The Next Step

[Hoddle&Waddle]

Agree and that's why we need to stick by Pochettino. The constant change means its very difficult to get these things right as different people have different ideas, methods and opinions on things.

The constant change is why we're in a mess really. We do need to do a hell of a lot better with the players we're buying but I refuse to believe its just the players - its the environment at Spurs to. There's something fundamentally wrong.

I know we didn't play to Siggy's strengths, but predictably he now looks twice the player that he's got out of here - playing the way which led us to buying him in the first place.

Sometimes I wonder it wouldn't matter who we bought, they'd be poorer in a Tottenham shirt.

Something needs to change and for once that means sticking by a manager and letting him develop the team, squad, and how the youth are involved as how he sees fit,

Baldini says hi.

 

[USAYID]

Great post! We haven't helped ourselves with taking out the competition for places (either by getting rid of some - Holtby, Siggy, Sandro, or not rating others - Paulinhio, Townsend, Lennon, Soldado......granted, some of the exits were deserved, but what we have left is basically a PL starting team that remains unchanged other than 1 or 2 forced changes. Where's the competition that will drive improvement? We see what a little compentition has done for Rose......I'm sure Lamela, Ericksen, Chadli and Ade don't feel under threat.....and these are the guys we expect to carry the team.

On Poch - I am more than willing to back him and give him time.....in fact it's what we desparately need. But I am getting fed up with the same system and same players week in and week out, when I believe it's been proven it doesn't work.I'm also surprised with the naivety we approach games (see Man City, Liverpool), and especially the lack of discipline. If we don't see any improvement in these areas soon, I will really have to question if he knows what he's doing, or if he just lucked into a great situation at Southampton.

I was about to reply to your previous post in response to mine, but this line relates better better in terms of what I was going to reply with... I agree we need to give someone time in order to sort things out (though you need to take a large leap of faith that the powers that be have selected the right man...) but a manager can make an impression right from the start, and I have to say a few of the things that Poch is doing and his methods and how he has approached the job has annoyed me.

Take his comments yesterday. Its all well and good saying that the players haven't got the right mentality, that's fucking obvious but I imagine it will go down well amongst most supporters and placate them. For me however I'm disappointed when a manager says this. Poch has been here for 4 months now, this wasn't someone who had been appointed midweek and was seeing his team for the first time. As I said in the ratings thread yesterday, for me the first thing a manager does when he comes in has to be to establish a culture of professionalism and set certain standards and make it clear to the players that before anything else happens we need 100% from each of them every day, hour, minute and second. He selects a group of players first and foremost on this and then builds on these foundations.

I am probably one of the more critical posters on here and have OTT expectations and standards, but I strongly believe that the best coaches come in and straightaway set the highest of standards which is what breeds a winning mentality, and anyone who doesn't meet that isn't seen again at the club, certainly isn't playing week in week out. Coming out with this 4 months that the mentality isn't right suggests he either a) didn't do his homework on what he was walking into before he took the job because there's been enough evidence of a weak group of players or b) Poch has been tip-toeing around and 'doing an AVB', trying the softly-softly approach instead of kicking ass and getting things done his way. (Could even be c) that he isn't a winner and isn't going to micromanage and hasn't even thought about things like this, but lets not go there...).

Whilst it may take time to bring about change, I think there are certain things you have to do straight away rather than let things fester for even longer.

 

[scat1620]

Said it before and I will say it again, I think the ticket prices are the most scandalous aspect of the club. We're being asked to pay Champions League prices for Europa League football, and maybe not even that next season. Always hear the argument that a club with our finances can't expect to dine at the top table with the CL boys: okay, if we're saying that that's true then fine, but don't make the fans pay through the nose like we ARE one of those regular CL football clubs.

 

[shelfboy68]

If Real Madrid came in and offered us £30m for any one of our players, are there any that you would feel unhappy about selling? I think Lloris is about the only one and you can't exactly build a team around your goalkeeper.

Lloris is the only one worth any real dough imo the rest are average.

 

[SteveH]

My problem ATM is Pochertinho has identified a lack mental strength. Now he needs to solve it. We can no longer just simply say we will give any manager time. There 'MUST' be signs of solving these problems from Pochertinho.

What worries me is seeing the problems repeating themselves. Yes we give him time but let's not be too soft here.

 

[knilly]

The trouble is the club is pulled only one way and that's ENIC/Levy's!!

Did anyone expect any different from a company which is part a much wider business network? We would be foolish to think that this is a play thing where Levy and Co are happy to make losses in search of 'progress' on the field.

We came close to breaking into the top four on a comparatively shoe string budget, even if we had there's no guarantee we would have stayed there.

For me the club is better now than when I started to support them in the early 90's, by a country mile I might add. The manager needs time to get his house in order, a protest will not help this in any way.

Patience is a virtue they say, if this is the case what is impatience

 

[Snarfalicious]

My problem ATM is Pochertinho has identified a lack mental strength. Now he needs to solve it. We can no longer just simply say we will give any manager time. There 'MUST' be signs of solving these problems from Pochertinho.

What worries me is seeing the problems repeating themselves. Yes we give him time but let's not be too soft here.

It's incredibly hard to fix mentalities of grown men. I totally get what you're saying, but it's going to be something that takes time, maybe even a couple of seasons, before it will be well and truly addressed (if at all). We've got a bunch of derpy players that seem to drop their heads at the first sign of things going against them. It's sad, to be honest. We've got the raw talent and depth to be a force across many competitions, it's the shit between the ears that seems to hold us back.

 

[VegasII]

It's incredibly hard to fix mentalities of grown men. I totally get what you're saying, but it's going to be something that takes time, maybe even a couple of seasons, before it will be well and truly addressed (if at all). We've got a bunch of derpy players that seem to drop their heads at the first sign of things going against them. It's sad, to be honest. We've got the raw talent and depth to be a force across many competitions, it's the shit between the ears that seems to hold us back.

This lot seem particularly dense. As they did last season. Our young players seem to have a little more in the melon.

 

[SteveH]

It's incredibly hard to fix mentalities of grown men. I totally get what you're saying, but it's going to be something that takes time, maybe even a couple of seasons, before it will be well and truly addressed (if at all). We've got a bunch of derpy players that seem to drop their heads at the first sign of things going against them. It's sad, to be honest. We've got the raw talent and depth to be a force across many competitions, it's the shit between the ears that seems to hold us back.

Spot on!


We will not solve our problems quickly but we must not let this slide ad nauseam.

 

[marion52]

Whether it's this manager or the next at some point we have to stop this revolving door policy and stick with a manager.
As to what he said yesterday after the game I take with a pinch of salt as his English is not so good in the pressure of an interview. He repeats himself, whatever the question asked he doesn't really answer it.
As to the fans protesting I already have in that I downgraded my ST to a silver and skip all the EL and league cup games, and this isn't based on Poch but the last few seasons of dull football.

 

[Snarfalicious]

The problem is in no way Pochettino for me. He's the least of our worries. My biggest concern re: Pochettino is that this horrible environment becomes too much for him and he looks for a job elsewhere.

 

[parklane1]

Yes lets all start blowing ballons and making banners that will help the team, I despair at some I really do.

 

[Snarfalicious]

Yes lets all start blowing ballons and making banners that will help the team, I despair at some I really do.

Many think that their protests will have a huge impact. I'd encourage them to look at the "Sack Pardew" campaign. Banners, pictures, shirts everywhere claiming they wanted Pardew gone. While they may have a very good point (I think they do), it really has no impact on the decisions unless you have an idiotic chairman like Vincent Tan.

For once, it'd be awesome to see the fans put as much effort that they put into voicing their disgust or these lame protests into supporting the club. But, that's pie in the sky stuff apparently.

Furthermore, how do these fans really expect these "protests" to go over on the players?

Kaboul: Right lads, the fans think we're shit. They want things to change. They are saying we've got no heart and they are going to boo you if you fuck up. Now let's go out there and put in an inspired display for them!

 

[parklane1]

Many think that their protests will have a huge impact. I'd encourage them to look at the "Sack Pardew" campaign. Banners, pictures, shirts everywhere claiming they wanted Pardew gone. While they may have a very good point (I think they do), it really has no impact on the decisions unless you have an idiotic chairman like Vincent Tan.

For once, it'd be awesome to see the fans put as much effort that they put into voicing their disgust or these lame protests into supporting the club. But, that's pie in the sky stuff apparently.

As I say I despair at some of our fans, anyone who thinks that waving a few balloons about and carrying a few banners is going to change anything well they need a reality check. All it does is put more pressure on players and the manager and helps to create a worse atmosphere around the ground, as if it not bad enough with all the boo boys and brain dead morons who never stop bitching anyway.

 

[HW61]

Oh for Dave Mackay, Graham Roberts, Gary Mabbutt.

Let's not underestimate the impact of Gallas in his 1st year at Spurs. He was a regular in an often changing defense in that Champions League year. It shows the effect of a true leader and winner. We have no-one now.

Maybe that's where we must spend next. Experienced premiership leader.

 

[VegasII]

Let's not underestimate the impact of Gallas in his 1st year at Spurs. He was a regular in an often changing defense in that Champions League year. It shows the effect of a true leader and winner. We have no-one now.

Maybe that's where we must spend next. Experienced premiership leader.

Know ye of such a bird?

 

[felmani26]

Spot on!


We will not solve our problems quickly but we must not let this slide ad nauseam.

It's an inherent problem for sure but in the immediate term, he needs to make some kind of statement by dropping the likes of Adebayor - possibly out of the match day squad altogether.

Conversely, play the likes of Ceballos and Onomah because you'll get a damn sight more desire from the kids than some our established 'stars'.

 

[ajspurs]

My problem ATM is Pochertinho has identified a lack mental strength. Now he needs to solve it. We can no longer just simply say we will give any manager time. There 'MUST' be signs of solving these problems from Pochertinho.

What worries me is seeing the problems repeating themselves. Yes we give him time but let's not be too soft here.

I think we need to be a bit softer in that regard. If we sack Poch at the end of the season and get someone else in who (just for the sake of arguments) has the exact same squad, do you really think he'll come in and suddenly turn this team around within a season? I really don't. We're not going to see development as quick as some people want which IMO is at an unrealistic rate. We're still going to see some shitty performances at home against lower opposition this season in my opinion but we need to actually put complete trust in one of our managers for once.

We can't keep sacking managers in the hope that one is going to work miracles with the majority of this squad. We need to give Poch 2-3 years and to be honest I'll be incredibly pissed if we don't.

 

[HW61]

Know ye of such a bird?

Not one that Levy will spend on. Some French bloke that Poch likes has many of the attributes.

 

[guiltyparty]

Some people need to get a grip. Protesting because "we're not as good as we were 3 years ago" when other clubs are going into administration... its all a bit "first world problems."