There's been improvement, but I find it hard to forget: Chilwell at LW, Colwill at LB, Maatsen at RW, awful HT team talks, our worst defence ever in the PL, lemons, losing to Liverpool's kids, worst discipline record in the PL, etc...

I won't shed any tears if he goes.

Okay okay Poch in 

20 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

- Get a striker who at worst challenges Jackson

- Get a top CB that can fill the void of Silva's influence. 

- Get a defensively strong LB, preferably one that can win aerial duels. 

- Sort out the injury issue. 

 

Honestly, do those 4 things and I think next season will be very optimistic. 

Also need a better GK if one becomes available, could always put it off to next season if not. 

The club HAVE to support Poch is sorting out the injury issue. We can’t have it again. It completely hampers and undermines all of Poch’s work if he’s got 10+ players out every week. 

37 minutes ago, Zeta said:

There's been improvement, but I find it hard to forget: Chilwell at LW, Colwill at LB, Maatsen at RW, awful HT team talks, our worst defence ever in the PL, lemons, losing to Liverpool's kids, worst discipline record in the PL, etc...

I won't shed any tears if he goes.

Who replaces him?

how the f**k should i know?

Tuchel is in advanced stages to stay at Bayern so a reunion with Kane is looking unlikely. 
 

I can’t see why we would risk another summer of upheaval when the team looks to be heading in the right direction. 

23 minutes ago, Zeta said:

how the f**k should i know?

So you don’t have a manager you personally would want to see replace Poch?

19 minutes ago, JM7 said:

Tuchel is in advanced stages to stay at Bayern so a reunion with Kane is looking unlikely. 
 

I can’t see why we would risk another summer of upheaval when the team looks to be heading in the right direction. 

Fully expect another summer of 🤡 show

3 hours ago, bisright1 said:

"Hello Poch, this is Bayern Munich. Here is a 3 year contract, more money than you are on now"

Bye. 

I don't think we should extend his contract out of fear that Bayern could tap him up. 

He is under contract for another year with a club that has proven Champions League credentials and if he wants to see himself as a top level football professional he will want to see out his current contract. Chelsea are a good club for Poch and he could really make his mark here. 

I'm not convinced Bayern want him anyway but jumping ship at this point in his career would be seen as Club surfing. 

7 minutes ago, El regreso said:

So you don’t have a manager you personally would want to see replace Poch?

I don't follow enough football outside Chelsea to know who is any good. Tuchel is the only one I'd choose personally, but he won't come back.

With this set up we probably get top 4 next season, Poch should get one more year 

27 minutes ago, Andy North said:

I don't think we should extend his contract out of fear that Bayern could tap him up. 

He is under contract for another year with a club that has proven Champions League credentials and if he wants to see himself as a top level football professional he will want to see out his current contract. Chelsea are a good club for Poch and he could really make his mark here. 

I'm not convinced Bayern want him anyway but jumping ship at this point in his career would be seen as Club surfing. 

Trust goes both ways. 

If we don't put any faith in Poch, then why should he put faith in us. 

I'd give him a 1 year extension this summer and an automatic extension if we qualify for the champions league. 

I think I can see progress….a fully fit Chelsea finishes top without question.

 

 

2 hours ago, Zeta said:

There's been improvement, but I find it hard to forget: Chilwell at LW, Colwill at LB, Maatsen at RW, awful HT team talks, our worst defence ever in the PL, lemons, losing to Liverpool's kids, worst discipline record in the PL, etc...

I won't shed any tears if he goes.

I think it’s taken him a while to get going but he sure has turned it around. You could argue that if he had at least Nkunku, James, Chilwell & Colwill available most of the season it would have been worth a min. of 10pts which would have had us at top 4. IMO he has carried himself well and has not used that as an excuse for his failings. One thing i criticised him for earlier in the season was he wasn’t communicating with the team during games, pulling players aside to talk & coach them. He is doing that regularly now, and you can see the impact during games.

The turnaround in 2024 has been remarkable; from week 20-week 37 we have picked up 35pts from 54 games which comfortably has us 4th, 2pts behind Liverpool. Surely that kind of momentum and extenuating circumstances has earned him a 1yr extension and a further 1yr option.

6 hours ago, Nibs said:

No probably about it for me.

This season was always going to be full of ups and downs when you factor in the horrendous injuries we've suffered to many key players. ALL managers suffer bad results at times, even more so with such a young, inexperienced squad. Don't get me wrong, there have been many games where I have questioned him and teetered on yes, he should be sacked, but he's come through that and for me has done more than enough to earn another season, as I just don't see any better candidates out there who are available and would come.

And the way we are finishing this season, I am excited about next season.

 

This is exactly why I have been consistent in not judging Poch on results - but on progress.

- Have we seen enough progression to move away from a slow and stagnant - sideways and backwards game - to something that better suits our young, fast players? I would say No

- Have we seen enough progress in our ability to organise a defence and defend a cross?  I would say No

- Have we seen enough progress in our ability to create chances?  I would say Yes

- Have we seen enough progress to control games ?  I would say No

- Have we seen enough progress to be able to grind out wins when things get tough?  I would say Yes - just about. 

- Have we seen enough progress and evidence to suggest that Poch has a viable plan b, or that he is able to consistently influence the game by changing tactics mid game?  I would say No.

As seen above, I do not consider there to have been sufficient progess in a number of areas - even when taking into account the mitigating circumstances of the injuries. I expect more from a manager...

...that said, on balance, I think I remain on the side of keeping him - but this is only by the skin of his (little dirty rotten) teeth, and mostly because of a lack of viable alternatives, and not because of a glowing portfolio of progress.

Actually quite excited to see what Poch can do with a maturing squad and a few more seasoned stars sprinkled into it next season.

There's a lot to unpick from this season and I think whether being Poch in and out there's not necessarily a right or wrong answer. 

There are objective parameters we can judge him on and ofc there will also be subjective feelings towards him.

On the balance of things I had always felt after last season top 6 was a reasonable target and we should be able to achieve it. After the season has all but concluded I am on the fence as to if it truly was as achievable as I first believed.

A lot went against Pochettino, from my understanding he didn't get the experienced players he wanted, he had to deal with another season of unprecedented injuries and ofc the constant reminders whenever we lose that he's from Spurs. Along with regular articles citing how he would be replaced etc.

I can say that my opinion has fluctuated from the start of the season all the way through to the end. 

One thing remained the same top 6 for me should be enough to keep his job. Purely because that tells me that he can take this mess the board created and actually direct it somewhat in the right general area.

He's not been perfect I think he's made mistakes and he knows it. What he has proven to me is he cares about the club. He understands what it means to be Chelsea what we want and expect and honestly I do think he probably is the best possible fit for the current project. 

For me I would give him a year extension so his overall contract is 3 years long including the season that's about to finish. Whilst including a mutual break clause after next season if both parties wish to go their separate way.

P.s even for those that don't want to keep him, surely we can all agree that under Pochettino we've had some of the most exciting games in a long time. So topsy-turvy back and forth high scoring games especially against the better sides. Now imagine that but in Europe, I think a Europa campaign with Chelsea is just what he needs to win his first silverware in England.

History tells us especially recently that the trophies follow us and come to coaches that work with us.

4 hours ago, bisright1 said:

Trust goes both ways. 

If we don't put any faith in Poch, then why should he put faith in us. 

I'd give him a 1 year extension this summer and an automatic extension if we qualify for the champions league. 

We don't know if Poch wants an extension but I take your point. 

In the long run I don't think he's the man to win us titles but he's doing OK in this transitional period. I'd be happy were he to prove me wrong. 

Be interesting if Poch wants to keep Conor and how that plays into discussions. I can’t imagine that he will agree to sell him. 

7 hours ago, JM7 said:

@benjacobs who is well sourced:

”The adjusted mid-season goal was Europa League qualification and Pochettino is on course to deliver that needing just a point against Bournemouth.”

People keep saying this, like City have already won the FA Cup. The FA Cup final can throw up big upsets, and Wigan beating Man City is a lot bigger an upset than United doing it.

A point vs Bournemouth means we are certain to end up 6th, and play conference league unless City win the FA Cup.

7 hours ago, bisright1 said:

Trust goes both ways. 

If we don't put any faith in Poch, then why should he put faith in us. 

I'd give him a 1 year extension this summer and an automatic extension if we qualify for the champions league. 

Even though I'm okay with him staying, I personally don't think he has done enough to earn a contract extension. Last thing I want is doing is making the same mistake United made by offering Ole an extension after a good run of games despite fans knowing he had flaws in his game. Despite the strong finish to the season, Poch still has flaws in his game, it says something if it took him a whole season to identify a tactical flaw only when Enzo got injured when he could have done it at the start of the season.

Once teams figure out how to neutralize the new system (and they already are starting to based on the last couple of games) its may take Poch another season to counteract against it.

Edited May 16, 20242 yr by Frankie8Lampard

I'm in favour of him staying, with some caveats.

If you look at Tottenham's first season, it's very similar to ours. Both sides started badly, yet ended up with a point tally in the low 60s after a late-season surge. 

Pochettino has a track record of developing youth, and there have been signs of progress. The side certainly looks much more coherent than it has for much of the season, and our 2024 has been good. 

I think, assuming the board don't sabotage him and he doesn't have to deal with too many injuries, he will make this side competitive. Top 4 competitive. He's not unproven at the top level like Ole was (Molde doesn't count), and he's not coming back from a decade-plus layoff like Dalglish was, either (we are where Liverpool were in the early 2010s, in terms of trying to find our feet under new ownership). 

I don't think he's the guy to win us trophies, though. Tactically he's a bit inflexible (especially during games), and his record with PSG wasn't that impressive.

I also question the ability of some of our personnel (Disasi/Badiashile) to adapt, as well. Neither are particularly quick, and Disasi isn't a great passer. 

But as it stands, there's no one available who's obviously better equipped to get us back into the CL. 

That said, it we start dreadfully next season, questions must be asked. 

6 hours ago, axman2526 said:

People keep saying this, like City have already won the FA Cup. The FA Cup final can throw up big upsets, and Wigan beating Man City is a lot bigger an upset than United doing it.

A point vs Bournemouth means we are certain to end up 6th, and play conference league unless City win the FA Cup.

You shouldn't take anything for granted, but I expect City to get up for that one, given Pep's cup record and how they're playing against their arch enemies. 

7 hours ago, Frankie8Lampard said:

Even though I'm okay with him staying, I personally don't think he has done enough to earn a contract extension. Last thing I want is doing is making the same mistake United made by offering Ole an extension after a good run of games despite fans knowing he had flaws in his game. Despite the strong finish to the season, Poch still has flaws in his game, it says something if it took him a whole season to identify a tactical flaw only when Enzo got injured when he could have done it at the start of the season.

Once teams figure out how to neutralize the new system (and they already are starting to based on the last couple of games) its may take Poch another season to counteract against it.

United was doing fine under Ole, they were in much better that situation than right now. United problem under Ole was they decided to destroy everything that they built when they signed cr7.