He, Rose and Toby are all equally bad cogs at the moment, as is Poch. All three were dropped vs Red Star and we had a blinding performance, granted the level of opposition was inferior to Pool but the problem then is Poch decided to make our team inferior from the one that played Red Star and therefore gave us a mountain to climb before the game had even started. It’s just a mess, Bob. We didn’t shake on that bet now, did we?
You're right, he's far from the only broken cog. Currently, him, Rose and Aurier are absolute liabilities and contribute very little to our game. Alli is being carried as a passenger more games than not. And Poch is making far too many needlessly complicated tactical decisions. His reluctance to show more trust in youth and our new signings is particularly concerning, especially when you take into account that the alternatives are ageing players who don't want to be at the club anymore. I am keeping the faith in him though, as I think he has done more than enough to deserve at least this entire season to turn this around. But he urgently needs to settle on his best formation, tactics and the 11 players who have the best skill-sets to match, and stick to it. It may be true that a number of the players needed to do that are inexperienced/lacking match fitness/young, but would they really do any worse than what we're currently achieving? Since the start of the season we have seen far too much tinkering; from one game to the next it is anyone's guess how we'll line up and who will be playing. That has to stop.
This is why I personally want him to go. Sentiment would say “give him more time” but my head just says “why”? The fact he’s continually making selection mistakes is what’s really grinding on me. I’ve lost count the amount of times us lot, myself included, as well as on social media have said along the lines “if/ when Poch learns from his mistakes”... it’s something we’ve repeated for years and yet if we’re to be honest, those mistakes have increased rather than decreased. I just think we’re too far gone for him to turn it around, he’s gotten worse as a manager, as sad as it is to say it, he’s gone all Mourinho/ Wenger towards the end of their tenures but without the trophies.
I think he could've done better but overall he played a blinder. I thoroughly enjoy watching him dish out a bollocking every time his defense screw up. Lloris would just shrug meekly and adjust his gloves. Also his distribution is just a different level. That kick where Son hit the bar was world class.
Ohh yeah...he was superb and has the hunger a lot have lost I’ve got zero issues with him being our number 1
p.s. Mane is a crafty little bugger.Gets up to some sly things during games.Sometimes a team needs someone like that to "break the ice!" Ask Klopp.....
And you just know the moment Lloris’ elbow is healed he’s back in the XI. Because apparently some phrase called “class is permanent” means Gazza even when on form shouldn’t get the nod over Lloris who’s already made two mistakes leading to goals this season alone.
It will be a major, major call. Part of the self-imposed problem with Hugo is that he is still officially the club captain. It isn't so simple to just sideline your captain mid-season. But if Gazza continues playing as he did yesterday and Poch puts Hugo straight back in without rhyme or reason, I'm sure many - myself included - will be mightily pissed off.
I have to say I've remained remarkably calm throughout this season. Had a full-blown CK rant in the summer when it looked like we weren't going to sign anyone other than Clarke, but I've been biting my lips since then. The more I see of Tanguy and now Lo Celso, and having seen plenty of Sess over the past 3 years (my cousins have season tickets there so I go to 4 or 5 games a season), and having seen the interest we had in the likes of Dybala, I am excited to see what the new chapter will bring. But yes, there is a heck of a lot of work to do before that chapter can begin. Now that all or most players are fit and available, Poch is running out of excuses for his bizarre selection decisions. He has until January to put that right. ENIC meanwhile have January and July-August to show that they are serious about progressing on the pitch. But as I've said many a time, whilst nothing seemed to go our way in the summer, we are theoretically only a few steps away from the following team: Gazza NEW RB Dave Jan Davies/Sess Sissoko Tanguy Son Dybala Lo Celso Kane ...so much depends on clearing the deadwood asap though.
I’ve been a Gazza advocate for a while as have others and I think what we get from him is immeasurably more valuable than what we get from Lloris. Hugo is a marginally better shot stopper but doesn’t provide the leadership we need and Gazza’s distribution puts him on another level - how Hugo has never improved that aspect of his game is beyond me as it has always been an issue. I’m clinging to the hope that GLC will prove to be the cog we are missing. I want to see him and Tanguy start together. If we had the below for our next game I would be very happy: Gazza Foyth Dave Jan Davies Ndombele Sissoko GLC Lamela Kane Son
The thing with January if Poch is still here (which he likely will be) is that whoever comes in will probably just get the Lucas treatment and kill the buzz of any potential Dybala/ Bruno arrival.
I’d love to see that team start but you can more or less guarantee at least 2-3 of Aurier, Rose, Toby, Winks and Eriksen make the XI.
Oh yeah I knew that, I just wanted to be the man that crushes your dreams with some reality! You mean to say you’re joining the dark side? Tbh I’ve noticed quite a few, both on here and social media in general, finally realise Winks has no business in the XI. Said many times before, nice lad, useless player.
This is my issue. He appears to fix things occasionally and then goes back to what doesn't work, for some strange reason. Palace and Red Star were both very positive performances, followed by lots of changes and failure, for example. He doesn't appear to be learning from his mistakes and there's no consistency behind his decision making.
Gazza for me is far better. Lloris back in the day was great and was the first of the sweeper keeper breeds. Nowadays hes just a smaller heurelho gomes in my opinion. Pulls off some great saves but prone to some awful howlers. Gazza seems a far better fit, great distribution, pretty good shot stopping (that save from salah and trents bullet) and i was impressed when he claimed a few crosses. The one minor criticism i do have is that he does parry it out a bit but thats very minor. It wont surprise me to see lloris back in though
I think there’s still a place for him starting in certain situations - those games at home where we have loads of possession and the opposition just sits, for example. I think in those games, having Sissoko and NDombele in the same team doesn’t add much and Winks gives you something a bit different. He’s got no business starting games like Sunday’s though and his presence in the XI highlights the lack of a DM in our side. The contrast to Fabinho in the Liverpool side could not have been more stark. Forget going for Bruno Fernandes or even Dybala in January, we need a top class DM so we can release our creative midfielders and take pressure off the full backs. So I’m not completely on the dark side but I’m no longer willing to be his greatest advocate. I think Winks has a role to play on the pitch and as a squad player who can be a conduit for the fans in the club, but that role isn’t starting the biggest games.
I personally see no place in the starting XI for him. In those games we dominate possession you need players who can make something happen, that’s what Tanguy does, he splits defences with through balls. Sissoko is far from creative but he has a knack of just running through (literally! ) players that can sometimes open up spaces. 114 games for Spurs and Winks has 2 goals and 2 assists. He’s not a DM, he’s not a box-to-box, he’s certainly not a playmaker, I just don’t see anything unique that he brings to the table. The only time I see a place on the pitch for hi. is if we’re 1-0 up with 10 mins to go, he can come on, knock it back and sideways to retain possession and frustrate opposition, other than that I don’t wanna see him on the pitch, as I think he hinders us.
Yeah I take your point, I’ve been worried that Tanguy and Sissoko try and occupy the same spaces on the pitch and that has seen Tanguy take up some weird positioning in some games they’ve played together so far. But as long as Sissoko is explicitly a DM and will come deep to collect the ball when needed etc., then I’m happier to have him in there than Winks until we sign a proper DM who can also play a bit - easier said than done I know!
