The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[LeParisien]

Fair play to you LP, you're trying to promote a healthy and polite debate in this forum. I've got to respect that, because there are so many emotionally driven and even vitriolic posters in here, so what you're trying to do is a good thing.

Added to that, you make some individually valid points, but overall your post isn't as coherent as it could be and doesn't address the key question that was raised:

Is it to be assumed that entering the transfer market every summer, is better than not entering the transfer market every summer?

You've mentioned why fans get a thrill from transfers.
You've mentioned other factors in the creation and maintenance of a successful football squad.
You've mentioned luck.
You've mentioned a club has to sign 'the right players'.
You've mentioned 'the right price'.
You've mentioned wages.

All good and important things.

But you haven't answered the question.

I think what you're trying to say is that (i) fans just wanting any old signings, or (ii) clubs taking a scatter-gun approach to signings, are self-defeating actions.

If that it what you're saying, then I'd agree with you, but I'd also call it a straw-man argument, because I don't think anyone is actually suggesting that these 2 things are positive in anyway.

And finally, what I stated was that footballing professionals decide to take a punt in the transfer market every season, which heavily suggests that strategy has some sort of merit in one or more of the short, medium and long-term.

Thank you for your kind comments and your thoughtful response. In amongst the noise I am impressed by the intelligence and good humour of many of the posters here !

Entering the transfer market is valuable if and only if we can find players who are a good fit on a mental, emotional, technical and tactical level AND who represent good value. All of those criteria rely on a subjective judgement. However I believe we have a competent team of people at the club to make that assessment.

In the event that such players cannot be found it is my view, and Pochettino’s view, that it is better not to buy. Use the academy.

Some further comments on the difficulties we are now experiencing can be found here: http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/ind...-thread-31st-july.133805/page-20#post-5981282

So my response is two fold -

First it is wrong to assert that football professionals believe it is better to buy something rather than nothing. Pertinently, our manager and many coaches do not believe that this is the case.

Second, if you want appropriate signings then acknowledge how difficult that is for us at the moment given our relative financial weakness compared to the clubs we are directly competing against for players.

 

[dudu]

Well the other option seems to be sign no one at the moment so you tell me which is a smarter strategy in the long run?

Just cos one is smarter than the other it doesn't mean I think that either are a good idea.

I'm happy to see where walking the fine line takes us. We will sign someone.

 

[spids]

Hopefully Levy will recognise that getting smashed by the mighty Girona the week before the season starts is an indicator that we need reinforcements!

 

[allatsea]

Hopefully Levy will recognise that getting smashed by the mighty Girona the week before the season starts is an indicator that we need reinforcements!

Yep getting beaten without Kane Sancez Winks Alli Eriksen Lloris Lamela Wanyama Toby Vertonghen Trippier Dier is terrible

 

[synththfc]

Yep getting beaten without Kane Alli Eriksen Lloris Lamela Wanyama Toby Vertonghen Trippier Dier is terrible

Would argue that it shows how thin of a squad we actually have and that it needs to be reinforced

 

[djee]

Yep getting beaten without Kane Alli Eriksen Lloris Lamela Wanyama Toby Vertonghen Trippier Dier is terrible

You missed out Sanchez, Dembele, Sissoko and Winks too lol

Really couldn't be considered even a C team...

 

[sausage]

Would argue that it shows how thin of a squad we actually have and that it needs to be reinforced

I'd argue that we're the victims of our own success.

So many of our players made it to the World Cup, that the team you just saw is all that's left. It's not a thin squad, it's a squad obese with international stars.

 

[RichieS]

Would argue that it shows how thin of a squad we actually have and that it needs to be reinforced

What did beating last season's CL semi finalists Roma by the same scoreline show then?

 

[djee]

Would argue that it shows how thin of a squad we actually have and that it needs to be reinforced

Well, you can't legislate for 15 players out!

We have strength in depth for most positions bar, perhaps CB (if and when Toby goes), CM and striker - clearly we have been attempting to resolve this.

 

[SirNiNyHotspur]

When a player has a crap season we often hear it was difficult as he had missed pre-season, about 90% of our 1st team missed pre-season this year, combine that with lack of quality signings to strengthen like our rivals and hard not to press panic button, Grandma tell me everything is going to be ok...

 

[sausage]

If it helps, this little team also lost to Girona just before the season started last year....

http://www.skysports.com/football/girona-vs-man-city/teams/383943



I think they recovered OK.

 

[spids]

Yep getting beaten without Kane Alli Eriksen Lloris Lamela Wanyama Toby Vertonghen Trippier Dier is terrible

Great - I didn’t realise they’d all be back and fully fit in time for the start of the season.

 

[sausage]

Great - I didn’t realise they’d all be back and fully fit in time for the start of the season.

Why would they not be fit? They don't turn into Johnny Vegas within 3 weeks - they've been playing football all summer.

 

[djee]

Great - I didn’t realise they’d all be back and fully fit in time for the start of the season.

Yes, the WC has shafted us somewhat but can't just buy to deal with the first game or two of the season (however ideal!).

Likely that the first game of the season will see us line up something like:

Lloris - Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies - Dier, Sissoko - Eriksen, Moura, Son - Kane

Just a bit stronger than what we put out tonight over 90mins

 

[philll]

They're all back at training tomorrow as far as I know.

 

[sausage]

They're all back at training tomorrow as far as I know.

Fitness tests start Monday morning

 

[EQP]

Why would they not be fit? They don't turn into Johnny Vegas within 3 weeks - they've been playing football all summer.

More about sharpness than fitness tbf.

 

[Johnny J]

Yes, the WC has shafted us somewhat but can't just buy to deal with the first game or two of the season (however ideal!).

Likely that the first game of the season will see us line up something like:

Lloris - Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies - Dier, Sissoko - Eriksen, Moura, Son - Kane

Just a bit stronger than what we put out tonight over 90mins

Swap out Sissoko for a quality CM, and perhaps Dier too, and it's a fantastic line up.

 

[sausage]

More about sharpness than fitness tbf.

Same thing applies, though - we don't worry about it during an international break (2 weeks)?

 

[Ricky_Yid]

Hercs post don't really have the "good fireworks" vibe to me.. I hope the relationship with the manager hasn't been damaged irrespective of out come of the transfer window, which is the feeling I get, as that's the worst case scenario here(not signing no players).