Bedfordspurs
Mark Falco
I thought it was pretty public knowledge that VW wanted to stay in the UK for passport reasons?
Not heard that before
I thought it was pretty public knowledge that VW wanted to stay in the UK for passport reasons?
Not heard that before
Allow me to try and offer an explanation.
Perhaps -given that he developed most of these players into the players they became, given that he moulded this squad- he has been bamboozled by their subsequent inability to perform at even a perfunctory level since the close of the window. Let's face it, if they even went at average it would be enough for top 4 this season. The fact that some are playing like an absolute gaggle of clams is probably both bewildering and painful for him to accept.
I would suggest that he might be wrapping his head around all of that. And that hopefully he can get to grips with it quickly and fudge the likes of Alderweireld and Eriksen off.
I will be the first to apologize of those specific players prove me wrong this season. I hope they make a mug of me. I am not holding my breath. And if they did it for a new manager and not Poch, I'd be even more disgusted than I currently am.
Allow me to try and offer an explanation.
Perhaps -given that he developed most of these players into the players they became, given that he moulded this squad- he has been bamboozled by their subsequent inability to perform at even a perfunctory level since the close of the window. Let's face it, if they even went at average it would be enough for top 4 this season. The fact that some are playing like an absolute gaggle of clams is probably both bewildering and painful for him to accept.
I would suggest that he might be wrapping his head around all of that. And that hopefully he can get to grips with it quickly and fudge the likes of Alderweireld and Eriksen off.
I will be the first to apologize of those specific players prove me wrong this season. I hope they make a mug of me. I am not holding my breath. And if they did it for a new manager and not Poch, I'd be even more disgusted than I currently am.
So lets accept your premise for a minute
- This group being below average hasn't been overnight, it would be quite damning on Poch if he is now surprised and trying to get his head around it.
- I could easily see this group challenging for the title with a different manager, it's called motivation, it's also different techniques of training/coaching get different results, perhaps all there is to Poch (like Bielsa) is fitness and outrunning the opposition which may have simply physically/mentally fatigued the squad out.
There are two red flags with me with Poch right now beyond what seems like a lack of personal commitment and ownership on his part
- He hasn't improved the players beyond a certain point (peak was almost 2 years ago), Eriksen, Kane, Dele, Lamela haven't pushed on
- His disconnection seems all with senior/experienced players (Rose, Toby, Jan, Eriksen), you cannot coach at the top level if you can't motivate players in their prime (these are your game winners)
I think the players are lacking in self belief and the CL final did us no good. It's almost as if they've given up on being able to win something after that defeat. And I don't think Poch is the kind of manager that can give that to them. But get in a player like Davids and combined with Poch they can take us to the next level. Or if you're going to bring in a new manager, make it Simeone, or, dare I say, Dyche. Proper fire and brimstone guys.
Agree, these are my concerns too mate, but at the same time this is the first time he is encountering a new transition, and Lo Celso and Sess havent had a proper opportunity yet to help him transition the squad, and if N'Dombele is a sign of the new team taking shape then things will start to look up when other new recruits are up to speed.So lets accept your premise for a minute
- This group being below average hasn't been overnight, it would be quite damning on Poch if he is now surprised and trying to get his head around it.
- I could easily see this group challenging for the title with a different manager, it's called motivation, it's also different techniques of training/coaching get different results, perhaps all there is to Poch (like Bielsa) is fitness and outrunning the opposition which may have simply physically/mentally fatigued the squad out.
There are two red flags with me with Poch right now beyond what seems like a lack of personal commitment and ownership on his part
- He hasn't improved the players beyond a certain point (peak was almost 2 years ago), Eriksen, Kane, Dele, Lamela haven't pushed on
- His disconnection seems all with senior/experienced players (Rose, Toby, Jan, Eriksen), you cannot coach at the top level if you can't motivate players in their prime (these are your game winners)
Agree, these are my concerns too mate, but at the same time this is the first time he is encountering a new transition, and Lo Celso and Sess havent had a proper opportunity yet to help him transition the squad, and if N'Dombele is a sign of the new team taking shape then things will start to look up when other new recruits are up to speed.
Basically, I think we should wait and see over this season and see if we begin to get a picture of where the team are going with the new team playing together and even if it is a season of pain, if it looks like a new team is emerging ready to develop for the next season Im happy to wait and not write off Poch too soon - the grass isnt always greener....
Yep, and I think this is what the whole conversation is now, do we give time or not (and by we .. I mean Levy)
If I was a betting man, he has 3 games, bad result in CL and a hammering by Pool (which unfortunately are realistic results) in those 3 would be the end.
I made this point the other day, possibly in this thread.
We play Liverpool on a Sunday, and our next game is the following Sunday, at which point our run of games through November are really quite favourable (December gets tricky).
So I figure next 3 games...
...Go well, and we compete against Liverpool, then Poch gets that cushy run to build momentum
...Go badly, and we look like brick, then Poch probably goes - and its an ideal run of games for a new manager to bed in
A win in the league, a draw in CL and anything other than a hammering against Liverpool and I think we will be fine.
Nobody at the moment is expecting to go to anfield and get much, they have too much momentum and luck.
That will be four of our toughest league games out the way, more than anyone else I can think of in the league.
I think there has to be a period where he has La Celso and Sess fit to choose from (and NDom more up to speed) so he can change it up and the period you suggest is a bit short.I made this point the other day, possibly in this thread.
We play Liverpool on a Sunday, and our next game is the following Sunday, at which point our run of games through November are really quite favourable (December gets tricky).
So I figure next 3 games...
...Go well, and we compete against Liverpool, then Poch gets that cushy run to build momentum
...Go badly, and we look like brick, then Poch probably goes - and its an ideal run of games for a new manager to bed in
.
I think there has to be a period where he has La Celso and Sess fit to choose from (and NDom more up to speed) so he can change it up and the period you suggest is a bit short.
He can make some changes and maybe look at formations but to see real forward progress he needs the new boys available. They really are the first steps in the transition and to sack him before we witness any idea of what that looks like seems a bit pointless. You may as well just do it now.
Thats why I was very specific in saying we compete with Liverpool. The result is secondary in that one, to a point, its about how we play.
Play well, narrow defeat - considering their form - not a bad sign.
Get absolutely smashed and outplayed - probably the final straw.
Hope he's not judged on one game.
Hope he's not judged on one game.
Thats not what Im saying, at all.
Rather - thatll be the final straw.
IF things continue to decline, how long to you let that go?
And that Liverpool game is not only a very valid test of where we are - it also marks a very good point to make a decision.
What @nayimfromthehalfwayline is saying is
- Based on where we are (not 1 game)
- Based on the noise/pressure already
- Lets say we win (1 goal margin) against Watford, we lose the CL game (massive monetary impact), and get smashed against Pool.
You will be 10 games in, probably negative GD, CL by a thread, same number of losses as wins in PL and mid table, case for sticking with Poch will be very hard to justify.
I disagree on a good point to make decision.
Context is everything here, Liverpool is probably the toughest place in Europe to go to at the moment.
Let's say we smash Watford,(we did it to Palace) sneak a win against salzburg (not unlikely) and draw at Liverpool (unlikely but we managed it at city).
Ifs and buts and sll that but at the moment neither scenario is as likely as the other.
At this moment in time we don't know what's happening, what's at the root of our malaise.
All I'm advocating is we wait and see what happens.
From what I can see other than a few dubious press reports there's not been one single mutter from the players or the club about the manager.
I think this is Gingerism. I think he’d do a better job than Silva at EvertonSean Dyche would be a disaster. Doing a great job where he is but Burnley is the limit of his ability.