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Brian Laudrup on Eriksen and Poch's "special" way of playing

DOX

Well-Known Member
Apr 17, 2004
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729
“At the moment in the Premier League he’s trying to adapt to Mauricio Pochettino’s way of playing, which is different to other managers’, but he’s a very gifted player – there’s no doubt about that.”
http://spurs.to/t0qHkJ

Everyone (even insiders at Spurs) seems to describe Poch's style of play somewhat uncommon and difficult to implement.

At Southampton, Poch got his squad to grasp his methods with ease (and even pleasure), which involved the very infamous strenuous double training sessions. His "special" methods resulted in playing some really exciting football, pressing high with plenty of flair.

At White Hart Lane, the almost opposite is happening...

Why are Poch's methods so difficult to grasp for the Spurs players?

Are the players square pegs and does Poch's style of play represent round holes? Are the players simply stupid? Lazy? Or was it just a one-off season at Southampton?
 

thinktank

Hmmm...
Sep 28, 2004
45,893
68,893
“At the moment in the Premier League he’s trying to adapt to Mauricio Pochettino’s way of playing, which is different to other managers’, but he’s a very gifted player – there’s no doubt about that.”
http://spurs.to/t0qHkJ

Everyone (even insiders at Spurs) seems to describe Poch's style of play somewhat uncommon and difficult to implement.

At Southampton, Poch got his squad to grasp his methods with ease (and even pleasure), which involved the very infamous strenuous double training sessions. His "special" methods resulted in playing some really exciting football, pressing high with plenty of flair.

At White Hart Lane, the almost opposite is happening...

Why are Poch's methods so difficult to grasp for the Spurs players?

Are the players square pegs and does Poch's style of play represent round holes? Are the players simply stupid? Lazy? Or was it just a one-off season at Southampton?

The answer is lurking amidst that lot. And his style may well present 'round holes' due to the two latter queries you made.

It did take the s'ton lot 6 months to really get to grips with it though. We fans are in a bit of a hurry but there is no quick fix with this.
 
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Reclamation Project

Active Member
Aug 17, 2008
457
525
Our only point of reference is Poch's relatively short stint at Southampton, but their situation was very different to ours.

Southampton were a squad of unheralded players, who had been together for many years working their way up to the Premier League (under that bloke who used to be a physio!).

Honestly they were facing a struggle to survive in the Premier League. Of course losing Adkins would have shaken them all, but really the mindset was completely different. They were a hardworking, settled team, without ego desperately trying to survive. I feel sure that would have made them more open to trying to adapt to Poch's 'philosophy' as soon as possible.

Contrast that with our situation where we have usually been challenging for top 4, we've had a whole load of (sub-standard) players on big wages thrown together over a short time. We've had questionable periods under AVB, a period under Sh1twood where all the players knew he would be leaving, and now Poch with a new philosophy.

This is a mental/human situation we have at the moment. Eventually the squad will be re-shaped and those who can't be fu**ed or think they know better will be weeded out (as long as Poch doesn't keep on losing games).
 

robbiedee

Mama said knock you out
Jul 6, 2012
2,713
7,487
I do wonder if when a player reaches a certain threshold of transfer fee/salary that they think they've hit the big time and are above things like double training sessions etc...at times it does look like they just don't get it and more often than not, can't be arsed to get it (the system that is).

Too much sulking and general malaise for for my liking. With a minority of players excluded, they really need to pull their fingers out and get on with it.

I would hope that the younger players are more adaptable than say the more senior players. Time will tell.
 
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philip

Well-Known Member
Jan 4, 2009
1,347
2,490
Our only point of reference is Poch's relatively short stint at Southampton, but their situation was very different to ours.

Southampton were a squad of unheralded players, who had been together for many years working their way up to the Premier League (under that bloke who used to be a physio!).

Honestly they were facing a struggle to survive in the Premier League. Of course losing Adkins would have shaken them all, but really the mindset was completely different. They were a hardworking, settled team, without ego desperately trying to survive. I feel sure that would have made them more open to trying to adapt to Poch's 'philosophy' as soon as possible.

Contrast that with our situation where we have usually been challenging for top 4, we've had a whole load of (sub-standard) players on big wages thrown together over a short time. We've had questionable periods under AVB, a period under Sh1twood where all the players knew he would be leaving, and now Poch with a new philosophy.

This is a mental/human situation we have at the moment. Eventually the squad will be re-shaped and those who can't be fu**ed or think they know better will be weeded out (as long as Poch doesn't keep on losing games).

Agree. The players mindset, especially the likes of Kaboul, Vertonghen and Adebayor is that if things go tits up, it'll be the manager who goes, not them.
 

eddiebailey

Well-Known Member
Oct 12, 2004
7,452
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The jury is out on whether given sufficient exposure to Poch's traning regime the squad will become fit enough to play the high energy pressing game he expects, or just too tired to kick a football. Recent performances suggest the latter, but hopefully performances are just getting worse before they get better.

It has to be said though that I do not recall him having these teething problems at Southampton. I suspect he may have been fortunate in having players who were naturally more athletic. Not every professional footballer is cut out to play a high energy pressing game. Many of the very best are not. One shudders to think how a Hoddle, a Lineker or a Ginola would fare under Poch.

I am remined of the old quote about university: it is where pebbles go to be polished and diamonds to be dimmed. I suspect Poch's methods may make look good players look great and great players look average.
 
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guate

Well-Known Member
May 12, 2005
3,270
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Ericksen is obviously a smart footballer and provided Mauricio is given time this season to implement his style through the players buying into his work ethic etc. I have no doubt Ericksen will become an important cog in our future plans.
 

Reclamation Project

Active Member
Aug 17, 2008
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Ericksen is obviously a smart footballer and provided Mauricio is given time this season to implement his style through the players buying into his work ethic etc. I have no doubt Ericksen will become an important cog in our future plans.

I have to say I've got a real problem with Eriksen. At this time where we need players to spill their guts, he just avoids getting involved. I don't care how talented he is, he hasn't got the bottle and I would quite happily see the back of him.
 

yido_number1

He'll always be magic
Jun 8, 2004
8,645
16,810
The jury is out on whether given sufficient exposure to Poch's traning regime the squad will become fit enough to play the high energy pressing game he expects, or just too tired to kick a football. Recent performances suggest the latter, but hopefully performances are just getting worse before they get better.

It has to be said though that I do not recall him having these teething problems at Southampton. I suspect he may have been fortunate in having players who were naturally more athletic. Not every professional footballer is cut out to play a high energy pressing game. Many of the very best are not. One shudders to think how a Hoddle, a Lineker or a Ginola would fare under Poch.

I am remined of the old quote about university: it is where pebbles go to be polished and diamonds to be dimmed. I suspect Poch's methods may look good players look great and great players look average.

Lallana is a very tidy footballer who was long marked to a be a future star. It worked for him and there is no reason it shouldn't work for our players unless they can't be arsed to put the work in. Given our budget I would be more inclined to employ good players and make them look great rather just have a few talents in the team...
 

guate

Well-Known Member
May 12, 2005
3,270
1,486
I have to say I've got a real problem with Eriksen. At this time where we need players to spill their guts, he just avoids getting involved. I don't care how talented he is, he hasn't got the bottle and I would quite happily see the back of him.

I actually agree with you as Ericksen's disinterest at times drives me bonkers, however as mentioned, he's a smart player and provided Mauricio can convince him that his system will work, then I expect Ericksen to become a crucial Modric like player for us in the future.
 

lennonslaces

Active Member
May 25, 2006
116
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If you are going to play a high line you need quicker/ better Centre Halves than Fazio and Kaboom. The fact that he signed Fazio who is slower than Michael Dawson goes to show to me that Poch doesn't know what he's doing. Fazio is the last defender in the world that you would sign to fit into this supposedly mythical system that Poch has and is unable to get through to the team.

Poor Christian is suffering from this system that is plainly not working and that the manager, coach or whatever he is can't seem to change. I can only see players like Eriksen getting worse and not better
 

Reclamation Project

Active Member
Aug 17, 2008
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I actually agree with you as Ericksen's disinterest at times drives me bonkers, however as mentioned, he's a smart player and provided Mauricio can convince him that his system will work, then I expect Ericksen to become a crucial Modric like player for us in the future.

I think someone like Modric should be an example to this current team. Modric is a player of small stature, but putting his fantastic footballing brain and ability to one side, Modric always put his body in between the opposition and the ball. I see Modric and Eriksen as complete opposites. Working and playing hard is a decision you make as a player. Eriksen is a complete luxury, who's forward play is inconsistent, whereas Modric is the complete package.

You never know, Eriksen is young, but I seriously doubt we'd ever be able to change his attitude and make him battle.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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The answer is lurking amidst that lot. And his style may well present 'round holes' due to the two latter queries you made.

It did take the s'ton lot 6 months to really get to grips with it though. We fans are in a bit of a hurry but there is no quick fix with this.


6 months and a summer/pre-season, unhindered by an international tournament and big egos.
 

talkshowhost86

Mod-Moose
Staff
Oct 2, 2004
48,100
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I think a lot of our players are just work-shy primadonnas, not helped by the fact that the vice-captain is a lazy lunatic.

Obviously that's a sweeping generalisation, and I hope Poch is starting to weed out those who fall into that category, but there are far too many who are clearly either too lazy or too stupid to follow the instructions being provided.

That's not to absolve Poch of blame because obviously the buck stops with him, but I really do think it's the players fault at the moment and I look forward to next Summer when hopefully Poch can get rid of most of them and get in some players who actually want to work with him.
 

talkshowhost86

Mod-Moose
Staff
Oct 2, 2004
48,100
47,054
I actually agree with you as Ericksen's disinterest at times drives me bonkers, however as mentioned, he's a smart player and provided Mauricio can convince him that his system will work, then I expect Ericksen to become a crucial Modric like player for us in the future.

I don't think Eriksen will ever be a similar player to Modric. For all of his slight stature, Modric was pretty good defensively and positionally was excellent meaning he could play in the centre of midfield.

Eriksen never looks comfortable when he's asked to drop back, and whilst his range of passing and his vision is clearly excellent, he still doesn't seem to have quite got up to the pace of the premiership which is worrying after such a long time.

He's a top player, but not one I'm convinced will make it in England.
 

Blackcanary

Dame sans merci
Jul 15, 2012
5,621
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I think a lot of our players are just work-shy primadonnas, not helped by the fact that the vice-captain is a lazy lunatic.

Obviously that's a sweeping generalisation, and I hope Poch is starting to weed out those who fall into that category, but there are far too many who are clearly either too lazy or too stupid to follow the instructions being provided.

That's not to absolve Poch of blame because obviously the buck stops with him, but I really do think it's the players fault at the moment and I look forward to next Summer when hopefully Poch can get rid of most of them and get in some players who actually want to work with him.

He's not helping himself though. I get that Ade is clearly a popular guy in the dressing room but Poch making him vice-captain is almost giving the stamp of approval to his poor attitude.
 

Borks

Well-Known Member
Jun 22, 2014
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Eriksen has no bottle or desire when the going gets tough and his set pieces of late have been absolutely atrocious. It's all good having skilful players but he just doesn't turn up in games against the bigger teams.
 

eddiebailey

Well-Known Member
Oct 12, 2004
7,452
6,672
I think someone like Modric should be an example to this current team. Modric is a player of small stature, but putting his fantastic footballing brain and ability to one side, Modric always put his body in between the opposition and the ball. I see Modric and Eriksen as complete opposites. Working and playing hard is a decision you make as a player. Eriksen is a complete luxury, who's forward play is inconsistent, whereas Modric is the complete package.

You never know, Eriksen is young, but I seriously doubt we'd ever be able to change his attitude and make him battle.

"It's the bad players who are a luxury" D. Blancheflower.

Eriksen played to his strengths was head and shoulders above everyone else at Tottenham last season.
 
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