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

[Sweetsman]

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 ...

Among the more hilarious statements on this thread has to be your suggestion that Walker had any clue about the club's strategy; but maybe you think that Levy would have fireside chats with him about it.

 

[Spurs 1961]

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

That's not how I read it. Just Poch keeping perspective and sticking to his plan not slitting his wrists after one pre-season game

 

[cliff jones]

We are so calm, it is so early...

A moral 6-0 defeat against one of our key rivals later and thankfully the tune seems to have changed

The only thing I don't like about our team is it struggles for motivation in games like yesterday's, showing contempt for the thousands of fans who made so much more effort than they did. The ultra conservative backward passing, passing the buck, hiding, was so sad to see.

I'd much rather see the kids given another opportunity v Juve, in fact that's exactly what these ghastly promoters deserve.

 

[newbie]

We are so calm, it is so early...

A moral 6-0 defeat against one of our key rivals later and thankfully the tune seems to have changed

The only thing I don't like about our team is it struggles for motivation in games like yesterday's, showing contempt for the thousands of fans who made so much more effort than they did. The ultra conservative backward passing, passing the buck, hiding, was so sad to see.

I'd much rather see the kids given another opportunity v Juve, in fact that's exactly what these ghastly promoters deserve.

We don't know what city did last two days training we don't know what spurs did, what's to say our training isn't brutal and our player have major Dom's so are handy capped against a fresher team? It's pre season remember when we had an awesome pre season conquering everyone played Bolton first game who had not won a pre season game and we lost, our manager famously got sacked early on the season.

 

[Jonesey]

Among the more hilarious statements on this thread has to be your suggestion that Walker had any clue about the club's strategy; but maybe you think that Levy would have fireside chats with him about it.

He has been very open about leaving the club so he can start winning some trophies/medals - so a surefire indicator that he doesn't believe the club would invest enough to win things.

So, not sure what was wrong about what I said (apart from it giving you an opening to deliver one of your usual sarcastic but sadly unconstructive and not-as-funny-as-you-think-you-are statements).

 

[Gb160]

Among the more hilarious statements on this thread has to be your suggestion that Walker had any clue about the club's strategy; but maybe you think that Levy would have fireside chats with him about it.

 

[cliff jones]

We don't know what city did last two days training we don't know what spurs did, what's to say our training isn't brutal and our player have major Dom's so are handy capped against a fresher team? It's pre season remember when we had an awesome pre season conquering everyone played Bolton first game who had not won a pre season game and we lost, our manager famously got sacked early on the season.

I don't think it was lack of effort per se, as I said. It was the lack of bravery and positivity on the ball. The fans should come first, and the Club, Levy, Poch and the players let them down massively. When there are too many automatic selections a squad has gone stale, it needs freshening up. That's where we are behind the clock.

 

[Jonesey]

Most fans think we did more than okay last year.

The reality is we didn't win anything and our Champions League - and then Europa League - showings were woeful. With a weaker squad, bringing the academy players through this season how can we honestly expect it to be any better?

 

[Jonesey]

Thats nothing, he was ranting in another thread that he doesn't believe Levy wants any success for us, and actively avoids it....he won't read this because when you pull him up on his bullshit he puts you on ignore lol.

Think you have the wrong person dude - I don't have you on ignore and have never made a post saying I didn't believe Levy wants success for us.

I do think he runs the club more as a profitable business (not a bad thing), but I also think it's time he adapted his business model in order to keep and attract the best players. Or we're not going to be able to compete going forward.

 

[Gb160]

Think you have the wrong person dude - I don't have you on ignore and have never made a post saying I didn't believe Levy wants success for us.

I do think he runs the club more as a profitable business (not a bad thing), but I also think it's time he adapted his business model in order to keep and attract the best players. Or we're not going to be able to compete going forward.

Yeah you're right, mistaken identity lol

 

[doom]

I think Poch likes to be late with the pre-season training so that the players can last longer into the season though the major concern is the first month of matches. We have Newcastle first who we don't seem to do well against, then Chelsea who will be very fit after the charity shields. At lease we won't have new players to settle in.

 

[Sweetsman]

He has been very open about leaving the club so he can start winning some trophies/medals - so a surefire indicator that he doesn't believe the club would invest enough to win things.

So, not sure what was wrong about what I said (apart from it giving you an opening to deliver one of your usual sarcastic but sadly unconstructive and not-as-funny-as-you-think-you-are statements).

He made statements after he left, but when he was at the club the rumour was that he wasn't happy about being dropped. He also made the now infamous comment of "Tottenham till I die". So, I doubt our Kyle had any thoughts other than wanting to move up north, even though it's Lancashire and he's from Yorkshire, and a much larger pay packet. Despite the squillions invested, City have only one two Premiership trophies. Your point implodes again.

 

[Sweetsman]

Think you have the wrong person dude - I don't have you on ignore and have never made a post saying I didn't believe Levy wants success for us.

I do think he runs the club more as a profitable business (not a bad thing), but I also think it's time he adapted his business model in order to keep and attract the best players. Or we're not going to be able to compete going forward.

Explain how he should change the business model, especially one that does not have mineral wealth behind it.

 

[Sweetsman]

The reality is we didn't win anything and our Champions League - and then Europa League - showings were woeful. With a weaker squad, bringing the academy players through this season how can we honestly expect it to be any better?

Champions League takes a long time to win or do well in. We came second in the league, which is pretty good given our outlay on players. Were it not for the financial doping of certain clubs, we may have achieved a lot more in them last few years.

 

[Shadydan]

Think you have the wrong person dude - I don't have you on ignore and have never made a post saying I didn't believe Levy wants success for us.

I do think he runs the club more as a profitable business (not a bad thing), but I also think it's time he adapted his business model in order to keep and attract the best players. Or we're not going to be able to compete going forward.

1) We have adapted our business model to keep our players, why do you think all those shiny new contracts were being handed out last season?

2) To attract the best players we need to pay the high wages, we're never going to do that as it's not sustainable or realistic.

 

[Lighty64]

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....

Don't panic! Don't panic!

stop reading the daily mirror

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?

we can not match what Man C, Chelsea or even Man U can buy players for or what they pay. until now our stadium is a whole lot smaller, and our owners are not in a position to throw stupid money on transfers. if TV money does go down big time in the future, a lot of clubs will be heading down the Leeds route.

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)....

it was heavily noted Walker fell out with Poch, and everyone knows we can't compete.
yes we struggled in the CL, and it wasn't helped that we was never in a position to play our best XI, or should we have spent £500m just in case we did suffer injuries

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.....

you do realise the size of our stadium compared to everyone else don't you? and not a play thing to our owners. if they ever get fed up Man C and Chelsea will suffer unless another money man comes in

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.....

we didn't win anything the season before last, or the season before that, and yep we have lost Walker, but he has gone because 1, he fell out with Poch, 2, he wanted to move up closer to his family, and 3, he will get wages that we can't afford till we are settled in the new stadium

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?.....

I saw an interview with Poch on Sky sometime last season, and he knows the situation. we are building a new stadium, investing in the area. if he was so pissed of he would of been gone by now, just ask Southampton fans

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

just being cynical, because there is not enough money in the club to go out and buy 11 world class players and pay them just in case we might get injuries[/quote]

 

[Lighty64]

Think you have the wrong person dude - I don't have you on ignore and have never made a post saying I didn't believe Levy wants success for us.

I do think he runs the club more as a profitable business (not a bad thing), but I also think it's time he adapted his business model in order to keep and attract the best players. Or we're not going to be able to compete going forward.

you do know that until the NPD is built and paid for, and possibly sold Enic most probably have made very little profit. if they sell it eventually then they will make a massive profit, but until then I can't see your argument.

 

[Shirtfront]

People on here seem to have this delusional belief that we have a choice as to whether or not to buy big and keep up with City, Chelsea (and now Everton). We don't. We can only spend what we can afford. We cannot choose to be richer. We have limited resources. Levy's job is to make the most of them. That means being talent, rather than the finished product. That means buying late, when prices are lower. Yes, that comes at a cost, but it a calculated gamble determined by our finite resources.

If you take the fatalistic view that success always follows money (which is perhaps true over the longer term, but not season by season or club by club in any given season), then you have two choices:
1. Go and support a richer club and improve your chances of success.
2. Continue to support Tottenham and accept that our chances of success are lower due to our lack of wealth; but enjoy that success if/when it comes because it was our success, earned by us together.

I really don't mind which, but just spare me the "why can't we spend more" mantra.

 

[Mustard]

Enic have earned over a billion pounds from the club for about 20m investment of their own money.

They should be supporting the team not just their bottom line.

 

[Jonesey]

1) We have adapted our business model to keep our players, why do you think all those shiny new contracts were being handed out last season?

2) To attract the best players we need to pay the high wages, we're never going to do that as it's not sustainable or realistic.

Levy has to find a way for it to be going forward. It's not like wages are going to fall is it.

And the sad fact is that those 65, 75, 85k "shiny new contracts" have already become obsolete as more and more other clubs even aside from the likes of Chelsea, United, Arsenal and Liverpool (EG: Everton, Leicester even) have started to pay players 100k+ wages as standard.

We must bite the bullet and do the same or we'll start losing our top players the moment we cease to be challenging for the title.

And without investing in new players this summer - with Rose, Lamela, Dembele's recurring injury problems, Janssen suspect as Kane backup and the academy players still a way off being PL class - that is a very realistic possibility.

What's more, even if we do manage to spot and buy younger players who go on to successfully integrate into the first team, they (and their agents) will force a transfer once their wages get up to the 75, 85, 95k mark because they know Spurs won't pay them what they'll get elsewhere. IE: we remain a stepping stone club.

Re-assessing the wage cap is possibly as important as bringing in a new back-up RB, a future replacement for Dembele and proven back-up for Kane this summer.