The Poch has been confirmed as manager thread!

[thinktank]

What complete and utter rubbish.

How many S'ton games under his management have you watched...just out of curiosity?

 

[Arthur Hucksake]

Don't remember too many fans of Lennon on here before he left to go on loan. Unless I'm going mad, he was getting pelters.

He always worked hard, always helped out defensively. I recall we looked a worse outfit when he wasn't available.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Things will spice up when the new boys/youngsters are brought in.

I cannot believe anyone, but least of all you, would cling on this argument.
It is impossible for me to see within any reason that Pochettino has not gotten many of his deals, in and out, done this summer.
"He must get his players". Well, here we are. He has his players now. Done and dusted.
"Youngsters brought in". Exactly how young players do you reckon he needs? Must we all give up our firstborn sons before they can speak in order to provide Pochettino with players from the desirable generation?

Actually, his squad is the main reason for why it is nonsensical to even toy with the idea of other managers at this point. The squad is now so very much shaped in his image, that I fail to spot any manager who could come in and lift it in any direction, without a large overhaul.

That said, he is an overwhelmingly average manager, capable only of breathtakingly bland football.

 

[thinktank]

Priceless. There is no way I'm putting you on ignore even if you do resort to playground insults.

You are becoming my favourite clown on here.

Ok, yes, well done. Okay. Enjoy your evening. Job well done. Cheers. Bye.

 

[Monkey boy]

How many S'ton games under his management have you watched...just out of curiosity?

I would have to say just the 3 and funnily enough none of them made me want to rush out and get a Mauricio Pochettino fan club membership.

1 - AVB beat them.
1 - Tactics Tim beat them on their own patch.
1 - Tactics Tim beat them at White Hart Lane after given them a 2 goal head-start.

Not that i care too much but out of politeness (as im that kind of guy ) how many did you watch?

 

[thinktank]

I would have to say just the 3.

1 - AVB beat them.
1 - Tactics Tim beat them on their own patch.
1 - Tactics Tim beat them at White Hart Lane after given them a 2 goal head-start.

Not that i care too much but out of politeness (as im that kind of guy ) how many did you watch?

Most of them. No point in us talking about it really tbh. Godspeed to you and yours buddy.

 

[Arthur Hucksake]

I would have to say just the 3.

1 - AVB beat them.
1 - Tactics Tim beat them on their own patch.
1 - Tactics Tim beat them at White Hart Lane after given them a 2 goal head-start.

Not that i care too much but out of politeness (as im that kind of guy ) how many did you watch?

I watched quite a few. Basically, two players always went to tackle a player at ALL times. Won the ball back a lot but conceded late goals because the players were knackered.

The good old chip and charge down the wing was a common feature too.

Defensively, not very good.

Koeman has managed to get them defending (when he had Toby) and playing footy good on the eye.

 

[Metalhead]

I cannot believe anyone, but least of all you, would cling on this argument.
It is impossible for me to see within any reason that Pochettino has not gotten many of his deals, in and out, done this summer.
"He must get his players". Well, here we are. He has his players now. Done and dusted.
"Youngsters brought in". Exactly how young players do you reckon he needs? Must we all give up our firstborn sons before they can speak in order to provide Pochettino with players from the desirable generation?

Actually, his squad is the main reason for why it is nonsensical to even toy with the idea of other managers at this point. The squad is now so very much shaped in his image, that I fail to spot any manager who could come in and lift it in any direction, without a large overhaul.

The thing is, there is just no chance at this point that Poch is going anywhere.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

The thing is, there is just no chance at this point that Poch is going anywhere.

At his point, you are quite obviously admirably correct.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

So, having just returned from a jolly good week away from Blighty, in which I opted to be without remote communication devices of the 20th century. I log on with excited anticipation to see the last 2 weeks results.

Should have taken 2 weeks…..!

I cannot be arsed to read the match thread, but I am guessing that we served up the same old tripe? Hence the resurrection of this thread? Judging by the posts on here from those I read often, it seems that Poch insists on the same rigid system, that the players just don't get. Which was the same story all last season. To be Frank, it's boring.

If he were a truly dynamic manager, he'd have adapted by now, to get the players at his disposal playing in a suitable system. He needs to take a bit of a punt on the younger players, even more than he has so far. Because if the senior squad don;t get it by now, i'd be happy to put my neck on the line and say that it isn't going to happen as a whole. Sure, the odd game, but the team aren't getting it.

In his shoes, i'd be playing with more width, is Rose still injured? If not, why isn't he in the starting line up? It is a bizarre decision not to play him in this system, as he offers the only width the squad have on the left. Davies is a traditional 442 LB IMO.

Kane up front alone, apparently starved of service? Makes no sense.

Dier as a DM? When there are better, short term options? Makes no sense.

I worry for Poch, as inflexible managers who play their way or the highway, often end up on the highway. Fingers crossed for a sudden turn in fortunes.

Fucking post holiday blues.

 

[Black]

Mid table results from a mid table manager.

I don't see the point of stressing over spurs while poch is still in charge. If you saw how we played last season just expect more of the same this season.

But hey we beat arsenal and Chelsea right lol. He's just a chubby AVB.

 

[thinktank]

Mid table results from a mid table manager.

I don't see the point of stressing over spurs while poch is still in charge. If you saw how we played last season just expect more of the same this season.

But hey we beat arsenal and Chelsea right lol. He's just a chubby AVB.

How is 5th mid-table?

 

[$hoguN]

I'm also frustrated with the team selections, but unlike you, I don't put the blame on the manager. In my opinion, it's down to player recruitment and the fact that we are once again leaving vital transfer business until after the season has started.

What changes would you actually have made? I'm genuinely interested to know, because I'm lost for ideas myself and really hope our squad isn't as lacking as it currently appears to be.

Who else could have played out wide, if Dembele/Chadli/Lamela was dropped? Don't forget Eriksen, Pritchard, Townsend and N'jie, who would all have featured if available, couldn't play. Perhaps in 2-3 weeks the 3 behind Kane will be very different, without Poch changing his pecking order at all.
Chadli has 1 goal and 1 assist, which is pretty good considering the whole team has only managed 3 goals between them. Even if his overall contributions have been lacking, he's clearly one of our main attacking threats. Could Poch really justify dropping him?
I don't see Dembele as a winger, but he was one of our best players today.
Lamela only started because no one else was available. He didn't start the previous two matches, so it's pretty clear that he isn't a first choice player.

Poch obviously wants a better CM. Unfortunately, we've failed to sign a decent playmaker since Modric left.
Last season people kept saying neither Mason nor Bentaleb was defensively good enough to be the deeper lying CM. Poch is clearly trying to improve this area of the team, but until we sign someone, we don't have anyone in the squad who can shield the defence + be creative. Dier, as limited as he is in CM, provides a shield to the defence and allows Mason to push forwards a bit.
Dembele could have been dropped deeper (Lamela RW & Alli AM?), but he's always criticised for slowing the game down and not executing key passes, so I'm not sure how that would help. I really doubt that it would have paid off to start with Carroll, Alli or Winks in CM (maybe Alli should have started behind Kane, instead of Lamela). Do we have any other options?

I would have lined up like this:

Kane​

Chadli Alli Lamela/Carroll​

Mason Bentaleb

Rose Wimmer Toby Trippier

Lloris
​

I would have gone with this side as I would be looking to get crosses in from the fullbacks to give us some balance as we are lacking width. Im not thrilled about Lamela and Chadli being in there but As you have said not all the players are fit yet. not sure I beleive that Pritchard couldn't even have made the bench though.

 

[jolegend]

I'm concerned about his ability to change a football match. Very rarely can we say he has an influence during a game. He doesn't change tactic or shape to go for the win or even protect a lead.

I'm happy to give him some time. But I've yet to see anything that suggests he deserves beyond xmas.

Last year he was very fortunate with a couple of lucky last minute winners and Kane's emergence. And we would expect change in style after 12 months but nothing to suggest this whatsoever. We can say he doesn't have this player or that player but ultimately, Bournemouth, Swansea, Palace and Norwich (I watch them a lot) all player better football than us but with inferior talent. Why? Good coaching.

 

[Mr Pink]

How is 5th mid-table?

5th -15th is mid table according to Nudger, my next door neighbor lol.

 

[whitesocks]

He's not going anywhere folks.

Thats right, but not because he shouldn't be moved on.
Our methods of sacking managers are as perverse and contrary as our recruiting methods.
He is as safe as houses.

 

[ItsBoris]

There's this divide in the Premier league right now it seems like between managers that are trying to implement a dutch/barca esque possession style of football, and the ones who realize that the best way to thwart that style is to park the bus. So it feels like every game is becoming a ridiculous possession vs defense game, which is starting to get quite boring tbh.

There aren't many games that are genuinely end to end any more, because teams no longer set up in a style conducive to that kind of football. Particularly, I think teams play in a less expansive way, with less width, so it condenses the field of play.

Tbh I don't really know what the fuck I'm talking about, but I don't really understand why the (imo) most entertaining style of football is no longer played. I also thought it was generally the most effective tactically, which is partly why Sir Alex did so well at United even when he didn't have a team full of world class players.

 

[Barry Mead]

I think the reality is we signed an inexperienced, tactically limited coach with no track record of any success and it shows. You can argue he's not got the players he needs but in just over a year we have sold 19 arguably first team squad players and brought in 11 new, that's a pretty big change in any squad especially allowing that a few academy players have come through
Our football is dull, tactically we are limited, we lack spark, we lack flair and guile but equally we don't have a a strong defence or central midfield
Of course it's never easy for any manager with Levy at the helm, he always wants to be the final arbiter on any deal, he wants to dictate pre season matches with a view to revenues and commercial concerns rather than best preparation for the season, but for all that I can't see anything in Pochettino bringing any success even with a more football than revenue focussed chairman

There's never any point in continuity for continuity's sake so unless you have something or someone worth keeping then you need to look to improve

We should be looking to improve on Pochettino, but there's no point simply changing for changings sake we have to have the right person lined up

Levy is not known for his patience and historically we have seen him looking at options so I imagine he probably has been sounding out interest in case results and performances are poor, I doubt he'll do anything just yet but if we continue to have a poor run no doubt his finger will be itching to make a few calls

 

[Stoof]

I think the reality is we signed an inexperienced, tactically limited coach with no track record of any success and it shows. You can argue he's not got the players he needs but in just over a year we have sold 19 arguably first team squad players and brought in 11 new, that's a pretty big change in any squad especially allowing that a few academy players have come through
Our football is dull, tactically we are limited, we lack spark, we lack flair and guile but equally we don't have a a strong defence or central midfield
Of course it's never easy for any manager with Levy at the helm, he always wants to be the final arbiter on any deal, he wants to dictate pre season matches with a view to revenues and commercial concerns rather than best preparation for the season, but for all that I can't see anything in Pochettino bringing any success even with a more football than revenue focussed chairman

There's never any point in continuity for continuity's sake so unless you have something or someone worth keeping then you need to look to improve

We should be looking to improve on Pochettino, but there's no point simply changing for changings sake we have to have the right person lined up

Levy is not known for his patience and historically we have seen him looking at options so I imagine he probably has been sounding out interest in case results and performances are poor, I doubt he'll do anything just yet but if we continue to have a poor run no doubt his finger will be itching to make a few calls

The bold bit is completely why he should be given time. He's not to this day got his squad but hopefully by deadline day, he will have. Then we watch and judge.

 

[slartibartfast]

The Poch has been confirmed as manager thread!
For a second I thought we'd been ironic as we'd just played Leicester and sacked Poch then reappointed him 10min later lol.