Dear Mr Levy...Job well done?
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 10:54AM The Tapestry - Part I
Dear Mr Levy,
Man City at the Lane tomorrow, and then that's your lot. Other than the minor visit to Anfield the following week we can finally say goodbye to another travesty of a season.
I'm being a little too harsh, aren't I? It's not quite been a travesty, though arguably, digging up the body of Stan Laurel, reanimating him and then placing him in charge of first team affairs would have been significantly better and more productive than placing your hopes on Juande Ramos to get his selection and tactics spot on.
Harry Redknapp's arrival and subsequent Houdini act is not as tricky a task as he would like us all to believe. It wasn't even a masterstroke appointment from your good self was it? Harry was the only real candidate as another continental coach was never going to be an option after the Ramos debacle and there was no obvious ex-legend to come and do the job (and that's never actually worked before). Had to be an English manager. Had to be someone who could hit the ground running. Had to be a back to basics appointment. Had to be Redknapp.
Director of football. Ironic that this is the sole reason behind the failure to build on two 5th spot finishes. Not that we ever looked likely to finish 4th in the second season thanks to the fact that we never quite replaced Carrick. The DoF was responsible for the sudden urgency to replace Jol with a more experienced coach to further elevate us towards the Top 4. And yet why, after so many barren years, did we have to suddenly get ahead of ourselves when it was obvious our 'success' in those two seasons had a lot to do with the fact that Arsenal had suffered a slight blip which saw us sit in fourth spot for four months. Comolli decided Jol could not take us any further. Added to the mix, was the mess that Dimitar Berbatov was making, requesting a transfer a season into his contract. Disruptive player, disruptive board room. Jol had no chance to continue on his learning curve. Because you and the board deemed that patience was no longer a virtue. And that was that. The rest is history which ended with two points from eight games. That’s two league points from eight Prem games. II from VIII. 2 from 8. Two points from a possible twenty four points from eight games, meaning not a single win from opening said eight games. Two from eight. 2 -8, 2-8, 2-8, 2-8, 2-8, 2-8.
Two from eight.
Step in everyone's favourite escapologist and let the re-birth begin. Which it did. And apart from the odd stutter away from home, it's been a dizzying climb to within touching distance of 7th spot including a stunning home record (just nine goals conceded all season). All this from certain relegation, as believed by many during those early season months anchored to the mire, which saw our only victory come away to Walthamstow (a 3-1 win).
Modric has been a resounding success, adapting to the English game after a new lease of life from Harry, sticking him out on the left and allowing him to float inwards to dictate play. Lennon has reclaimed past form and is beginning to add a little end product to his game. And Palacios was an inspired signing. A player that this club has lacked for several years. So kudos to Comolli for Luka, one of very few bright moments that the Frenchman gave us. In fact, kudos to Harry and the players for stepping it up and taking responsibility, leaving relegation behind for others to worry about. Kudos to you (yes to you Mr Chairman) for the re-development plans of White Hart Lane. Although I'll take some of that back if you end up selling the naming rights for the new ground to Nintendo with Mario looking down at me from the east, standing on a ball in place of the cockerel, as I take my seat in the Cookie Mountain stand. Although I'm quite partial to having Donkey Kong replace Chirpy.
But this is not a letter of commendation. I'm not here to pat you on the back. I'm here to keep you on your toes so that you aim to excel. Because there is plenty to be critical of and plenty of mistakes made that must not be repeated. And one or two other curious hiccups that require a sharp cold glass of water.
2 from 8.
I'm here to mull over the tapestry of naivety that plights your governance of the Lilywhites. I decided to write to you after I watched you have breakfast in your home. You seem to be a little too relaxed for my liking. Walking around in a robe and slippers watching Desperate Housewives. Man up for God's sake and watch The Wire. You have to be ruthless and perceptive at all times, and not allow yourself to display signs of weakness. That's why I'm here. I'll do what I can do help you. But, the games out there, and it's play or get played. That simple.
There's a lot I can see from the shrubbery in your garden with a Bushnell Elite 8x43. It's got 90% light transmission with premium BaK-4 roof prisms with a majestic PC-3® phase coating producing outstanding image clarity and contrast. I can see you bite into your Crunchy Nuts and thanks to the voice-activated credit card transmitter carefully hidden in your kitchen, I can also hear every word spoken and every egg cracked and solider dipped. By the way, please refrain from singing Kelly Clarkson songs whilst washing up. It's wrong. You look like a slightly melon collie Dr Evil drowning a screeching cat.
So, onto the tapestry. Let's begin our journey...
TO BE CONTINUED IN PART II
The 'tapestry' will cover the following topics:
- The Aftermath of the Berbatov Saga
- David Bentley
- Jenas
- Re-signing ex-players
- The Opus
- Harry Redknapp
- The Summer Transfer Window
Stay tuned.
Reader Comments (24)
Holy Crap! It's been months since one of these! Can't wait for the follow up.
Oh, is this going to be like a seasons review? Big fan of the original letters back in the day. Let rip!!
Please god tell me that Melon Collie was a deliberate mistake.
Or was it his dog?
you are off your trolley , but funny. Need to proof read also: 8 games and we could have got 24 points not 16 ... thats old money.
Levy listens to Kelly Clarkson?? That explains EVERYTHING.
Isn't melon collie just a play on words?
melancholia /mel·an·cho·lia/ (mel″an-ko´le-ah) depression; currently used to denote severe forms of major depressive disorder.melanchol´ic
Sometimes it seems that everyone associated with Spurs are enigma's. Levy has done a good and a bad job at Spurs, he's got us on a VERY VERY sound financial footing and he backs the managers with the funding of transfers whenever they have needed it, he extracts great prices for our players when selling them on and drives a hard bargain when buying them in.
However, his main weakness and one I shall never really forgive him for is..... Listening to Commoli for too long. Commoli saddled us with alot of players that we'll never recoup the outlay spent on them (Zokora, Bent, Bentley, BOATENG) and also a transfer policy that left us hamgstrung at the beginning of the season - Selling Berba and Keane and replacing them with a knackered Pavyluchenko and a novice Fraizer Campbell, Anyone could see that we needed more than that!!!
To top it all Ramos proved himself to be an absolute idiot of the highest order. I think he galvanised the team after Jol's departure and as a consequence got us to raise our game for the Carling Cup ties but essentially as a league manager he was terrible. The fact that we only won once after the CC Final shows how ineffective and poor he was. His team selection and tactics at the beginning of this season was atrocious. For helping to bring down Jol and bringing in Ramos Commoli and Levy both deserve alot of flak.
However........... In the long term I think that Levy has done well for Spurs and at a time when clubs are going out of business and even the Top2 are running on their own debt Spurs are on a very very sound financial footing, with a new stadium on the way, the makings of a very good squad and a manger who knows what he's doing with a clear vision of how Spurs should play and the players we need to make us great again
If I was to grade Levy and this season I'd say it was a solid B.
Proof-reading? Have you tried proof-reading whilst sitting in a rose bush, blogging via an iPhone?
Well? Have you?
Oh shit. Guard dog coming my way.
Time for the tranquillizer gun.
White Hart Len, you're a jeenyus.
Spooky is the guard dog's name Melon?
Is he a collie?
Spooky and the Opus. You are obsessed with it.
Levy bashing already? Surely that;s what the summer months are all about?
Be gentle with Bentley. He's a fragile lad.
A good read, not always agree with what you write, but not to be taken seriously is always in hidden brackets after each sentence!!
For me the jury's still out on Arthur Daley Redknapp, unless he sells Zokora in July, in which case I will have faith for the new season.
"...our 'success' in those two seasons had a lot to do with the fact that Arsenal had suffered a slight blip which saw us sit in fourth spot for four months"
Controversial. But I see what you mean, Arsenal struggled for the best part of the season and we played well, consistently and had we not dropped so many last minute points then 4th would have been ours long before the final day. Second season, we got nowhere near challenging for that 4th spot. Seems most clubs only ever flirt with that position when Arsenal struggle. i.e. Villa this season.
"Although I'm quite partial to having Donkey Kong replace Chirpy"
As long as he throws barrels at the away support, I'm in.
"By the way, please refrain from singing Kelly Clarkson songs whilst washing up. It's wrong. You look like a slightly melon collie Dr Evil drowning a screeching cat."
Depressive inoffensive bald megalomaniac dog drowning a cat. Is he that bad a singer?
Go on the Spooky! Looking forward to the summer transfer outlook. Last year was a fucking circus. Can only hope Redknapp isn't dressed up as a clown when the window re-opens.
Steve
I think calling Redknapp 'Arthur Daley' is a bit harsh. The only reason he's done it at his past clubs is down to the financial constraints he was placed under. The low transfer budgets he's been given mean he has no option but to wheel and deal, gamble on players and keep a high turnover of his squad by selling players for good fees and then bringing in cheaper replacements. At Spurs he won't have to do that, I get the impression that all the summer sales will be neccessary and as such we won't be losing any major stars like we have in previous years. My one fear is the loss of Lennon to Man Utd or Liverpool.
At Spurs he's only had one transfer window but Chimbonda aside I agree with every single one of his signings. Palacios is GOD, Defoe is a goalscorer, we missed Robbie Keane (even though he's been a bit quiet lately), Cudicini was needed to provide competition and give Gomes a boot up the arse aswell as strengthening the squad. Chimbonda's the odd one out as he hasn't really contributed BUT he does give us extensive defensive options if needed.
Redknapp has also got the best out of Zokora when he's been needed, Palacios does deem Didier redundant though and as such I expect Zok to move on in the summer. Hopefully his recent good displays will see us recoup the £8m we spent on him a few years back.
looking forward to part II, a lot thats wrong with the club has been masked by the resurgence of the team under Harry. I was a sceptic as were most of my friends but he seems to have bought the best out of the players (which is his specialty) and seems to have got us looking fairly decent (better than usual) away from home bar a few last minute goals and a second half to forget at united.
Have to admit im nervous at the thought of Harry with a barrel full of cash and a large squad to offer as swaps. His Jan performance was good though, Wilson Palacious was an inspired purchase as was the re-signing of Defoe (although predictable) but i have to query the purchase of Chimbonda (squad?? must have been other options) and Keane, although a good player and good bit of business will he be able to play with Defoe? Didnt work before so jury is still out on that one. Very worried that Downing has packed his bags already and if we even sniff at Cisse or Kenwyn ill be in tears. I wonder about the plan/direction we are heading, is this Harrys stab at an FA cup or top 4 finish before retirement? is there a long term plan? for the moment though i cant argue against what hes done so far so have to belive he knows what hes doing.
The scandalous start to the season made Levy give up the DOF system, people had been saying it for years but he stuck with it until it was almost too late. I also take all the points about us being a financially well run club in that we make a profit and dont have huge debts. All very true, however, i dont think this is as hard a job as everyone makes out with the revenue streams we have at our club. We are also very wasteful in the transfer market. we overpay for average players time and again, Bent being the obvious £16m, Zakora £8m, Bentley £15m selling Defoe for £8/9m and then paying £14m or so to get him back a year later, it goes way back through the ENIC ownership of our club. Granted DOF probably responsible for most of this but surely Levy oversees these transfers and as chariman signs off on the deals. Does this suggest financial prudence and that Levy has good control of our finances? or maybe im being harsh??
Levy has done a good job this year by not doing a lot. Just get a manager in and let him work.
You look like a slightly melon collie Dr Evil drowning a screeching cat.
That's actually rather brilliant.
About time we had another one of these. Big tease this article, but nice to see you do them in parts. Way too long as one blog article.
This is gonna get messy...
If Spooky hasn't lost the fire in his belly then I expect him to make plenty of enemies.
:)
Hey Spooky. I see Mr Levy has written a letter to you too. LOL! LINK
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I've seen it. Don't you worry about that.