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Mauricio Pochettino - Sacked

I don't think we need to read too much into Poch's selection. We played Alli in the 8 position against Emirates Marketing Project last year and won 4-1. It's totally understandable that he wanted to have someone that could pass progressively from one of the deeper positions and had become a bit frustrated with the Dier/Wanyama axis. As had a lot of us - it simply doesn't give us what Dembele does in midfield so I can see why he would want to create that in some way.

We switched off at the back too easily twice and weren't clinical in front of goal. With the exact same selection it could have been a completely different story. Nothing to over-react about.
 
BrainOfLevy said:
I don't think we need to read too much into Poch's selection. We played Alli in the 8 position against Emirates Marketing Project last year and won 4-1. It's totally understandable that he wanted to have someone that could pass progressively from one of the deeper positions and had become a bit frustrated with the Dier/Wanyama axis. As had a lot of us - it simply doesn't give us what Dembele does in midfield so I can see why he would want to create that in some way.

We switched off at the back too easily twice and weren't clinical in front of goal. With the exact same selection it could have been a completely different story. Nothing to over-react about.
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yeah its how unready they are to play their part and as a team in that selection. not enough training ? too much training? wrong training ? failed to follow the gameplan ?
 
He's always exceptional in his analysis. Makes the right decisions, understands the realities of the games and performances. He's perfect with that.

If there was one area of criticism, its that he is less good with foresight. Now no one can read the future, but maybe some managers are better at preempting things. It probably comes with experience. Ferguson had games where united didn't show up in the CL, but in his latter years, he prepared teams so well. They always entered games in the right frame of mind. Poch is exceptional at seeing when we didn't enter the game in the right way, but not yet preemptive imo. The ability to see that we might capitulate on a new stage, pressure environment, and get the appropriate levels of focus "passion" etc. pre game.

But I have supreme confidence in him, because he's always improving, analysing, seeing where "we", him as well as the team, can improve.
 
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SpurMeUp said:
He's always exceptional in his analysis. Makes the right decisions, understands the realities of the games and performances. He's perfect with that.

If there was one area of criticism, its that he is less good with foresight. Now, no one can read the future, but maybe some managers are better at preempting things. It probably comes with experience. Ferguson had games where united didn't show up in the CL, but in his latter years, he prepared teams so well. They always entered games in the right frame of mind. Poch is exceptional at seeing when we didn't enter the game in the right way, but not yet preemptive imo. The ability to see that we might capitulate on a new stage, pressure environment, and get the appropriate levels of focus "passion" etc.

But I have supreme confidence in him, because he's always improving, analysing, seeing where "we", him as well as the team, can improve.
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He has done a good job with us and let us not forget he's still probably learning himself.
I sadly believe being reactive rather than proactive is a big weakness in football management at this highest level.
Time will tell, his presser was for me one of the most candid I have seen from Pochettino, let hope it does the trick.
 
StephenH said:
He has done a good job with us and let us not forget he's still probably learning himself.
I sadly believe being reactive rather than proactive is a big weakness in football management at this highest level.
Time will tell, his presser was for me one of the most candid I have seen from Pochettino, let hope it does the trick.
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Humans are extremely clever in hindsight! The failings at Wembley are obvious to all once played out! Yet who predicted them? It's the same with new inventions, they are so obvious once one person shows the way, but who knew before? But managers should analyse how a game will likely pan out. Where is my team culpable, how can I get them into a mentality to avoid tripping up?

In hindsight, the large crowd, new stadium, CL, a young team who've shown previously that pressure affects them....you might prep them to focus on the game not the occasion, think about how it would feel returning to the dressing room in defeat - to really hone their focus on keeping things tight etc etc. Sometimes Poch talks about passion and energy when ruthlessness and complete accuracy are maybe just as important. It could be his limited vocab, I'm sure he's more detailed with the team.

A manager should also be a psychologist. Knowing how to take away pressure at the right time, and get the team into an appropriate mindset. If there is an area for Poch to progress maybe that's it. He knows what he needs to do here, but I'm not sure he's 100% on top of it. But there is no doubt Poch improves players massively. Now he needs to improve upon the team - as a unit. Its mentality, focus, and I'd love our passing to go up a notch. Not easy things to achieve, but if anyone can he can. Maybe Biesla can shake him again and show him where he himself needs to improve; despite being one of the best managers.

The signings we made are more or less like for like in quality. While great covering injuries and rotation, they've made things more difficult for Poch short term as he has harder selection choices to make. We need a steady team, yet need to keep players match sharp and involved. Few in the team outside defence look settled, so we need 5-10 games with a stable side, but what do you do with players knocking on door to get a start?

I wouldn't swap Poch for any Manager out there. He's perfect for us. Deeply determined. A great man manager and analyst. The psychologist bit, pushing peoples buttons, is an art form, he can grow into that, learn, work with psychologists, etc. to cultivate the right pre-match mindset.
 
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SpurMeUp said:
Humans are extremely clever in hindsight! The failings at Wembley are obvious to all once played out! Yet who predicted them? It's the same with new inventions, they are so obvious once one person shows the way, but who knew before? But managers should analyse how a game will likely pan out. Where is my team culpable, how can I get them into a mentality to avoid tripping up?

In hindsight, the large crowd, new stadium, CL, a young team who've shown previously that pressure affects them....you might prep them to focus on the game not the occasion, think about how it would feel returning to the dressing room in defeat - to really hone their focus on keeping things tight etc etc. Sometimes Poch talks about passion and energy when ruthlessness and complete accuracy are maybe just as important. It could be his limited vocab, I'm sure he's more detailed with the team.

A manager should also be a psychologist. Knowing how to take away pressure at the right time, and get the team into an appropriate mindset. If there is an area for Poch to progress maybe that's it. He knows what he needs to do here, but I'm not sure he's 100% on top of it. But there is no doubt Poch improves players massively. Now he needs to improve upon the team - as a unit. Its mentality, focus, and I'd love our passing to go up a notch. Not easy things to achieve, but if anyone can he can. Maybe Biesla can shake him again and show him where he himself needs to improve; despite being one of the best managers.

The signings we made are more or less like for like in quality. While great covering injuries and rotation, they've made things more difficult for Poch short term as he has harder selection choices to make. We need a steady team, yet need to keep players match sharp and involved. Few in the team outside defence look settled, so we need 5-10 games with a stable side, but what do you do with players knocking on door to get a start?

I wouldn't swap Poch for any Manager out there. He's perfect for us. Deeply determined. A great man manager and analyst. The psychologist bit, pushing peoples buttons, is an art form, he can grow into that, learn, work with psychologists, etc. to cultivate the right pre-match mindset.
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I like that


Re Wembley read my recent posts - I was 'fearing' its effect on us....and that putting it mildly.

Unfortunately for Poch we are now in a league which has become much much tougher and the arrival of Guadiola has shown 'me' what is possible when it comes to the art of player motivation and man and squad management.
It has nothing to do with City's finances IMHO. Poch must grasp this opportunity as it will become harder and harder with the likes of Everton, Liverpool and City improving rapidly plus a few others.

PS I would swap Poch but only for Pep but that's a fantasy.
 
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StephenH said:
I like that


Re Wembley read my recent posts - I was 'fearing' its effect on us....and that putting it mildly.

Unfortunately for Poch we are now in a league which has become much much tougher and the arrival of Guadiola has shown 'me' what is possible when it comes to the art of player motivation and man and squad management.
It has nothing to do with City's finances IMHO. Poch must grasp this opportunity as it will become harder and harder with the likes of Everton, Liverpool and City improving rapidly plus a few others.

PS I would swap Poch but only for Pep but that's a fantasy.
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City's players have been underachieving. Best collection of players for a number of seasons. Guadiola made them into a team sure, but early days... Poch still the higher achiever, fighting up from the bottom with less, improving as he goes. We haven't had the smoothest of openings (or endings to the season), but baby steps, Poch will get us purring.
 
I think at the current 'stage', buying players who were like-for-like was probably the safer bet given the method certainly showed that it works and there would be less scope for experimentation (i.e. no 'dead rubber' EL games and higher proportion of games that are 'important').
That being said there have been some signings that add different dimensions, namely Wanyama and Sissoko.

Will be fascinating to see what line-up Poch chooses tomorrow and how he manages the squad/introduces new tactics etc as the season goes on.
 
I am now personally worried about his squad management ability. I do hope I am proven wrong by the end of this season.
 
afsoc4life said:
I am now personally worried about his squad management ability. I do hope I am proven wrong by the end of this season.
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I'm sure his methods are scientific in terms of gauging fatigue. But for me Davies and Janssen should have started over Dier and Kane, who have looked popped since the start of the season. It was maybe also a game for Trippier over Walker (Walker hasn't been showing it in the same way as the other two, but he's played an awful lot).
 
Gutter Boy said:
I'm sure his methods are scientific in terms of gauging fatigue. But for me Davies and Janssen should have started over Dier and Kane, who have looked popped since the start of the season. It was maybe also a game for Trippier over Walker (Walker hasn't been showing it in the same way as the other two, but he's played an awful lot).
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They will all start against Gillingham.
 
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