Manager Mauricio Pochettino

[jimmyriggle]

As has been said though, if thats the case, I wish Poch would stop saying they have a future here.

Also, the last manager was berated for dropping the likes of Capoue....some of thsoe berating him are now simply assuming Capoue is lazy, troublesome or not fit enough..

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I don't have a problem with him saying they have a future here. I get the feeling that if they were really genuinely trying and desperate to get back into the team he would play them. He's leaving the door open for them to grab an opportunity but if they're not doing that then what can he do.

None of us really know what goes on behind the scenes though. However I trust this guy's judgement way more than Sherwood and even AVB who I supported throughout

 

[ILSpur]

As has been said though, if thats the case, I wish Poch would stop saying they have a future here.

Also, the last manager was berated for dropping the likes of Capoue....some of thsoe berating him are now simply assuming Capoue is lazy, troublesome or not fit enough..

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Sammy, I think that you put way too much into what is said and what isn't said when speaking to the media. What do you realistically want from Poch, to publicly declare that those players have no future at the club, just to have a sense of total transparency? It won't help their resale value later on and it could change the attitude of the player being talked about from one of frustration or apathy at lack of playing to anger and resentment, which could lead to internal issues.

As for Capoue or others that are seemingly frozen out, since we don't have 100% transparency from Poch it's hard to tell why, so all we can do is assume. Poch has a system and there seems to be a very simple rationale behind it. You need to not only have the chops to play, but do so at a high enough level that he expects. If you can do that, you will most likely get some playing time or at least get on the bench. Although I wish that we would see him play more, Stambouli is a good comparison. I think that he's a similar type of player to a Capoue, but he plays much faster and seems to fit the mold better than him and he at least makes the bench or comes on as a sub. Since we know that Capoue has some talent, we can only assume that it is either a fitness or work rate issue. Pre-Poch, he was likely our best option in that position for us, but he's not with the emergence of Mason, Bentaleb, and Stambouli and I would add that Demebele has also won his place back again.

 

[Juicy Sushi]

As has been said though, if thats the case, I wish Poch would stop saying they have a future here.

Also, the last manager was berated for dropping the likes of Capoue....some of thsoe berating him are now simply assuming Capoue is lazy, troublesome or not fit enough..

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Poche will say that because it makes the press nice and quiet. It gives them nothing to feed on. We've seen how he tries to distance himself from the press, I think non-statements like that are more of the same.

The last manager was berated for a lot of stuff. Publically throwing the players under the bus when he was tactically naïve was one of them. He may well have been correct about the mental attitudes of many of the players. He completely failed to solve the issue though. Either by side-lining them and working with those who would fight, or by bringing them around.

To me, that's the difference. Pochettino came in with an idea about how to play, and expectations of the players. He gave everyone a chance to meet them, and when some guys either couldn't or wouldn't, they were cast aside. It doesn't mean they're complete crap (ok, some of them seem to be), but they don't work with the direction Spurs are going in.

Neither AVB or Sherwood were able to do that. They could talk the talk, but couldn't actually implement anything.

 

[Furball man]

I think Poch, unlike our previous managers, is not obsessed with himself or his ego. He knows it's about the team, the fans & the long term. It's really quite refreshing to see this. He's not one for outbursts in front of camera. He seems to have a very balanced & self assured personality Which is probably a rarity in football these days

 

[Guido 🇺🇦]

I love Poch as much as the next bloke but does anyone else feel that we could have gone with a bit of extra aerial protection at 2-0 up? I'm guessing it's not his style to make a big defensive change but I wouldn't have minded seeing Fazio come on for 1 of the midfielders and move Dier up into midfield (has played there at Sporting). Poor lad was up against that big goof Zamora and it was their only way of getting back into it

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Dier and Vertongen won more aerial duels than anyone else in the game. If the statistic had Zamora and Austin winning the headers then there would be need to do something, I guess the coach noticed this and thus no change was made. Whereas their goal was scored with the ball played on the ground.

 

[Aussie Ardiles]

Dier and Vertongen won more aerial duels than anyone else in the game. If the statistic had Zamora and Austin winning the headers then there would be need to do something, I guess the coach noticed this and thus no change was made. Whereas their goal was scored with the ball played on the ground.

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On the ground after Zamora controlled a cross wasnt it? Defenders usually do win more duels even when a striker looks dangerous against them. Wouldnt surprise me at all if Caulker or Rio had won more aerial duels than Kane.

 

[Juicy Sushi]

On the ground after Zamora controlled a cross wasnt it? Defenders usually do win more duels even when a striker looks dangerous against them. Wouldnt surprise me at all if Caulker or Rio had won more aerial duels than Kane.

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The cross was on the deck. Davies and Mason were the guys responsible for cutting it out, who failed to do so.

 

[Aussie Ardiles]

The cross was on the deck. Davies and Mason were the guys responsible for cutting it out, who failed to do so.

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Fair enough. All I really remember from it was Zamora holding off JV and laying it off. I get the hell for leather approach is the way we love to see us play. Just don't want it costing us going forward (could kinda say it did at Anfield)

 

[sammyspurs]

Poch seems to be one for playing the media and keeping his cards close to his chest. Capoue has talent no doubt but he is so lazy, have you ever watched him track runners or shall I say not track runners, worse than Rose last season, it's a shame as I rate him as a footballer.

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I didnt rate Capoue until this season which is why I find it all a bit of a shame. I think he absolutely mastered Schniderlin at The Lane.
Not tracking runners should surely be a simple coaching issue...I dont believe he's lazy.
Do you really think there is a single PL footballer who turns up for training and just jogs around half arsed.

I dont, really I dont believe that.

I think Poch has eliminated (not literally) everyone he doesnt want next season...which does actually make sense. I just think that if they can help us for the run in, and our now defunct cup campaigns, then surely it would have been better to make them earn their wages, and maybe change minds.

Vlad, Ade, Capoue and Kaboul are not shit footballers. They are more than what most teams have on their bench...and they dont even make our bench. Even Stambouli has disappeared, and he was playing extremely well.

Sorry, but IMO we just dont have a talent pool that gives us the luxury to do that with players.

As I said, this is the run in, not the transfer window.

 

[sammyspurs]

Sammy, I think that you put way too much into what is said and what isn't said when speaking to the media. What do you realistically want from Poch, to publicly declare that those players have no future at the club, just to have a sense of total transparency? It won't help their resale value later on and it could change the attitude of the player being talked about from one of frustration or apathy at lack of playing to anger and resentment, which could lead to internal issues.

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Its interesting because Im not usually bothered about what managers say in the papers...its usually everyone else talking about how they should conduct themselves etc, but the moment I have an opinion on it, Im reading too much into it....?
Poch can say what he likes...but if you think transfers are made or broken by whats in the papers, or what he says in a press conference, I think you are a little off the mark.

I dont expect him to say "Ade is a cunt" on Skysports News or anything, but I do actually believe the fans of a club have some right to know if players are actually part of this club or not, and if they are, why are they being left out for months on end.
If its no secret that these players will all be sold, then just say "we play a certain way and the squad I pick reflect those who I feel fit my system the best" or something.

The last manager was berated for a lot of stuff. Publically throwing the players under the bus when he was tactically naïve was one of them. He may well have been correct about the mental attitudes of many of the players. He completely failed to solve the issue though. Either by side-lining them and working with those who would fight, or by bringing them around.

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Yeah well Sandro, Capoue, Soldado, Holtby were all dropped under Tim, and also by Poch.
Tell Bentaleb, Kane, Eriksen and Chadli that we solved nothing by Tim sidelining certain others to give them a chance...seem to forget that all too quick.
Its odd that you defend Poch for it and then say this??
Is it a surprise Tim was tactically naive after never managing a team in his life?

He had heart, and our team didnt...until he brought in the youth that is.
Im not bothered he said it in the press...I like to know when there are snakes in the grass. The likes of Sandro showed his true colours in the end. But despite Tim getting slaughtered for dropping him (and playing Bentaleb) no one slated Poch for selling him....

He gave everyone a chance to meet them, and when some guys either couldn't or wouldn't, they were cast aside. It doesn't mean they're complete crap (ok, some of them seem to be), but they don't work with the direction Spurs are going in.

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Again, I dont see why he cant say that in the press..

. Pochettino came in with an idea about how to play, and expectations of the players.

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While this is true and he has implemented an excellent structure with genuine direction, and to me "The Tottenham Way", I just think we fall short when a team has our number.
I think he lacks a little flexibilty as his "plan b" is ineffective and when that happens, the subs just become baffling and pointless.

Which brings me back to my entire gripe...that IF he could untilise these player's in another system to his preferred one all the time, we could rotate more and struggle less.

 

[Juicy Sushi]

Its interesting because Im not usually bothered about what managers say in the papers...its usually everyone else talking about how they should conduct themselves etc, but the moment I have an opinion on it, Im reading too much into it....?
Poch can say what he likes...but if you think transfers are made or broken by whats in the papers, or what he says in a press conference, I think you are a little off the mark.

I dont expect him to say "Ade is a cunt" on Skysports News or anything, but I do actually believe the fans of a club have some right to know if players are actually part of this club or not, and if they are, why are they being left out for months on end.
If its no secret that these players will all be sold, then just say "we play a certain way and the squad I pick reflect those who I feel fit my system the best" or something.



Yeah well Sandro, Capoue, Soldado, Holtby were all dropped under Tim, and also by Poch.
Tell Bentaleb, Kane, Eriksen and Chadli that we solved nothing by Tim sidelining certain others to give them a chance...seem to forget that all too quick.
Its odd that you defend Poch for it and then say this??
Is it a surprise Tim was tactically naive after never managing a team in his life?

He had heart, and our team didnt...until he brought in the youth that is.
Im not bothered he said it in the press...I like to know when there are snakes in the grass. The likes of Sandro showed his true colours in the end. But despite Tim getting slaughtered for dropping him (and playing Bentaleb) no one slated Poch for selling him....



Again, I dont see why he cant say that in the press..



While this is true and he has implemented an excellent structure with genuine direction, and to me "The Tottenham Way", I just think we fall short when a team has our number.
I think he lacks a little flexibilty as his "plan b" is ineffective and when that happens, the subs just become baffling and pointless.

Which brings me back to my entire gripe...that IF he could untilise these player's in another system to his preferred one all the time, we could rotate more and struggle less.

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He can't say that in the press for a very simple reason. It would generate a load of column inches, discussion and follow up questions. Not saying anything pre-empts that.

Tim's bringing of youth was haphazard and didn't in the end work, as he didn't have a system to fit them in. That's the difference. The introduction of younger players was a good thing. What they were introduced into was not.

I am not surprised he was tactically naïve, many other new managers have been. But that is part of the reason he lost the support of the club. Which is why we have Pochettino.

Which brings us to the fact that his system works, when the players fit it. He doesn't have a plan B with the other guys because it requires too much deviation from the working plan A, and there is no guarantee it would work even if introduced. I personally don't think Adebayor or Kaboul are good enough anymore, in any system, and think they should be exactly where they are. They haven't brought enough to the table in the chances they had to justify any other decision.

I hope that Pochettino will introduce some variations in his tactics in future, when he has a squad he's happy with, but am willing to wait until we have a full squad on the same page before I expect the next step. I suspect we'll see a few tricks borrowed from Atletico Madrid when that comes, given the common connections and relationship between Simeone and Poche.

 

[ILSpur]

Its interesting because Im not usually bothered about what managers say in the papers...its usually everyone else talking about how they should conduct themselves etc, but the moment I have an opinion on it, Im reading too much into it....?

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I've seen you make comments previously about how you would like to see Poch make a statement about a player, one way or the other, so this isn't just one instance. I guess that my point is that we know that, unlike others who apparently have diarrhea of the mouth, Poch is particularly quiet about these issues and has an almost master's ability to sidestep questions from the press. Therefore, looking too much into what he does say or doesn't say is like searching for a black cat in a dark room. There is more at stake by him making a statement than not, so he will play the safest route.

Poch can say what he likes...but if you think transfers are made or broken by whats in the papers, or what he says in a press conference, I think you are a little off the mark.

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Maybe and maybe not. If it is stated by a club or a high-level representative that a player is no longer wanted, other clubs may feel that they can shortchange us for their services, and/or it just helps us to remain in better control of our dealings.

I dont expect him to say "Ade is a cunt" on Skysports News or anything, but I do actually believe the fans of a club have some right to know if players are actually part of this club or not, and if they are, why are they being left out for months on end.

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I think this is just where we differ, and maybe I do from many others as well. I don't feel that the fans have a right to know. The good of the club and its dealings come first before my personal desire to know all of the inner dealings inside of it. We'd all love to know the inside scoop but this is just unrealistic and there is no way in which to let fans in on something and not have the rest of the world know, so therefore we're out of luck.

If its no secret that these players will all be sold, then just say "we play a certain way and the squad I pick reflect those who I feel fit my system the best" or something.

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If it's no secret that a player will be sold, why is there a need to say anything? If a player fits a system, they will play. If not, they won't play. Again, does this really require an official statement so the fans can be updated of every facet of every player?

 

[sammyspurs]

Tim's bringing of youth was haphazard and didn't in the end work, as he didn't have a system to fit them in. That's the difference. The introduction of younger players was a good thing. What they were introduced into was not.

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Because he was inexperienced. Im not comparing his management style to Poch's.

Im saying that to me it makes no sense to say "Sherwood was wrong to sideline players because he was tactically poor, but Poch is ok to sideline them"...on the basis that IMO, those players could actually help us from the bench.
It might not be the in thing to say, but there have been many, many times we have looked completely clueless under Poch too.

Yeeeeeesssss Im aware he has a direction etc, but for me, his second formation is garbage, and he has players "rotting in the reserves" who could improve it.

Which brings us to the fact that his system works, when the players fit it. He doesn't have a plan B with the other guys because it requires too much deviation from the working plan A, and there is no guarantee it would work even if introduced. I personally don't think Adebayor or Kaboul are good enough anymore, in any system, and think they should be exactly where they are. They haven't brought enough to the table in the chances they had to justify any other decision.

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Too much deviation? Exactly the reason I think Poch lacks flexibility.
Also, I dont really see what Soldado, Townsend and Lamela have brought to the table either.
Its funny how people seem to go on about Ade and Kaboul....Im also talking about Stambouli, Vlad, Capoue, Lennon etc.
Not sure how that lot are any worse or misfitting than the three I mentioned above to be honest.

I hope that Pochettino will introduce some variations in his tactics in future, when he has a squad he's happy with, but am willing to wait until we have a full squad on the same page before I expect the next step. I suspect we'll see a few tricks borrowed from Atletico Madrid when that comes, given the common connections and relationship between Simeone and Poche.

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I agree, and Im also willing to give him all the time in the world as I think he's going to get us there. But I will certainly talk about the issues both good or bad around him.

 

[S.L.R]

sammyspurs I reckon he says they are still in his plans because he is telling the players that the opportunity is there if they want it. We saw early in the season some big name players just not giving him the tempo and commitment he requires. I think if they did do that, he would include them. He's not going to freeze the best players out like AVB would. So technically he's just telling it how it is. They have a future at the club - if they want it.

 

[sammyspurs]

If it's no secret that a player will be sold, why is there a need to say anything? If a player fits a system, they will play. If not, they won't play. Again, does this really require an official statement so the fans can be updated of every facet of every player?

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Equally no need to say three times in three months that there is no issue and the player has a future, IMO

 

[ILSpur]

Equally no need to say three times in three months that there is no issue and the player has a future, IMO

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Sure, but he wasn't the one that initiated the comment. If he gets asked a question by the press, he will provide an answer, albeit a complete bullshit one.

 

[Juicy Sushi]

Because he was inexperienced. Im not comparing his management style to Poch's.

Im saying that to me it makes no sense to say "Sherwood was wrong to sideline players because he was tactically poor, but Poch is ok to sideline them"...on the basis that IMO, those players could actually help us from the bench.
It might not be the in thing to say, but there have been many, many times we have looked completely clueless under Poch too.

Yeeeeeesssss Im aware he has a direction etc, but for me, his second formation is garbage, and he has players "rotting in the reserves" who could improve it.



Too much deviation? Exactly the reason I think Poch lacks flexibility.
Also, I dont really see what Soldado, Townsend and Lamela have brought to the table either.
Its funny how people seem to go on about Ade and Kaboul....Im also talking about Stambouli, Vlad, Capoue, Lennon etc.
Not sure how that lot are any worse or misfitting than the three I mentioned above to be honest.



I agree, and Im also willing to give him all the time in the world as I think he's going to get us there. But I will certainly talk about the issues both good or bad around him.

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Well, both Townsend and Lamela bring goal-scoring and passing ability which Lennon has not, and they also press much better. Soldado can pass well and press, unlike Adebayor, so even if neither can score, Roberto still is more useful. Stambouli still is named to squads, and does play, so I don't think he's marginalized. He doesn't start, but with no information to go on, I'm not guessing why. Vlad is at the moment our second choice RB. He's at best our fourth choice CB and Pochettino is content to only name 3 at a time to the squad. Capoue seems to not be good enough to get past Bentaleb, Mason and Stambouli. That partly may be due to his struggles in October/November to drop back and cover for the movement forward by other players, or he may have just fallen out with Pochettino. I don't know, and until he does a tell all, we probably never will.

I don't think I'd want to use the marginalized players in a plan B either, as I don't think very much of them in any particular plan we have. The rest of the squad is good at playing a particular way. Making them play in a sub-optimal style to suit a bunch of guys not good enough for the preferred style doesn't seem logical to me.

A plan B is nice, but a full squad of competent players is also nice. I don't think the lack of the latter justifies faulting him for struggling with the former as much as you feel it does. Agree to disagree?

 

[Mick Cooper]

While this is true and he has implemented an excellent structure with genuine direction, and to me "The Tottenham Way", I just think we fall short when a team has our number.
I think he lacks a little flexibilty as his "plan b" is ineffective and when that happens, the subs just become baffling and pointless.

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You are obsessed with him having to have this mythical plan b.
What are you saying - that he should restructure the the team plan that he has worked so hard to drill into the players, because they are not making it work? Would it not make just as much sense to replace failing players (fitness/form) with like for like replacements, to keep the momentum of his style of play going?
With few exceptions, I can't think of too many managers who simply throw their favoured formation and game plan in the bin because things aren't going right for them, or because individual players are having a poor game.
I have seen managers chase a game by throwing attackers on to try to score goals - and more often than not, because of the abandonment of the tactical plan for the game, it fails as a ploy.
Our biggest problem at the moment is that we don't have the depth of talent we need, to have this other "cure- all" of yours, which involves squad rotation. look what happened when we tried that against Fiorentina, it died on its arse, and we were all pissed off bunnies.
Everything about your monotonous repetition says that in your view the guy is fucking up. You cite the fact that he isn't playing squad members that you think he should be putting out, you complain his substitutions are useless and that he isn't producing a magic wand and radically altering the course of games with the tactical aplomb of professor Dumbledore.

Sadly, when you have a team bereft of truly game changing talent (Modric, Bale, King, VDV, Gascoigne, Hoddle, Greaves, McKay etc etc) then all he can do is go down the path of teamwork, more team work, effort, gameplan and hard work and application.
Ethereal fleeting glimpses of something special just don't cut it. Lamela has been given plenty of chances now, and there seems to be little in the tank, so he plays the very quick and tireless but sadly limited Townsend instead. Why he plays Chadli is lost on me, but the guy bags goals, so lets keep him in and hope for the best. I'm sure that we all can see that Eriksen has talent, but just not really enough of it. He does some things really well (free kicks) but others badly (corners - why?) and he fades in and out of games without ever dominating them, or making game changing moves that grip a game or wrestle control back to us, when the momentum ebbs.
Your posts bristle with an urge to denounce the guy as a failure, yet you hold back because you know we all want him to succeed. You seem more intent on pointing out the flaws you believe exist, as if the solution was there and he was fumbling for it like a drunken blind man wearing boxing gloves. But what you seem to fail to recognise is that he sees these guys day in and day out, and knows the players that deliver the style and energy that he wants for his gameplan.

Pochettinos machine works, so when the batteries run down, there's no point sliding in worn out cogs that make it run ragged and make things worse. What Pochettino needs is the players that can slide in and recharge the side without missing a beat - not to suddenly turn a sports car into a people carrier or Hemi 4x4 into a tractor just because we have a few players whose only talents are too limited to keep the machine running right.
And your solution on saturday was to drop one of the real talents we have in the side, and then started to become abusive when you were disagreed with.
If he was mismanaging really talented players, then I would be concerned - at the moment all I see is him getting a lot more out of players than anyone would have thought possible, which is what you want from a manager. Lets hope the club can find him some Luka's or Gareths to really take us on another level.

 

[The Dane]

I agree with sammyspurs , Poch hasn't been using the squad enough imo. Still believe Capoue has a future at Tottenham, but he really is lazy on the field. He's a player in the Matic mold, I'd like to see him paired with Bentaleb.

 

[koppel]

There's a reason why the only club seriously after Capoue besides us was fucking Cardiff. He might have a bit of talent, but he's incredibly lazy and tactically indisciplined.