SmithAndJones
Vital 1st Team Regular
Some interesting discussion and debate on the forum recently, both relative to the Mourinho issue and the longer term viability of a number of our players, with not unexpectedly some widely diverging views.
To my mind we have a number of scenarios currently, all of which probably leave us in between a rock and a hard place.
- Somehow we scramble a fourth place and qualify for the CL whereby Mourinho keeps his job. I don't think that this will happen, the top three are out of sight, and I don't see Chelsea gathering less points than us over the balance of the season.
- If somehow Mourinho survives courtesy of our qualifying for the CL, will some of our best players stay on the strength of the CL qualification, knowing that they will still be working with Mourinho, whereby there will probably be very little confidence amongst them that things will genuinely get better to the point that Spurs get anywhere close to meeting their personal aspirations. There is nothing worse than demotivated players who don't really want to be there.
- If we don't qualify for the CL I am assuming that the Club will send Mourinho on his way. Assuming that another 'top' coach, say Benitez as an example, agreed to join Spurs, would our best players, without CL football, be prepared to give it another go, if alternatively faced with the opportunity of joining one of the top Clubs in Europe.
- Would the Club accept the scenario that we are pretty much back where we were at the time that Pochettino came on board, and give a young up and comer the opportunity to 'do a Poch' over the course of yet another five year project, probably without our best players who will no doubt have decided enough is enough, whereby the Club decides it is opportune to cash in on them.
I don't entirely rule out a new manager starting next season with a line up that looks something like;
Lloris or AN Other
Tanganga, Sanchez, Rodon, Sessegnon
Hojbjerg
Lo Celso, Ndombele, Bergwijn
Moura, Vinicius
Subs: Hart, Alderweireld, Davies, Sissoko, Skipp, Lamela, Clarke, Parrott
Academy Up and Comers - Cirkin, Devine, Scarlett.
Subject to the above squad being strengthened at the outset by two signings financed by the sale of players, with more to come for the new manager at such time that his 'project' is seen to be progressing in the right direction.
This squad will not at the outset be top four candidates, probably not top half to begin with, but it wouldn't be relegation material either. It's managerial leadership, and financing by Levy when required, would be the factors that determine whether there will be success further down the line.
To my mind we have a number of scenarios currently, all of which probably leave us in between a rock and a hard place.
- Somehow we scramble a fourth place and qualify for the CL whereby Mourinho keeps his job. I don't think that this will happen, the top three are out of sight, and I don't see Chelsea gathering less points than us over the balance of the season.
- If somehow Mourinho survives courtesy of our qualifying for the CL, will some of our best players stay on the strength of the CL qualification, knowing that they will still be working with Mourinho, whereby there will probably be very little confidence amongst them that things will genuinely get better to the point that Spurs get anywhere close to meeting their personal aspirations. There is nothing worse than demotivated players who don't really want to be there.
- If we don't qualify for the CL I am assuming that the Club will send Mourinho on his way. Assuming that another 'top' coach, say Benitez as an example, agreed to join Spurs, would our best players, without CL football, be prepared to give it another go, if alternatively faced with the opportunity of joining one of the top Clubs in Europe.
- Would the Club accept the scenario that we are pretty much back where we were at the time that Pochettino came on board, and give a young up and comer the opportunity to 'do a Poch' over the course of yet another five year project, probably without our best players who will no doubt have decided enough is enough, whereby the Club decides it is opportune to cash in on them.
I don't entirely rule out a new manager starting next season with a line up that looks something like;
Lloris or AN Other
Tanganga, Sanchez, Rodon, Sessegnon
Hojbjerg
Lo Celso, Ndombele, Bergwijn
Moura, Vinicius
Subs: Hart, Alderweireld, Davies, Sissoko, Skipp, Lamela, Clarke, Parrott
Academy Up and Comers - Cirkin, Devine, Scarlett.
Subject to the above squad being strengthened at the outset by two signings financed by the sale of players, with more to come for the new manager at such time that his 'project' is seen to be progressing in the right direction.
This squad will not at the outset be top four candidates, probably not top half to begin with, but it wouldn't be relegation material either. It's managerial leadership, and financing by Levy when required, would be the factors that determine whether there will be success further down the line.