The intensity of Mauricio Pochettino’s training is a subject that’s come up before, nevertheless, I always held a view that on occasion, the Argentine could overtrain the boys, and that sometimes, the best yards were left on the immaculate pitches at Hotspur Way. That was certainly the case in respect of the Champions League Final against Liverpool.
Talking to L’Equipe, our Ivory Coast man also talks freely that this was almost certainly his last season for Spurs and that his heart belongs to Paris St Germain. If rumours about Max Aarons are anything to go by, then Daniel Levy already has Serge’s replacement waiting in the wings.
The ‘painful rebuild’ that Pochettino announced a short while before being sacked by Spurs is perhaps beginning in small steps to make progress. Aurier is 29 this year and too many of what was once a notably young Spurs side are no longer as electric as they once were. So long Serge and keep on keeping on with that throw-in technique.
I thought they did play a very pressing game in a similar vein to Liverpool. I think he also benefited from having a squad he could rotate so that he could reduce the game time players had.
He often made five or six changes per game. Indeed I think he made nine changes for the Fa cup semi with Chelsea which followed a midweek European game.
There’s no murder ball or two hearts needed to train for City though… Pep doesn’t overtrain his players does he.
At 1vs 1 duels Power serge was only just beaten by Pierre. Also Pierre was the only man who managed more tackles than Serge… The stats and facts says he can defend. No other defender tackled more for us.
Groundhog….
Proof of it were needed, as to why we fell short at the end of the season (s) You simply don’t need to train that heard once you reach a level of fitness. You train to keep the level.
Playing Aurier means having to tell a DM (Sissoko or PEH) to babysit him, as he really doesn’t care when we get exposed down his flank.
Has anyone told him he’s actually a defender first?
Serge could defend sometimes, when he managed to stay focused, but there was always a brainfart in the wings – a bit like Sanchez. Play them both and you’re 1-0 down at the start, which we can’t afford.
I find Reg infinitely more interesting and promising than either of them. He had a poor end to the season but he was very exciting in the first half, which gives me hope we could have a LB who won’t get targeted by every decent team we face. He’s young and it’s his first PL season, let’s cut him some slack.
They have a smaller squad and played two seasons in the Championship under Bielsa (46 games a season just in the league). I think it’s more to do with recruitment and a willingness to work hard.
This is a good one: ‘Tottenham are working on a double appointment of Antonio Conte as manager alongside former Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici as director of football.’
I imagine we’re due at least half a summer of this. I’m far less interested in the manager situation than I am the player situation, however. I think a fairly complete rebuild is necessary with an early Kane exit.
Great point. That dipstick Sissoko must have thought he was on a basketball court. I believe that both the players and fans immediately thought “here we go again” and the air came out of the balloon. It wasn’t the only reason we lost but it played a big, big part in it.
Talented no doubt but undisciplined, walking slowly back to his position with every one else scrambling.
not yet, but just rolling a bank holiday specialale.
Serge cant defend though can he just like Reg, still as long as they run fast eh !
That performance was as bad as it gets, lifeless, gutlesss and pathetic, no excuses for Poch please, we were good enough to get to the final but did not perform, he failed as much as the players.
you’re quite right with the underlying reason but it still annoys me that Trippier was out of position within 15 secs of KO, Sissoko exposed. ball to hand dubious pen after 27 seconds.
The majority don’t want to see, its upsets them. they prefer to go round blindly in circles Conte, Poch, N’Manger etc rebuild. investment(this time) expecting ENIC to change.
It’s beyond a rebuild now. With no Kane this squad will be looking at bottom half or worse without some significant incomings of quality. It’s been neglected to the point of no return perhaps. This is what ENIC do….again, see Vicenza.
Serge lacks footballing intelligence, always has, hence the throw on debacle, plus his label as a “liability” plus his frequent problems being out of position – much like a previous incumbent with a clown based nickname, except he had the pace to get himself out of trouble.
Sooner he is on the first flight to Paris the better IMO. Hopefully Max Aarons is done, and becomes Mr Reliable so we can move on to other problem positions.
Leeds don’t burn out because they don’t play 60 games a season.
Plus they essentially choked after that Sissoko moment.
You going to RM then Serge?
Pochettino as was Guadiola are disciples of Bielsa and have incorporated his training disciplines into
Eriksen was a main culprit also.
Hi
The narrative wasn’t about the training though. I repeatedly made a case for the overtraining business.
The softness was in respect of tolerating all the stupid handshakes and the hysterical reaction to beating Ajax.
I find it laughable that this narrative emerged around Poch being to soft on them and Jose was to be the antidote.
Training is tough under Bielsa or Poch but when everyone was signed up to it we were really good. Trouble is that king of approach requires transfer churn and fresh, willing recruits. Not constantly sticking with Sissoko and Winks in midfield for two whole years…
Many theories about why we lost that final( the goal machine that is Lucas Moura didn’t come on until the 2nd half, Kane wasn’t for etc. Personally during the match I blame Sissoko and his stupidly outstretched arm in the penalty area and as a result us being one down inside four minutes…
For me the true underlying reason we lost the final to Liverpool because Klopp spent about 160m on the team that season and we signed nobody. The momentum was with them, we suffered wilful neglect from our owners and they benefited from the opposite. Simple as that.
22 years and one League Cup…
Say what we will about Serge, but he’s one of our strongest and fastest players – and if he couldn’t move, imagine how the rest of the squad must have felt after training.
Again, I’ve got to raise the Leeds point – Bielsa’s been crushing them in training for three years and I’ve yet to see them burn out like Spurs under Poch. What’s more, players come out saying it’s arduous but they’ve never been in a better shape, they didn’t know their bodies could do so much, and often, they play the best football of their lives.
Do our players just not fancy running anymore?