M Agreed. For what these guys get paid, they should leave their blood on the pitch, if necessary. As Bill Nick said, you have to hate losing - too many of them clearly don't!
Whatever "new direction" Levy and his board wanted to take the club when they removed Redknapp, has clearly taken a wrong turning. We now have a back line who would struggle to keep a clean sheet in the division below, no creativity from the midfield and a strike force which is embarrassing. Plus a manager who was a bizarre appointment, tickets have never been easier to get, empty seats in all 4 stands today and no leader in the squad, no player who the fans can gain an affinity with and a new stadium which seems as far away as it was 5 years ago. To give you some idea about how bad it was today, believe me when I say that the biggest and loudest cheers of the afternoon were when the big screen flashed up the Leicester goals going in against United. A manager will always try and get some positives out of a game. I can't see where our manager will find some tonight.
Agreed and agreed! I notice that none of the line ups suggested for 4-4-2 include Lamela. This is where I think a problem lies for Poch. Lamela is a prized asset that needs games. (Plus he needs to be seen to use these expensive players.) I also worry about putting Eriksen in a middle two of 4-4-2. Too lightweight, and doesn't look like becoming 'tough' in the way Modric did eventually.
"I notice that none of the line ups suggested for 4-4-2 include Lamela." Roma watchers might know whether Lamela was more effective on the right to centre side of the pitch than on the left (which would be the pre-requisite for him in a 4-4-2 IMHO) .
Rose put in several good crosses and got forward well all game. He did give away the ball once in his own half too. I thought Dier combined poorly with Lamela, as I said at half time, and he gave the ball away a number of times. There's always a degree of pressure on the manager when things aren't going great but I don't think he's in any danger of being sacked, if that's what you mean. I think most expected us to finish outside the top 4 again this season so 5th-7th is generally what's expected of him. The improvement we want is to play better football, which will take time. It seems no matter who we appoint some fans will be sharpening their knives waiting for them to struggle, frankly it's a toxic atmosphere at our stadium these days. It's such early days that one result can really change the mood but I think we should find some perspective in the results of the teams who finished around us last season, yourselves being the only ones that haven't suffered from a poor start like we have. Anyway, pleased to see you guys are doing well, it was a shame to see your squad getting dismantled after last season
Every manager since jol was bizarre except redknapp...one could not speak any english, one ****ed up chelsea yet in the 12 weeks after they sacked him they went on to win the CL and fa cup and the less said about sherwood the better imo
There's a few other posts I could have quoted which were also along the lines of the above, but two is sufficient. "Narrow tippy tappy" football with an "aversion to playing with wingers" is what Poch's style is. He's not going to suddenly change that. We've told you over and over again that he has no Plan B. He will not change. Some games it results in his sides thrashing the opposition 4-0. Some games it results in taking three points off the big teams. But some games it results in 90 minutes of boredom, frustration, and either defeat or a 0-0 draw. We could go from beating Chelsea or Liverpool, to losing to QPR or Norwich, and visa versa. With a thrashing of Hull or Fulham thrown in for good measure. So long as the players are willing to buy into his pressing game, then over time you will see results. Give him time. But at the same time, don't hold out any hope to see yourselves ever playing with a direct winger on either side, and a deadly penalty-box poacher smashing them in every game.
The invasion of Saints fans with their "informed opinion" which are opinions that always involve "give him time". You can give the wrong man as much time as you(we) like, time doesn't equate to success unless the manager is the right man to start with and in Pochettinos case he isn't right for us and never will be. It will be interesting to see when Koeman gets found out (Which he will) if saints fan will start coming on here with their "informed opinions". The style Pochettino has, may have worked at a small club like saints but his style of football and beliefs, together with his ability as manager aren't up to the standard of the Tottenham job and he certainty won't be getting us top four, yet as a club the expectations are different at spurs (to saints) so what Pochettino achieved at saints has no relevance to what be brings to us, as a similar mixed bag of results at saints won't be enough to keep him in a job and the mixed bag of results won't earn him a move to a bigger club, all they will earn him, is the sack, eventually.
3 Talking of Southampton,didn't we buy their left back to permanently fill the left back position,or was he bought to sell programmes?...or make the tea?
I know you've said the same since day 1, but I thought he was going to be given time. It's 5 games, way too early for this kind of post.
He will get time, you (and most fans) will give him time, Levy will give him time (Levy time anyway), there's no real frustration overall from our fans towards him and I'm not calling for him to be sacked (unless its tongue in cheek) as its not realistic. Pochettino is here, he is our manager, just like Avb was our manager and like Avb, I expect Pochettino to have a full season and then next summer to build from there, unless he royally screws up. Just similar to SC, I don't enjoy the direction we are moving in as a club, the DOF/Coach system, the lack of leadership and character, the style of football and us having a team and manager that is potential, potential that in the main isn't going to be fulfilled.
Whichever way you look at it, and I of all people am not inclined to agree with Boss, he does have a point. Add to that a complete condemnation from Spurcat and you really have to take notice. I am already fed up with the 'tippy tappy' stuff and I have yet to see Poch make a decisive intervention into a match (I have not seen them all, so please correct me if I am wrong). I am already of the mind set that requires Poch to do something quite dramatic to pull me back to his side and I am not in the mood to 'give him more time' folowing AVB and Sherwood. Sherwood may have been naive but at least he was trying to move in the direction of free flowing football. I really don't want to see this pass pass pass onwards and sideways stuff any more. I follow football because it is the most exciting ball game on the planet, if you are going to reduce that to foot basketball then count me out, I'll take up stamp collecting or something equally exciting. WBA look a lot more entertaining to me than Spurs at the moment.
The problems are the same as they've ever been. Too many transfers in and out every window. Too many changes in the team/formation to meet all the demands, especially the EL. Stability is essential. It's not good enough just to throw good players together and hope they hit it off. As a Utd fan , that's painfully obvious to me presently too.
This must be the strangest week-end ever for odd results. If you are a backer of the underdogs then you have made a fortune..
PNP. There used to be a quotation on our geography blackboard."THINK BEFORE YOU INK". Oops.Sorry!!!!!I guess that's why our manager is not in any hurry to give him the left back shirt.I hope he won't regret coming here....and I do know he WANTED to come to The Lane.
Yeah, I normally back the outsiders and lose most. I was thinking Saturday would be the real surprise day so bet on 3 or more goals in the Arsenal, Newcastle and Swansea games having 3 or more goals. Bloody Swans let me down! I put the rest on United and Spurs to win by 2 or more today. I'm just glad I only bet for fun and nothing I can't afford
