Why we start so slow?

[superfaisty]

Seen a few people mention our slow start to seasons but no-one seems to have mentioned one reason why. I think pochettino sides will always have slow starts to the season.

does it have anything to do with the punishing fitness work of preseason leaving the players a bit lethargic?

As we get into the season the intense fitness work reduces and hey presto we start to play with more energy in game?

 

[milo]

Seen a few people mention our slow start to seasons but no-one seems to have mentioned one reason why. I think pochettino sides will always have slow starts to the season.

does it have anything to do with the punishing fitness work of preseason leaving the players a bit lethargic?

As we get into the season the intense fitness work reduces and hey presto we start to play with more energy in game?

I think that it is because it takes a little while for our intricate style of play to click, Poch tends to experiment with formations and personnel in the first half of the season before sticking with a settled side and because Poch times peak fitness/conditioning for the turn of the year.

 

[Legohamster]

Seen a few people mention our slow start to seasons but no-one seems to have mentioned one reason why. I think pochettino sides will always have slow starts to the season.

does it have anything to do with the punishing fitness work of preseason leaving the players a bit lethargic?

As we get into the season the intense fitness work reduces and hey presto we start to play with more energy in game?

The first 10 weeks of the season is quite hectic.

You have League games, The League cup, first couple of rounds of CL/EL and 4 internationals.

You need to be able to rotate in these games, have options that to change games if a starter is not performing.

Add no transfers this (normally late transfers) and the WC and you have a squad running on empty more than normal.

 

[Baleforce]

I think that it is because it takes a little while for our intricate style of play to click, Poch tends to experiment with formations and personnel in the first half of the season before sticking with a settled side and because Poch times peak fitness/conditioning for the turn of the year.

Certainly seems to be the case, I wish we’d change this up and have it as a rolling tide amongst the squad, have 4/5 at peak at all of the time by rotating them in and out.

It’s easy to say with hindsight but had we started the season with teams built only from players with a full pre season we’d probably have an eleven in better shakes now.

We have players badly in need of a rest but our poor form puts pressure on us to get results now, we could conceivably stagger on like this for quite some time.

 

[milo]

We have players badly in need of a rest but our poor form puts pressure on us to get results now, we could conceivably stagger on like this for quite some time.

I think that Lloris, and to a lesser extent Alli, being out is a factor here too. It makes it a lot harder to rest senior players.

 

[Gutter Boy]

For me there's 3 things:

1) I think international commitments are a massive factor. Poch eeks every last breath out of players so they are completely empty in May. He then needs them to have a solid 4-6 weeks off. But most of them then go and limp through international tournaments. Kane and Dier in particular have had this for about 4 years solid now (including summer U21 tournaments).

2) Related, but he has mentioned explicitly how it takes several weeks to coach the things (bad habits) players have picked up on international duty out of them.

3) Our system and style is so specialist, that any new signing takes at least 6 months to learn and adjust into it (not applicable this season).

 

[Jurgen the German]

cos we're clams

next....

 

[metalgear]

i don't think our fitness and medical teams are up to par. there are so many loopholes in sports medicine and performance that we aren't taking advantage of, instead relying on organic muscle development and recovery

 

[milo]

i don't think our fitness and medical teams are up to par. there are so many loopholes in sports medicine and performance that we aren't taking advantage of, instead relying on organic muscle development and recovery

What are you basing this on?

 

[metalgear]

What are you basing this on?

Slow starts, end of season collapse, dithering recovery... And how every other team seems to be delirious when playing against us.

Ok nothing scientific at all. i don't think its a clean sport but i think we don't take chances there

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[milo]

Slow starts, end of season collapse, dithering recovery... And how every other team seems to be delirious when playing against us.

Ok nothing scientific at all. i don't think its a clean sport but i think we don't take chances there

Sent from my SM-G960F using Fapatalk

So based on nothing. Thanks.

 

[metalgear]

Youre welcome!

So based on nothing. Thanks.

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[Danishfurniturelover]

Did read an article in the summer where Poch said we were going to change this, thought after the first 3 games we had managed it.

 

[nayenezgani]

cos I'm a clam

next....

Nice to see you finally opening up about this

Hope you get all the help you need.

 

[superfaisty]

Liverpool play a high press game so presumably they also do a lot of intense physical work but they have started the season like a train on fire. Granted there are many differences- they have a better all round squad, at least a couple of strikers to choose from, not many that got far into the World Cup, a settled playing style etc

 

[P.D.]

Liverpool play a high press game so presumably they also do a lot of intense physical work but they have started the season like a train on fire. Granted there are many differences- they have a better all round squad, at least a couple of strikers to choose from, not many that got far into the World Cup, a settled playing style etc

We also have a settled playing style as well.

 

[AdamB]

I share the concern, as do many Spurs fans. One way I disagree with some people on this though is when people say 'its alright, this always happens and Spurs hit their stride in October or January once Poch's training regime has had time to kick in'

The problem with that argument is that just because its happened before doesnt mean it will happen again. We've had some incredible runs of form for the last 20-25 games of the season over the last few years, but we've become reliant on that to catch up. What happens if we get 2-3 key injuries in say December/January? Could we cope without say Vertonghen, Eriksen and Kane? or what is that uptick simply doesnt materialise this time? The flippant 'our form always turns up and will do so again' assumption is hugely risky. Thankfully, I'm sure Poch doesnt think that way

 

[billyiddo]

I share the concern, as do many Spurs fans. One way I disagree with some people on this though is when people say 'its alright, this always happens and Spurs hit their stride in October or January once Poch's training regime has had time to kick in'

The problem with that argument is that just because its happened before doesnt mean it will happen again. We've had some incredible runs of form for the last 20-25 games of the season over the last few years, but we've become reliant on that to catch up. What happens if we get 2-3 key injuries in say December/January? Could we cope without say Vertonghen, Eriksen and Kane? or what is that uptick simply doesnt materialise this time? The flippant 'our form always turns up and will do so again' assumption is hugely risky. Thankfully, I'm sure Poch doesnt think that way

Can only speak for myself here but i mention our previous slow starts in response to the arguments being made that our slow start this season is proof that there are deeper issues at play - basically if a slow start to the season is a recurring theme then having one this season is not indicative of major problems

 

[90291Spur]

Slow starts, end of season collapse, dithering recovery... And how every other team seems to be delirious when playing against us.

Ok nothing scientific at all. i don't think its a clean sport but i think we don't take chances there

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Then end of season collapse a couple of years ago was attrocious - only putting 6 past Leicester and 7 past Hull.

 

[90291Spur]

Can only speak for myself here but i mention our previous slow starts in response to the arguments being made that our slow start this season is proof that there are deeper issues at play - basically if a slow start to the season is a recurring theme then having one this season is not indicative of major problems

Except our traditional ‘slow start’ has us dropping points in the first three games of the season...