tell us what you know LLM

Solid 7

Positives - playing good attacking football, hardly any injuries so the fitness coaching levels are spot on, His faith in Kane, Bentaleb and Rose all have made excellent progress this season. Some very good performances against the big boys.

Negatives - What is happening on the training pitch concerning defensive work ?? !!

Lack of plan B

Im hoping its true that Poch will have a big say on who we buy and sell in the summer. I like Poch's philosophies and if he can get the players to suit his system then we can expect a better next season.

I'd give Poch 7.5 / 10. There have been games when we have been exceptional, with probably the best performance being home to Arsenal but we have rarely shown that level of pressing and energy.

I'd say a lot of the failings this year are down to personnel. For a better defence we need a better defensive shield in front. We seem to lose a lot of second ball and at times there is way too much space between the back 4 and the midfield and the opposition fill that space and pick up second ball.

I'd also say that our back four is too soft, we need some more physicality in there, to put their head where it hurts.

The formation appears rigid because we have little variation, especially out wide Chadli or Eriksen out left, Lamela or Townsend out right. Only Eriksen has been a true success and he is better centrally. Chadli does score but often contributes little in games. None have real pace, except for Townsend who is still a bit headless.

I do not understand why the likes of Dembele do not see more action, no doubt he'll want out this summer, seeking regular football but our best form this season coincided with him in the CM in a more attacking role. I am baffled when Paulinho starts or comes on ahead of Demeble, even though Paulinho has shown decent glimpses at times this season.

Overall we lack some real quality....if you look at Arsenal, they can start with Ozil Ramsey, Cazorla, Sanchez Giroud and still have Wellbeck, the Ox and Walcott as options, and will probably add to this in the summer.....while lacking a truly great striker. We have nothing like these options but if we are to break that top 4 we need these range and quality options. We need more quality on the pitch and much better options & variation from the bench....you cannot blame Poch for this when our options are Ade, Soldado, Townsend, Paulinho. No game changers there.

It will be a telling summer. Poch must get in his targets and I would like to see a DM, more creativity in CM, pace and goals from wide, a physical and fast option up front.

For a DM I think Stambouli will look to fill that gap next season... IMO he hasn't played much as he missed all of Poch preseason and never looked fit enough in any of the games to keep up with the intensity.

See him do a lot of fitness work before matches even when he's not been included in the squad.

Hopefully with a Full preseason he might work out after all.

comment by White Hengy Lane (U9129)
posted 1 minute ago
For a DM I think Stambouli will look to fill that gap next season... IMO he hasn't played much as he missed all of Poch preseason and never looked fit enough in any of the games to keep up with the intensity.

See him do a lot of fitness work before matches even when he's not been included in the squad.

Hopefully with a Full preseason he might work out after all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
interesting.

stambouli is the only senior player that hasn't really been given a proper shot this year.

no one else can really complain about not having been given a chance.

to me stambouli's style suits poch's system...

whether or not he is good enough is up for debate. jury still very much out.

comment by Chronic - 100% behind Poch (U3423)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by White Hengy Lane (U9129)
posted 1 minute ago
For a DM I think Stambouli will look to fill that gap next season... IMO he hasn't played much as he missed all of Poch preseason and never looked fit enough in any of the games to keep up with the intensity.

See him do a lot of fitness work before matches even when he's not been included in the squad.

Hopefully with a Full preseason he might work out after all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
interesting.

stambouli is the only senior player that hasn't really been given a proper shot this year.

no one else can really complain about not having been given a chance.

to me stambouli's style suits poch's system...

whether or not he is good enough is up for debate. jury still very much out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agree mate.

If reports are true Poch chose him then possibly he wanted to get him fit before throwing him in which explains why he's not really had a chance.

but then have to ask yourself why it has taken him so long to get fit?

comment by Chronic - 100% behind Poch (U3423)
posted 9 minutes ago
but then have to ask yourself why it has taken him so long to get fit?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yea good question, would assume it only take a few months maximum to get very fit.

Chronic

4 out of 10 at best. Big disappointment, hardly an upgrade on Sherwood if the truth be told. I had high hopes for him as well.

comment by sandy brown (U20258)
posted 18 minutes ago
Chronic

4 out of 10 at best. Big disappointment, hardly an upgrade on Sherwood if the truth be told. I had high hopes for him as well.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

sandy you confuse me. I would have thought that our older posters would be advocating giving managers more than one season before labelling them disappointments..... correct me if im wrong, but weren't burkinshaws first couple of seasons poor ?

was he a big disappointment too?

poch has performed at par, unless you thought we were gonna get top 4 at start of season sandy?

I think anything below a 5 is harsh tbh

League position is where we should be around and a cup final is pretty decent.

Had probably out two best games in about 2/3 seasons in the 5-3 Chelsea and 2-1 arsenal wins.

Yes there's been some dire games too ( west brom home ) but it's a very much work in process.

I hope levy and co put faith in Poch and have learnt we can't carry on this sack the manager culture of they have a bad batch.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by Galvation lies within.. (U10415)
posted 1 minute ago
Like I said earlier.........the cons you've mentioned....are they fixable? Will he learn?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Everything is fixable but will he learn they need fixing we shall find out

comment by Galvation lies within.. (U10415)
posted 1 minute ago
Like I said earlier.........the cons you've mentioned....are they fixable? Will he learn?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't know.

on one hand, poch is young and still developing as a manager at this level, but on the other hand, there were some weird decisions made.

room for improvement

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by Galvation lies within.. (U10415)
posted 11 seconds ago
They all seem borne out of stubbornness no?

----------------------------------------------------------------------
or inflexibility ....

poch shoulders most of the blame.. but hopefully his backroom team is pointing it out to him too

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

I reckon Poch is getting MINIMUM 3 seasons unless it goes all wrong.

penny has finally dropped with levy I think.

plus, levy needs a man who will give young players and academy players a chance as we build stadium.

6\10 we have not really improved and will return a lower points tally than last season. An easy run to a cup final that we almost facked up and poor showings in EL and FA Cup.

We can not really judge Poch until he gets the players he wants, whether Levy will go and get them is anybody`s guess, but I do not see the point of appointing a coach and forcing him to work with unsuitable players.

The lack of a plan B is a worry, the top coaches can adapt their tactics etc to get the best out of their squad, Poch hasn`t and has done no better (if not slightly worse) than Sherwood.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

6 but I think Spurs are going to be a lot better next season now that he more than likely knows which players he wants to get rid of and where he wants to improve.

Chronic - 100% behind Poch

sandy you confuse me. I would have thought that our older posters would be advocating giving managers more than one season before labelling them disappointments..... correct me if im wrong, but weren't burkinshaws first couple of seasons poor ?




Big difference, Burkinshaw took over a team that was flirting with relegation, managed to steady the ship, and get the club back in the top flight at the first attempt and won three major trophies, including a European trophy.

Poch has taken over a team that were top six in the prem, very stable, and has not been able to build thus far on what he had. Not saying get rid of, just saying he should have done much better.

Dropping home points to West Ham, Palace, WBA, Villa etc hardly fills me with confidence the team is moving forward.

6.5. Had lots of baggage to cope with

Sandy

Do you think we should be finishing above Chelsea, City, Utd & Arsenal?

All much bigger teams with huge revenues of money coming in compared to us.

6.5 from me, fairly solid nothing spectacular, bit of a work in progress. Needs another season or tow to show what he could do Spurs.