Off the pitch excellent and not as excellent on the pitch. I can agree with that. But I don't agree that it is as bad as people say lately. I think he made very hard decision to push aside on pitch success and to focus on facilities and marketing. Because without that, if we for example had won Premier League, we still would be seen as a 'temporary' team. Just like Leicester.Thank you for your polite WTF! Ha! I'm not angry, just sad.
I think Levy's off the pitch strategy has been excellent. I just think he's on pitch strategy has not. He lucked out with Poch and we hugely overachived with him but chose not to back him appropriately. We've only got José cos of Poch.
I'm not complaining about not challenging for the league because we've only done that twice in about 30 odd years. But I am complaining that I don't think that's the aim. I think he sees finishing 2nd-4th as success and that doesn't sit with the 'best stadium in the world' ™, the best training facilities and one of the all time greats at the helm. And you need that belief and aim throughout the club to really achieve it.
I accept that not every signing works out. But when you don't move those who haven't worked out on, and when you take too long to replace the fulcrum of your team then you're only going to go in one direction.
I do support the team. And when I go to the games I love signing, being positive and having a good time. But this is a forum.
I don't like the statement that he was lucky with Poch cause he was the one that hired him. There was a choice between him and De Boer. And so many of us wanted De Boer, including me! The aim was clear to stay as close to the top team as possible, using young players, academy talents, during stadium development. I think we massively overachived, I don't think Levy expected that and the club wasn't ready then to made the final step to push for the league. Although in Poch era we where in 2 cup finals and 2 FA cup semi finals. We should have done better in those cup competition and that is not on Levy.
Poch wanted us to act like a big club when we weren't ready for that. Levy wanted us to continue act as before, with more gamble on players, young talents etc. That is why I think we ended with two transfer window without buying anyone. Once the stadium was finished, financials are secured and we instantly are doing differently. Ndombele, Lo Celso, Sessegnon and now Gedson and Bergwijn. Of course we are not spending as United or City for obvious reasons but we are now in Liverpool and Chelsea level. That is massive.
It is a shame that one of the best team in our history, with one of the best managers in our history happend in time when the club wasn't able to support them. I can't blame Levy for that. Actually I was but I got over Poch and his team and I see things differently now.
I think we need big team rebuild but I don't think doing it in one or two window is the way to go. We did that with Bale money. Liverpool did that with Suarez money. WHU are doing it every season and they are shit every season. We will see what will happen in summer transfer window. That will be an indicator if I am right about Levy and his plan and ambitions.