There is just a quiet feeling that Saints might just be getting the better of the two managers.

When Mauricio Pochettino left Saints for Spurs the initial feeling amongst Saints supporters was one of doom and gloom, the Spurs support wasn't much happier, many being distinctly underwhelmed by the pedigree of the new Spurs boss when compared to what has gone before at White Hart Lane.

A few weeks on though and the mood is more upbeat at St Mary's, Saints upporters are feeling that in Ronald Koeman they might just have the perfect fit for the managers job, that seems to be the view of a number of Tottenham fans, several I have spoken to would have preferred to have had Koeman take over at WHL than Mauricio Pochettino.

I can see their point, in Koeman OK we dont have one of the top European managers in the calibre of say Pep Guardiola or Jose Mourinho, but he is in the next group behind, ie managers who have won titles in one of the better European leagues, some may say that the Eridivisie in Holland is not up there with Spain and Germany and they would be right, but its still a tough league to win and Koeman has won it three times with two clubs to add to domestic cups in both Spain and Portugal.

Koeman also has a reputation of not only bringing through the youth, but of dealing with big names, he can use a squad, something that Pochettino has shown no inclination to do in his two managerial appointments so far, preferring to stick with a core of 15 players with the rest having very little opportunity to play.

Compare that with Pochettino's record of relegation scraps in Spain with Espanyol as well as a tough half season with Saints and you can see why the Spurs fans might feel that Koeman might just have suited their club better than Pochettino.

One thing is for sure, in terms of things won as a manager, Ronald Koeman has the best track record of any Saints manager that has gone before him.

Undoubtably Pochettino is a great coach, he certainly got Saints playing football, but coaching players to play in a certain way and keep the ball is different from making snap decisions during games that can change matches, Glenn Hoddle had that knack during his time at Saints and seemingly Koeman also has over his career, Pochettino though has a rigid style that he cannot change, hence the fact that in his 1 1/2 seasons at Saints, not once did we win a game that we went behind in, as was shown in the Cardiff home defeat last year, when after going a goal down in one of their few attacks we could not change our style.

So there is a growing feeling of optimism amongst the Saints supporters, perhaps a little similar to a moth or so after Pochettino arrived at the club, a week before the sacking of Nigel Adkins there was around 95% support for the man who took Saints to two consecutive promotions, there was uproar when he was sacked, but within a month or so the feelings had changed, many felt that as good as Adkins had been, he had taken us as far as he could and that Pochettino could take a step further, now that feeling is returning, Pochettino might well have reached his limits, but Koeman has managed bigger clubs to success and would be looking at more than just keeping Saints in mid table, perhaps now our ambitions are actually higher, a year ago it was a top ten finish with talk of Champions league qualification, the reality is that qualification was no more than idle talk, Saints didnt have the foundation.

Now we have a little more foundation, our ambitions now would seem to be to try to improve on last seasons league position, but to also look to get into Europe through one of the cups, Koeman's ambitions are more than just staying in the division, they are to get Saints as a European household name, he knows that at club's like Feyenoord or PSV etc they know the worth of playing in Europe season in season out even if it isnt the Champions League, its about taking steps forward one foot at a time.

The more Spurs supporters I speak to, the more I feel that perhaps we have the better manager of the two.

Photo: Action Images

schatfield added 13:22 - Jun 19 Hard to say, Poch has just taken us to our best season yet, whereas Koeman is 100% untested in the prem league. It will be an interesting season for sure, with the main thing being we still have absolutely no idea who will be in our first team yet, come the first game...
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brady100 added 14:24 - Jun 19 For me Koeman has to prove he is not a journeyman European manager who has enjoyed success domestically at perhaps two clubs where expected. He certainly has some of the qualities we are looking for. I would argue that perhaps we enter into the new season with a weaker foundation after losing many of our best players, the new squad will take time to settle and it remains to be seen what sort of players we can bring in.

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SaintNick added 14:26 - Jun 19 we are talking like all the squad has gone, so far we have lost 1 player, perhaps we will lose 2 or 3 more, it wont be a new squad just the same with a few alterations
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brady100 added 14:31 - Jun 19 Very true, but its the calibre of players we are likely to lose. In Lallana, Shaw, Lambert and Lovren we lose the spine of our team and the catalysts for recent success. Everything positive came through these players. They will be hard if not impossible to replace for a club our size.
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VeloSaint added 14:33 - Jun 19 The squad unity that much of our success has been built on will be massively challenged this summer. Whether it was so strong under Poch because he used so few players I don't know, but If Koeman maintains that, is able to bring in quality replacements then on paper he could well outperform Poch (though lets be honest, we're unlikely to finish higher, but a decent run in the cups would/should be feasible).

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landsdownsaint added 14:51 - Jun 19 Poch was a class coach who improved many of our players ,the only thing he may have suffered at was bringing in players ,regards Koeman we just don't know? .
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tiptop added 14:52 - Jun 19 Agree velo. Saints team spirit, further cultivated by poch was a big factor in getting the most out of all our players. True Jack Cork was almost left to rot which is part of what nick aludes to i think. He played his way back in to a v strong midfield. That team spirit will need rebuilding on new foundations if the 3-4 players do leave. It could be a very different team. Replicating the spirit that has been achieved on the back of the past few season would be a challenge. As for poch he will have to use his squad for the europa league. Something he didnt want to be in..

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IanRC added 16:45 - Jun 19 Disagree that Pochettino was that good a manager. Yes we had our highest finish but he had some glaring faults too, notably the Jack Cork blind spot, his approach to the FA Cup, inability to react to developments on field when things weren't working out. We will never know if Atkins could have got the same result out of the player pool but I would not rule it out. Hope we can hang onto Lallana, Shaw, Lovren although there is clearly pressure for them to go. Does anyone know the remaining contract periods ? Whilst I would have mixed feelings about keeping them against their will, at least in the case of the first two I would suggest that it would be in their own best interests to at least see what the new managers plans are. We shall see. Hope the Liverpool lobby allow Adam to start against Uruguay but I doubt Hodgson has the guts.

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surreysaint added 16:59 - Jun 19 No idea whether Koeman is better, but agree that history may suggest Poch was overrated (we'll know by Xmas!). The stat about his inability to change a game that wasn't going our way always nagged at me when i kept hearing about him being World Class. The killer was that whatever we think, the players thought he was class and that's half the battle these days. I didn't want Poch to leave - not because i thought HE was the best thing ever, but because it looked for all the world like the players did and i didn't want THEM to leave!

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sidsaint added 17:48 - Jun 19 Agree with surreysaint. The players learnt a lot under Poch and respected him. If Shaw Lalllana and Lovren leave it will be a shame but hopefully the money we get in return may be spent on players that Koeman knows and has developed which could minimise the bedding in period. I hope we don't lose more than 3 players which would disrupt and unsettle the team. Lets hope he can talk the talk and keep the squad united.

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BaselSaint added 18:22 - Jun 19 Maybe with Koeman there will be appropriate recognition and appreciation of Jack Cork now?
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saintandy11 added 22:13 - Jun 19 Said it before and I will say it again. Pochettino had 1 way of playing and no plan B. Easy to predict and beat. defend deep, wait for his team to lose the ball and counter attack with fast strikers. just think back to how easy Chelski & liverpool beat us.
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Hugh_Jarce added 22:54 - Jun 19 Yes it looks like players will be off but we have the chance to replace them with the funds generated. Last season we were heavily dependent on AL creatively and a couple of signings in the Redmond mould would enhance our options there. Biggest risk is Lovren IMHO
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SFCSam2014 added 10:50 - Jun 20 If I had to chose between a contract extension for Pochettino, or Ronald Koeman...I'd choose Pochettino.
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ChristchurchSaint added 13:15 - Jun 20 There is no doubt that MP is a good coach, but he did appear very dogmatic and a little inflexible in his approach at times. (maybe that is why NC chose him- a little like himself!). All we know is that Roko is a good coach- his results show that, OK he is unproven in the Premier league, but so was MP. If our big names leave, as appears probable, then hopefully the money is spent wisely. I, for one, do not expect wonders from RoKo this year (as MP did not have immediate success when he came). As long as we are not embroiled in a relegation dogfight from Day 1, then I will be happy with a finish similar to last season's. I also feel that we need to remember that RL was not at his best all season and DL was missing with injury for a while. If we have good replacements in from the start of the season and they remain injury free, then we should settle down fairly well.

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Whatsforpud added 09:49 - Jun 22 Nick, you suggest that Koeman might use his squad better. When Pochettino tried using his squad in the away Sunderland FA cup tie, he was castigated by fans and media alike. Is there a difference between 'using the squad' and giving fringe players a start?
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SaintDownUnder added 01:36 - Jun 23 Some of the comments here are hilarious - Brady: Koeman has to 'prove to you'? Where do you get this sense of entitlement from? Who are you and what does a guy that's won titles as a player and coach have to prove? As fans change is unsettling, but it's the only constant. As a club we have been on a upward trajectory ever since Markus took over and appointed NC, however 4 years ago we were skint and playing in league two and now suddenly we're not sure Koeman is the right manager, seriously? We have to dream big, but we also have to keep our egos in check and enjoy the rise of the club we all love. Personally I rated NC and MoPo, but I also thought NA did a great job, I think Koeman will progress us further and the board have played a blinder. As for Lallana and shaw they'll go if we get the right money and stay if we don't win/win. It's a brilliant time to be a saints fan.

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brady100 added 10:54 - Jun 23 SaintDownUnder....It's pretty clear as a paying fan, supporters have the right to pass judgement and on how the club is being run and managed. Equally who are you to suggest Koeman will progress us any further? We all hope this will be the case, however you are stating YOUR opinion as I was above.
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