What's new

Spot The Difference

M

Main Man

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2013
2,314
1,699
Yesterday was the first real look I have had of Spurs this season, and of course the first chance to see what the new gaffer is doing as opposed to the previous regimes.

MP has promised flair and everything else that we want to hear and see, but I didn't see much different to what I saw under AVB for instance?

I jut wondered if that was a fair reflection of last night's game and performance, or have the other games shown something different?

People talk about MP bringing high energy, pressing and a high line. But were they not attributes AVB promised?

The similarities of both managers seem quite apparent to me, but what am I missing?

They both use the same formation (both seemingly out of stubbornness too) - with both using inverted wingers and lone striker, as well as the already aforementioned aspects of the game. They have both identified similar weaknesses early on, Dawson, full back and central midfield. They both have similar demeanour in press conferences, although MP is certainly less aggressive and argumentative - but that maybe more to do with the agenda the media had with AVB, and the fact that only recently has MP started speaking in English.

Maybe its just me being my usual pessimistic self, but I feel as though I did exactly two years ago - unsure of the manger, the clubs philosophy and (most worryingly) struggling to identify with our team.

I wish MP and the team my obvious best, but what can/does he bring to the table which AVB didn't?
 
Phantom

Phantom

Well-Known Member
Jun 6, 2005
5,863
3,249
There certainly looks to be a better work ethic and the players looked motivated rather than going through the motions. The biggest change seems to be players getting forward to support the striker(s).

I am worried that they wont last the full 90 mins, we saw last season that Southampton did concede late on a few occasions.... No idea how they compared to the rest of the league though.

Anyway I wanted FDB :(
 
Riandor

Riandor

COB Founder
May 26, 2004
9,420
11,634
Well it's still the same players, so I am not expecting to see a miraculous change. I just hope to see some more energy and passion first of all and hope Poch gets the players he needs to succeed with his ideals at some point.
 
D

Damian99

Well-Known Member
Mar 17, 2005
7,687
4,771
Second half had much of the problems we saw last season imo. But the guy has only been in the job 5 minutes so he needs time to work on things. We looked all over the place at the back once Kaboul went off, lets hope he stays fit.
 
S

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
I thought We did press better and were winning balls earlier rather than leaving the back four to deal with it.
I also liked the look of Lennon breaking into the box a number of times he could of had a hat trick on another day and without being just offside he looked better there than out wide as his delivery isnt great.
We didnt look great late on second half especially there goal but it was a friendly and We had switched off a little but we will get better and starting by beating West ham next week.
 
Good Doctor M

Good Doctor M

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2010
2,839
8,766
I think you're looking at it rather simplistically to be honest. Yes, it's a similar formation, but the philosophy of Poch is different. He wants to free his flair players up as much as possible. AVB was very rigid. Under him, the players had very defined roles.

What Poch did with Southampton was a near miracle. I think what he has over AVB is the the fact that he has actually played the game at the top level. He understands the constraints and limitations of the players.

AVB always struck me as someone who coached from a spreadsheet.

Poch's formation, although identical to AVB's, is utilised in such a way that the ball is always moving forward. AVB was patient, he liked either to play an attacking game of slow build up play (sideway passes) to force and find errors or to play on the counter attack against opponents that were stronger than us.

Poch's game is about intensity. It's about overwhelming the opponent - about constant running and harrassing, about waves of attacks and players having various passing options at any given time.

To be honest, in alot of ways, they couldn't be more different.
 
L

lennonslaces

Active Member
May 25, 2006
116
168
Lets see what it looks like when he has the full squad to pick from. The pressing is there to see. Also the inverted wingers seem to be just a starting position where the front 4 interchange. I think there are big differences between the 2 coaches. I'm happy with what I've seen so far.
 
hodsgod

hodsgod

Well-Known Member
Jan 12, 2012
4,241
3,082
Main Man said:
Yesterday was the first real look I have had of Spurs this season, and of course the first chance to see what the new gaffer is doing as opposed to the previous regimes.

MP has promised flair and everything else that we want to hear and see, but I didn't see much different to what I saw under AVB for instance?

I jut wondered if that was a fair reflection of last night's game and performance, or have the other games shown something different?

People talk about MP bringing high energy, pressing and a high line. But were they not attributes AVB promised?

The similarities of both managers seem quite apparent to me, but what am I missing?

They both use the same formation (both seemingly out of stubbornness too) - with both using inverted wingers and lone striker, as well as the already aforementioned aspects of the game. They have both identified similar weaknesses early on, Dawson, full back and central midfield. They both have similar demeanour in press conferences, although MP is certainly less aggressive and argumentative - but that maybe more to do with the agenda the media had with AVB, and the fact that only recently has MP started speaking in English.

Maybe its just me being my usual pessimistic self, but I feel as though I did exactly two years ago - unsure of the manger, the clubs philosophy and (most worryingly) struggling to identify with our team.

I wish MP and the team my obvious best, but what can/does he bring to the table which AVB didn't?
Click to expand...


I wasn't particularly impressed either, but then again it's basically the same team, what can you realistically expect.

We need to give home time to develop the team to play how he wants them too. We need Levy to bring the players in, why is it always so bloody late!

At least he played Ade, this was a particular weakness of AVB.
 
Bobishism

Bobishism

*****istrator
Aug 23, 2004
15,035
126
So in essence you're disappointed because you aren't seeing instant results?

Marathon not a sprint / whatever platitude you're more comfortable with.
 
Larryjanta

Larryjanta

Well-Known Member
Apr 22, 2014
1,953
5,040
We created more 'good' chances yesterday than in pretty much every AVB game last season. With better finishing, we could have had 4 or 5. We saw CMs playing the ball forward and getting in the box and looked so much less ponderous around the box.

One observation I have is that we harried them much less than we have in other games this pre-season. Maybe that was how Poch wanted them to play, some players lacking sharpness or Ade being unsuited to being the trigger in a high press. Either way, that was one area that we did not play as well as in other games but the front four created enough chances to make me quite happy with where we're at.
 
E

eddiebailey

Well-Known Member
Oct 12, 2004
7,455
6,719
That is the fear that Poch will turn out to be AVB Mk II. But he seems more comfortable in his own skin than the ginger imposter, and while the team is set up the same, the transition from defence to attack is less laboured and players are encouraged to take more risks. When did an AVB team have has many scoring opportunities as yesterday?

But I do have concerns about his ability to adapt tactics when face with bus parkers, and more importantly about
the ability of the squad to implement his tactics and about whether he will be able to change their mentality when things go against them.

Generally speaking managers only achieve lasting improvement when they begin bringing in their own players; so far this transfer window has been quiet, but Poch's record at Soton suggests he may build on Tim's work in fast tracking youngsters into the squad. We shall see.
 
hellava_tough

hellava_tough

Well-Known Member
Apr 21, 2005
9,429
12,383
Good Doctor M said:
I think you're looking at it rather simplistically to be honest. Yes, it's a similar formation, but the philosophy of Poch is different. He wants to free his flair players up as much as possible. AVB was very rigid. Under him, the players had very defined roles.

What Poch did with Southampton was a near miracle. I think what he has over AVB is the the fact that he has actually played the game at the top level. He understands the constraints and limitations of the players.

AVB always struck me as someone who coached from a spreadsheet.

Poch's formation, although identical to AVB's, is utilised in such a way that the ball is always moving forward. AVB was patient, he liked either to play an attacking game of slow build up play (sideway passes) to force and find errors or to play on the counter attack against opponents that were stronger than us.

Poch's game is about intensity. It's about overwhelming the opponent - about constant running and harrassing, about waves of attacks and players having various passing options at any given time.

To be honest, in alot of ways, they couldn't be more different.
Click to expand...

I get what you're saying, but all of what you've written is theory; the OP is talking about what he's actually seen so far.

But I do agree with what Damian99 has said, that we need to give Poch time.
 
JerryGarcia

JerryGarcia

Dark star crashes...
May 18, 2006
8,694
16,028
The relative ease with which we've moved the ball forward this pre season says it all for me really. Previously there seemed to be a lot more passing between the defenders but now after only a few games we're zipping the ball up the pitch with a clear game plan. Don't forget that AVB wasn't all bad, there may be similarities but it's a fine line between success and failure. Poch also seems to command more respect due to his character rather than using his authority to make people take off their hats etc..
 
Good Doctor M

Good Doctor M

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2010
2,839
8,766
hellava_tough said:
I get what you're saying, but all of what you've written is theory; the OP is talking about what he's actually seen so far.

But I do agree with what Damian99 has said, that we need to give Poch time.
Click to expand...

It's mostly theory, yes. But that's all we have other than a handful of games in which we fielded 16/17 different players in each.

But even in those games, as already pointed out, there has been a huge improvement in the amount of chances created. The OP says he doesn't see much of a difference, I disagree. Seeing Poch's philosophy being slowly adapted during these games, I can't really agree that there hasn't been some visible changes on the field either. There's similar playing staff, but what certainly hasn't been the case, is that players are waiting around for one of them to do something special. There's a lot more movement generally in and around the box and even Lennon is getting himself into dangerous positions.
 
mpickard2087

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,900
32,610
Yesterdays game wasn't the best, however...

There was nothing wrong with AVB's approach in theory. Pushing high up the pitch, penning the opposition back and with the ball being patient, dominating possession and probing away until the opening was there to exploit. Some fans don't like that style, which is ok as everyone has their personal preferences, but it could have been successful. However I will always be of the belief that he wasn't a good enough 'coach' and didn't understand the intricacies of the tactic and how to put this overall gameplan into effect and to explain it to the players and get them to buy into it. The pressing... not good enough. Movement... non existent. Ability to change tempo... We seemed to be stuck in second gear. All this plus more led to stunted performances.

There is nothing wrong with Pochettino having a lot of similar ideas, its early days but so far he seems to know how to get things across to the players. Pressing game has come on leaps and bounds already, we have tried to play at a higher tempo at times (although this isn't always possible) and we don't see as many occasions where players are isolated with the ball. Even little things like our set-up from goalkicks, with fullbacks pushing high, centre backs spreading and midfielders dropping in are evidence of attention to detail which, although he was labelled as strange/geeky and always working by the media and some fans, I thought was lacking from AVB.
 
R

Reclamation Project

Active Member
Aug 17, 2008
457
525
I think you've got to remember that Poch has only had under a month with this squad.

I mentioned in the match thread yesterday that it looked as though he has been focussing on the team playing as a unit, defending as a team and winning back possession as soon as its lost. I believe Poch's initial priority is for us to become a solid unit, with the focus becoming more offensive once he has achieved this.

It is very early days, but if you want to compare with AVB, I would say that in the little we've seen there is much more emphasis placed on movement under Poch.

Long way to go.......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

npearl4spurs
Team vs Bournemouth (A)
Replies
19
Views
2K
rabbikeane
rabbikeane
mawspurs
Postecoglou makes Bergvall a game-time promise
Replies
1
Views
645
Johnny J
Johnny J
floydiohead
The Front Three - Integration
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
SUIYHA
SUIYHA
Top