So long as our erstwhile chairman appreciates that to achieve what M.P wants that he will have to put his hand in his pocket. I still think that some of our players are unsuited to the type of fast pressing game that M.P. seems to want. You have only to look at Burnley's first goal against us the other night. Defence high up the field - simple long hoof downfield - neither CB reacts in time - and we're 1-0 down in no time. We got away with it in that game, we won't always get away with it so easily.
I'm so surprised that apparently Fazio was an MP choice (admittedly that other chap that was too expensive was first choice). He's so slow i just don't see how he could ever fully work in a high line
Yes, he was apparently second choice, and it shows. He's just one of the best two we currently have. None of our CB's fills me with much confidence.
Nah, not upset at all, after all we are ahead of his team by 5 points and in a CL position... IF we do sell anybody, then it will be for a fee well above the player's actual value and they will be replaced by someone better at a fraction of the price...
I have gone for giving 3 years. I did not know what to make of him as I always thought he lacked a plan B and had limited experience as a coach. We are taking steps forward but even if we weren't, we need to have a manager who is given a minimum of 3 years to make the changes they need to the training regime, the playing staff, back room staff and the academy set up. I still have no idea if he will be a success but we need to give the time to try. AVB was always gonna be a car crash...it was as a moronic decision as making bloke in a coat our manager...lack of success is one thing but tedious football and a lack of success is something else and MP seems to be delivering some good football at times imo. The next month or so is going to be very important to his future...the COC semi finals and the Final, the 4th round and poss 5th round of the FA cup, the last 32 of the Europa league and 5 or 6 league games (incl NLD) are all happening before March.
Things seem to have picked up in terms of results, performances and entertainment since he settled on a backbone of a team. His emphasis on hard work, application and team cohesion doesn't seem to sacrifice flair, so I'm pretty happy with his approach. Team selection appears to be based on merit too, which is good. It'll be interesting to see how he does when he's got a squad that he feels confident about. There are quite a few players in ours at the moment that he doesn't seem happy with.
I agree with your first paragraph but I’m not so sure about your second. We’ve seen some good performances lately from some of the veterans you might expect to be discontented, like Paulinho, Dembele, Soldado and Chriiches. I’m not sure Pochettino has very strong preferences about players, except that he expects them to train hard between matches and work hard during them. We’re on a fairly good run now, but things can change quickly. However, Pochettino does now seem to be a good choice for two reasons. The emphasis on fitness and working hard seems to suit a team which is unusually young, talented and athletic. His use of the squad has also looked extremely well judged. Pochettino has translated "much of a muchness" into nearly two nearly comparable squads to play our congested fixture list.
I think he is doing fine. One of the interesting thing about the last few matches is that a lot of the goals have come from players cutting in from the 'wrong' wing. This is early evidence that the 'system' is working. He seems to have the confidence of the players and we now have a very good core of young players who, if they are given consistent leadership can only improve.
He,s doing well,I'm pleased with his efforts. With 'effort' being the most important word. Still in every cup and fighting strong for a top 4 finish. If we are demanding anything else then we need a reality check as individuals. Two of the top 4 positions are occupied by money bags. The other two are being fought for by money bags Arsenal and United. Southampton have done well, won't take a thing away from them. We buy if we sell..and we are playing good football. He has given youth a chance. I'll take that.
Don't wanna be doom and gloom but to me it's obvious how this season will end. No trophy and no top 4 and probably not even top 6.
Don't think anyone was expecting a trophy or top 4 this season, I certainly weren't, My expectations was a good cup run and a season for poch to build a team how he wants. We need stability atm and for that expectations shouldn't be high IMO
For those that haven't looked, see if you can guess who voted "Not impressed he needs to go now.". Clue - resentful and bitter!
I agree. What I hoped for this year was that Pochettino would get the team going in the right direction and look like the man for the job--both of which, ATM, he seems to be doing. Anything more is a bonus. We'll see how the rest of the season goes. I did get to thinking what the odds were of Spurs both failing to finish in the top four and not winning a cup. In a nutshell, I think bookies would put it at around 50/50. My guesstimated breakdown: League Cup. Spurs best chance by far. Four teams left: 25% chance on that basis. Favorites against Sheffield. Will be underdogs against the Chelsea/Pool winner--but not by as much as Sheffield is against them. So, overall 25-30%. FA Cup: 32 teams left: 3% chance. Call it 5%, Spurs are one of the stronger and deepest teams. Europa: same: 4% Top Four: Who knows? 10%, maybe. So my tally would be 44-49% (or, given its guesstimated nature) a bit under fifty fifty. Don't get me wrong. My experience as a Spurs fan would rate our chances as slim and fat.
If you progress in the cups, you'll be playing twice a week, every week for the rest of the season. This will test the depth of the squad and Pochettino's ability to manage the players. It's different in the second half of the season because players carry injuries now, fatigue sets in after 40, 50, 60 games and the stakes are higher. It's not good fortune that Lloris or Eriksen or Kane have made match winning contributions which have made the crucial difference, but still the law of averages says it won't continue. If playing on the front foot to the end of matches says something about fitness and resolve, then is it realistic to expect that the levels of the those qualities will be so high in 10 or 20 games time? This is the big test for him. I think he's been bailed out by the quality produced by some of his players when needed, rather than his management skills. Lloris and Eriksen, in particular, are top quality players who produce under pressure - and have done time and again at important times. Can he find the answers if his "go to" players aren't available or performing?
Lloris, Eriksen, Kane (at least for the time being), and, arguably, Chadli and Vertonghen are a cut above the rest. But the overall story of the squad is "much of a muchness." Pochettino';s most impressive achievement has been to use that interchangeability to rotate heavily and keep the squad reasonably fresh while playing twice a week. We'll see how long that will keep working. It was notable that one of the players he overplayed was Eriksen, and that he scored for the first time in a few weeks after finally getting a rest. It's been unclear the entire year whether Rose or Davies is first choice at left back. Townsend and Lamela have gone back and forth at right wing. Bentaleb, Mason, Dembele and Capoue have taken turns in the "2". Now that Paulinho is getting games at CAM, Dembele at LW and Vorm at GK, it's only Vertonghen who's not getting any rest.
Resentful and bitter?......That's good coming from a club whose fans racially abused Sol Campbell just because he left them for Arsenal!...
