The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[SUIYHA]

You kind of proved my point - we have the same or better depth as any of the "big" squads - despite not having the same financial resources. Expecting us to have better depth than those teams is not a realistic expectation.

To be fair having re-read it the tone of my post seems unfairly aggressive relative to what you're actually saying. I've just seen a lot of posts across many Spurs forums lately taking a "woe is me" attitude to how many injuries we've had because there are more than last season, when actually this is probably about as realistically little as you will get in an average season and luckily we haven't had too many in the same position at once. Having re-read it it seems you weren't saying that at all so apologies.

Although...I do think our squad players should be doing much better than they have done. Hardly a controversial opinion but it's true. We spent good money on Sissoko and Janssen, then players like Davies, Trippier and Wimmer are established PL or international players, they should all have done better. What's different this season is that those last three were pushing the first teamers close for a starting spot, but this year they've looked miles behind the players they've deputised for - I guess Trippier has had his moments but that's it.

 

[Shadydan]

To be fair having re-read it the tone of my post seems unfairly aggressive relative to what you're actually saying. I've just seen a lot of posts across many Spurs forums lately taking a "woe is me" attitude to how many injuries we've had because there are more than last season, when actually this is probably about as realistically little as you will get in an average season and luckily we haven't had too many in the same position at once. Having re-read it it seems you weren't saying that at all so apologies.

Although...I do think our squad players should be doing much better than they have done. Hardly a controversial opinion but it's true. We spent good money on Sissoko and Janssen, then players like Davies, Trippier and Wimmer are established PL or international players, they should all have done better. What's different this season is that those last three were pushing the first teamers close for a starting spot, but this year they've looked miles behind the players they've deputised for - I guess Trippier has had his moments but that's it.

Not sure if it's a slight on them but Rose, Walker and Vertonghen has improved to the point where they are arguably the best players in their position in the league. I think it's a bit unfair to expect them to improve to such a level especially when they barely play.

 

[JerryGarcia]

Guillem Ballbag today on SSN, take it with a pinch of salt obviously as he is very hit and miss imo.

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...-an-era-after-psg-defeat-says-guillem-balague

I have the impression Mauricio Pochettino is admired in Barcelona and will have a big decision to make in the summer, because he will want Spurs to continue his progression. If he gets that there is no doubt he will stay, but he has directors at Barca that admire him and he has been on the list for a while.

I am not surprised, even though he is closely linked to Espanyol and moving to Barcelona might be difficult, because he has the quality, style and philosophy to succeed.

 

[Shadydan]

Ballbag's usual sit on the fence kind of ITK, the guy is an absolute muppet.

 

[rambu]

I though I read somewhere that Poch had on record, he'd never coach Barca due to his Espanyol days?

 

[VertongHen]

He wouldn't go to Barcelona. He's too loyal to Espanol to do that.

However, he said earlier in the week that PSG was his favourite club and that he fondly remembers his playing days there.

If he's going anywhere I'd say it would be to PSG, however their current coach seems to be doing a good job so hopefully he won't. Not for a while anyway.

 

[yido_number1]

He wouldn't go to Barcelona. He's too loyal to Espanol to do that.

However, he said earlier in the week that PSG was his favourite club and that he fondly remembers his playing days there.

If he's going anywhere I'd say it would be to PSG, however their current coach seems to be doing a good job so hopefully he won't. Not for a while anyway.

I think after that interview he gave where he also talked about Batshuayi, he went on to say the French league isnt competitive enough and wouldn't want to manage in that league.

“I’ve always said that I would be pleased to join a great club like PSG,” Pochettino told French radio station RMC. “Come to Paris? I hope so. It is true that it would please me. It’s part of my dreams. I try to watch all their matches, especially in the Champions League.

“The [French] championship is not very attractive because PSG is far from the other teams but I look a lot because it is a major source of players. There is talent so I have to follow Ligue 1."

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I though I read somewhere that Poch had on record, he'd never coach Barca due to his Espanyol days?

Pochettino explained that it is unlikely he would ever manage at the Nou Camp as he was “born with a bull in his arm”, as reported by the Evening Standard.

The quote is a reference to Espanyol, Barcelona’s same-City rivals and the former team of the 44-year-old.


Read more at http://www.squawka.com/news/maurici...th-bull-in-his-arm/874341#FxbMjI0hrIbvvrJm.99

 

[SUIYHA]

I always take that sort of thing with a massive pinch of salt. Seen too many footballers kiss the badge and declare somewhere their spiritual home before shitting all over them and taking the better offer from a rival.

Even then, no bigger clubs than us are going to be offering Poch anything unless he wins something here first - it would require the PL title to qualify him for the Barcelona job, or at the very least the Europa League more than once. If he manages that then I'd assume he can leave with all of our blessings.

Edit - Maybe PSG would look at him because of his history there. But definitely not the Barcelonas/Real Madrids/Bayern Munichs of this world. No way.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I get that it's easy to be jaded in this sport. And Poch will certainly leave someday, but if you don't see that Poch is "different" then you are not paying attention.

Poch values relationships and loyalty. That is who he is as a man. It's refreshing, and it's why so many current and former player speak highly of him. Poch is not simply kissing the badge.

 

[Hazardousman]

Have a lot of respect for Poch based on his words today, I felt he was harsh on the players after the game against Liverpool because he didn't publically take any blame for the loss himself.

But today he rectified that.

The 2-0 loss leaves Spurs 10 points behind leaders Chelsea in the Premier League table and likely to be relying on the cup competitions if they want to win a trophy this season.

But Pochettino said he has taken a soft approach with his disappointed players, who want the chance to put things right.

"I tried to give love. We all felt disappointed that they suffered a lot," he added.

"Sometimes, when your performance is not good and that game touched your pride, you don't need to kill them. The first man to kill is myself because I am responsible."

It takes an honest man to admit when they have screwed up, honestly, I can respect that.

Also, about the Barca job, it's hard to say if he would or would not go, I would like to believe he would stay but I don't think he would personally and could you really blame him? We are a long way off Barcelona and I mean a long way, we may never even get to that level under Poch, it's highly doubtful actually.

 

[dagraham]

A colleague of mine is a lifelong City fan and has a few connections in the agent world, most notably Mancini's agent who he knows quite well.
He told me well before it happened about the arabs takeover, Guardiola going there and a couple of other things. He talks plenty of bollocks as well, so I take what he says with a heavy pinch of salt.

Anyway, point is he told me a few days ago that word is Poch is high up on Barca's list and he could well be off there in the summer.

As I said though, his word is hardly gospel and I'm going to choose to believe he's talking shit.

 

[Jody]

Last I read, Barca are more interested in Emery / Sampaoli. I think if Poch goes anywhere it'll be Real. I reckon he'll have at least 1 season in our new stadium though.

 

[Shadydan]

I think if the PSG job became available he would be very interested, special circumstances in regards to Barca as Espanyol have a big place in his heart so there's a conflict of interest there.

 

[Wirral Spurs]

All very predictable given the result on Tuesday. Big test for us now as a Club in my opinion. It will depend on Poch's character and how much resolve Levy has.
Would be such a shame if he went although I wouldn't be surprised or really blame him too much if he did.

 

[SUIYHA]

I get that it's easy to be jaded in this sport. And Poch will certainly leave someday, but if you don't see that Poch is "different" then you are not paying attention.

Poch values relationships and loyalty. That is who he is as a man. It's refreshing, and it's why so many current and former player speak highly of him. Poch is not simply kissing the badge.

Everyone is "different" until they're not. Just ask Poch's old mate Raul Tamudo about loyalty.

But as I said. There is absolutely no chance that Barcelona are going to approach him without having won anything here first. At that level, they need managers who can win cup finals, who can keep the team going in the final few weeks of the season in squeaky bum time to win the title, who can mastermind two-legged knockout ties. Poch hasn't demonstrated any of that yet. The only exception is if the guy is one of their own. How would they sell this new appointment to the fans and players - here comes a new manager who's never won anything that played for your rivals. I just don't see it.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

I could see it happening. Don't want it to, but could see it. Unless we can get our act together in the transfer market, why should he stay here? And as for playing at Wembley next season, it could prove to be a nightmare.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I could see it happening. Don't want it to, but could see it. Unless we can get our act together in the transfer market, why should he stay here? And as for playing at Wembley next season, it could prove to be a nightmare.

By "act together in the transfer market" presumably you mean not letting our manager spend 30m on turbo charged bulldozers ?

Share your concerns about Wembley. Ginormous pitch that with our style will sap our energy, an echoing half full stadium, and the half that are in whining like bilious ball bags as they they watch players from the shit kicking depths of the league treat every game, almost literally, like it's a bus park cup final, it could be pretty grim.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

By "act together in the transfer market" presumably you mean not letting our manager spend 30m on turbo charged bulldozers ?

Share your concerns about Wembley. Ginormous pitch that with our style will sap our energy, an echoing half full stadium, and the half that are in whining like bilious ball bags as they they watch players from the shit kicking depths of the league treat every game, almost literally, like it's a bus park cup final, it's could be pretty grim.

It was funny the first few times, @Bus-Conductor, but you've done it to death now. I am more bothered about the Janssen signing, if you must know.

Entirely agree about Wembley and those vast open spaces.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

It was funny the first few times, @Bus-Conductor, but you've done it to death now. I am more bothered about the Janssen signing, if you must know.

Entirely agree about Wembley and those vast open spaces.

You don't rate Janssen ?

I'm just fucking wid ya.

Ignoring the fact that I don't understand how you can be more worried about an 18m, 22yo back up who is only ever going to play shitty cup games and sub minutes as long as St Harold of Kane is fit, than the 30m we pissed away on a player with Sissoko's well proven limitations, the salient point here surely, is that if, even when Levy does heavily indulge Pchettino, Pochettino just punks it up the wall, Pochettino is still just as likely to fuck off when he gets the "dream" offer, isn't he ?