Read & Weep (Cuourtesy of Jair1970)

[Gedson100]

Just a quick aside, obviously I am a fan and I was generally for Poch when he arrived, so it brings no joy to describe the miserable numbers.

At one point, my working theory was that he'd turned us into Southampton, but our numbers are significantly worse! We seem to be in a state of perpetual transition, always with half a team of high earners out of favour. I accept that this needs to be addressed and building a squad for the long term is necessary, I just can't say with any confidence that we have the right coach to do that.

These numbers have projected badly all season. We overachieved mid season with a run of last gasp barely deserved victories and the form of Kane carrying us, but either side of that, whoever has been in the team, we have performed at a mediocre level. Getting trounced at Stoke is just the extreme end of this.

We're somewhat tied to Poch but he's really gonna have to hit the ground running next season, and Levy absolutely cannot fuck around on transfers this time. The deadwood has to go. Will it? It will require a change in policy from him and until players actually leave I remain sceptical that Levy will cast aside his strict accounting principles. Start next year with a couple of B grade signings and retained out of favour players & more of the same is our ceiling.

 

[dontsalebale]

I dont want to scapegoat individuals. But the only way inverted wingers work is at the very top, top end in terms of players and teams. You cannot have mediocre inverted wingers as it leads to no chances created and play just peters out. If their is no fear of a winger going down the outside and creating a chance it completely changes the oppositions attitude and opens up the wide spaces for them. Poch was an international defender if he doesnt know this he should be sacked and nutted

 

[kursaal]

Just when you feel you cannot feel worse!

 

[Insomnia]

I don't think he can be judged given the squad he had. I also don't think he should go next year if it starts poorly, it's embarassing how many managers we've had since Wenger pitched up the road, embarrassing. Levy's got to stick with one of them imo, chopping and changing managers then means you chop & change your squad every 2 seasons, its pathetic. Stick with the manager, get him the players he knows can work his system.Let him nurture his acadamy etc...

 

[dagraham]

Good article, but just says in stats what many have observed just from watching the games : namely, that we are very average and have rarely put in a dominating performance. We don't get behind the opposition, don't really open them up and create many chances and allow the opposition (even crap relegation fodder) far too many chances themselves.

We have relied on Eriksen scoring last minute goals and Kane being the surprise package of the PL this season. We've also been very fortunate with injuries this season. An injury list like Arsenal have had at times and we'd be nearer to West Ham than top four.

 

[spursfan77]

Since we sold Modric.

I know a player like him can never be replaced like-for-like, but we should have gone all out for a decent creative midfielder (*cough* Moutinho *cough*).

and since we've taken all the pace out of the team. Its no lie that pace opens up defences.

 

[talkshowhost86]

*Reads*

............................................................

*Weeps*

 

[spursfan77]

I dont want to scapegoat individuals. But the only way inverted wingers work is at the very top, top end in terms of players and teams. You cannot have mediocre inverted wingers as it leads to no chances created and play just peters out. If their is no fear of a winger going down the outside and creating a chance it completely changes the oppositions attitude and opens up the wide spaces for them. Poch was an international defender if he doesnt know this he should be sacked and nutted

Its what I've been saying for two years dude. We don't have the quality to play inverted wingers. Play players on their correct sides, attacking at pace and playing with their heads up. We just are too slow, ponderous and obvious in attack.

If he wants to play 433 or 4321 for it to be a success you need to have a midfield of one holding, one dictating the play and joining up with attacks and one who can create, cover and score goals. We actually don't have any of those 3 players in the squad or if we do they aren't being utilised in that way.

I suspect Pochettino wont change it, we will bring in lower quality players in the summer and will be mid table next season unless we make a change.

 

[poc]

Uncanny. Shots inside/outside the box ratios was one of my pet peeves under AVB. Naturally, under Pochettino, we are even worse.

AVB MKII not sure we could expect anything else.

 

[spursfan77]

I don't think he can be judged given the squad he had. I also don't think he should go next year if it starts poorly, it's embarassing how many managers we've had since Wenger pitched up the road, embarrassing. Levy's got to stick with one of them imo, chopping and changing managers then means you chop & change your squad every 2 seasons, its pathetic. Stick with the manager, get him the players he knows can work his system.Let him nurture his acadamy etc...

1. what if he's (yet again) not the right manager, theres no point persisting with him
2. i don't think anyone knows what his system is!
3. he hasn't actually involved any new academy players (with the exception of Mason as Bentaleb and kane were already in the first team squad).

 

[dontsalebale]

Its what I've been saying for two years dude. We don't have the quality to play inverted wingers. Play players on their correct sides, attacking at pace and playing with their heads up. We just are too slow, ponderous and obvious in attack.

If he wants to play 433 or 4321 for it to be a success you need to have a midfield of one holding, one dictating the play and joining up with attacks and one who can create, cover and score goals. We actually don't have any of those 3 players in the squad or if we do they aren't being utilised in that way.

I suspect Pochettino wont change it, we will bring in lower quality players in the summer and will be mid table next season unless we make a change.

When Im manager ill make you my number 2 as you are obviously very intelligent and handsome like me

 

[kaz Hirai]

Couple of games apart what a shit season, worst we've looked since Ramos' last season.

And there's a good chance of us finishing as low as 8th.

How can you not have fixed the defense or implemented some kind of cohesion after 50 games

 

[Insomnia]

1. what if he's (yet again) not the right manager, theres no point persisting with him
2. i don't think anyone knows what his system is!
3. he hasn't actually involved any new academy players (with the exception of Mason as Bentaleb and kane were already in the first team squad).

One thing I wish this Club would do is use Ledley King as our defensive coach. He was the most natural defender I've ever seen & the fact we don't seem to be tapping into his knowledge is ludicrous to me

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

To be fair, Kane has been one of those guiltiest of not putting people better placed into scoring positions himself.

This.

He's been awful for a few games now. It might be tiredness or believing his own hype, we don't know. I wouldn't be against dropping him for the final couple of games though to give him a bit of a rest/wake up call.

 

[Japhet]

One thing I wish this Club would do is use Ledley King as our defensive coach. He was the most natural defender I've ever seen & the fact we don't seem to be tapping into his knowledge is ludicrous to me

Good players don't often make good coaches though. What was so good about Ledley was his reading of the game and his positioning. He also had proper pace, and those are both things which you can't teach. There have been plenty of slow players whose intuition and awareness more than made up for lack of pace. Poch himself was a decent CB and we also have Ugo Ehiogue but you wouldn't think it to see some of our play at the back.

 

[spursfan77]

This.

He's been awful for a few games now. It might be tiredness or believing his own hype, we don't know. I wouldn't be against dropping him for the final couple of games though to give him a bit of a rest/wake up call.

I wouldn't blame him if he was tired. At one point in the Man City game he was making a tackle in the right back position. There's two points to that obviously. Why the hell was he doing that in the first place and why does he think he should be allowed to go back there.

 

[Francis Gibbs]

not a surprise really as its as plain as the nose on your face that we lack any sort of creativity in the final third, players like Eriksen, Dembele, Lamela, Chadli etc have all really failed miserably to be a creative spark.
Of course this is highlighted further by a central midfield pairing of Bentaleb and Mason, neither of who can see a forward pass of any value

 

[mpickard2087]

No surprise to see the stats back up what my eyes have been telling me. The problem is that all of our players, especially in the final third, want the ball to feet constantly. No one wants to get ahead of the ball, take a risk and make a run. Of course they might do it occasionally, but 99% of the time you get an Eriksen/Lamela/Chadli/Dembele doing their own thing, and often wanting to do what the other two in the 4-2-3-1 are doing. How often have you seen them all within 5 yards of each over, all taking up positions in front of the defensive line? There is very little in terms of structure and organisation.

Goals conceded just speaks for itself, not good enough.

 

[worcestersauce]

It would be good to see the breakdown on these stats over the season, for example did it change after Kane made the team or since Walker came back from injury and then since he's been out again.
Also the number of goals conceded may not be unconnected with the shot stats, our defending has been dismal and of course, when we go behind the opposition defend deep which restricts our "in box" shots.
We must have the lowest number of draws is all I can think.

 

[sbrustad]

10/10 would read again.