There has been a lot of talk on here about the perception that Pochettino has under achieved with this squad and that some are saying that we should be winning titles and that under a different manager we would do so, even getting to the point that a number of Poch Out posts are appearing.
I infact posted a article in the pre-season were I asked would people prefer to stay with Poch or change to a new experienced manager with a winning mentality and may win something.
I dont profess to being a expert at the tactical side of football but have watched a bit for about the same time as Sandy, but at the start of the season after the transfer window closed I spent a considerable time looking at the squads of the top teams as you do and came to the conclusion that City, L,pool, Man u and Chelsea had more better quality players than we did therefore coming to the conclusion that we would struggle to make Top 4 but for the fact that chelsea had issues earlier in the season and 'Maureen' at Utd Im sure this would have been evident earlier in the season, so in my opinion we have over achieved but probably will end up on par ie outside the 4.
We have been very lucky on the transfer front in that we have managed to develop a few of our academy players and added Delle too which has disguised our lack of real transfer business but this is now becoming a major issue and could be too late to save the bulk of this team, Levy probably thinks this can continue but we will continue to fall behind the leading pack if we do.
Expectations
posted on 10/3/19
There is no way this Spurs team can continue to compete for top four and Champions League without bringing in top talent, and paying the competitive wages to do so.
Currently we are losing to relegation bound teams.
Just because our manager deems some of our top defenders need a rest.
Actually Pochettino accused the players of arrogance, but it may be likely that it was Pochettino that was arrogant.
If you look ahead to next season, considering this season already over, the team will need at least 5 new players, assuming nobody (like Kane or Dele Alli or Son) decides to leave.
Is Levy up to it?
Will Pochettino leave?
Can we win the Champions League?
Don't hold you breath!
posted on 10/3/19
For most of the last 2 years, I was told no Arsenal player would start for Tottenham (Alexis was about the last Arsenal player most of you would have had in such a composite team). Kane's £200m valuation alone is probably more than the entirety of any matchday roster of Arsenal.
I'd say there are like 6 positions where you have a strong side, but you've regressed in areas like CM and your fullbacks aren't as good as the Walker/Rose days.
For sure, if you miss out on CL footy this season (which you took for granted as a certainty, but is suddenly looking competitive), adding real quality to your squad, while keeping your top players will be difficult.
posted on 10/3/19
There has to be a more than decent chance that Conte or Allegri gets the RM job. Both proven winners, unlike Poch. If Poch stays, even for another season, that probably secures Kane for a bit longer too. With the new stadium that gives this current Spurs core one last chance to win something, but only if Levy backs Poch pretty big in the Summer.
This is probably the best scenario we could imagine. Or is there a chance that Poch goes and we could get a winning Manager like Conte?
posted on 10/3/19
Or is there a chance that Poch goes and we could get a winning Manager like Conte?
------
He fell out with everyone at Juve and Chelsea because he didn't get his own way in the transfer market. Chances of him working for Levy are slim.
posted on 10/3/19
There is one chance this season, and that is the Champions League. So far its Porto, Ajax, ManU, and Spurs, with likely Atletico, ManCity, Barca and Bayern.
Ajax are a surprise team, and shocked RealMadrid at the Bernabeu.
It would be good luck if Spurs draw Porto next.
I think Spurs at full strength have a chance against any of these teams. But our weakness at full backs will probably be our undoing.
posted on 11/3/19
Dave & Danny. Poch has vastly underachieved with the squad. Sure he has got the top three finishes, but worse teams over the same period have won trophies. He should have at least one trophy on his CV, after five years in charge of this very talented bunch of players, even if it was only a league cup.
His time is up in my book.
posted on 11/3/19
Good article which, typically, gets little comment because it isnt a WUM
We have to be realistic, we have probably hit the ceiling with this squad.
There is always merit in continuity but there is also a slight sense of stagnation as well as being 'figured-out'.
Spurs play a patient game. We are usually calm, dont panic and get results in the end. This is not a bad strategy. This should work fine vs 14 of the 20 teams but there will always been the occasional slip. A controlling patient approach in the big games is also the percentage way of doing things.
Where we have lacked IMO is the killer instinct and the ability to ramp up our style to offensively aggressive levels. Saints was a perfect example....very poor first half by them but we were happy to patiently pass it around and probe. We missed a few chances (lacking killer instinct) but should have gone harder at them (not aggressive enough). Half time comes and they obviously get a rocked from their manager and come out a different side.....while we're stuck in cruise-control and find it hard pick it up from there.
So, although we probably are 5th in terms of squad quality, Poch is not blameless in all this. We are constantly improving and evolving but i do not like the way that we have gone from aggressive pressing to more open and casual. I don't like how we seem to lack the in-game intelligence to know when to go for the jugular - We could have put that saints game to bed by HT.
To me it all smacks a bit of stagnation and that is not Poch's fault. We need fresh legs to add quality to the side but to also wake up some who seem to be in a comfort zone.
posted on 11/3/19
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 11/3/19
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 18 minutes ago
Good article which, typically, gets little comment because it isnt a WUM
We have to be realistic, we have probably hit the ceiling with this squad.
There is always merit in continuity but there is also a slight sense of stagnation as well as being 'figured-out'.
Spurs play a patient game. We are usually calm, dont panic and get results in the end. This is not a bad strategy. This should work fine vs 14 of the 20 teams but there will always been the occasional slip. A controlling patient approach in the big games is also the percentage way of doing things.
Where we have lacked IMO is the killer instinct and the ability to ramp up our style to offensively aggressive levels. Saints was a perfect example....very poor first half by them but we were happy to patiently pass it around and probe. We missed a few chances (lacking killer instinct) but should have gone harder at them (not aggressive enough). Half time comes and they obviously get a rocked from their manager and come out a different side.....while we're stuck in cruise-control and find it hard pick it up from there.
So, although we probably are 5th in terms of squad quality, Poch is not blameless in all this. We are constantly improving and evolving but i do not like the way that we have gone from aggressive pressing to more open and casual. I don't like how we seem to lack the in-game intelligence to know when to go for the jugular - We could have put that saints game to bed by HT.
To me it all smacks a bit of stagnation and that is not Poch's fault. We need fresh legs to add quality to the side but to also wake up some who seem to be in a comfort zone.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
stagnation is exactly right, we seem to be going though the motions there is no competition for places the squad needs a overhaul input of fresh quality players, there have been quality young english players on the market in the last few seasons but no indication that Spurs were in any way interested in buying which is also very frustrating
posted on 11/3/19
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 43 minutes ago
Dave & Danny. Poch has vastly underachieved with the squad. Sure he has got the top three finishes, but worse teams over the same period have won trophies. He should have at least one trophy on his CV, after five years in charge of this very talented bunch of players, even if it was only a league cup.
His time is up in my book.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy I have said that Poch is not the man to lead us forward but Levy is the main reason this squad now is not good enough, needs a major transfusion of new blood we are stagnating in fact probably going backwards compared to other squads around us