Dancing with the Devil

Good morning fellow spurs fans...

I was at an FA cup game watching Gillingham v Sunderland last night, it featured a very organised and well drilled Gillingham side nullifying and killing the game by hard work, pressing the ball and creating very little going forward. I got paid to watch the game but still felt ripped off, I was thanking my lucky stars as a Spurs fan that I didn't have to put up with that every week. The game finished 1- 0 incidently with the only shot on target winning the game. Gills through to round 2

Then.. During the game my phone goes into meltdown.. Poch was gone. Initial thoughts were - this is another rash move by Levy. Poch showed us some loyalty (albeit it with a nice hefty new contract) even when Madrid et el came calling. I thought at the time that I hope Levy repays this show of faith "In the Project" and the manager when he has a blip - but yet again he lets us down.
He has attracted more negativity towards the club in the way it was handled - asking Poch to resign ? Appointing a successor a matter of hours later, shows more underhand tactics - talking to other managers whilst the current manager is still in charge. I thought for once Levy and the manager had built a relationship of trust, how could any incoming manager ever trust him now? Levy is a master at getting it right in terms of infrastructure and club growth off the field but anything in the public eye is poorly handled and I wonder if it's done to seek the limelight. I'm not proud of what my club has done or the way it was handled, it leaves a real sour taste - it's not a one off and not likely to be the last time either.

Did Poch deserve to go ? Had he reached his limit ? For me he ticked all the boxes of what I wanted in a manager, his teams played good football (Yes not so great lately), he was likeable (attracting positivity from the media, pundits, opposition fans and managers) he coached and improved players and ultimately made me feel quite content and proud for the first time since I've supported the club. We gained a respect across europe, finished in the top 4 consistantly and reached a champions league final for the first time. It was complete unchartered waters for us as fans and the club. He has raised the bar significantly and ultimately it has cost him his job.
The master at rebuilding year on year Sir Alex Ferguson is who Poch aspired to emulate but was he given time ? The squad was stale but was it his fault ? Starved of funds during the new stadium build he got the best out of what he had, massively over achieving. The rebuilding process had started, there was promise with younger blood coming in but they and he were simply not given the time. In my opinion the panic button has been hit far too soon and the short term-ism of football has reared it's ugly head again.

So, on to our new manager - one of the most decorated managers in Football History. A manager we could only have dreamed about appointing 8-10 years ago - he's managed some of the biggest clubs in world football (and Chelsea) and won something everywhere he has been.

Jose - A Superb appointment then ?

Not for me, just like players have a shelf life, managers do also.

Jose has some certain behaviours that lead to his short-term success at clubs. He likes to come in make a scapegoat of a player, so others fall into line. He likes to make a big statement signing - show others he means business. He wants to create a siege mentality - them against us - he does it wherever he goes. He prefers to drill teams not to lose before winning - defence before attack.

All these things are made for short term success and used to be effective. Player power speaks loudest these days though and some of his methods don't work the way they used to. He is a bully and a dictator but the loss of respect in many circles has lessened his impact. He gets fans, players and chairman offside -he will do whatever it takes in order to succeed but at what expense ? Clubs are generally left in a worst state than when he arrived.

When you take all these things into consideration is this a man we want managing our club ?

So I come full circle with Levy - someone who has constantly stated that the clubs values and philosophy are always at the heart of everything he does. Does anybody think he has remained loyal to those values in his appointment here ?