Over the short 16 month period that Mauricio Pochettino was manager of Saints he garnered a great reputation, but was that reputation born out by fact.

When Pochettino arrived at the Club the Ugly Inside published a link to a story published on the QPR website on fansnetwork, written by a Spanish QPR fan who lives in Barcelona and supports Espanyol, the article was well written and painted a picture of Pochettino, one that proved to be accurate and its predictions spookily turning out to be correct.

It stated that Pochettino had been a very popular man at Espanyol, but he managed in a very rigid style, preferred to use a core of players rather than the whole squad and that each season followed a similar pattern of a good start followed by a drop in winter as injuries took their toll with the odd burst of wins making sure that the club never dropped into the relegation zone.

This has proved to be the case at Saints, so lets look at how he has performed.

1. Results
Last season saw Pochettino arrive at just over the half way point and with Saints out of the relegation zone, after a dodgy start, Pochettino had a great little run in the middle but things died at the end, in his 16 games in charge he attained 19 points, ironically enough exactly the same as his predecessor Nigel Adkins had gained in his final 16 games in charge.

This season has followed pretty much the pattern that our Spanish friend warned of in that the first half was very good, the middle part was not as spectacular, but we had enough points to never let us get dragged down the table, a look at those results showed a very marked up and down pattern.

Worryingly for Spurs fans Pochettino could not seem to beat sides above us, of the 14 games played against the top 7, we won only two, gaining only 10 points from the 14 games, if we extend that scope to the top 10 it does get a little better, adding 4 games adds on 6 points, but that still only makes 16 points from 18 games against the top half of the table which is not great.

What we did well was beat the teams that we should have beaten ie those in the bottom half.

Another worrying fact though was that we must have been the only Premier team not to win a game that we fell behind in, we had a system, we stuck to it even when it wasn't working.

2. Team Selection
As mentioned Pochettino is very rigid when it comes to team selections, he likes to stick to the same core of players barring injury and substitutions were very predictable, always like for like and never changing the tactics even when it clearly merited it.

In the league we used 21 outfield players, of those only 13 played 20 or more games including substitute appearances, of the other 9 players, two Guly and Harrison Reed didn't start a game and only came of for fleeting sub appearances mostly to run down the clock, Yoshida, Hooiveld and Fox made the odd start due to injury, that left only three players who played a significant part outside of that core of 13, Osvaldo needs no introduction, Gaston Ramirez managed 3 starts and 15 off the bench and Sam Gallagher had identical stats.

The overview is clear, Pochettino could not use his squad to its full effect, yes some would say that was because he lacked the depth, but any Saints fan could have told you that and we made no efforts to strengthen the squad last summer apart from the so called marque signings, the worry for Spurs is that they do have a big squad and it needs to be utilised, Pochettino has no history of being able to do that, throughout his managerial career its been a question of the same players week in week out, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't, when it doesn't there is no plan B.

3. Transfers
It has to be said that last summer the transfers were not solely in the hands of Pochettino, in fact he probably only had a say rather than a list of demands, we made three signings costing us in excess of £35 million, the first Lovren at around £7.5 million was a success, the second Wanyama at £12 million was also a success to a lesser degree, although in fairness injuries to him restricted his appearances and the third Osvaldo was an unmitigating disaster, however I do place the blame squarely on the manager here, he failed to deal with a situation that I preicted back in September by not making a choice between Lambert and Osvaldo and trying to play his system using them both which worked to a degree, but more due to the form of the team rather than the two individulas concerned, instead of players at the top of their form, we had two who were clearly not at their best because the manager could not decide which one to play, it was a question of who snapped first and it was Osvaldo.

But the overiding feeling last summer was that Lovren aside we had looked at two areas of the team that needed the least strengthening whilst overlooking others.

4. Tactics
This is an easy section, we could only play one way, Pochettino as shown used a core of players and only used other players in the starting line up when he had an injury to a position that he had no other choice, which is why Hooiveld, Fox and Yoshida got 13 starts between them, otherwise it was the same old same old week in week out, when it worked it worked well as was shown in some great results, notably Hull at home and Fulham away, but at other times it was painful to watch, when we went behind that was it, if like Cardiff you had parked the bus and were handling everything thrown at you with ease, there was no change around, no trying something different to catch them on the hop, it was always the same formation and the same substitutions.

As mentioned previously if we went behind we did not win a game, looking at all the results, astonishingly this was the case throughout Pochettino's time at the club, in his four wins in his first season, none came after the opposition scored first, this is a damning indictment of his tactical nous, if im honest I have to say that as a coach Pochettino is great, he knows how to get a team working for each other and passing the ball, but as a manager he lacks that decision making and ability to change a game, in football there are managers and there are coaches, rarely these days do you get one man who is both, a good manager will have a good coach alongside him, its a lot tougher to be a coach in charge of a team and have a manager under you, but essentially that is what you need in today's modern game, someone to do the coaches and someone who can make decisive decisions and changes to tactics when the occasion merits it.

In conclusion Pochettino is a great coach when he can work with a small core group and get them playing to a fixed style, anything other than that and he is out of his comfort zone.

5. Youth
There is a perception that Pochettino has brought on the youth at Saints, whilst his style of play has helped , the reality is that the likes of Shaw and James ward Prowse were already first team regulars when he arrived, this season Chambers played the opening games due to injury to Clyne and was then neglected for 3 months until Clyne got injured again, not even coming on as sub in that time and Gallagher has only got as many appearances as he has due to the injury to Rodriguez aligned with Osvaldos departure on loan leaving us desperately short.

Other than that youth has not got its chance, Harrison Reed has made four appearances as sub totaling 10 minutes in total, other than that all the famed promising youngsters have not got much of a chance, even in the final game against Man Utd with nothing to play for ochettino didnt take the opportunity to give the likes of Reed an extended run out, nor blood Targett, McQueen or Rowe for instance, again Pochettino is a manager who doesnt take chances, he want a small squad of experienced players, not one that he has to build..

Overall Pochettino has been good for Southampton Football Club, he has taken us forward, but the overiding feeling is that perhaps he would not be able to take us forward much more, indeed could any manager, look at the clubs who finished above us and its a hard task to move up even one place.

But I think this season has been one of a squad performing to its capabilities rather than one that has overperformed, on a points per game ratio we really should have got more, our inability to beat the top sides asks a big question of Pochettino and there is that feeling that he inherited a good squad about to blossom, yes he took it forward, but he in many respects steered the ship rather than set a new course.

This sounds a little like sour grapes, but those who have read my articles over a season will know that what I have said here is nothing more than I have been saying all year.

Mauricio Pochettino is a good coach, he has helped our players develop as players, his style is good that is for sure, but I do feel that as a head coach he lacks that something that can turn average sides into better ones, good coaches change games unfortunately Pochettino will never do that, his tactics either work or they don't and if they dont there is no Plan B

Good luck to Mauricio I do not blame him for taking his big chance when it came, but I do feel that he has not got the experience to deal with the Spurs squad in the way it needs to be dealt with, with games coming thick and fast in the Europa League he will struggle to use the squad and a fair chaunk of it may find themselves disalussioned by not playing much.

Photo: Action Images

St_Guido added 10:59 - May 28 Very fair assessment Nick, imho.
3

BaselSaint added 11:03 - May 28 Move on, forget him. No matter what the club did he would have gone... Bring on Yakin!!
2

Rednose added 11:53 - May 28 A very good article, forgot about the Espanyol fan’s comments from the other year. I do agree and wish him well. I didn’t know why I wasn’t too disappointed on hearing the news yesterday, more interested on who would now come in to be honest. But reading your comment today, starting to think MP departure will actually be good for us, especially if we don’t lose the players being mentioned. Do Saints still get the 2 million from him for leaving early? On wards and upwards, not sure if the FC Basel guy is the right man, cos I’ve heard he doesn’t speak English. They said that about MP, but we know he did.

1

Zambucco added 12:03 - May 28 Brilliant Nick, hammer firmly on the head of the nail! The appointment of his replacement, will make or break the board and the confidence we must show in them. I am sure that they will have been scouting replacements from the moment Pocettino told the press he would leave if Cortese left. My hope is that they do it with thought and consideration, that the man they bring in will take what is a team built on a strong foundation, with a brilliant team spirit, and massive potential, and work with that to continue our rise steadily through the ranks Also he has to have a plan 'B'

3

saintmark1976 added 12:12 - May 28 Top flight assessment Nick. My only concern being your view of the Osvaldo situation.Why he was even considered as a good prospect is beyond me bearing in mind his previous track record in regard to problems with his own team mates. The 15 million was wasted and the sooner you accept that it had little if anything to do with Rickie Lambert the better in my opinion. By the way do we yet know if he is coming back to haunt us again or is he staying in Italy? In regard to a new man my first choice would be David Moyes who lest we forget did very well with Everton and a restricted budget before his debacle at Man U. Surely good managers, like good players do not become bad managers and players over night? As a long shot how about Eddie Howe at Bournemouth? Yes, lacking experience of the top flight but so was Lawrie Mac and he went on to be half decent . At least he would not need an interpreter!

-1

bstokesaint added 12:20 - May 28 Not much to comment any further on here Nick. It's a decent critique to be honest. I'll be sad to see Poch go, especially when I personally think Saints have more growing to do, especially compared to Spurs, where 5th place is unlikely to be good enough, but in truth would be quite an achievement. I just hope we can bring in the right man who'll get the buy-in from the players. I'm resigned to losing 2 or 3 of them, but provided we use any money received well and add to whoever stays and who we have coming through the academy there is no reason why we can't achieve as much next year as this. For now let's see if Ralph can pass his first major test..

0

GeordieSaint added 12:21 - May 28 Good luck to him, thought he did a great job and the squad spurs have will be a good fit for him. Koeman would be interesting, didn't we once want to emulate Ajax? Neil Lennon could be another option but I defo like the thought off some total football.
-1

kuningan added 12:21 - May 28 Couldn't agree more. OK, Saints have looked a lot more like a solid Premiership side but MP is still a long way from being the complete manager for all the reasons above. Didn't he see the need for more power and pace in the attack? The full backs can't do everything. As for the transfers, we don't know who was making the decisions. But MP having worked with Osvaldo before should have realised that he wasn't what we needed in any way. Maybe it's just me but in a lifetime of supporting Saints the end of this season and last season have been the only times I've felt a bit bored watching some of the games. The predictable 70% possession and the equally predictable lack of created chances. I wish him well. Now what was Benali saying about Laudrup being right for the Saints job ...

2

slynch added 13:16 - May 28 Cortese and Pochettino have guided Saints to the best position ever, and the most respected team and system Saints have produced. Both have gone for who knows what reason but it happened on Katerina and Kreuger's watch. Judging from what they have said it seems that neither have any idea what they are doing. But it is early days, not too early too judge but too early to condemn. It was obvious that Pochettino was going to resign, he said so and kept saying that he was informed there was no plan in place for the future. Cortese would have had someone lined up already; are these two flapping around or have they got someone lined up? I don't know. But they had better starting making more reassuring noises or there won't be any Saints' players in the World Cup.

-2

richardmdcooper added 13:19 - May 28 Good assessment!
2

cotswoldsaint added 13:34 - May 28 Good stuff, just trying to think who was the last Saints manager who could change things around when Plan A wasn't working. Hoddle?
1

SaintNick added 13:34 - May 28 saintmark, the wasting of £15 million had nothing to do with Rickie personally, but indirectly it did in that Pochettino did not make a decision about making either his first choice, the end result was that Rickie had a patchy season in the first half of it anyway and so did Osvaldo, neither played to their true potential and the upshot was that Osvaldo was always going to throw his toys out of the pram, when he came he wanted to be the lone striker not some hybrid striker/wideman as it ended up. Yes in the early days we beat some poor teams like palace and Fulham, but in the main it didnt work against the better teams

0

SanMarco added 15:13 - May 28 Good article - though to be fair to MoPo he is still young and he may learn and improve. It is nice to read comments that aren't being silly about the board or deifying the likes of NC - who let's face it is a banker, very good at spending other people's money and getting very rich in the process. Football fans aren't very good at mild emotions like disappointment - they go more for anger. We should all remember that the current people in charge could not have prevented what has happened and sadly, what is going to happen over LS and AL etc. If they could have they would have. Let's all move on positively (and thrash Spurs twice next season)...

2

slynch added 15:43 - May 28 Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport 1h Just about to interview #saintsfc chairman Ralph Krueger for the BBC. Hear it on @BBCRadioSolent in drive-time with @louhannan after 5
0

davepid added 17:18 - May 28 For some time I have said MP has taken us as far as he could. Nic your assessment is excellent . You might have commented on Lallanas great season compared to last and whether MP can take credit for that . But on the debit side, MP didn't improve the second choice defenders he had to call upon over the winter. If he's a good coach and ,being a defender himself, it's strange Fox, Hoov and Yos continued to make fairly basic mistakes.

1

birminghamsaint added 17:47 - May 28 Hit the nail on the head, especially the point about not blooding youngsters when 8th place was already assured.
2

no7saint added 22:21 - May 28 Good article, totally agree with it all. His main strength was also his weakness - his focus on maintaining his way of playing rather than adapting to the opposition became a real problem when it didn't work. As you say there was no plan B, as demonstrated by a painful display against Villa in December when we had something like 75% posession but managed to lose 2-3. Allardyce also did a number on him at West Ham, proving we were nothing if not predictable. Let's hope our next manager spots the pattern and does the double on him next season. One shouldn't be bitter but I'm really hoping it goes the way of Hoddle!

0

ExiledSupporter added 11:13 - May 29 Yes, excellent and objective review, for once you seem to be getting the plaudits you deserve for your incisive views. But while we think that MP was good at improving existing players standards, and I agree that Lallana and Rodrigues are examples amongst others, I don't discern much improvement from arguably the most talented player that we possess who consistently fails to live up to expectation. Yes, I mean Ramirez (okay lots of injury time etc) but why can't he and the management unlock his potential?

0

BlackRod added 12:34 - May 30 Very fair comments. Likelihood is that Poch will be on his way back to Spain before Easter. The Spurs board are an impatient bunch. I too think David Moyes would be an excellent acquisition.
0

Blogs 32 bloggers

Shrewsbury Town Polls