Ain't no pleasing you
Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 6:57PM guest-blog by Chris King
When is it no longer acceptable to complain? To moan about a service provided, an experience gained or an attitude presented to you?
What makes it unacceptable? Do you have to take in to consideration everything that has gone before – to apply a “mus’n’ grumble” attitude to everything you do – as hey, there is always going to be someone far worse off than you; someone below you – way below you.
When do you hand over your right to complain? As soon as UEFA doles out their 30 pieces of TV silver; or does it go back further than that – to Eastlands last term, to when Harry signed, to when Jason Dozzell went back east?
This is the picture currently being presented to Spurs fans – fans who feel they want to exercise their right to politely point out where the team has gone wrong over the last couple of months. To comment, complain even criticise (lick windows and howl at the moon as some in the media are suggesting us “nutters” do). Yet we are being reliably informed that we are clueless; that we have no right to moan about this past season – as this is the best it has ever been (since circa Sky and all that).
Swallow your penance, shut up and accept your lot.
But what if you are one of those book learning types; you know – those that can read. Can look at a set of results, the names in a squad; understand maths sufficiently well to add up points that could (read: should) have been gained against those clubs below yours. What if you then came to the conclusion that all was not right? That something had gone wrong; horribly wrong – and the slight swagger you presented to the world back in March – was now a hunched shuffle, which had you sloping back in to the pack – to where most believe you truly belong.
City beating us was no great shock last night – eggs, paper bags, and the geek’s even nerdy dad could have Spurs in a rumble right about now. Yet if you read twitter last night, or skimmed through the obituaries – sorry – I mean match reports this morning - you’d think we were just popping off cloud nine for a pint of milk, a decent keeper; and we’ll be back amongst the big boys before next season was but a few weeks old.
It was official – we weren’t allowed to complain. We weren’t allowed to pluck figures like one win in 10 (I appreciate it’s more, I just like round figures) out of the cold, hard facts. We weren’t allowed to comment on the apparent lack of desire at times against West Ham, West Brom or Blackpool.
We weren’t allowed to question the tactical acumen applied to the team selection in those game, or last night – or the switches made, and the personnel introduced.
Unbeknown to Spurs fans, a new law was passed across the land placing the penalty of treason on any negative comments directed at the Red Top’s new “King of Hearts”. Harry is lauded as a very good manager who had a bad run with a few dodgy decisions, sendings off, injuries – it was always someone else’s fault.
But what if we want to complain? What’s stopping us?
Well there’s the ever so slightly patronising undertone that we’ve been shockingly bad for so long that, To Dare – is apparently above us. We should be happy with the fact that we’ve beaten AC and Inter Milan – we’ve had a run in the Champions League that no one expected of us, and that we took our beating against Madrid like men.
If there’s a Spurs fan out there that can’t find a positive from the season, then there is a little more than something wrong with them – and in fairness, to those baying for Harry’s head, only Vicente del Bosque would get the sack after some of our European results this term – but there is no disputing that our season was derailed sometime in March – and if we can’t moan, then at least let us ask why it all went so wrong?
I don’t buy in to the notion that the European experience did for us. We’ve been all over clubs at times – West Ham at home, City home and away – and what have we got to show for it? If we can’t criticise Harry, do we point the finger of blame at Dear Mr Levy? – who is so cunning in his transfer bargaining that he left us a striker light, and gave us Pieenar – a player who appears to have left what form he had, back up in Liverpool – no doubt a victim of that gang that targets the prized possessions of their local players.
But we can’t moan – nor question. So what do we do? We do what all Spurs fans do at such times, we argue with each other. If no one is prepared to listen, we find someone to at least shout over the top of on the same subject matter; though for once, we all seem to be shouting the same things.
No Journos will return our tweets, opposition fans only see the folly in our arguments – we’re no longer the darlings – back to being the overly expectant, laughing stock we’ve been since the ‘80s.
If last season delivered the earth, this season promised the moon and the stars as well. There was, daft as it now seems - the faint glimmer that we might even be the club to take the title race in to May. Looking at our last 13 league games, the teams we’ve played and the points we dropped – would it really have been so daft?
Though I guess it is not really our fault. United, Chelsea and Arsenal are where they supposedly belong – City have bought their place at the top table, and Liverpool – well, they’re just the Liverpool of old; same efficiency, same manager, same reliance on the back pass to the keeper. So if it feels like we robbed ourselves of glory; chances are it just wasn’t meant to be.
So if you feel like moaning – ask yourself a few questions: are we better than we were under Francis? Have we enjoyed some fantastic European nights down the lane this term? If the Red Tops want Harry for England, surely he’s still the man for us, right? If we’d have won half of those last 13 games, would we be back in the Champions League next year?
Actually, don’t ask that last question; it’ll only cause you to question, to moan….. To ultimately, be wrong!
Chris King, a regular on the old Shelf and held a season ticket in the Park Lane Upper. He now lives in Leeds, where he spends most Saturdays trying to teach his daughter the words to Spurs’ songs. Writes for In Bed with Maradona and his own blog Northern Writes.
Reader Comments (73)
As a season we have had a real high with the champions league but other than that it has been mostly poor.Both domestic cups were short runs and the league well if we had got that striker(s) in January then we may have been talking about third spot now.Don't know who is to blame for the striker thing just worry about some of Arrys picks as players goes.Rose has for the most looked good in last two games if a little raw at times but that will change and a great deputy at left back and maybe to take over from bale on the wing you never know.Walker must be given his chance at right back but we need to let King and Woody go they are just killing the squad because they can't play enough games putting unfair pressure on other players.Sell bassong,Hutton,Gomes,O'Hara,Jenas,Bentley,Dos Santos,Niko K,Wilson,Keane,Pava,Crouch .All these players can be sold and replayed with well a keeper who can catch the ball,a defender who can run fast and defend and play more than two games without braking down.Two midfield players who can run with the ball ,pass it and shoot.Lastly strikers who can score and work togather as a team.Get these and we have a real shout at a top three finish next season knowing everyone above us will have cup and league matches in europe to play.
Great article, my thoughts entirely. I woul;d also like to add that in many of the games where we dominate possession we don't create enough clear cut goal scoring opportunities, Blackpool game being a good example. The chnaces they created were much more clear cut than the ones we created, and this has been the same story in many of our games. I hope Levy takes a long hard look at where it is going wrong, it's either the ability of the squad, the mangement team, or the coaching staff. I hope Levy takes a long hard look at what is wrong and acts accordingly or next season could be very dismal. HHXX
Seems a reasonable synopsis to me. I am getting rather fed up of Arry's self-satisfied, patronising, if shit happens... it happens approach.
Last night we showed we can play against the most expensively collected team in the universe. I honestly expected a three or four goal drubbing given our recent form. But of course the 9' 3" donkey did for us and we still outplayed the billionaires - until we got within 20 yards of their dead ball line.
Without some invention, inspiration and planning, Spurs are on a slope downhill. Without CL action attracting or even retaining top notch players is going to become increasingly difficult. The whole project to develop income streams from a higher capacity stadium appears to be adrift. Judicial reviews are never going to win us allies and the chances of any decision changes are as likely that with our forward line we'll pop in 70 goals next season.
There's a malaise afoot. Levy gives the impression of a headlight transfixed rabbit. Arry keeps burbling, whistling in the wind and wondering whether low risk prisoners can get the odd round of golf. As for the players: who knows? Consistency is patchy. Commitment is lacking. Spirit, élan, bravado (surely why we support them) hardly noticeable. Skill levels and application... you're havin' a laugh!
There's a movement growing that radical action is essential. But there's a Catch-22 that now is hardly the time to get ignition unless Mr Levy and his financial backers are willing to swallow hard, bite the bullet, put their hand in their wallet pocket and JFDI. (I do love mixed metaphors - much more than I love the results from the recent weeks).
Rather limply: COYS
I made a post yesterday under "One last dance" warning of our impending
qualification for the Europa cup via the 'fair play league'.
The Evening Standard reported on it today and it turns out to be worse than
envisaged.I thought we might have to play in July...but no....it's the end of June !!!
I wonder if we're allowed to turn the kind invitation down.
Some good posts and i agree with most that was said. The one thing that frustrates me is that for the sake of a top notch striker we would have Champions league football again next year and all the FINANCIAL REWARDS that goes with it.
All i want to know from either Levy or Arry is, WHY DID WE NOT BUY A STRIKER.??????
We need to replace 8-12 players (most of them mentioned by Davy41) by 6-8 new proper players.
It would be better I think to appoint a new more ambitious manager with a winner's mentality and able to work on the right tactics.
Then I insist that Levy should appoint a well qualified General Director with adequate football knowledge who will act on behalf of him and the board.
He would be responsible to find a proper manager and to assess his progress as well
to find the proper players in cooperation with the manager and the president.
Getting a bigger stadium as soon as possible is a also a must.
Playing in Europe marks a club as great and ambitious.
This season has been by no means terrible- the Champions League run was undoubtedly fantastic - and we were having a good run in the league until the wheels fell off after the AC Milan victory. It's not Harry's performance as a manager which is annoys me, rather his performances in front of camera. To present the current situation as "you've never had it so good" and to mock those who yearn for more says a lot about his limitations as a manager. Can you imagine Ferguson, Mourinho (dare I say Wenger) et al putting up with a run of one win in thirteen, greeting reporters after yet another draw against a relegation candidate with a broad smile and the usual "no easy games in this league" patter. We expect more, the club should expect more and Harry should expect more.
Meinzapint:
Hear! Hear!
Good piece.
Following on from what meinzapint says, I don't think there would be so much 'moaning' if Harry was a bit more honest with us and paid the supporters a bit of respect, and also if there was a more realistic assessment of his performance in the media. It was instructive to see journalists from the Sun and NotW not just defend him on twitter last night but attack supporters for criticising him. Would they do that for any other manager?
Most football fans will tell you: no-one's bigger than the club.
Harry tells you (in his sarcastic way): you've never had it so good.
I ask: when have you had it as good Harry? Let's have a look at the honours list on your CV. What's that? 1 trophy in donkey's years. Hmmmm.
Harry for England. Enough's enough.
COYS
Best article I've read in some time.
Might well be irrelevant, but our dip in form coincides with the Jordan-Gatuso bust-up?
Previous to that all you could hear and see was Jordan billowing out orders from the sidelines.
You hardly notice he's there now.
@Shelfside - Harry would just send the U18's? With strict orders not to score. I know it's extra games but really what is the issue? Don't these guys get paid enough to play 2 games a week? Apparently we'd have to 'play on Sundays'? SHOCK HORROR!??? I for one would regard the Europa League as a winnable competition, good experience for our blossoming squad (of 25 plus youth players!) in how to deal with European matches and the subsequent return to domestic action and a good revenue generator? Would any of the top 4 managers turn it down? Kenny Daglish is urging his side to get there while Harry, in his wisdom, is publicly saying he doesn't want it. In doing so we look SO small-time?
Don't usually bet against us but I'm putting some on us losing at both Liverpool and Birmingham. Can't see us winning it if the manager doesn't want us to. Maybe the FA should investigate Harry's comments. I'll be gutted if we're not in Europe at all next season. A European night at the Lane is special, no matter who we are playing and what competition it's in!
juxta - our 'dip in form' also coincides with when Harry first said it would take a miracle to finish fourth, the day before the game at Blackpool. Given our position at the time - two points ahead of Chelsea - it was hardly a rallying cry for the players.
I've been getting more and more grumpy recently and have now decided that I no longer support Tottenham. Not true of course, as I've been a supporter since 1967 (we actually won something that year) so it's deep within - but in the interests of self-preservation I can't have my hopes and optimism battered further for the rest of this pitiful season.
I'd rather they were rubbish all season than just throw it away when we begin to dare to hope.
Only consolation is that Gooners aren't doing well either so no jibes from them.
Sorry, usually a happy person but lets say 'disappointed' right now.
Rolling on floor laffin out loud at anyone who thinks we are gettin rid of 10-12 players this summer. Hasn't the last few windows weaned you from this sort of wishful thinking? Certainly there are those who must move on not fast enough, but we will retain players who most find quite lackluster. Levy must confront Harry on his England ambitions and do what is truly best for club medium term. We are at a highly important crossroads this summer and need immediately a gaffer who will build and lead for 3 years minimum. Great article by the way. Huge props to spooks for a great year of commentary fiction and fire.
Harry has no respect for the fans who criticise his management. His head is up his arse. He thinks he's a great manager, when in fact he is just a good manager. A great manager wouldn't drop the points Harry has dropped to the teams below us. A great manager would make the supporters proud of their team, even in the event of a defeat, because they would have given their all. There was only one match where I didn't feel like shitting myself throughout this current season and that was the drubbing of Inter Milan at WHL. Every other game was heart in the mouth stuff, win, loose or draw.
Harry's coaches just sit there looking 'mentally defective' and Harry himself looks positively insane, twitching away and shifting from one hip to the other.
I don't trust him to plan next season. I don't trust him in the transfer market, because I just know he will buy two or three midfielders and hold on to Jenas and Gomes. We need a Goalie, a Striker and a Central Defender and we need them before the summer is over and not at 12.00 midnight on the 31st August. We then need to clear out all the 'one trick ponies' and the posers and get fucking serious about how we are running our business. It's not a creche, it's a professional football club.
I've tolerated his media soundbites by simply ignoring them. However, they're grating now. Perhaps because of this run-in, I'm subconsciously searching for a scapegoat.
Thank you Chris King.
"There is nothing between us at the top now. There is nothing between us and Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. I think the players believe it too."
And then he says we should be happy with our lot.
At least Gallas has told it like it is, season a disappointment, and tellingly said the EL would be good for the players next year, and why not try and win it.
That's a winner speaking. Well done William tell your manager that as well will you.
Diaz, glad you raised that point about Gallas. Felt knee-jerk revulsion when he was signed but his attitude and commitment to leave it all on the pitch have been exemplary.
Good piece by Chris as well, even though I am one of those baying for harry's head. However, I just had this conversation with a 'Pool supporting colleague (who needless to say is rather pissed with Spurs at the moment), relating the highs of this season--Champions League, obviously, unbelievable thrills, the north london derbies were most excellent both in results and quality of the matches and...well, that's really it. Oh, and the statistical analysis of the correlation between BAE's hair and match results was great fun, big thank you to Big Sky Spurs for that.
But then you look at the negatives:
--pretty much every league match except the derbies (agree with cookiebun there)
--the transfer windows
--the oft inexplicable player selections
--lack of rotation and bringing players back too soon from injury
--the blame deflection
--the whoring after the England job
--the crack addict level need for constant media attention (Did harry really spend the evening before the first madrid match hosting a dinner for media chums rather than figuring out what to do if a starter who'd been on antibiotics for days was not well enough to play? Has anyone else heard/read that?)
--the smearing of Lennon, the squashing of Sandros
--the ongoing and increasing snearing at the fans
--the public announcement that it's impossible to make CL this year and I don't want to play in the Europa Cup
--the relegation form run in of one one win in 11 (and counting). That's one win since mid February!
Yes, Europe was great but how can making it to the CL quarter finals possibly offset finishing the season not just with a lower league position, but substantially fewer points and frighteningly fewer goals.
Bad enough comparing what I was feeling this time last year with what I'm feeling now, but what's really God-somebody-just-shoot-me is the dread that barring a court banging our esteemed gaffer up for unpaid bung-tax, it will be even worse next year because Levy seems to have completely lost the plot.
God, I need a drink.
Harry Out !!!!
There I said it... Dead Fu##in easy
The man is a no hoper!! he is a used car salesman !! he has the creative talents of a moron
And for those of you who think this has been a good season ..think again.
A good season is not about two or three memorable - sorry fantastic games, its about consistency
Forget the "We nearly had 'em" - bollocks
Forget the "To be fair, there was nuffin in it" - Crap
Forget the "Cos were carrying so many injuries in defence" - Utter shite !
How many times do you hear REAL managers spew out the same old bullshit with that resigned softcock attitude.
How many REAL managers do you see with their arse firmly planted in their seat during a game when the team are stuggling for motivation
How many REAL managers do you see favour players like Harry
If we are ever to be SERIOUS contenders its time for a change of mentality
Say goodbye to Harry and his cronies
Sadly say goodbye to Our defensive injuries (Ledley & Woody)
Say goodbye to any player who will not give 101% to the badge on his shirt, his team mates and the people who pay his wages
Build a team of players who stand up for every game (Gallas, Daws, BAE, Sandros, Palacios, Modric)
Get a manager who wants to win (Pulis, Moyes)
And just maybe ......a striker or two ???
We may not be in the champions league but FFS we will have something positive to talk about after each game !!!!!!!
I am never sure about the Harry issue , he brought us further than any manager before him but he annys me with the 'there's a good lad' type of comments. Never sharp when needed, always going for players that are just not our level, always choosing the same players even though time for change has never been so needed.
We had a great CL season but thats about it (oh and dicking the gooners at the library was great) but in the league we had to witness the hoofing of the long ball time in time out and i am tired of it.
Jol got sacked for a lot less and arguably did better with the mediocre squad he had.
I want to see Crouch in any other shirt then a lillywhites, he s just not a spurs legend type of player. But then again i am a snob or a purist. I like freeflowing attacking football so please no Jose if harry ends up leaving (unlikely)
And not wanting the EL is a disgrace, wtf is up with that? Just do the best you can , try to reach as high as possible ... To farking dare is to do. Declaring you dont want to achieve something as a pro sportsman is a joke and an insult.
Fickle ? Hell yeah and limit angry, we all spend a lot of money and time and i for one was dissapointed by our way of playing (let alone our lack of results)
For me Harry must go, i have been saying this for weeks now and finally feel that this is becoming the opinion of the majority of yids (oops, am I allowed so say that Badiel or is it racist?)
I heard a stat which I haven't had time to check out but apprentley we have only won 2 games by more than 1 goal this season!
Can't remember the last time we played well in the league, probably Eastlands last season.
On another note, can we stop bashing VDV now, he is pure class and his work rate is outstanding, seeing him pressing in the 90th minute againt city showed me he is a winner and we could do with more like him!
You ‘ad me where you wanted me,
But you went and blew it.
Mezapint and LondonCalling have it spot on. Great piece over all Mr King.
Relying on you to get me through summer Spooky.
Lots of great points here. Very true that though we had some great CL nights our EPL form wasn't very good. And our strikers, as has been pointed out numerous times--and should be obvious for anyone to see--were very poor this year. I think there's a clear connection between these two issues. A lot of it comes down to us being found out by other teams in the Prem and the fact that while even Real Madrid were afraid of Crouch, no one in the Prem is.
Also agree with the oft-remarked fact that getting VdV on the cheap was a mixed blessing as we never quite got the formation right.
I have definitely come around to the view that Harry might have done all he is capable of doing for us. And Levy, as someone mentioned upstream, may have lost the plot. He has a lot of decisions to make.
This summer transfer window is going to be massive.
Just throwing it out there. What if Levy keeps his hands in his pockets to help make the move or re-build a bit more viable?
How will people feel then?
Not saying we won't buy anybody, just a case of balancing the books. What we get on sales we can spend, nothing more nothing less. Would you sell Bale, VDV, Modric? Not all 3 just 1 or 2?
Just wondering?
Great Blog Chris, agree 100%.
I fully understand and appreciate any manager that backs his team 100% and doesn't focus on the negatives, that's something that Harry's had to learn the hard way as picking individuals out and publicly assassinating those who pay poorly or make schoolboy errors is counter-productive... it only proves to alienate the player, it effects team morale and ruins any relationship you have with that individual. Again, the same could be said for criticising the team publicly as a collective, it works for some managers but that's not really Harry's style and i don't have a problem with that.
However what i don't agree with is the way he's deflecting, he needs to answer the criticism laid at his door for our poor league form. But then perhaps now is not the time as we still have 2 games left so to be brutally honest at this point would again be counter-productive. Also to a certain degree I don't think he can criticise the team collective, as it's only a few individuals that are not delivering what is expected, and you can guarantee the rest of the team also know fully well where we are short of the quality to match their own. It must be demoralising for players who are delivering and playing alongside those that aren't, it will affect the team's overall mindset and our lack of goals has created immense pressure on the team defensively, which also doesn't help our cause.
So therefore, in reality what can Harry do? The team have delivered outstanding performances at times, there are individuals in the side that have delivered consistently but he also knows, his management team knows, the players know, Levy knows and us the fans know that there are gaps, gaps that need to be filled with right character and calibre of player in the summer.
BUT, what i completely disagree with is the way that Harry has turned on the fans, and he's done it a fair few times this season after disappointing results/performances. He's been disrespectful and patronising, it's completely unwarranted and even me, a real advocate of Harry, is beginning to feel he is undoing all the good he's done, the raised kudos of his profile has appeared to have gone to his head and his incessant reminders of how $hit we were and how lucky we are to have him is really pi$$ing me off. I really don't know what he's thinking, perhaps a little less defensive when being asked questions after games and a little more humility wouldn't go amiss.
Turning on the 'mob' is not a wise move, he's got to look at himself before throwing daggers in the direction of his own fans... we're not being unreasonable, we're disappointed in our form, I'm sure he and the rest of the team are, so why are out of order for stating the obvious? Yes some of us can be a little over-expectant but we don't deserve to be ridiculed publicly, just like his players don't.
I for one disagree that he should be sacked, he should be given full support by the chairman in the summer and us fans should back him 100%, I feel it's wrong to belittle his achievements and there's little justification in giving him the sack because of a poor run of form, hugely disappointing as it is and the thoughts of what could've/should've been but finishing 5th/6th in the league and reaching the QF of CL is not the end of the world. We are so close, allow him to continue to build the squad into next season cos another change at the helm at this point i can only see as being an unnecessary upheaval and will be a step back. One thing’s for sure though, he's on thin ice and if he wants our full support, he needs to stop these wise cracks in post-match interviews pronto and stick to giving an honest appraisal on his team selection, tactics and performance.
COYMFS...
After the City loss, Harry shows up at his favourite position in football (behind a camera) and claims that VDV's loss of form, due to lack of a pre-season and/or due to the world cup was one of the main reasons for our poor points tally in 2011. Fair enough. But Kranjcar did have a pre-season, did not have a long WC, so why is he sitted on the bench while a clearly unfit and tired VDV plays a full 90minutes? Clearly alternating between the two would have brought better results.
The fans are turning against Mr. Redknapp and his lot. Soon enough, the players will notice it and their confidence in them will also diminish...results will be affected. Levy will be forced to step in. Its happened so many times before at Spurs.....Harry should be careful with his comments about the fans. They are not entirely helpless.
Harry doesn't know what budget is available. So rather than speak privately to Harry he's telling the worlds media.
Nothing changes, but it feels more irritating than it has done before.
Our 'Arry is now crapping on about not knowng the transfer budget for next season. Why on earth is he bringing it up in the media? Surely this is between him and the board?
'Arry, do us a favour and keep your mouth shut once in a while...
Damn you Spooky!
Plus it's nice to know we're thinking ahead already.
Apparently we were going to get Adebayor before Real stepped in. According to Adebayor.
Yeah 555 I just read that. More reason to hate City if you ask me. Not only have they spent all that money to buy ... fourth, but they've actively deprived us/boxed us out of signings. So all those bluemoon glory hunters who came here to lecture us about their longsufferingness can have a think on that.
@Ronnie, I do share your frustration r.e. Krancjar but wonder if he might be a bit Pav-like in terms of being the non-playing panacea. He did deliver for us with some critical goals (as Pav did last season on a mini-run) but I do wonder if he's as good as I like to think he is. I fear he'll be on his way out the door anyway so we'll never really know.
Been discussed on Twitter and someone pointed out how we sacked one manager for practically the same thing (granted, different era). Or error.
On a slight tangent, as well as Harry, i have worries for the summer about Levy's priorities. I cant help but feel that his obsession with the Olympic stadium seems to be distracting him from the short term priority of signing players (ideally a striker!). Regardless of whether i was for or against moving is it a coincidence that in recent transfer windows in particular everything seems so last minute and chaotic, almost like there wasnt a plan... In Jan i thought surely we will put right what went wrong in the summer, but no movements, nothing (im ignoring the random South African as he made such a big contribution this season) until the last week where out of nowhere we are linked with £35m moves for Aguero and then Rossi. Two (admittedly very good) small strikers that dont play up front on their own. This may have all been a smoke screen for Carrol and we under estimated Liverpool's resources, but with the emergence of not one, but two legal challenges now in the pipeline, im leaning towards the possibility that his time would have been spent on our proposal to the Olympic comittee rather than tapping up (sorry that doesnt happen) potential targets and concentrating on the here and now. This summer is huge in terms of stream lining the squad and signing players that will fit into the team, in my opinion it will shape whether we can challenge for the champions league places in the next few seasons, i just hope these legal challenges dont become a distraction and it all becomes a bit last minute again.
It does Spooky , and we all are fickle (to some extend) because a few lucky goals combined with the same soundbites and style of play and maybe we would be quiet and happy
We'll see what the summer brings but as someone mentioned here (Mikey S) ... every window brings a lot of suspense and ends in dissapointment. Is it Harry , Is it Levy , both of them , the wage structure, the lack of CL football or just punching above our weight type of ambitions ... I strongly believe we had the squad to go far and he (they) messed it up.
But maybe i rate our squad for more then its actual value ...
Martin you hit the nail on the head with Carroll. He was target number 1, probably earmarked about 25m for him, but the minute Torres went to Chelsea Liverpool were cash rich. Harry made some very direct comments after the transfer window which made it clear we were told Carroll was not for sale at any money, I bet Newcastle could not believe their luck when they kept saying raise and Liverpool kept saying ok.
This summer I believe Wickham will come. He won't affect the squad of 25 due to his age, and Bale and Sandro have to join the squad officially this year.
After that probably be 1 in for every 2 or 3 out. Bentley, O'Hara, Dos Santos being the first three. Keane, Niko and one of the other strikers the next 3. I imagine Pav and Crouch would get attention, I think we will keep JD, in an injury free season he is usually worth about 10 goals in the League.
Apart from that maybe Hutton? And hopefully Jenas! Woodgate for sure and we should really say goodbye to Ledley.
Modric will stay. Bale and VDV, I just don't know.
However you look at it, that's one hell of a revolving door.
Can't help feeling these legal challenges are more bargaining chips. If some form of wrongdoing is uncovered in the process of awarding WH preferred bidder status, then perhaps THFC will be in a position to press for compensation. As this would be loss of future earnings this could be substantial. Could this compensation take the form of financial support or development aid for our new stadium, possibly enough to make the NPD viable, or is that just wishful thinking? I can't see WH as preferred bidder being over-turned, but neither would we embark on a costly and protracted legal process if we didn't think there was something in it for us, surely.
Feel free to challenge any of the above!
@555...makes sense. but hopefully it won't distract us from the priority objective, improving the playing personnel. I actually don't mind Levy's obsession with stadium plans. As Chairman, he should be primarily involved with issues of such magnitude leaving football matters to a Director of Football and/or the Manager. Unfortunately, without a DF and with the kind of manager we have at the moment, doing so would be a catastrophe. Who wants to see Joe Cole arrive at WHL at the expense of Lennon?
@Diaz...I still can't believe we are coming to the close of another season still hoping to see Jenas go away. With the new squad restrictions in place, I sincerely hope that Jenas will graciously hand over a transfer request. Surely, he does have a bit of pride? And he can prove himself at Stoke or QPR and probably get a last chance playing for England. At Spurs he is only crowding out the youngsters from getting a chance. Surely.....I've never seen any footballer more happy to sit on the bench.
@nycyid...Kranjcar played a substantive part in our successful 2009/2010 season if you recall. He was actually the real star of the 9-1. He may not be the absolute solution...but surely, he can get 30minutes at the tail end of a home-game against Blackpool where when the game is still 0-0. Instead, he was given the last 3 minutes of extra time by Harry???? Man-management?
Why can't Man City buy Crouch? As the press would like us to believe, he is "good in Europe". Did anyone see Crouch's commical attempt at a volley during the City game? The honest truth is CROUCH CAN'T SHOOT! Most have accepted it....Crouch should just give up attempting shots, stand behind the goal, and hope for a hoofed ball to knockdown. Atleast until we get a proper manager who will -immediately- sell him to Stoke.
What was the stats / win ratio in relation to BAE's changing haircuts? I always got worried when he went for the big afro.
Anyone know?
We are a fickle bunch of fans aren't we! We need stability at this club. We need to keep Harry, our key players, get rid of the dead wood, sign some WC CFs (or a Javier H type signing, Osvaldo maybe?) and we'll be set next season.
Get rid of Harry & we'll have another season of transition plus no signings this summer.
Remember where we've been these last two decades and reflect on a v good last 2 years with Harry as manager.
Things i believe to be 100% made up in my own head:
One more striker would not have made a difference as Harry would have benched him after one game in favour of sticking with the two ronnies of crouch and vdS up front.
Levy will keep a lot of money held back for impending legal battles, more stadium plans, more consultation periods etc
We will have 90% of the same squad next season. Who is going to take Bentley on if he is throwing away his chance at Birmingham. Who will take the likes of Kaboom, Charlie, Nico, Bassong, Crouch, Keane, Defoe, Pav etc if they expect the same money and make demands of first team football
We are the new Everton. We might be lucky to make 6th next year.
If the FA start job interviews almost as soon as England qualify for the next tournament, Harry's eyes will get well and truly taken off the prize.
We need to get rid of the old boy's network. If Ferdinand is taking control of the strikers - have a look at his goal scoring record when with us. If Sherwood is taking control of anything then i worry even more.
We have a season of legal melodrama and moaning about new American kits to look forward to.
It was great beating the likes of Inter and AC Milan - but i read something about those being great nights to talk to our grandchildren about - if that's an attitude others have, including the players - we'll be back to the doldrums of the '90s pretty sharpish.
We need six new players - Keeper, Right Back, Left Mid, Right Mid and Two Strikers. Levy will leave it until 11pm to sign all six, and end up with four ex-West Ham players on loan.
That no matter how much we moan - we'll be back here next year.
We were all fucking idiots to let Levy pit us against each other of the stadium plans. All we should care about is not giving an inch to the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal or West Ham - Levy made us all look like mugs with our bickering and the team made us look like mugs with their half hearted efforts.
I will be back soon to write something whimsical about how great it was when you could easily get hold of a Chicken Balti Pie - when that stopped, the love and passion went with it.
I badly burned my thumb on one of those.
Interesting interview with GDS if you guys haven't seen it. Looks like he'll be off...
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1431636.html?cid=newsletter_en_20110512_newsid1431636
Just like a lot of our loanees this season, if only some of them had been given more time.
One player I wouldn't like to lose, but am resigned to losing, is O'Hara. That boy gives 110% every time he puts on a shirt. It's a shame we can't guarantee him any playing time.
And Chris, one thing we don't need is a Right Back. Ship out Hutton and Corluka and we still have Naughton, Walker and Kaboul for that spot. Walker has proved himself and I hope he inherits a starting position next season. And for right mid, try Townsend I say.
If we can get rid of Keane, Bentley, Jenas, Corluka, Hutton, Crouch, Woodgate & possibly King I'd be happy.
But personally (however unlikely it is) I'd like to see Dos Santos, O'Hara & Krancjar stay and be given a chance, they have shown what they are capable of.
@CEJ
I ran the numbers on BAE's hair awhile back. The afro poof, as I like to call it, has a poor record. The team has done the best with straight corn rows. Occasionally he gets whimsical with sort of a corn row into jerry curl thing which works. His most dangerous coif to date has been a sort of zig-zag corn row transitioning into an afro poof. But the straight afro poof....he might as well walk under a ladder and break a mirror simultaneously.
As for transfers, I'm with most here in saying we should collect a little kitty with getting rid of about six players and add three. I have no idea what Harry is on about with money. We were making 20 million plus bids in January. I don't see how we can't do that again over the summer.
I know most of the talk about the players that might go that we'd rather still have with us revolves around VDV and Bale but i for one am pretty sure somebody is going to go all out on Modric this summer , he is very higly rated all over Europe and especially by the special one and guardiola ...
He is Tottenham , more then any other player he is what it means to be a Spurs player flair, , skill , determination and unafraid of whatever the challenge he is confronted with. Every time he plays his heart out , he takes on huge monster kind of players in the midflield , is not afraid of the big names and just goes on about his business.
He is the one player that truly embodies Spurs for me
If Modric went I'd be absolutely devastated. If Bale or VDV went I'd be disappointed but not totally despondent, particularly if we got a handsome fee for their services. Luka's though a wonderful player, the best I've seen play for Spurs (I'm not very old mind you), without him we're stuffed for next season.
Also it would be nice if the younger fellas actually played for us and weren't just shunted out to lower division sides while dross like Bentley, Jenas, Hutton got playing time. Walker and Naughton look very promising, Caulker apparently kept Bristol City in the Championship almost single handed and Townsend looks like a decent sparky winger. Rose has done well the last two games when given the chance. Rather that lot play for us next season than some of the dross we have in our squad.
On 'Arry, It would be nice to have some tactical innovation and not just play the same way every game and be about as repetitive as a series of Big Brother. Decent defence, dodgy goalkeeping, lovely passing in midfield and up front about as impotent as the Pope in a brothel. We see this almost every game, and it would be nice if he tried a new formation, gave Niko a game and Rafa a game off, made substitutions earlier. We've had one clear cut chance in the last three games and only scored through long shots. Rubbish really for a team as talented as ours.