Daniel Levy - Chairman

[Gazzasrightboot]

How have we gone from playing in the champion's league to being happy with two transitional seasons in a row in a matter of few years?

 

[Raziel]

How have we gone from playing in the champion's league to being happy with two transitional seasons in a row in a matter of few years?

Or three in a row, if hugo, eriksen and kane leaves next summer...

What was the option

- Obviously Spurs, SD and Pullis wanted the deal done, WBA's chairman didn't ..
- Easy to say, oh add $5M, really, we saw Everton turn down 40M for Stones, I'm not sure the price was the issue
- the manager didn't want anyone else

 

[Jordinho]

Levy: Our pragmatic player trading has been important in the way we have run the business of the Club and in getting us to the position where we have now been able to start work on a new stadium - the one thing that has the ability to take this Club to the next level of competitiveness.

This is a key statement for me. Due to our low net spend we've been able to sink money into the stadium project. Not as funds in the bank, but buying up land and starting the work before getting any financing in place. That mean less debt in the future.

 

[BrainOfLevy]

Spurs twtter guy, is that you?

Did you actually read the statement? What is your issue with it? Are you still annoyed we don't have a striker? Are you annoyed we didn't bid £30M for someone like Wanyama?

Understand this - we all want the team to be successful. No one likely more so than Levy. A fan who also has a serious financial interest in making it happen. But the great thing is, after years of trying to hire flavour of the month managers or hiring without a clear long term plan because we are looking for a magician super coach who will just happen to make us over perform every year as a top 4 force, they are over. And the good thing is, Levy realises that. And he has hired someone to help carry out a long term plan that will lead to more sustainable performance in the future.

If you are so worried about the striker, ask yourself why. Are you nervous we won't make the top 4 next year? Do you think the fact that we didn't get Berahino means that we have lost our best chance? That he was the key to being CL regulars while building a stadium? Is Berahino really that guy?

It doesn't matter. We all want to win every game we go to play. But it's never going to happen. We all want to be CL regulars. But it isn't guaranteed just because we sign Berahino. It doesn't even improve our chances by that much more of a margin. But what not signing him does, is keep the long term plan in place. It means when we spend our money, we are absolutely confident we have got the best players for the positions in the squad. And it means we have more money back to buy better quality when it becomes available. We also have more spaces for young players to grow, and if we have one strategic advantage over the rest of the clubs we are competing with, is that we will have these players grow together, while they will spend ever more money to try and gel together ever more average players. Because prices are going up much faster than the relative talent of the footballer is. And eventually it stops to be that much of an advantage anymore. Kevin De Bruyne is a nice player. Really bloody good in fact. But we don't have to be scared of City just because they paid £60M for him.

The point now is not to be down if we don't make the CL one year. It's to develop a team for the long term. If you're nervous about this season, or the next 4 months, because we didn't sign a striker, I think you are looking at the problem of our club's progression in the wrong way.

 

[DTA]

I guess we will wait and see. But there are a number of other factors that could impact this. No doubts, he is setting out his expectations so you are right, we should measure him on what he has publically said.

What are the other factors, because for me they can't be Kane gets injured/needs a rest/is out of form/loses motivation/ is suspended. They can't be the new players need time to adapt, to a new league/culture language/ culture.... POSITION!!!!!! They can't be that "x player didn't convert to the position that we thought he could/would. It can't be the new system that are intending to implement, needs time for the players to understand.

Because if it's any of those things, which are all risks...... Which should have been mitigated to a degree with the purchase of a forward,then that just won't cut it.

So what are these factors?

 

[E3zzle]

ONE season in the CL. It's not really transitional, we're trying to build solid foundations this time. The nature of the transfer windows makes the process seem slower than it could be if we were able to make tweaks when necessary.

So the strategy has changed from last year, when we bought Stambouli and Fazio? Were they part of the foundation for the future? It's hardly a strategy if you change it every year.

 

[parklane1]

Loved that statement. Leaving work today I was starting to think that some of Levy's tactics were beginning to be a bit dated. One of the nice things about the ridiculous amount of money clubs in the EPL have nowadays is that player power has eroded. I always hated the idea that a club would bend over backwards and alter often strategic, long term plans because a player decides he wants to go. Player power is dead and it means clubs don't and won't sell. The old style of brinksmanship, waiting until the deadline draws near because a club will have to sell eventually because they need the money, it's gone. I like that. But I don't think Levy had forseen this entirely.

On the other hand. The reason I loved that statement wasn't necessarily just because of what was said, but because it clearly showed Poch and Levy on the same page. We are a club pulling in one direction, finally after all this years. Alignment between Chairman and Manager. Poch is backing Levy in strong terms on the tactical point around where goals can come from in modern football, and I must say I agree with him. The idea that we need to sign any old striker just to say we have a position filled isn't relevant any more.

There seemed to be a clear plan for the window. Shift the deadwood. Strengthen the defence. Add pace in attack, but don't overspend. Bar Ade, we nearly achieved it. But Poch seems to be actively telling Levy not to invest for the sake of it, because he'd rather leave space open for young players. And that seems to be music to Levy's ears. I think it was actually that Poch didn't want Berahino that much, and would rather the money kept back for a better player when available if we had to pay over the odds for him. The beauty of having a Chairman and Manager aligned is, we will reap the benefit of that. The difference between AVB and Harry demanding Tevez, Moutinho, Hulk etc but getting Levy style signings because he is the ultimate decision maker (leading to the manager throwing toys out of pram) is huge, and the advantage cannot be overstated.

Finally, Poch says he is proud to lead a squad with heart. Let that sink in because I think it is important. We are going to build a great spirit at this club, with young players who will grow together. I actually truly believe too that Levy's sackings of AVB, Harry, Sherwood and Ramos were not strictly around results or league position. I think it was because in each of those men he couldn't strategically align with how they wanted to manage the team. But Poch is his man, and this is a project to get us into the stadium while remaining competitive. That is something you don't cast aside because of poor results, so I think people needn't worry.

Poch is Levy's man, and has his backing because they are aligned. We have a young squad and are building a stadium. We will have topsy turvy times. But we are playing the long game and it seems that finally, after over a decade, we have a coherent strategy in place right across the club to actually make it happen. It isn't about making the top 4 in the odd year, so put it out of your mind for this and enjoy watching a club build itself. We are finally, finally getting there.

Great post.

 

[Jordinho]

So the strategy has changed from last year, when we bought Stambouli and Fazio? Were they part of the foundation for the future? It's hardly a strategy if you change it every year.

They were punts. After a year of thoroughly assessing the squad Poch has got a much better idea of the players coming through the academy. Even a stop gap striker would cost more and be harder to shift if he has a poor season.

 

[parklane1]

is it just me who pictured Levy holding a gun to Poch's head while he read the statement?

Probably, or one of the few at best.

 

[Gazzasrightboot]

What are the other factors, because for me they can't be Kane gets injured/needs a rest/is out of form/loses motivation/ is suspended. They can't be the new players need time to adapt, to a new league/culture language/ culture.... POSITION!!!!!! They can't be that "x player didn't convert to the position that we thought he could/would. It can't be the new system that are intending to implement, needs time for the players to understand.

Because if it's any of those things, which are all risks...... Which should have been mitigated to a degree with the purchase of a forward,then that just won't cut it.

So what are these factors?

Well this is where I will disagree with you. If Son does not settle, then that is a mitigating factor. It does not mean that at this point in time that was the best option. The world moves on. Instead of looking for spacegoats to lay the blame for any failing, it is better to aim to improve each year. You may not agree with Poch's stance, but I do.

 

[parklane1]

Levy: Our pragmatic player trading has been important in the way we have run the business of the Club and in getting us to the position where we have now been able to start work on a new stadium - the one thing that has the ability to take this Club to the next level of competitiveness.

This is a key statement for me. Due to our low net spend we've been able to sink money into the stadium project. Not as funds in the bank, but buying up land and starting the work before getting any financing in place. That mean less debt in the future.

So the rumours and gossip about the money going in Levys pockets or a new yacht for Lewis are not true? Well I never.

 

[DTA]

The general consensus amongst fans or managers? I think Poch's view is quite common amongst his peers.

Also, why should a manager be given less time because you disagree or do not understand a decision? If we had signed a six foot three hulk of a striker who turned out to be a turkey, I think that would be worse and show Poch in a worse light than if the decision he made this summer does not pay off.

It's common amongst his peers??? Why are we the ONLY club in our league to have ONLY one senior central striker in our ENTIRE squad?

If we signed Turkey, that would be horrible but I would understand that we didn't knowly sign a turkey. But we have KNOWINGLY been locked into January with only Kane up top..... So it better work out or heads should roll.... No excuses.

 

[Gazzasrightboot]

It's common amongst his peers??? Why are we the ONLY club in our league to have ONLY one senior central striker in our ENTIRE squad?

If we signed Turkey, that would be horrible but I would understand that we didn't knowly sign a turkey. But we have KNOWINGLY been locked into January with only Kane up top..... So it better work out or heads should roll.... No excuses.

Because Poch doesn't want just anyone.

 

[Baleforce]

So the rumours and gossip about the money going in Levys pockets or a new yacht for Lewis are not true? Well I never.

they are clearly lying, according to the statement we signed a load of players as well, now as we know from yesterday's rants Levy's methods means we missed out on signing anyone again, like we have every window under ENIC

 

[scaramanga]

I thought I was being nice, can not put what I really think of the fraud.

As someone who had friends and family closely involved with Portsmouth and someone who used to eat/drink in the same place as a lot of Portsmouth players I can tell you that most facts about Redknapp would see you on the wrong end of a libel case.

 

[K.D.D.D.D.Soc]

How have we gone from playing in the champion's league to being happy with two transitional seasons in a row in a matter of few years?

Or three in a row, if hugo, eriksen and kane leaves next summer...

Could be I just see it as a game and this is the team I support whether we win lose or draw. I couldn't give a toss about the Champions League as it doesn't care about most football clubs and can only be won by 2 or 3 clubs. English teams have throw millions of pounds at attempting to win it and 3 lucky wins.

 

[demotw]

If Poch feels Son/Nigel can play up front if needed, lets see how they get on before judging if we have been left short. I think the other element to consider in terms of our dealings is how much we have saved in wages on this window. From what I can judge from wage sources we have the following:

Paulinho 3.6mil

Holtby 3.5mil

Kaboul 2.6mil

Lennon 2.8mil

Soldaldo 5mil

Capoue - 3.3 mil

Stambouli - 2.7 mil

Chriches - 2.6 mil

( 26.1mil per season)

In



Wimmer 2.5 mil

Trippier 2.2 mil

Alderweireld 3.4 mil

N'Jie 3.2 mil

Son 4 mil

( 15.3mil per season)

10mil per season saving without selling adebayor - ignoring the likes of fredericks etc who have also gone.

 

[parklane1]

As someone who had friends and family closely involved with Portsmouth and someone who used to eat/drink in the same place as a lot of Portsmouth players I can tell you that most facts about Redknapp would see you on the wrong end of a libel case.

I have no doubt about that at all, as I have said many times he is a fraud and a gobbrick of the highest order.

 

[milo]

It's common amongst his peers??? Why are we the ONLY club in our league to have ONLY one senior central striker in our ENTIRE squad?

If we signed Turkey, that would be horrible but I would understand that we didn't knowly sign a turkey. But we have KNOWINGLY been locked into January with only Kane up top..... So it better work out or heads should roll.... No excuses.

By common amongst his peers, I was talking about the roles of modern forwards and playing without a traditional #9.

 

[DTA]

Well this is where I will disagree with you. If Son does not settle, then that is a mitigating factor. It does not mean that at this point in time that was the best option. The world moves on. Instead of looking for spacegoats to lay the blame for any failing, it is better to aim to improve each year. You may not agree with Poch's stance, but I do.

Every body in just about every line of work that I know, does risk assessment..... And plans in place if those risk come to bare......

A dumbed down version may go a little something like this:

We only have one striker- is that enough?

Yes /no

Answer no

Reason: what if he gets injured, needs a rest blah blah blah

If this happens what is the course of action


Answer: We play son.

Is this a satisfactory risk mitigation

Answer: No

What is the reason for this answer

There is a high risk of Son not being able to settle in a new position in a new league in a new country with a new language, in fact it would be unfair to place that burden on what is a good prospect.

Alternative plan?

?????????:??: