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Pochettino: club must 'take risks' to improve

onthetwo

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2006
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3,407
Classic media spinning IMO....with improving form and a shiny new stadium coinciding with the end of stage one of the Levy/Poch partnership its an obvious point to review stage 2 and to manage everyone’s expectations, especially the fans’s.
 

Smokinhotspur

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2012
510
953
I think it is ominous not just in the context of this interview but considering the wider shift in rhetoric from the manager since the loss to United in the semi final. He has gone from saying things like: the spurs project is unique, we need to take time to arrive where we want, we are different from the other clubs to making comments like: the club needs to progress with me or another, you cannot keep trying to learn if you want to learn you go to a university, for now I am 100% here but who knows in the future etc...

The biggest shift for me is he increasingly talks about the club rather than we as if he is somehow separate from it. If you watch his recent full post match press conferences, he is providing answers to questions he is not being asked which indicates he clearly has a pre-meditated message that he is trying to get across. My biggest worry is why he feels going public is the best way rather than doing it behind closed doors with Levy.

I expressed similar concern to another thread on his comments about the club not holding player awards ceremonies and not celebrating the top 4 achievements of the past 3 seasons (again unprompted). Petty that a manager should do this rather than just say to the chairman, look I think we should have a celebration so let's get the events team on it.

Looks to me like we have a manager who may not be prepared to hang around for the long term if the club does not make some adjustment to transfer policy and in particular the wage structure. He and his team are in the ultimate position of strength especially with the possibility of some top jobs coming up in the summer (if Zidane leaves Real and Allegri departs Juve) and I won't be at all surprised if he has been tapped up already. I doubt he is asking for the club to start shelling out £500k a week contracts but I expect that he looks enviously at Klopp's project at Liverpool which is at a level of spending below the likes of United, City and Chelsea but still allows them to be highly competitive in the market [allegedly, the story goes we lost out to Liverpool on Mane because of our wage ceiling (as Liverpool had not qualified for CL that year) and instead ended up with Sissoko]

I just hope him and Levy can get round a table and agree a blueprint that allows him to take the club to the next level or his feet may get even more itchy.
 
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greywizard2020

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2003
331
709
I think its quite positive. The Poch is normally quite guarded, however, this statement of intent wouldn't have been made if there wasn't a strong chance of it happening. Despite the disappointment of no trophies, this has been a good season & 3 out 4 seasons with CL qualification has earned the gaffer a freer reign regards the direction the club takes & the expenditures that go into shaping that reality.

I don't think the Poch will be naive enough to make silly demands because he knows the situation, but I think his plans will stretch us a little more & hopefully allow us to bridge that gap from nearly-men to trophy winners.
 

Metalhead

But that's a debate for another thread.....
Nov 24, 2013
25,351
38,294
Classic media spinning IMO....with improving form and a shiny new stadium coinciding with the end of stage one of the Levy/Poch partnership its an obvious point to review stage 2 and to manage everyone’s expectations, especially the fans’s.
I think that he is trying to leverage more transfer funds though. The stadium is going to be amazing but it's not the be all and end all for the success of the club as the gooners have discovered.
 

Metalhead

But that's a debate for another thread.....
Nov 24, 2013
25,351
38,294
I think its quite positive. The Poch is normally quite guarded, however, this statement of intent wouldn't have been made if there wasn't a strong chance of it happening. Despite the disappointment of no trophies, this has been a good season & 3 out 4 seasons with CL qualification has earned the gaffer a freer reign regards the direction the club takes & the expenditures that go into shaping that reality.

I don't think the Poch will be naive enough to make silly demands because he knows the situation, but I think his plans will stretch us a little more & hopefully allow us to bridge that gap from nearly-men to trophy winners.
Well the itk regarding funds was encouraging.
 

onthetwo

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2006
4,583
3,407
I think that he is trying to leverage more transfer funds though. The stadium is going to be amazing but it's not the be all and end all for the success of the club as the gooners have discovered.
The only part that worries me is that he feels the need to 'air' this publically for which IMO, Levy would have the right to bollock him.
 

Mullers

Unknown member
Jan 4, 2006
25,914
16,413
I find what Poch is saying very intriguing, I think that he thinks that he has taken the team as far as he can with the funding he's been given. And wants considerable funds and transfers done early to take us to that next level. I'm rather worried about what might happen if he doesn't get his own way.
 

Mullers

Unknown member
Jan 4, 2006
25,914
16,413
The only part that worries me is that he feels the need to 'air' this publically for which IMO, Levy would have the right to bollock him.
Levy won't do anything, this is not the first time Poch as done this, he's very smart and careful not to say things in a confrontational manner .
 

Smokinhotspur

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2012
510
953
The only part that worries me is that he feels the need to 'air' this publically for which IMO, Levy would have the right to bollock him.

Less worried about Levy's reaction as Poch has been balanced in his comments. The question is why go public?

Has the initial reaction to his thoughts and plans been lukewarm from a chairman who is fully absorbed in delivering the new stadium? Does he feel the only way to get support is to effectively box the club into a corner because it will now be very difficult for Levy to maintain the status quo as he would risk losing his manager along with several key players who see the manager and his project as the key reasons for staying at the club? Not to mention a discontent fanbase at a time when the club should be on an absolute high with the world class stadium to look forward to.

I am sure we will find out in due course...
 

diamondlight

Well-Known Member
Nov 16, 2006
1,263
1,326
I think it is ominous not just in the context of this interview but considering the wider shift in rhetoric from the manager since the loss to United in the semi final. He has gone from saying things like: the spurs project is unique, we need to take time to arrive where we want, we are different from the other clubs to making comments like: the club needs to progress with me or another, you cannot keep trying to learn if you want to learn you go to a university, for now I am 100% here but who knows in the future etc...

The biggest shift for me is he increasingly talks about the club rather than we as if he is somehow separate from it. If you watch his recent full post match press conferences, he is providing answers to questions he is not being asked which indicates he clearly has a pre-meditated message that he is trying to get across. My biggest worry is why he feels going public is the best way rather than doing it behind closed doors with Levy.

I expressed similar concern to another thread on his comments about the club not holding player awards ceremonies and not celebrating the top 4 achievements of the past 3 seasons (again unprompted). Petty that a manager should do this rather than just say to the chairman, look I think we should have a celebration so let's get the events team on it.

Looks to me like we have a manager who may not be prepared to hang around for the long term if the club does not make some adjustment to transfer policy and in particular the wage structure. He and his team are in the ultimate position of strength especially with the possibility of some top jobs coming up in the summer (if Zidane leaves Real and Allegri departs Juve) and I won't be at all surprised if he has been tapped up already. I doubt he is asking for the club to start shelling out £500k a week contracts but I expect that he looks enviously at Klopp's project at Liverpool which is at a level of spending below the likes of United, City and Chelsea but still allows them to be highly competitive in the market [allegedly, the story goes we lost out to Liverpool on Mane because of our wage ceiling (as Liverpool had not qualified for CL that year) and instead ended up with Sissoko]

I just hope him and Levy can get round a table and agree a blueprint that allows him to take the club to the next level or his feet may get even more itchy.
This is an interesting analysis. I'd only add: one of Poch's strengths IS his relationship with the media. He's bound to use the media to create more leverage for what he sees as the best way to take the club forward. He didn't do it in a disrespectful way. I think Levy has got the message, and is wise enough to heed it. Poch will get his way, and stay.
 

Fowl!

Active Member
Oct 17, 2017
224
255
Poch needs to choose his battles carefully.

We have to become the most attractive destination club in London first. That means wages will rise obscenely but it’s all part of the game.

Levy should maximise our league advantage over both Chelsea and Arsenal in one fell swoop, and put us in a place where we can win some tight negotiations for once.

We start with a fight to keep Toby as losing him will be a huge blow imho.
 

Metalhead

But that's a debate for another thread.....
Nov 24, 2013
25,351
38,294
The only part that worries me is that he feels the need to 'air' this publically for which IMO, Levy would have the right to bollock him.
He would although I don't think that he was out of order in the way that he has worded it and I think that the fans should be glad to an extent because I think that we do need to see some extra investment in the team in order to push on. Fans are paying a lot of money for season tickets and yes, they are going to be enjoying a fantastic new stadium but that will only go so far - it has to be complemented by a strong team on the pitch. I am saying this as a huge Levy fan and I am confident that he will deliver but now is the time to see us really push on.
 

Mornstar

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2005
4,897
1,589
I think the next couple of weeks will tell us a lot about the vision and future direction of the club under Levy i.e. will we remain 'also ran' or put up a genuine fight for trophies. I'm a big Levy fan and believe he's done everything right so far but at the same time, we are at a cross road and I get the feeling that this summer will go down as a turning point in our history (for better or worse).
 

Khilari

Plumber. Sort of.
Jun 19, 2008
3,461
5,287
Simply put, when nothing is said by Pochettino, I have no worries. All the media chit chat about Real Madrid, “bigger clubs” etc. was, IMO media speculation to generate stories.

But now things are different. Pochettino himself is talking about (hinting and questioning) his future at Spurs. However positively we want to put a spin on it to help us relax through the summer and however good we think Spurs will be as a club going forward - his interview and the fact that he has brought it up should be a worry.

His stock is high and he is ambitious. I am in no doubt that he loves it here and wants to stay but will leave if he feels his ambitions are not matched by the club’s.
 

TottenhamMattSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
10,925
16,007
Based on previous form, I expect us to alienate the manager within a year.

On the other hand, this is the first manager I can say we've have since Berkenshaw, that is the real deal and we absolutely should fight to keep.

I don't believe the rumours of spending sprees though.

Having hundreds of millions to spend is different to spending it.
If targets A-E turn us down for more established clubs what then?
We end up with Sissoko.
 

onthetwo

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2006
4,583
3,407
Based on previous form, I expect us to alienate the manager within a year.

On the other hand, this is the first manager I can say we've have since Berkenshaw, that is the real deal and we absolutely should fight to keep.

I don't believe the rumours of spending sprees though.

Having hundreds of millions to spend is different to spending it.
If targets A-E turn us down for more established clubs what then?
We end up with Sissoko.
'Rinse and Repeat...'
 
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