What's new

Spurs can't compete with 'big six' rivals off the pitch - Pochettino

mawspurs

Staff
Jun 29, 2003
35,066
17,739
Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that Tottenham's away record against the "big six" is the reason they have not won a Premier League title.

Read the full article at ESPN
 

DCSPUR

Well-Known Member
Apr 15, 2005
3,918
5,415
This is the right push back from Poch:

"That is why maybe we've missed a title, why we don't win the Premier League," Pochettino said. "But if you combine home and away [form], I think the last two seasons-and-a-half, I think we are second [against the top six] ... We have won more games than all the others, except I think Liverpool.

"Maybe because we are [one of] the younger teams in the Premier League, maybe we need time to mature. There are many reasons why we cannot win most of the games that we play away from home."

Pochettino pointed out that of the 19 matches between the "big six" so far this term, there have been only four away wins, adding: "For everyone, it is a problem. I don't like these stats. We can talk and you can put like this or like that -- this is positive, that is negative.
 

Jenko

Well-Known Member
Mar 18, 2004
5,290
4,157
If we ever were to go on and win either the title or the champions league, i suspect MP would look back and say his approach to these games was his biggest learning as a coach.

And I'm only guessing still that his approach has changed. By the way we played against liverpool at home, dortmund and Madrid away, it wasnt the style we used constantly the two seasons before. We attempted it against manu away and still lost but Harry was out and we deserved a draw.

Its a better approach against certain top teams and i hope he does the same tomorrow. I'm not saying defend first, I'm saying attack with more caution. Suck them into a trap and break. We've got the players for it, although more pace would be welcome if we can find the right guy after clinton and nkoudou didn't break through...

It would be the teams biggest learning as well, and a demonstration of them coming of age as a mature outfit. I think that is one huge positive we can take from conquering Wembley that we can now play on any pitch and adapt quickly. So we'll be able to hit the ground running next season and i don't expect the debut season jitters that arsenal had.
 

greywizard2020

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2003
331
709
I was of the firm belief that had we not had the enforced absences of Sanchez, Alderweireld & Wanyama for the Man City game, then we would have got something from that game. Even if we had one of them back, then it would have made a difference because Dier at CB doesn't look anywhere near as assured as he does in midfield & the pairing of Dembele & Winks didn't look great either; both were off the pace.

The Arsenal & Man Utd games away were probably our biggest disappointments this season & it was frustrating to see a rather timid team turn up & largely go through the motions. The outstanding performance against Man Utd at Wembley is the type of performance that goes without saying, needs to be replicated away from home.

Danny Murphy on 'The Debate' made the point that Spurs perhaps should replicate Man Utd & Burnley's tactics: deeper lying defence with no space in behind. I think he may well have a point, considering it was a tactic that we used against Liverpool in the home fixture.

I still believe that once we have a fully match-fit team available, then we can beat these teams away from home.
 
Last edited:

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,387
If we ever were to go on and win either the title or the champions league, i suspect MP would look back and say his approach to these games was his biggest learning as a coach.

And I'm only guessing still that his approach has changed. By the way we played against liverpool at home, dortmund and Madrid away, it wasnt the style we used constantly the two seasons before. We attempted it against manu away and still lost but Harry was out and we deserved a draw.

Its a better approach against certain top teams and i hope he does the same tomorrow. I'm not saying defend first, I'm saying attack with more caution. Suck them into a trap and break. We've got the players for it, although more pace would be welcome if we can find the right guy after clinton and nkoudou didn't break through...

It would be the teams biggest learning as well, and a demonstration of them coming of age as a mature outfit. I think that is one huge positive we can take from conquering Wembley that we can now play on any pitch and adapt quickly. So we'll be able to hit the ground running next season and i don't expect the debut season jitters that arsenal had.

Totally agree, although I'd add using the press from a slightly deeper position so that we're not as vulnerable to pace. Moura will hopefully be the man to lead the counter attacks and I think he'll scare the shit out of some of the big teams with his pace and dribbling.
 

Sweetsman

Well-Known Member
Jan 30, 2011
6,673
6,588
I think this all has to do with the maturing of Pochettino as a coach. There has been a big leap in that from the past two seasons.
 
Top