Next Manager Watch

[Joshua]

Personally I think Slot is also performing miracles considering the budget he's been working to. Keep reading on here about his lack of experience, but for me that makes what he's doing even more remarkable.

Lost half his squad including his 3 top scorers from last season and still managed to improve the team as well

 

[snakehipsspurs]

Ive watched them quite a bot...not really swashbuckling, free flowing football imo but very effective. Admittedly the league is a poor standard though.

They have a +74 goal difference through 30 games. They play ridiculously attacking football. If his style isn't attacking enough for us god knows what is...

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Presumably it's more a realisation that we cannot compete with petro state money no matter the manager, so best at least focus on what we can afford to operate like? Which is sadly the reality of the league. There is no guarantee of winning or challenging in this league anymore. It's awash with state cash, and any two "big 6" clubs are in a total shambles every year seemingly by their own ineptitude.

The one thing that we've at least done over the past 18 months is try to sign some decent youth for the first team squad in Kulusevski, Gil, Sarr and Spence. I don't think it's mad to look at a manager to play them, Kulu aside. I'd be happy if we leaned into it, personally, as it's a far more exciting model.

If we are not in it to compete - then we are just a concert arena with a football team on the side.

 

[Joshua]

By the way, there’s no evidence that the Argentine league is any better than the SPL. Both are second/third tier divisions. Eredivisie ranks 6th in UEFA’s coefficient so Slot is the one that has performed at the highest level out of the so called unproven three we’re discussing. His Feyenoord side have also done admirably in Europe as well. Conference league final last year and still in the Europa knockouts this year.

 

[DenverSpur]

The thing is Howe was allowed to come in and decide for himself who he wanted to stay and who needed replacing. For example He brought in Botman to replace the club captain, Lacelles at CB. That’s one of the reasons they are doing well. There was little or no interference from the board. Howe was allowed to get on with things his way.
Do you think Levy would allow the manager to replace Dier with an expensive signing, especially if he was club captain. That’s one of our problems. Levy is too involved with the squad.

 

[spurs9]

Personally I think Slot is also performing miracles considering the budget he's been working to. Keep reading on here about his lack of experience, but for me that makes what he's doing even more remarkable.

They are both performing Miracles, but Slot is tiptoeing across the water, Gallardo is doing back flips.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

For clarification - I am fine with the idea that we need to take a step back. I believe that we have persisted with this group for a couple of seasons too long.

And, if we want to pursue the Arsenal model - which, has not been cheap - I would gladly get behind that, and trust the process. But, it has to be with the goal of competing at the top of the PL - not simply pursuing the Ajax/Dortmund model of develop and sell.

 

[HedgieSpur]

That league is like me beating the cat at chess.

That literally made me spit my coffee out!

 

[Joshua]

They are both performing Miracles, but Slot is tiptoeing across the water, Gallardo is doing back flips.

Genuine question. What are you basing that statement on?

 

[HedgieSpur]

They have a +74 goal difference through 30 games. They play ridiculously attacking football. If his style isn't attacking enough for us god knows what is...

Goal difference doesnt mean attacking football especially in a league that is so weak. As I say, Ive watched them quite a bit...I find them very effective but not sure attacking is what springs to mind. There's a "blokey, great guy to have a drink with" vibe to Ange of course, which I guess appeals to some.

 

[Trent Crimm]

That literally made me spit my coffee out!

Full disclosure. I don’t have a cat. But if I did would be a fucking epic one.

 

[robotsonic]

If we are not in it to compete - then we are just a concert arena with a football team on the side.

As many things as you can lay at ENIC and Daniel Levy's feet, I'm not sure the PL allowing these bent owners in is one of them, to be fair. In a broad sense, we're essentially competing with Liverpool and Arsenal for whatever we can realistically can achieve against these pricks until someone does something about the state of things, unless one slips up, and that's the unfortunate reality, but it's more than 99.9% of the clubs in the world get to compete for.

As has been mentioned perviously, Arsenal have competed this year with what they have done via a fairly pragmatic and youth-centric method, as have we previously, so it's not impossible to do a thing that way.

 

[Trix]

They are both performing Miracles, but Slot is tiptoeing across the water, Gallardo is doing back flips.

I don't disagree with how good Gallardo is and I have no issues with the fact he's only worked in SA, but the language barrier is a potential issue.

 

[Cult of Ange High Priest]

I personally don’t agree. We would have a higher financial pull than any of the clubs listed, if we can go back to showing that we have a pathway into the first team with an energetic coach who can improve players, we will start getting the high potential younger players again. You then hope that you have 5-7 of these players that click at one time and you then have your opportunity to have a VVD & Alisson type scenario where you shoot for glory.

We already had that opportunity! And that short, bald, incompetent fuck pissed it away. The best offense and best defense in the league in 16/17, and he responded by selling Kyle Walker to our direct competitor and refusing to buy a competent backup/replacement for Dembele.

 

[Thenewcat]

By the way, there’s no evidence that the Argentine league is any better than the SPL. Both are second/third tier divisions. Eredivisie ranks 6th in UEFA’s coefficient so Slot is the one that has performed at the highest level out of the so called unproven three we’re discussing. His Feyenoord side have also done admirably in Europe as well. Conference league final last year and still in the Europa knockouts this year.

Well apart from the fact that Argentina produces about 20 top class footballers for every one in Scotland and most of them make their way through the domestic league. It’s better, deeper and higher pressure by far

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

I think you’re reading it too literally. My interpretation is more that we will go back to signing the best young talents to develop. More like what Arsenal are doing. I can’t see us becoming a feeder club for the other top 6.

Just so we are clear - "more like what Arsenal are doing" would require that we spend more, not less.

In the last 3 years, Arsenal have bought £445M, and sold £73M - for a net spend of £372M

Spurs have bought £382M, and sold £85M - for a net spend of £297M


I don't get the impression that Levy/ENIC want to spend more...

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

As has been mentioned perviously, Arsenal have competed this year with what they have done via a fairly pragmatic and youth-centric method, as have we previously, so it's not impossible to do a thing that way.

Arsenal have out-spent us in the last 3 years...

If we want to pursue the Arsenal model - its not cheap - and would cost more than Levy wants to spend.

 

[Trent Crimm]

If we are not in it to compete - then we are just a concert arena with a football team on the side.

Nail meet head.

 

[spurs9]

Genuine question. What are you basing that statement on?

Gallardo being the most successful manager in Rivers history, winning 2 x Copa Libertadores (SA equivalent of the Champions League) 1 x Copa Sudamericana (SA equivalent of the Eusropa League), 3 Argentine equivalent FA Cups and 3 equivalent of European super cups. He has been in 11 finals and won 9 of them.

All of the above whilst his best players were sold off. His 2 x Copa Libertadores wins were 3 years apart, yet only 2 players made tan appearance for River in both games (and only 1 player started both).

River have won the Copa Libertadores 4 times in their history and the Copa Sudamericana just once.

 

[Joshua]

Well apart from the fact that Argentina produces about 20 top class footballers for every one in Scotland and most of them make their way through the domestic league. It’s better, deeper and higher pressure by far

You’re right there’s loads of great Argentine players. I would definitely contest that they make their way through the domestic league however. Anyone half decent leaves for Europe by their early 20’s and only goes back once they’re near retirement age. Hardly any of the countries second or third rate players let alone their elite ones play domestically.