Next Manager Watch

[robotsonic]

Pretty balls-out move if it happens, but the bigger thing for me is that we seem to be looking for the right type of personalities, finally. Arm around the shoulder but don't suffer fools gladly and will be very direct with players, but with some positive and modern football at front of shop. I almost don't even care who it is, as long as they fit that mold, as its a step away from this fusty pragmatic bollocks that has no place in this club.

 

[cookiemonster]

Has they confirm Kompany as the next victim?

 

[McFlash]

No doubt - and I tend to agree, though it has to be tempered with some semblance of knowledge and experience, maybe just surrounding them. Indeed, we are seeing in the public and private markets more broadly younger CEO's - and whilst I do agree to a large extent with this trend given the innovation they provide, they also crash and burn very, very often - costing both private investors and public (us) huge amounts. I also think that if we look at the decision makers in this process - they are dyed in the wool traditional financiers who will unfortunately tend to look at 'track record' vs. 'potential'

I'm not sure you can really compare football with other business, it's pretty unique.
Kompany has a whole careers worth of experience in the game as a player and captain, under a variety of managers and being a bright bloke, he will have learnt a lot throughout that time.

Plus, we've learnt that there's no such thing as a sure-fire appointment at Spurs so maybe someone young and fresh is what we need?

 

[Mate]

If Kompany does well with us then we'll just be prepping him for the City job when Pep leaves

 

[HedgieSpur]

I'm not sure you can really compare football with other business, it's pretty unique.
Kompany has a whole careers worth of experience in the game as a player and captain, under a variety of managers and being a bright bloke, he will have learnt a lot throughout that time.

Plus, we've learnt that there's no such thing as a sure-fire appointment at Spurs so maybe someone young and fresh is what we need?

I disagree with this, despite the fact many fans seem to think football is unique. It has been shown time and time again that a stellar career in playing football is not remotely correlated to being a good manager. While I agree that there is no such thing as a sure fire appointment, the optimal approach is to have a defined and robust process in which managerial capabilities are assessed against a set of parameters.

If the rumour is true, I wonder who else we interviewed, in order to benchmark Kompsny against?

 

[McFlash]

If Kompany does well with us then we'll just be prepping him for the City job when Pep leaves

Maybe, maybe not but it's not really worth worrying about yet.

 

[curlacious]

Can see why Levy would want Kompany.

He fulfils the brief of a young, dynamic up and coming manager playing attacking football.

But crucially he has that star quality that Levy seems to think aligns with the new stadium and 'brand', which is why I think he went for Mourinho and Conte.

 

[spurs9]

If Kompany does well with us then we'll just be prepping him for the City job when Pep leaves

That would mean he was a success and let's face it, any manager that is a success has a good chance of being poached by a bigger club.

I don't think it is set in stone that Kompany takes over from Pep anyway.

 

[ButchCassidy]

1. Man City, one of the tightest run footballing organizations on the planet, are not going to appoint Pep’s successor based on sentiment; they’re going to identify who they think is the best manager on the planet and then go out and sign them. Just like they did with Pep.

2. If Man City come to our manager and say “we think you’re the best manager on the planet and we’d like to pay you a record amount and give you whatever you need to succeed and win everything”, the list of people who wouldn’t listen to their proposal is pretty close to zero. Poch, maybe, and perhaps Ryan Mason. So it’s a pretty silly thing to worry about.

 

[Guntz]

If Kompany does well with us then we'll just be prepping him for the City job when Pep leaves

It’s pretty much guaranteed - the guy is the human embodiment of City.

But he’d have to do well with us to even be considered for that job.

If he stays for 2-3 years, takes the club forward and wins us a trophy then happy days.

He can then move on with Super Jan becoming our next manager in 2026

 

[Ghost Hardware]

I would be pretty surprised if we went for Kompany over even Slot. He looks a very promising manager who’s had an excellent season but surly Slots relative success in Europe and what he’s done with a team of very low quality players in the 6th highest rated league in Europe makes him a much more appealing option. And that’s not to mention others like Amorim, De Zerbi, Gallardo, Poch Nagelsmann etc.

I would wonder, if there is any truth in it, that it would have something to do with Munn. The recent Atheltic article suggests that the City group is a rather tightly knit organisation with regular meetings discussing all facets and one would assume Kompany’s career as manager would have been keenly observed by them. Which does in itself raise another point that if City did come calling he’d very likely jump ship. Even Pep has spoken about him being a logical next step after he leaves. Not that it makes it a deal breaker in itself as that would prob be the case with most targets. But I guess it would maybe come into discussion if you’re aiming to build a project.

Yes I’d take him over Rodgers and Potter. But i really struggle to see why he would be the best pick of all available options at this stage.

 

[Impspur1]

If Kompany does well with us then we'll just be prepping him for the City job when Pep leaves

So it’s better to have a manager that nobody wants because he isn’t successful? What if he’s successful, enjoys it here and may be happy to stay for a while?

 

[McFlash]

I disagree with this, despite the fact many fans seem to think football is unique. It has been shown time and time again that a stellar career in playing football is not remotely correlated to being a good manager. While I agree that there is no such thing as a sure fire appointment, the optimal approach is to have a defined and robust process in which managerial capabilities are assessed against a set of parameters.

If the rumour is true, I wonder who else we interviewed, in order to benchmark Kompsny against?

Of course just having a good career isn't going to make you a good manager, that goes without saying (just look at the likes of Keane, Rooney, Adams).
It takes more than that obviously but there are plenty of players that you listen to and think, "he'll make a good manager one day".

What I mean is that it can provide great experience for someone that is inclined in that way, not that every player can become a good manager.

 

[ShriekinKnight]

If Kompany does well with us then we'll just be prepping him for the City job when Pep leaves

Not saying Kompany is the right man or not but you could say "we'd just be prepping Nagelsmann (or Slot, or Postecoglou, or Amorim) for the [insert mega club] job"

Ultimately it would mean very good things have been happening at Spurs if Man City come after Kompany

 

[robotsonic]

The idea that we don't sign a player or a manager because they might want to move on one day is just mad, to be honest. We'd never sign anyone. Should the whole playing and club staff be Tottenham fans or they can sod off?

 

[Timberwolf]

Fair enough - but, and I preface this by stating that my job is mentoring and placing CEO's of companies - I would very, very rarely look to place someone who has no experience anywhere near the level of operating at the level that we operate at with the personalities/expectations that such a role would demand. Kompany may well have potential and get there eventually, I, personally, would not suggest that he would be a sensible option right now. I, however, am not saying that he wouldn't be a success, he may be incredible, and such bets have made companies in the past - but they have also ruined far, far more. Rodgers, I personally have no real view on as I don't know enough to proffer an informed opinion.

I can absolutely see your point but to play devils advocate you could say he was the captain of a multiple-championship winning team filled with those personalities and knows exactly what expectations they have. He's also the only candidate that has worked closely under the most influential tactician of the modern game in Pep.

These qualities do not automatically a good manager make, but they do count for something. And he's served somewhat of an apprenticeship in 3 years working at Anderlecht in very difficult financial circumstances, culminating in his success at Burnley.

I absolutely agree that he'd be a big punt but I think most of the other heavily linked managers are also punts to varying degrees and for varying reasons. There are "safer" bets out there (Poch, Enrique, Rodgers, Potter) but personally I'd rather see us go for a high risk/high reward manager implementing modern ideas.

Kompany could crash and burn but him, perhaps more than almost any of the other candidates, is the one I could see genuinely building something special here.

...until he fucks off to City at least.

 

[Rage]

I'm not sure you can really compare football with other business, it's pretty unique.
Kompany has a whole careers worth of experience in the game as a player and captain, under a variety of managers and being a bright bloke, he will have learnt a lot throughout that time.

Plus, we've learnt that there's no such thing as a sure-fire appointment at Spurs so maybe someone young and fresh is what we need?

Totally - and I do get that it is not that simple.

However - the label of 'unique' has also been rolled out with so many industries run by individuals who have had an idea which is great and then think they can build a company off the back of it. It doesn't work. Zymergen, Theranos etc.

Experience is great - but it does not lend itself to a great leader. I personally feel that people over simplify the leadership aspect of managing a football team. Leading a group of over 30 individuals, who all have extraordinarily strong personalities (mostly) is a hornets nest. Leadership is about gravitas, the ability to lead and influence, ability to take tough decisions and strategically define the future state of a business and have everyone buy into that.

To have someone do that who is a peer (Kompany) is a really, really tough ask. I don't doubt that he can do it, I more question the personality of our current playing staff to accept that and therefore run through fire for him.

I would have him on a list of high potentials who could 10x your business but could also entirely fuck your business. No manager is without risk, but I think that there are others out there who would have a certain mitigation factor about them which our dear leadership would prefer. And just to make clear - I am at the damn point of not caring about what comes next, just an attacking manager. If that is Kompany, ace, I will be right behind him, just providing a view into how the decision is likely to be decided.

 

[Tezza1978]

Not incredibly excited about this if this rumour is true. Great player, done an excellent job so far in management and his style of football is very attractive. Would have a level of respect from the players because of his playing career - but he is very inexperienced to say the least in managing in a high pressure top 6 team like us which is a huge red flag -given we are seen as a poisoned chalice with several senior players who lack a winning mentality. People comparing him to Arteta - there is zero chance he will get that long at Spurs.

I'm not saying I'm vehemently opposed to him getting the job - not at all - and clearly he would see us as a step up from Burnley and a good opportunity - but if he is even moderately successful with us (lets say we get 4th next season but crash out of the cups) and Pep leaves City he could be gone in 12 months.

With a lot of our fans demanding a project manager to build something over years rather than a "proven winner" he could end up filling neither of those if we scrape 4th. We are then back to square one, and the managerial options available next summer might be a lot less appealing.

I guess finishing 4th again this coming season would be a problem many teams would kill for but unless the football we are watching really changes for the better I could see fans getting on his back quickly and us having a 7th or 8th place finish, which would also see him gone.

In summary - he is a better option than Rodgers clearly and I think I would prefer him over Big Ange - but Slot and Nagelsmann (1st choice) definitely appeal more. But if Nagelsmann isnt showing enough interest and Slot's family issues (kids at secondary school) are a major blocker then maybe thats why Levy is going down this road....

 

[rossdapep]

The idea that we don't sign a player or a manager because they might want to move on one day is just mad, to be honest. We'd never sign anyone. Should the whole playing and club staff be Tottenham fans or they can sod off?

Great point.

Nagelsmann? He'd jump at Madrid or Barcelona.

Slot? Again, he'd jump at Bayern or Barca.

Anyone who comes in and does well will get linked elsewhere.

The key for me is getting back on the right track. If Kompany gets the team playing well and competing, great.

The key will be to be ready should there be noises of him leaving so that we already have the next one lined up - and its a coach who can see continuation.

 

[Rage]

I can absolutely see your point but to play devils advocate you could say he was the captain of a multiple-championship winning team filled with those personalities and knows exactly what expectations they have. He's also the only candidate that has worked closely under the most influential tactician of the modern game in Pep.

These qualities do not automatically a good manager make, but they do count for something. And he's served somewhat of an apprenticeship in 3 years working at Anderlecht in very difficult financial circumstances, culminating in his success at Burnley.

I absolutely agree that he'd be a big punt but I think most of the other heavily linked managers are also punts to varying degrees and for varying reasons. There are "safer" bets out there (Poch, Enrique, Rodgers, Potter) but personally I'd rather see us go for a high risk/high reward manager implementing modern ideas.

Kompany could crash and burn but him, perhaps more than almost any of the other candidates, is the one I could see genuinely building something special here.

...until he fucks off to City at least.

For sure - if GE didn't appoint Jack Welch when they did, they wouldn't exist. To dare is to do - I love it but it also terrifies the fuck out of me because of what is the more likely outcome!