In the maelstrom of gossip, half-truths, and downright fibs, this piece from Cadenaser offers what I would say is an interesting spin on part of the managerial merry-go-round involving Tottenham, Everton, and Real Madrid.
The tale essentially runs like this; Real Madrid has a long-term interest in Kylian Mbappé and the Spanish side does not feel it would aid their bigger picture interests in effectively mounting an aggressive raid for Mauricio Pochettino.
Now, this might be speculative, but at least one could believe it to have some foundation in reality.
What I am struggling with is the notion that Poch is ‘suddenly’ after just 6-months seen as an elite-level coach. Perhaps he is, but until he has demonstrated an ability to sustain success, then for me, he is most definitely not in the same category as Ancelotti, Conte, or Mourinho. That said, I am commentating from a perspective that is devoid of emotion – because I’m a grown-up.
Money driven mate all day, the title English National ‘Investment’ Company is a dead give away.. Look up all of Lewis other businesses and property aquisitions, especially Argentina.. Levy and Lewis bought Spurs from Sugar for 22million and have never put a single penny of their own into the club.. They are owners so neither can be sacked, they have to agree to sell their shares… They won’t sell now after building the stadium, they would lose loads, they will wait and reap the rewards… If covid doesn’t destroy it all first that is. We must be in danger of bankrupcy right now.
And that’s the problem – you recruit new players when the squad is healthy and hungry to make it healthier and hungrier. If you don’t, it rots away. Apart from freaks like Kane and maybe Son, the players then get comfortable and stop pushing themselves.
Had Levy backed Poch continuously, we would probably need two or three players in, and two or three out every summer, just to keep things fresh and competitive. Now probably half the players should go, the ones worth keeping want to go, and it’s too late.
Levy did himself no favours there, but it does seem the relationship between Poch and the club may have broken down around that point.
Its also telling that it seems to have been Kane that gave the rousing speech in CL semi when Spurs were 3-0 down.
Possibly Levy knew the writing was on the wall but he could not sack a manager who had reached the CL final and who fans adored. Equally he couldnt really back him at that point as it was likely he would be off in near future.
He should have backed him in previous two seasons but then the squad was reasonably healthy and hungry.
How or why do you think Lewis got involved in buying Enic/Tottenham? Was it cynical from the off? Ego-glory driven? I am mystified what Lewis could see in the project.
I remember Harry illuminated the Levy property deals that his private investment company made on the back of the regeneration project. With the massive stadium debt what can Lewis see that I for one can’t?
If you printed that off and sent it to Levy, as he touched the paper, it would burst into flames
OT via SkySports:
“One of the things I have learned over the years is that you need to bring in talent into the team, refresh, and particularly when you are at a high level. Having won the league, it is not the time to sit back and be content, that would actually be your biggest mistake. This is how to send a strong message that there is no contentment, that you’re not satisfied with just winning the league.”
This from Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of Manchester City. I know Spurs and City are incomparable, but just look at the difference in approach when a club has a manager worth backing.
Klopp loses the CL final? Gets the world’s most expensive keeper and CB, later winning the CL and the PL.
Guardiola wins the PL-Carabao double, reaches the FA Cup semis and the CL final? Will probably be substantially backed (Kane/Haaland will come and maybe someone else too). Winning the PL is a baseline achievement at City.
Poch loses the CL and falls short in two title challenges? Gets a year without signing anybody, while 350M of the club’s own money is spent destroying our spiritual home to make way for an NFL stadium, in which we are the anchor tenants.
You couldn’t make it up.
Although I agree with everything you have written, how could one not, the situation would be laughable under any other circumstances if it weren’t so serious. Therefore as I posted yesterday, although I am no fan of Levy, I suspect that there will be consequential announcements to follow shortly. Much as I would like Lewis to sack Levy for his incompetence in pretending to run a football club instead of a property company, it is unlikely. It is also unlikely that Enic are in talks to sell the club, we should be so lucky, but you never know. What is most likely is a managerial appointment will be announced soon, along with DoF who will sit on the board. It will then be spun that Levy is taking more of a back seat role in football matters, but as we all know, he cannot help himself interfering. That’s my half glass full view anyway.
Blimey!
Record breakers!
517 DAYS WITHOUT A SIGNING IS A RECORD
44 DAYS WITHOUT A MANAGER IS A RECORD
2 YEARS AFTER A MODERN STADIUM OPENING (SEE ALLIANZE, WANDO, EMIRATES ETC) NOT HAVING A SPONSOR IS A RECORD
13 YEARS WITHOUT A TROPHY IS A POST WAR THFC RECORD
H is quoting not necessarily agreeing.
Cannot disagree with any of your points H, be silly to. But to be fair to Poch, as we saw with a faded but consistent winner in Mourinho, know it all Levy is incapable of backing another’s opinions and ideas. We cannot judge Poch until he is allowed top talent that he can work with, not a wine bought young and allowed to mature till it becomes a vintage or vinegar and if it looked vintage sold on just before it’s best and without the coach being allowed to taste. Anybody who turns Spurs under Levy into consistent top-four must have something. But Levy, as in all with narcissistic tendencies, only realised what they had, after constant bullying until they can take no more, when it is gone.
Am I missing something here HH? Why would RM need to mount an aggressive raid for Poch when they have just signed Ancelloti as their manager?