Beginning to suspect that Levy is only focused on getting Pochettino and links to others is simply smoke and mirrors as there is no firm evidence that or leaks that we have even had discussions with anyone else. I guess it wouldn't be the first time that Levy has operated without a plan b but from the fans point of view it's frustrating that as the time passes we seem no closer to appointing anyone.

I read that the reason Lewis wants Pochettino is that Pochettino's family own the next door ranch to his in Argentina and that they are nice people. Ok I understand Lewis owns the Club and that Pochettino is highly regarded as a Coach but it does make you wonder what, if any, influence or input Baldini has and why he was appointed if our owner in effect overrules everybody and wants his own choice?

Interesting Pochettino connection to Joe Lewis!

We shouldn't be surprised if Levy drags things out, it's his modus operandi. Still it is frustrating when other clubs are capable of getting deals done for players / head coaches within a short space of time.

we're just never going to be satisfied with anything. we've got plenty of time yet, the season only ended last week!

it's like how we used to complain about Levy holding up deals/not getting them done, then last season we bring in Baldini, get several deals all done and dusted and we were all happy....only to then spend the whole season complaining about those same deals and demanding Baldini's head on a platter

I've seen so many people complaining about how slow Levy is being. It's quite ridiculous. If taking our time is what gets us the best, most appropriate manager for us, then take our time we will. United have announced they'll get Van Gaal in. Great. That's not till after the world cup. They are in no better a position than us really. They have a manager who can't/won't be doing anything for a good couple of months yet. We just don't have anyone who can't/won't be doing anything just yet

Yes, us football fans are a very fickle bunch!

If Pochettino is indeed "the chosen one" then I can't honestly see why an approach hasn't already been made.

Part of me still thinks we're waiting until after the Champions League final I suppose. Clive Allen has been quoted as saying the next manager will be Ancelotti and we all know Clive is always right

Read in the evening paper that Southampton are making enquiries regarding Pochettino's replacement and we are talking terms with his chosen coaching assistants. Looking like he is in the driving seat to be our next manager as the De Boer camp is very quite.

I think Mauricio Pochettino needs a new "project" and the Spurs job fits his needs.
If in his first season MP gets Spurs to plays fantastic football and wins the respect of the fans and pundits..........but finishes in 5th place......... will he stay for another season or will he start another project if Real Madrid, Barcelona or a national team comes calling for his services. Frank De Boer has been the Ajax manager since 2010 and you have to admire his loyalty one which Levy should bear in mind and as for FDB having no Prem experience...........well neither did Mauricio Pochettino when he took over the Saints job. I would have liked to seen MP given another season at Southampton just to prove his loyalty and to see how far the Saints team could go.

I still find Pochettino a strange choice having not achieved anything to date other than getting Southampton playing pretty football. I'd have liked to see how he does in a second season as well at Soton especially having lost Lallana and Shaw and maybe a few other players. I would agree that there is nothing to suggest that he can get us challenging for anything other than 5th place. Of course I would love to be proved wrong.

With De Boer we would be buying into the Ajax - Cruyff - LVG legacy which also helped Barcelona's success in the last decades. Of course how this would be implemented throughout all levels of the club is another matter but to me this would give us better prospects long term. So in short I'm more attracted by De Boer's footballing philosophy as well as his 4 years of success in the Dutch League, even though it is not seen as the same standard as the Premiership.

I just hope we don't leave it much longer. The World Cup is 3 weeks away so i'd like to at least know what direction we're going in before that happens.

I suppose the one downside is that if the club isn't planning on doing a great deal of transfer business this summer, we may well find we don't get any kind of appointment until after the tournament as they new manager will be told he has to work with what he's got so we won't be too bothered about leaving it too later for transfer activity.

I certainly think we will have the new appointment confirmed before the start of the World Cup.

It is very interesting how highly Pochettino seems to be thought of in the footballing world. Call me cynical but it wouldn't surprise me if Levy sees the cost of De Boer and his entourage plus the compensation Ajax would require as being too expensive for the club, compared to what Pochettino will cost us.

it would certainly be interesting to see the difference in outlay. Pochettino, four of his coaches + the compensation he apparently has to pay himself against De Boer, potentially only one or two coaches plus compensation.

i have a feeling there wouldn't be a huge amount in it.

Some interesting background stuff on Pochettino: http://www.theguardian.com/football/...-liga-sid-lowe

Also:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21084201

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...ham?CMP=twt_gu

Going by Frank De Boer's salary at Ajax + rise compared to what Pochettino is reportedly asking, looks like we would be paying around £2m - £2.5m per year extra for FDB. Granted the other costs involved might not end up being that different.

De Boer seems to have left the ball firmly in our court to come back with the 'right' offer if we want him. All the media noise is making Pochettino odds on now though.

Betting wise, interestingly there has been a lot of movement on De Boer and Claudio Raneri has now entered the market having been let go by Monaco.

I read about Ranieri earlier on and just found it funny really. He's been linked to us by no more than the fact that he's out of work ..

We've been linked with quite a good array of managers which is something but sadly none have had any substance bar the two main contenders.

It is interesting though how many continental clubs seem to stick to the 2 year contract and then have a new manager already lined up when the old one departs. Much more civilised and respectful.

Personally I think the situation as it is, Levy may find the broad speculation a useful tool in persuading his eventual target to not dally too long, as many others are available options.

Sounds like he went to the same coaching school as AVB!

Just a bit .. heh

Reading a lot of talk from Sandro's agent that he's open to a move away from the club. Also that we're supposed to be interested in Samuel Eto'o as well.

I think if Eto'o would be willing to come in as a backup striker should Ade leave (or even if he stays I suppose) and he wasn't that extortionate with his financial demands, I think we could probably do worse.

Neil Lennon to Southampton ?

Yeah, could certainly see that. He's always said he wants to manage in England.

Just hope Levy has got a surprise in store for us!

I like Pocchetino, think he's one of the best young managers in the game. He's a disciple of the Bielsa way of football so more in the mould of a Guardiola than AVB. I hoped Barcelona would have gone for him rather than Luis Enrique. Under AVB I don't remember Tottenham pressing high up the pitch, which is why defending high up the pitch was suicidal at times.

I distinctly remember AVB distancing himself from comparisons with Mourinho and stating that his philisophy was closer to Guardiola's. It makes the lack of pressing even more difficult to explain.

True - I don't ever remember his Chelsea or Tottenham team press high up the pitch or in packs. He was probably somewhere in the middle of the two philosophies.