I didn't say it was because Walker and Dembele left, that's only part of it - that's two positions in the starting XI that are weaker, both of which were key to how we play our football.
Our defense has gotten worse, statistically, and in that time we've lost Dembele Dier and Wanyama in the middle of the pitch from our peak team - do you not see that there might be a correlation between the two? Who has Poch been able to bring in to make up for those losses? Winks, Sissoko, Skipp?? Is that an improvement to our team? Never mind that our two ageing CBs have their eye on the exit door and have done the past 2 years considering the contract situations of both - it's plain to see there are reasons why our defensive performance has gotten worse over the past two years and that it is more to do with the hand which Poch has been dealt as opposed to how he has played it.
With regards to attack Alli has been taken out of the role that he was doing so well in to make up the numbers in central midfield because a lack of options/signings, Walker, who was key to our attacking play, was sold and our other attacking full back has gone from worse to worse with age/injuries/mental health issues - so from our peak teams attack that's the width gone, the transitioning between the lines that Dembele bought gone and the attacking third play that Alli bought gone - and on top of that our chief creator that all our attacking play went through has pretty much told everyone he wants to play for another team and is walking away on a free at the end of the season.
Mate, not sure if you realize but you make my point
- The issue is not the personnel (even if you argue different)
- The issue is a manager who had a unique combination (two marauding FB's and a unique midfield player in Dembele) that helped him achieve success, and he has refused to adapt to those players not being there anymore.
- You argue Jan, Toby eyeing the door (revisionist, Ja up to this season has publicly indicated he wanted to play at Spurs until he wasn't good enough, Poch has somehow managed to alienate that), ok .. Sanchez (who has the tools), Foyth, Davies (can stand in), Dier, Tanganga .. none of them can find a place? Aurier is the brainfart of early Walker with the rashness of early Rose, yet Poch can't help him.
Yes, we can't play with FB's up and providing the creativity .. so what, is that the only way to play football? or the only way Poch knows how to
Amazing, we can sit here and literally say Dier, Aurier, Sanchez, KWP, Winks, Dele, Eriksen, Toby, Jan, Rose have all gone to brick (despite other than Jan/Toby none are in old age), but the manager is fine? (everyone in the world but me is crazy)
Play 3 at back with a wonky, play Son, Kane and Lucas to use pace against opposition, don't high press but counter, try to use the team you have, and there is no way I will ever buy into the theory that this squad is only good enough to be above 15th on GD only … that is just reaching ..
