Perhaps I would have been proven wrong, but I always felt that Adkins really did love the club. It was tough when he left because while I understood that MP was sort of a "next level" guy, it also put us into a place where there was no room for sentimentality and we were maybe turning into sort of a "big club" in ways that were less fun to root for. Now of course, it seems to be coming true with MP ditching us first chance he got and some of the players perhaps as well. As for MP, the one thing that sticks in my craw a little bit is that one big reason we might be stuck for cash is because of Osvaldo. And I believe that Pochettino played a bigger role in that than other moves as he would have been asked to give his opinion and either vouched for or actually recommended him. So he's responsible for the biggest mistake we've made and now jumps ship and washes his hands of it. I also don't think Tottenham is that great a move. Yes, I realize they are bigger than us and all that and I actually sort of like them (or used to, my fondness is fading fast). But they've gone through a lot of managers. I am not entirely sure they were better than us had we kept the team together, although who knows who might have left. And Tottenham is a "selling" club as well. On a slightly higher level than us, but we passed them Bale, and then Bale went to Real. Tottenham have a bigger budget than we do, but they have to spend well. And I'm not sure if they have the right squad for MP right now, or if he has skills in the transfer market (Osvaldo may indicate he doesn't) or if he'll just let others do the spending. It's not really that great a career move, IMO. Not sure if it's good for Tottenham, either. If they really want to join the big clubs they need to find someone who is loyal and will stay awhile and raise their club to that next level. But now they might just find themselves jilted in a year if they don't dump MP first which locks them into the second tier. I wouldn't have minded being dumped for the most popular girl in town even if she's crazy, but MP left us for the least attractive girl in the popular girl clique. It's not even worth it. And both sides are just in it to up their social standing, there doesn't seem to be any real commitment there.
Adkins did feel for this club...not that that is a reason to keep someone of course. Just after his sacking, a chap on SaintsWeb who lived near him met him in the street. He said, 'You'll soon be back in the Premier League.' 'Maybe', said Nigel. 'But I wanted to be there with Saints.' A nice guy....shame he didn't make the play offs.
oh god, don't give me the sad. must remind myself of his complete inability to judge a goalie to combat it.
Pochettino has been great for us. Changing the way we play, making us one if not the best looking play wise in the Prem. But the way he has gone about the Spurs interest and contract issue feels like he has played us. I thank him for what he has done, but don't wish him luck with his next job.
With Everton losing their loan stars and Tottenham, whether with Poch or someone else, in a slightly transitional phase, we really could push on if players aren't sold and a good replacement is brought in.
yes it's a fantastic opportunity and it would be a shame to waste it. anyone who thinks the top 7 is impenetrable needs to explain why tottenham and everton are there rather than sunderland, newcastle, villa, etc.
The first sign was when he didn't give a speech at the awards dinner (he did last season) and wouldn't mix or be photographed with fans (unlike the rent-a-selfie that is Katharina). He was on his way then, but just hadn't had any firm offers.
@alex_crook: Will be on with @talkSPORTDrive at 6pm to talk about Pochettino. Still no official comment from #saintsfc
Well why wouldn't he? This is football for goodness sake, and they're great players that he's worked with previously. He wouldn't be much of a manager if he didn't recommend great players. It's not frigging kindergarten with cuddles and Kum-Bye-Ah in the afternoon. Jeeze, get a grip! Why do you think he should have this special protective feeling for Saints? Just not going to happen and realistically I have no idea why you expect him to. Please explain to me what is actually 'wrong' with him (probably) taking what is an ambitious step to a club that he may believe he can take into the champions league, and alongside that, recommending players to sign that he's worked with previously?
Aren't we annoyed when any manager comes and tries to poach our best players? I thought the point is that when MP starts treating Saints like a neutral, the fans will start behaving towards him like neutrals. I personally think it's lame to raid your former club. But I don't think it's going to happen. In MP's case, he's supposedly moving UP the ladder. So going back to your old smaller clube would be the mark of a manager who isn't all he's cracked up to be. With Tottenham's supposedly greater resources, he should be able to get whatever talent he needs and use the talent that he already has. The squad that MP had at Saints, he inherited and what was supposedly so great about him was he was able to turn them into winners. If it turns out that's the only squad he can coach, what is he bringing to the table? Spuds are going to waste a lot of money replacing their 6th place team with the 8th place team.
That's a strange statement. Do you not think that the likes of Lovren and Schneiderlin (the two examples given) could not hold their own at a Champions League club? I certainly do, and if Poch does as well, then he'd be wise to add them to a list of potential targets.
I'm quite sure other people who have held management positions have been headhunted here. It's a regular occurrence. Then, when you're in your new position, one of the first questions you're asked is "is there anybody in your old team you'd like to bring along with you". In the context of a move from a smaller company to a larger company, you may well think "well yes, I think person X was great, I got along with them, they have a lot of potential, and I'd like to continue working with them". At which point you say to Person X, "hey, fancy coming along to my new project". Why on earth do people think that should be different in football due to a strange sense of (non-existant) loyalty toward an ex-club?
Yes, but we don't have to let them go. I think it is essential that the core of the team is kept together....easier to blend in a few new players than to start all over again. He can ask, but we should say no. Perhaps he left because he didn't think they were good enough and he won't ask for anyone...now that would have to hurt
Yes, I completely agree on that front Fran, I just find it odd that somehow people feel like they're being even more terribly disrespected by MP should he make said enquiries.
