The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[tooey]

I wish I had your confidence, tooey, but today's performance was an absolute gut-punch.

I'm more hopeful than confident to be honest. We're playing really turgid stuff, the worst football in a long time and today really was a kick in the tenders. It's just that something in my gut tells me it's going to be ok (could be the omelette I just demolished to be fair!).

 

[Dougal]

Wondering when Poch and Levy will actually acknowledge that they are losing the fans now. Patience wearing thin.

If it doesn’t hurt the bank balance Levy doesn’t care, he’ll ride it out as long as he needs to.

 

[tooey]

Not aimed at anyone btw. Just thought it was funny as i got out the bath.

A bath...did you leave your vagina in there? Real men have ice cold showers and use motor oil as soap.

 

[dagraham]

Blaming the atmosphere in the ground? clutching at straws, that never goes down well.

I personally thought the fans were pretty good during the game ( apart from the booing at half time).

 

[Trotter]

He keeps playing them mate!!!

Not sure what options he really has though.
The players coming through the youth academy last few years have clearly not been any where near good enough.
Edwards, Onomah, KWP, etc, none of them will make a living in a Top 5 league
Players such as Dier, Wanyama, Dele, Foyth, Sessegnon, LoCelso have not been available, or anywhere near fit.
Squad management has been poor though, and this all goes back to the season we didn’t do any business where all players with 2 years left should have gone, and yes we had offers for them, now I am not sure where the issue for that lies, but I know who will pay for it, Poch with his job, but us as fans, as the money we will have to pay him and his staff will mean less transfer kitty money.

 

[soup]

So, we got a few players who are thinking of moving on and have stated as such, a manager who has thought about moving on and stated as much, and we're playing shit and look uncommitted.

Hmmmm. Can't for the life of me figure out what the problem is.

At least we've got a few players who do want to be here, but now it looks they don't know why they're even bothering.

I remember in the past that we'd always have a couple of big time Charlies who would cause problems and down tools for a move, but I don't remember a time where we had half the squad 'wanting a new challenge', especially after the strides we've made. Why is it that Verts, Toby, Rose, Eriksen, Trippier were all after moves? When do you ever hear that from any other Premier League team? I honestly think, and have been saying for ages that after Poch signed that deal and then said he'd leave for Madrid he lost the dressing room due to being a complete fucking hypocrite.

 

[shelfboy68]

If it doesn’t hurt the bank balance Levy doesn’t care, he’ll ride it out as long as he needs to.

This may have an impact on finances if we have any lingering hopes of top four qualification.

 

[claalb]

everyone of u poch backers need to take a good look of your self.... before making more comments in this thread.... he is so much done and if You cant see this when watching us PLAY im lost for words!

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Wondering when Poch and Levy will actually acknowledge that they are losing the fans now. Patience wearing thin.

How was the atmosphere at the game? Was it a sell out or just fans aren’t getting behind the team anymore ?

 

[Mr Pink]

I really don't like the way he's blaming the atmosphere.

We've been playing dull unimaginative football for months.

If anything he should praising the fans for tolerating it for so long, and apologising for letting it continue.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

everyone of u poch backers need to take a good look of your self.... before making more comments in this thread.... he is so much done and if You cant see this when watching us PLAY im lost for words!

Watch the last 9 months of games and you can see his time is up.

 

[Dougal]

This may have an impact on finances if we have any lingering hopes of top four qualification.

I don’t think that panic button is anywhere in Levy’s mind yet. It’s October and we’re mathematically still in a realistic position. Realistically is another story.

 

[Shadydan]

Going against the grain in here and I'm prepared to be ridiculed but I still have faith that this can be turned around with Poch at the helm. At the time of typing we're 7th in the league and not a million miles off 4th, though this is mainly due to other clubs also being shite, granted. Talk of relegation is hyperbolic, and whilst the current situation isn't ideal I honestly believe we'll turn this around. I'm a hopeless optimist but I'd rather that than languish in my own anger and frustration.

Nah it's done mate, coming from a happy clapper such is myself, The Poch project is done out here.

 

[Joely]

Suppose the key for me is whether Poch still wants to be with us. Love what he has done with us over the 5 or so years but his heart needs to be in it. We are entering/entered a transitional phase in terms of the squad. Players who made up the foundation of our team over the last few years are no longer at the same level/ageing, want to leave etc. Alongside that, we've had periods of poor signings/no signings which have held us back somewhat and there is a lot of work to do. This isn't going to be fixed in one window and will take time so needs more of a long term view.

Just wonder whether a combination of Poch's own ambitions and feeling he has hit the wall under ENIC in terms of where he can take us has led to him not having his heart in going through that transitional phase/rebuild. That can naturally feed through to the squad and is detrimental.

Poch seems like the type of coach that works off positive energy/thinking and a spark. If that goes, think it takes a lot out of him as a manager. Recently just feels like he is a bit flat and going through the motions somewhat. Maybe the CL final was the highlight and he feels that was a one off kind of moment and he can't regularly have us challenging like that, I don't know.

Long term, don't think he is the pragmatic type to work in any given situation and needs everyone from top to bottom pulling in the same directions with the same aims. Of course Levy/ENIC want the club to be successful but I just doubt if it's as important as it is to other owners. The whole NFL tie up, new stadium etc is great news for the business as owners and yes even though the footballing side of things will benefit but enough to have us regularly challenging for the CL/League? Not convinced there is what I'd call a true burning desire/appetite for that at the very top.

 

[muppetman]

I'm in the South lower and whilst the atmosphere wasn't amazing I thought it was fairly decent considering the football being played in front of us? There aren't too many fan bases who'll be singing their hearts out watching the defenders passing the ball back and forth amongst themselves for large portions.

The time wasting and shit refereeing also didn't help but all in all I thought it was as good as could be expecting.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I really don't like the way he's blaming the atmosphere.

We've been playing dull unimaginative football for months.

If anything he should praising the fans for tolerating it for so long, and apologising for letting it continue.

He’s fucking me off every week with his comments in the media, makes me want him out even more. Also makes me think he just doesn’t want to be here anymore.

look levy might not be perfect withplayer recruitment etc but ITK’s have constantly said poch has turned down tons of good players and our squad really is 3rd best in the league the issue is morale and lots if players wanting out.

id not mind a ‘transitional’ season if I thought poch could re energise us and wants to be here but I don’t think he can or that he wants to be here and THAT is why I think end of season we should part ways, get a big name proven winner manager in and reshape the squad accordingly.

 

[Spursmatty87]

It’s terrible over the last 8-9 months but for me we keep our nerve. Might be a really shit season, but we know poch is a top manager and will only learn from this experience.

 

[thecook]

I'm more hopeful than confident to be honest. We're playing really turgid stuff, the worst football in a long time and today really was a kick in the tenders. It's just that something in my gut tells me it's going to be ok (could be the omelette I just demolished to be fair!).

More likely the Kool Aid you washed it down with

 

[Gareth88]

A bath...did you leave your vagina in there? Real men have ice cold showers and use motor oil as soap.

While wanking with Brillo pads

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

How was the atmosphere at the game? Was it a sell out or just fans aren’t getting behind the team anymore ?

Yeah, it was pretty quiet and tense, although livened up towards the end. The problem was we fell behind really early, and our play was so dire in the first half it was hardly surprising the stadium was quiet. We’ve seen far too many shit performances there since moving in and it’s obviously beginning to grate with the crowd.