Home » “The last 20 meters” – Pundit explains the difference between Chelsea, Spurs in the last few matches

“The last 20 meters” – Pundit explains the difference between Chelsea, Spurs in the last few matches

Over three games this month, Tottenham Hotspur got a first-hand look at how much they need to improve their squad to contend with a club like Chelsea, which won the UEFA Champions League last season. 

The Blues beat Spurs in all three matches, and Gianfranco Zola spoke on the Premier League platform stating that the significant difference between the two clubs is that Thomas Tuchel’s squad can produce such high quality in the last 20 meters.

“I think that was the difference,” said Zola. “The big difference. Chelsea could produce such high quality in the last 20 meters. But that’s something that Tottenham can’t do. And it has been the big difference.”

In the latest matchup over this past weekend, Kane’s goal was waived off, resulting in Tottenham not carrying momentum into halftime. However, Chelsea would come out and score two goals early in the second half as they cruised to a 2-0 victory over the north London club. 

Tottenham remains fighting for a top-four spot in the Premier League, but to contend for the league crown, they got a taste of how far they need to go to reach that point. 

Tags Chelsea Gianfranco Zola NewsNow Premier League Tottenham Hotspur
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Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  Cheshuntboy

Mate; I think you might be me. It is clear that the players who earned the four Champions League qualifications loved Poch; as did the supporters and rightly so. Spurs were majestic at times under him. A pleasure to watch and so close to achieving trophy wins.

Poch is human like the rest of us and sadly that means we all make mistakes. Ferguson recruited some dross but his successful signings happened more frequently and he kept winning.

Using the logic that blames Levy for every mistake has to give him credit for every success. I doubt Levy found Carrick, Berbatov, Modric, Bale, Dembele, Eriksen or Vertonghen but he sanctioned the deals. Does this make him a football genius?

Of course not. Levy hires people and delegates their remit and responsibilities. If they don’t meet his expectation he fires them and hires someone else.

Baldini’s signings were generally rubbish and the same thing has happened again after Paul Mitchell was removed.

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  ForzaSpurs

Good post. I agree with most of what you state. I always felt that we will find out how good Poch really is in his next job. The type of success that came to Spurs under Poch followed Paul Mitchell to RB Leipzig.

Mitchell’s recruitment of Alderweireld, Son, Wimmer and Trippier, during the summer 2015 window, and Wanyama in summer 2016, led to Spurs two title challenges.

The guy deserves at least 30% of the credit that is often given to Poch.

archilbald&crooks@large
archilbald&crooks@large
2 years ago

so you look at the players too. Poch made some dubious tactical and positional changes for crucial games ( sonny at lwb anyone?.) but it was the players who didn’t get us over the line in the various semi’s and final

archilbald&crooks@large
archilbald&crooks@large
2 years ago
Reply to  legoverlass

Well put. This is clear to most who post on here and is becoming apparent to a growing number of fans….. tick tock

archilbald&crooks@large
archilbald&crooks@large
2 years ago

Correct. I’m sure I read or heard Levy say basically the same (spun positively obviously) about 5-6 years ago. No interest in making the investment to go up a level.

Cheshuntboy
Cheshuntboy
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

God knows I’m no fan of Levy/ENIC, and I’m sure they deserve all the criticism they get, but the willingness of some Spurs fans to praise Pochettino for anything good, and blame Levy for everything bad is frankly pathetic. As you’ve pointed-out several times, Pochettino’s clear bias towards Argentine players brought us Lo Celso instead of Bruno Fernandez, and Gazziniga instead of Pau Lopez, but these poor decisions have to be Levy’s, despite everything pointing to Pochettino.
The same blind Poch worshippers credit him with Kane’s emergence, regardless of the fact that it was Sherwood who gave him his chance, and Pochettino who dropped him for Soldado! I think that it would take the disaster of Pochettino returning to Spurs when PSG inevitably sack him to show them that he was never more than a good coach, and certainly not a manager to rank alongside Klopp or Guardiola, as some tried to claim.

ForzaSpurs
ForzaSpurs
2 years ago
Reply to  Cabspur

We all dont get what we want in life. Look at real madrid and Barca at their peak they never get first choice players. Poch has a history of very expensive flops starting at Southampton. I rememeber just when he joined us from them,there was an article with a list of expensive flops and surprise surprise, a few of them were from South America. If I can rememebr I think it was Gaston Ramirez and that striker some Oswaldo ?

ForzaSpurs
ForzaSpurs
2 years ago

The common denominator of blame is Levy ,we all know that.we dont need to say he is to blame when everyone else knows he is. What people are saying is that Poch was also to blame to an extent. At the end spurs were playing rubbish when Poch was there. Poch wasnt the start of a good spurs era,Martin jol was,we had hiccups along the way. But it was the start

ForzaSpurs
ForzaSpurs
2 years ago
Reply to  Cheshuntboy

100% agree with what you said. Ironically it is what most pundits say about poch

ForzaSpurs
ForzaSpurs
2 years ago

Managers are like contractors ,they do what’s best for themselves. Poch was one the best managers we ever had. He done alot of good for us. But for him to escape our failings is unfair. No club,Chelsea,Man city ,United ,Chelsea give full transfer responsibility on managers. The managers have a say and can say or no. At Psg Poch does not deal with transfer but has a say on who he wants. Same thing was going on at spurs. Poch wont last long at Psg and will be fired, the main issue they have with Poch is his insistence on building a team for the future to win. The noise coming out of Psg is that we have a team that can win now and you must coach them into playing according to what you consider a winning style will be. Poch will never be a winner on the level of klopp,pep,conte.he is just a coach trying to be manager. Manager has far far more responsibilities than a coach

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  The Boy

I can back up everything I have said that is not my own personal opinion which I have made clear. The dates and details regarding Poch’s improved contract in May 2016 can be found by doing a simple search as can the photo’s of him out eating with Ferguson dated May 11th 2016. Paul Mitchell’s employment history is all online and so are the dates of all incoming transfers to Spurs.

The Boy
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

Most of it.

I’m going for a lie down.

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago

Another interesting fact is that Ralph Rangnick recommended Paul Mitchell to Manchester United in December. Rangnick was the director of the Red Bull group while Mitchell worked there.

It seems Newcastle are also interested in employing Paul Mitchell at the present time.

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  The Boy

Which bits?

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  The Boy

I’m not pitching for a committee who picked Spurs transfers. I think Levy employs people to find cheap young players for Spurs and decides whether to sanction the deals or not.

I think Arnesen did it well and that was why Chelsea poached him.

I think Paul Mitchell did it well and was probably approached by Manchester United before Levy placed him on gardening leave.

Levy calls the shots though. It’s always his decision.

Who do you think found the players for Levy after Paul Mitchell was relieved of his duties? Are you suggesting Levy did this by himself too?

The Boy
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

Poch, your mum, my dad, and next doors’ budgie have zero say in transfers.

Don’t worry about the date, same for 20+ years.

I’m not seeking to convince or brainwash anyone, and I would hate someone to read inaccurate stuff on here and think it was even vaguely true.

No committee. Never has been one.

Paratici also reports back to Levy 🙁

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

I agree regarding Levy has the final say on transfers btw.

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  The Boy

That happened in May 2019. Before that presser it was always the ‘berry appy’ line despite being given no new players after the January 2018 transfer window.

The Boy
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

Sadly, much of this is fiction.

The Boy
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

Only Levy approves transfers.

There is no committee and no input of any value from coaches.

Hence, the ‘you need to change my job title’ presser from Poch.

Yet another ruined weekend
Yet another ruined weekend
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

And Poch who had the best team Spurs have had for 40 years won nothing

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  The Boy

Which facts are wrong?

The Boy
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

Sorry, this is, 100%, not the case. Like a dog barking started the Gulf War

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago

Research Poch getting awarded an improved contract in May 2016 at the end of his second season in charge. There are many sources out there with direct quotes regarding the nature of the new contract and the fact that Pochettino was now the ‘manager’ rather than ‘head coach’ which was the role he had accepted when he joined Spurs.

When you put that together with the further fact that Paul Mitchell was effectively relieved of his recruitment duties at THFC in August 2016 but paid a salary by THFC until February 2018 it is not a difficult journey to arrive at the conclusion that the best signings made, during Poch’s overall time at Spurs, were those made by Paul Mitchell.

The dates of the incoming transfers tell their own story.

I just don’t get why Poch had this hold over Levy re transfers when nobody else did, including Levy’s wet dream manager Mourinho?”

Prior to getting awarded his new contract in May 2016 Poch was photographed eating out with Fergie by one of the red top rags. It was widely reported at the time that United wanted Poch. When United sacked Jose in December 2018 Gary Neville used his punditry role for Sky to openly state that United should target Pochettino as the next manager.

Spurs had just won away at Everton 2-6. It was to be Spurs last away Premier League win until Jose was appointed Spurs manager a year later. I know what I thought at the time and I know what I think now.

United wanted Pochettino to be their manager from as far back as May 2016. Kieran McKenna, Spurs youth team head coach was poached and he went there. He is still there. I suspect United wanted Paul Mitchell too. Hence the gardening leave paid by Levy for 20 months.

I enjoyed Pochettino’s time at Spurs but I believe his head was turned by an offer from United after they sacked Jose. Spurs managed to get to the Champions League final despite this although the league form went to pieces.

In my opinion.

Last edited 2 years ago by The Hurrah Brigade
Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago

I think George Graham did when he said there was a limited budget in 2001 just before he was sacked.

James McKevitt.
James McKevitt.
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

You think managers always tell the truth?

legoverlass
legoverlass
2 years ago

Agreed 100%.with JK below. ENIC sees THFC (the football team) not the club, as a revenue centre just like they see the NFL venture and the event management activities at the new latrine. They look at the income from football and how to maximise that income whilst stripping out costs. However, to maintain and grow the incomes from football they need to retain access to the wallets of the faithful and keep qualifying for the CL to access that additional revenue. They then propagandise the pr spin around the club to create a sense of ambition for football success to sustain the programming of the faithful. They are and always have been a land and property development company who have leveraged the brand of THFC and its legacy support plus the gold rush of TV broadcast rights to borrow debt financing against to build the first phase of their North London regentrification project “the new as yet unnamed stadium” and are now continuing to focus attention on further developments in the area. This has always been a prime objective. So how can a football club be successful if the Chairman and owners are spending significant amounts of time on matters unassociated with the success of the football team? It is a side attraction for Levy and neither he nor Joe Lewis have any real intention of investing the sums needed to achieve football success. Conte and Paratici were brought in as a cheaper option than investing in the quality needed for the football squad and as a shield between Levy and the supporters who were becoming increasingly awakened to the truth about ENIC’s intentions. My take is that Conte was the perfect short-term fix for Levy to make to deflect the flak that was heading his way after the disaster that was the Nuno appointment, following on from the prior Mourinho debacle and dismissal before a cup final. He crunched the numbers and decided that sacking Mourinho then was cheaper than allowing him to win a trophy for the club and its success-starved supporters and then bringing in Conte after the wheels came off with the Nuno appointment as it was a cheaper option than bringing in lots of new and expensive players. Hence why with the football team on the verge of a fourth-place CL spot pre Christmas and with the first transfer window opening in January to be seen to back Conte we find Levy out of the country for the first part of January and even after three weeks of that window we have signed no new players and been turned over twice in the EPL by Chelsea and dumped out of a cup semi-final. Does this sound like a Chairman who gives a flying F**k about how the football team performs or how the supporters feel being continually ridiculed and mocked by other clubs supporters who see a world-class stadium and a lower Championship class football squad? Levy I believe is thinking he can hold Conte until the summer and if he walks, which he will without the support he needs, then a call will go into Pooch to return and Pooch may jump at the chance as I suspect he will not last long at PSG without major honours. Man Utd will have Conte in the bag before the summer so Pooch will not have that option on the table. Then we can expect Levy to get Pooch spouting out another “I am berry appy to be back and berry appy with the squad ” mantra once again as Levy slides slowly back into the dark crevices he likes to dwell in.

Last edited 2 years ago by legoverlass
Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  Cali

That was in 2019 then? I’ve seen it. Didn’t Poch keep saying he was ‘berry appy’ for the previous 3 years? When Poch did that press conference he had been given no money to spend for nearly 18 months. That is all we know and Poch’s remarks don’t really tell us anything other than he was getting fed up and probably looking for a way out.

Cali
Cali
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

I sent you the Video of the Pochettino press but my answer is not going through it is saying it is awaiting for approval from the owners of the site I guess anyway if you can’t find in my reply go to YouTube and just type the title of the video is called ( may be Tottenham needs to change my job title) Pochettino on lack of transfer input hope it clarifies cheers.

Last edited 2 years ago by Cali
Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

Cheers btw

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  Cali

I haven’t questioned Gazzanigga or Foyth’s footballing ability. I base my view regarding Spurs signing them and Poch’s possible involvement in that upon the fact that Gazzanigga is from Murphy in Argentina which happens to be the same place Poch is from and has a current population of 3540.

If Poch unwillingly accepted Foyth’s signing I’d be disappointed with him because he is Argentinian and a centre back.

Last edited 2 years ago by The Hurrah Brigade
Cali
Cali
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

The last 2 Argentina players you mentioned even if I agree with you for the sake of argument that Pochettino signed them to me they were successful both of them and Levy made money from selling them both cheers.

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago

“We got lucky with a few when Mitchell was DoF that’s all.”

My view is that Paul Mitchell was very good at his job and that Levy was an idiot for putting him on gardening leave and relieving him of his duties.

Paul Mitchell went on to recruit for Red Bull Leipzig and he is currently at Monaco. Levy paid this guy to not recruit players for Spurs while all the current chaff filling up our squad arrived. I also think Mitchell had a hand in Smith Rowe’s development on loan for what it is worth.

In this respect I blame Levy for constructively dismissing Paul Mitchell after he did a more than respectable job for THFC in the 18 months that he was allowed to fulfill his remit.

For reasons which I don’t fully understand some on here are interpreting my words as an attack on Pochettino. My subjective opinion is that Pochettino probably identified at least half of the players we signed after Paul Mitchell left but not all of them. However; I have no evidence to back this view up apart from anecdotal confirmation that Poch was ‘berry appy’ until the spring of 2019.

I find it very difficult to believe Poch had nothing to do with the signings of Gazzanigga and Foyth but it cannot be proved.

Last edited 2 years ago by The Hurrah Brigade
Cali
Cali
2 years ago

That is the fact cheers.

James McKevitt.
James McKevitt.
2 years ago

The intention isn’t to compete with City or Chelsea, United or even Liverpool.

The intention is to slip into fourth spot if one of the big guns stumble as Manchester United are doing.

That’s the plan all with minimum spending on transfers and wages.

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  Cali

I am neither blaming Pochettino for the poor signings or finding him blameless. The truth is we do not know who signed the rubbish filling up the current squad.

What we do know is that Poch did not sign any of the most successful players at Tottenham that he coached.

That’s what you read me state. You didn’t hear me say anything. Cheers.

Last edited 2 years ago by The Hurrah Brigade
Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  Cali

I have never blamed Pochettino for any of the individual signings. I have consistently said that the supporters do not know who signed any of the players but some talk as if they have certainty regarding who identified and recruited the players.

What I have said is that was a definite shift in recruitment policy when Paul Mitchell was relieved of his duties at THFC in August 2016. The fact that Poch had his contract changed from head coach to manager in May 2016 is a further clue.

This is all easy to cross reference. I also think it is a bit of a stretch to assert that Poch had absolutely no input into the signings of Davinson Sanchez, Moussa Sissoko, Juan Foyth, Serge Aurier, Llorente and Gazzanigga. You state with certainty that Poch did not sign any of the players and reference a ‘press conference’ where this was stated. Do you have the quotes from this press conference so I can see what Pochettino said?

Also what do you know about the region called Murphy in Argentina?

Glory Costs Too Much
Glory Costs Too Much
2 years ago
Reply to  Cali

This.
We have been given the tag “Spursy” (which basically means self induced cock ups), for nigh on 20 years. The only common denominator in that time is Daniel Levy. Trying to drag Pochettino into it is criminal.

Last edited 2 years ago by Glory Costs Too Much
Cali
Cali
2 years ago
Reply to  Keith Hill

Tell that to your friend Baldy Levy who is crying to get him back to the club cheers.

Cali
Cali
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

Poch never signed or sold any players. It is in the record he said it publicly in a press conference. so what is the point of dragging Pochettino in the mess of Spurs is and has been last +20 years? there was 3 managers who came after Pochettino left do you think they signed and sold players? do you think any manager of Spurs has the power to sell Harry Kane or keep him for example let’s find out who can do that for a starter cheers.

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago

Just to clarify my position; I rated Pochettino as Spurs first team coach. In this capacity he did an amazing job. Back to back title challenges in 2016 and 2017 playing some great football.

However; Poch was not responsible in any way for signing the players who achieved those title challenges. Poch did not sign; Lloris, Walker, Toby, Jan, Rose, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Dele, Son, Kane, Davies or Wanyama.

These players all arrived before Poch or in the first twelve months when he had no say in the transfers and Paul Mitchell was employed by THFC to recruit players.

That is my starting position. It is better to work with what you do know. The signings after Victor Wanyama were pretty underwhelming. The vast majority have been flops. As supporters we do not know who bought them. We only know when they arrived and when Poch started publicly moaning.

The team and players we all miss were not signed by Pochettino. They were successfully coached by him and moulded into a team. Fact.

Cali
Cali
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

Let me see this you blaming the only manager who made Spurs regular in the champions league team and took them to the final of that champions league since Enic/Levy take over of the club was and is the problem of this club did I hear you saying that?

Archibald&Crooks (SnideChump)
Archibald&Crooks (SnideChump)
2 years ago
Reply to  Cheshuntboy

Hey Chestnut you forgot the “Botch” bit

Archibald&Crooks (SnideChump)
Archibald&Crooks (SnideChump)
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

Soz I have only read the last para but imho Gazza was an ideal #2
I used to soil myself every time Vorm played

Archibald&Crooks (SnideChump)
Archibald&Crooks (SnideChump)
2 years ago
Reply to  Keith Hill

You should change your name to keith ill

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago

AS H said above Poch went on record to state that he was not responsible for signings – publicly stated. Are you saying Poch is liar?”

What I said is clear. You have to look at when Poch started saying these things. He said them in 2019, just before the biggest game in Spurs history, when the away form had gone in the league and Levy has stopped spending on players.

Before that Poch was always ‘berry appy’ with his squad.

As I said before; I respect Poch and the job he did for Spurs, particularly in the first two seasons, with players he definitely did not sign, when he was a head coach.

I am not a ‘blamer’ of Poch. However; I do strongly suspect that Paul Mitchell’s role in assembling half the team that Poch did his best work with is often never mentioned and overlooked completely by some.

Dele, Son and Toby in particular really pushed the rest of the group; Lloris, Walker, Vertonghen, Rose, Dembele, Eriksen and Kane in that first title challenge with Leicester in 15 / 16.

Wanyama arrived the following summer and contributed to Spurs challenging again in 16/17 with Conte’s Chelsea. Trippier also stepped up when Walker was sold to Manchester City.

My point is that we do definitely know that Pochettino DID NOT sign any members of that team that achieved the most in those two seasons for Spurs.

Anything else you say is just speculation and your own subjective opinion. Insulting me on a personal level changes nothing but probably brings some light relief and purpose to your day.

Glory Costs Too Much
Glory Costs Too Much
2 years ago
Reply to  Cheshuntboy

Not another Poch basher who conveniently neglects to mention the 3 windows without a signing that Poch had to endure towards the end. Or the fact that he got us into the CL 4 for years running.
As for the lack of trophies that can be explained by the fact that all finals/semis come at the back end of the season when our paper thin squad was shattered or impacted by injuries or suspensions.
I find it bizarre that people blame Poch for the lack of trophies and not Levy who oversees the squad and transfers.
So you’re basically saying that the common denominator through or trophy drought is not Levy but each and every manager that comes in, what is it 13 now?
Pochettino was a class coach for sure. Yes he made mistakes, he’s human. But you should really be blaming Levy and enic for neglect and lack of investment.

Paranoid Android
Paranoid Android
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

I’m not disputing your research and I think we both agree that Levy is the real reason for our squad problems. I just don’t think that Poch was in anyway as culpable as you might think. When you work with someone who thinks a Ratner’s diamond ring is better than the real thing that’s where the issues are.

Cheshuntboy
Cheshuntboy
2 years ago

It seems that the longer it is since Pochettino left Spurs, the rosier some fans memories of him become. We were crap for most of 2019, regardless of the totally flukey CL run, with relegation form in the PL (25 points from 24 games), while the profits from the CL were wasted on the useless trio of N’Dombele, Lo Celso and Sessegnon, all with the magic man at the helm. Almost all the players who made up the team in our two best seasons from 2015 to 2017 were at Spurs before Pochettino’s appointment, and we’d finished in the top six in the five previous seasons, with two top fours courtesy of Harry Redknapp. Pochettino did a good job within his limitations, but five seasons with no trophy tells his story in a nutshell – the ‘nearly’ man running the ‘nearly’ club.

Glory Costs Too Much
Glory Costs Too Much
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

You are stretching it a bit to try and implicate Poch in all this if I’m honest. You’re entitled to your opinion, but I just don’t get why Poch had this hold over Levy re transfers when nobody else did, including Levy’s wet dream manager Mourinho?

Glory Costs Too Much
Glory Costs Too Much
2 years ago
Reply to  Keith Hill

Better than being a brainless fanboy.

Glory Costs Too Much
Glory Costs Too Much
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

Paul Mitchell had no more control over who we signed than any other Director of football, they are all just Levy’s puppets. Levy controls the purse strings entirely. If the players were cheap enough then we’d get them. We got lucky with a few when Mitchell was DoF that’s all.
How you think all this makes Poch as equally guilty as Levy is frankly bizarre.

Glory Costs Too Much
Glory Costs Too Much
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

AS H said above Poch went on record to state that he was not responsible for signings – publicly stated. Are you saying Poch is liar?
Or that Poch was the only coach we ever had that had any say over Levy’s signings, because nobody else in the long list of managers has, including Conte now it would seem. Mourinho asked for Skriniar and got Rodon. How much more evidence do you need? Remember Rednapp going on record to say he asked for 2 top players (I forget who now), when we were chasing the top 4, and Levy bought in Nielsen and Saha as 2 cheap alternatives.
Do you honestly think that Poch asked for deadline day deals for whoever was left that nobody else wanted? You’re barking up the wrong tree. Providing 2 lists of players is evidence of nothing. We’d know for sure if each manager/coach hadn’t been forced to sign a non disclosure agreement by Levy.
It beggars belief that you think Levy handed over control of signings to just Poch and nobody else. Entirely ridiculous scenario.

Last edited 2 years ago by Glory Costs Too Much
Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark Baldwin

We don’t know who bought these players and I agree that this is the real issue for the supporters. Blaming Levy is an understandable supporter reaction but may not be justified in respect of all of the signings during this period.

Levy’s preferred method was always to hire a DOF to broker the transfer deals and a coach to pick the team and tactics. Poch wanted this changed. At the time the supporters backed this change. Poch had Levy over a barrel having challenged for the title and been pictured on his date with Fergie.

This suggests to me that Levy reluctantly agreed to whatever Poch wanted at the time so he didn’t feck off. Poch didn’t start moaning about his role until just before the Champions League final at the back end of the 18/19 season; 3 years after he became manager due to the improved contract and terms.

These are facts and I invite anyone to clarify these facts if they believe them to be false claims.

Last edited 2 years ago by The Hurrah Brigade
Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago

I haven’t said anything you allude to. I researched the Spurs signings after November 2014 when Paul Mitchell came to Spurs. What I discovered was that from January 2015 until May 2016 Spurs went through a phase of ‘purple patch’ consecutive signings.

Dele was signed in January 2015 and loaned back to MK Dons. Wimmer, Trippier, Alderweireld, Son and Wanyama followed in the next three windows. Then Poch got his contract changed from head coach to manager in May 2016 after Spurs challenged Leicester for the title and Poch went for lunch with Fergie. Paul Mitchell was basically removed from his role of signing players for Spurs but was prevented from leaving the club in August 2016 and subsequently put on gardening leave. That was the sequence of events.

I have no dog in this fight. I do not support Levy or ENIC in any way shape or form. I see them for what they are. However; I do believe that the evidence points to the signings being rubbish after Mitchell was removed. Without any of us knowing who signed the players we have to try and deduce what we think happened. Levy stopped spending after we signed the second batch of players listed above.

Gazzanigga is from the same village in Argentina as Poch. Are we blaming Levy 100 percent for this signing?

Just saying…..

Last edited 2 years ago by The Hurrah Brigade
Paranoid Android
Paranoid Android
2 years ago

I said to my wife before the start of the game that we as a team appear to have been defeated mentally every time we play them with very few exceptions. It’s almost like the new Man U. I can imagine Tuchel’s team talk. “Lads, it’s only Tottenham”.

Paranoid Android
Paranoid Android
2 years ago
Reply to  Keith Hill

Afternoon, Daniel. Hard at it, I see🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Paranoid Android
Paranoid Android
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

Signings have always gone to pot, that’s Levy’s Raison D’Etre. When has he ever done transfer business quickly and bought quality early in the transfer window? If you think these were exclusively Poch signings then you’ve lost it as this has cheap bargain bucket players all over it, another classic sign of Levy at work.

Mark Baldwin
Mark Baldwin
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

I’d hazard a guess that Llorente wasn’t near the top of Poch’s shopping list. As for Sissoko, my recollection is that Poch wanted Wijnaldum, but he went to Liverpool and we ended up with Sissoko as a last day panic buy.

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  SimonSpur

As chairman of the club he is fully responsible. He’s paid himself a fortune for overseeing this chit show and it is that he should be called out on publicly. Levy’s bonus payments are an insult to every Spurs supporter paying over the odds to watch the outcome of his bad decisions unfolding.

Poch is rightly idolised for what his coaching methods achieved on the pitch. However; I do think that Levy may well have backed Poch’s judgement in the transfer market for a period and then pulled the plug when he suspected that the signings after Mitchell was sacked were inferior. Either way; Levy is responsible. He should never have sacked Mitchell.

Last edited 2 years ago by The Hurrah Brigade
Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

My view on ENIC and Levy is that they charge top dollar but do not invest their own money in the playing squad. They make money available but if it is badly spent they will not take responsibility for the errors; they expect the paying supporters to suck it up.

They rightly deserve criticism for this. However; I do think Pochettino was more to blame than a large percentage of our support are willing to acknowledge. Poch did well coaching players bought by other people. When Poch was given a bigger say, through a new contract, on recruitment, the signings were sub standard and Spurs have payed for these errors.

For me the blame for this lies equally with Pochettino and Levy.

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosher Kid

Jansenn, Nkoudou, Sissoko, Gazzanigga, Sanchez, Foyth, Aurier, Llorente and Moura were the next batch of signings and then Levy stopped making funds available.

There are a lot of South American / Spanish players in this group and a connection to PSG and France too.

Totally different signings to the business done by Paul Mitchell for Spurs.

Kosher Kid
Kosher Kid
2 years ago
Reply to  Keith Hill

I’m with you Keith. I researched the timing of Poch’s first contract extension in May 2016 and the changing of his role at that time from head coach to manager. Paul Mitchell went public in August 2016 regarding his displeasure with what was happening to his role at Spurs. Mitchell had signed; Dele, Wimmer, Alderweireld, Trippier, Son and Wanyama up to this point.

Levy put Mitchell on gardening leave and from here the signings went to pot.

The Boy
2 years ago
Reply to  Keith Hill

You missed the presser where he clearly stated he didn’t have control over transfers

Glory Costs Too Much
Glory Costs Too Much
2 years ago
Reply to  Keith Hill

Absolute bollox mate. The only manager to get us top 4 four seasons running despite zero support from the board, not to mention finals and semi’s, including the holy grail of a CL final. It wasn’t his fault that these always come at the end of a long hard season when his 11 players were absolutely shattered due to Levy lack of comprehension about squad size.
We played the best football on the planet for 2 seasons under him and were envied around Europe.But he still wasn’t supported in the transfer market by the penny pinching bald scrooge.
You’ve either got a very short and selective memory, or there wasn’t much there to begin with…

Glory Costs Too Much
Glory Costs Too Much
2 years ago

Guess what – if you play with 3 CDM’s in midfield you don’t create much going forward. Add to that 2 impotent excuses for wing backs and you’re screwed. = THFC.

SimonSpur
SimonSpur
2 years ago

Someone commented yesterday that Conte picked that team yesterday to send a message to Levy. If that is the case, then Conte still has a lot to learn if he thinks Levy has any understanding of the football side and team selections. Levy is clueless about football and that is part of the problem.

SimonSpur
SimonSpur
2 years ago
Reply to  Keith Hill

So Levy holds no responsibility for the current state of the squad? Has he paid you to come here and defend him?

Last edited 2 years ago by Ragnar
Mark Baldwin
Mark Baldwin
2 years ago
Reply to  Keith Hill

This would the manager that consistently got us into the top four? If he’s crap, what the hell have the rest been?

Cabspur
Cabspur
2 years ago
Reply to  Keith Hill

We’re they potchs first choice though?

Keith Hill
Keith Hill
2 years ago

Another banner waving fan.

Keith Hill
Keith Hill
2 years ago
Reply to  eddie

27 players bought during Poch tenure. Many selection mistakes made by Poch. Poch ,lovely guy,crap manager

eddie
eddie
2 years ago

I think Zola is being kind in his assessment.Not only are we poor in the final third,but we offer no creativity from midfield and defensively we are too fragile.Those are the big differences between us and the top sides who consistently win silverware.

So basically we are short all over the pitch and we go back to the main culprit for this and that is Levy.His pennypinching ways have decimated a once promising side under Poch,through no proper reinvesting in the squad and churning the players.It’s not rocket science,but it is beyond the grasp of Levy.

Conte is now fully aware of the task ahead of him and it’s just a question of how many times he can put out there the reasons for our stagnation.When he does walk he can hold his head high.

Glory Costs Too Much
Glory Costs Too Much
2 years ago

Other teams can deal with Chelsea, Brighton and Burnley for example. Why can’t we? It’s because we’re on a level with Brighton now but with a mental block. Take away Kane and Son and we’d be a Burnley. Levy (I’m blaming nobody else as his Directors of Football are just his puppets,) has diluted a once good team with so many bang average players we’ve now become that, but with 2 top class front men. That’s all that sets us aside from a mid table team.
The squad we currently have is pathetic. Levy, even when Poch was there, has always run the club to be just 11 good players and very little else. He seems incapable of grasping the importance of a squad as the players names are just on a spreadsheet to him. Now we have 2-3 good players and nothing on the bench. The negligence by Levy is jaw dropping.
Anyone who still supports this imbecile is anti-Spurs.

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