Porter and Pochettino in similar managerial stages

by John Pelini

Sunday saw two clubs (Portland Timbers and Tottenham) take the field in big matches with managers who approach the game in a similar style and who have their work cut out for them in achieving the ultimate success.

After missing the playoffs by a single point, Caleb Porter enters his third season in charge of the Timbers in a do or die scenario. Over in North London, Mauricio Pochettino has spent his first season in charge at Tottenham trying to impose his style in a dressing room that has been fragmented over the past two seasons.

Each manager faced a big test on Sunday; Porter’s side were hosting defending champions LA Galaxy while Pochettino’s crew headed north to take on top four rivals Manchester United. Portland looked to have snatched a late win but surrendered a goal two minutes into stoppage time while Spurs were outclassed from the start in a 3-0 drubbing. While the results for each were disappointing, the overall project each manager has undertaken faces similar challenges along with a similar blue print.

Portland conceded painful late goal

Style of Play

Porter made a name for himself in the college ranks at Akron playing a possession based game that relied upon rapid ball movement, technical precision and high pressure up the field to win the ball back. Since coming to MLS, his philosophy has been slightly altered. Due to salary cap restrictions, Porter has dealt with playing on a more level talent base. As a result he has adjusted his style from focusing on ball possession to has building a side around a compact back six, speedy wingers, a big target forward and a highly skilled and creative number ten.

The Timbers still pressure high up the pitch to force interceptions and quick transitions but are also built to play direct balls to Fanendo Adi, their target striker and designated player. With a fast front three behind Adi, Portland has a side that can be lethal on the break, as seen in their opening goal against the Galaxy. It took 15 seconds for the ball to go from the hands of goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey to the back of Los Angeles’ net.

As a player, Pochettino was schooled under famed Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa at Newell’s Old Boys and with the Argentine National Team. It was under Bielsa where he drew his influence of building a team based on physical fitness and high pressure. In his eighteen month managerial spell at Southampton, Pochettino was able to do just that while surprising many in leading Saints to an eighth placed finish last season.

There he took a group of unknowns who were a year into Premier League soccer and built them into an organized unit. Southampton were known as an enjoyable side to watch, who played high up the pitch in defense and were lethal in transition.

Pochettino’s transition at Spurs has shown flashes, like their home win against Chelsea during the Christmas season, but it has been a slow process. The big hurdle each manager has faced is getting experienced professionals to buy into a specific way to play the game, which is why each coach has looked upon young players.

Youth Development

Implementing a highly systematic style of play with experienced and/or highly paid professionals can be a challenge. Thus, Pochettino and Porter have opted to move away from veterans and have built their sides around young talent.

After losing Luka Modric and Gareth Bale to Real Madrid in consecutive summers, Tottenham was forced to rebuild and had plenty of money to do so. The transfer market turned out to be boom (Christian Eriksen) or bust (Roberto Soldado) for Spurs.

Thus, the club went through a turbulent period of three managers in three years and a constant change their style of play. Pochettino was then brought in to build a team out of promising youngsters, overpaid veterans and unproven expensive foreign imports. It seems as if he has found a base of players who have bought into his ideals, most of who happen to be from the youth academy.

While Emmanuel Adebayor, Roberto Soldado and Paulinho have been left on the bench, relative unknowns Harry Kane, Ryan Mason, Nabil Bentaleb and Andros Townsend have settled into regular starting places in the Spurs side. Often times unknown or young players are more hungry to do whatever it takes to grab a starting place and thus are more willing to buy into what a manager instructs them to do.

Taking over a club two years into their MLS existence, Porter was not afforded such a stockpile of talent from the youth ranks. He has however, turned to his old stomping grounds of Akron to bring in Darlington Nagbe, Michael Namchoff and Ben Zemanski for youngsters that have adhered to his philosophy and are loyal to his coaching methods. Furthermore, Porter has brought in young foreign talent in Alvas Powell, Dairon Asprilla, Fanendo Adi and Max Uruti.

These signings were tailor made to fit in and around his philosophy. More importantly, Porter has fortified his back line with experience in Liam Ridgewell, Nat Borchers and Adam Kwarasey in goal. So far in 2015, Borchers looks like an impact signing. He made several key clearances and blocks against the Galaxy and brings intelligence, playoff success and physicality to Portland, three traits Spurs could use in what has been a shaky central defense this season.

Demanding Ownership

As if the task for each man has been challenging enough, the clubs who employ them are run by men who demand success. Daniel Levy has made a name for himself in being a shrewd negotiator in the transfer market. But, in recent years he has been in the news for shuffling managers. Levy fired Harry Redknapp after finishing fourth in the league. They failed to qualify for the Champions League because Chelsea won the European Cup. He then sacked Andre Villas Boas a season and a half into the job even though he led Tottenham to there best ever Premier League points total. Tim Sherwood then took the job and finished out the year before being replaced by Pochettino.

In Portland, Merritt Paulson has made headlines more for what he has said than what he has done. Porter is just the second manager in charge in the five years the club has been in MLS. He appears to be hand picked for the job by Paulson, giving him a longer leash. However, Paulson is not afraid to let his voice be heard, famously tweeting a derogatory comment to the Timbers Army during a disappointing stretch of last season.

Obviously, each manager faces different obstacles. Upward mobility in MLS is much more possible due to the salary cap restrictions. Additionally Porter has been in the job two more years. Yet each manager faces a critical stretch in their careers in the next six months. For Porter, this will most likely be his last chance to get his roster in Portland right. Once Diego Valeri and Will Johnson return from injury, the Timbers will be a complete squad filled with attacking talent, defensive experience and midfield bite. Nothing short of a playoff run will be tolerated by Merritt Paulson or the loyal fans.

For Pochettino, his side look to be on the outside looking in on the top four. He must spend the summer looking to reinforce the center of midfield and defense. Also, Spurs must hold onto their talented youngsters and get rid of the expensive flotsam that has been rotting on the bench. With Levy publicly supporting his manager, Pochettino should have the ability to further renovate his side in the transfer window and be legitimate contenders for the top four next season in England.

We hear the clichés. Spurs will always be Spurs. They fill their fans with hope only to let them down in a critical moment. After all, they have not finished ahead of Arsenal in the league since 1995.

And in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is coming off a Supporters Shield, winner of four of the past six US Open Cups and a roster of stars. After a familiarly rough Sunday result, the noisy supporters from Portland and North London, led by two ideological, energetic and young managers, are yet again wondering if they have the right man in charge.