Manager Mauricio Pochettino

[Guido 🇺🇦]

I was specifically addressing your comment about the FA cup not being a big cup. I've never been sold on the argument that going out of the cup means that the club can focus on the league or the CL. The best clubs have a squad to compete in all competitions, not only that but they take the competition seriously enough to win it and qualify for the CL too,

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But it's not a big cup anymore. I wish it was, I've been brought up on it as being the biggest club cup competition there is in the Wolrd, but it's not anymore, it hasn't been for at least 2 decades. £6.6m is the prize money tells you all you need to know. Managers being sacked after winning it, tells you all you need to know, empty seats in stadiums tells you all you need to know, heavily rotated teams (not ours but almost every team) tells you all you need to know. If it was a big cup none of these things would be happening.

I simply don't get this compete on all fronts, no one does. When was the last time a Club won ALL four competitions? Never. Utd won the treble in 1999, TWENTY years ago, it has never been done before in England and it has never been repeated. In the history of the game only on 7 occasions has a treble ever been won (Celtic '67, Ajax '70, PSV '88, Utd '99, Barca '09, Inter '10 & Bayern '13).

Liverpool has one of the best squads this year, they are in the box seat to win the league of course not playing in the FA Cup or League cup improves their chances in the CL and League. Last year they were knocked out early of both of domestic competitions, they made it to the CL final (all be it with the exception of City a fucking easy draw).

 

[Team Tanguy]

I get a little hard when I hear Poch mention how the PL and CL are the priority.
Then I edge to thoughts of those raging that he doesn't take the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Europa League as seriously.
Multiple orgasms when someone says it's what our history is based on and how we've gone so long without a cup that we now neeeed one.
Before I have a chance to get soft I rise like Undertaker and Kane when someone suggests these cups will catapult us into winning lots more as we'll finally have the missing ingredient and the winning mentality switch will be turned on.

 

[ArcspacE]

Matter of opinion but your opinion is skewed because you have locked onto one paragraph of the interview and refused to accept anything else he said that you don’t agree with.

You have refused context and rationality on the basis that you don’t like most of what he said.
Crass, but to be expected from you

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I have accepted the rest of that interview - just wanted to see how you interpret that particular sentence and your response proves beyond all reasonable doubt your rather obvious agenda

 

[ArcspacE]

Daily?
No I changed my mind when Kane got injured and Dembele was sold.
So what?

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So that proves you're as much of a flip-flop as those you constantly berate here daily, nor are you in any way a superior fan to the rest of us

 

[MVP]

But it's not a big cup anymore. I wish it was, I've been brought up on it as being the biggest club cup competition there is in the Wolrd, but it's not anymore, it hasn't been for at least 2 decades. £6.6m is the prize money tells you all you need to know. Managers being sacked after winning it, tells you all you need to know, empty seats in stadiums tells you all you need to know, heavily rotated teams (not ours but almost every team) tells you all you need to know. If it was a big cup none of these things would be happening.

I simply don't get this compete on all fronts, no one does. When was the last time a Club won ALL four competitions? Never. Utd won the treble in 1999, TWENTY years ago, it has never been done before in England and it has never been repeated. In the history of the game only on 7 occasions has a treble ever been won (Celtic '67, Ajax '70, PSV '88, Utd '99, Barca '09, Inter '10 & Bayern '13).

Liverpool has one of the best squads this year, they are in the box seat to win the league of course not playing in the FA Cup or League cup improves their chances in the CL and League. Last year they were knocked out early of both of domestic competitions, they made it to the CL final (all be it with the exception of City a fucking easy draw).

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It's never been the biggest club cup competition for starters. The prize money is not the issue here, there is still prestige in winning the trophy but of course it's not the bread and butter, that is the league.

just because a club doesn't win, it doesn't mean they aren't competing. We competed in the league cup this year, we got to the semi final but we didn't win.

Liverpool have been knocked out early of cup competitions lots of times and hasn't made a difference at all.

 

[Tottenham Sean]

But it's not a big cup anymore. I wish it was, I've been brought up on it as being the biggest club cup competition there is in the Wolrd, but it's not anymore, it hasn't been for at least 2 decades. £6.6m is the prize money tells you all you need to know. Managers being sacked after winning it, tells you all you need to know, empty seats in stadiums tells you all you need to know, heavily rotated teams (not ours but almost every team) tells you all you need to know.

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I remember us getting fined against Everton( i think) for playing a weakened team in 87 for a game just before the FA Cup final.

 

[Guido 🇺🇦]

It's never been the biggest club cup competition for starters. The prize money is not the issue here, there is still prestige in winning the trophy but of course it's not the bread and butter, that is the league.

just because a club doesn't win, it doesn't mean they aren't competing. We competed in the league cup this year, we got to the semi final but we didn't win.

Liverpool have been knocked out early of cup competitions lots of times and hasn't made a difference at all.

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The FA Cup was watched by more people from more countries around the Wolrd than any other Club Cup competition, it WAS the biggest domestic Club Cup competition in the World. It WAS a massive, massive Cup.

We are competing, yes! Where the hell did I say we haven't, I'm saying the opposite as we have reached a domestic final and 3 other semi-finals in the past 4yrs! Sorry if I've misunderstood your position on this, but there seems that so many people are using the words "competing" as "winning". Two different things in my book, again I apologise if I've misunderstood your interpretation here.

Liverpool is top of the league with their feet up resting and preparing for their next league game, probably preparing for their CL game in two weeks too. Whilst we are picking up injuries like picking up crabs from a backstreet Chinese brothel. Liverpool has played just 4 games in Jan, we have played EIGHT!!!! How can you say this doesn't impact either side? They reached the CL final having enjoyed the same rest last year, maybe this was the difference that got them over the line against City and into the CL final last year??

 

[Notabadsquad]

Then I think he is wrong.

When you take a team to the cusp of winning, only to continuously fail (for whatever reason) a malaise will set in.

We need a win to prove to everyone, including ourselves that we can succeed.

We have arguably three or four players who could get a game at any side in the world and yet we limit or ambition to "Top 4".

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I think you are correct in one part but not about our players and this is becoming increasingly obvious..

The acid test of your assertion about us having players who could get into any team in the world is not one I agree with.

Just look at a Prem 11 and only Kane would get near this season and he would have to get past Salah and Aguero. Not convinced he would win that battle.

Outside of him, who? Not Eriksen this season. Nor Alli and nor Vertonghen.

So my view is that 3rd is incredible for a squad of players that have been nowhere as good as the last 3 or 4 seasons.

Which begs the question of how it can get better without incoming players.

I agree Pochettino and us as a club need a winners' tag but it ain't happening this season.

 

[Guido 🇺🇦]

I remember us getting fined against Everton( i think) for playing a weakened team in 87 for a game just before the FA Cup final.

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I wasn't aware of that.

It actually is an interesting point as this used to happen to at least one side every other year or so, or at least it seemed to but not any more. I think that's a good thing because how on earth does this get interpreted if you won the game how can your side be called as "weak"?

 

[Reidy]

I think you are correct im one part but not about our players and this is becoming increasingly obvious..

The acid test of your assertion about us having players who could get into any team in the world is not one I agree with.

Just look at a Prem 11 and only Kane would get near this season and he would have to get past Salah and Aguero. Not convinced he would win that battle.

Outside of him, who? Not Eriksen this season. Nor Alli and nor Vertonghen.

So my view is that 3rd is incredible for a squad of players that have been nowhere as good as the last3 or 4 seasons.

Which begs the question of how it can get better without incoming players.

I agree Pochettino and us as a club need a winners' tag but it ain't happening this season.

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Fair enough, I can see a dramatic downturn in certain players (Hugo, Toby, Dier, Trippier especially) but still believe there is certainly the quality in the team to be more than "Aiming for top 4".

How do we improve without new players, simple really, we don't. Unless Poch can adopt new tactics that make the team better with what he has, I don't think he can improve it in any way.

Problem is, there is a crunch coming. Kane, Eriksen, Dele even Sonny are at an age where they are, or should be entering into their prime. Do they want to settle for "top 4". Kane has golden boots in his trophy cabinet, but don't you think he would love an EPL title and some cups to show for his time at Spurs thus far.

I think we've hit a point where we are entering an identity crisis which as this board is proving is splitting fans. Poch is just making me a wonder a wee bit if indeed his head is getting turned slightly and I feel he needs a wee bit of a boost. The knowledge that the next step in his "project" will be fully backed.

 

[COckneY Spurs]

For two cups that aren’t important anymore, Chelsea, City, Woolwich and Utd sure make a habit of winning them every year....
Of the 28 FA Cup finals played since the Premier league started a current top 6 side has won 25 of them and a current top 6 team has played in 27 out of 28 finals, (Wigan v City & Everton v Utd) Portsmouth v Cardiff being the one exception.
In 28 League cups, 20 have been won by a current top 6 side (you could argue Villas 2 wins at the time were won by the 2nd best team in the league) and 24 of those 28 finals had at least one current top 6 side in the final, only 4 finals featured non current top 6 teams.
But I guess these cups are dead to some people.

 

[Gil]

Can't believe people are actually defending his comments. They're appalling & it looks like something Levy regurgitates daily to him.

Those cups aren't important yet they're monopolized by United, Woolwich, Chelski & City.....

 

[Notabadsquad]

For two cups that aren’t important anymore, Chelsea, City, Woolwich and Utd sure make a habit of winning them every year....
Of the 28 FA Cup finals played since the Premier league started a current top 6 side has won 25 of them and a current top 6 team has played in 27 out of 28 finals, (Wigan v City & Everton v Utd) Portsmouth v Cardiff being the one exception.
In 28 League cups, 20 have been won by a current top 6 side (you could argue Villas 2 wins at the time were won by the 2nd best team in the league) and 24 of those 28 finals had at least one current top 6 side in the final, only 4 finals featured non current top 6 teams.
But I guess these cups are dead to some people.

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Correct.

Now some will just say that is squad depth and strength which is obviously true and also that if other teams play weakened sides it maintains that differential but it does not explain how or why we continually fall short.

Law of averages or do we need the law of large numbers?

 

[PointToPatrik]

For two cups that aren’t important anymore, Chelsea, City, Woolwich and Utd sure make a habit of winning them every year....
Of the 28 FA Cup finals played since the Premier league started a current top 6 side has won 25 of them and a current top 6 team has played in 27 out of 28 finals, (Wigan v City & Everton v Utd) Portsmouth v Cardiff being the one exception.
In 28 League cups, 20 have been won by a current top 6 side (you could argue Villas 2 wins at the time were won by the 2nd best team in the league) and 24 of those 28 finals had at least one current top 6 side in the final, only 4 finals featured non current top 6 teams.
But I guess these cups are dead to some people.

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They kinda are. None of those teams go into the season with winning the FA or League cup as their goal. It's icing on the cake. Spoils of war if you will.

 

[nigelto]

For anyone with a problem with our priority being top 4 and champions league, cast your mind back to 10 years ago. 8th in the league, finished 11th the season before, knocked out the europa in the first knockout round by shaktar, no European football the following season.

How we would have dreamed of the luxury of ‘prioritising’ champions league and top 4. Too many on here forget how far we’ve come in a short space of time without oil money to propel us up the table.

 

[Eskimo]

I assume the new stadium will have no reference to past successes? just Deloitte reports plastered all over the wall?

 

[Guido 🇺🇦]

For two cups that aren’t important anymore, Chelsea, City, Woolwich and Utd sure make a habit of winning them every year....
Of the 28 FA Cup finals played since the Premier league started a current top 6 side has won 25 of them and a current top 6 team has played in 27 out of 28 finals, (Wigan v City & Everton v Utd) Portsmouth v Cardiff being the one exception.
In 28 League cups, 20 have been won by a current top 6 side (you could argue Villas 2 wins at the time were won by the 2nd best team in the league) and 24 of those 28 finals had at least one current top 6 side in the final, only 4 finals featured non current top 6 teams.
But I guess these cups are dead to some people.

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And that is why our focus is on the League and a Top Four finish!!! Build a team that can compete for a title and as a direct consequence, you are also building a team that will win cups. This is what we are doing. It is also no coincidence that we are one of those sides that have got to a final and 3 semi-finals in the past 4yrs whilst being one of the best sides in the league (3rd, 2nd, 3rd and currently 3rd).

 

[MVP]

The FA Cup was watched by more people from more countries around the Wolrd than any other Club Cup competition, it WAS the biggest domestic Club Cup competition in the World. It WAS a massive, massive Cup.

We are competing, yes! Where the hell did I say we haven't, I'm saying the opposite as we have reached a domestic final and 3 other semi-finals in the past 4yrs! Sorry if I've misunderstood your position on this, but there seems that so many people are using the words "competing" as "winning". Two different things in my book, again I apologise if I've misunderstood your interpretation here.

Liverpool is top of the league with their feet up resting and preparing for their next league game, probably preparing for their CL game in two weeks too. Whilst we are picking up injuries like picking up crabs from a backstreet Chinese brothel. Liverpool has played just 4 games in Jan, we have played EIGHT!!!! How can you say this doesn't impact either side? They reached the CL final having enjoyed the same rest last year, maybe this was the difference that got them over the line against City and into the CL final last year??

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Ok domestic, I agree now that you've made that clear. Which domestic cup competition are you saying is bigger now?

Fair enough, I'm saying competing not winning to be clear.

We cruised against Tranmere then beat Chelsea 4 days later, we just narrowly got beat by Chelsea, would have won on away goals rules. If we had won that it might have given us some extra motivation against Palace and maybe we would have gone through. We've finished above Liverpool time and time again despite competing in cups and playing in the CL. They had a pretty easy draw to get to the final, I would have liked us to have their draw. They still managed to fuck it up in the end despite that.

 

[Guido 🇺🇦]

Ok domestic, I agree now that you've made that clear. Which domestic cup competition are you saying is bigger now?

Fair enough, I'm saying competing not winning to be clear.

We cruised against Tranmere then beat Chelsea 4 days later, we just narrowly got beat by Chelsea, would have won on away goals rules. If we had won that it might have given us some extra motivation against Palace and maybe we would have gone through. We've finished above Liverpool time and time again despite competing in cups and playing in the CL. They had a pretty easy draw to get to the final, I would have liked us to have their draw. They still managed to fuck it up in the end despite that.

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Beating Chelsea would have seen the exact same team paly against Palace. Poch still set the team up to win and despite it being far from a vintage performance we should have won that game with the chances we squandered. We are one hell of an arrogant fanbase if people expected to win this game (a game that we lost at our place a couple of years ago when they got to the final, a game we have won recently several times by a last min winner).

 

[sammyspurs]

I have accepted the rest of that interview - just wanted to see how you interpret that particular sentence and your response proves beyond all reasonable doubt your rather obvious agenda

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What agenda?

You keep saying I change my mind hourly, then you say I’ve got an agenda.

You’ve got zero concept of drawing a logical conclusion to anything you say.
One day you disagree that Dele can be nonchalant, the next day you say Dele was nonchalant.

You say whatever comes into your head that second with absolutely no regard for what said earlier or what you will say later.

You argue points with no context in total isolation from any relevant factors.

Get some help arcspace I’m fucking serious