The Mauricio Pochettino thread

[JCRD]

Where's the money coming from?

Well... last summers budget, this summers budget, CL campaign, player sales, PL and TV revenue, the fact we pay the highest football prices in the world,

No excuses in my view...

 

[gaffers]

Things have changed. Our ticket prices are now one of the most expensive in the league. With that comes higher expectations. We’re raking in money from CL and we’ve doubled our capacity. That money has to go on transfers and wages if we want to go that extra mile.

Will Levy do it to the extent it needs to be done? I don’t think so and I’m a Levy fan. The only way I see it is if he sells up to billionaires - it’s the only way I can see us competing with the likes of City regularly. It’s shit to say but it’s all about the money.

As long as Levy promises, say, £150M on transfers and wages then Poch will stay. If we have another window like the last 2, then I can see it being his last season next season, maybe even this season. Poch is making it clear now it’s all about the money.

This £150m

Well... last summers budget, this summers budget, CL campaign, player sales, PL and TV revenue, the fact we pay the highest football prices in the world,

No excuses in my view...

Wishful think mate. It's all been sunk into the Thunderdome...

 

[teok]

Where's the money coming from?

Getting to the CL final earned us a truck load that couldn't have been ear marked for the stadium.

 

[pablo73]

Well... last summers budget, this summers budget, CL campaign, player sales, PL and TV revenue, the fact we pay the highest football prices in the world,

No excuses in my view...

I hope you're right but given that we have had a net spend of very close to zero over the past 5 or 6 seasons our summer budget for last year and this year based on past summers is, well, zero. The other stuff you mentioned was also true last summer. I think as long as Levy is directly involved in transfers these issues are going to continue unfortunately.

 

[rajmak]

After reading all the articles my take on it is some informal talks may have taken place already with a view to the future of the club between Poch & Levy. Its possible Levy has said there is money to spend but when pressed said its £50m plus revenue from any other players we sell. Levy/Enic may think its still possible to buy 2-3 decent players for £50m and whilst Poch may want some of these type of player for the squad he may also want some high calibre signings whom would cost £50m each or more in their own right. Its one thing selling squad players for revenue to buy new players but when you have the prospect of selling quality 1st team players like Christian and Toby, can we replace both of them with the same quality as well as the other signings we need to make with the revenue available?

For me Poch's interviews are saying we have finished as high as the clubs who spend lots of money in the last few seasons but these clubs will continue to spend and he cannot see Spurs finishing in the Top 4 if we don't. It is a crossroads because if the club don't back him sufficiently and he decides to leave the writing is on the wall for any new potential manager; you are expected to finish Top 4 but without the financial backing other Top 4 clubs receive.

 

[dfree]

I imagine Levy is fully aware of the potential implications of not backing Poch. If he refuses to match Pochs ambition with top tier signings to push up to the top table, Poch will most likely leave. In that situation, why would any self-respecting top tier manager come manage Spurs? He'd be left having to hire PE teachers because any good manager would refuse to manage a club where the hierachy have basically rejected the opportunity of competing at the highest level.

 

[iddebu52]

Where's the money coming from?

You'd be surprised with DL from where the financing will come!!!!!!!

 

[blackburn]

I said last weekend Poch is done and events this week have confirmed it, working under the constraints he has must be draining. He can go now with his head held high and his reputation soaring, within months massive job offers will arrive.

I'll be disappointed but the pressure on Levy will really intensify, we all pay top dollar to follow Spurs and if the perception is that's purely to line his own pockets there'll be trouble.

Of course it might be that the £100m from getting to the final and the £140m profit is invested in players but.......the next 3 months are pivotal in the club's history, the gun is firmly against Levy's head.

 

[JCRD]

I hope you're right but given that we have had a net spend of very close to zero over the past 5 or 6 seasons our summer budget for last year and this year based on past summers is, well, zero. The other stuff you mentioned was also true last summer. I think as long as Levy is directly involved in transfers these issues are going to continue unfortunately.

The likes of Hoddle et al suggested we have money and had money last summer but Poch didnt want to spend it. Maybe Poch is doing what I would do which is wait and wait to accumulate the budgets then buy the players he wants with larger funds... the thing is I wouldnt be surprised if our max for a player remains the same.

If Poch leaves it would send such a bad signal and Levy could be doing a Wenger where he will be remembered for getting us somewhere then fucking it up.

 

[danielneeds]

It's pretty obvious that he's trying to say to Levy that even with this momentous CL final, that he can't just look at that and think everything's rosy. The squad is burnt out, desperately needs a reboot, and a new plan needs to be put into place. Whether now was the time to say it, I don't know.

 

[rajmak]

Why start a new thread when this is all being discussed in the Pochettino thread?

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

He’s not trying to say anything. He’s saying it.

What Pochettino is saying is simple, basic common sense.

5 years ago we had a plan, basically constructed around building and moving into a new stadium while at the same time improving the results on the pitch so that we became seriously competitive at the highest level.

We’ve achieved that in spades. The original plan has become redundant and now we need a new one.. This is obviously correct, uncontroversial and totally normal.

Yet because we’re all so deeply emotionally involved, we’re reading all sorts of things into it.

It’s a neutral, common sense statement. He’s said it’s not about spending more or less money. He’s said he needs to listen to Levy. It’s about agreeing a plan with clear, realistic and shared objectives and targets for the second 5 years of his management career at Spurs, which, obviously and correctly it would be stupid not to have.

The one thing it’s very evidently not is a veiled message to force Levy to cough up more dough. The budget will be an important part of the discussion but as a Pochettino himself said, it’s not about spending more or less money. It’s about being clear what you’re aiming for now that you’ve completed the first set of objectives.

It’s basically about knowing exactly what his job for the next phase is now that he’s completed the first task he was given. That isn’t a threat or a clandestine plea for more money. It’s more important, more sensible and more constructive than that.

 

[cockerel downunder]

I think levy is prepared to pay big money but he won’t add $10m agent fee to grease the wheels and get it done quickly and so we end up getting gazumped.

Personally I’m quite torn as I hate this increasing agent power sucking money from the game but st the same time we are targeting exactly the right players and just not getting them.

Is this the change that Poch seeks?

 

[cockerel downunder]

Also, anyone know why the transfer thread is locked but the transfer forum not open yet?

 

[Gb160]

Levy's a smart guy, he'll be well aware that to let Poch leave will be effectively suicide...if Poch goes, Kane/Alli/etc won't be far behind him.

From a strictly business point of view, it makes zero sense to allow that to happen.
Give Poch what he wants, it's Enic's only option.

 

[daryl hannah]

I think this is probably what has happened. Now Poch is in a place of real strength, he wants to put big pressure on Levy.
But Levy won't change. If Poch is serious, this is only ending one way, and we'd better all start thinking about who we'd like to replace him.

Erik Ten Hag.

 

[cockerel downunder]

I said last weekend Poch is done and events this week have confirmed it, working under the constraints he has must be draining. He can go now with his head held high and his reputation soaring, within months massive job offers will arrive.

I'll be disappointed but the pressure on Levy will really intensify, we all pay top dollar to follow Spurs and if the perception is that's purely to line his own pockets there'll be trouble.

Of course it might be that the £100m from getting to the final and the £140m profit is invested in players but.......the next 3 months are pivotal in the club's history, the gun is firmly against Levy's head.

This is really crazy talk... line his pockets? Gun to his head?

This is the man who has single handedly dragged spurs from mediocrity to being a top club. If he wanted to line his pockets he’d have sold the club long ago he’s had plenty of offers.

 

[Indisguise]

I think the old "attack Levy no matter what the issue is" stance is wholly inappropriate. Levy has worked miracles at our Club. Without him we wouldn't have Poch, nor would we be in a Champions League final. Yes, there are things he could do better, a large continent of us have clearly felt that way for a long time, but we haven't got the foggiest idea about what kind of pressures he's under. He owes a lot to Joe Lewis and it may well be the case that his hands are tied in a personal capacity as well as financial. He's clearly passionate about the Club so let's be fair to him. Despite everything that Poch has said in the last few days he hasn't once disrespected Levy directly; quite the opposite in fact. Poch may even have Levy's blessings in all of this - who knows!

Poch and Levy have both been "magic" for the Club in their own way but the manager has earned his "Spurs" and it's now up to Levy and Lewis to give him and the Club's supporters what he's asked for: clarity. They owe him that.

 

[cockerel downunder]

If Poch wanted levy to give him more cash to spend he’d have that conversation in private. He’s trying to challenge the whole club and fan base to switch to a big club mentality.

 

[daryl hannah]

Getting to the CL final earned us a truck load that couldn't have been ear marked for the stadium.

None of the CL money from the past 3 years will have been earmarked for the stadium. You don't borrow £1bn on a whim and a prayer...