boo
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
yeah, sorry for being a wuss mate. If it's any consolation I'm drinking Yebisu : )
Ted the Yid
Moderator
Founding Member
boo
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Well that didnt exactly go to plan then eh? Mind, showed some gonads towards the end there which was encouraging. COYS!
Dorset
The Voice Of Reason
Founding Member
Hi ya boolicious geezer.
I think that first half show how luck can play a big part. We could have had 5, they could have had 2 (and did have gone and got 2). The first game in front of 87,000 is going to be tough, the emotions that you normal folks have will be running high, the Monicas will be more than motivated. Toby's great goal came at exactly the right time and I reckon we are on track to win this now, luckily I don't think there's any away goals doom and gloom in the group stage so 3 points is the target and that is well within our grasp.
Look at the farking bench the Poch has to chose from, strong as fuck! Relax chums, we've got this!
boo
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Here's hoping mate! It's shaping up to be proper bum clenching for this second half lol. You know what though? I don't think I care 'that' much aboot the result. We're in the Champions League, that's something to enjoy regardless. Mind, I'm feeling pretty drunk now on my fifth Yebisu, coming up to 24 hours awake so it's fluffy boo time heh : )
Good to quote you again mate though. Been too long my good friend! COYS!!!!!!!
Yid
Moderator
Founding Member
Gutted with the result..... performance has me buzzing.
We battered them for the majority of the gam!e created tones and tones of chances, looked like our workrate was much better, and the creativity was also showing glimmers of a resurgence.
They took their 2 and only fucking real chances well and then did their best to mop up our consistent pressure.
Ohhhhhhhhh and the Mooooooooose..... fuck he is a player and literally changes the way we move forward with impetus. He charges at the oposition eating up ground so quickly and efficiently that teams are unable to compensate for him.
It's coming slowly this year..... but I can see it now.
We battered them for the majority of the gam!e created tones and tones of chances, looked like our workrate was much better, and the creativity was also showing glimmers of a resurgence.
They took their 2 and only fucking real chances well and then did their best to mop up our consistent pressure.
Ohhhhhhhhh and the Mooooooooose..... fuck he is a player and literally changes the way we move forward with impetus. He charges at the oposition eating up ground so quickly and efficiently that teams are unable to compensate for him.
It's coming slowly this year..... but I can see it now.
Ted the Yid
Moderator
Founding Member
Not sure how we ended up losing that one, not seen any replays as I'm still trying to get home but it looked like we gifted them 2 goals and other then that we were the better team, especially the 2nd half. A bit sloppy at times though.
Kane is not at his sharpest right now, if not against Sunderland certainly the Gillingham game I thinks that it would be good to give Janssen a decent 90 minutes.
Dembele was awesome and was impressed with Sissoko.
I believe we also broke the attendance record?
PS, if you end up going to any of the Wembley games, there is a burger stand on the south side called British gourmet burger - AVOID AVOID AVOID.
Kane is not at his sharpest right now, if not against Sunderland certainly the Gillingham game I thinks that it would be good to give Janssen a decent 90 minutes.
Dembele was awesome and was impressed with Sissoko.
I believe we also broke the attendance record?
PS, if you end up going to any of the Wembley games, there is a burger stand on the south side called British gourmet burger - AVOID AVOID AVOID.
J.spurs
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Agree with everything said here (except the burger part, can't speak to that). I was very disappointed with the result, especially as it was such a massive occasion, but 9/10 times we win that one. Monaco are no mugs, though, was very impressed with them. People are saying on Twitter that Poch got the team/subs wrong, but didn't see it that way myself.
deejbah
Well-Known Member
The first goal was definitely against the run of play. Unfortunately teams will punish those kinds of turnovers although it was certainly a quality strike and maybe Jan didn't read his game prep notes on Silva, showing him the inside. Second goal was just meh. In all, we mostly outplayed them in terms of constructive play even while not playing that great ourselves. They really only had that one chance on the counter which is what they obviously aim to do in most of their games.
One thing I will say is that it was almost tragic how useless Falcao was. His off the ball work was almost non-existent both on attack and defence. It was hilarious when he tried to tackle Dembele.
Also, their left back wins a comedy award for more than once trying to foul one of our players and ending up on the floor twenty metres back from play.
One thing I will say is that it was almost tragic how useless Falcao was. His off the ball work was almost non-existent both on attack and defence. It was hilarious when he tried to tackle Dembele.
Also, their left back wins a comedy award for more than once trying to foul one of our players and ending up on the floor twenty metres back from play.
skiathospurs
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Well that was sad,punished for a couple of errors,dominated without scoring what we needed to overturn the two goals we gave them.I know I had my spurs tinted glasses on before this campaign,but I always suspected we would have trouble at wembley,its not our home,even with 85k yids there its a neutral stadium we are unfamiliar with,and opponents will raise their game from the mere fact they get to play there.Its not an excuse just a fact that it wont help us in the short term.The 2nd half if it was at the Lane,the atmosphere and confidence we have there would have sucked the ball over the line a couple of times,but we have to learn,and I am sure we will.The club,Poch,players need to adapt to life there,and we will.
One another weds night the same match could have seen us score 5,we had that many chances.As disappointing as the result was,we are much the better team,and no reason away at their ground we shouldnt give them the hiding we could have tonight.
Lets hope for reaction from Poch`s post game comments and not a hangover sunday!I am pretty sure we will see a reaction,poor sunderland.
One another weds night the same match could have seen us score 5,we had that many chances.As disappointing as the result was,we are much the better team,and no reason away at their ground we shouldnt give them the hiding we could have tonight.
Lets hope for reaction from Poch`s post game comments and not a hangover sunday!I am pretty sure we will see a reaction,poor sunderland.
Dorset
The Voice Of Reason
Founding Member
I'm not too miffed. Fuck knows how we didn't get 3 or 4 goals last night, I was impressed with Jemerson, without him we would have battered them. into tiny bits No blame needs to be slung - although I suspect that when I have a lurk later there will be plenty of mud slung in the kiddy sandpit know as 'the other place'. I don't think Wembley does us any favours, as @skiathospurs said it its a neutral ground despite the huge number of Yiddos. There was some sweet football being played by our chaps last night, OK, it didn't produce the result we wanted, but if we carry on playing like that then the next 5 CL games should be a different kettle of kippers.
Sissoko looks the very bollocks, as does Janssen, give them a couple of weeks to settle in and Mr Poch will be having nightmares over selection as everybody will be better than everybody else.
Sissoko looks the very bollocks, as does Janssen, give them a couple of weeks to settle in and Mr Poch will be having nightmares over selection as everybody will be better than everybody else.
Dorset
The Voice Of Reason
Founding Member
Team wrong? Subs wrong? That is just stupid innit? Those stupid little FIFA playing children who think they know better than the Poch get on my tits. They are given the right to post their opinions on the Internet and they spread their infected sores that fester and poison the virtual world. They are allowed to vote and look what the stupid cunts do. A culling is needed.
Numpties are worse than zombies, numpties hide in plain sight and pretend to be normal human beings then they start spewing their racist, bigoted poison - then you are like 'oh golly gosh what a turn up for the books' because you thought they were pucker geezers who you'd sup a beer or two with if you were fucking allowed to by the fucking health nazis who say you can't drink more than a glass or two and going to see Spurs at Wembley ain't on the allowed list. Fucking numpties, the only way to kill them is to walk away and start a new community - and then they start following you like zombies seeking to suck out your juicy brains, the cunts.
Fear The Talking Dead!
LakewoodSpur
Member
Founding Member
Agree with you...how we weren't pasting them by 3-4 goals is a mystery. We've got a very strong lineup/bench...I think the rest of the group matches, even the one in Monaco, will be ours all the way.
Liam
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Didn't get to see any of the game last night as had too much going on but from the reports I've read we seemed to be the better team, more possession, more passes, more shots on and of target but sounds like we weren't clinical enough in front of goal and they took the only chances they had. It's the champs league and that can happen. Still another 5 games to though so let's keep the performances up and I'm sure we'll come good.
Don Diaz
Zero tolerance of Numpty's
Founding Member
I haven't seen the game yet, but I'm very encouraged by what I've read on here.
skiathospurs
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
http://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2016/09/14/tottenham-hotspur-vs-monaco-highlights-full-match/3/
Dont look at the other gaff then!!you`d think we were wigan and lost 9-1
Don Diaz
Zero tolerance of Numpty's
Founding Member
I've had a quick lurk, but can't be arsed to mention the bleedin obvious anymore....still haven't seen the game, but clearly it's one for our young and inexperienced side at this level, to put in the bank as the continue up the learning curve. I think we'll still qualify from this group as they get used to the level we are now playing at. Not sure that Poch's 'lack of passion' comment was helpful.....sounded a bit like a Mourinho line, but guess he knows the players better than any of us.
A good rebound win against Sunderland at the weekend would be handy.
skiathospurs
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
What he said was;
"We showed a lack of passion a little bit today because we cannot conceded these goals. That is how we spoke in the changing room. It’s a shame because it was a good chance to give the fans a very good victory.
"When I talk about passion it is to feel more. It was a fantastic opportunity (to play in the Champions League). We fight a lot last season to be here and your feeling is why not do more?
"We said at the start of the season we need to learn and improve every day. We need to be more aggressive, to show more hunger on the pitch.
"We were a better side than Monaco. But we conceded a goal that you cannot concede at this level, the Champions League and Premier League, when you play for Tottenham. It is difficult to accept. The second goal was the same.
"To win you need to show more and create more. We gave the possibility to Monaco play deep and go on the counter attack. They played in a very comfortable situation."
He didnt do a jose and make any excuses other than we made a problem of our own,thats the anti-mourinio stance.
Don Diaz
Zero tolerance of Numpty's
Founding Member
Now I have heard the full quote, rather than the cherry picked lines quoted in the media that I read, it makes more sense. Thank you, I agree.
Flump
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Got there 10 minutes late, thought we were a bit stand offish in the first half, second was much better with Dembele on, just not quite clicking yet but it'll come. Sissoko looked like he's got something about him. I'm never gonna be a Lamela fan so if he replaces him then it's all good. Pity that Kane is just a bit out of sorts atm. I wouldn't be against him being rested for a bit.
Flump
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Oh and 85,000 people leaving a ground together doesn't work. It was horrendous.
J.spurs
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Sissoko just looks so much more direct than Lamela (who I also rate),and with Dembele and him in the lineup, along with Eric/Wanyama, we are stronger and more athletic than just about anyone. For me, though, Dembele's return is the major reason I'm not more annoyed about the result, he is so good. Agree about Kane, some are suggesting Poch ought to do with him what Mourinho did at Inter with Sneijder when he just let him go on holiday midseason, ordering him not to think about football for a while. Don't think we'll see anything to that extent, but he does look jaded and a byproduct of resting him for just a game or two might also be getting Janssen fully in the swing of things.
Flump
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
Very much agreed on Janssen. No point in having 2 strikers and one is just a bit part. I'm sure strikers work on being in a rythmn, and that's hard to do when you're just getting 15-20 minutes here and there. Plenty to be positive about though.
skiathospurs
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
http://www.umaxit.com/index.php/col...champions-league-pochettinos-first-naive-move
Tottenham, Monaco, the Champions League & Pochettino’s First Naive Move
Of all the negative accusations that can be levelled at Mauricio Pochettino as a manager, one of the choice words furthest down the list would be ‘naive’. Known to be an immaculate trainer and detail-orientated in his preparation, there aren’t many occasions that the Spurs boss doesn’t come well equipped for, which is a pillar of his success. In his first game managing in the Champions League, however, Pochettino made one key change down the spine of his Tottenham side and it wound up costing him dearly. It was, without being overly dramatic, a naive decision – but made with the right intent.
Playing inside a sold-out Wembley, facing a side he’d beaten just a year prior 4-1 at home and making his Champions League debut alongside many of his young squad, this was a chance for Spurs to put on a show on the largest stage possible in European club football, and Pochettino appeared only more than happy to oblige. By dropping Victor Wanyama to the bench, sliding Dele Alli into a deeper berth than usual and allowing the front four to accommodate Son Heung-Min, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen at once, it was clear on paper that Tottenham intended to overwhelm Monaco, overload them in the final third and give the record crowd a night to remember.
For 15 minutes, what looked so exciting on paper appeared to have translated itself on to the field, and the away side were having to scramble back in defence and clear shots off the line. In the 15 minutes that followed, however, Monaco took control of the game and scored on the break – twice.
What had quickly become apparent was that Eric Dier couldn’t contain the midfield alone, especially at the pace that Monaco would break at, and that left Tottenham severely overexposed at the back. While the first goal was a collection of avoidable errors – Lamela losing the ball in his own half and Jan Vertonghen being turned inside out on the edge of his own area – the lack of a second, natural central midfielder with established defensive assets weakened a backbone that Pochettino has done so well to solidify in his time at Spurs, and Monaco were able to punish the flimsy middle with their only two attempts on target all game.
To his credit, Pochettino introduced Mousa Dembele at half-time in place of Son, and allowed Dele Alli to drift back into the areas of the pitch where he’s made a name for himself when unleashed. However, the side were never able to build back anything like the momentum they’d created in the opening exchanges, and paid for the over-exuberance of the starting line-up by losing their first home game in the competition, which is far from ideal. While the BT Sport commentary team chose to focus on Wembley as a possible issue – nothing will ever truly fill the shoes of White Hart Lane – the size of the pitch and stadium were as much as an advantage as anything else. Kyle Walker especially, a player in such a rich run of form it’s hard to remember when his last bad game was, used the extra surface to his advantage excellently.
Hindsight is, of course, 20/20, and while it’s easy to dig a manager out by pinpointing specific changes that could’ve altered the course of a game, it’s much harder to do that when the intention behind said decisions were nothing but pure, and the maths added up. In theory, that place next to Eric Dier in the first band of midfield is somewhere that Dele Alli could happily operate, using the deeper starting position to his advantage when making late runs to the box, while using his energy and enthusiasm to muck in defensively when needed. Unlike the presence of Wanyama or Dembele, though, Alli lacked the nuance to his defensive play and reading of the game off the ball that was needed to stop Monaco in full flow, and he could only really show what he was capable of in the second half when relieved of his initial duties.
By allowing all of Tottenham’s strongest attacking players to be on the field at once, Monaco would have no choice but to open themselves up when attacking back, and Pochettino was well within his right to expect his side to come out on top of an end-to-end encounter. What they lacked, however, was the goal to compliment their start that would’ve forced Monaco to chase the game and expose themselves in a way that would’ve been an open goal for those in the Spurs attack, and the away side happily retreated after scoring the first against the run of play, with the second another bonus. It was a risk taken by Pochettino in good faith, and had the Son chance gone in rather than being cleared, we could just as easily be discussing a comprehensive victory – those are the sort of fine margins Spurs are going to have to account for if they’re going to take the next step on as team.
While it’s a shame that Tottenham lost and the group has just become an even higher hurdle to jump – especially if they want to win it – this isn’t the end of the world. It would’ve been far worse, for example, had Pochettino started Dier, Dembele and Wanyama, looked to strangle the game of any joy or fluidity, all the while hoping to snatch the game through negative means, abandoning the principles that’ve propelled this Spurs side to the position they find themselves in now. While the positive selection can be looked at as being uncharacteristically naive, it was done in good faith and with the right intensions – Pochettino shouldn’t be punished for having belief in a side he alone has transformed, and that loss will have taught him more about how best to use his squad than any 4-0 away wins at Stoke ever will.
It’s easy to forget, given how quickly he’s risen up the table, how new Pochettino is to management. Still just 44, Tottenham is only his third job, and this is his first time coaching a Champions League side. There might be speed-bumps every now and then, but it’s probably fair to suggest that he’s earned the right to decide at what pace he’s going to take them on – even if that is just a touch too heavy on the accelerator. The trick now, however, is to take that on board and make sure that performance and mistake was an anomaly, rather than a recurring theme for the season. Given that it only took him until half-time to put it right suggests that it’ll likely be the former.
Tottenham, Monaco, the Champions League & Pochettino’s First Naive Move
Of all the negative accusations that can be levelled at Mauricio Pochettino as a manager, one of the choice words furthest down the list would be ‘naive’. Known to be an immaculate trainer and detail-orientated in his preparation, there aren’t many occasions that the Spurs boss doesn’t come well equipped for, which is a pillar of his success. In his first game managing in the Champions League, however, Pochettino made one key change down the spine of his Tottenham side and it wound up costing him dearly. It was, without being overly dramatic, a naive decision – but made with the right intent.
Playing inside a sold-out Wembley, facing a side he’d beaten just a year prior 4-1 at home and making his Champions League debut alongside many of his young squad, this was a chance for Spurs to put on a show on the largest stage possible in European club football, and Pochettino appeared only more than happy to oblige. By dropping Victor Wanyama to the bench, sliding Dele Alli into a deeper berth than usual and allowing the front four to accommodate Son Heung-Min, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen at once, it was clear on paper that Tottenham intended to overwhelm Monaco, overload them in the final third and give the record crowd a night to remember.
For 15 minutes, what looked so exciting on paper appeared to have translated itself on to the field, and the away side were having to scramble back in defence and clear shots off the line. In the 15 minutes that followed, however, Monaco took control of the game and scored on the break – twice.
What had quickly become apparent was that Eric Dier couldn’t contain the midfield alone, especially at the pace that Monaco would break at, and that left Tottenham severely overexposed at the back. While the first goal was a collection of avoidable errors – Lamela losing the ball in his own half and Jan Vertonghen being turned inside out on the edge of his own area – the lack of a second, natural central midfielder with established defensive assets weakened a backbone that Pochettino has done so well to solidify in his time at Spurs, and Monaco were able to punish the flimsy middle with their only two attempts on target all game.
To his credit, Pochettino introduced Mousa Dembele at half-time in place of Son, and allowed Dele Alli to drift back into the areas of the pitch where he’s made a name for himself when unleashed. However, the side were never able to build back anything like the momentum they’d created in the opening exchanges, and paid for the over-exuberance of the starting line-up by losing their first home game in the competition, which is far from ideal. While the BT Sport commentary team chose to focus on Wembley as a possible issue – nothing will ever truly fill the shoes of White Hart Lane – the size of the pitch and stadium were as much as an advantage as anything else. Kyle Walker especially, a player in such a rich run of form it’s hard to remember when his last bad game was, used the extra surface to his advantage excellently.
Hindsight is, of course, 20/20, and while it’s easy to dig a manager out by pinpointing specific changes that could’ve altered the course of a game, it’s much harder to do that when the intention behind said decisions were nothing but pure, and the maths added up. In theory, that place next to Eric Dier in the first band of midfield is somewhere that Dele Alli could happily operate, using the deeper starting position to his advantage when making late runs to the box, while using his energy and enthusiasm to muck in defensively when needed. Unlike the presence of Wanyama or Dembele, though, Alli lacked the nuance to his defensive play and reading of the game off the ball that was needed to stop Monaco in full flow, and he could only really show what he was capable of in the second half when relieved of his initial duties.
By allowing all of Tottenham’s strongest attacking players to be on the field at once, Monaco would have no choice but to open themselves up when attacking back, and Pochettino was well within his right to expect his side to come out on top of an end-to-end encounter. What they lacked, however, was the goal to compliment their start that would’ve forced Monaco to chase the game and expose themselves in a way that would’ve been an open goal for those in the Spurs attack, and the away side happily retreated after scoring the first against the run of play, with the second another bonus. It was a risk taken by Pochettino in good faith, and had the Son chance gone in rather than being cleared, we could just as easily be discussing a comprehensive victory – those are the sort of fine margins Spurs are going to have to account for if they’re going to take the next step on as team.
While it’s a shame that Tottenham lost and the group has just become an even higher hurdle to jump – especially if they want to win it – this isn’t the end of the world. It would’ve been far worse, for example, had Pochettino started Dier, Dembele and Wanyama, looked to strangle the game of any joy or fluidity, all the while hoping to snatch the game through negative means, abandoning the principles that’ve propelled this Spurs side to the position they find themselves in now. While the positive selection can be looked at as being uncharacteristically naive, it was done in good faith and with the right intensions – Pochettino shouldn’t be punished for having belief in a side he alone has transformed, and that loss will have taught him more about how best to use his squad than any 4-0 away wins at Stoke ever will.
It’s easy to forget, given how quickly he’s risen up the table, how new Pochettino is to management. Still just 44, Tottenham is only his third job, and this is his first time coaching a Champions League side. There might be speed-bumps every now and then, but it’s probably fair to suggest that he’s earned the right to decide at what pace he’s going to take them on – even if that is just a touch too heavy on the accelerator. The trick now, however, is to take that on board and make sure that performance and mistake was an anomaly, rather than a recurring theme for the season. Given that it only took him until half-time to put it right suggests that it’ll likely be the former.
skiathospurs
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
@Don Diaz think you ll like this interview after todays presser with ben pearce
Mauricio Pochettino says his Tottenham players need to earn their contract extensions and has expressed his disappointment at a lack of passion in the first half of Wednesday’s Champions League defeat to Monaco.
Twenty-year-old midfielder Harry Winks has followed the senior duo of Christian Eriksen and Eric Dier by signing a new deal today, extending his stay at White Hart Lane until 2021 – and more first-team stars are expected to put pen to paper in the coming weeks.
Pochettino is pleased to see his players being rewarded with improved long-term contracts after the club’s progress – but he was unhappy with what he saw in the first half of this week’s 2-1 loss to Monaco at Wembley, following a long wait for Spurs’ return to the Champions League.
“I need to say that the club has made a big effort to try to keep all our talent,” said the manager. “I think it’s fantastic for the club and my feeling is we need to do more because the club gives us a lot of very good things.
“We need to show more as a team – more passion, more desire. The club is working very well in this aspect and it’s always good to hear young players have extended their contracts and shown their commitment to the club.
“For me, after the first half, we had a lack of passion, a lack of aggression, a lack of desire to play in the Champions League.
“One thing is true – we waited six years to play again in the Champions League at this club, and it was always our dream.
“I remember when I signed my contract on May 27 2014, always the dream was to play in the Champions League. Then when you get that, and after the first half… I think we’re all agreed, the same with the players - we need to find why. I think we’ll find why and now we need to fix that. We have time to fix it.
“In the second half we showed a lot of passion and we played very well. [Monaco] didn’t shoot, they had zero corners and I was happy with our performance. Only in this 45-minute period, we didn’t show passion. Why? This is my big question, and not only me. We all have in our minds, why?”
Pochettino continued: “If you give [Monaco] the presents we gave them, it’s impossible to come back again and get a result. There’s no excuse – the problem wasn’t Wembley or the pitch. We were the problem and we need to be very critical with ourselves.
“I look at myself too. Maybe I didn’t know how to get the motivation [across] to play on Wednesday night in the Champions League. Maybe I put myself in question too. We share responsibility but we cannot repeat it. You can lose, not play well but never concede two goals how we conceded. It was a collective problem, not an individual problem. I was the first guilty one in this situation.
“When we wait six years, many times, to play in the Champions League, after 45 minutes you can’t go to the changing room with this feeling. We had 90,000 people in front of us, waiting for us to play in the Champions League. The atmosphere was amazing. We nearly cried before, when you hear the song from the Champions League, it’s a dream come true. That was difficult.
“We have time to win games, we have the possibility to go to the next round. It’s early days. It’s early in the season but we need to compete much, much better.”
Pochettino admits he was not particularly content with Tottenham’s 4-0 victory at Stoke on Saturday, because he felt his side started slowly again and could easily have fallen behind before Heung-Min Son’s 41st-minute opener.
“I remember the first half was the same as against Monaco,” he said. “In the first actions they (Stoke) had the facility to score, and then because we scored late in the first half and again in the second half we won 4-0. But my feeling did not change from the result. It’s not that I’m happy because it’s 4-0. We need to be clever and analyse the circumstance of the game.
“Sometimes you have luck, sometimes not. Maybe if Stoke had scored in the first few minutes, maybe the result would have been different – and against Monaco, the first chance, they scored. The second chance they scored. We allowed them to score and then it was difficult and we lost the game.
“I’m not a fan, I’m a professional about football. I need to analyse it in a different way, that is a massive difference.”
Pochettino admits he is likely to rotate his squad for Sunday’s Premier League home game against Sunderland – to freshen up his team rather than to punish any individual performances following Spurs’ loss at Wembley.
“It’ll be a tough game. It’s the Premier League, it demands a lot of energy like the Champions League,” said Pochettino. “It’s the same level and we need to be ready
“It’s true that after Wednesday I am thinking about rotating the team a bit, the starting XI. We’ll see what happens tomorrow when we assess all the players and take the best decision for the team.
“It was collective [on Wednesday] and it’s not focusing on some players. All season it’s difficult to play and when you play in the Champions League you expend a lot of energy. Maybe that, for us, is new - to handle playing Wednesday and Saturday or Sunday.
“In the last two seasons we always rotated the squad a lot when we played in the middle of the week in the Europa League. It is a new experience for us to learn and try to get a good result.”
Mauricio Pochettino says his Tottenham players need to earn their contract extensions and has expressed his disappointment at a lack of passion in the first half of Wednesday’s Champions League defeat to Monaco.
Twenty-year-old midfielder Harry Winks has followed the senior duo of Christian Eriksen and Eric Dier by signing a new deal today, extending his stay at White Hart Lane until 2021 – and more first-team stars are expected to put pen to paper in the coming weeks.
Pochettino is pleased to see his players being rewarded with improved long-term contracts after the club’s progress – but he was unhappy with what he saw in the first half of this week’s 2-1 loss to Monaco at Wembley, following a long wait for Spurs’ return to the Champions League.
“I need to say that the club has made a big effort to try to keep all our talent,” said the manager. “I think it’s fantastic for the club and my feeling is we need to do more because the club gives us a lot of very good things.
“We need to show more as a team – more passion, more desire. The club is working very well in this aspect and it’s always good to hear young players have extended their contracts and shown their commitment to the club.
“For me, after the first half, we had a lack of passion, a lack of aggression, a lack of desire to play in the Champions League.
“One thing is true – we waited six years to play again in the Champions League at this club, and it was always our dream.
“I remember when I signed my contract on May 27 2014, always the dream was to play in the Champions League. Then when you get that, and after the first half… I think we’re all agreed, the same with the players - we need to find why. I think we’ll find why and now we need to fix that. We have time to fix it.
“In the second half we showed a lot of passion and we played very well. [Monaco] didn’t shoot, they had zero corners and I was happy with our performance. Only in this 45-minute period, we didn’t show passion. Why? This is my big question, and not only me. We all have in our minds, why?”
Pochettino continued: “If you give [Monaco] the presents we gave them, it’s impossible to come back again and get a result. There’s no excuse – the problem wasn’t Wembley or the pitch. We were the problem and we need to be very critical with ourselves.
“I look at myself too. Maybe I didn’t know how to get the motivation [across] to play on Wednesday night in the Champions League. Maybe I put myself in question too. We share responsibility but we cannot repeat it. You can lose, not play well but never concede two goals how we conceded. It was a collective problem, not an individual problem. I was the first guilty one in this situation.
“When we wait six years, many times, to play in the Champions League, after 45 minutes you can’t go to the changing room with this feeling. We had 90,000 people in front of us, waiting for us to play in the Champions League. The atmosphere was amazing. We nearly cried before, when you hear the song from the Champions League, it’s a dream come true. That was difficult.
“We have time to win games, we have the possibility to go to the next round. It’s early days. It’s early in the season but we need to compete much, much better.”
Pochettino admits he was not particularly content with Tottenham’s 4-0 victory at Stoke on Saturday, because he felt his side started slowly again and could easily have fallen behind before Heung-Min Son’s 41st-minute opener.
“I remember the first half was the same as against Monaco,” he said. “In the first actions they (Stoke) had the facility to score, and then because we scored late in the first half and again in the second half we won 4-0. But my feeling did not change from the result. It’s not that I’m happy because it’s 4-0. We need to be clever and analyse the circumstance of the game.
“Sometimes you have luck, sometimes not. Maybe if Stoke had scored in the first few minutes, maybe the result would have been different – and against Monaco, the first chance, they scored. The second chance they scored. We allowed them to score and then it was difficult and we lost the game.
“I’m not a fan, I’m a professional about football. I need to analyse it in a different way, that is a massive difference.”
Pochettino admits he is likely to rotate his squad for Sunday’s Premier League home game against Sunderland – to freshen up his team rather than to punish any individual performances following Spurs’ loss at Wembley.
“It’ll be a tough game. It’s the Premier League, it demands a lot of energy like the Champions League,” said Pochettino. “It’s the same level and we need to be ready
“It’s true that after Wednesday I am thinking about rotating the team a bit, the starting XI. We’ll see what happens tomorrow when we assess all the players and take the best decision for the team.
“It was collective [on Wednesday] and it’s not focusing on some players. All season it’s difficult to play and when you play in the Champions League you expend a lot of energy. Maybe that, for us, is new - to handle playing Wednesday and Saturday or Sunday.
“In the last two seasons we always rotated the squad a lot when we played in the middle of the week in the Europa League. It is a new experience for us to learn and try to get a good result.”
Don Diaz
Zero tolerance of Numpty's
Founding Member
I do love his open ness and honesty. He speaks from the heart, such a contrast to most managers platitudes and one eyed comments, he reminds me a bit of Roberto Martinez. So pleased he is at Spurs, he has a big job this season, especially after signing his own big contract, worth more than any single one of the players...so it's good he sees himself as part of the collective, unlike a Mourinho or a Wenger.
LakewoodSpur
Member
Founding Member
I love his statement, “I’m not a fan, I’m a professional about football. I need to analyse it in a different way, that is a massive difference.” Having watched him conduct that open training session in Seattle a couple of years ago, I believe him. He struck me then and continues to impress me now as someone who knows what he wants to see from each of his players in every game situation and he is driven to make his vision a reality. I think he's been the most important signing for Spurs.
skiathospurs
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
He isnt Bill Nic,and yet Stevie P said he was the closest thing we have had since,and that was in the presence of the general !! (and myself).His work rate,commitment,desire to succeed,first into the ground last one to leave,all the analysis,thought he puts into the club which to me he loves and already is part of the spurs family,like ossie,micky h,mabbs,robbo.Yes he is young,and there will be bumps in the road,but I am certain he will succeed,because he will just make it so.
I know from Martin Chivers,the players feared,hated at times but ultimatly respected and loved Bill Nic,for what he made them.He has made our players better unarguably,why on earth would walker,rose,dier,kane,(even dembele who looked done at dusted at spurs and now even the hordes of ex-arse pundits say is the most invaluable MF),why would they want to play for anyone else??they want to do it for Poch and I am sure he will get them to.Not saying its this month or this year,but our time is near if we keep this guy.