Good post. Difference between AVB and Poch is that AVB had failed quite spectacularly at the chavs whereas Poch had done a good job at Southampton. Personally, I'd always favour going with someone who has done well at a smaller club rather than one who has "the experience" of failing at a big club.
I’ll admit that I was hoping for de Boer at the time. I remember being impressed by Pochettino, but AVB left me sceptical.
I was hoping that AVB would have learnt from his Chelsea experience and that their loss would be our gain. I liked the bloke, but Christ his football was dull. It wasn’t much different in Pochettino’s first season, but he seems to have a much more realistic attitude (recent speculation aside).
The big turning point was when Pochettino cleansed the club of the experienced bad eggs and trusted the youth. He gave the club an identity that AVB had stripped away. I think and hope Pochettino is astute enough to realise that he can build a legacy here, whereas going to PSG or Madrid will quickly put him on the managerial merry go round that doesn’t suit his ‘project’ approach.