Haha apologies, mine was a quick tongue-in-cheek response from my phone at the beginning of a work meeting! And I didn't mean to suggest that you specifically were polarising things - that part of my comment was intended to be a broader comment, rather than a reply to your post specifically. On the other points:
I agree the squad is high quality on paper. But for me the 'unusually difficult task' is trying to maintain squad harmony and motivation when: there are a number of key players (at least 4) who we know don't want to be here anymore, some of whom will leave in a year; when there's been a lack of top incoming signings to refresh and energise;* when our momentum has been going backwards for two years; and when this group is under pressure to win a trophy but has fallen just short in the PL, CL and domestic cups over a 4 year period (and not had a recent history of winning trophies before that). And my question was whether you can think of any examples of another club / manager who's been through these kinds of circumstances and done much better than Poch is doing. (I'm not suggesting that if there is an absence of examples it's proof that Poch is doing well, I'm just trying to illustrate how unusual I think the circumstances are).
I'm also not trying to suggest that Pochettino is completely free of blame, or that he couldn't possibly be doing a better job in the circumstances. I guess it ultimately just comes down to how challenging and hard-to-resolve you think his circumstances are, and therefore exactly how well or badly you think he is coping in those circumstances.
For example, when you say that Poch 'should be managing the squad he has better' - what does that mean more specifically? Do you think lots of other managers would be managing it better in these exact circumstances? Most other managers? Just a few top ones? I guess I'm of the opinion that the vast majority of managers would also be struggling, and not performing at their best, in the circumstances which I describe above.
*(I thought our 3 signings this summer were going to be the catalyst we needed, but I think we've just been unfortunate that their injuries have prevented this. Which I think makes the '4 players from 3 windows' point less positive in reality than it looks on paper).
No worries matey, seemed a little flippant - I didnt anticipate you were on the phone (and I know how crappy it is to try and post on that...), my bad.
Is it that unusual, or difficult, to set the tone for a squad?
That seems to be the foundation of your point. Circumstances arent optimal, and so its somehow an especially difficult time?
I dont doubt, for a second, things are challenging and less than ideal.
But then I think about it, and fall back on first principles.
What is his job? Its to get the best out of what he has got.
What does that mean? It means having a plan, a vision, one that works for the tools he has, and setting about putting it together.
If Eriksen doesnt want to be part of it, then he isnt a tool in the box, discard him and find a plan that works without him.
If Wanyama isnt up to it, then dont play him - especially when you have better options on the bench.
Its not actually that complex, is it? I think with proper leadership, assertiveness, ruthlessness if need be - this whole situation doesnt get out of hand as it seems it is.
I genuinely feel that regardless of all the player shenanigans going on, and the disappointment of the CL, the greater problem is the lack of direction from Poch. He, and his tactics, and seemingly his leadership, is all over the place right now.
