Hopefully, events will reshape the rumours and speculations regarding Conte leaving and Poch re-joining. However, this sounds like the perfect storm for Levy…
Here’s some speculation, which I’m sure I hope will not come to pass, but the circumstances as they currently stand (at least in the eyes of the media) could conspire to persuade Levy to try to manipulate an outcome which would be Classic Levy.
Here’s Levy’s potential problem:
He is facing a crunch with a very driven and lauded “winner” who as part of that winning makeup will threaten and be prepared to carry through on threats, in a berserker-like fashion. Levy generally doesn’t like opposition or confrontation, he’s proved himself to be a sneaky coward who deals with employees by undermining, insertion and manipulation to create what are basically constructive dismissals.
Given that, I could see Levy not losing too much sleep if Conte left; after all, Conte may simply have been his only option given the hole he had dug for himself with Nuno-gate.
But Conte is volatile and if things don’t go according to a plan that he believes Levy has agreed to (and we all know about Levy, promises and small print) he’ll give Levy trouble, of that I have little doubt.
Whilst some have been OK to take the money and stay shtum, shrink away in shame or just put THFC behind them and try to reconstruct their lives and careers, Conte strikes me more as a Samson-type character who will bring the place down in his anger and frustration. Levy must surely be wise to this.
IF Levy does not back Conte and by that I mean he does what he normally does and:
- tells him he will sign top-quality players,
- pretends to be in the hunt by making offers (far below serious consideration),
- strangles any potential interest in a deal with protracted and destructive haggling
- then buys him some kid he might be able to flog later at a profit, and/or another useless N’winger, and/or a player being let go because he’s somehow flawed and/or is a burned-out has been available on loan to off-set another club’s wages liability
….then Conte will turn on Levy. He’ll be mindful of his own reputation and push the boundaries of what can be said under his, “you can’t be honest about just how badly Levy is screwing up the club” non-disclosure agreement.
Of course, the timing will also be such that the season will have started. Levy likes this as, apart from his bargain-basement mentality, it generally doesn’t offer the manager much of an option most well run clubs, which accounts for most of them, will have already secured their manager and the initial finishing line for the Sack-Race tend to be later in the year.
To action this scheme, Levy would need Poch already lined up. Poch (assuming he severs ties with PSG and takes a bit of gardening leave to recharge) would be ready to step in – this saves face for Levy (an easy spin), but also means Levy cannot make good on any squad promises till the winter window…. and of course when we get there, well we all know its not the best time, so let’s look at the summer…
…………yes another year without significant improvement at the Cowslip’s Warren that is THFC. The cycle continues.
Should/when this comes to pass and in the miasma of Déjà vu, which is the lot of the average Tottenham supporter, we once again witness the future replaying the lessons not learned from our history, I could see Levy rubbing his hands at the thought of a Poch reunion, especially if Conte can be amicably (and without furore and fuss), “released” to pursue another opportunity (ManUtd/Citeh/PSG/Nouveau-Cheatski etc.).
Presenting Conte with a soft exit path might avoid the exposure to claims about the emperors’ clothes. Meanwhile, Levy has once again seduced Poch: nothing new here, Poch has been the most loyal and compliant of all the sheepdogs Levy has owned.
Outcomes:
- Hot-headed and confrontational, Conte is gone without fuss. Conte’s reputation maintained, Levy saves face.
- Poch replaces him, easy to sell as a homecoming.
- Squad not reinforced, (which eased/caused Conte’s going) and Poch sold the idea that the reinforcements would be held off until he can add his input into who he wanted.
- Levy faffs around in January (as per usual) and leaks rumours to A Gold Esq., and others about summer targets to keep our spirits up!
- Tells Poch he needs CL to get a rebuild. Poch does enough to scrape into 4th.
- Does no preparation for Poch’s key targets and goes on holiday till last 2 weeks of the window.
- Lowball’s primary targets try to screw over selling clubs and get three Rolexs at 10 to midnight, two at 30 quid, one of which says a quarter past four, and a heavier one which could be real but has a broken strap and a bent minute hand.
Given our recent history: would this really surprise anyone???
With so much misinformation, leaked propaganda, fake news, etc. (no… I’m not referring to Ukraine/Russia – I’m referring to THFC), I figure my speculation and fiction is just “newsworthy”, but I hope more entertaining! Enjoy…….