Home » When Will We Find Out The Truth About Pochettino And Levy?

When Will We Find Out The Truth About Pochettino And Levy?

By The Boy -

After my recent return to the small screen, I noted that a number of good folk asking why I was banging on about Mauricio Pochettino? Well truth be told, it for a very simple reason, that so many fans still besotted by the Argentine, despite his ability to provide some entertaining football, which ultimately got us nowhere than to be globally humiliated in Champions League final. Every time Mourinho encountered the odd bump in the road, social media was awash with lost souls praying for the ‘magic’ one to return,

We’re coming up for a year since Mauricio was in post, and despite numerous articles linking him with sits vacant at some rather prestigious sides, the 48-year-old appears to still be no closer to securing a new job. A flicker of hope this morning as Poch’s name was linked with Manchester United again, but it turned out to stem from the utterly unreliable Daily Star, and yet that didn’t prevent The Mail and even the Guardian aggregating it, although the latter didn’t link back and the former buried the link half-way down the page.

There is no doubt in my mind that beneath all the berry happy and the glad handing, there was something very wrong at Tottenham when Pochettino was there, and that whatever the problem was, this secret was not kept in-house.

As I posited in the video, it was fine to brand Mauricio a miracle worker when he was here, it was also accurate to call him a Patsy as well, the two aren’t mutually exclusive, but what is now going to be really awkward to explain away is how Daniel Levy was incredibly reluctant to let the Argentine sign players of his own choosing, yet allows Mourinho to heavily recalibrate the entire squad. Worse yet, to undertake such a formidable task against the backdrop of a global pandemic that is costing Spurs £3million in match day revenues for every fixture, plus, this is also in the shadow of a debt that has now wobbled itself up to close to a billion pounds.

There are more questions being raised about the relationship between Poch and Levy since he was fired than there were when he was still in office. Speculation probably isn’t helpful, but what we do know, is that Alasdair Gold was briefed that the club was calm, in fact never been so calm, just 24 hours before Levy dropped the axe. There’s an indicator of just how sinister the mood was inside Tottenham at the time.

Whatever the truth was about Pochettino and Levy’s relationship, it could well be the case that it is now preventing Poch from nailing the type of job he undoubtedly wants.

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East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  England Mike

Don’t see in what way Poch was responsible, I’m sure he would rather have strengthened during that whole year we signed nobody for example.

Poch was asked about the Bale signing and he said that it just wasn’t going to happen while the stadium was being built. I think that kind of says it all.

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  CowSpurs

Levy treated Pochettino appallingly in the end. The man is a snake who uses people for his own ends. He treated Jol, Ramos, AVB, Arry and Poch the same way.

The same people that slate Poch people go on about trophies right? Well, the last manager to win silverware was Ramos, he came in after Jol won a trophy and all the thanks he got was seeing our strike partnership Keane and Berbatov sold almost immediately afterwards. Couldn’t get a tune out of them the following season and was sacked. Levy then panicked about relegation and got Arry in to fix it.

Poch did an amazing job for us and deserved time to rebuild again. Levy undermined Poch and sacked him as soon as a few poor results cane through. Not all of us are stupid.

My hunch is that this whole Jose thing is a short term repair job….

CowSpurs
CowSpurs
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

I think we are in total agreement on this. The moment Man Utd ditched the FA Cup for the World Club Cup it lost its prestige. Wigan won the FA Cup but would they rather have finished top 4, especially after what has happened since? Too many have forgotten the “Back the damn manager” campaign. I will never forget that Poch was left to fail by Levy, which by the law of averages had to happen. For any Spurs fan to hold that failure solely on Poch’s shoulders is astonishing. He had to keep morale in a squad that was underpaid and underfunded with additions after the progress we made. Poch was responsible for us punching well above our weight year after year and the first time he hit trouble, Levy pulled the trigger. Even Southampton’s Ralph Hassenhuttl got treated better after the humiliation v Leicester. We got embarrassed in Ch Lg, but by the team that won the cup by a country mile! It is time to support Jose now, just glad there has been some positive performances. Levy still hasn’t backed him massively, Sheffield Utd outspent us, but at least some of the square holes were filled with square pegs

England Mike
England Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

Levy was also responsible.

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  England Mike

Did he? Or did Levy? Nah, won’t have that will you… 😂

England Mike
England Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

Santa dosen’t leave the place in a mess.

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  England Mike

Elite football was his present, and just like Santa, he’ll be back…

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  CowSpurs

100% in agreement again. Trying to depict him as a ‘loser’ is just completely ridiculous. Even the stats don’t back it up.

Your league position is all about consistency over a season and winning a lot of matches over a season, more than you need to to win any of the cups, any of them.

The only cups you can win are obviously the two domestic ones and whatever European one you might be in. The biggest one of those requires an outstanding league campaign the previous season to even get in it.

To me, neither of the domestic cups are worth as much as playing in the Champions League, as I’ve said before, it isn’t 1981 and the two domestic cups have been reduced in value. We all remember FA Cup Final Day, it was a national event, the whole country watched it, even if they didn’t like football! Now half the country don’t even know it’s being played as they haven’t paid or tuned into the subscription required to watch it.

Top four is better than a trophy because you get to play in the elite competition and you need to win more games to get there than a cup. Top four and a cup then great, by all means.

The very idea that a ‘loser’ gets a team to achieve that year after year is one only for the slightly unhinged. Had he been backed I’m sure he’d have landed one or two of the domestic cups somewhere along the line. He was however getting blood out of a stone for four seasons…

CowSpurs
CowSpurs
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

Too true. Poch was great for us. It is that simple. George Graham and Ramos won a League Cup a piece, but does that make them better for us than Redknapp or Poch? To batter Poch in any way is incredulous. He only had one bad spell and got sacked! Levy should have let Poch freshen up the squad instead of waiting for him to fail. No one is changing my view on him, irrespective if Jose wins us something.

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Spurs est1882

The net spend was 17th for ages though so that is telling. However you’re right about who we bring in. WTF was NoCluedo and Clinton cards all about for example? Could someone please explain? 😂

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  mikey hughes

It’s a bit like Arry’s spending for the first couple of seasons. ‘Affordable’ experience.

To be honest we need some tried and tested, last summer was untested and we got nothing from Tanguy until now and Sessingnon is out on loan…

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago

Yep, we’ve had a spend up compared to the previous five seasons (apart from last summer).

We have been so starved of what is normal for a big football club for so long we think Levy’s finally gone mental and can’t stop spending. It’s not like that at all. This is very moderate spending…

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  CowSpurs

I don’t mean to wind him up, my opinion doesn’t always match his and that generally seems to be enough.

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  CowSpurs

The world has changed, perhaps this perception that Jose has swaggered into jobs and started calling the shots with the owners is fanciful. He just got fully backed, until late at Utd.

The idea that Poch should have gone ‘rogue’ to get what he wanted from Levy is wishful thinking. Some say he should have threatened to walk, Levy would have let him…. What’s the manager count under Levy now 12?

All managers have to tow the line with the owners otherwise they don’t last.

England Mike
England Mike
3 years ago

Poch is like Santa, he’s been and gone.

CowSpurs
CowSpurs
3 years ago

Only one way to stop people writing about Poch, stop posting about him. He gave us hope, after so many awful managers, but Levy laughed in his and our faces. I think fans have every right to feel bitter about him not being backed properly and that is my only gripe. It will always be a case of ‘what if’. Poch definitely has enough ammo to get another job, he is hardly poison and it would be interesting to know who has asked. He has to be the Utd manager in waiting, nothing else makes sense. As for being a Patsy, show me a manager who isn’t and keeps his job. You take the money and follow the company line or you get your marching orders. Jose knows that all too well from his time at Real, Chelsea and Utd, who all had enough of him and his antics. Or did he have enough of them?

CowSpurs
CowSpurs
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

I am surprised you still entertain him, although you do a great job of winding him up. I blocked him a few months back. Good times!

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Cincy Spur

What’s the point in thinking the worst? Normally things are never as bad as they seem

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Markus Buri

100% in agreement.

The squad was neglected and left to rot while Levy spent his valuable time “sniffing lifts” as HH puts it.

The endless Eriksen situation was the the embodiment of that neglect. So long as Poch delivered this new regular top 4 thing, Levy couldn’t care less about unimportant things like contacts and players in limbo…

Eriksen should been sold over two years ago and new blood recruited. Levy didn’t even attempt to replace Dembele for almost two and a half years after he went down hill. The list is endless.

Poch could no longer get blood out of a stone…

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago

I’ve given up on that mate! Tappa really needs to check his blog etiquette! 😂

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

I see no reason why Poch wouldn’t have got us going again with signings. We needed to rebuild, refresh regroup whoever was manager. Didn’t see the point in the change and still don’t really.

But I back Jose now he’s our manager and the squad has had some desperately needed refurbishment. Which let’s face it has been the real underlying issue for two and a bit years…

Jose or Poch could have got top four with s full season, if last summers transfer window fixed the squad issues. Every team needs time to regroup after doing well over a sustained period. Players get older, jaded. You need churn otherwise you wither and die.

Cincy Spur
Cincy Spur
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

tell me Tappa, in a year and a half if this team implodes and goes the way of almost all Jose’s previous jobs (3 years and implode), will you still be saying that Jose was what Spurs needed. Jose is growing on me, but I know what his track record is over the last 3 teams he has coached. 1st year growth and some change, second year big change and a trophy of some kind, 3rd year implosion and sacking. What then? We start over? I hope this time is different and he takes this club where I think we all want it to go. Thing is, if he does, that means old Danny will have had to change his ways also. What makes you think this will happen either?

Marbella Spur
Marbella Spur
3 years ago
Reply to  Harry Hotspur

Fair enough, I thought it was an odd thing to write at the time.

Harry Hotspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Marbella Spur

That was a typo – which I’ve corrected.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Marbella Spur

I apologize for getting Jose and poch muddled up. Will that do ya?

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Marbella Spur

High press gang up all the time. Burn out your team that will.

Marbella Spur
Marbella Spur
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

Very grudging, if that’s an apology. Most neutral supporters and commentators were vey entertained by it.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Marbella Spur

Pochs football was alright. Bit sameish but it was alright

Marbella Spur
Marbella Spur
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

You clearly did not read HH’s article above properly. He was referring to Poch’s inability not Mourinho’s.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

Jose woulda made top four if he had a full season I reckon. Who knows for sure though

Markus Buri
Markus Buri
3 years ago

Poch did a great job in the first few years at our club. I honestly view Eriksen’s decline as a major factor of Poch’s demise. He was the only creative player we had for about 5 years, which is far too long. Even once Sissoko started to find his groove a bit, it was a 30 yard gallop up the fields, a 5 yard pass to Eriksen and then “go do something with it Christian”. Losing Dembele in the process didn’t exactly help matters either. The man simply had too much work between starting every game at Spurs and being the face of the Danish national team. The combination of Eriksen burning out and Levy’s refusal to fund a decent support cast led to the dismal showing during the CL final. I believe that a Lo Celso type investment during Poch’s reign could have made a massive difference. But, as they say, it’s water under the bridge – I’m excited about the current squad and backing the current gaffer doesn’t mean we have to bash the prior one. COYS!

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago

Can’t be bothered.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Marbella Spur

Jose can play entertaining football man. (When the backs “locked off” you’ll see it

mikey hughes
mikey hughes
3 years ago
Reply to  East Stand

Very true Eastie, Poch was too good for Levy back in those days. Over-achieved and put the chairman in a difficult position of having to back him financially. How dare he expect quality players when he could have N’Crap from the French league!

Marbella Spur
Marbella Spur
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

NO, the statement about entertaining football.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Marbella Spur

As in courtino? Think I got muddled up coz that’s the price barca wanted for him. Dembs plays regularly in China. Gentle league

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago

Some people name call some people don’t. See

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago

Had to look “cursor up🌚

Lilywhite without the II
Lilywhite without the II
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

No need for name calling Tapp, everyone is entitled to their opinion..

Marbella Spur
Marbella Spur
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

Well do it then, you are wrong in this particular case.

Lilywhite without the II
Lilywhite without the II
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

Run your cursor over it and all will be revealed!

mikey hughes
mikey hughes
3 years ago

Yep several loans and a free in there, but Spurs fans are so desperate for crumbs it seems like players are falling out of the sky. At least we’re getting quality this time around, in Hart’s case experience. That is the main difference, no Yedlin’s, Holtby’s, Clarke’s etc. But mostly tried and tested players.

Marbella Spur
Marbella Spur
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

Complete and inaccurate rubbish.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Marbella Spur

I don’t have a problem apologizing when I’m wrong

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Spurs est1882

Barca paid £130mil for courtino? Wow. Pool mugged’m off

Marbella Spur
Marbella Spur
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

If you read the first paragraph of this blog by HH, these are his comments which I disagreed with , not mine. I look forward to receiving your apology in the post.

mikey hughes
mikey hughes
3 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan Hurst

Funny enough I said something similar years ago on here and was laughed at (though it was by the resident wooden top tbf – now gone). I said something along the lines of “Levy isn’t interested in winning trophies particularly just getting top 4 for the money”. Poch was too good at his job and despite being starved of players by Mr Stingy achieved success out of all proportion with what was given to him.
Funny enough it could be said that Levy has now decided this squad can get top 4 and pulled out of the Skriniar deal. I think Mou wanted Watkins and Skriniar as his first choices, but Levy has seen the performances rocket in the last week and probably thinks he’s done enough for that CL money. Make no mistake that his his primary goal – financial.

Spurs est1882
Spurs est1882
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

£130m actually and that is a “fact” as much as I could find on about 3 different and reliable sources including transfermarkt

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Marbella Spur

“Inability to provide entertaining football? Rubbish.

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Spurs est1882

I agree with all of that 1882.

I don’t feel there was ever a plan on Levy’s part for us to become a regular top four team before we moved into the new place, at any point. I believe that Levy took Poch to Spurs to work on a tight budget and work with a younger (and ultimately cheaper) squad and get us treading water, probably around the Ropey League places.

He ‘needed’ a coach who wasn’t going to demand stuff and start calling the shots. The spending projections were already set in stone, and no outside hope of dream of Champions League football would alter that. Too ‘risky’.

Poch overachieved with what he had, there’s no argument. You only have to look at the expenditure on wages, fees and the overall activity in the transfer market during his tenure. Levy did not expect regular C.L football or factor it in, if anything it made selling the ‘dream’ vision of the new place to the supporters more problematic. “We don’t need all this disruption, we’re already playing at the elite level at the old place”

However, who was going to look a gift horse in the mouth with all that extra revenue? The club even teasing our neighbors with the infamous poster; ‘The only place to watch the Champions League in London’ with the new gaff as a backdrop.

The irony of course (predicted by some) was once we got in there the elite football was gone by the following summer, and as it turns out so was Poch.

We will never know what happened between Levy and Pochettino but my guess is this;

Pochettino came in and it was the biggest job he’d ever had, he was just going to get his head down and take the chance to prove himself at a big club. The chairman was a micromanaging pain in the *** but hey, this is Spurs! Right?

Pochettino’s reputation at Spurs grew and grew, likewise the club’s participation in the Champions League season after season put us in the elite bracket of European clubs, despite the net spend and wage bill.

He enhanced our reputation globally (and his own) in a way that a League Cup would never have. No, i’m not one of these people that think “a trofeee is a trofeee innit mate” regardless what said trophy is.

It isn’t 1981, we now have smart phones and we also have the Champions League that is undeniably the elite competition. You’ve got a big flashy stadium? You have to be in that competition.

After all of this overachieving, Poch and his staff probably and quite reasonably and rightly felt, that they had earned greater backing from the board. That the club had to be ‘brave’ etc.

We aren’t talking about ‘doing a Citeh’ we are talking about acknowledging that a 17th highest net spend over five years and the 7th highest wage bill is clearly an obstacle to kicking on. So is making no signings for over 12 months. This just isn’t normal, any management team in their right mind would be questioning such nonsense. The fact that some fans regarded it as ‘normal’ is quite staggering.

Personally, I felt against that backdrop that Poch needed a season to ‘rebuild’ and to replenish, to plug the gaps in the squad that Jose has now been given permission to do.

So what if we didn’t make top four under Pochettino? We didn’t under Jose either, with the refreshed look of the squad (Bale too) I have no reason to believe that Poch wouldn’t have had us back on track this season.

Clearly though, there was a falling out. Either that or Levy really got desperate about top four and an unemployed Jose was too tempting to pass up before the January window.

I don’t think the Poch/Levy relationship was half as cosy as Mr “compwehension” tried to make out in his reality tv show. Certainly not for about two years before he left.

To sum it up, the unknown from Saints got too big for his boots according to Levy. Unfair? 100%, in my opinion…

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Marbella Spur

Courtino was sold for £70mil. That is a “fact. Dembelle wasn’t knackered, he left to prevent himself from being

East Stand
East Stand
3 years ago
Reply to  Spurs est1882

Deleted

ministers cat
ministers cat
3 years ago

All this shite makes me smile.
My take is simple.
Didnt want Poch (Levy cherry picking some promising bloke at a small club)
Grew to admire him apart from every time he opened his mouth.
Absolutely loved seeing Spurs 2nd the PL is all I want.
It all went to shite because both parties knew the other’s limitations all this “Daniel Levy is my friend”…lolzzzz
He has gone I wish him well apart from against Spurs obvs.
We now have a new man (on a bloody high salary dont forget, what I mean is he ain’t no charity worker)
Under him we scraped 6th and the last game I saw was Norwich where they gave us a footballing lesson.
Looking better now he has brought in half a team so the sky’s the limit.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

Didn’t think you would you fkin trick

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Marbella Spur

My moneys on poch knew this. (No signings for that long) £8.5 mil a year made him accept it

Marbella Spur
Marbella Spur
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

Poch warned the board to be brave two seasons before the CL final. He and the fans were told that there would be money available for transfers despite the building of the new stadium. There were no transfers for 517 days.
It was difficult to shift some of the players that he wanted to replace because Levy overpriced them to such an extent that they became unsellable. It wasn’t Poch who decided their valuations. Eriksen was valued at circa £130 mill, the same as Coutinho. He was eventually sold for £16 mill. Man Utd were interested in Alderweireld when Mourinho was manager but Levy priced him at £75-80 mill. Net result, he stayed and was offered a new contract. Dembele was valued at £35 mill despite the fact that he was knackered. He was sold for circa £13 mill and was not replaced, leaving a gaping hole in midfield for the rest of that season. All of this is factually accurate which I know you like.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Tappaspur

Down voter. does poch have more football knowledge and charisma than Jose? You’re just pressing buttons like a chimp. Show your face and embarrass yourself. I dare ya

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Legoverlass

Timing is everything. Shoulda sacked him straight after the CL final. We’d be in the champions league now if we did. Levy you’re getting soft.

Marbella Spur
Marbella Spur
3 years ago
Reply to  Spurs est1882

He went 517 days without any new transfer replacements! Completely unheard of in top class football.

Spurs est1882
Spurs est1882
3 years ago
Reply to  Marbella Spur

Exactly this!!! we were floundering, living off 1 season in the CL as “glory” and considered a top 4 finish the target. He was with us 5yrs, and left under a cloud because 1 season he was not on track to make and lost the CL final against a team that went on to win the league the season after. Lets not forget that Levy spent £0 that season too!!

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Marbella Spur

Poch knew he wouldn’t be getting much money from the off. He didn’t have it in him to freshen up the squad by selling and replacing players that were already there.

Marbella Spur
Marbella Spur
3 years ago

“Despite his inability to provide some entertaining football”. I find that statement to be rather at odds with the football I watched under Poch. He overachieved and took us from a mess to a highly respected status with both Spurs and rival fans. He wasn’t backed by Levy, for whatever reason, and he clearly ran out of steam which is hardly surprising after five and a half years of working for Levy. I will be delighted if Mourinho brings silverware to Spurs fans but, I for one, owe a debt of gratitude to Poch for what he achieved.

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago

Poch needs to get rid of some of his crew.

IpswichSpur
IpswichSpur
3 years ago
Reply to  Legoverlass

Excellent summary!

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Harry Hotspur

Mugs

Tappaspur
Tappaspur
3 years ago
Reply to  Spurs est1882

You couldn’t want poch over Jose because of football knowledge or charisma.

Legoverlass
Legoverlass
3 years ago

Timing is everything.Pooch was hired as a frontman to keep up the pretence of competing whilst ENIC focused on real estate development. His success probably surprised Levy and managed to deflect the obvious criticism for the lack of investment in all things relating to success as a football club. Pooch kept delivering CL revenues and was prepared to take his salary to stand in front of the media and say how “berry appy” he was with his squad.When he was beginning to be questioned about his failure to win anything he started to talk about needing to be brave and that he was just a coach. Then Levy increased his salary and he became “berry appy” once again. However the squad was not “berry appy” and they could see there was no ambition and players switched off and started to seek pastures new such as Eriksen. Results collapsed and the team plummeted down the league. Levy ended up more and more in the spotlight.The axe inevitably fell on Pooch and Levy needed a marquee manager to deflect that away from him. In comes José and quickly determines that the mentality of the squad and staff is the main problem and he decided he needs to bring in new faces who are stronger characters with a winning mindset. Along comes Covid creating a massive black hole in ENICs revenue forecasts and Levy decides that he needs to back José. He looks at Jose’s winning track record and unlike Pooch who had won nothing realises that having said Jose is one of the two best coaches in the world his best chance of getting the club back into the CL revenue streams for next season is to let José do his thing. ENIC may be able to survive one season out of the CL and if they win the Wafa Cup then that takes them back into the CL. Signing Bale is a massive boost for the clubs reputation worldwide and having one of the worlds top players returning to play under one of the worlds top coaches is an exceptional marketing opportunity and platform for a stadium sponsorship deal. The 6-1 annihilation of Man Utd at the Theatre of Dreams adds even more fuel to the status of the club. Let’s look at where we were post the Everton match and where we are now. The club is renergised and it shows in the players. The press is back, Sonny and Kane look revitalised, Reguilon looks on fire,we have at last signed another striker, all the other players have upped their game(except Deli yet) and Bale is still to appear. That is the Mourinho effect. I find it hard to comprehend the change in the mentality of the players and supporters in such a short time but it is there and we now have BELIEF.Long may it continue.COYS!!

Spurs est1882
Spurs est1882
3 years ago

Always felt the “NET Spend” thing was a bit of a mis direction to our transfer issues. We have generally spent around £70m per season (14/15 = £43m, 15/16 = £64m, 16/17 = £75m, 17/18 = £109m, 18/19 = 0,19/20 = £133m, and this season 20/21 = £89m). The problem has always been for me the HOW we spend. I have no issue with balancing hte books, flogging the dead wood, maybe even a star to fill 3 roles. The issue is we always seem to buy cheap, or wrong positions, usually cheap and wrong postitions!!

Spurs est1882
Spurs est1882
3 years ago

i am a Poch fan and think he did wonders. I would prefer him over jose (not entirely for the right reasons) however, I think the transfer question is actually a lot easier to answer than you may think. This summer (excluding loans) Jose has fixed 5 troubled positions for £57m (gross, £45m NET) now, Poch spent £54m on Ndomble, £6m o Sanchez…I think Jose was simply willing to find players that had 3 of the 4 attirbutes he was looking for, Poch wanted stars to move the team forward. Though I dont think Ndombele or Sanchez were Poch purchases, I think it hints that Poch wanted expensive, Levy gave him alternatives. When you add int he “loan to buys” of vinicious and potentally Bale, you suddenly realise that Jsoe has plugged some huge gaps in a way Levy wanted. The issue with the Jose route is that these players are always likely to be lacking in various area’s of football (not sure waht) but Jose can make do.

Poch was top 4, needing players to become champions or CL winners.
Jose wants pplayers to get back to top 4, and win a cup.

Not saying longer term Jose wont have grander plans, but this season its clear that was his target, and so far, I think this window was the best we have had for years, because despite not getting superstars in every role, we have plugged very long standing gaps.

Lilywhite without the II
Lilywhite without the II
3 years ago

Another angle:

It’s interesting when you put it down on paper that with all the euphoria Levy is getting we didn’t actually spend that much. If you remove the fact that loan players are just part of the wage bill apart from fee’s (Arsenal now have 3 players costing them 1m a week!) when you compare to other clubs our spending isn’t out of sync to what we normally spend.
Therefore, I personally don’t think it would’ve been such a big ask to get Scriniar over the line. So, having a big stadium at the moment one could argue is holding us back from spending!!!

Net:
Chelsea 212m
Villa 85m
Leeds 85m
City 76m
Arsenal 65m
Everton 63m
Sheffield 53m
Tottenham 50m
Liverpool 48m
Man U 36m
Newcastle 35

Jonathan Hurst
Jonathan Hurst
3 years ago
Reply to  Harry Hotspur

I think pochs own downfall was he succeeded his purpose in the eyes of levy too quickly (sounds ridiculous) but I think he was meant to challenge for top 4 and give us the expectation that top 4 was achievable with the stadium by challenging for the league it adjusted all expectations and the lack of trophies and investment was more apparent although I may be talking nonsense and poch served a purpose which ultimately expired

mikey hughes
mikey hughes
3 years ago
Reply to  Harry Hotspur

Correct H I’m utterly loyal to this blog!

Harry Hotspur
3 years ago
Reply to  mikey hughes

I take it you don’t use social media or use any other forums! The Poch revisionists are still out in force.

mikey hughes
mikey hughes
3 years ago

At some stage we have to move on from this story. I’ll be eternally grateful that Poch turned us into a CL regular team and got us to a final, as well as coming close to our first title since the Norman invasion. All achieved despite the little emperor doing his best to stop him at seemingly every transfer window. The man was little short of a miracle worker, but unfortunately, and with Levy’s help, was unable to win silverware. Now it should be consigned to history and forgotten about, a new era has begun. Perhaps Mou is streetwise enough to turn domination into trophies, we shall see. If Mou can’t achieve tangible success then nobody can. Onwards and upwards and look to the future now.
It could be argued that Poch laid the foundations in making us a big globally known team, but couldn’t finish the job. Now Mou has come to take advantage of that fact and add his stardom to the mix to finally take us over the line. I don’t think he would have joined us before the Poch era.

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