Guillem Balague column: What is Mauricio Pochettino doing to ride Spurs storm?

[hellava_tough]

That’s what I find crazy. If we can’t find a single target that would have improved us with 150 mil in hand than we must have the worst scouts in world football. Poch is obviously no mug, and although most would understand that maybe a Martial would be very hard to do because of it being utd and within the PL there are enough players out there to find another. Ending up with no one, especially if we have that sort of cash to spend, is beyond laughable... it’s tragic. And I’m not talking about signing any old joe, I really don’t believe we couldn’t have found at least one qulity addition. At this point I don’t see Poch walking, but really, I’m not sure why he would want to stay next season as Levy is not actually supplying Poch with anything to help achieve his goal of a league tittle.

Whether there was ever 150 million to spend is probably open to debate. I agree with the sentiments of that. Levy must have almost certainly been distracted over the ongoing stadium shenanigans and obviously the shorter window didn't help but surely there have to be lessons learned as to the club's preparedness for the window and how far and wide we are spreading the net in identifying players. Football is a global business now and one would expect us to have contacts everywhere. Are we not looking across several continents? Surely we can drum up a decent list of quality targets?

Agree with you both

When you look back and review and season in May, there are always a number of 'break-out' players signed by clubs outside of the 'top 6', who have performed really well and were signed for a reasonable amount (or certainly for an amount that we could realistically afford). If our rivals are able to spot and sign these players, then we should be able to as well.

Added to this, there are also 'youth players' in the 16 to 21 y/o bracket that our scouts should be able to spot, even if it means loaning them out for a couple of seasons once signed.

Some of these players will work, some will fail; but we have to take a chance. We have to compete.

But this isn't rocket science; this is what every other club in Europe does and has done for the last 20+ years.

We signed NO ONE this summer. Once again, let that sink in.

The situation is so egregious that it's almost unbelievable.

It all points to trouble behind the scenes, especially when you take performances, recent results and GB's article into account.

 

[hellava_tough]

I personally am aghast at the naivety of some posters. All is not well behind closed doors. Yes! Poch turned down the alternatives (that were shyte). But! Daniel done himself no favours in his aged dithering. Yes! Poch was sold a dud, some believe, in signing a new contract.

The stadium delay and excuses surprised nobody internally. AC’s post was on point. Yet some still will find ways to defer blame from where it should go. Remarkable to say the least.
I know as a surety; as many internally know, we had circa 150m expressed to spend, with net spend to be manageable. January will be interesting (very). With at the very least, deal/s confirmed 100% for the summer window. There is no more wriggle room.

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to ask you direct questions Herc, so ignore me if you want ( ), but...

In your opinion, is our scouting network a bit 'ropey' ?

If those guys were firing on all cylinders, shouldn't the short-list be big enough that it would include players that both Levy AND Poch could agree on?

 

[Cornpattbuck]

'Eventually you begin to wonder if actually Spurs are more of a perception than a reality. Are they as good as people have made them out to be? Because if they are, then we are now at the stage where we should be seeing more evidence of their prowess.'

Say it like it is, mate. It's gone tits up... ?

It's a load of bollocks either way.

Whether we fuck it up or not, we've had a great few years.

Even then, it's too early to say which way things will go this season.

Yes, there have been worrying signs but it could easily click in the next few weeks and then all will be forgotten.

Expert comment is far to reactionary these days...

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Whether there was ever 150 million to spend is probably open to debate. I agree with the sentiments of that. Levy must have almost certainly been distracted over the ongoing stadium shenanigans and obviously the shorter window didn't help but surely there have to be lessons learned as to the club's preparedness for the window and how far and wide we are spreading the net in identifying players. Football is a global business now and one would expect us to have contacts everywhere. Are we not looking across several continents? Surely we can drum up a decent list of quality targets?

As you say, whether or not we actually had 150 mil we will never know for sure and there was a slight element of facetiousness to my post. But the point still stands, as @hellava_tough says, I don't believe in the entire world we couldn't find one player to improve us. Especially a CM who we are so thin on quality. I mentioned before, but I really believe we need a DoF to move forward our recruitment. And it isn't something we should be afraid of, pretty much all the biggest clubs in world football have DOFs. If Levy is willing to relinquish control on that aspect of football is another matter. But I feel it would streamline our recruitment and generally make us more efficient in the market.

 

[Gb160]

As you say, whether or not we actually had 150 mil we will never know for sure and there was a slight element of facetiousness to my post. But the point still stands, as @hellava_tough says, I don't believe in the entire world we couldn't find one player to improve us. Especially a CM who we are so thin on quality. I mentioned before, but I really believe we need a DoF to move forward our recruitment. And it isn't something we should be afraid of, pretty much all the biggest clubs in world football have DOFs. If Levy is willing to relinquish control on that aspect of football is another matter. But I feel it would streamline our requirement and generally make us more efficient in the market.

I honestly don't think a DOF would make a great deal of difference while Levy is still the one who decides on the budget.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

LOL

The idea that ballbag is now a bastion of truth because he became Pochs ghost writer, people will lap up the shit when it fits their agenda.

If he had become Levys ghost writer I doubt half the plebs would be in agreement with him.

Levy is a ****, but the reaction from people who supposedly know 'all about Levy' and how he treats the club, the manager, the players and the fans seems fucking laughable really.

Poch is pretty much showing you how much he appreciated the lack of work done in the summer with the utter dross served up on the pitch in the last three games.

For those of you who read and believe the newspapers, the back page of the mail is point in case.

This football club from top to bottom is a shit show at the moment and if the opinions reflected here on this forum are to go by then we're fucked.

 

[hellava_tough]

As you say, whether or not we actually had 150 mil we will never know for sure and there was a slight element of facetiousness to my post. But the point still stands, as @hellava_tough says, I don't believe in the entire world we couldn't find one player to improve us. Especially a CM who we are so thin on quality. I mentioned before, but I really believe we need a DoF to move forward our recruitment. And it isn't something we should be afraid of, pretty much all the biggest clubs in world football have DOFs. If Levy is willing to relinquish control on that aspect of football is another matter. But I feel it would streamline our requirement and generally make us more efficient in the market.

Levy's character/personality is often something I've wondered about. He's got a reputation for a hard-nosed negotiator, but (i) is that true and (ii) what's he like in other aspects of his professional and personal life?

Understanding that would give us an insight into how he operates, what his motivations are and how he handles relationships with people.

Is he easy to work with, does he alienate people, is he arrogant, is he loyal, is he a micro-manager, etc? What does he want out of life? What's his drive?

I guess we'll never know; only the people who interact with him on a daily basis can answer these questions, and only through their own perception-filtered judgement.

The problem is though, I think all of us fans have our own ideas who Daniel Levy is and how he operates. But that doesn't mean that any of us are correct.

This is why some people say 'Levy's great', others 'Levy's terrible'. And their perception of his character informs their arguments when they say 'Levy would [or wouldn't] do that because...xyz'.

The guy could be a smooth operator, or a complete nutter one false move away from disaster. Like I said, I don't think we'll ever know.

 

[Johnny J]

Levy's character/personality is often something I've wondered about. He's got a reputation for a hard-nosed negotiator, but (i) is that true and (ii) what's he like in other aspects of his professional and personal life?

Understanding that would give us an insight into how he operates, what his motivations are and how he handles relationships with people.

Is he easy to work with, does he alienate people, is he arrogant, is he loyal, is he a micro-manager, etc? What does he want out of life? What's his drive?

I guess we'll never know; only the people who interact with him on a daily basis can answer these questions, and only through their own perception-filtered judgement.

The problem is though, I think all of us fans have our own ideas who Daniel Levy is and how he operates. But that doesn't mean that any of us are correct.

This is why some people say 'Levy's great', others 'Levy's terrible'. And their perception of his character informs their arguments when they say 'Levy would [or wouldn't] do that because...xyz'.

The guy could be a smooth operator, or a complete nutter one false move away from disaster. Like I said, I don't think we'll ever know.

I know someone who knows him and he's certainly not a complete nutter. He's a professional, sensible businessman, and a strong family man too.

 

[Cornpattbuck]

P.s. Still think Poch's book was stupidly ill advised. It's bred negativity ever since it was released and constantly used to beat us with. Still hard to know what the logic was with that one...... anyone?

 

[alfie103]

Don't delude yourself, Utd would snap him up if/when Jose leaves and Real wanted him in the summer.

You're right, they would offer him the job but he would be under different pressures at both of those clubs. They aren't going to hire him to win domestic cups or the Europa League. They are hiring him to win their domestic leagues and champions league and if he doesn't deliver then he is gone.

 

[Blackrat1299]

People love to pile on GB, but the fact is that he's close to Poch and isn't going to write anything that'll piss him off, or that is inaccurate (at least, inaccurate in a way that doesn't favor Poch. I can see him bending things a little in favor of the guy he wrote a book with).

This is the clearest indication yet that Poch is not happy with the summer's inactivity. "Other managers would have walked" is a fairly damning indictment of the situation right now.

It may not be inaccurate, but it may be out of context.

 

[Johnny J]

It may not be inaccurate, but it may be out of context.

What's out of context? What context?

 

[Ghost Hardware]

I honestly don't think a DOF would make a great deal of difference while Levy is still the one who decides on the budget.

Maybe not a great deal but it would make a difference on the negotiations front as well as our targets. Levy will have a figure he is willing to spend and that money will go a lot further with a good dof. I also think having someone in that role will help us planning for the future as a large part of his role is bringing in players to help the future not just the present.

 

[Blackrat1299]

What's out of context? What context?

The inference that he may not be happy!