who could add something more to the squad, rather than simply fill it out with more average bargains, would have cost a lot. Of course there is better than Sissoko and Janssen, but last time Poch tried to get an upgrade he got Llorente.

Given what Poch has achieved with us, comparing him to AVB is a bit of a joke.

Dear oh dear some people really do misinterpret things here... In no way was I comparing Poch to AVB in terms of coaching..I am talking about the situation when AVB insisted on a particular player (Moutinho) and when he didn't get that said player it went belly up for him with DL and he was turfed out.

 

[spursfan77]

Maybe his reaction to down play things after the Man Utd game wasn’t the right move

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Maybe his reaction to down play things after the Man Utd game wasn’t the right move

That scoreline flattered us. Jose spoke about it and Poch knew it too

Maybe the players all talking bollox saying they could win the league was the wrong move

I know who I’d rather listen to

 

[agrdavidsfan]

He’s got to take the blame for that one I’m sorry.

The winks sub is ridiculous

 

[guiltyparty]

He’s got to take the blame for that one I’m sorry.

The winks sub is ridiculous

Different game, same mistakes. What has happened to this side.