I'm saying at one point every season you get to claim your squad as one of the best assembled squads in the country, then when the going gets a bit rougher the narrative change to Pochettino overachieving with a decent squad, then when you realise he is not even achieving anything with the squad in terms of trophies, you don't raise any eyebrows and still hold on to the preexisting narratives.
My view is that Pochettino is not overachieving because you have a decent squad with a 30 goal striker leading the line. He has had the privilege of assembling that squad over a few years now, more than most managers are allowed. So even on a lesser budget than a few other clubs he has the advantage of prebuilt firm tactical foundation, team chemistry, supporting fans etc. Everything other managers hope they get time enough to sort out. What he has failed to do is instil that winning mentality that takes you from a good team to a lethal team. You guys have become complacent and while that assures a certain level of solidity in terms of top 4 it sets a dangerous precedent for future situations.
If you buy better players and spend more money you want them to improve you, not let them fall in line with the expectations already there. Getting better players might help you win something, but Pochettino will be facing a whole new challenge when these top buys come into the team.
Our starting XI is up there with the best in the country, I'd argue third. Squad wise I think it's close between us/Chelsea/United and I don't believe there to be a big gap between the three, we have inferior depth but I do think we have a very good starting eleven when everybody is fit, though United fans would likely argue their XI is better. Our narrative is that whilst we have a good team, it's not as good as the top two and thus our only realistic chance of a trophy is in the domestic cups, where yes it is disappointing to have not won a trophy. It still doesn't cancel out the fact we're finishing 3rd most seasons, which is not an underachievement and the league is always the bread and butter.
Chelsea and United have decent squads. United fans think you have the world's best midfielder, you have the worlds best keeper and some of the best young talents in the country in Rashford and Martial. Chelsea have a record breaking keeper, one of the best midfielders in the world (kante) and arguably the best player in the league in Hazard, on top of a striker like Higuain and proper internationals like Rudiger, Kovacic, Jorginho etc, all of whom are very valuable players. Arsenal have two of the best strikers in the league, Ozil and again a team full of established internationals. These are very good squads, with managers who have the luxury of going out and picking talent that suits their system rather than adapting and having to make do with Sissoko, Winks, Davies etc.
Yes, Pochettino gets the advantage of a 'prebuilt firm tactical foundation'. He doesn't get the advantage of being backed in the transfer market, which consistently has been shown as the biggest marker of success. Our best midfielder left the club in January and was not replaced, this is a club where Pochettino is forced to be more adaptable than other managers because he knows he won't get what he necessarily needs. Has he failed to instil a winning mentality? Maybe, but we've been exceptionally consistent at winning league games under him, and have consistently made it deep in the cups and could be in a CL quarter soon.
The idea that getting better players is a 'whole new challenge' is baffling. If we sign better players we will do better, this is proven pretty much across the board. Liverpool brought in Van Djik, Alisson and Fabinho and went up a level, Pep struggled then spent huge money on the likes of Walker, Silva, Mendy etc and the team went up a notch, if you invest in to superior squad depth and address your weaknesses with signings you will improve as a team, 99% of the time. It wouldn't be a 'whole new challenge', it would be a blessing.
