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Manager Mauricio Pochettino

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Kenny Dalglish on Tottenham: Mauricio Pochettino is proving managing Spurs ISN'T an impossible job

He's almost slipped under the radar with his progress at Tottenham, but Mauricio Pochettino looks like he has quickly turned things around there.

I remember the beating they took from Liverpool early in the season - and they were well beaten, believe me - and he must have realised then it was a wee bit more difficult of a job than he first thought.

in fact, people said it was an impossible job, and he was mad to take it on, given the number of managers the White Hart Lane club have gone through. But you don’t know the stipulations he put on when he accepted the job.

Put it this way, they did well to get him away from Southampton, so maybe they had to come round to his way of thinking to persuade him to do that.

Maybe they had to come to an understanding with him - allow him to put his own personality on things - even though they have a director of football in place there.

It’s a system that is much maligned, but Pochettino has an advantage above many of the managers in the Premier League, in that he came from Spain and a situation working with a technical director. He understands how it works... and how to make it work for him.

That’s the key.

There’s nothing wrong with having a technical director if you can find a way of making it work with the manager, and I suspect that’s what happened at White Hart Lane – Pochettino addressed that before he went in.

Look at him now. After that difficult start, they’re still in four competitions.

They are in form in the Premier League and can make the top four in what is going to be a hell of a race, they’ve got a lead in a semi-final of the Capital One Cup, and a home tie against Leicester for a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup.

Progress to the last 32 of the Europa League - where they face Fiorentina - has been comfortable for them too, though I know myself about how that competition is tricky in the way it affects your league programme.

I like what he’s done there at Spurs.

It’s a fantastic club to go and manage, no matter what people say about the set-up there – Tim Sherwood did well, and enjoyed his time there. He spoke about how much he enjoyed it, even if he was unlucky to not be offered the job full time.

It’s not the impossible job people seem to make out.

Let’s face it, what Premier League manager’s job IS easy? There’s pressure at every club, every day, and from the top to the bottom you hear rumours about the man at the top’s position. That’s the way it is these days.

What Pochettino has done is to put his identity on things quickly, which isn’t always easy. He’s identified the problems, looked at the faults and rectified them.


He has also promoted a lot of the younger players, which I like. You don’t look at the birth certificate of someone to see if he’s going to play for you, you look at the quality and what he is going to give.

He’s pushed Harry Kane along, trusting him where maybe others weren’t ready to, and given chances to Ryan Mason, Nabil Bentalab, Andros Townsend and the like.

Pochettino had a decent track record of putting the Southampton youngsters in his team too. You get the right kids, and it’s a way of competing at the top. Funnily enough, Southampton are a great example of that, even after Pochettino has moved on.

GettyTottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane celebrates scoring the opening goalHot Spur: Striker Kane has come from nowhere to enter the England discussion
You can give yourself a migraine trying to work out who’s going to finish in the top four this season, but the way he has worked quietly at Spurs, they’ve got a good chance now of getting one of those places.

But why is everyone dismissing Southampton?

They’ve got 42 points and are playing as well as anyone right now. They’ve got a good mix of players, and a lot of younger lads who give them quality in key positions.

I reckon a few tears are going to be shed between now and the end of the season for those clubs who want to make the top four... but I think Spurs are on the right lines, and it doesn’t look such an impossible job now.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/kenny-dalglish-tottenham-mauricio-pochettino-5030595?
 
sammyspurs said:
Thats a spine.
Good point.....Eriksen also suffers when we play Kane in his position.

Two of the top performers being shunted around to accommodate two of the worst. Makes no sense to me.
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Best players go in their best positions, they do not accommodate average players. It's annoying enough when Eriksen ends up on the left, let alone then dropping Kane back in order to accommodate Ade or Bobby.

No different to playing Verts left back when Rose or Naughton were fit under AVB.

Lloris
Verts
Fazio
Bentaleb
Eriksen
Kane

Pretty much picks itself these days (maybe Bentaleb has most competition for his place).

Been a long time since Spurs fans could reasonably predict 7 or 8 or the starting line-up. And more-so those 7 or 8 be worthy of starting for Spurs!

I still can't get over how much Vertonghen's attitude has changed lately. What a superb player (and leader) he is when motivated by the gaffer.
 
Millbanks said:
I still can't get over how much Vertonghen's attitude has changed lately. What a superb player (and leader) he is when motivated by the gaffer.
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I think Poch made a masterstroke by not making him captain....I think it put a rocket up his arse, and suddenly he stoppped acting like the biggest and best player at the club, and became a team player again.

Poch has done many good things already, but the most important has been selling or dropping the underperformers, and giving everyone in the squad hope that they will play if they work hard and play well.
 
sammyspurs said:
I think Poch made a masterstroke by not making him captain....I think it put a rocket up his arse, and suddenly he stoppped acting like the biggest and best player at the club, and became a team player again.

Poch has done many good things already, but the most important has been selling or dropping the underperformers, and giving everyone in the squad hope that they will play if they work hard and play well.
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Couldn't agree more.

Vertonghen didn't deserve to be named captain at the start of the season. His attitude since 'Arry has been shit. It's such a relief to see he can still give a fuck about Spurs winning or losing. That ball to Bobby was the Jan of old, getting forward, causing problems. Love to see him hit a 30-yarder.
 
Pochettino: In England they undervalue young, English players.

Mauricio Pochettino already finds himself under pressure after a far from ideal start. While Tottenham look set to once again qualify for the later stages of the Europa League, their league form has been inconsistent to say the least. His style of football is known for its high-pressing and possession football yet there has been little of that to see at White Hart Lane so far. However, he spoke to ‘El Pais’ yesterday, prior to the game against Stoke City, where he said, “This is football. I love it.”

Why are you so well-liked in the Premier League?

(Poch) That’s the first I’ve heard that! No, I don’t know. I imagine it’s because they respect the way we were a breath of fresh air at Southampton. And not only because we played well, but because we brought a different style and tactics (to the league). That, and we believed in the talent of our English players.

Do they undervalue the quality of English players (in England)?

Absolutely. We believe more in them than they do themselves. It’s the same as what happened in Spain 20 years ago; when I arrived at Espanyol, they valued me higher because I was a foreigner. And here, they undervalue English players. You only need to trust them and show them our way of playing.

Does it clash with the fans when you make such radical changes?

No. Nowadays, with the level of information widely available, and because football is global, everyone believes they should practice how they feel they need to, or because of the culture around them. But there are distinctive coaches, like Brendan Rodgers, who offer another type of football. Here, (in England) you can play in various different styles and systems. And while it’s true that there still is an element of ‘seven-eleven’ (long ball to the wingers so they can cross for the striker in the area) football, English players are also capable of learning whichever other style they are shown.

Is the Premier League a refined taste?

It’s true that a lot of academies teach their youngsters to play from the back, so ‘seven-eleven’ has been left behind at the monet. But you can’t go against their culture. Amongst other things, because English football has unrivalled passion and that is ahead of everything else. A corner or a throw-in is cheered like a goal and that drives you forward. You can’t lose that. Nor the honesty in the game they have.

But when you were a player, you said preferred those ‘intelligent’ players (who won freekicks or penalties with a dive).

Well, I’ve changed my way of thinking. Football is for smart, intelligent people without the need to overreact. At the end of the day you play to outmaneuver; outsmart the opposition. But we need to avoid cheating. I prefer ‘smart’ players.

And why is English football so passionate?

For the culture, for what they’ve inherited from their families and because they wait to see their team play on a Sunday. It’s the opportunity to see them (play). It isn’t like in Spain, where you can see your team train every day of the week.

Inside that English culture, there is beer drinking. Has it been difficult to change the habits of some of your players?

It’s true that they like to have a beer but since I’ve been here, I’ve not had any problems. They are very professional. Although I’m not a policeman either (I don’t investigate everything they do). They have their night outs (like everybody) but they are always responsible and respectful of the contract they signed with the club.

You aren’t a policeman, but are you a sargent?

Hold on. We come from a place where we love to train. And we had double sessions, which isn’t common here. Their mentality isn’t like that. You need to treat them correctly. We should improve their level of ‘suffering’. English players are very intense and they need to improve their resistance and suffering (no pain, no gain) to extend that aggression for longer periods of the game. But we are changing that.

Does the phrase, ‘suffer in training so you don’t suffer in a game’ hold true?

Yes, because they understand they do this to enjoy playing more.

But are they scared (of stronger training methods)?

When we were at Southampton, they (the media) talked about how hard the training sessions were. But I told them we weren’t crazy. You need to also realise that sometimes life can be too comfortable for a footballer. I told them as a former player, and because I believe you get out what you put in, you need to work harder. But I hope they aren’t scared. Instead, it should be respect (the methods), as that’s the most difficult to earn. And I think we have that because they knew they would grow with us. It’s our task, to get better contracts, to grow, so in the end we’re happier. And for them all methods (to achieve those goals) are good. I’m always different. Sometimes tough, other times distant, other times caring. And the group should know, very clearly, how to behave. You can’t ever become a friend of a player because that’s a very strong word. But the player should give everything he has. And that is what we want, because you can’t ask for them to give more than they possibly can.

And among those players, is there as much hierarchy as we are lead to believe in the dressing rooms (in English football)?

Maybe 20 years ago as the veteran of the squad was given a lot of power by the coach and the club. The youngsters suffered because of that. Now everything is a lot more normal. But it’s nice to keep some traditions; I love to see the under-21 players, like Shaw or Lallana, cleaning the boots of the first team after training with them. These moments mark a player. It’s the humility, the respect and the ambition that one day someone will clean my boots. In Spain, for example, you tell a 17-year-old lad to do that and he’d reply, “Me? But I’m a professional and I’m sponsored by different brands and have an agent.”

Another tradition, in England, is having a meeting with the rival manager after the game. How are you finding that?

When you lose it’s difficult. Honestly, I decide not to (have a meeting) most of the time. I always use an excuse like I need to do interviews or a press conference. Although if I’m up against a friend like Roberto Martinez or Mourinho, I’ll go. But with those I don’t really know, it doesn’t really matter if I go or not. I’m not very friendly after games. Not even when we’ve won.

What is the objective at Tottenham?

To teach my philosophy and give the youngsters a chance. We have the best training facilities in Europe and we need to get the maximum out of them.

But your team currently finds itself in the middle of the table.

Here, (at Tottenham,) the fans aren’t expecting to win the title in 5 years, which could have happened a few years ago. With the increase of owners from outside of European football, the manager isn’t only a manager any more.

Do you think about returning to Spain?

When they lower the taxes, maybe? But no, seriously, in football, as Jorge Griffa (former coach at Newell’s) said, it can take you anywhere. You can’t control it. Who would have told you that 20 months after leaving Espanyol I’d be the first team coach at Tottenham?

https://andrewgaffney.wordpress.com/2014/11/10/pochettino-in-england-they-undervalue-local-players/
 
Sorry Poch, you're hurting your career and the club's performance this season playing CLOWNboul and Adebayor. Not to mention Paulinho. Adebayor despite being temperamental and going off the boil, still appears to be useful on the pitch. The other two are imposters. Needs to put rel pressure on levy before the window closes.
 
I never take anyone seriously when they make up retarded names for player to give their point more validity. yes retarded, not just stupid, I consider you both nominees to take the short bus to school.
 
Millbanks said:
Best players go in their best positions, they do not accommodate average players. It's annoying enough when Eriksen ends up on the left, let alone then dropping Kane back in order to accommodate Ade or Bobby.

No different to playing Verts left back when Rose or Naughton were fit under AVB.

Lloris
Verts
Fazio
Bentaleb
Eriksen
Kane

Pretty much picks itself these days (maybe Bentaleb has most competition for his place).

Been a long time since Spurs fans could reasonably predict 7 or 8 or the starting line-up. And more-so those 7 or 8 be worthy of starting for Spurs!

I still can't get over how much Vertonghen's attitude has changed lately. What a superb player (and leader) he is when motivated by the gaffer.
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Might as well throw Mason on that list too.
 
When Mason and Bentaleb have played we've been massively more direct than anytime since Redknapp. The times that we look slow are when the likes of Dembele, Paulinho, Capoue, and Stambouli. While Mason and Bentaleb are still growing as players and have clear deficiencies they are massively integral for us going forward. That is clear in my eyes every game they don't play.

This is why Mason and Bentaleb have been introduced almost immediately into big games in the three combined times they've returned from injury this season. Pochettino clearly recognizes their importance to the side.
 
JDK said:
When Mason and Bentaleb have played we've been massively more direct than anytime since Redknapp. The times that we look slow are when the likes of Dembele, Paulinho, Capoue, and Stambouli. While Mason and Bentaleb are still growing as players and have clear deficiencies they are massively integral for us going forward. That is clear in my eyes every game they don't play.

This is why Mason and Bentaleb have been introduced almost immediately into big games in the three combined times they've returned from injury this season. Pochettino clearly recognizes their importance to the side.
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Remember last season when Bentaleb put in a string of fine performances but because people couldn't look past the fact Sherwood introduced him they all thought he was shit.

Demebele with his power is ok when placed next to either Mason or Bentaleb. Stambouli is looking a lot better now he has had a few months of fitness training and can now run. Paulinho and Capoue are no hopers, Paulinho lacks brains and Capoue is a lazy barstard.

Paulinho and Capoue are gone, I can see Dembele being eased out, I think Stambouli might make it if he keeps on improving.
 
JDK said:
When Mason and Bentaleb have played we've been massively more direct than anytime since Redknapp. The times that we look slow are when the likes of Dembele, Paulinho, Capoue, and Stambouli. While Mason and Bentaleb are still growing as players and have clear deficiencies they are massively integral for us going forward. That is clear in my eyes every game they don't play.

This is why Mason and Bentaleb have been introduced almost immediately into big games in the three combined times they've returned from injury this season. Pochettino clearly recognizes their importance to the side.
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Agree. Although I would not included Stambouli, he has impressed me (apart from his pace).
There is a difference that you have already mentioned and that is speed. IMO Bentaleb & Mason do what Dembele and Capoue do but do it much faster, one and two touch football, compared to 3 and 4 touch football. Combine that with Mason & Bentaleb's positioning without the ball and that is why they are more effective.
 
Guido said:
Agree. Although I would not included Stambouli, he has impressed me (apart from his pace).
There is a difference that you have already mentioned and that is speed. IMO Bentaleb & Mason do what Dembele and Capoue do but do it much faster, one and two touch football, compared to 3 and 4 touch football. Combine that with Mason & Bentaleb's positioning without the ball and that is why they are more effective.
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Stambouli is a fine player. He is a bit of a Parker in that he needs to be playing next to a passer. Parker looked great next Modric because he could just lay the ball off to Luka whereas he did the spinning top routine when playing next to Dembele. Stambouli needs to playing next to Mason or Bentaleb as well.
 
JDK said:
Stambouli is a fine player. He is a bit of a Parker in that he needs to be playing next to a passer. Parker looked great next Modric because he could just lay the ball off to Luka whereas he did the spinning top routine when playing next to Dembele. Stambouli needs to playing next to Mason or Bentaleb as well.
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Personally I don't think so. Stambouli has been threading balls through/between a well marshalled defence and in his last two games has also hit the best +30yrd pass of the match one of which resulted in an assist. I'd have Bentaleb and Mason ahead of him but I have no issue when I see his name on the team sheet.
 
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