Next Manager Watch

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

From what I saw last night, albeit a very small sample size, he wasn’t really a player getting in the box he was more another 10.

For me his best position is similar to Son which is why I desperately wanted him as the long term successor to Sonny.

But he has played as a false 9 at times and in the right attack with fluidity it could potentially work.

As I said though I'd personally play him LWF.

 

[TPdYID]

I'm in no way a Potter fan boy but he has to be given credit for two things IMO. He has been successful at every level of the game and that's no easy feat. Secondly he changed the style of play at Brighton. Now I'm sure that's what the board wanted as well but it's still some feat to do that in your first EPL role and keep getting results. He has also consistently improved players who have not all gone on to be huge successes at their next clubs which shows he was getting a lot out of them.

There's something to be said about the surname 'Potter', but for the love of me can't put my finger on it.

Maybe he can wave his wand in the direction of N'dombele, Lo Celso, Reguillon, Rodon and Winks?

 

[cliff jones]

the football has been mainly bad this season because we've been without the creativity in the form of Romero passing out, Bents pass and move in the centre and Kulu's invention on the right, for too many games. Others can provide the element of surprise at times- look at the two assisters and scorer of the opener last Sunday- but just not consistently.

The lack of depth has been exposed.

We have no idea if Conte pointed to this risk, and wasn't backed. Or if he hangs around whether he'll point to it again in the summer.

 

[YB123]

I'm in no way a Potter fan boy but he has to be given credit for two things IMO. He has been successful at every level of the game and that's no easy feat. Secondly he changed the style of play at Brighton. Now I'm sure that's what the board wanted as well but it's still some feat to do that in your first EPL role and keep getting results. He has also consistently improved players who have not all gone on to be huge successes at their next clubs which shows he was getting a lot out of them.

Good point, I'd say his change of approach and style has been his biggest success in England.

But it was already the approach and philosophy at Swansea and Cooper did a better job and elevated them further, with less resources and finances, still playing great football.

Obviously you can look past Potter's first season of beating relegation at Brighton as he was implementing a new style.

But since their improvement, nearly all Brighton fans will tell you the football and level has improved under De Zerbi.

Potter is a good coach but I think he has been given a little bit of overhype with this peculiar cult following.

We could do better if he was available, in my opinion.

 

[Cel]

Was it negative and boring for the last few months of last season though? I mean it was built on defensive stability, and counter attacking, but it was far from boring imo.

My concern is that it feels like it's regressing. If we started playing like we are now, and had slowly transitioned to how we played at the end of last year it would feel like progress, and I'd be more than happy.

I guess I'm torn, as if Conte needs world class CB's the whole of the back line to be effective, that's fine, but I think a lot of managers would find similar levels of success given that level of backing.

Appreciate it's not a given, but he does have history for getting itchy feet & doesn't really stick around at clubs under a lot less trying circumstances than are going on this year.

I think I'm swaying towards be decisive. Have a plan.

If you can get the commitment he wants to stay long term, great back him.

Buuut, if he's not sure if he wants to stay or go, mkae that call early. Don't renew, part amicably at the end of the year & do it with a new manager, and sink the level of support that would be needed.

Make that call now. Plan accordingly and get ahead of it. If it's Poch, fine. Line it up. Identify the needs now. Get working on it.

We just can't have another saga where we drift & waste half the summer on a will he/wont he.

 

[Cochraam]

I don't disagree with a lot of it and I think the mitigating factors that you rightly point out have played a HUGE part .

What concerns me is this negative boring football, I've had enough of it. I hated it when Mourinho was here, Nuno did it too and now this.

I hate it and I also don't think we get the required quality in to make him think we don't have to play it

Of the criticisms of Conte, I most empathize with people who just don't like the style of play, the core philosophy. I do think when it works it can be entertaining; like watching a cat toy with a mouse - sure the mouse can run around, but the cat is always in control and lethal when it decides to pounce. But maybe after 4 years of reactive football I've just forgotten what good football looks like. And whenever Conte does leave, I'd love to see us go for a coach that is more front-foot and possession-oriented.

This could be me looking at a nearly empty glass and declaring it half full, but I do think there have been some positive signs for our style of play in recent games. We've controlled more of the ball and seemed less frail in defense, but on the other hand we haven't looked like we have an attacking edge unless it's a quick transition or counter.

I think there is an argument to make that most of our turgid, boring football has come when we don't have Romero, Deki, and Bentancur in the squad. Obviously a big concern going forward the rest of the season with Bentancur out, but if Romero and Deki can stay fit, I think there is hope we play more aggressive and creative football. But again, maybe I'm being a blind optimist and hoping for something that isn't going to happen.

 

[Albertbarich]

Of the criticisms of Conte, I most empathize with people who just don't like the style of play, the core philosophy. I do think when it works it can be entertaining; like watching a cat toy with a mouse - sure the mouse can run around, but the cat is always in control and lethal when it decides to pounce. But maybe after 4 years of reactive football I've just forgotten what good football looks like. And whenever Conte does leave, I'd love to see us go for a coach that is more front-foot and possession-oriented.

This could be me looking at a nearly empty glass and declaring it half full, but I do think there have been some positive signs for our style of play in recent games. We've controlled more of the ball and seemed less frail in defense, but on the other hand we haven't looked like we have an attacking edge unless it's a quick transition or counter.

I think there is an argument to make that most of our turgid, boring football has come when we don't have Romero, Deki, and Bentancur in the squad. Obviously a big concern going forward the rest of the season with Bentancur out, but if Romero and Deki can stay fit, I think there is hope we play more aggressive and creative football. But again, maybe I'm being a blind optimist and hoping for something that isn't going to happen.

A very fair post.

I'm just struggling recently with watching it.

 

[Trix]

My concern is that it feels like it's regressing. If we started playing like we are now, and had slowly transitioned to how we played at the end of last year it would feel like progress, and I'd be more than happy.

I guess I'm torn, as if Conte needs world class CB's the whole of the back line to be effective, that's fine, but I think a lot of managers would find similar levels of success given that level of backing.

Appreciate it's not a given, but he does have history for getting itchy feet & doesn't really stick around at clubs under a lot less trying circumstances than are going on this year.

I think I'm swaying towards be decisive. Have a plan.

If you can get the commitment he wants to stay long term, great back him.

Buuut, if he's not sure if he wants to stay or go, mkae that call early. Don't renew, part amicably at the end of the year & do it with a new manager, and sink the level of support that would be needed.

Make that call now. Plan accordingly and get ahead of it. If it's Poch, fine. Line it up. Identify the needs now. Get working on it.

We just can't have another saga where we drift & waste half the summer on a will he/wont he.

I don't think it's the case that Conte needs world class players in every position, it's more that it's such a rigid system and philosophy that it requires players that possess certain skillsets to a high level. So they need to do certain things really well, but having a well rounded game is less important in some positions. I don't think it matters who the coach is though when you have players constantly making individual errors throughout a season, you are on a hiding to nothing, and I think we have too many of those right now.

 

[onthetwo]

Lets make a summer bid for the brighton structure

and bring back the Scout (Paul Barber) that Levy fell out with...

 

[nico97531]

There is a reason they keep buying these players for peanuts, selling them for fortunes and then they don't look half the player they were at Brighton at their new clubs.

I do hope the reason isn’t because they are bad players that only works in Brighton’s system as we’ve got one in our team too and I’ve got high hopes for him.

 

[Gb160]

and bring back the Scout (Paul Barber) that Levy fell out with...

He's not a scout is he?

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I don't think it's the case that Conte needs world class players in every position, it's more that it's such a rigid system and philosophy that it requires players that possess certain skillsets to a high level. So they need to do certain things really well, but having a well rounded game is less important in some positions. I don't think it matters who the coach is though when you have players constantly making individual errors throughout a season, you are on a hiding to nothing, and I think we have too many of those right now.

I think this season has shown it’s actually a mix of momentum, confidence and player quality, not just one or the other.

At the end of last season Dier and Davies were playing out of their skin like worldbeaters, we had no injuries one game a week, a very consistent line-up week after week game after game + new manager bounce which lead to excitement within the team/squad and fans and that momentum as well as signings of Kulu & Bentancur (quality) dragged us to 4th.

Contrast to this season, where we’ve been playing 2 games a week most weeks especially early in the season, we’ve had awful injuries especially in attacking areas earlier in the season we were left well short, then Gianpiero died, then Son got injured and needed a mask, then Arsenal went top, then it was the World Cup, then we came back and we’d not agreed an extension with conte = uncertainty, then more injuries again, 2 of contes friends die, then conte needs gallbladder surgery = no consistency, no positive momentum and the likes of Lloris, Dier etc etc start to make more mistakes and their confidence goes, the crowd loses patience with the style of play and the cycle continues.

Right now with Conte having a break and Stellini & Mason providing a fresh feeling + most of our injured players back + Porro & Danjuma + some better performances (Man.City, West Ham) imo = more confidence, more momentum.

So relating this back to a new manager, I think simply to the sake of momentum and confidence which goes a huge huge way at a football club, I think it’s in everyone’s interest if we move on from Conte this summer.

I think/hope we can build some positive momentum from now until the end of the season, ideally win the FA Cup but let’s see but I feel that with Conte he brings too much negative and uncertain energy and it transfers to the players and crowd, this is where I think people actually underestimate the positive effect that Poch back could provide.

 

[Adam456]

the football has been mainly bad this season because we've been without the creativity in the form of Romero passing out, Bents pass and move in the centre and Kulu's invention on the right, for too many games. Others can provide the element of surprise at times- look at the two assisters and scorer of the opener last Sunday- but just not consistently.

The lack of depth has been exposed.

We have no idea if Conte pointed to this risk, and wasn't backed. Or if he hangs around whether he'll point to it again in the summer.

Sorry but it's just not an excuse in 2023 with size of our squad and the number of attacking players we have to say that missing 3 players (and not necessarily even all at the same time) has such an impact.

Especially for a guy who is feted for having such a system. It simply shouldn't completely break down every other game and serve up such turgid crap

If every player was well coached to pass the ball and move then we wouldn't be reliant on little bits of magic from a few elite players

And as many have said many times, if we didn't sit back and constantly invite pressure then we wouldn't look so bad in defence and keep conceding awful goals

It really is as simple as that

 

[newbie]

I don't think it's the case that Conte needs world class players in every position, it's more that it's such a rigid system and philosophy that it requires players that possess certain skillsets to a high level. So they need to do certain things really well, but having a well rounded game is less important in some positions. I don't think it matters who the coach is though when you have players constantly making individual errors throughout a season, you are on a hiding to nothing, and I think we have too many of those right now.

I don’t think it helps when your goalie gives away gifts and the defences is way below par.

I doubt any manager could get many more points, but I do think we could have more entertainment, sadly it could come in hand with a lot of huge hidings.

 

[newbie]

Sorry but it's just not an excuse in 2023 with size of our squad and the number of attacking players we have to say that missing 3 players (and not necessarily even all at the same time) has such an impact.

Especially for a guy who is feted for having such a system. It simply shouldn't completely break down every other game and serve up such turgid crap

If every player was well coached to pass the ball and move then we wouldn't be reliant on little bits of magic from a few elite players

And as many have said many times, if we didn't sit back and constantly invite pressure then we wouldn't look so bad in defence and keep conceding awful goals

It really is as simple as that

We have numbers over quality.

Out of 6 CB only one is good enough

Not to mention

Moras, richy, Kulu have all had a lot of injuries plus Sons had his worst season by a mile for us.

 

[RELISYS]

Lets make a summer bid for the brighton structure

We had this type of structure in place when we tried to improve from being a mid table/bottom half club to a top half club. To progress further you need something different.

But it would would be hilarious if we did that now, Could you image the outrage from Spurs fans when we continually sell our best players for £50 Million plus and replace them with players in the £10 Million bracket. The Spurs fans that are giving this a Winners rating and Agreeing would be the first complaining. It would be a case of lacking ambition and going for the Cheap options, those things are said now, but with this type of structure it would be even worst.

Interesting the praise Paul Barber gives to Daniel Levy:

'I grew up a Tottenham fan' - Brighton man reveals he learns from Daniel Levy - The Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News

Brighton CEO Paul Barber has revealed that he learns something every day from Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, and has praised his knowledge and experience in...

www.spurs-web.com

 

[wrd]

We had this type of structure in place when we tried to improve from being a mid table/bottom half club to a top half club. To progress further you need something different.

But it would would be hilarious if we did that now, Could you image the outrage from Spurs fans when we continually sell our best players for £50 Million plus and replace them with players in the £10 Million bracket. The Spurs fans that are giving this a Winners rating and Agreeing would be the first complaining. It would be a case of lacking ambition and going for the Cheap options, those things are said now, but with this type of structure it would be even worst.

Interesting the praise Paul Barber gives to Daniel Levy:

'I grew up a Tottenham fan' - Brighton man reveals he learns from Daniel Levy - The Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News

Brighton CEO Paul Barber has revealed that he learns something every day from Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, and has praised his knowledge and experience in...

www.spurs-web.com

I was just making a joke but I actually disagree to an extent, yes there would be ire when we sold the first player for a significant chunk of change but if you create a model where consistently you sell players and build a better team because of it then fans will be happy, you have to earn the trust of the fans when it comes to reinvestment. Something that for example, Dortmund, Leipzeig have accomplished. The idea would not be to do the same level as brighton but to adopt the model but relative to our stature.

Good to hear Barber is a spurs fan though, should make summer recruitment of him much easier.

 

[RELISYS]

I was just making a joke but I actually disagree to an extent, yes there would be ire when we sold the first player for a significant chunk of change but if you create a model where consistently you sell players and build a better team because of it then fans will be happy, you have to earn the trust of the fans when it comes to reinvestment. Something that for example, Dortmund, Leipzeig have accomplished. The idea would not be to do the same level as brighton but to adopt the model but relative to our stature.

Good to hear Barber is a spurs fan though, should make summer recruitment of him much easier.

I think in theory it's a good idea, but it leaves very little room for error with recruitment. I think It will eventually fail for Brighton just like it did with Southampton, since to get the best value for your players you would need to be selling to the Premier League, which means for us selling to our rivals and strengthening them. It works for the like of Dortmund, Sporting, Leipzig, etc as they have the luxury of selling to Premier League and getting their best players away from rivals.

 

[cliff jones]

Sorry but it's just not an excuse in 2023 with size of our squad and the number of attacking players we have to say that missing 3 players (and not necessarily even all at the same time) has such an impact.

Especially for a guy who is feted for having such a system. It simply shouldn't completely break down every other game and serve up such turgid crap

If every player was well coached to pass the ball and move then we wouldn't be reliant on little bits of magic from a few elite players

And as many have said many times, if we didn't sit back and constantly invite pressure then we wouldn't look so bad in defence and keep conceding awful goals

It really is as simple as that

I didn't excuse Conte. And I'm not disagreeing with your point about passive tactics.

But the players I'm pointing to are fundamental to providing the creative edge. We have to have more creative (not necessarily "attacking") options in the squad.

 

[spurs9]

and bring back the Scout (Paul Barber) that Levy fell out with...

Just a couple of things...1) Paul Barber is not a scout. 2) He didn't fall out with Levy, he gets along with him. I agree in bringing him back to the club though.


In a time when Levy has faced mounting criticism over an alleged lack of investment, and billionaire Jahm Najafi is reportedly set to launch a £3.1billion takeover of Tottenham, Barber has come to the aid of the Premier League's longest-serving chairman.

"I was told a long time ago that you have to be careful when you get hired by a football club, it's better to pick the owner than the club. I have been very lucky with Daniel [Levy] and with Tony [Bloom] in working with two very good owners," he said on the JP&T: The Football Friendly

"I know Daniel is under some pressure from Spurs fans but the legacy he has created there; the stadium, the training ground, the platform that Tottenham have to progress is wonderful and Daniel is the visionary behind that."