The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[Mr Pink]

That is the narrative. Partly driven by Sky and Neville.

Now - I'm not going to say Pochettino didn't do a great job for a couple of seasons, but I think it is also exaggerated how much he "elevated" us.

First season under him we took less points (64) than AVB/Sherwood managed before him (69). In Pochettino's second season we ended up with 70. 1 point better than AVB/Sherwood and 2 points less than AVB in his last full season. Then we had that one season with 86 points which is arguable the best we have had since the 60s (certainly 80s). 17/18 was also very good with 77, but we have been trending fairly hard downward since 16/17 in the league - both in terms of points and performances. At times in 16/17 we just steam rolled teams - now every game seems to be a grind (with the odd exception of CP etc.). 71 last year - which is worse than AVB in 12/13. And it would be some miracle if we reached 70 this year. Maybe 64 is within reach? Back to square one in terms of points in the league.

I used to really like Pochettino. He seems like a great man. He was always looking forward to something. And he seemed to really care. Even when he was calm he had some enthusiasm about him. That Pochettino is not there any longer. One thing is not giving instructions etc. during games (that I think got limited value anyway), but his press conferences, interviews etc. have all changed. He is the Eriksen of managers. Eriksen has never tackled anyone, but he was always covering space defensively. He cared. Now he doesn't.

I really hope Pochettino can get us back to 16/17, but I don't see it. To me that looks more like a "Ranieri-season" than him being that good of a manager.

I agree, and of course the progression was there before Poch.

But he did take that step further, and really consolidated our top four credentials.

And let's be honest none of them got close to a CL final. The biggest game in Club football.

If that's not elevation I don't know what is.

 

[$hoguN]

its beggars belief we have made it to lunchtime today and once again haven’t sacked him. How many completely inept performances is he allowed before we do something.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Wasn't fussed about Jol, laughed at Ramos, appreciated Redknapp, despised AVB, forgot about Sherwood. Poch is the only one I've ever loved. But it's time, whether he's been shafted by Levy or not (of course he fucking has), you cannot, cannot forgive not winning an away game since January. Above everything, that is the crux, there is some absolute shite in this league. It's unforgivable. I'd take anyone now over Poch to be honest.

 

[Shadydan]

I agree Ndombele should have played yesterday....Sess and GLC have been injured.

But GLC was fit for 12 mins against Red Star right?

 

[Glenn&Chris]

its beggars belief we have made it to lunchtime today and once again haven’t sacked him. How many completely inept performances is he allowed before we do something.

One or two more I reckon. Personally I would make the change now. Yes we are 8 points off 4th and 16 points off the top, but we are more than capable of turning it around as there is plenty of points to play for. I would love mourniho in to do that and kick us on, as I just can't see Poch turning this around, sadly its gone beyond that.

 

[Shadydan]

That is the narrative. Partly driven by Sky and Neville.

Now - I'm not going to say Pochettino didn't do a great job for a couple of seasons, but I think it is also exaggerated how much he "elevated" us.

First season under him we took less points (64) than AVB/Sherwood managed before him (69). In Pochettino's second season we ended up with 70. 1 point better than AVB/Sherwood and 2 points less than AVB in his last full season. Then we had that one season with 86 points which is arguable the best we have had since the 60s (certainly 80s). 17/18 was also very good with 77, but we have been trending fairly hard downward since 16/17 in the league - both in terms of points and performances. At times in 16/17 we just steam rolled teams - now every game seems to be a grind (with the odd exception of CP etc.). 71 last year - which is worse than AVB in 12/13. And it would be some miracle if we reached 70 this year. Maybe 64 is within reach? Back to square one in terms of points in the league.

I used to really like Pochettino. He seems like a great man. He was always looking forward to something. And he seemed to really care. Even when he was calm he had some enthusiasm about him. That Pochettino is not there any longer. One thing is not giving instructions etc. during games (that I think got limited value anyway), but his press conferences, interviews etc. have all changed. He is the Eriksen of managers. Eriksen has never tackled anyone, but he was always covering space defensively. He cared. Now he doesn't.

I really hope Pochettino can get us back to 16/17, but I don't see it. To me that looks more like a "Ranieri-season" than him being that good of a manager.

Once again, comparing points tallies across seasons is just absolute nonsense.

 

[USAYID]

He's also got a history of getting us into the CL.

What does that have anything to do with my reply on making new purchases in January?

 

[shelfboy68]

its beggars belief we have made it to lunchtime today and once again haven’t sacked him. How many completely inept performances is he allowed before we do something.

I think a big part of this is that levy will not want to lose money sacking him so expect it to go on for a while whilst they hope that he turns it around which is unlikely to happen

 

[Mr Pink]

My guess is that we'll take four points from our next two games that will keep Poch in the job, but the Same problems will persist.

I reckon we'll beat Everton and he'll heavily rotate for SU with CL tie in between.

Now to be fair, a bit of rotation is needed there but I'm guessing Sissoko and Winks against SU and we'll fail to break them down, might even lose to a set piece which they're good at.

And it will be back to frustration. You can see the big pattern isn't going to change.

 

[spurs mental]

My guess is that we'll take four points from our next two games that will keep Poch in the job, but the Same problems will persist.

I reckon we'll beat Everton and he'll heavily rotate for SU with CL tie in between.

Now to be fair, a bit of rotation is needed there but I'm guessing Sissoko and Winks against SU and we'll fail to break them down, might even lose to a set piece which they're good at.

And it will be back to frustration. You can see the big pattern isn't going to change.

We could really do with the new manager bounce right about now. With the run of games we've got coming up it's not beyond the squad to take 26-30 points from the next available 33. That would put us right back up in the mix.

I, like you, think the change has to happen now before he probably saves some face in the next 2 games and gets another stay of execution

 

[Shadydan]

I think a big part of this is that levy will not want to lose money sacking him so expect it to go on for a while whilst they hope that he turns it around which is unlikely to happen

It's basically a stand off £30m +compensation for sacking him and his staff off and you're probably looking at around the same if not a little more for the new manager. It's either that or miss out on CL qualification costing the club more on and off the pitch.

 

[Hercules]

It's basically a stand off £30m +compensation for sacking him and his staff off and you're probably looking at around the same if not a little more for the new manager. It's either that or miss out on CL qualification costing the club more on and off the pitch.

To put that in perspective. The 30-35m compensation; would be paid over the duration of his reading years on the contract. In other words, yearly, and not upfront! Unless there is a reduced pay-off settlement. And I doubt that would happen. So technically, he would be paid out for the remaining months, likely kept on salary. And done sort of upfront payment, which I can’t see exceeding 10m, with the balance paid yearly, or monthly. So do not be fooled to think the board would not ditch if things do not change.

 

[JamieSpursCommunityUser]

I'm really torn on this.

Poch is by far my favourite Spurs manager in my lifetime. It's not even close.

But I'm a Tottenham Hotspur first, and a Pochettino fan second.

This all started 18 months ago by not pro-actively managing the change needed to rebuild this team - which is on both Levy and Poch - and now compounded by a manager so blinded by loyalty that he is now going against his own values by picking players on loyalty and reputation instead of on merit.

I suspect that is what is most undermining his authority. To have seemingly turned the corner midweek - and then immediately going against it, was as concerning as it was depressing.

Had Poch inherited this version of Eriksen when he took over, I'm quite certain he'd have been pushed out the door along with Capoue, Kaboul, Adebayor and all the other bad apples.

I'm now looking for clear signals from Poch the he's getting back to those values that made this team what it was, and if those values aren't being shown, then sadly he has to go.

I still hope it doesn't come to that, but it's not looking good.

 

[Shadydan]

To put that in perspective. The 30-35m compensation; would be paid over the duration of his reading years on the contract. In other words, yearly, and not upfront! Unless there is a reduced pay-off settlement. And I doubt that would happen. So technically, he would be paid out for the remaining months, likely kept on salary. And done sort of upfront payment, which I can’t see exceeding 10m, with the balance paid yearly, or monthly. So do not be fooled to think the board would not ditch if things do not change.

Levy would make a settlement of £5 a week if he had the chance, just like how I paid off my parking fine

 

[TOLBINY]

11 away Prem games since the Fulham win;

7 tough games that we would not necessarily expect to win

Liverpool (twice)
City (twice)
Woolwich
Chelsea
Leicester

4 games that we would expect to win (or at least not lose);

Burnley,
Southampton
Bournemouth
Brighton

I understand all the comments about a lack of investment in the squad, but taking zero points from those 4 games is not acceptable with the players Poch does have at his disposal.

 

[Metalhead]

It's basically a stand off £30m +compensation for sacking him and his staff off and you're probably looking at around the same if not a little more for the new manager. It's either that or miss out on CL qualification costing the club more on and off the pitch.

I wonder if DL thinks that we are in for a season of transition regardless.

 

[stonebrow]

To put that in perspective. The 30-35m compensation; would be paid over the duration of his reading years on the contract. In other words, yearly, and not upfront! Unless there is a reduced pay-off settlement. And I doubt that would happen. So technically, he would be paid out for the remaining months, likely kept on salary. And done sort of upfront payment, which I can’t see exceeding 10m, with the balance paid yearly, or monthly. So do not be fooled to think the board would not ditch if things do not change.

Surely he has been given substantial time to change the clubs fortunes?

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

My guess is that we'll take four points from our next two games that will keep Poch in the job, but the Same problems will persist.

I reckon we'll beat Everton and he'll heavily rotate for SU with CL tie in between.

Now to be fair, a bit of rotation is needed there but I'm guessing Sissoko and Winks against SU and we'll fail to break them down, might even lose to a set piece which they're good at.

And it will be back to frustration. You can see the big pattern isn't going to change.

Don't see how you arrive at four points. Probably 2-3. It's best not to have expectations on overdrive just because the opposition is shit.

 

[EastLondonYid]

What does that have anything to do with my reply on making new purchases in January?

Your boring me now........did you enjoy the NFL btw..

 

[Glenn&Chris]

23 points from 22 league matches is surely sackable? That is a disgusting return. Yesterday is a just another disaster from Poch in terms of line ups, tactics, and substitutions in a long list of disasters.

It has all gone stale and change is needed ASAP. He has been at the club for 6 years, largely with the same players and the same back room staff, he has failed to keep things fresh. The 2 windows of not signing anyone has killed us as well, Poch & Levy to blame for this.

I think 6 years is about the maximum for a manager these days anyway. The days of Fergie & Wenger have long gone. The likes of Pep & Klopp will probably only do 6 years also.

The genius of Fergie was that he kept things fresh with changes to his back room staff every 5/6 years. He signed 1 or 2 players even when United were on top to freshen things up and to keep improving. We have done nothing of the sort even when we were on the up. Massive mistake.