Matt Doherty @ Atletico Madrid

[Japhet]

Agreed. I think one of the key reasons Poch never won anything at Spurs was due to an imbalance in the dressing room. We had all of the talent but we were a young team full of 'nice' players and lacked that psychological edge to get over the line.

It really helps to have some older heads, some proven winners and, in the best sense, some arseholes, to make that final push and this is clearly something Jose recognises hence his 'intelligent *****' speech.

Unfortunately, when Poch arrived, a lot of our senior players were arseholes like Adebayor and Kaboul. He really had to rip it up and start again. By contrast, the senior players Mourinho has inherited are a pretty level headed bunch and it's a shame we didn't build on that when we had a golden opportunity to push on. Of course, we were investing £1,000,000,000 in the stadium at the time which wasn't ideal.

 

[brendanb50]

Agreed. I think one of the key reasons Poch never won anything at Spurs was due to an imbalance in the dressing room. We had all of the talent but we were a young team full of 'nice' players and lacked that psychological edge to get over the line.

It really helps to have some older heads, some proven winners and, in the best sense, some arseholes, to make that final push and this is clearly something Jose recognises hence his 'intelligent *****' speech.

Fully agree with this. I hope this is the main benefit in losing Poch and gaining Mourinho - Pragmatism.

There's nothing to be gained from a philosophy unless it delivers results these days. Poch had it initially but didn't and then couldn't rejuvenate the team.

Mourinho (a bit like Redknapp when he came in) has looked at where we are strong and has maybe the experience, or perhaps just pragmatism to see where we're lacking and is hopefully adding to those elements accordingly.

Being too nice and being a bit inexperienced/naive are issues i think we can all see. We also have some potential and class in the squad to give that some balance but there are clear gaps. To bring this back to the thread, a player like Doherty may not be the young prospect who has a high ceiling, he may not be a world-class name BUT he does tick many of the boxes needed for us to push on for a few seasons - Experienced, capable, fit, homegrown, more reliable than what we've got. If the money works, whilst not a spectacular upgrade, he's still 100% an upgrade.

 

[WiganSpur]

As a resident defender of Kyle Walker, no one is picking Doherty over TAA, Walker, AWB, Azpilicueta or Pereira.

Doherty is lightyears ahead of Wan Bissaka going forward. Imo AWB has been really poor for United after lockdown.

 

[Timberwolf]

Unfortunately, when Poch arrived, a lot of our senior players were arseholes like Adebayor and Kaboul. He really had to rip it up and start again. By contrast, the senior players Mourinho has inherited are a pretty level headed bunch and it's a shame we didn't build on that when we had a golden opportunity to push on. Of course, we were investing £1,000,000,000 in the stadium at the time which wasn't ideal.

Yeah, there are good arseholes and bad arseholes. Abebayor in particular was the latter - an immensely gifted player who, if not fully engaged, was incredibly unprofessional. Someone like Roy Keane is a prime example of a good one: someone who doesn't care a jot about hurting his teammates' feelings if it raises the collective effort and level of the team. You can see the importance of this in "The Last Dance". Michael Jordan was so supremely talented, but he was also a massive arsehole to his teammates and demanded the very highest standards at all times. Without him pushing them so hard the Bulls never would've achieved half of what they did in the 90s.

Could be wrong, but I got the impression that Poch didn't seem to like either kind. He wanted a group of young, impressionable players onto which he could imprint his style and philosophy, not older firebrands who had already made up their minds. That's fine when you're putting a team together initially but it can be a problem down the line when you have a quiet, 'friendly' dressing room that lacks the guts, passion and spirit required to really win.

Hojbjerg, Hart and (hopefully) Doherty will go some way to adding those qualities to our current squad.

 

[Japhet]

Fully agree with this. I hope this is the main benefit in losing Poch and gaining Mourinho - Pragmatism.

There's nothing to be gained from a philosophy unless it delivers results these days. Poch had it initially but didn't and then couldn't rejuvenate the team.

Mourinho (a bit like Redknapp when he came in) has looked at where we are strong and has maybe the experience, or perhaps just pragmatism to see where we're lacking and is hopefully adding to those elements accordingly.

Being too nice and being a bit inexperienced/naive are issues i think we can all see. We also have some potential and class in the squad to give that some balance but there are clear gaps. To bring this back to the thread, a player like Doherty may not be the young prospect who has a high ceiling, he may not be a world-class name BUT he does tick many of the boxes needed for us to push on for a few seasons - Experienced, capable, fit, homegrown, more reliable than what we've got. If the money works, whilst not a spectacular upgrade, he's still 100% an upgrade.

The other thing with Doherty, should we sign him, is that it enables us to sign another non HG player, hopefully in a position where HG players are extra expensive and not necessarily of the required standard.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

There’s something very 90s about a back line of Davies, Dier, Alderweireld and Doherty. Three very gutsy, committed home nations players and an elegant European. Fits in with our seeming transition to 442 and wingers ?

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

There’s something very 90s about a back line of Davies, Dier, Alderweireld and Doherty. Three very gutsy, committed home nations players and an elegant European. Fits in with our seeming transition to 442 and wingers ?

Spot on and I think this would be a very effective combo.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

The other thing with Doherty, should we sign him, is that it enables us to sign another non HG player, hopefully in a position where HG players are extra expensive and not necessarily of the required standard.

Precisely. We’re currently at the limit for non HG, but if we could swap Aurier for Doherty and that in turn enables us to bring in a cheaper back up to Kane from overseas instead of overspending on Wilson, we will have done well.

 

[jpascavitz]

Doherty for the quoted amount is a no brainer. Sure he's maybe not 'elite' or the next 'hot' prospect like some of us hope for, but he will bring balance, experience, and hopefully consistency to a position that has been anything but that over the last few years.

 

[BENNO]

Doherty for the quoted amount is a no brainer. Sure he's maybe not 'elite' or the next 'hot' prospect like some of us hope for, but he will bring balance, experience, and hopefully consistency to a position that has been anything but that over the last few years.

And having an dependable old head like Doherty, who also seems to play week in week out, might then enable the next 'hot' prospect to be Gedson, in the right back slot. Had we bought him for £40m a week ago and he'd played like he did in the Ipswich friendly, we'd all be raving about this talented young right back we'd just signed !

 

[Mouse!]

There’s something very 90s about a back line of Davies, Dier, Alderweireld and Doherty. Three very gutsy, committed home nations players and an elegant European. Fits in with our seeming transition to 442 and wingers ?

@Dougal

 

[Partizan]

Trippier’s most ever assists in the PL was 5, same as Aurier got this season just gone.

It was an issue when he was apparently the Bury Beckham for us. The absolute fraud.

5 assists in 21 starts (3 subs) are very good numbers for a fullback. He also got 5 assists in 6 apps/6 subs the previous season.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

@Dougal

Politically not correct, but in terms of sporting governance it’s fine, no?

 

[Dougal]

Politically not correct, but in terms of sporting governance it’s fine, no?

 

[BringBack_leGin]

View attachment 72312

Forgive me squire.

 

[Kingellesar]

Hopefully this one can be wrapped up quick. Think it'll be a bit of a relief once we get him, then its all focus on a backup striker.

 

[Montalbano]

Arsenal cock blocking our move for Doherty.

 

[PrettyColors]

The right back circus explained

Milan need to sell Conti and maybe Calabria, to afford Aurier
We must sell Aurier to buy Doherty
but Wolves must buy a replacement..
So Arsenal must sell AMN to free up selling Doherty

f*ck me I don’t think anyone’s really coming out on top here.

 

[Spurrific]

5 assists in 21 starts (3 subs) are very good numbers for a fullback. He also got 5 assists in 6 apps/6 subs the previous season.

Trippier was shit. KWP got 3 assists in one game once, so I win.

 

[Partizan]

I love how people here completely dismiss other club's fans views on their departing player... but only if those views are negative of course. Would we be dismisive if a good number of them were saying instead how lucky we were at taking one of their better players? Like fuck we would...