Pochettino's 'get out of jail free' card?

[Shanks]

I wouldn't say it's a get out of jail free card, but I don't want to see Poch go this year, even if we are sat on 4 points after 10 games....

The whole point on trying to buy players is to get individuals that can add value. If we can't improve on what we have, then there is no point. Yes, we are probably a little light on cover in both DM and CF, but we have midfielders that didn't do too badly last season and with Dier showing he can do a job in that position, we are stronger.

Up top, we have added two pacey forwards, whilst not strictly CF's, if they can bang in goals and create more than last season, we'll do just fine (fingers crossed on injuries). I suspect we only need to get to January to see if we need to strengthen, but with players like Pritchard coming through, it's a very exciting time.

I'm still rather excited by it all. Now I just need Kane to score and us to get a win (which I suspect may come after the City game).

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Well, for me most of what you've said is bullshit. The only positions in the starting 11 on which we are clearly better are striker and GK and maybe Toby for now.
Lloris is better than Adrian
Jenkinson is better than this Walker who's been shit for a long time now.
Toby better than Tomkins, but not so sure against Reid
Ogbonna is better than this Vertonghen who's also been shit for a long time like Walker
Rose and Cresswell are close, I prefer the latter.
Their CMs pisses over ours.
Payet is better than all of our attacking mids
Kane better than all their strikers, but they have several and good. Valencia and Sakho are very good. Jelavic will be useful. If Kane gets injured we are fucked. They have options
No wonder some of the other teams call us deluded. We think we are better than what we actually are.

So basically, it's a complete matter of opinion. I think you underestimate our squad.

The only factual evidence we have is that we finished above them (comfortably) last season- and for a long time.

 

[Francis Gibbs]

So basically, it's a complete matter of opinion. I think you underestimate our squad.

The only factual evidence we have is that we finished above them (comfortably) last season- and for a long time.

thats not a worhwhile factual comparison at all ..... given the point was originally about their squad now

 

[Bulletspur]

I believe the problem of us maintaining 5th or there abouts will be due to Poch's tactics, opposition awareness, team selection and management on Match days. Even if we had signed SB and a dm I dont believe (and I use to) Poch know what he is doing most times. Quite a few of our successful games last season had a touch serendipity imo.

 

[rossdapep]

It all depends on how poch uses his squad and what tactics he chooses. Last season we had many occasions scratching our heads at what he was trying to achieve, although we did still get some decent results. I feel we have improved our defence and we have pace. If poch is showing signs that he is getting the best out of the team but our lack of back up for Kane is telling, meaning we aren't doing as well as hoped and levy decides to pull the trigger, well there's only one man who will be under pressure. The fans will start to question levy's intentions and rightly so. Having said all that, if poch fails to integrate the new additions and it feels we are going backwards, regardless of our striker situation, he won't get no sympathy.

 

[Bulletspur]

It all depends on how poch uses his squad and what tactics he chooses. Last season we had many occasions scratching our heads at what he was trying to achieve, although we did still get some decent results. I feel we have improved our defence and we have pace. If poch is showing signs that he is getting the best out of the team but our lack of back up for Kane is telling, meaning we aren't doing as well as hoped and levy decides to pull the trigger, well there's only one man who will be under pressure. The fans will start to question levy's intentions and rightly so. Having said all that, if poch fails to integrate the new additions and it feels we are going backwards, regardless of our striker situation, he won't get no sympathy.

Good shout!

 

[St José Dominguez]

Theoretically we're no weaker than last season despite the fact we didn't sign a striker. Last season our backup to Kane was hopeless and even a slightly out of position N'Jie I'd have more faith in.
My worry though is Poch being reluctant to rest him/Kane wanting to play in every game and we run him into the ground. Lots is said about this team getting 5th last season but so much, and so many wins were purely down to Kane's form. If that dwindles slightly we're going to have to find other ways to consistently win football matches.

I'm pretty unsure on Pochettino so far and although my amount of patience will be increased due to belief he's been left short of one absolutely key player and a suitable substitute, I'll still question things.

I think the gap between us and the teams below us has shrunk, other posters have done the who would get into our team game with their signings. However that's not really the point is it, if those below have purchased players that help their team functionality that will mean they pick up points and be potentially more difficult for us to beat. A lot, and I mean a lot of games last season we scrambled over the line picking up wins, if those teams have improved and we've stood still that may not occur.

Throughout last season the line was wait until the players get it, get what Pochettino wants. Well in my opinion it's time to start seeing it and relatively quickly, because I'm still slightly puzzled as to what the it is.

For me 6th is fine as long as there are visible seeds of improvement in terms of how we're playing. It's a young squad and if that was occurring I'd be happily very patient with Poch.
However if we're looking at 8th and we're still producing extremely lacklustre performances at times with Poch showing inflexibility tactically I think myself and others will have a lot of questions as to if Poch is the right guy.

The right now isn't a huge worry personally, I think we will probably scrape 6th. However I think it's plain to see that until at least the stadium is open and has been the way for many years we will only spend what we receive in transfer fees. The TV money next year is monstrous and there is a genuine chance for numerous teams to aim to finish above us.

 

[Lilbaz]

Theoretically we're no weaker than last season despite the fact we didn't sign a striker. Last season our backup to Kane was hopeless and even a slightly out of position N'Jie I'd have more faith in.
My worry though is Poch being reluctant to rest him/Kane wanting to play in every game and we run him into the ground. Lots is said about this team getting 5th last season but so much, and so many wins were purely down to Kane's form. If that dwindles slightly we're going to have to find other ways to consistently win football matches.

I'm pretty unsure on Pochettino so far and although my amount of patience will be increased due to belief he's been left short of one absolutely key player and a suitable substitute, I'll still question things.

I think the gap between us and the teams below us has shrunk, other posters have done the who would get into our team game with their signings. However that's not really the point is it, if those below have purchased players that help their team functionality that will mean they pick up points and be potentially more difficult for us to beat. A lot, and I mean a lot of games last season we scrambled over the line picking up wins, if those teams have improved and we've stood still that may not occur.

Throughout last season the line was wait until the players get it, get what Pochettino wants. Well in my opinion it's time to start seeing it and relatively quickly, because I'm still slightly puzzled as to what the it is.

For me 6th is fine as long as there are visible seeds of improvement in terms of how we're playing. It's a young squad and if that was occurring I'd be happily very patient with Poch.
However if we're looking at 8th and we're still producing extremely lacklustre performances at times with Poch showing inflexibility tactically I think myself and others will have a lot of questions as to if Poch is the right guy.

The right now isn't a huge worry personally, I think we will probably scrape 6th. However I think it's plain to see that until at least the stadium is open and has been the way for many years we will only spend what we receive in transfer fees. The TV money next year is monstrous and there is a genuine chance for numerous teams to aim to finish above us.

In the poch thread i said i would give him another season as getting us 5th and to a cup final deserved it. I will stick to that (unless he does a ramos and the players look like they've lost all confidence). But i agree with a lot of what you say.

 

[FrankSpencer]

Levy has the right man in charge to take us into the new stadium. The moment that move takes place, the demands and pressures increase from every corner of the club (not just the fans expectation levels). I like what Poch represents and the way he conducts himself. It's clear to me he is extremely proud to wear the THFC badge on his suit jacket. He never compromises our integrity and the important values our wonderful club upholds. Regarding the match days, the pressing style we had hoped for hasn't come to fruition in many games to date. This is the only question mark I have over him. He needs to impart that identity soon so we all can see the transition he is aiming for in his philosophy. This transfer window was better than many are giving it credit for and even more so with the backdrop of a world class stadium build in it's infancy.

 

[FrankSpencer]

Theoretically we're no weaker than last season despite the fact we didn't sign a striker. Last season our backup to Kane was hopeless and even a slightly out of position N'Jie I'd have more faith in.
My worry though is Poch being reluctant to rest him/Kane wanting to play in every game and we run him into the ground. Lots is said about this team getting 5th last season but so much, and so many wins were purely down to Kane's form. If that dwindles slightly we're going to have to find other ways to consistently win football matches.

I'm pretty unsure on Pochettino so far and although my amount of patience will be increased due to belief he's been left short of one absolutely key player and a suitable substitute, I'll still question things.

I think the gap between us and the teams below us has shrunk, other posters have done the who would get into our team game with their signings. However that's not really the point is it, if those below have purchased players that help their team functionality that will mean they pick up points and be potentially more difficult for us to beat. A lot, and I mean a lot of games last season we scrambled over the line picking up wins, if those teams have improved and we've stood still that may not occur.

Throughout last season the line was wait until the players get it, get what Pochettino wants. Well in my opinion it's time to start seeing it and relatively quickly, because I'm still slightly puzzled as to what the it is.

For me 6th is fine as long as there are visible seeds of improvement in terms of how we're playing. It's a young squad and if that was occurring I'd be happily very patient with Poch.
However if we're looking at 8th and we're still producing extremely lacklustre performances at times with Poch showing inflexibility tactically I think myself and others will have a lot of questions as to if Poch is the right guy.

The right now isn't a huge worry personally, I think we will probably scrape 6th. However I think it's plain to see that until at least the stadium is open and has been the way for many years we will only spend what we receive in transfer fees. The TV money next year is monstrous and there is a genuine chance for numerous teams to aim to finish above us.

Nice post. I think we will see a huge change in the overall results this season versus previous years. Most of the smaller teams have strengthened well, but also the middle section of teams have purchased game changers. Already this season we have seen some unpredictable results with only 4 games gone. It's going to be a tough season but an exciting one nonetheless.

 

[ilikeost]

I believe the problem of us maintaining 5th or there abouts will be due to Poch's tactics, opposition awareness, team selection and management on Match days. Even if we had signed SB and a dm I dont believe (and I use to) Poch know what he is doing most times. Quite a few of our successful games last season had a touch serendipity imo.

I always find it so hillarious when football fans online claims that Pochettino, a Premier Leauge manager that finished 5th last season with a broken squad, doesn't know what he is doing. Come back to planet Earth please.

 

[muppetman]

As we have always struggled against teams that park the bus, I wonder if teams who have 'strengthened' will feel more confident and adventurous when they come to WHL this season?

Anyway, as to the OP I do feel that Poch will get some extra leeway but only so much. In an ideal world Levy would continue with the project for anything short of relegation form. At some point we need to devise a plan and stick with it all the way though, not bin it at the first hiccup.

I think we have a decent squad of players and talk of relegation and falling behind the likes of West Ham is overstating it hugely but we won't be hitting Top 4 either this season. A decent cup run or two would be a real help this season.

 

[WiganSpur]

To be fair to Pochettino we haven't had a horrendous performance this season just yet. We have been more than well in the 4 games we have played.

It is about results, yes. But good performances are a sign of long-term results. It helps if you play shit, get lucky and win obviously, and the best teams can do that- but the best teams perform to what they are capable of 75 to 80% of the time.

It feels the exact opposite to 13/14 this season in that we got some good early results that year but the performances were not convincing. Eventually you saw the wheels starting to come off when the luck ran out.

Bar the last half an hour against Stoke, which I think was just poor game management, our performances have generally been OK. This is a good sign for long-term results.

We've looked a more solid unit, and have limited teams to minimal chances in 3 and a half games. We've just been slightly unlucky in that the chances we have conceded have cost us dearly.

 

[worcestersauce]

He is building a team to compete at the highest level but if anyone thinks we ought to be doing that this season they are beyond the realms of reality.
I am surprised that there are people who are discussing how long he should be given, six months or a year when it is perfectly clear that he has done the first part of the job perfectly.
He has identified the areas that needed strengthening and the players to be shipped out and acted upon them, he has also determined how he wants his team to play and, despite what some people think, has got this across to the players who will build on this throughout the season.
I am disappointed with the results so far this season but not the way we have played and it will get better mark my words.

 

[double0]

Again I a seriously surprised by some the views posted, claiming Pochettinho hasn't a tactical clue, or squads such as Wet Spam are better than what we have.

However those views are fairly balanced out with posts appreciating the work done on our squad over the transfer window. I feel we have a very good squad with players that have an upbringing that to me should not be discounted, we will I reckon be much stronger as the season draws on and would not be surprised if we finish in the top 4... With the pace we've added too, many teams won't be able to cope with our possession football with added pace going forward.

 

[jurgen]

I always find it so hillarious when football fans online claims that Pochettino, a Premier Leauge manager that finished 5th last season with a broken squad, doesn't know what he is doing. Come back to planet Earth please.

Yeah.. but..er.. Liverpool weren't trying.. (managerial equivalent of penos don't count as goals)

 

[NEVILLEB]

We were doing pretty badly when Jol got sacked. The atmosphere in the stands was mixed at best, and most Spurs fans I knew at the time found his sacking sad but necessary.

I think the combination of poor summer acquisitions and being undermined in the press created the bad start that season.

 

[spurs9]

I think the combination of poor summer acquisitions and being undermined in the press created the bad start that season.

He also had a poor start the season before though except this time there was no sign of a turn around. The meetings between Comolli, Levy and Ramos didn't help and was probably the difference between being mentally in a state to turn things things around and not.

 

[Xeeleeyid]

To be fair to Pochettino we haven't had a horrendous performance this season just yet. We have been more than well in the 4 games we have played.

It is about results, yes. But good performances are a sign of long-term results. It helps if you play shit, get lucky and win obviously, and the best teams can do that- but the best teams perform to what they are capable of 75 to 80% of the time.

It feels the exact opposite to 13/14 this season in that we got some good early results that year but the performances were not convincing. Eventually you saw the wheels starting to come off when the luck ran out.

Bar the last half an hour against Stoke, which I think was just poor game management, our performances have generally been OK. This is a good sign for long-term results.

We've looked a more solid unit, and have limited teams to minimal chances in 3 and a half games. We've just been slightly unlucky in that the chances we have conceded have cost us dearly.

Yeah we haven't played badly at any point this season, but haven't had the luck when required to get the win. On the other hand, Liverpool fluked three wins playing shite and then finally got humiliated by an average team at home. Actually, Liverpool reminded me of our start in AVB's last season, where we ground out a few lucky 1-0 wins then got dicked by West Ham at home, which was the first sign of the terrible season to follow...

 

[eddiev14]

Yeah, with the fans I would really like to think so.

If you look at that squad it is clear that Poch has already saved the club an absolute mountain of money in the transfer market by playing so many kids and getting so much out of them.

I really can't help but admire the mess he has saved us from having to go through this summer.

What if (like most of us would have felt at the start of last season) we had a manager who felt he could not trust the kids and yet still faced the attitude and ability problems that he and Sherwood had with the likes of Capoue, Kaboul, Lennon, Soldado, Lamela etc.

Instead of needing 4 or 5 players this summer we'd have needed 15!

And yet, despite the great position he's got us in with our squad - a position where we have sold 7 or 8 players who were purchased for a lot of money, and not had to replace them - he has not been rewarded for this with a crucial position that our youth system was unable to solve.

You notice I didn't write 2 positions there because - remarkably - it appears that Poch has brilliantly solved the DM issue by converting a young centre back. There's another £20m saved...

So if Kane gets injured (or needs a rest) and the wide forwards don't work as the number 9, to blame the manager if the goals dry up and we can't win a game would be utterly absurd.

Whether the Chairman will see it that way is another thing...