I If our current results and performances and boring style of play had been under Sherwood, then people would be calling for his dismissal, so why not Pochettino ?
Overreacting to short term developments is the nature of fandom and journalism. One not particularly common problem has turned quite a good start into a very disappointing one: the reaction to taking a lead. It’s perfectly possible it ruins the entire season, either by itself or by snowballing into other things, but I can’t see writing off the year on the basis of three games. Last year we topped the league after two games and it didn’t mean much. That said, I couldn’t agree more that this is a team in desperate need of a leader. One reason not to sack Pochettino is there’s no reason to think the next coach will be any better. Two of the last three coaches we hired did more poorly than their predecessors.
I see Lloris roll the ball out to the LB who passes it sideways to Verts who then passes it sideways to Toby who then passes it sideways to Walker who passes it 5 metres forward to Dembele who passes it backwards to Toby who passes it back to Lloris who rolls it to Walker who passes it sideways to Tony who passes it sideways to Verwtonghen. This is not any over reaction to outsiders, it is what I see game after game. It is crap and it was crap today yet again.
Slightly better players and consistency. Chelsea were strong defensively in most games last season and had a finisher in Costa and a creator in Hazard who could be relied upon at the other end. They'll surely find some form soon. City definitely have greater quality in key positions, but went off the boil too often to win the title. Unlikely to do so again? Arsenal were generally too good for all but their top four rivals. Probably same again this time. Utd were marginally more consistent, especially when van Gaal chanced upon his best team resulting in key wins over Liverpool (a) and City (h) in a winning run at a crucial time. Surely Utd will get better given the quality in the squad (which may be added to further),once players settle in. Spurs were next best, but you had a few too many defensive lapses and/or had a lack of firepower when Kane and Eriksen didn't contribute. No signs of anything changing yet, but it's very early days so who knows? But to get top four you will have to better at least one of the above and Liverpool. Is that realistic?
Top four? No, but it never did. Above Liverpool? Yes. So far it’s Swansea that looks like the fifth best team.
Who do you think we should hire if we sack Pochettino? I’d rather have a non-systematic coach myself, but don’t think there’s much chance we’d see one.
Last season there were a few commented saying Eriksen and Lamela couldn't play in the same team - but on the evidence of this season, it's Lamela and Chadli who shouldn't be in the same team, as both of them have the same weakness to their game, namely when the team don't have the ball, or are being made to work for every yard, they go missing. One player in the starting xi going missing in those circumstances is poor, but two is doing the opponents' task for them. A more sensible approach would be something like this: If Chadli starts, N'Jie or Carroll should be on the opposite flank If Lamela starts, Pritchard or Townsend should be on the opposite flank Doing this also gives us more tactical options from the bench.
A) Cos we would be on our 4th manager since Redknapp if we sack him...in 3 years...and that will be a very unfunny joke. B) Cos we must show some faith in a manager so he can build his team...a year is not long enough to judge in my opinion. C) Cos it is not his fault that the club embarked on ridiculous post and pre season tours which seem to have left us looking unprepared. D) Cos it is not his fault that we wait too long to buy players we need...that has happened for 3 out of the last 5 years...costing us points at the beginning of the season. E) Cos Rome weren't built in a day...if Keith Burkinshaw had been around today he'd never have given us the great teams from Aug 1980 to May 1984, which laid the basis for the successes and great football we watched through to 1991. F) Cos we will simply waste another 2 yrs and god knows how much money, ditching these players and replacing them with a new managers choice.
It was crap today. Not one midfielder seemed capable of or willing to get the ball off the CBs facing their own goal, turn and play the ball forward. Mason has a good range on him but he seemed unwilling to take the ball under pressure and make something happen. Stambouli, for all that he was never a world beater, would at least be willing to get the ball in tight situations and try to move it forwards. The lack of quality movement off the ball today was appalling. The coaches and players need to have a long look at what they're doing before the next game because whatever they think it is, it isn't working in any sense of the word. It feels like we've regressed from last year already. We don't rely on Eriksen this much do we? But it runs deeper than the lack of our Dane today I fear.
We’ve had the better chances in in either 2/3 or 3/3 games this year. Stoke may have had about as many, not more.
Keep Pochettino for as long as you (other fans want) but he isn't up to the job and you wouldn't be making the same excuses for the manager if Sherwood was here, why? because you never liked the guy.
Who do you think we should we hire if we sack Pochettino? I tend to think it’s six of one, half dozen of another, so the less sacking you do the better. That’s why I haven’t been in favor of sacking anybody, including Sherwood.
I have nothing against sherwood...never did...the only manager i ever agreed with sacking was AVB. So i have no idea why you say that instead of discussing my views...thought that's what we did on here
I'm not saying we should sack Pochettino today, merely pointing out that Sherwood wouldn't be allowed the same leniency if manager and Sherwood never received much praise for the way he had faith in Bentaleb (he got slated at the time) AND the points tally he achieved after the hammering at Chelsea and apparently the players not wanting to play for him. Being realistic I don't expect Pochettino to be gone this year, I would be surprised if he isn't here until next season, unless he truly ****s up.
Wasn't attempting to single you out, more you was posting during the discussion, but I remember the stick Sherwood received and the cheap shots made, so I won't single you out yet most fans did have an issue with Sherwood and his management.
I've defended Lamela to the hilt on here but today, essentially the last game before the window shuts, really was his 'time' to show he's got what it takes to kick on from gradual (though insufficient I'll admit) improvement last season. The 'he didn't have a pre-season' excuse washes pretty thin as we're playing an identical system with more or less the same players. Toby was the only player out there today who Lamela probably doesn't know too well. Any offer north of £15m should be accepted without a moment's hesitation as far as I'm concerned. Turning on the manager is utterly pointless; there isn't a manager out there who could make the top 4 with a team completely devoid of pace and leadership...the latter being a far graver point of concern because while we actually have pace in abundance throughout the squad, there isn't a single player who you'd trust to scream at 10 kids to stop getting so excited about scoring a goal and focus on the bloody game for 10 minutes. The only positive about today was once again seeing the youngsters given a chance to impress. Where is Pritchard out of interest? Would love to see him step in when Eriksen is out. Dembele offers nothing in the final third.
A cunning ploy to lull the opposition into thinking we have no creative ideas! When in fact, er...we have, er...no creative ideas! So, why are we ****ing around with players who clearly have failed, or don't fit the current manager's vision? Put the "kids" on and let's go for it!...
Sherwood did **** loads better than AVB and his style of football was enjoyable. I have no idea about losing the dressing room ... thought his comments after chelsea loss were fair enough but was confused about reports of him falling out with Lloris as that made little to no sense as he was a good performer for us. My major criticism of sherwood was the bollocks he spouted about his 59% win ratio and if he'd have been manager with that points per game ratio for the whole season that we'd have come 4th. With his cup games his win rate drops to 50% ... which was the same as MPs last season...ignoring cup matches in his stats is dishonest in my view. And if he'd been in charge for a season with the same points per game ratio we'd have come 5th. My honest view is we need to have some patience...without it we'd never have had that great 80s team
Agreed. We have 'indulged' too many players for too long with an exceptionally poor ROI. I would place Dembele, Lamela, possibly even Vertonghen at the top of that list. If Fazio's move to WBA goes ahead, that will mean we've sold on 6 players within 2 years of them signing for the club. That is an appalling indictment of our recruitment policy. Right now the only aspect of the club that gives this whole thing a silver lining is the consistent success of the Academy over the past few years. I'm in full agreement - we don't have any leaders or inspirational figures amongst the 'experienced' players anyway. Let the kids go out there and show what they can do.
I understand what you're saying, mate, and if I could see some plan - some hint of forward progress, I'd agree. But, at the moment, I can't. Don't get me wrong, I really hope I'm mistaken. I'm just waiting for M.P. To prove me wrong.
