Daniel Levy, stripped bare and naked
Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 11:58AM Club AGM. Questions asked and answered. Four topics of discussion.
Bale.
Redknapp and England.
Stratford and N17.
The January Transfer Window.
With boy wonder Gareth, Levy has basically said he's not for sale which means he won't be sold, citing the examples of Carrick and Berba as not quite the same thing because both players wanted to leave (with 2 years left on their contract). And because they wanted out the club sold them off. You can look at that in two differing ways. One way, the romantic notion of loyalty embraced, is that if a player doesn't want to wear the shirt he should not be deemed worthy of remaining at the club for a second longer it takes to kick him out. The alternative is to let the player sulk around the place, defecating on the badge and placing a gun to your head whilst holding you down, repeatedly calling you his little b****.
Player power, no matter the years on the contract, if they want to leave they can usually quite comfortably navigate and negotiate their way out. And let's be honest, it's the club that matters as a complete entity so if you have a malignant part of it, you want to see it removed. Players are commodities in that no matter how depressed/sad/angry you are when they leave controversially - they are always replaceable.
In the case of Gareth Bale, he appears not to be tainted with the ego virus. Not yet. All players are born with it, just a case of whether it ever manifests. He's level headed, feet on ground, leaving full-backs and transfer stories behind.
He's on a long contract and for the moment all is good. We don't need the money. Bale doesn't need to be playing his football anywhere else. I don't think for a second anybody actually believes some of the rubbish printed on paper and online about this that and the other being interested in the player. Even Fergie won't be bothering with a tap dance this new year.
No shocker with this answered question from Mr Chairman. Just confirmation of the obvious.
Harry and England? Levy points to another long term contract. Side-step by Daniel in that how exactly is he meant to answer it other than say it will be dealt with if it happens? And by deal with it, he means 'get compensation' from the FA. Because Harry would crawl over broken glass with Pompey and West Ham fans making sure said broken glass was aplenty at all times during the crawl.
Everybody knows Harry looks after number one. If England came calling he'd go. But that wouldn't be a disaster. Spurs are stable. Which was the whole point of bringing him to the Lane back in the days of two points eight games. The next appointment would have to be…ah, let's discuss this when we actually have to.
Again, no massive confirmation of anything we didn't know or could guess.
A proper side-step with questions around moving to the site of the Olympic Stadium. Levy is aware of the mood of the fans. Which would mean he knows the fans are fragmented with some of us not wanting to move and others happy. Mr Chairman states that he's a fan and he has friends who are fans and he interacts with them every day. And that he doesn't need a survey because he has a 'pretty good feel' as to what the mood is. Which is fragmented. Unless all his mates love East London. Which in that case, wipe that tear away and kiss Bill Nicholson Way goodbye for ever.
So pretty much nothing in the way of headline making news again.
And finally, the Jan transfer window. Take note 'In the Know' communities. You need to base your inside info around Daniel's comments about how he expects it to be a 'quiet transfer window'. So lay off linking us with 473 players in the next three weeks.
In all seriousness, soz, but nothing to read into again because we have another side-step from Levz. And why not? It's not like we want him to tell us we have X amount in the Consolidation War Chest and we're be paying £25M for young up and coming midfield engine room Scottie Parker.
What he does confirm is probably the only telling piece of information. We need to rationalise our squad (largest in the Prem league). In other words, goodbye to the likes of Robert Keane. Sell on, cut down on wages etc. And stating we do not anticipate a busy transfer window does sort of contradict this in that you'd expect us to sell more than one player which could be deemed as busy. And obviously sign a player. Or two. Although we do have one new arrival (from Africa) already due to arrive. So that would also fall under the 'busy' banner.
Okay then, hands up, I admit it. That wasn't actually a very telling piece of info was it? Much ado about narda.
Daniel Levy. Not quite stripped bare and naked with teasing finger in mouth. Rather fully clothed with a thick winter coat on, scarf & gloves and Ugg boots with additional darkened glasses moving slowly and strategically away, quietly repeating whatever it is you're saying.
"You ain't seen me, right?"
Reader Comments (35)
Phew. I was actually expecting pictures. Which would have been hideous for all concerned.
Not sure anybody could afford Bale which would mean he'd only be sold for £20M if we were forced to sell him. £30M if we sold him to City. All very obvious asked at the AGM all very obvious answers given.
FIRST
Epic fail there Andy.
Financially I think it's clear we have to sell before we can buy and that will come down to wages off the books as much if not more than coffers in the penny jar, so Keane is a must sell. I would hazard a guess at Bentley if possible and Niko potentially.
The only signing we might get in is Pienaar if we are in fact interested in him. If we are, that's an entirely different story because quite where he'd play is anyone's guess unless we're looking at Bale in the left back position again.
Anyway, AGM's are always a complete farce. As far as Stratford goes, Levy will NOT listen to the fans, I can guarantee you that. He will make the decision he and the board feel is the best one when we're offered with both options.
Bale won't be sold? As you said, he won't be as long as he's happy to stay at the club. As soon as he's not, then he'll be sold.
for the now, I would love to see Owen (Coyle not Michael) Gus (hoodwink not poyet) or perhaps even Carlo (ancelotti, and not monte) as Redknapps replacement
Transfer targets, forget Parker, Diarra is the man for the middle. We dont need any defenders, unless you can find an improvement for a half decent hutton. Strikers, I would like to see Hulk, Dzeko, Tevez, Shearer or Van Basten. No to adebayor, yes to Lukaku
Thats my wish list for now. Levy shows us all a fine way to say something without actually saying something. I trust him on Bale tho.
Martin Jol is available.
The video is brilliant, brightened my day
Urgh. The headline almost put me off.Almost.
I am happy to trust Arry and Dear, dear mr Levy on the transfer front. Sven's new money men apparently to make a bid for Naughton (1.5/2m) plus Keane (6.5m) with Bentley, O Hara and Dos Sanots (5-8m each) all potentially on the way out. That should go a long way to trimming the wage bill and bring in sufficient funds. I expect levy to get a Loan lone striker. Top quality player with an option to buy after 6 months. That way if he is brought in on big wages and we don't get CL next year he can go. If he shoots us to success then we buy in the summer at an agreed price. I think a surprise is on the cards! I don't think there is a vdv style No 9 sigining available but Llorente from spain looks to fit the bill.
Only buy if we can improve the squad will be the mantra i think!!!
It's a good job we have a big squad considering our injuries. I expect Robbie to go along with Gio and possibly Nikko, not sure about Bentley I can only envisage two of Gio, Bents and Nikko allowed to leave. and I don't believe harry would let Crouchy go despite the tabloid rumours. Incoming, umm hopefully a top quality striker and a box to box CM. I would like to see Scotty parker but that won't happen. I wonder if this Pinears talk as a grain fo truth in it? Not sure about him really he was poor in SA. I want to see jamie given a proper chance when he recovers. Don't know what's wrong with me today I did not wake in my usual horny morning mood, must be coming down with something. That was coming down boys not going down. XXHH
Does Levy even want to get rid of Bentley? Wont be able to get back much for him. £6M at best.
Seriously...... I said this yesterday
NO TO PIENAAR - lets not wate our time on it...harry dont want him...gargoyle dont want to sell him...and he's a bit poo really.
So yes, on the out list,
Nicky Kranky, Bobby Keane, Davey Bentley, Jimmy O'hara and outside chance of seeing Gio catch a go go. Naughton wont be sold at a loss, more likely to extend his loan, I wouldnt mind a swap deal, crouchy for caroll, though chances are sparce.
No photo, no read
If Pienaar is the answer, What exactly is the question?
Name an overpriced, overrated foreign attacking midfielder who is a bit more rubbish than any other midfielder at Spurs?
I think Levy has realised that the one-season wonder signings (Bentley etc) dont work, and proven quality is the way forward (Van Der Vaart)
If Kranjcar can't get a game, what exactly is Pienaar going to do........braid Assou-Ekotto's hair?
I have decided that the player to replace Kranjcar in the team is either OHara, or Bostock. We don't need to buy a replacement
Kranjcar is worth keeping if all he does is braid Ekotto's hair. My mate Lemonade Money reckons that Ekotto always plays better with Corn Rows. I think he's right.
@deadly
Bloody good point actually....but would it not be cheaper to get Nicky Clarke in once a week for a 'consultation' rather than paying Pienaar 30/40k and taking up a squad space.!
I like benny...I really do. I've actually stopped calling him A&E
off topic...dont normally do this.....
Not sure if any of the non-irish yids on here have seen this...
Its worth a look....you might not get it...maybe you will I dont know.......all of Ireland is not like this!!
http://bit.ly/hJnC6y
So what your implying is that several players including Bale will be sold in January, none will be bought which will make the Pickfords bill a lot less when we move down to Stratford.
Harry who?
Right got it. Thanks Spooks. Stand down ITK's.
@Tomtraubert - nah just wexford
Really good article. At one stage I thought it was ceratin that Harry would resign to become the England coach. Mr Levy's recent article about keeping Harry has swayed and pleased me greatly. Levy will give him the financial backing to be a serious top 4 club and Harry is good enough to become that with ability and his great (the best ) team (Jordan, Ferdinand, Sherwood (forget name of other great man) etc. who better?) to achieve it. Fergie stayed a club manger and is a legend (and good friend of Harry's) so why should Harry not try to emulate (although older than when Fergie started with MU) becoming a great club manager.
Tomtraubert, thanks for posting that link. Loved it! Not Irish, but lived in Dublin for three years. And I own a horse, who is an expensive bugger to keep, so my new anthem is "fuck your BMW, I've a horse outside!"
David Lammy, MP for Tottenham, asked a question in Prime Minister's Question Time yesterday. He started off with this little gem:
"The Prime Minister will be aware that there are two great football clubs in north London - Tottenham Hotspur and... Enfield Town,''
Quality.
I am open minded on the new stadium.....really want a new WHL but not 100% against Stratford.
What annoys me is that Lammy should have been busting a gut to help us with our stadium or moving heaven and earth to see the Victoria extended to the benefit of the whole area. Instead he hangs Spurs out to dry, THFC are expected to make massive contributions (+£50m) to regenerate the area and improve transport when really THFC is one of the few good things in the area.
Instead of stopping us moving away by providing incentive to stay, by securing government funding or lobbying for relaxing some of the huge financial contributions we have to make, he is trying to stop us moving by undermining our options.
The guy is a clown. Lammy has failed THFC I don't care about his Arsenal joke, he just playing to a crowd who are easily amused. As for his tweets, minutes after leaving a meeting with Levy...idiot!
Is this site written by Levy's wife or something? Never seen a footy site so in luv with the chairmen.
There are articles out there saying that there are serious doubts about the financial viability of WHFC taking over the Stratford site, and that by offering to redevelop Crystal Palace the Spurs offer will provide a sop to those who want to see an athletics legacy. This may put Levy in the driving seat, and given the £100m saving would become the first option. It's hard to ignore the growing sense of inevitability.
That's Crystal Palace the athletics stadium, not the shitty team south of the river.
So, AC Milan next. Nice scalp to have on top of Milan's other team :) And I note the Arse are going to be destroyed by Barca again, heh heh.
Spurs draw Kevin Prince Boeteng in the CL
Fabregas can look forward to a nice tapping up
Man U and Cheatski get byes
can bale again be the hero at the san siro?
R.I.P Ralph Coates
Bring on Milan! We will end those bastards!!!!!
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/8123415/
Speaking of Stratford, take a look at transportation improvements made there (some of you may know about it, but it is new to me).
http://www.london2012.com/videos/2010/all-change-at-stratford-station.php