***Spurs - Wales - Golf : Tottenham Hotspur FC***

Discussion in 'Soccer Board' started by Ace Boogie, Feb 23, 2016.

  1. Owsley

    Owsley My friends call me Bear
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  2. texasraider

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    “Don’t look at the boss.”

    Tottenham players had become used to saying those words to each other in recent weeks. Don’t catch his eye, don’t give him an excuse to get you in to trouble, just get on with training and surely this will all be over soon.

    Mauricio Pochettino had never been overly friendly around the training ground, that just wasn’t his style. He was the boss after all, not the players’ friend. And after becoming Tottenham’s most successful manager in 50 years, who cared how chatty he was anyway? The team had become regulars in the Champions League, they were beating the biggest teams in Europe and had challenged for the Premier League title at their peak. They were scintillating at their best, hunting down the opposition in packs and entertaining their fans with a team full of improving young players.

    But then they weren’t. Then the victories dried up, the tough training sessions caught up with the players’ minds and legs and the manager became surly and distant.

    As one dressing room source told The Athletic: “It was the only decision that made sense.” With the team currently 14th in the Premier League, without a win in five, and with no away victory in the league since January, the players really had lost faith. From their last 24 league games, a run dating back to late February, they have taken just 25 points.

    On Tuesday evening the club sacked Pochettino and 12 hours later replaced him with Jose Mourinho. This is why.

    Some members of the first-team squad did not know about Pochettino’s sacking until the club’s online statement on Tuesday just after 7.30pm. Some senior staff were unaware of his impending departure as late as Tuesday morning, and some club scouts speaking to agents on Tuesday appeared to have no idea either as they continued to talk about Pochettino as Spurs’ head coach in the future tense.

    Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy took decisive action to address a disastrous start to the season, ending Pochettino’s five-and-a-half-year tenure at the club. The decision paved the way for Levy to appoint a new manager in time for Saturday’s lunchtime trip to West Ham, and he acted swiftly. A statement on Wednesday morning announced Mourinho’s arrival on a contract until the end of the 2022-23 season.

    Training has been pushed back to Wednesday afternoon, which will allow Mourinho, who had been out of work since being sacked by Manchester United last Christmas, to take the session. Spurs’ interest in RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann came “one year too late”.

    The former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Inter Milan manager Mourinho, 56, has always enjoyed associations with the biggest, richest clubs, but one source close to him told The Athletic that he is “always evolving as a man and a manager”. Another source with close links to Spurs added: “If Mourinho is in the dugout against West Ham, as opposed to Pochettino, who’s got a better chance of winning? If you’re looking long-term, Mourinho doesn’t work. If you’re looking for two years, he does.”

    After a week of talks over Pochettino’s future, in which he had resolutely refused to resign, Levy was eventually left with no choice on Tuesday but to dismiss the 47-year-old and his backroom staff, triggering what is understood to be a £12 million pay-out to the Argentine coach. Pochettino’s assistant Jesus Perez, and coaches Miguel d’Agostino and Antoni Jimenez have also left the club.

    Talks started last Wednesday as Levy hoped to use the international break to find a solution to Spurs’ bad start.

    There was a growing sense of unease throughout the week as speculation about Pochettino’s future grew. Some first-team players — but by no means all — got wind on Monday night that their manager was on his way out. But with some players still on international duty, and no public statement until Tuesday evening, there was still a sense of confusion throughout the club.

    Toby Alderweireld found out after playing in Belgium’s 6-1 win against Cyprus in Euro 2020 qualifying, adding: “It’s part of football. It’s never nice to see a manager leave but that’s all I can say, I think. It’s a surprise for me. The club made the decision and we have to accept this and try to change the situation as quick as we can… We have to be very thankful for what he achieved and I think he brought the club to the next level.”

    Two contrasting emotions dominated the immediate reaction to the dismissal. The first was shock, a sentiment echoed by Ben Davies when he was told after helping Wales to reach next year’s European Championships with a 2-0 win against Hungary. It had “been amazing to work with him (Pochettino) for the last five years”, the full-back added.

    Pochettino was the fifth-longest serving manager in English football until Tuesday evening, having joined Spurs in May 2014. He was Tottenham’s longest-serving manager since Keith Burkinshaw and their best since Bill Nicholson. “The players thought he would get a few more games to turn it around,” said one dressing-room source. “They are in a bit of shock and it’s like a dad has left the family home. There wasn’t the impression he had managed his last game before the international break.”

    Relationships between Pochettino and Levy, and Pochettino and his players had been deteriorating all year. It was no secret the Argentine wanted to quit if he won the Champions League final in Madrid in June. And that would have been a very appropriate moment to go — not just because it would have been a historic honour for the club, but because it would have marked one whole five-year cycle in charge for its manager. Pochettino built a team and then saw it develop to the climax of what it could achieve.

    [​IMG]
    Dele

    ✔@dele_official



    I can’t thank this man enough. He’s taught me so much and I’m so grateful for everything he’s done for me. Good luck and hope to see you again my friend.

    [​IMG]

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    Pochettino knew how difficult it would be to give the club the new cycle it needed, which is why June 2019 would have been such a perfect time to leave. “Some managers mentally can’t keep going week-in week-out, they hit a brick wall,” said one source close to the club. “It looked before the Champions League final that he wanted to get out. As if his heart wasn’t in it any more.”

    But Liverpool beat Spurs and Pochettino did not quit on a high but sulked off to his home in Barcelona instead. This went down badly with senior club staff, but Levy did not act, a decision that the Spurs chairman is now thought to regret.

    This made for a tense summer between the owner and his manager. For years Pochettino had wanted a serious clear-out of players, to make sure that he could compete with a team of young, hungry, ambitious footballers — just like he did in his first few seasons. But Levy could never deliver it, leaving Spurs with the infamous no-signings summer of 2018, which contributed to some of the issues of staleness that have plagued their Premier League form in 2019.

    [​IMG]

    Pochettino sits behind Levy during the NFL game between Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 13. (Photo: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
    Pochettino demanded signings and Levy broke Spurs’ transfer record to sign Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon for £55 million, although several sources say that did not happen without its own fair share of drama, with the manager demanding the deal was done before he came back from his summer break, fully expecting Levy not to deliver. He was surprised when he did. Spurs then added Ryan Sessegnon, Giovani Lo Celso on a season-long loan from Real Betis and almost pulled off a shock move for Paulo Dybala from Juventus. But Pochettino was still unhappy, feeling his squad needed far greater surgery. “Pochettino sulked and sulked his way to the sack,” said a source.

    There is little doubt the squad Pochettino was working with was far inferior to the one who he almost took to the Premier League title in 2015-16 and 2016-17. Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen had become jaded by their contract stand-offs with Levy, Kyle Walker had never truly been replaced, Danny Rose, Eric Dier and Dele Alli’s form had faded and Mousa Dembele — viewed by the manager and players as the heartbeat of the team — had departed.

    What eventually did for Pochettino was losing the support of the dressing room over the course of this season. The players sensed that he did not have the same relish for the job as in his early years at Spurs. They had once been willing participants in his demanding hard-running style, but their physical and mental energy did not last forever. The players have got older, and recently they have found themselves with less to give. The Pochettino regime of double sessions, very few days off and hard running started to drag. “The old effect of the double sessions had gone, and it was mentally important to regenerate,” said one dressing-room source. “So the moment of the sacking is a bit surprising, but the fuel tank got empty much earlier. At a certain moment, it is just over.”

    The players were tired of the physical demands of Pochettino’s playing style, and that was clear in how the team stopped pressing over the course of this year. But they also found him increasingly distant as a manager, especially given his reaction to losing the Champions League final. The players grew tired of the coaching staff’s careful monitoring of their off-field activities, such as video games, and their public pronouncements.

    [​IMG]

    (Photo: Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
    Last month one source told The Athletic that “the place is a regime and the players are sick of him”. Recently at a sponsor’s event four players were asked to pass a jokey comment on Pochettino’s hair in a picture of his playing days, but they went quiet, reluctant to say anything that might get them in trouble. “Pochettino, who is never particularly warm with his players at the training ground, had become even more stand-offish in recent weeks,” said a source. “It had become a ‘don’t look at the boss’ situation.”

    Before one game this season, the players were taken aback when they felt they were not given much tactical instruction from Pochettino and were largely left to their own devices. It led to another defeat.

    When Pochettino rotated his team for the League Cup game at Colchester United at the end of September, which ended in a 0-0 draw and a defeat on penalties, some players were aghast at Pochettino’s post-match press conference. He spoke about “different agendas” in the team, which was taken as a criticism of some of the players who were trying to leave the club. They thought Pochettino should have taken more responsibility for losing to the League Two side.

    That was two months ago and ultimately Pochettino has been made responsible for Tottenham’s bad start to the season. There are plenty of causes for Spurs’ bad start, many of them not Pochettino’s fault. The club’s restrictive wage structure, the failure to refresh the squad and allowing the core of the team to get into the last year of their contract at the same time have all played a part. But in football the manager is always the easiest man to replace, and as Pochettino’s Spurs finally came back to earth this year, that was the most obvious solution for Levy.

    As this season started poorly and showed no sign of improving, it felt increasingly likely that this would be Pochettino’s last at the club. The only question was when he would leave. But once Levy had decided to get a new manager in, it made sense to make the change sooner rather than later. And with Pochettino determined not to resign, no matter how much he looked as if he was not enjoying his work, Levy was only left with one lever to pull. One source describes Pochettino as “sad but philosophical” on Tuesday night, but says he feels as if he was at the “end of the path”.
     
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  3. Voodoo

    Voodoo Fan of: Notre Dame
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    Who knows whether or not all that’s true, but this stood out to me because it’s what things seemed like from the outside looking in.

     
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  4. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    This was my line of thinking, a few weeks back, when he was rumored to Be replacing Emery.
     
  5. PeterGriffin

    PeterGriffin Iced and/or sweet tea is for dirty rednecks.
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    Lol I found my way quite accidentally to the ESPN FC page for Spurs. Bla bla bla, Ibrahimovic should go to Spurs, no thanks. Oh, possible starting XI in Jose's first match, according to Craig Burley. Gazza Davies-Sanchez-Toby-Aurier Sissoko-Winks Eriksen Son-Kane-Dele. ??????

    Excuse me? Goes on to say that he hasn't been impressed with Ndombele and Poch obviously wasn't either because he subbed him out early or didn't start him much at all. No words about putting Dele at RW inexplicably.

    I think if we're going to be the new hot focus because of our potential dramatic manager, the fucks should consider doing more research.
     
  6. Dick Dollars

    Dick Dollars And they’ll all be signing autographs
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    Ndombele is one of the few bright spots on the team. I’m just sorry the rest of them don’t really give a shit.
     
  7. YNWA

    YNWA :feelsgoodman:
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  8. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
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    I legitimately don’t know if I can root for a team managed by mourinho. Can’t wait until we win the worthless carabao cup while he ruins our team in less then three years.
     
  9. Owsley

    Owsley My friends call me Bear
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    Then don’t :twocents:
     
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  10. PeterGriffin

    PeterGriffin Iced and/or sweet tea is for dirty rednecks.
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    Look I have never once had a positive thought about Jose Mourinho. But he's the manager now and I'm going to give him a shot to not be an asshole and to turn us around. Poch will always be loved. But I'm ready to love again.
     
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  11. YNWA

    YNWA :feelsgoodman:
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    This whole thread feels like

    E0232564-4E25-4FBB-A23C-1B4842F0E75C.gif
     
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  12. Owsley

    Owsley My friends call me Bear
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    I’ll freely admit it - I’m excited as hell.
     
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  13. texasraider

    texasraider thanks
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    Same
     
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  14. Hogger

    Hogger Well-Known Member
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    This is where I’m at. I’m going to support him, and root for the Spurs, because he’s the manager of my favorite team. He wasn’t my choice, by a long shot. But that’s not going to stop me from rooting for the team.
     
  15. Topper Bottoms

    Topper Bottoms Daniel Levy's BFF
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    Look. We don't agree on much. I think you and i have very different perspectives but even in his worst case Mourinho hasn't left a club with such a dire cabinet.
     
  16. NYGator

    NYGator Well-Known Member
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    I have always hated Mourinho as the opposing coach, and I see him as a feat or famine hire. I’m excited and scared as a result. The excitement as a whole comes from the ambition of the hire and not his style. I’m willing to sacrifice style to win especially since both our style and winning have sucked lately.

    as an aside I see Zoltan as a very good Llorente replacement and if we get him in a free great. I also think the Mourinho move signals that we will spend.
     
  17. Dick Dollars

    Dick Dollars And they’ll all be signing autographs
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    Zlatan can go fuck himself. All he’ll do is tell Harry Kane he should go play for Real or something.
     
  18. Petito

    Petito coys
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    if nothing else, hiring mou has brought tons of attention to the club. clearly would not be the case had we hired some english geezer

    mixed feelings on ibra depending on his role and wages. at the same time i'd take any improvement right now
     
  19. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
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    How many times have we said that in the last few years? Levy is still in charge so we'll still have to deal with all his bullshit with transfers.
     
  20. NYGator

    NYGator Well-Known Member
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    I think things have changed. I dont think it is fair to not acknowledge what has happened with the club and why he was building what he built in terms of infrastructure to drive revenues.
     
  21. broXcore

    broXcore cat
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    just wanna say that zlatan can go fuck himself, that is all
     
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  22. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
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    Yeah there's no reason to add Zlatan. We have one of the best forwards in the world and he would do nothing to help the lock room. The people behind Kane are the ones that need to be figured out. As he's shown with England he still can finish very well when given opportunities, we've just given him shit service this year.
     
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  23. Voodoo

    Voodoo Fan of: Notre Dame
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    I hate early games more than I hate Arsenal.
     
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  24. Owsley

    Owsley My friends call me Bear
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  25. PeterGriffin

    PeterGriffin Iced and/or sweet tea is for dirty rednecks.
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    Of course he'd pick Dier. Stay onside, Kane. Coys.
     
  26. NYGator

    NYGator Well-Known Member
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    I Ndombele hurt?
     
  27. Owsley

    Owsley My friends call me Bear
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    Yeah. He was to be assessed pre-match. Good chance we see him Tuesday.
     
  28. PeterGriffin

    PeterGriffin Iced and/or sweet tea is for dirty rednecks.
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    Lol what a terrible call, Kane dragged his arm hard, I was sure when the ref was walking over that the yellow was for Harry, if a little soft. Quite the opposite.
     
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  29. NYGator

    NYGator Well-Known Member
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    so the noticeable difference for me so far is more direct and so much less back passing to our own half.
     
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  30. Louis Holth

    Louis Holth but we also just might be those motherfuckers
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    Yea when he pulled that I just knew it was on Kane
     
  31. NYGator

    NYGator Well-Known Member
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    Passing has been poor so far.
     
  32. Louis Holth

    Louis Holth but we also just might be those motherfuckers
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    JM waiting to explode there
     
  33. Owsley

    Owsley My friends call me Bear
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    Lucas has such a horrible footballing IQ
     
  34. Hogger

    Hogger Well-Known Member
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    No that is not a penalty on Aurier. Stfu
     
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  35. Louis Holth

    Louis Holth but we also just might be those motherfuckers
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    Kane is just wrecking folks today
     
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  36. Hogger

    Hogger Well-Known Member
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    Most active he’s been all year.
     
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  37. Owsley

    Owsley My friends call me Bear
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  38. Hogger

    Hogger Well-Known Member
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    Sonny!!!!
     
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  39. Owsley

    Owsley My friends call me Bear
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    Some really nice buildup in the past 10 minutes. Glad we were rewarded with a goal.
     
  40. Louis Holth

    Louis Holth but we also just might be those motherfuckers
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  41. NYGator

    NYGator Well-Known Member
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    Dele has been a lot better
     
  42. Louis Holth

    Louis Holth but we also just might be those motherfuckers
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    Thought Kane was going to get one a minute before that
     
  43. Owsley

    Owsley My friends call me Bear
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    That’s red
     
  44. PeterGriffin

    PeterGriffin Iced and/or sweet tea is for dirty rednecks.
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    Strooong yellow. VAR is checking it out.
     
  45. PeterGriffin

    PeterGriffin Iced and/or sweet tea is for dirty rednecks.
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    Classy, WH fans, booing the number one best dudebro in the world cause he's brave enough to get back up and play the half out before receiving more treatment.
     
  46. Hogger

    Hogger Well-Known Member
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    Let’s fucking go!!!
     
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  47. Owsley

    Owsley My friends call me Bear
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    Oh my god Dele

    where have you been
     
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  48. NYGator

    NYGator Well-Known Member
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    Holy shit
     
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  49. Louis Holth

    Louis Holth but we also just might be those motherfuckers
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  50. Hogger

    Hogger Well-Known Member
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    Great job by Dele keeping that in.
     
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