Poch drops science on our financial reality

[thebenjamin]

I quite like that Pochettino is developing the players we have, into players better than the majority of the ones we spent aimlessly on. I think that its absolutely true that he has created a great ethic in the squad, and wants to be very selective about who he brings in with regards to that ethic.

Yes, one thing's for certain. It is either incredible serendipity or a rare piece of managerial selection brilliance from Levy that we have Pochettino in charge for this period. In the hands of a Redknapp, AVB, or really most other managers we could be looking at an on-field disaster.

 

[GetSpurredOn]

I think that the crux of it, there's not a huge pot of cash to go out and do a Newcastle (in terms of transfer window spend I mean). However, to continue to move forwards, there'll always be an amount available for investment, it's about how it's spent.
Do we buy a £20m Lovren type player, or do we spend less than £5m on Wimmer, for example. Do we spend £25m on Berahino to back up Kane, or do we look at Moussa Dembele from Fulham for circa £5m. It's not a case of not spending, more likely being efficient with what we have. Under Pochettino the team/system is key. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. So we don't necessarily need big game changing stellar signings at this point, it's more about small cogs to turn the big machine. An modest priced astute signing here and there, who'll fit the system, and critically, the team ethos.

Walker, Trippier, Rose and Davies.
Are there a better stable of fullbacks in this league? No big star names, no huge fees, just tidy acquisitions that fit what we want.

Another season or two of minor adjustments, and if we maintain the current upswing in our performances, stay in the mix for CL over the coming seasons, we should arrive at the new stadium in great shape. The squad is young, talented, hard working and quite humble, no real egos. It's only going to improve, individually the more they play to develop and mature, and just as importantly, the more they play as a together, the greater the fluidity and understanding will become. There is a real spine of players now that are already very good PL players, but are all so young and with such potential, they could be immense.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Since Levy gets the blame for not investing rather than joe i think it can slide.

Otherwise we really have to sort out who gets blame/credit for what. Levy runs the business as directed by joe.

So its Joe Lewis who gets the credit for how the club is doing and not Levy? I'm not sure how that's going to go down with the rank and file

 

[Lilbaz]

So its Joe Lewis who gets the credit for how the club is doing and not Levy? I'm not sure how that's going to go down with the rank and file

Signafuckingstrikerlewis#

 

[mpickard2087]

I don't think it's a case of being a transfer junkie, but two things i picked up on in that interview.

If we have identified two players (Berahino and Dembele) then why did we not sign one of them given all the outgoings in the summer and during this window?

Poch states that he has plans for some of the youngsters coming through for the future, of the club. All well and good, but what about the present, and medium term future.

If the right kind of player(s) were identified, deadwood shifted and money available (Levy is supporting him) then why not buy one of them, especially if they have been identified as being able to add something to the squad either now or next Summer? Finally if Poch is happy with the current squad, why bother at all (from what i read) giving Dembele a medical, only to turn down the whole deal?

We appear to have wanted to strengthen, identified candidates, given one a medical, and then returned him to his club, then stated that we don't want anyone because we have the squad, and character within it?

Not trying to be antsy, just looking at what has been reported.

Dembele they didn't want to lose before the end of the season with no replacement, that was widely reported. I assume Fulham get compensation in the summer so aren't fussed about losing out on some of a transfer fee now. Also being just above the relegation zone in the Championship I can see why they would feel the need to keep him as long as possible.

I think it's becoming clear we weren't interested in Berahino during the window, whatever the media bollocks has tried to portray. I think Pleat said as much the other night, and he's probably as good a source as you will get.

I think any club is always potentially looking to strengthen if they can, and they will always tell you that. Doesn't mean it is an always critical task.

 

[fletch82]

I read that statement as we have saved up our monies and bales coming back

 

[Sandro30]

Our head of player ID just tweeted;

Rob Mackenzie ‏@MacRob85 8m 8 minutes ago
Embodying your philosophy within the formulation & execution of a specific scouting process from identification to recommendation is vital..

Rob Mackenzie ‏@MacRob85 8m 8 minutes ago
12 months on, 146 live games later (non-THFC) & I'm more convinced than ever that a well defined process positively influences outcome #COYS

 

[NEVILLEB]

Yes, one thing's for certain. It is either incredible serendipity or a rare piece of managerial selection brilliance from Levy that we have Pochettino in charge for this period. In the hands of a Redknapp, AVB, or really most other managers we could be looking at an on-field disaster.

LVG was the original target

 

[NEVILLEB]

Daniel needs to come out and clarify his earlier statement.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Daniel doesn't need to come out and clarify anything. All he has to do is ensure the smooth running and progress of the club off the field while trusting the manager to ensure the smooth running and progress of the club on the field. Daniel has got the second part wrong before (Hoddle, Jol, potentily AVB as three managers who were handicapped from above) but seems to be getting it right this time. In the meantime the football, ultimately the only thing we should care about as fans, is good and getting better.

 

[TH1239]

Our revenues are set to explode with CL football. The new television deal means 55 million pounds of NEW revenue to our coffers (guarantees tv income of 135-145 million until 2019). With another 35+ million from the CL, plus the 12 million we just sold Townsend for, we are looking at a 100+ million pound potential surplus. Our turnover will exceed that of European powers like Dortmund and Juventus without the new stadium and without CL football. Our lean wage bill after a recent clearout would put us at a wage to turnover ratio of 35% or even slightly less with CL football. We've operated at 56-63% in recent years. So anyone who thinks we don't have some serious financial flexibility simply isn't familiar with the specific numbers.

I highly doubt Levy will just take ALL television money and pay off 150 pounds a year in stadium debt. I can't think of another professional sports team with private ownership who has financed a stadium (that will be solely owned by said private ownership) in that manner. It's clear to me the likely solution (and smartest strategy) will be to pay long term loans off over the course of 15-20 years like Arsenal are doing, while taking new revenues and largely investing in the playing and managerial staff. Arsenal's wage bills were still relatively high after they started carrying their debt. Our projected revenue next season could be just under 300 million pounds with CL football(according to Deloitte's recent report, our revenue last season was 195 million pounds). When Arsenal had a similar turnover several years ago, they had a wage bill of 165+ million pounds. Arsenal also didn't have the guaranteed tv revenue of today (in 2008 they took in a little over 45 million pounds in television revenue; next season we will likely take in almost 100 million more pounds than that).

This is not to say we should go crazy spending. But we will have to increase our wage bill significantly to keep our current players happy and with a league so rich with competition, we will continue to have to look to bolster our squad when needed.

Just on a side note, there's no guarantee that next season will represent marked improvement just because players are a year older. Squads and individual players regress all the time (see Chelsea, United and Liverpool in the last three years). So any complacency about not needing to make any signings absent some unproven Championship players who are cheap because our squad is already too good is misguided. Things are fluid in football. Also, for those who downplay the significance of the transfer market, how many key players in our squad were bought in transfer windows the last 4 years? Many were actually 10+ million pound purchases (Son, Eriksen, Lloris, Lamela, Verts, Toby, Davies, Dembele). Where would we be without those players? Hell, where would we be if we followed the desires of some on here and didn't even sign Alderweireld (who some considered an unnecessary signing) last summer?

We are in excellent shape to consolidate gains made with additional players (and fresh contracts for current starters) this summer and I expect us to add at least 2 players in the Son and Alderweireld mold (Batshuayi/Lacazette and Witsel/Wanyama-2 of these 4 players in particular).

 

[onthetwo]

Our revenues are set to explode with CL football. The new television deal means 55 million pounds of NEW revenue to our coffers (guarantees tv income of 135-145 million until 2019). With another 35+ million from the CL, plus the 12 million we just sold Townsend for, we are looking at a 100+ million pound potential surplus. Our turnover will exceed that of European powers like Dortmund and Juventus without the new stadium and without CL football. Our lean wage bill after a recent clearout would put us at a wage to turnover ratio of 35% or even slightly less with CL football. We've operated at 56-63% in recent years. So anyone who thinks we don't have some serious financial flexibility simply isn't familiar with the specific numbers.

I highly doubt Levy will just take ALL television money and pay off 150 pounds a year in stadium debt. I can't think of another professional sports team with private ownership who has financed a stadium (that will be solely owned by said private ownership) in that manner. It's clear to me the likely solution (and smartest strategy) will be to pay long term loans off over the course of 15-20 years like Arsenal are doing, while taking new revenues and largely investing in the playing and managerial staff. Arsenal's wage bills were still relatively high after they started carrying their debt. Our projected revenue next season could be just under 300 million pounds with CL football(according to Deloitte's recent report, our revenue last season was 195 million pounds). When Arsenal had a similar turnover several years ago, they had a wage bill of 165+ million pounds. Arsenal also didn't have the guaranteed tv revenue of today (in 2008 they took in a little over 45 million pounds in television revenue; next season we will likely take in almost 100 million more pounds than that).

This is not to say we should go crazy spending. But we will have to increase our wage bill significantly to keep our current players happy and with a league so rich with competition, we will continue to have to look to bolster our squad when needed.

Just on a side note, there's no guarantee that next season will represent marked improvement just because players are a year older. Squads and individual players regress all the time (see Chelsea, United and Liverpool in the last three years). So any complacency about not needing to make any signings absent some unproven Championship players who are cheap because our squad is already too good is misguided. Things are fluid in football. Also, for those who downplay the significance of the transfer market, how many key players in our squad were bought in transfer windows the last 4 years? Many were actually 10+ million pound purchases (Son, Eriksen, Lloris, Lamela, Verts, Toby, Davies, Dembele). Where would we be without those players? Hell, where would we be if we followed the desires of some on here and didn't even sign Alderweireld (who some considered an unnecessary signing) last summer?

We are in excellent shape to consolidate gains made with additional players (and fresh contracts for current starters) this summer and I expect us to add at least 2 players in the Son and Alderweireld mold (Batshuayi/Lacazette and Witsel/Wanyama-2 of these 4 players in particular).

Spot on mate.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

Dembele they didn't want to lose before the end of the season with no replacement, that was widely reported. I assume Fulham get compensation in the summer so aren't fussed about losing out on some of a transfer fee now. Also being just above the relegation zone in the Championship I can see why they would feel the need to keep him as long as possible.

I think it's becoming clear we weren't interested in Berahino during the window, whatever the media bollocks has tried to portray. I think Pleat said as much the other night, and he's probably as good a source as you will get.

I think any club is always potentially looking to strengthen if they can, and they will always tell you that. Doesn't mean it is an always critical task.

The circumstances on Dembele must have been know prior to the medical (that i understand took place). So at that point we either needed a player now, next season or all bets are off. If we needed one now why bother giving a medical to someone we could not get, if the move came in the Summer then we still needed someone now, and if we didn't really want someone now why do the medical in the first place?

It's just so obvious and in the case of Dembele either misunderstood from the off by Spurs, or we were lead down the path by Fulham. This is almost Wilianesque like.

Again not knocking anyone just looking as i understand them to be?

 

[mpickard2087]

The circumstances on Dembele must have been know prior to the medical (that i understand took place). So at that point we either needed a player now, next season or all bets are off. If we needed one now why bother giving a medical to someone we could not get, if the move came in the Summer then we still needed someone now, and if we didn't really want someone now why do the medical in the first place?

It's just so obvious and in the case of Dembele either misunderstood from the off by Spurs, or we were lead down the path by Fulham. This is almost Wilianesque like.

Again not knocking anyone just looking as i understand them to be?

What is the harm in having the deal/medical set up ready to go through at any point if Fulham's arm can be twisted? I cant get annoyed at that.

I'd say they wanted Dembele and thought he would add something to the squad. Doesn't mean they thought it was an absolutely critical signing, nor were they desperate to get just anyone in. If he's the guy we want they might be happy to wait.

 

[Hoops]

Poch is not gonna come out an claim we are loaded. Skint is a bargaining tool.

TV deal is huge, CL footy helps. We can still spend half our turnover on wages. We should hit about 250m turnover next season. Thats without the stadium.

 

[sloth]

Looking at what Poch said in this interview and what we can deduce from previous utterances and deeds, the club will dip into the market if:

1. The player is a significant upgrade on what we already have, or has the potential to be a significant upgrade, and
2. The fee to secure him matches our assessment of value for money.

Otherwise we prefer to save the money to spend on future players and/or other priorities.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

What is the harm in having the deal/medical set up ready to go through at any point if Fulham's arm can be twisted? I cant get annoyed at that.

I'd say they wanted Dembele and thought he would add something to the squad. Doesn't mean they thought it was an absolutely critical signing, nor were they desperate to get just anyone in. If he's the guy we want they might be happy to wait.

Fulham wouldn't let the player have a medical if a deal wasn't agreed in principal. No fucking way.

 

[Blake Griffin]

Just on a side note, there's no guarantee that next season will represent marked improvement just because players are a year older. Squads and individual players regress all the time (see Chelsea, United and Liverpool in the last three years).

difference being i don't think those teams had a squad with an average age of ~24.

 

[Giovanni]

It sounded to me that me that what he meant was the period between now and when we arrive at the stadium will be tough which is fine. Id rather let these players develop and in anothee 3 years be able to move into the new ground with less debt and ready to be able to then add world class talent to our by then more mature squad with sum whom have reached world class standard

 

[Spursidol]

And what happens when there aren't any big players we want to sell to raise funds? Not buy anyone I guess would be the logical answer.

Depends who you call big enough - Selling Townsend raised £14m (the 7th or 8th largest transfer fee received)

Enough money received to sign Alli, Dier and still have £4m change - or buy a Wimmer as well