Pochettino's style to be fully implemented

[DuncanRG]

Pochettino and the players have all talked about him being unable to fully implement his style of play arriving midway through the season and that he'd only get the team playing exactly this way when they've had a full preseason with him.

 

With that in mind what kind of changes in style do you think we're going to see - and are new signings going to shape that or are we just looking for better quality?

[Window Cleaner]

Pochettino and the players have all talked about him being unable to fully implement his style of play arriving midway through the season and that he'd only get the team playing exactly this way when they've had a full preseason with him.

 

With that in mind what kind of changes in style do you think we're going to see - and are new signings going to shape that or are we just looking for better quality?

 

I expect we're going to sign a couple of players who don't end up on their backsides in the opponents penalty box and another couple who don't give away free shots on the edge of ours.

[Dig Dig]

I think we will see more pace and mobility in the final third from new personnel. I can't see too much changing by way of system but could possibly revert to a 4 3 3 given how we seem to be looking for another CM. Width could be provided by Clyne and Shaw.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

As the season wore on we seemed to revert more and more back to how we played under Adkins. The games against Everton, Man Utd, Wigan, and Man City just after he took change saw a big change and his style implemented straight away. Pushing high up the pitch, hunting for the ball in packs, and being quite aggressive in our play.

 

Then we got our pants pulled down at Newcastle as they played five in midfield and always made Cabaye the free man and he was pinging balls over the full-backs for fun which caused all sorts of problems. Ever since then I don't think Pochettino has had complete faith in our defence to be good enough to cope with being that exposed nor our attack to move the ball quick enough to do what he wants so he has set us up a little more conservatively.

 

In terms of the future, I would expect to see us go back to being a bit more aggressive and for that to work we'll need a better standard of central defender and also players in the final third who can move the ball quickly (one and two touch stuff) - be that quicker players or just players of a better standard.

[The Kraken]

Hopefully doing something that lets us turn defence into attack much quicker; in the last 6 or so games we were so frustratingly slow at getting forwards when we had opportunities. WBA showed us exactly how to play on the break and absolutely murdered us doing it; so a bit more pace in the side and new personnel to allow us to break forward behind the opposition's defensive line much quicker and get them properly on the back foot.

[Miltonaggro]

As the season wore on we seemed to revert more and more back to how we played under Adkins. The games against Everton, Man Utd, Wigan, and Man City just after he took change saw a big change and his style implemented straight away. Pushing high up the pitch, hunting for the ball in packs, and being quite aggressive in our play.

 

Then we got our pants pulled down at Newcastle as they played five in midfield and always made Cabaye the free man and he was pinging balls over the full-backs for fun which caused all sorts of problems. Ever since then I don't think Pochettino has had complete faith in our defence to be good enough to cope with being that exposed nor our attack to move the ball quick enough to do what he wants so he has set us up a little more conservatively.

 

In terms of the future, I would expect to see us go back to being a bit more aggressive and for that to work we'll need a better standard of central defender and also players in the final third who can move the ball quickly (one and two touch stuff) - be that quicker players or just players of a better standard.

 

Good summary.

[CityRanger]

what kind of changes in style do you think we're going to see - and are new signings going to shape that or are we just looking for better quality?

 

Possibly a larger squad with 2 quality players for each position allowing squad rotation? Keep players fresh and all that

[sfc4prem]

In reality we need two quality, and I mean quality, centre backs to take us to a new level, along with another striker, winger + central midfielder... That'll cost some serious money.

[Saint Charlie]

In reality we need two quality, and I mean quality, centre backs to take us to a new level, along with another striker, winger + central midfielder... That'll cost some serious money.

 

Agree. Plus full back cover too.

[Gemmel]

As the season wore on we seemed to revert more and more back to how we played under Adkins. The games against Everton, Man Utd, Wigan, and Man City just after he took change saw a big change and his style implemented straight away. Pushing high up the pitch, hunting for the ball in packs, and being quite aggressive in our play.

 

Then we got our pants pulled down at Newcastle as they played five in midfield and always made Cabaye the free man and he was pinging balls over the full-backs for fun which caused all sorts of problems. Ever since then I don't think Pochettino has had complete faith in our defence to be good enough to cope with being that exposed nor our attack to move the ball quick enough to do what he wants so he has set us up a little more conservatively.

 

In terms of the future, I would expect to see us go back to being a bit more aggressive and for that to work we'll need a better standard of central defender and also players in the final third who can move the ball quickly (one and two touch stuff) - be that quicker players or just players of a better standard.

 

 

Superb post

[Saint Fan CaM]

I expect we're going to sign a couple of players who don't end up on their backsides in the opponents penalty box and another couple who don't give away free shots on the edge of ours.

 

Pretty much exactly this.

[mancsaint]

As the season wore on we seemed to revert more and more back to how we played under Adkins. The games against Everton, Man Utd, Wigan, and Man City just after he took change saw a big change and his style implemented straight away. Pushing high up the pitch, hunting for the ball in packs, and being quite aggressive in our play.

 

Then we got our pants pulled down at Newcastle as they played five in midfield and always made Cabaye the free man and he was pinging balls over the full-backs for fun which caused all sorts of problems. Ever since then I don't think Pochettino has had complete faith in our defence to be good enough to cope with being that exposed nor our attack to move the ball quick enough to do what he wants so he has set us up a little more conservatively.

 

In terms of the future, I would expect to see us go back to being a bit more aggressive and for that to work we'll need a better standard of central defender and also players in the final third who can move the ball quickly (one and two touch stuff) - be that quicker players or just players of a better standard.

 

Some of our opposition worked our pressing tactics out and counteracted it. We must be flexible ourselves to adapt to different tactics.

 

Mancsaint

[The Kraken]

Some of our opposition worked our pressing tactics out and counteracted it. We must be flexible ourselves to adapt to different tactics.

 

Mancsaint

 

Exactly that; point in case WBA who played 3 up front and played longer balls over the top and into the channels which constantly put us on the back foot. We were torn apart in that game, Steve Clarke got his tactics absolutely spot on and we simply had no answer to a rather one dimensional gameplan of our own.

[Window Cleaner]

Some of our opposition worked our pressing tactics out and counteracted it. We must be flexible ourselves to adapt to different tactics.

 

Mancsaint

 

When you have to rely on donkeys like Fox you run the risk of getting beaten no matter what you do. Just look at his record compared to the other LB systems used, don't doubt it is woeful or worse than woeful.

[MOSaint]

Exactly that; point in case WBA who played 3 up front and played longer balls over the top and into the channels which constantly put us on the back foot. We were torn apart in that game, Steve Clarke got his tactics absolutely spot on and we simply had no answer to a rather one dimensional gameplan of our own.

 

That game, in addition to the QPR game and Newcastle away highlighted how important it is to have pace at the back if we want to continue playing high, pressing football. Even when Clyne and Shaw are playing we still look vulnerable to the long ball through the middle as all our CBs are lacking for pace. Yoshida can read the game well but he needs to be partnered with a Strong, Quick CB who can handle players like Lukaku, Remy and Cisse. Defensively it is a risky strategy as it can invite long balls and counters and unfortunately Hooiveld, Fonte, Fox are nowhere near good enough to play in such a system.

 

It should also be pointed out that as teams got up to speed with MP's tactics and decided to sit back and look for the counter attack, it became all too apparent that our attacking players do not have the end product to break these sides down.

 

Hopefully, over the summer, the club can bring in players who have the quality and physical attributes required to play MP's way effectively and those that can't are phased out or moved on.

[The9]

Pochettino and the players have all talked about him being unable to fully implement his style of play arriving midway through the season and that he'd only get the team playing exactly this way when they've had a full preseason with him.

 

With that in mind what kind of changes in style do you think we're going to see - and are new signings going to shape that or are we just looking for better quality?

 

I'd hope we were able to play in more than one style, be less susceptible to counter-attacking and long ball sides, and generally have the flexibility to respond to whatever the opposition throws at us, rather than being a high-pitch pressing side that gets stiffed every time we play a side we're not compatible with.

 

We also can't expect to be a surprise to anyone next season, as we seemed to be (both times) we played Man U and City last season.

[The9]

When you have to rely on donkeys like Fox you run the risk of getting beaten no matter what you do. Just look at his record compared to the other LB systems used, don't doubt it is woeful or worse than woeful.

 

At any level you're only as strong as the limitations of your worst player.

[DuncanRG]

At any level you're only as strong as the limitations of your worst player.

 

United are only as good as Anderson, then?

[Colinjb]

At any level you're only as strong as the limitations of your worst player.

 

Depending on the opposing tactics, of course. Danny Fox highlights this, we beat Man City with him in the side.

Edited 2 June, 2013 by Colinjb

[Colinjb]

United are only as good as Anderson, then?

 

He is hardly a first team regular. For a reason.

[Sour Mash]

Pochettino and the players have all talked about him being unable to fully implement his style of play arriving midway through the season and that he'd only get the team playing exactly this way when they've had a full preseason with him.

 

With that in mind what kind of changes in style do you think we're going to see - and are new signings going to shape that or are we just looking for better quality?

What is MP's style of play, apart from high pressing? And when have the players said they're currently unable to implement it?

[The9]

United are only as good as Anderson, then?

 

When he plays, yes. Or whoever's worse than him...

[The9]

Depending on the opposing tactics, of course. Danny Fox highlights this, we beat Man City with him in the side.

 

He played pretty well in that one, for him, but I suspect Joe Hart and Gareth Barry's efforts at being the worst player on the pitch kept him out of the equation - unlike at the Etihad, when he assisted their winner with probably the worst defensive header in the Prem last season.

[DuncanRG]

What is MP's style of play, apart from high pressing? And when have the players said they're currently unable to implement it?

 

That's what I'm asking. Lambert's one of a couple who have mentioned that he'll do his work and 'get us playing how he wants' in the summer, but more importantly the man himself has talked about not being able to totally revamp the style of play midway through a season. He's said quite often he's only been able to adapt from Adkins' style

 

He is hardly a first team regular. For a reason.

 

Neither's Fox, to be fair! Though you'd rather have a dodgy centre mid than a dodgy full back in most Premier League games I suppose.

[The9]

Neither's Fox, to be fair! Though you'd rather have a dodgy centre mid than a dodgy full back in most Premier League games I suppose.

 

...says Lee Cattermole's career.