Pochettino says we are 'a bit behind' in pre-season

[mawspurs]

Mauricio Pochettino admits Tottenham are "a bit behind" in pre-season and in the transfer market this summer following their 3-0 defeat by Manchester City.

Read the full article at Sky Sports

 

[McArchibald]

A worryingly despondent reaction from Poch. Is our impotence in the transfer market starting to get to him?

 

[Col_M]

It's about getting the right training and planning for the season. Last year City started like a steam train and ran out of coal half way through.

Chill people.

 

[hutchiniho]

"It's true the squads are completely different but we are building the squad. Maybe today they have a little bit of an advantage, they are ahead of us because they have signed and kept the players that they want.



Now there's a throw away line. Who did he want to keep?

 

[Sweetsman]

"It's true the squads are completely different but we are building the squad. Maybe today they have a little bit of an advantage, they are ahead of us because they have signed and kept the players that they want.



Now there's a throw away line. Who did he want to keep?

That's just his English. They have kept the players they wanted as well as signing new players; we have kept the players we wanted, but have not yet signed anyone.

 

[Sweetsman]

Last year, they turned up at WHL on a hot winning streak and then lost to us.

 

[double0]

We all know Spurs will enter the transfer market so yes Poch is right. City ain't playing on a level playing field (financial fair play out of the window) they can buy who they like at any time suitable to them. Tottenham on the other side are on the different path we've taken this approach in developing our players (note in case our starting line up against Man City was quite strong) it will take a little time also when we do eventually go for players it tends to be last minute. Now we can argue the case for and against doing negotiations this way, looking over the last few seasons it seems to be our policy. One can understand why we do business this way with the amount of guzumping and inflating pricing, we allow other teams head of us in the food chain to bust their load first and we chose to box clever behind the jab.

I'm not too worried about this defeat or any in pre season to be honest it's better Pochettinho see's flaws now than during the battle of the EPL when will be fully engaged.

 

[shelfboy68]

But why are we behind poch is this a question for you or Mr levy or perhaps both of you.
Whatever the reason it's about time finger was pulled out and squad was refreshed.

 

[chico]

Every rival, including Everton, has invested heavily, and appears to have strengthened their squads.
Given that we have raised £45m+ on Walker and are likely to get £4-5m from Siggy sale to whoever, even allowing for the the new stadium you would have thought we could invest £50m?
I'm convinced that Levy's deadline day shopping is a factor in our slow start to the season most seasons, since it takes a while for the newbies to settle in.
Given added pressure of Wembley I hope DL pulls the trigger this week.

 

[shelfboy68]

Every rival, including Everton, has invested heavily, and appears to have strengthened their squads.
Given that we have raised £45m+ on Walker and are likely to get £4-5m from Siggy sale to whoever, even allowing for the the new stadium you would have thought we could invest £50m?
I'm convinced that Levy's deadline day shopping is a factor in our slow start to the season most seasons, since it takes a while for the newbies to settle in.
Given added pressure of Wembley I hope DL pulls the trigger this week.

I would not hold your breath mate it may have to take poch to threaten to resign to get anything done around here.
I suppose eventually the club will buy but cannot see it being enough or good enough quality, just expect more kids.

 

[Jenko]

I would not hold your breath mate it may have to take poch to threaten to resign to get anything done around here.
I suppose eventually the club will buy but cannot see it being enough or good enough quality, just expect more kids.

Keep all our players, bar KW. Replace Sissoko and not panic buy any more Sissoko's.

That was my goal 2 months ago and still is. Keep the faith.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Very odd, one would have thought were in the best position for many years to be settled & ready for the next season. Barring a few injuries (noteably Son & Lamela) there hasn't been much squad upheaval at all, noones being majorly unsettled - we should be in perfect shape really

 

[Jonesey]

Agree that the result doesn't really matter but what does is that Poch sounded worryingly resigned about our chances against the likes of big spending Man City - not just yesterday but it felt like 'generally' too.

He says we're trying to sign players "with energy" (ie: younger? Cheaper?) who will make us more competitive while "building the squad" (yep younger and cheaper, "ones for the future" then?) but sources are saying Barkley's going to be our only signing. And this is probably because he will be EXPENSIVE - but even more concerning is that he will come in on Kane's salary.

That's not a surprise in the current market, but apart from the fact that he will only really make us marginally more competitive, the big fear is that It will likely have wider ramifications on the other first team members. Alli is better than him and he's only on £75k, Toby isn't on much more and he is absolutely key to any success and Eriksen is on, what, £85k? He won't be happy either.

This has turned out to be the silliest of transfer windows in terms of the amount of cash flying around, sure, with the big spenders - City and Chelsea especially - effectively creating a "shit or get off the pot" scenario for Levy and Spurs in terms of signing players and moving with the times in terms of wages. Is anyone else wondering if it might even be a calculated way of eradicating us as a threat longer term?

After all, they know that last season their squads were lacking, allowing us to compete for the title, but they also know Levy wouldn't ever invest enough cash this summer to allow Poch and the team to truly compete against them again (and win things) if they were to go all out to get the biggest players, pay the biggest wages, show the biggest ambition to win trophies. It all ends up making Spurs look a less and less attractive destination, not just this summer, not just to players (and agents!) in the transfer market but also going forward - and, crucially, to our existing, very desirable, players.

Walker knew Levy wouldn't invest this summer too, of course, and decided to jump early for a much bigger pay check when Poch called him out on his attitude. Sure, he had no need to stay anymore, but he's also publicly alluded to the fact that he knew the club wouldn't invest enough to help give the squad the "edge" he thought it lacked (and let's face it, based on our wasted Champions League campaign he's right).

He, like Poch, the team (and City, Chelsea, United and, well, everyone else), also knows that our wage cap will always prevent us from getting the best players in too.

All of this can only really ensure that Spurs will never be more than a stepping stone for 95% of even the best younger and cheaper "players for the future" - and as more and more teams even apart from the biggest of spenders start to pay new players more than we do, even more so. No matter where we finish in the league or despite being in the Champions League.

Even Kane, as committed to the club as he has publicly said he is, is guaranteed to start to get itchy feet if we don't invest this window, don't win anything this year and end up finishing 6th (all a very distinct possibility) and the likes of Alli, Toby, Eriksen, Vertonghen, Rose will be off like a shot next summer once the likes of United, City, Real, etc come knocking if this happens.

How long until Poch then decides HE wants to ply his very desirable wares at a club where he can actually sign proven players who can help a squad win trophies, not just be "more competitive"?

Losing him and our key players may make us a stack of cash but it'll also ensure we're unlikely to win much and even risk a trip back to annual mid-table obscurity. After all, what world class manager is going to want to go to Spurs when they see that one of the most successful managers in their history didn't get the right backing in the transfer window two seasons running, despite back-to-back Champions League qualifications?

So, a big few weeks for Levy - and potentially for the future of the club.

The biggest worry of all though is that Levy knows the new stadium will always be filled, whether we're winning the league, finishing top 4 OR finishing in 6th or 7th ... but maybe I'm being cynical ...

 

[shelfboy68]

Keep all our players, bar KW. Replace Sissoko and not panic buy any more Sissoko's.

That was my goal 2 months ago and still is. Keep the faith.

Need more than just replace sissoko mate ideally 3/4 need to come in.

 

[shelfboy68]

Agree that the result doesn't really matter but what does is that Poch sounded worryingly resigned about our chances against the likes of big spending Man City - not just yesterday but it felt like 'generally' too.

He says we're trying to sign players "with energy" (ie: younger? Cheaper?) who will make us more competitive while "building the squad" (yep younger and cheaper, "ones for the future" then?) but sources are saying Barkley's going to be our only signing. And this is probably because he will be EXPENSIVE - but even more concerning is that he will come in on Kane's salary.

That's not a surprise in the current market, but apart from the fact that he will only really make us marginally more competitive, the big fear is that It will likely have wider ramifications on the other first team members. Alli is better than him and he's only on £75k, Toby isn't on much more and he is absolutely key to any success and Eriksen is on, what, £85k? He won't be happy either.

This has turned out to be the silliest of transfer windows in terms of the amount of cash flying around, sure, with the big spenders - City and Chelsea especially - effectively creating a "shit or get off the pot" scenario for Levy and Spurs in terms of signing players and moving with the times in terms of wages. Is anyone else wondering if it might even be a calculated way of eradicating us as a threat longer term?

After all, they know that last season their squads were lacking, allowing us to compete for the title, but they also know Levy wouldn't ever invest enough cash this summer to allow Poch and the team to truly compete against them again (and win things) if they were to go all out to get the biggest players, pay the biggest wages, show the biggest ambition to win trophies. It all ends up making Spurs look a less and less attractive destination, not just this summer, not just to players (and agents!) in the transfer market but also going forward - and, crucially, to our existing, very desirable, players.

Walker knew Levy wouldn't invest this summer too, of course, and decided to jump early for a much bigger pay check when Poch called him out on his attitude. Sure, he had no need to stay anymore, but he's also publicly alluded to the fact that he knew the club wouldn't invest enough to help give the squad the "edge" he thought it lacked (and let's face it, based on our wasted Champions League campaign he's right).

He, like Poch, the team (and City, Chelsea, United and, well, everyone else), also knows that our wage cap will always prevent us from getting the best players in too.

All of this can only really ensure that Spurs will never be more than a stepping stone for 95% of even the best younger and cheaper "players for the future" - and as more and more teams even apart from the biggest of spenders start to pay new players more than we do, even more so. No matter where we finish in the league or despite being in the Champions League.

Even Kane, as committed to the club as he has publicly said he is, is guaranteed to start to get itchy feet if we don't invest this window, don't win anything this year and end up finishing 6th (all a very distinct possibility) and the likes of Alli, Toby, Eriksen, Vertonghen, Rose will be off like a shot next summer once the likes of United, City, Real, etc come knocking if this happens.

How long until Poch then decides HE wants to ply his very desirable wares at a club where he can actually sign proven players who can help a squad win trophies, not just be "more competitive"?

Losing him and our key players may make us a stack of cash but it'll also ensure we're unlikely to win much and even risk a trip back to annual mid-table obscurity. After all, what world class manager is going to want to go to Spurs when they see that one of the most successful managers in their history didn't get the right backing in the transfer window two seasons running, despite back-to-back Champions League qualifications?

So, a big few weeks for Levy - and potentially for the future of the club.

The biggest worry of all though is that Levy knows the new stadium will always be filled, whether we're winning the league, finishing top 4 OR finishing in 6th or 7th ... but maybe I'm being cynical ...

I would be very concerned if Barkley was our only signing in fact to wait the whole of the summer to end up with one signing would be very underwhelming imo.
I think some fans think that because we did ok last year that it relates to this season too, but as we have seen through the years even title winners or CL winners add more quality to their squads , you cannot rest on your laurels.
I guess Barkley will probably come in with another random kid or two.

 

[Jenko]

Need more than just replace sissoko mate ideally 3/4 need to come in.

Well not necessarily. It will all depend on the prospects of Onomah, CCV, GKN, Lamela's fitness, etc. I expect Janssen to compete and score goals this season too.

But if those players can step up then we might be ok. What we need is an experienced leader though, hard to find i know.

 

[shelfboy68]

Well not necessarily. It will all depend on the prospects of Onomah, CCV, GKN, Lamela's fitness, etc. I expect Janssen to compete and score goals this season too.

But if those players can step up then we might be ok. What we need is an experienced leader though, hard to find i know.

Well apart from lamela when he is fit I haven't seen anything from the others you mentioned as being good enough.
Sometimes we can try too hard hoping that these youngsters will come good, sadly a lot just can't step up.

 

[Sweetsman]

But why are we behind poch is this a question for you or Mr levy or perhaps both of you.
Whatever the reason it's about time finger was pulled out and squad was refreshed.

Is this meant to be a serious question? We're not meant to tailor our schedule to other teams' training programmes!

 

[Sweetsman]

Well apart from lamela when he is fit I haven't seen anything from the others you mentioned as being good enough.
Sometimes we can try too hard hoping that these youngsters will come good, sadly a lot just can't step up.

Clearly, Pochettino disagrees with you, but what would he know working with them every day?

 

[Sweetsman]

I would be very concerned if Barkley was our only signing in fact to wait the whole of the summer to end up with one signing would be very underwhelming imo.
I think some fans think that because we did ok last year that it relates to this season too, but as we have seen through the years even title winners or CL winners add more quality to their squads , you cannot rest on your laurels.
I guess Barkley will probably come in with another random kid or two.

Most fans think we did more than okay last year.