The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[Sid Tottenham]

Made mistakes today which hurts Foyth shouldn’t have played his mistake will hurt him it puts him back to square one.
Shame wasn’t worth the gamble
Still wouldn’t have Anyone else in charge.
Lost the battle but we’ll win the war

 

[philip]

Agree completely that Poch seems to have a real issue bringing on players to counter an opposition shift.

Before Arsenal's equaliser it was agreed clear the tide had turned against us. Afterwards it was even more clear. It was obvious that we needed a change in personal and tweak in formation/positions to get a hold in the game.

Poch didn't do it, as he never does, and the desperate late subs were clearly just that.

He's a fantastic coach and manager, but this one thing has cost us in quite a number of games and, if anything, Poch seems to be getting worse at it.

 

[shelfboy68]

Agree completely that Poch seems to have a real issue bringing on players to counter an opposition shift.

Before Arsenal's equaliser it was agreed clear the tide had turned against us. Afterwards it was even more clear. It was obvious that we needed a change in personal and tweak in formation/positions to get a hold in the game.

Poch didn't do it, as he never does, and the desperate late subs were clearly just that.

He's a fantastic coach and manager, but this one thing has cost us in quite a number of games and, if anything, Poch seems to be getting worse at it.

Yes unfortunately your right this was similar to the Watford game when after we got in front they overwhelmed us and he was unable to change the tide against us, and then finally after the 80 mins Mark with the team 2-1 down does he decide to change it too little too late.

 

[yankspurs]

Points to the players Poch brings on not being motivated to impact the game, as that’s a shocking stat.

Difficult to impact a game when you only get 12’ on the pitch max. Poch waits entirely too long. It’s always been his weakness.

 

[Kiedis]

One week after his tactics nullified an undefeated Chelsea and made us absolutely batter them for 90 minutes, the same old story about how he's weak tactically and actually getting worse and worse gets trodden out. Strange.

There's no denying he made huge mistakes yesterday though. We struggled with the same tactical issues we did vs. Wolves (also a 3-4-3 side) recently. At Molineux, we adjusted our shape with ten minutes to go, and suddenly looked comfortable.

1st mistake: Assuming what didn't work at Wolves would work against Arsenal.
2nd mistake: Not adjusting...
3rd mistake: ...until it was 2-2 and Arsenal had gotten their momentum back.
4th misake: Adjusting our shape not by introducing Alderweireld, but moving Dier to the back and hoping that Sissoko would suddenly stop being a very aggressive runner and start staying in a decent position in front of the defence. That turned out shitty for all of Dier, Sissoko and the team shape.

 

[agrdavidsfan]

Tactically naive

He was outclassed by Emery who to be honest looks really impressive

 

[Hakkz]

Tactically naive

He was outclassed by Emery who to be honest looks really impressive

He's the opposite to Poch when it comes to match coaching. He adjusts when things are going wrong, which is why they always win their games in the second half.

 

[rossdapep]

One week after his tactics nullified an undefeated Chelsea and made us absolutely batter them for 90 minutes, the same old story about how he's weak tactically and actually getting worse and worse gets trodden out. Strange.

There's no denying he made huge mistakes yesterday though. We struggled with the same tactical issues we did vs. Wolves (also a 3-4-3 side) recently. At Molineux, we adjusted our shape with ten minutes to go, and suddenly looked comfortable.

1st mistake: Assuming what didn't work at Wolves would work against Arsenal.
2nd mistake: Not adjusting...
3rd mistake: ...until it was 2-2 and Arsenal had gotten their momentum back.
4th misake: Adjusting our shape not by introducing Alderweireld, but moving Dier to the back and hoping that Sissoko would suddenly stop being a very aggressive runner and start staying in a decent position in front of the defence. That turned out shitty for all of Dier, Sissoko and the team shape.

It's a little annoying too tbh. Just as the "he never learns" line.

The fact is he DOES learn from his mistakes, it doesn't necessarily mean he will continue to make them but to sit there and say that h never learns is tosh.

In his first season we went to Stamford Bridge and were naively run over 0-3 because Poch tried to get us to be brave. He responded a month later with a 5-3 result against Mourinho by making us more aggressive and catching Chelsea off guard.
First time he came up against Conte, we lost but again reversed it.
First time he came up against Van Gaal, lost 3-0 but again reversed it.
Last season when we beat Liverpool 4-1, that was Poch being 'tactically clever' knowing that Liverpool will try press us high he had us sit a bit deeper and counter them.

That's the first time he's come up against Emery's Arsenal and whilst he approached it perhaps a little over-confident or naively, he will definitely have taken something from it and have a better plan for at home.

 

[rossdapep]

He's the opposite to Poch when it comes to match coaching. He adjusts when things are going wrong, which is why they always win their games in the second half.

He was more proactive yesterday and I'd like Poch to do this more often but can we stop with making Poch looking inferior to Emery.

Emery wasn't so proactive and tactically smart coach when his PSG team got easily dealt with by Madrid in the Champs League last season, neither did he look particularly good when Barcelona rioted 6-1 despite being 4-0 up. Didn't change much then did he?

Every season we attack Poch about some character or skillset another coach possesses yet conveniently forget all of the traits he has that others don't. He got it wrong yesterday, he'll get it wrong again but he will certainly get a lot right too and he's still very much a early learner in this management game.

 

[Hakkz]

He was more proactive yesterday and I'd like Poch to do this more often but can we stop with making Poch looking inferior to Emery.

Emery wasn't so proactive and tactically smart coach when his PSG team got easily dealt with by Madrid in the Champs League last season, neither did he look particularly good when Barcelona rioted 6-1 despite being 4-0 up. Didn't change much then did he?

Every season we attack Poch about some character or skillset another coach possesses yet conveniently forget all of the traits he has that others don't. He got it wrong yesterday, he'll get it wrong again but he will certainly get a lot right too and he's still very much a early learner in this management game.

I'm not saying that Emery is superior, except for changing things in-game. Emery obviously can't set up his team properly to start with since they haven't been ahead in half-time once. But he's a bit too Wengerish with his stubborness using subs effectively.

 

[Kiedis]

Most people in here (?) watch every single Spurs game, but it seems like many only tactically dissect the games we end up losing.

And as for Emery vs. Poch, what they do have in common is that none of them gets things right every single time. Emery spent the last home game getting schooled by Wolves and only got a lucky draw from a cross that sailed into the far corner. Even after that, they were lukcy to escape with a point.

Poch has his ups and downs, but yesterday was frustrating, since a lot of the wrongs were very plain to see, and could've been dealt with earlier. He even complained about the players being tired, but didn't make a sub until the 79th minute.

 

[Mr Pink]

Now I know why Poch was complaining about Foyth not being in the CL squad so much. Had he been, he would of started against Inter and Alderweireld against Arsenal.

But still don't get why he couldn't overlook a slight need for rotation at CB and come to the conclusion that experience should of been the key factor in the decision making process for a game of this magnitude.

Foyth could of started against Southampton. Furthermore CBs don't need to be freshened up as much as the midfield and attackers.

 

[mightyspur]

During his interview after the match, he felt like the game was very even and we were comfortable at 2-1 and then 2-2 and it was just the mistake that made it 3-2.

He didn't make a change, because he felt we didn't need to make a change. Not sure what he was watching, because I thought we were getting battered.

 

[ajspurs]

Now I know why Poch was complaining about Foyth not being in the CL squad so much. Had he been, he would of started against Inter and Alderweireld against Arsenal.

But still don't get why he couldn't overlook a slight need for rotation at CB and come to the conclusion that experience should of been the key factor in the decision making process for a game of this magnitude.

Foyth could of started against Southampton. Furthermore CBs don't need to be freshened up as much as the midfield and attackers.

I really don't think it's any excuse, unless Alderweireld really showed signs of struggling with fitness prior to the game. Just for the sake of organisation, positioning, confidence to players around him and experience, Alderweireld should have absolutely started.

In terms if importance to their respective positions, you could argue Alderweireld is as important (or at least to a degree) to the defence as Kane is to strikers position yet you don't see Kane being rested like that. Just a worryingly bad tactical decision which looked to be very wrong before a ball was even kicked.

 

[buckley]

Davinson is the big miss but having said that for me it was a bridge too far to expect to win three big games so close together and for me the telling point was we played mid week inter Milan they played midweek with a complete reserve side .
We had four days rest they had 10 days rest .The thing to look forward to is 2nd march when we play them hopefully at our new home and I think after Sundays shenanigans it will be a cauldron.
The cup game depends on what team both managers put out.

 

[Johno1470]

Tactically naive

He was outclassed by Emery who to be honest looks really impressive

Completely agree with this. What's worrying is he's got his team adapting so quick to his style and they're only going to improve when he gets a few transfer windows under his belt.

 

[SpursDave88]

Most people in here (?) watch every single Spurs game, but it seems like many only tactically dissect the games we end up losing.

And as for Emery vs. Poch, what they do have in common is that none of them gets things right every single time. Emery spent the last home game getting schooled by Wolves and only got a lucky draw from a cross that sailed into the far corner. Even after that, they were lukcy to escape with a point.

Poch has his ups and downs, but yesterday was frustrating, since a lot of the wrongs were very plain to see, and could've been dealt with earlier. He even complained about the players being tired, but didn't make a sub until the 79th minute.

That was the worst part and what annoyed me and I suspect many others - Toby and Winks should have come on earlyishin the second half at 2-1 or even 2-2.

Not for the first time Poch has failed to react to the changing momentum in a game.

He really doesn't like making substitions....a better manager would have hooked Foyth in the 1st half.

 

[Hakkz]

Completely agree with this. What's worrying is he's got his team adapting so quick to his style and they're only going to improve when he gets a few transfer windows under his belt.

Not necessarily. Could just as well be the new management giving everybody a rush, that wears off after a year or two. Look at Conte.

 

[Johno1470]

Not necessarily. Could just as well be the new management giving everybody a rush, that wears off after a year or two. Look at Conte.

True. He is getting performances out of average players such as Holding, Xhaka, Mustafi and these players will be found out, however you look at those players and have to think they will be replaced with better players in the coming windows.

It's important for us to strengthen as our rivals will too.

 

[Hakkz]

True. He is getting performances out of average players such as Holding, Xhaka, Mustafi and these players will be found out, however you look at those players and have to think they will be replaced with better players in the coming windows.

It's important for us to strengthen as our rivals will too.

They could be replaced, or the Arsenal owners will be cheapskates and don't do it/replace with inferior players than the manager wants. That part is unknown as of now. He is doing a decent job atm though.