You've said before that Conte is underperforming because the squad is more than capable of coming top four. All down to Harry Kane?
Over the past decade, methinks we are past the point where it could be pinned primarily on luck. Levy now has to get all aspects of the club (academy, scouts, squad, coaches, manager) assembled and operating together at even higher levels.
I find it really weird to be honest, especially as he said a few weeks back about young players need to be first team ready in order for him to play them, how do they get first team ready if he doesn't allow them out on loan to prove themselves and develop? It's a really warped thought process that he has and I think a large number of young players are stagnating because of it, this is KWP but on a multiple scale. As for Porro... I do half expect him to persist with Emerson, it wouldn't surprise me based off his decisions so far
My only answer for Conte not playing them is that he’s off in the summer so purely focused on players he rates right now. The next manager has lot of potential to work with so you’d hope the club will get it right and there will be some sort of aligned vision. That said, if Kane is sold then Spurs are ****ed
But that doesn't matter so much if the players who come in are nearly as good. Personally I would rotate more and start by picking Skipp or Sarr instead of Hojbjerg and use Hojbjerg to replace Kulusevski mid second half.
Largely, yes. Take Kane out and we finish about 9th, if we're lucky. He's also not utilising said squad correctly either, hence underperforming.
Those he rates is certainly a worry. Richarlison as his big money spend. Lucas (and Richarlison out of position) will play over Gil. Dumb and Dumber over Spence. Keeping Sessegnon over Reguilon. Some mind boggling decision making. Agree on Kane, let the good times roll, lol.
Some context on why it’s a loan with obligation for Porro and how it’s a bit similar to the Lo Celso deal (which also IIRC dragged out) as it’s about timing the deal right for the selling club. Let’s hope that’s the only way it’s similar to the Lo Celso deal…
No chance he'd join us in my opinion, he'll surely want a move to a top side? Think Barca have been interested for a while, just whether they manage to find the money down the back of the sofa to buy him.
I suspect that "creative accounting" to help Sporting CP is the primary reason for the timespan of this one (and does Levy effectively now have an IOU from them) . How much less than the purported release clause price Spurs have effectively managed to save (if at all) is another story ...
Unfortunately we haven't saved anything, we've actually overpaid as we've paid the amount of the expired release clause plus relinquished 15% of Marcus Edward's sell on clause. We've been bent over by Sporting when it was completely avoidable had we just paid his clause when it was active earlier in the window.
It's been said for a while that we were working with Sporting to work out a way that they keep more of the fee and screw The Sheikh Mansour Team, as at least three weeks ago there were stories zipping about saying that if we paid €40m Sporting would (somehow) keep a bigger percentage than if we paid the €45m In other words Lima Echo Victor Yankee Now, cue the people who think they're transfer experts from playing Football Manager...
And how much has Potter spent this window? Is he demanding these players? Have Chelsea not got enough players at present ( how many are out on loan ?) ? What about their youngsters? (One of whom has just defected to us )