You're seeing a small group of players who have played an abnormal amount of football over the past four seasons, two of which were without a home-base, two of which have not seen the incomings the manager wanted versus the outgoings. I know, old circles but ones which cannot be ignored IMO.
I think you're ignoring the whole concept of Poch's front four, how they worked with great full-backs. That front four were always designed to rotate, shift and drop at will, supplemented by the buccaneering FBs and the solid deep CM platform. Dier has been injured beyond reason, Wanyama did his knee and that was the end of him, Moussa was always needing careful management and in the end knackered out for this league. I think to write off what Pochettino built as simply about "outrunning opponents" is really disrespectful IMO. He did what Liverpool are doing now. Where he ran out of luck is he was simply not supported, due to a variety of reasons not the least of which was the stadium.
The team spirit returns when you turf out those who don't want to be here. Simple.
I think your line "the cause doesn't interest me as much, the solution is more important" once again exemplifies why you are one side of this fence and I am on the other. Call me old-fashioned (or any number of things you doubtless will!) I don't understand how you can ignore the cause if you want to find the solution. Your method appears to me to simply direct itself at the appointed figurehead(s). Is Poch paid 8 million to be that figurehead/spacegoat for everything? I suppose that's a case of opinion isn't it. Not for me.
I think ironically, we may yet end up missing out on top 4 but winning the FA Cup. Ha, what a test of opinions around here the would be!!!!!
Allegri spent 280 million quid on Juve. Mourinho spent what, over 300 mill and was STILL whinging he didn't get enough. Do you really think Levy is going to spend that money? You're obviously into business/bottom lines and what-not. You surely recognize that Levy and ENIC are NEVER going to spend money like that. And if you're now on the Nagelsmann bandwagon, what are you basing the on? Do you seriously, and I mean seriously, trust a 32 year old up and comer to take this project on? Are you going to give him a few years to make it work, to work things out? I have to say I am skeptical.
Pochettino told everyone what would happen if things didn't shift.
"We know what we want to do with this club, it's whether we get the time to do it." THAT'S what Pochettino said post-Sheff.Utd.
I am not blind to his faults. He has made some big mistakes, especially with subs, and Aurier should never fudging wear our shirt again (should have been binned post-Bayern). He trust Eriksen a little too much for my liking, I wish he'd get a new coach to help refresh things inside and I wish he'd get a veteran in on board short term in January. He needs to get tough on the contract mob. More than anything, I wish he could project a little more positivity. He has work to do.
But I remain clear in MY mind that Pochettino is the man who can work within those parameters and build a mkII. If we sack him, I will watch him do it elsewhere, try hard not to be bitter and hope with positivity and optimism that things go upwards...You know what I think should happen, you've made it very clear in another thread how low you hold that opinion, so once again we disagree. I would say "agree to disagree" but somehow I cannot see this debate/discussion/whatever the fudge it is, ending until something definitive happens with regards to Poch either staying or going.
p.s. once again, we have a 2 week break where we are praying for no injuries and Poch has next to no time to work with the squad before WHU.
