Another boss bites the dust but Franco Baldini’s survival raises questions

[Sauniere]

Sorry Sauniere, but I don't follow your argument at all.

You say Levy wants instant success in the mould of Abramovich but it's quite clear he hasn't followed Abramovich's method in the slightest. Quite the opposite in fact.

The focus on youth development and the purchasing of players not yet at their fullest potential plus a willingness to sell players on for large profit in order to be reinvested 'carefully' actually shows a man who understands that in order to break into the top echelons without the same financial clout of the sugar-daddy clubs you have to build from the ground up, gradually improving every area of the club.

The finance invested in the new training ground shows that he cares about the long term infrastructure rather than trying to purchase 'instant success' by paying over the odds at every opportunity vis a vis Chelsea and Citeh.

So many people on here blame Levy for not appointing the next Mourinho or Fergie as if that's the easiest and most obvious thing to do ever. It's a bit like telling a film director to only make great movies. Oh yeah, why didn't anyone think of that before?

Everyone of our managerial appointments came with a good argument and Levy and co weighed these up before committing. One also has to bear in mind the availability of head coaches coupled to the draw of managing THFC. That they haven't worked out as optimistically as we all hope you can't deny the club has been on an upward trajectory since the beginning of his tenure.

Our PL finishes during this time shows the trend clearly, even if we have plateaued recently (Bale's departure, new squad, manager chops etc).

But I certainly don't think we're in a bad place right now and actually we're pretty much where we were at the end of last season when we had the best points total ever *yawn* ie qualified for Europa League.

Meanwhile, our squad is packed with talent and the money invested by Baldini and co has been spent wisely, in my opinion. The only error of last summer being the oversight at left-back. If we had secured Coentrão or similar I reckon our season could have looked quite different.

Obviously the next managerial appointment is key as we're at a juncture between possible improvement or further stagnation but considering the supposed fiasco of this season just gone things actually aren't so bad.

I for one am relishing the prospect of Lamela and Eriksen in the same side next year and with the right guidance believe this team could actually prove very tasty indeed.

I was referring to instant results from a managerial point of view mate. I don't disagree with any of your points about youth, training and preparing for the future and yes they do allude to a long term "project" (hate using that word after AVB ) All of that has been put into place but it's my opinion that he wants a manager to walk into the job, wave a magic wand and achieve top 4 as a minimum from this day forward and when it doesn't happen it's on to the next.

The line I've highlighted in your text I disagree with - certain appointments came with a good argument, not all of them and not every dismissal had a good enough argument either.

 

[Sarsipius]

Sure, I understand that.

But just out of interest, which of the Levy's sackings do/did you disagree with?

I don't think Santini or Ramos who both came with big reputations in Europe could be argued against. Redknapp talked himself out of the job by linking himself with England (and subsequently watching our form drop off dramatically).

For me only AVB could be considered contentious and that's only because is a slight argument that he needed more time (as LVG would say about his own style of football yet he has the credentials to back that claim up).

Having said that, in all the time he had we never really looked liked a great footballing side and the ostracising of key players didn't help his cause in the slightest.

For everyone who points to the highest points total in our PL history I would ask, how many more points should we have gotten under a proper manager considering we had one of the world's best in our side and a not too shabby squad. Rather than finding a system that worked for our players though, AVB consistently relied on individuals to *ahem* bale him out almost every game. Ultimately, the football was bad and seemed to be getting worse.

Much like after a break-up, how quickly our memories seem to fade of all the things that weren't working at the time.

 

[Sarsipius]

To put this thread back on topic.

I see no reason why we should 'pin the blame' on Baldini.

Neither AVB nor Sherwood were his choice and the Bale money looks to have been spent well bearing in mind they all came from abroad and needed to adjust. Soldado for me has the biggest question mark and I'm pretty sure he'll find his feet eventually. Otherwise I'm happy with the rest brought in.

To sack Baldini would be to rid ourselves of a European heavyweight with an extensive knowledge of talent and contacts and leave Levy again looking for an advisor to football related matters.

Considering how many people criticise Levy for 'not understanding football' you'd think we'd all be glad to have someone like Baldini knocking around the place.

 

[Khilari]

I find criticisms of Baldini off the mark. He was given a remit of finding players to strengthen the squad with the money gained from Gareth Bale's sale. The current Spurs structure sees the Coach's role to get the best out of them, as is the case on the Continent. AVB wasn't able to get cohesive performances out of this group of players, perhaps he wasn't given enough time.

"Baldini's signings" bar Roberto Soldado can all be described as stars with promise. Of the summer signings in my opinion, Eriksen shone, Paulinho showed glimpses of his ability whilst Soldado failed to hit the net but proved the contribution he could make to the team beyond goals. Chiriches has been average overall, Chadli largely disappointing and Capoue and Lamela's seasons have been injury ravaged.

It is fair to say that as fans we can expect a more cohesive team performance next season barring injury and depending on the new manager/coach opting to keep these players. It was unrealistic of most of us (myself included) to assume such a large influx of new signings could be fashioned into a team so quickly, but got carried away with the euphoria of new faces. Chelsea spent £100m on new players in 2003 and finished 2nd, having finished 4th the season before and not having sold their most valuable assets. Ranieri still lost his job. Man City spent over £100m from 2008-9, sacked Mark Hughes after finishing 10th then finished 5th under Mancini, then 3rd and the FA Cup and so on.

I remember criticising the spending of Comolli and what initially appeared to be simply poor scouting may have been undervalued. The likes of Taraabt, Boateng, Kaboul (as well as Bale, Modric, Berbatov, Pav, Corluka etc.) have gone on to show their potential after leaving us.

This post is way too long. But, I want to say from the games I've been to at WHL, Capoue, Lamela, Soldado and Paulinho have shown me that they can be awesome if injury free and managed well. Chadli I'm less convinced by. But blaming Baldini? Disagree.

 

[yankspurs]

All these criticisms of Baldini are disgusting. The english media criticizing Baldini while absolving Dim is awfully bias. Disgusting treatment by the media.

 

[Jamturk]

Ah sanity I thought I was going mad when all I seem to want to do is punch the spurs callers on talkshite

 

[UbeAstard]

Isn't that the saddest thing - that the Levy has managed to turn the fans into the image of his fickle self .

Certain "supporters" are ganging up on the manager from the word go .

Maybe quite a few supporters realized too from the word go it was a temporary appointment and an experienced manager is needed.

 

[Sarsipius]

I find criticisms of Baldini off the mark. He was given a remit of finding players to strengthen the squad with the money gained from Gareth Bale's sale. The current Spurs structure sees the Coach's role to get the best out of them, as is the case on the Continent. AVB wasn't able to get cohesive performances out of this group of players, perhaps he wasn't given enough time.

"Baldini's signings" bar Roberto Soldado can all be described as stars with promise. Of the summer signings in my opinion, Eriksen shone, Paulinho showed glimpses of his ability whilst Soldado failed to hit the net but proved the contribution he could make to the team beyond goals. Chiriches has been average overall, Chadli largely disappointing and Capoue and Lamela's seasons have been injury ravaged.

It is fair to say that as fans we can expect a more cohesive team performance next season barring injury and depending on the new manager/coach opting to keep these players. It was unrealistic of most of us (myself included) to assume such a large influx of new signings could be fashioned into a team so quickly, but got carried away with the euphoria of new faces. Chelsea spent £100m on new players in 2003 and finished 2nd, having finished 4th the season before and not having sold their most valuable assets. Ranieri still lost his job. Man City spent over £100m from 2008-9, sacked Mark Hughes after finishing 10th then finished 5th under Mancini, then 3rd and the FA Cup and so on.

I remember criticising the spending of Comolli and what initially appeared to be simply poor scouting may have been undervalued. The likes of Taraabt, Boateng, Kaboul (as well as Bale, Modric, Berbatov, Pav, Corluka etc.) have gone on to show their potential after leaving us.

This post is way too long. But, I want to say from the games I've been to at WHL, Capoue, Lamela, Soldado and Paulinho have shown me that they can be awesome if injury free and managed well. Chadli I'm less convinced by. But blaming Baldini? Disagree.

Yeah I agree with a lot of this and the comparison with City and Chelsea is very useful.

I would however argue that Chadli of all the summer signings, looked on paper to be the weakest, a definite squad player but actually looked to grow into his role as the season went on. I think he's got some pretty useful attributes to be a valuable part of the squad (the Belgian national side seem to agree) but clearly lacking in that killer pace needed to be a world class winger.

Chiriches, in my opinion, has all the attributes to become a top class defender as long as he keeps learning and developing. But Romania's captain at 24? Can't be doing too badly.

Capoue looked great in what little we saw of him and all in all we have pretty much two top players in each position, barring the obvious shortfall at left back.

I'm pretty happy with the squad depth and quality and frankly Lamela, if handled well, has the potential to become genuinely world class.

Looking forward to him operating as an inside forward on the right next season, Eriksen in the hole etc etc.

MMmmm tasty taste.

 

[chinaman]

Rogers was attainable when at Swansea. He was in that pond I mentioned. He's since gone to Liverpool, after turning down spurs, and, having very very nearly winning the title, playing spectacular football, put himself week in the higher echelon of football manager credibility.
Klopp is one of the most sought after club managers in world football.
Loew has transformed Germany from on the edge of disaster back to perinial challengers. Should he ever indicate a desire to go to club management, he'd be in as high demand as Van Gaal.
As for Fergie, you can't talk about great managers of the modern era and not mention him. I clearly noted he's retired, but if he wasn't, he'd be unattainable. He even turned us down before United and we were arguably better than them back then.

Yes, my maths were out. I was eating chicken and noodles at lakeside and wasn't concentrating.

So you're not of the prawn sandwich circle?

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

So you're not of the prawn sandwich circle?

Roy Kean would be krill or plancton.

 

[slartibartfast]

Ah sanity I thought I was going mad when all I seem to want to do is punch the spurs callers on talkshite

Thank you for reminding me. I've been meaning to mention this for absolutely ages lol. Almost every Spurs caller I've ever heard onTSport is just fu#kin embarrassing. Where do these arseholes come from? Drives me nuts. And then you have to spend the drive home listening to that twat Durham asshat saying 'I cant believe Spurs fans think blah blah blah'. Well we dont you prick its just that youve took a call from an idiot.
Apologies if anyone reading this ever called in. Maybe I missed it when you rang in lol

 

[mawspurs]

Thank you for reminding me. I've been meaning to mention this for absolutely ages lol. Almost every Spurs caller I've ever heard onTSport is just fu#kin embarrassing. Where do these arseholes come from? Drives me nuts. And then you have to spend the drive home listening to that twat Durham asshat saying 'I cant believe Spurs fans think blah blah blah'. Well we dont you prick its just that youve took a call from an idiot.
Apologies if anyone reading this ever called in. Maybe I missed it when you rang in lol

The talksport show is designed to wind up the more intellectually challenged fan in order to get calls coming in, that's how they make money. It does a pretty good job of it, hence the numpties you hear when tuned in to it.

 

[slartibartfast]

The talksport show is designed to wind up the more intellectually challenged fan in order to get calls coming in, that's how they make money. It does a pretty good job of it, hence the numpties you hear when tuned in to it.

Agree and I realise that but still bite.
My mummy says ignore them and they'll go away but I just cant lol.
Hang on... did you just insult me???