But our good players aren't? I think what we have here is a philosophical paradox. You could phrase this as even players not good enough to get in our first team are good enough for top French teams. They wanted Bentaleb but had to settle for our reserve.
I think he would be compared to Adkins - sitting in the relegation spots or just above and without buying anyone, took them safely up the table.
Of course Poch was a success at Saints! Anyone who thinks otherwise really doesn't understand football. What Adkins did was admirable - he got them the promotion they deserved, but you had the feeling with him that Saints would always struggle in the Prem, with him in charge. With Poch, Saints quickly became a side that looked comfortable in the Prem, and they began to play a style of football that was both attractive in attack and mean in defence. it was his system that Koeman is building on. If Saints had finished above Spurs, I think the Poch-naysayers would have something to sneer about, but they didn't, and they won't.
'Even' means, as well as Think Bale, Modric, VDV, Carrick, Berbatov etc The last post might have been a bit of a gentle ribbing, but I do think Spurs struggle to hold onto their decent players, as you're not offering them Champions League football or a shot at the title. Ultimately, the best players are always going to have their heads turned by the big clubs.
Was it all his achievement though? Seeing as he couldnt communicate with anyone. How much of the success was down to the interpreter? Is it any surprise the little Poch has begun to flop the better his English has got? And what happens when he's perfectly fluent in mockney?
Of course. It's a catch 22, we can't keep the very best players because there is no CL and there is no CL because we can't keep the very best players. We need to convince them that we can get there. 16 teams, to a varying degree, have this problem. At least with us, players know there isn't a huge jump to get to the promised land. In the last 5 years, you lot are the only team we haven't finished above. Just need to catch one of the top 4, one more time and things will look up.
But how long have you (collectively) been saying that for ? We all know that modern footballers are impatient and want success (or at least a shot at success) almost instantly.
Poch had Saints playing a brand a football that was a joy to watch and if I'm honest belied the stature of the club. He shored up what was a record breakingly bad defence too. He had no plan B though and if we were winning losing or drawing it was always a press, press, press strategy. He is a snake of a man though. Not only did he stiff Saints but he tried to tao up Rodriguezand Schneiderlin a la Hoddle and Richards. Should a bigger side come calling you Spurs fans should expect an acrimonious deceit filled exit in the same vein as Modric and many others.
For that to happen. he'sgoing to have to prove himself at Spurs, and that means winning something big and/or getting 4th twice in a row. I'd be happy with that.
If Rodgers doesn't start well we might get Poch's interprenter to replace him, he seems to have some good ideas and Spurs will be in decline without him.
How long do you think it will be before Pooch becomes unlucky no 13 in the managers sacked since Wenger took over at Arsenal ?
Seems unlikely. They've got such an easy opener, for a start. Some **** team that they battered last season.
I think he's likely to be poached by someone like Barca (or another such side that is slightly above us), before he gets sacked. Our boys have got to go out there and perform for Poch, and deliver him the kind of legacy that he so clearly deserves.
He achieved the legacy he deserves when he won PL Manager of the Month once (for Southampton). He could be poached by Real Madrid. They seem to be running out of managers and scraping the bottom of the barrel these days. Short of the tea lady there's nobody else left other than the little Poch or Tim Sherwood.