I've been a bit grumpy due to man-flu and last night's performance/result. I'm not 100% convinced that Pochettino is doing a good job just now, because I think the squad is capable of better performances. Unfortunately, Pochettino is a 'system manager' in that he plays 'a system' that needs a particular style or type of player to be successful. He's not as stubborn as AVB in terms of his formation, but there are general elements of his style that he does not waiver from and for which the squad isn't entirely suited.
I am HOPING that we have a meeting of minds for once. My worry is that Levy brought in Pochettino with the belief that he will work with what we have and in particular work with the 'not-so-magnificent-7' and improve them.
What Poch really needs to be successful is a radical overhaul of the squad. If he gets backed in this regard, it will be interesting to see if he will create a successful, attractive team.
I can sum up the constants in Pochettino's system:
*high-intensity press all over the pitch;
*move the ball forward quickly in the transition;
*always plays two forwards, the only change is that depending on the game, one might drop back into the hole or be right up alongside the main forward;
*favours attacking full-backs for width rather than traditional wingers;
Looking at the squad, I think I can assess it as follows in relation to being able to work in Poch's system:
Lloris - perfect for the system
Vorm - perfect for the system
Walker - perfect for the system
Yedlin - perfect for the system
Naughton - looks a good fit as back-up but with yedlin's arrival i'd imagine he'll be surplus to requirements
Rose - perfect for the system
Davies - this is a weird one in terms of us buying him as the difference to Poch's system working with Rose in the team is staggering. I just don't think Davies offers enough on the over-lap or in terms of bombing up and down to suit Poch's system or make it work. I find this extraordinary given he is a new signing and it is another example of the stunning incompetence of the club's recent transfer activity. If he wasn't brand new i'd be saying bin him, but we will probably have to give him the chance to show what he can do
Assou-Ekotto - personally, I think he'd be better suited to the back-up to Rose role, but he appears to be exiled from the club at the minute so I expect him to go
Personally, I think we could do with an attacking left-back more in the Rose-mould as back-up.
Kaboul - makes too many mistakes for someone that plays in a high-press system and doesn't release the ball forward or early enough
Vertonghen - in theory well suited to the system and seems to be getting better under Poch, we will see
Fazio - seems to be a Poch pick and after a shaky start, appears to be forming a solid looking partnership with Vertonghen - hopefully
Dier - in theory should do well in the system at CB, good passer of the ball, good on the ball, plays the ball early and forward
Chiriches - in theory should be good in the system, but not convinced he is seen as a good enough defender, makes too many mistakes for a high press system to work
I'd say we need at least one more CB and to get rid of Chiriches and Kaboul
Dembele - doesn't release the ball early enough
Paulinho - isn't aggressive enough, mobile enough or comfortable releasing the ball early
Capoue - releases the ball early, but doesn't have enough self-confidence to release it forward into dangerous positions, which is key to making Poch's tactics work. Also not mobile enough to cover the ground needed in the press
Stambouli - of the 'senior' (over 24 yr old) players he looks most suitable for the system, although he hasnt played in the Premiership yet and i'd suggest he's more a back-up long-term in terms of quality
Bentaleb - looks perfect for the system
Mason - looks well suited to the system
I think central midfield actually needs the greatest amount of attention. Other than Bentaleb and Mason the players don't look 100% suited to making Pochettino's tactics work. They're both inexperienced and could do with at least one senior player to help out in this area. The return of Carroll could provide another body next season, if we feel he's developed to the required standard while at Swansea.
Lennon - okay he is a traditional winger, but because of his intelligence and close control, he has looked good in Poch's system. However I think Walker's return could change/hamper him, although I believe he can adapt and play a different role that would work in Poch's system. Bizarrely, he was played through the middle a lot in pre-season and even more bizarrely, this seemed to be pretty effective, although it was just pre-season
Townsend - similar to others in the squad, just does not release the ball early enough for me to be successful in this system
Lamela - I think he should work, he presses well and aggressively, has lots of stamina, technique and does try the early pass quite regularly. Just not coming off for him but the ingredients are there to be successful in this system
Eriksen - seems perfect for the system really, although he is a quality player with a great attitude and they're prefect for any system 2bf
I do think we need to invest in at least one wide-forward
In terms of the 'shadow' or secondary forward, I think both Chadli and Kane look very capable in this role and potentially this will be Lamela's long-term role if he stays at Spurs too so I think we look well-stocked here
In terms of the centre-forward role, I think along with central midfield this needs the greatest work as 2bh we are being royally let down by our lack of any effective centre-forward.
We should have murdered Besiktas in the first half last night but in the end we lost and while you can point to Kaboul's brainfart leading to their goal, at the end of the day, it shouldnt have made a difference and I lay the blame last night squarely on Soldado's shoulders.
It wasn't just the sitters he was missing, it was the fact that with Rose & Walker in the side, we were putting in a lot of dangerous balls and crosses from wide areas, but there was nobody getting on the end of them. I'm thinking "where the f*** is Soldado?" Time and again he was fannying about on the edge of the box while Rose or Walker smacked in a dangerous ball to nobody. Also, Townsend put in a couple of actually quite dangerous free-kicks, bent right into the danger area. Again, an in-form quality foward would be at least throwing himself at the ball and making a nuisance of himself.
In terms of the squad by position its kind of looking like:
..............................LLORIS
...............................Vorm
WALKER..........FAZIO........VERTONGHEN.........ROSE
Yedlin............???????.............Dier................??????
...................BENTALEB.......??????????
.....................???????...........Mason
LENNON.................................................ERIKSEN
Lamela....................KANE........................???????
.............................Chadli
.............................???????
.............................???????
