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Pochettino: 'Maybe we need more quality in the squad'

WalkerboyUK

Well-Known Member
Jun 8, 2009
21,658
23,476
This might not be such a bad thing.

I just hope we don't end up qualifying for the bloody Europa League.

We need to spend time training and focusing on one main event per week, that's all we can afford with this squad

The way we're playing, we'll have one EL game in late Feb and another in early March, then we'll be out so it won't matter anyway.
 

Dougal

Staff
Jun 4, 2004
60,346
129,923
Are there any managers who think they need less quality in their squads?
 

Danners9

Available on a Free Transfer
Mar 30, 2004
13,998
20,756
Chelsea and Newcastle last season, Monaco last night and the two CL home games show a lack of big game preparedness. Do the players freeze? Poch often says how upset and disappointed he is but there hasn't been a change from last season to this.

Finding the right players to strengthen the team in January is going to be incredibly difficult. As well as incredibly expensive. It's not usually a window where players who are performing well for their clubs can move easily...

One I could suggest worth looking at is Giovinco of Toronto FC. It would have to be on loan but he's been sensational in MLS and Toronto are 1 game away from a cup final (3-2 down after the first leg away to Montreal last night/this morning). He's tiny but very creative.

Otherwise I am struggling to think of good players we could look at.. Wolfsburg have already said Draxler won't be leaving (although probably in the summer, and probably to Juve).
 

WalkerboyUK

Well-Known Member
Jun 8, 2009
21,658
23,476
Chelsea and Newcastle last season, Monaco last night and the two CL home games show a lack of big game preparedness. Do the players freeze? Poch often says how upset and disappointed he is but there hasn't been a change from last season to this.

Finding the right players to strengthen the team in January is going to be incredibly difficult. As well as incredibly expensive. It's not usually a window where players who are performing well for their clubs can move easily...

One I could suggest worth looking at is Giovinco of Toronto FC. It would have to be on loan but he's been sensational in MLS and Toronto are 1 game away from a cup final (3-2 down after the first leg away to Montreal last night/this morning). He's tiny but very creative.

Otherwise I am struggling to think of good players we could look at.. Wolfsburg have already said Draxler won't be leaving (although probably in the summer, and probably to Juve).

I don't think Levy will be opening his cheque book in January.
He will point out that 3 of the new signings are warming the bench most of the time (Janssen, Sissoko & N'koudou) and that Poch needs to make the most of what he asked for - and got!
 

ginola007

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
880
1,142
I don't think Levy will be opening his cheque book in January.
He will point out that 3 of the new signings are warming the bench most of the time (Janssen, Sissoko & N'koudou) and that Poch needs to make the most of what he asked for - and got!
Truth be told, the three mentioned are squad players. We need a starter who can make a difference. Alas, that will cost big bucks.
 

diamondlight

Well-Known Member
Nov 16, 2006
1,263
1,326
The problem is people just look too much at the technical side of things and don't take into account other qualities that players have and it was clear that Mason was a positive influence on the squad.
That's a very interesting point. A happy squad requires delicate chemistry. I think our transfer dealings - in and out - in the summer have changed the mood around the club slightly.
 

Everlasting Seconds

Well-Known Member
Jan 9, 2014
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He always has an excuse doesn't he. Just like "The pitch on WHL is so small" – we move to Wembley and lose more embarrassingly than ever.
 
Feb 10, 2010
25
47
Isco was the player we needed. But for whatever reason we ended up with Sissoko. I still think we'll have a good season but it could have been a great season if we'd got that signing right. We look devoid of creativity without Lamella and confidence without Toby
 

greywizard2020

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2003
331
709
I don't think for a second its about ability because these players do have it, however I do agree with the Poch that its a mental thing because Monaco were at it yesterday; they were purposeful in everything they did. Loads of our players, particularly Dier, Wimmer & Son looked like they just weren't prepared to be leaders & really force the issue.

Dier just looked like he didn't want to be there & halfheartedly went for everything. Wimmer was shocking & i can't understand how or why he has become so bad. Considering the party line has been that we can throw silly money at players because of the new stadium costs, I have been staggered by the money paid for Sissoko; he's a player who go relegated with his previous employers & was nowhere near Newcastle's best player.

Why spend that amount on him & not get someone like Sadio Mane who is a proper speed merchant on the flanks. Another player I thought could do a better job was Nathan Redmond; he's a fast, dynamic, young player who I thought the Saints did very well in signing for reasonable £10 million. Regarding the striker situation, in January 2016 I was understanding when we didn't sign Fulham's Dembele because we wanted a striker immediately, however we didn't get a striker in the end, so why wasn't that deal revived & just let him stay at Fulham for the remainder of that season? By now we would have had a player who is currently earning rave reviews for fraction of Janssen's cost.

Eriksen has done nothing to warrant his inclusion in the squad. Dembele was poor as well & seems to have only 1 good game in 3-4, which is a terrible return for a player who has all the attributes to fit into a Real Madrid.

Players who are out need to return fully & fit, then its back to the drawing board & getting the fundamentals correct.
 

Gaz_Gammon

Well-Known Member
Apr 16, 2005
16,047
18,013
Considering I was the one who brought up the three players surely I'm the one who determines who I was talking about.




Fucks sake (not sure why)

We spent £60m on 3 players in the summer. You'd expect some quality for that.


Perm any three from four.....sorry for not being a mind reader.
 
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