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The Mauricio Pochettino thread

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WiganSpur

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Aug 31, 2012
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I am going to be controversial and say I don't care who plays on Saturday.

Poch's entire success has been built around a complete squad ethos. There is an underlying philosophy and whomever is called upon is expected to step up. Obviously things have gone pear shaped of late, but he has been pretty vocal about the coming issues long before they actually occurred. But when things have been right with Poch's approach they have never been better.

It's just not his way to follow up on a success like yesterday by sticking to those 11 players week in week out, and in doing so sideline the likes of Eriksen, Alderwiereld, Aurier etc. And I agree with him. Yes, it might help us win on Saturday, but in terms of making this season a success he needs to find a way to get the best out of all these key players who, particularly with Eriksen, is in a really bad place right now.

Eriksen looks like he couldn't give a shit, but I think there is much more to it than that. Really he looks completely shot of any confidence. For him personally this must have been an incredibly hard few months. He went from the highs of the Champions League semi-final, on top of the world, the most consistent playmaker in the world's best league for a number of years, then he announced his intention to look for a new challenge to try and fulfill his spanish dream fully expecting suitors to line up and it has been an astonishingly brutal fall for him since then. He is not throwing his toys around, he has just been through a very shattering period in his life and is likely in a very low place.

The problems we have faced this season are rooted in a fracturing of squad harmony, the key element to Poch's success. Yes, these fractures have either been caused or exacerbated by these players with contract issues or seemingly wanting out. But Poch's fix will never be and would never be to sideline these players, to choose the same starting 11 every week and essentially ostracise half the squad.

Of course for us fans, we have been longing for a performance like last night's for months, finally we get some relief and it is only natural that we clammer for more of the same. Finally we have our Spurs back, so for god sake why regress, just stick with this team! But this completely goes against everything Poch stands for. His solution is regaining the squad harmony, picking the same 11 week in week out does the opposite. Just think Harry Redknapp.

Pochettino has not lost this group of players, they took him out for dinner when the pressure was building. He has not lost his man management skills - just look at how brilliantly he handled the situation with Son. To get from the red card at Everton, to seeing Poch walk Son out to the away fans last night, after the others had left the pitch, that is quite something in four days. It is and will always be about the collective with this manager. Give your all for the collective, show intent and commitment in training and you are part of the team, if not the starting 11.

And since we know that this is Poch's approach, we could look at yesterday's performance as a sign that this whole squad is starting to find it's mojo again, not that Poch has found the right starting 11. There will be changes on Saturday. Verts and Alderweireld and Aurier and Winks will all still keep featuring. Gradually they will find form and over the course of this season we will badly need them at times. The likes of Lo Ceslo, Ndombele and Sessegnon will continue to be pushed, challenged and benched. Poch will continue to play Eriksen, continue to support him and try and bring him out of this slump. He knows that yesterday was just a blip if he can't get this whole squad united behind his vision again... personally I think he will, and in my opinion a big part of that is because he won't be playing the same starting 11 on saturday.
I said yesterday in the match thread that this has been the first time in a while where Pochettino has adopted a consistent press conference rhetoric and one that finally appears to match up with his actions. He was talking about just what you described above and he's mentioned it twice in the space of a few weeks now. Whether you agree with the approach or not is debatable, I personally don't and believe that because of our results and performances. But what I will say is Pochettino has much more of an idea than any of us do about what state the players are in mentally, and that at least now there appears to be some semblance of a plan until we can overhaul the squad.
 

WiganSpur

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Aug 31, 2012
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“Now it’s about creating another chapter and to have the clear idea of how we are going to build that new project. We need to rebuild. It’s going to be painful.”

I'm not sure he could have been more clear than that, he's also been slated for saying that because people think that it put players noses out of joint so he can't win either way with this fanbase on that. He could never say that he will only play players depending on a set of circumstance because what happens if we get a situation we can't get rid of a player who wants to leave or we want (Which has happened). What if we get injuries and we don't have the luxury of the players who we want for the future being available and are only left with the players who aren't part of the future (which has happened)

Also I don't agree with the majority of fans would back the manager because I've consistently had arguments with people on here complaining they're sick of transition to which I asked what do they expect.

So I don't think it's a misunderstanding at all. Because Poch said what you wanted to hear and you are still unhappy. He also spent all summer letting people know he wasn't happy himself with the dealings of the outgoings by constantly reminding people he doesn't deal with the transfers and wasn't getting the rebuild he wanted.

I can appreciate the frustration of players like Eriksen playing because I find it frustrating myself but let's not pretend you needed to hear a statement to be able to support him with what's happening this season because he did exactly that.
It's not a case of saying to the likes of Eriksen that he will be in the reserves and will never play for us again. But simply saying to him that minutes will be prioritised to those that see their long term future at the football club, and that chances will only be given if these players do not play up to standard or in case of injuries. I see that as a perfectly reasonable position to take and is one that i'm sure Eriksen would understand. At the end of the day, i'm sure the door would always be open for him to sign a new contract if he wanted to regain his central role in the team.
 

WiganSpur

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Aug 31, 2012
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Winks pre-injury was on the verge of ripping up trees. He's playing through the pain which is being managed. I wouldn't go underestmating him just yet - had a great game against Barca last year.

He's still young and can add value. I think we just need to sort out the problems whatever they may be and see some of our underrated players flourish.
I'm still not sure we need to spend big on Fernandes to replace Eriksen as we can easily go 4-3-3 with any combination of Sissoko, Winks, Ndombele, Lo Celso and potentially Alli. I think we need to look at spending the money on a DM to go behind them, which I don't think Winks quite is. Skipp can easily be the alternative option there too.
 

Legacy

SC Supporter
Mar 29, 2007
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Kane: I’m out.
A 5 year plan doesn't necessarily mean we won't win anything for 5 years.

Year 1: Phase out the old guard, introduce new blood
Year 2: Win FA Cup
Year 3: Win Champions League
Year 4: Win the domestic Treble
Year 5: Win The Daily Star's Rear of the Year 2024
 

wrd

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Aug 22, 2014
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It's not a case of saying to the likes of Eriksen that he will be in the reserves and will never play for us again. But simply saying to him that minutes will be prioritised to those that see their long term future at the football club, and that chances will only be given if these players do not play up to standard or in case of injuries. I see that as a perfectly reasonable position to take and is one that i'm sure Eriksen would understand. At the end of the day, i'm sure the door would always be open for him to sign a new contract if he wanted to regain his central role in the team.

I agree with that but the point I was making was that he wasnt going to come in public to say that to appease fans as the original poster was suggesting
 

John48

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Aug 31, 2015
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I would like to see Poch bring some consistence in his team selection. For one thing it was the 1st time last nights team had played together & whilst they weren't perfect they looked pretty decent for most of it & I'd like to see if it was a one off or something we can build on.

Plus we're already 10 points off top 4 & we're to have any chance of challenging we need to go a hell of run just to get back in touch & to do that we need a consistency in our team selection starting Sat.
 

shelfboy68

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Jun 14, 2008
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A 5 year plan doesn't necessarily mean we won't win anything for 5 years.

Year 1: Phase out the old guard, introduce new blood
Year 2: Win FA Cup
Year 3: Win Champions League
Year 4: Win the domestic Treble
Year 5: Win The Daily Star's Rear of the Year 2024
I think the best option is rear of the year and even then we would be runners up :joyful:
 

mike_l

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Jul 29, 2005
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Actively wanting your team to lose? Not for me, can’t be a real supporter. It’s black and white.
No it's not though, if they genuinely believe that things would be better under a different manager then ultimately they just want what's best for the club. Just because you disagree doesn't give you the right to judge who is and isn't a real supporter.
 

Archibald&Crooks

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Feb 1, 2005
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No it's not though, if they genuinely believe that things would be better under a different manager then ultimately they just want what's best for the club. Just because you disagree doesn't give you the right to judge who is and isn't a real supporter.
How about one feels a change of manager is needed but supports the team and let's the rest take care of itself. You know, like the vast majority of sensible people do. If you say something as ridiculous as that then you're going to take some stick for it.
 
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BringBack_leGin

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Jul 28, 2004
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No it's not though, if they genuinely believe that things would be better under a different manager then ultimately they just want what's best for the club. Just because you disagree doesn't give you the right to judge who is and isn't a real supporter.
You support the club through thick and thin, and you always want the club to win. Even if you don’t think the manager is right, that next win might be the one from which form is turned around and the season improves. Conversely, there is no guarantee that the loss leads to the manager going, only that we gain no points and our season has got that little bit worse. So the next question is, how many consecutive losses are you willing to accept if it gets the manager out? 3? 5? 11?

Winning is always better than losing. Supporters support. Willing your own team to lose? Shovel. Hole. Lie down.
 

mike_l

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Jul 29, 2005
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How about one feels a change of manager is needed but supports the team and let's the rest take care of itself. You know, like the vast majority of sensible people do. If you say something as ridiculous as that then you're going to take some stick for it.
One can do that, and another one can do something else. People are allowed to have a different opinion without being preached to about what is and isn't a real supporter though, right? I mean, if they didn't care for the club then they wouldn't care whether it was Poch or anyone else in charge.
 

Archibald&Crooks

Aegina Expat
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Feb 1, 2005
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One can do that, and another one can do something else. People are allowed to have a different opinion without being preached to about what is and isn't a real supporter though, right? I mean, if they didn't care for the club then they wouldn't care whether it was Poch or anyone else in charge.
We're not talking about the right to think one thing or another about a manager or a player thought are we. Again, if you start posting that you want the team to lose, you should expect a reaction.
 
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