Pochettino 'very happy' with Chelsea win but still demands more from Tottenham

[thinktank]

Standard Sport
Published: 03 January 2015

Updated: 13:54, 03 January 2015

Tottenham are at last beginning to adapt to the style demanded by head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

The former Argentina international's summer arrival was greeted by excitement and expectation at White Hart Lane, although the first few months of his reign proved tumultuous.

Spurs struggled to get to grips with the exciting, high-pressing football that Pochettino became synonymous for at Southampton, but there have been some promising signs of late.

The most impressive display to date came on New Year's Day, when the north Londoners annihilated rivals Chelsea 5-3 at White Hart Lane.

"I think that we are very happy with what the team showed against Chelsea," Pochettino said ahead of Monday's trip to Burnley in the FA Cup.

"It is not easy. You always need time to change things, but the team are starting to show what we want to see.

"We are in a process and we need to believe and build our way.

"Victories like this, means you can improve more quickly."

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foo...till-demands-more-from-tottenham-9955556.html

 

[stemark44]

The manager is absolutely right...its great to see the players doing it on the field but they can never rest on their laurels.
Its the Alex Ferguson way.

 

[chinaman]

The manager is absolutely right...its great to see the players doing it on the field but they can never rest on their laurels.
Its the Alex Ferguson way.

I hope Poch is more civil than Fergie. Don't throw things at your players except strong words of encouragement.

 

[thinktank]

"It is not easy. You always need time to change things, but the team are starting to show what we want to see.

"We are in a process and we need to believe and build our way.

We have to resist - as tempting as it is - getting too overexcited by the chelsea win, expecting to blow all teams away from hereon in.

Still lots of work to do. We're still only laying the foundation.

 

[KILLA_SIN]

We have to resist - as tempting as it is - getting too overexcited by the chelsea win, expecting to blow all teams away from hereon in.

Still lots of work to do. We're still only laying the foundation.

They'll sit back more than ever

 

[Mr Pink]

We have to resist - as tempting as it is - getting too overexcited by the chelsea win, expecting to blow all teams away from hereon in.

Still lots of work to do. We're still only laying the foundation.

Totally agree. Our performances were always going to be sporadic in the early months whilst a work in progress. He's attempting to change things and it takes time. It doesn't come all together in an instant.

And he's only had a settled nucleus in recent weeks as well. We'll improve in the coming weeks/months with plenty of games and more time on the training field.

But make no mistake, that result and performance against Chelsea instills real belief - and significantly, belief in Pochettino from the players point of view.

 

[stewartd]

Poch has done well with the hand he has been dealt . Not bought in many of his own, only Faz, Davies and Benji.
His test will come next season when he will have had to weed out those who do not suit him and bring in more of his own players.
What I do like about him is that he has installed a team ethic that has sadly been lacking before.
He is also not scared to shake the tree by leaving out senior players who have not stepped up to the plate (Kaboul Ade and Capoue).
Like him , hope he gets the support he deserves from the board.

 

[marvel]

I think the Chelsea match just showed us the what can happen when everything clicks, we can beat (destroy in fact), anyone. The challenge for Pochettino will be consistently getting that kind of performance which we have yet to see week in, week out as opposed to odd flashes.

 

[Metalhead]

We have to resist - as tempting as it is - getting too overexcited by the chelsea win, expecting to blow all teams away from hereon in.

Still lots of work to do. We're still only laying the foundation.

Totally agree. It's as daft to get completely carried away as it was for those who were calling for his head expressing doubt in his future at the club after a dozen games.

 

[Good Doctor M]

Baby steps... it's important that this win, as wonderful as it was, doesn't paper over the fact that frankly, we've been pretty underwhelming for most of the season.

It may be a turning point, but being realistic, we'll struggle to break Palace down. They're a strong unit and won't make it easy. Let's hope we can push on now and at least see an improvement in performances. For me, the results are important, but still, the performances still leave a lot to be desired.

But the mentality is there. We went toe to toe, were clinical in attack and despite a few defensive wobbles, we weren't out of our depth. A few more good results and we can consolodate fourth by the end of January.

The belief is there. AVB's Spurs would have rolled over at 1-0. Poch's Spurs, seem to be a bit more, "Fuck this, let's get at these bastards" once they go behind.

 

[Mr Pink]

Baby steps... it's important that this win, as wonderful as it was, doesn't paper over the fact that frankly, we've been pretty underwhelming for most of the season.

It may be a turning point, but being realistic, we'll struggle to break Palace down. They're a strong unit and won't make it easy. Let's hope we can push on now and at least see an improvement in performances. For me, the results are important, but still, the performances still leave a lot to be desired.

But the mentality is there. We went toe to toe, were clinical in attack and despite a few defensive wobbles, we weren't out of our depth. A few more good results and we can consolodate fourth by the end of January.

The belief is there. AVB's Spurs would have rolled over at 1-0. Poch's Spurs, seem to be a bit more, "Fuck this, let's get at these bastards" once they go behind.

I think we'll beat Palace. Pardew's first home game means they'll be up for it and will attack us, but they'll leave space for us and they'll be missing their two best players in Jedinak and Bolasie.

I'd be less confident if it was at WHL, as they'd come and shut up shop.

 

[DaSpurs]

I think we'll beat Palace. At home, Pardew's first home game, means they'll be up for it and will attack us but they'll leave space for us and they'll be missing their two best players in Jedinak and Bolasie.

I'd be less confident if it was at WHL, as they'd come and shut up shop.

Completely agreed. We've done well at punishing teams that have set out to attack us this season, even when we weren't running smoothly earlier in the fall.

 

[scat1620]

I hope Poch is more civil than Fergie. Don't throw things at your players except strong words of encouragement.

Disagree. Fergie is the best manager I've ever seen operate since I've been watching football, and if kicking a boot is okay by him then it's okay by me too: he writes the rulebook because he's the best there was. If a Tottenham manager could achieve a tenth of what he did using the same methods then I would be beyond delighted.

 

[etchedchaos]

Not overly worried if teams sit back, it's pressing that seems to cause us issues, the Leicester game was turned on it;s ear the moment they started full-team pressing.

 

[stemark44]

Totally agree. Our performances were always going to be sporadic in the early months whilst a work in progress. He's attempting to change things and it takes time. It doesn't come all together in an instant.

And he's only had a settled nucleus in recent weeks as well. We'll improve in the coming weeks/months with plenty of games and more time on the training field.

But make no mistake, that result and performance against Chelsea instills real belief - and significantly, belief in Pochettino from the players point of view.

I agree,I also think that its a great result for Poch at a crucial time.
After that result,I think Levy is really gonna be behind any players he might want to move out and bring in during this window.

 

[thinktank]

I think the Chelsea match just showed us the what can happen when everything clicks, we can beat (destroy in fact), anyone. The challenge for Pochettino will be consistently getting that kind of performance which we have yet to see week in, week out as opposed to odd flashes.

This is why I said from the start that it will take a season and two more window before we begin to see something solid.

We are only just 35-40% there, I'd say, and we have just blown the doors off of chelsea on a day when it clicked...and clicked only for the most part. We were not fantastic by any means and there were problems for us all over the park, but we still reamed them whilst gifting them two of their goals.

If that doesn't fill anyone with hope for the future, nothing will.

Like you said, we need to develop consistency and that will only come once our players have been totally saturated with poch's method and we have tweaked the squad to his requirements i.e. time.

This season is one of experiment, exploration and development. All with a very specific focus. Tightly analysed and precisely managed towards a very specific outcome.

Next season will be very pleasing imo.

 

[Spurger King]

Next season will be very pleasing imo.

Let's hope so, but time doesn't stand still. It's not inconceivable that missing out on the top 4 (or even if we get it) would see us lose Lloris and possibly Verts. Add one or two signings in addition to their replacements and it becomes a matter of integrating players quickly.

Where I see a big positive is that short of losing Eriksen it seems unlikely that we'll lose any outfield players that would significantly disrupt us. Hopefully that will give Pochettino time to get the foundations in place, making it much easier to bring in new elements.

 

[Flobadob]

I'm not excited by what we have done this season, I'm excited about what we could do in the future. There's still so much room for improvement. We aren't pressing like Southampton did yet, we aren't passing like they did, we're still conceding easily avoidable goals sometimes and the Chelsea game is the first real example of how deadly Poch makes his teams in transition. It was beautiful to watch wasn't it? And I fully expect us to see that more and more often. Time is key here, as Poch supporters have said from the start! Levy has to back this guy and work until he collapses to give him what he needs and I'm positive we will have success IN TIME

 

[thinktank]

Let's hope so, but time doesn't stand still. It's not inconceivable that missing out on the top 4 (or even if we get it) would see us lose Lloris and possibly Verts. Add one or two signings in addition to their replacements and it becomes a matter of integrating players quickly.

Where I see a big positive is that short of losing Eriksen it seems unlikely that we'll lose any outfield players that would significantly disrupt us. Hopefully that will give Pochettino time to get the foundations in place, making it much easier to bring in new elements.

I don't think we'll lose anyone.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

T

But make no mistake, that result and performance against Chelsea instills real belief - and significantly, belief in Pochettino from the players point of view.

I think the turning point to our whole season took place when whatever happened, if anything, between Ade, Kaboul, Capoue, and the youngsters. At that point, Pochettino drew a line in the sand - anyone on the right side was going to play, anyone on the wrong side were going to be left behind. Pochettino had the backing of Levy and the board, and at that moment, the club had its identity. Those left standing were the core group who going to implement Poch's philosophy. I think there were a few undecideds - but they knew that the only way to see the pitch was to play, and train, the Pochettino way.

From that point on, we have seen several players kick into gear, and the whole squad seems to be of a single mindset. The players who are left standing will make mistakes, but they don't ever seem to give up. They fight for each other, and they fight for the club.

I am confident that anyone we bring in to the club will fit into that culture - both because they have been scouted properly, and because the attitude is so pervasive in the club now. Players will demand it as much as coaches.