Did Poch and Levy have a difficult beginning?

[Flashspur]

This is an interesting thought that perhaps Poch and Daniel Levy didn't hit it off well in the beginning. This is new to me as I thought they were as thick as thieves from the get go! Was Poch ever in danger in the early days of getting that phone call from Levy? You know the one I mean.

Quote from the Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...gue-10-talking-points-joshua-king-daniel-levy

Pochettino for one was happy to oblige. “If I am doing well, it’s because he believes in me,” the manager said. “He deserves full credit for all that’s happening in the team. And the club’s financial side is one of the most healthy in the world. We had a difficult relationship at the beginning but we built a very strong relationship. I trust in him and I hope he trusts in me, too.”

And if he had a difficult beginning what do you think old shiny head thinks of him now?

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Given that Pochettino said, and I quote, "We had a difficult relationship at the beginning", I would assume Poch and Levy indeed had a difficult beginning.

No need to thank me for answering your question.

 

[Monkey boy]

Maybe he's referring to not getting his targets from that first summer transfer window? Wanyama, schneidelein, centre half from Spain whose name escapes me.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

I doubt anyone has a positive early relationship with Levy; Daniel's a hard bastard and respect probably has to earned. Poch has class and the romantic in me likes to think that his farming roots influence his relationship with money. I've never met a farmer, and I know a few, who'll overspend. Poch likes a bargain as much as Levy, and Sissoko aside, I'd say his willingness to work within a reasonable budget and with seeming success is like nectar to Levy's queen bee.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Not shocking - if you recall his first interviews, where he made clear that the media knew he was a "Head Coach" and not a "Manager"

Given that was changed in his contract extension, I'd say that was a sticking point for Poch. And, if memory serves, Poch was not Levy's first choice, might have been Uncle Joe who pushed this one across the line. So, there could easily have been a feeling out period while they both got used to each other's style.

 

[kaz Hirai]

Poch: "I want schneiderlin and musacchio"

Levy: "LMAO! You can have stambouli and Fazio mate "

Poch: "what da fuck!? "

 

[mpickard2087]

Hardly surprising. Manager has to get used to the club environment and how it operates, and vice versa. They had to get to know each other on a personal level. In the early days you have additional tests like transfers and maybe not being able to get everyone you want, and the manager making the changes he wants to the team/squad and getting rid of certain senior individuals... Who then by all accounts complained to the chairman. At that point Levy backed Poch, and here we are today...

 

[HildoSpur]

What matters is how things are now and there appears to be a lot of respect between them. Levy needs to sign Poch up for the next 10 years please.

 

[midoNdefoe]

There seemed to be a wrangle towards the start where Levy finally caved and backed the manager over the players. The likes of Lennon, Capoue, Kaboul and Ade were completely out of keeping with Poch's philosophy and where Levy had backed the players with AVB and finally shipped him out. With Poch, Levy seemed to take the plunge! And we're all glad he did now!

 

[Kilkenny Cat]

I remember seeing something a while back to the effect that in about October of Poch's first season - when he was flexing his muscles against Adebayor et al - he was allegedly fearing being sacked at any moment. Possibly an exaggeration, but who knows?

 

[Krafty]

I would imagine that any issues would be around players and transfers - Poch wanting to just get rid of those who were problems, and Levy wanting to get money for them. You can see similar for the incoming transfers.

Then, once Poch starts to produce results, improve players, and suggest signings that work well, Levy has more trust in him and lets him have his way. Levy was probably also feeling the affects of AVB/Baldini's transfers from the Bale money, and Redknapp's hawking for the England job. Once bitten and all that

 

[Col_M]

Maybe the difficulty was the original contract discussion? You can have £5 a week and a £1m bonus I feel you win the league by a clear 10 points. That's always a tough opening gambit to face.

 

[Trix]

I think this is probably one of those quotes that sounds worse than it is because of Pochs limited English tbh.

 

[Lilbaz]

Bet levy loves him now.

 

[king_yid]

I think it's in reference to getting to working with one another. Demands are high when your at the top level and I'm sure poch was well aware of the difficulty we have had finding a consistent manager with a professional manner.

 

[DaiT]

I would imagine that any issues would be around players and transfers - Poch wanting to just get rid of those who were problems, and Levy wanting to get money for them. You can see similar for the incoming transfers.

Then, once Poch starts to produce results, improve players, and suggest signings that work well, Levy has more trust in him and lets him have his way. Levy was probably also feeling the affects of AVB/Baldini's transfers from the Bale money, and Redknapp's hawking for the England job. Once bitten and all that

Lets hope Sissoko was Levy's choice

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

It's impossbile to reach the current status within the club that Pochettino enjoys without going through and surviving a few rows with Danny Boy.

 

[cozzo]

No point in speculating why, its done and dusted now.

 

[Mullers]

He got Levy to pay a record fee for Sissoko, so I'd say they got married and consummated their relationship.