Happy?
Friday, September 2, 2011 at 12:18PM Is it safe to come out yet?
Gut reaction to the transfer window? Looks like Levy is taking a gamble, looking forward to the next manager perhaps, with what might well be a war chest of funds (if the money isn’t lost in and around Northumberland Park). Pressure is now on Redknapp to excel to leave behind some reminisce of a legacy that includes more than just scapegoating, sound-biting and talking about results as manager of Tottenham rather than Harry Redknapp, currently at Tottenham. Still, responsibility is one to be measured collectively, so the players need to step up too.
One or two of you have already echoed this, but the squad *is* still strong. It’s improved (be it not to the extent most would have wished for) but improved it has. And Redknapp now needs to improve his focus and show everyone that he didn’t just get lucky in 2010. Selection, tactics...inspiring team talks. It's all in the hands (and mouth) of the manager, influencing the feet of the players. Foot and mouth that is bound to drive everyone mad.
We could have really gone for it in this window. Ruiz ended up at Fulham (I guess we don’t rate him) and regardless of where Harry will be next season the new manager in is unlikely to be too concerned about having top quality players bought a season earlier. Unless Levy is expecting change in the New Year. Have to say, selling Crouch in the manner we did suggests that even though the chairman ‘buys’ players Harry wants he also looks to sell players he believes are no longer necessary. Would be interesting to know if he simply sold Crouch because nobody bid for Pav. Would also be doubly interesting to know if Harry finally admitted Crouch is hardly suited the way we should be playing football.
It’s not been slick and it’s a shame we haven’t moved forward with fluidity on and off the pitch, but if this is considered a problem, it’s a good one to have. We’re hardly mid-table with no direction. And if we were heading there, then the Harry-haters will get their wish at Christmas. If Harry pulls it out the bag again, then stability is regained and the next man in arrives without the soap opera dramatics that surround a sacking.
It all smells of yet more Machiavellian tactics from the chairman who is quite content to hold back to see how things play out. If that’s the case, then Redknapp is hardly in the best position meaning that he might not retain the sufficient focus that’s required. The hope is Harry still cares about his brand name to produce the goods. Harry being Harry can not be seen to lose face. Although quite how one loses a face like his, especially when said face endures a 5-1 home thrashing is any ones guess. Tabloids might be able to answer that gem.
From Levy’s perspective, the gamble is that if we fail to finish top four, the likes of Modric and Bale would most definitely be off. So if you take the profits from those two and add to the money made this window and the money from the CL – there has to be a fair bit to spend. Guess the chairman requires a manager that sees eye to eye with him. It's all just assumption based at the moment. But we are definitely set up to be 'safe' for any eventuality.
So, in summary...
In
Freidel
Adebayor
Parker
Coulibaly
Ceballos
Yago
Out
O’Hara
Keane
Hutton
Palacios
Crouch
Woodgate (released)
Loan
Jenas
Bentley
The three kids we’ve signed are unlikely to figure. Freidel allows for competition for the number one shirt and Adebayor will solve the problem we’ve had in terms of finishing off gilt-ridden chances. He’ll prove a far better target for our midfield and flankers than Crouch. For now at least (with Rafa injured) it looks like it’s going to be 442. Back to basics.
Parker is a player that I’ve always been quick to criticise and will gladly admit I’m wrong if he proves me wrong. I do (perhaps in desperation) understand what he will bring fundamentally in terms of engine-room dynamics and leadership. Something we are seriously lacking when King is not available (the latter that is). Engine-room we don’t have full stop, what with Sandro on the sidelines too. So a perfect opportunity for Parker to prove he can influence when surrounded by a better quality of player(s).
Should add that Luka (on form) provides that deep-lying engine room with allowing possession to flow in our favour, so Parker will bring much needed protection. Could end up being a wonderful combination. If Luka sorts out that delicate little head.
We could have done with a centre-back (was Cahill worth the £10M punt?) and a right-sided winger/forward (Ruiz not fancied). But apparently we at least attempted to sign Cahill but regardless we are left with King, Gallas, Dawson, Bassong and Kaboul. Once upon a time Bassong was signed as potential, had a great season and has now been forgotten about. If we’re going to spend money, we can at least attempt to place some faith in our signings. We’ll have to hope (how often do I use that word?) for the best and that injuries are kind to us at the back.
Players out has been a fruitful one re: wage bill. Obviously the secret of success is to be on the ball with the fiscal rather than the physical. So Levy achieved some smart house-keeping. None of the players had a future at the club (perhaps Crouch at a push – push not strong enough by Harry and Kevin). Top four nailed on now.
Jenas could still have done a job for us. Seriously, don't be laughing. He seems to do well when expectation is not high (that’s when coming off the bench or deputising). Someone will no doubt quote the stat that we apparently win more points per game when JJ plays than when he doesn’t. Stats aside, Levy’s poster-boy mantra has failed. On loan at Villa, it will be of massive interest to see if he re-invents himself as a consistent performer. Here’s hoping he scores a brace against the scum.
As for Bentley. I guess West Ham United require someone who can kick balls into skips. What’s that? That’s not a skip, it’s the Chicken Run? Soz. Couldn’t tell the difference.
So are we stronger? Yes. Are we stronger in terms of matching Utd and City? Of course not. One team has Ferguson the other has unlimited funds and a wage structure that allows for the club to pay the players taxes. Don’t kid yourself, we can’t compete with that.
Liverpool have bought some solid players but are hardly sexy, par that over-rated Suarez up front who just flatters to deceive with this goals and his assists. Arsenal have signed players that we would have been mocked for had we signed them. Although they only have to be 2% better than us to dominate North London in the Prem. Times are changing, and regardless of some of the knee-jerking – it’s hardly suicide watch.
Yes, we should have spent more money and done our business fair earlier in the transfer window, but it seems we waited too long for certain players before opting for the textbook ones. Yes, Harry has lost his mojo (lucky or not, he still got us into the CL). Best we can do (as fans) is support players/club and then freak out when we’re sitting with two points from eight or so games.
It wasn’t a perfect window but it was not a disaster. We held onto our best players. Be it our very best player has been a **** for most of the summer. Everyone is accountable. Window is shut. The dramatics are over.
There might be a twist or turn or three by Christmas or we might be competing for 4th and then all the haters can dream about the summer of 2012. Although I expect us to splash some of that money in January (if we have any sense) – if we’re competing top four.
But it's way too early to start bitching about stuff that hasn’t even played out yet.
Onwards, right?
-
From the world famous secret studio of The Fighting Cock podcast team, it's episode six. Discussed in part one: Twitter re-tweet mission update. Man City debacle autopsy. Livermore > Modric. The truth behind Luka's performance against City. Formation headaches. Centre-back headaches. Positivity and negativity. Harry Redknapp is dissected (it gets ugly) along with our transfer dealings (pre-deadline day) and Neil the Cabbie is back with a brand new rant. In part two we laugh at the scum (lol) and whether we should in fact be laughing at them. We laugh at them anyway. We've got emails. Also Daniel Levy. Do we love him? Or do we not? Do you love him? A twist on the Tottenham Whisper. And we end with a super-quick game of Killer.
Love the shirt.
Reader Comments (57)
We've got Dos Santos and Soulman Coulibaly to play if we end up with injured strikers...
I think Carlo Ancelotti will be in the hotseat shortly. FRIST!
Good post spooky. Now, can we all get back to "thick end of the wedge"?
I shall watch Ruiz performances with interest. Got the dross on wages out, and 3MP.
At least we're not Everton, they couldn't even afford a rumour!
I think the club's behaviour towards Gio is bordering on the sadistic. Play him or let him go, please.
I think Gio would have gone if Crouch had stayed...poor Gio, so many of us are desperate to see him fulfil that potential.....maybe an injury to Lennon or something and he may "do a Bale" and set the place on fire? Wishful thinking maybe.
Gio. lol. I forgot all about him.
Sorry Gio lad. Hey, at least you get a mention in the comments section. That's something.
Think when you look at what we had to achieve this window in terms of trimming squad and promoting youngsters into it we have done well.
Maybe with the 3 recognised forwards more of a 4 2 3 1 formation will be used. After watching city tear us apart harry must give it some thought.
Stadium really does seem to be overlooked. ST waiting list has reduced, EL games less revenue - less than category c - and man city no sel out in the league.
All these points mean if the club is serious about bigger stadium, investment in youth and less spending on wasteful transfers has to become the norm.
Bentley and Hutton the most obvious examples this transfer window.
2 games in no need to panic, but we need adebayor to do what he has done at previous prem clubs and hit around 1 goal per 2 games. And I would love to see GDS in the squad.
"Guilt ridden chances" ! Jesus! Are we shagging the opposition defender's missus to get the ball in the back of the net?!
Surely "gilt edged chances" would be better for our strikers?
Apologies for the pedantry.
nice article btw
Poor Gio!, the guy's had chances to shine in Turkey and Spain and taken neither opportunity. Perhaps if he knuckled down and appeared interested in playing football instead of giving it large at the nightclubs, then maybe, but equally a 2m bid, seems a little bit of a piss take as well.
glad we got parker ,hope to god he will give modric a kick up the hole if he starts poncing about on the pitch.
nj - my bane. thanks for pointing it out.
Have Spurs fans become spoilt as a result of the last min shenanigans of last year, okay dissapointed we didn' get Cahll but Bolton were asking far too much for a player who's gonna be out of contract in 9 months, £13m is ridiculous when he's going to be free next summer. Some of the comments towards Levy on the last blog were pretty disgusting and way OTT, if people can't see what he's doing for our club then they're idiots.....
The window has been very good TBH, we got our coveted striker, okay he's not Aguero, Rossi, Llorente, Benzema etc.. but Ade is a proven goalscorer, he's strong and can hold the ball up and his technique has improved, I think we've done well in that area.
Crouch, Palacios, Hutton, Jenas, O' Hara, , Keane and Bentley all gone which is superb (wages significantly reduced) - all players are surplus to requirements and not needed however for all these players who have left we have replaced them with someone better, that's progress right there.
We've also upgraded our keeper situation albeit short term but we now have a steady, experienced keeper between the sticks as well as keeping Gomes.
We've kept out two best players (Modric and Bale) whilst signing a player in Parker who has a superb mentality and a huge personality who is a very useful addition to the squad.
And we didn't sign Joe Cole or Muntari.
Ruz would have been nice and would have added some serious competition for Lennon but he isn't tha much of a necessity.
How can anyone be disappointed with the business we've done?
Rest assured all, it has started all over again...Modric to United in january with Chelsea pushing. This is hopless really. We will never get a good 10 minutes out of Modric this season. I cant beleive there is no leagl action we can take here.
Should have mentioned Woody. Still think too much of a risk to hold onto.
Good article. I do get the safety angle. We have upgraded a couple of positions, sold unwanted players (I'm sure Harry gave 3MP a tearful hug) and should be in with a shout around 4th/5th.
But we didn't blow anyones windows out with offers (Ruiz...going to be worrying about his play now) and it all smacks of lining up a new manager with a very good squad and a decent bag of cash for the post-Harry era.
Now, as Starsky says, someone kick Lennon so that GDS can have a decent go. He can obviously play a bit so lets try and get some decent wingplay on the right - I'm afraid Lennon is not going to improve into the world class winger we hoped for.
you got it spot on spooks....levy is the cat and you can guess who the mouse is..but me finks levy should of sold modric(dont feel like calling him modders anymore)for $30 mill or so...when you look at the young kids we got there is a lot of potential there i mean potential football wise and potential profit...and you know something?it kind of feels good to see harry r getting the screws put on him by levy...and the squad is talented and a great bunch of individuals that a great manager(?)would turn into a top team and i dont let harry r tell anyone any different...coys
I agree that probably Levy is saving money for the next manager.
It's a fact that he doesn't want to spend big.
GDS can' play efficiently as a winger.
He plays best as a second striker.
The main issue now will be Harry to use the right players and to follow the right tactics.
On paper Spurs playing
Friedel
Rose, Gallas, Dawson/Corluka, BAE
Parker, Sandro, Modric, VDV, Bale
Adebayor
looks very strong.
I really regret for not signing Ruiz.
If anyone thinks that Gio is able to do HALF the job that Lennon does, you are very much mistaken. I agree that Lennon needs competition, but Gio ain't it! Nor is Vdv. Plus Bale has played no better than Lennon thus far this season, so why no criticism of him? If he keeps this up, we could finish 7th and no one would bid for Bale anyway. Gio needs to play in the Vdv role, or not at all.
afternoon gents, have had to stay away a week, city game was so bad it gave me chest pains. only now, do i feel i can write a post that doesn't mainly consist of fuck shit bollocks cunt wankers.
parker - not a lover, HOWEVER, as you've said spooks, he leads by example. a born leader, will be interesting to see how he lifts us.
ade - mustard, well happy with that. makes me laugh all these goon pricks adament he will cause trouble. ain't gonna happen, i really believe he has a point to prove. just wish he could of played against city...
gio - not even gonna get into this discussion. i've seen his name on the notice boards again, he is about as much use as a taco on the end of my knob - just a total mess. totally pointless, he is a wasteman.
onwards and upwards!
Is disagree that Levy is saving for the next manager. Levy is simply managing the squad - no matter who the manager is. In an ideal scenario, the squad should pay for itself, and that is what Levy is doing. The Berbas, and soon Modric's and Bale's will pay for the new Berbas and Bales when they get sold for profit. If you look at Villa for example, they are poorly managed - they have a wage bill as big as ours (pre-window), yet their turnover is way smaller than ours. Plus they signed players like Reo-Coker for 8.5m, and then release them on a free! Levy never throws money away like that. We had the maximum feasible and sustainable size of squad. To buy someone new, there is more than enough money already there is the squad to pay for it. The mass exodus on the last day was mainly due to the 25-man squad and because Bale, Sandro, Livermore, and to a lesser extent Gio, all no longer being "free picks". It was not primarily an exercise to recoup money - just squad reduction, whilst getting the best value - and boy did we do that! 10m for a 30 year old with declining form!
Happy to see Gio stay - if he's given a chance up front (striker), I think he might actually knock in a fair few. Good window all in all, but could've done with some proper defenders. As much as I like Kaboul and Ekotto, they'll never be top notch defenders (positionally weak, ball watchers). Dawson remains mind-bogglingly overrated in all aspects.
Tony - if that's the case then the argument that Levy is managing the club for the sake of the shareholders interests, then we is dooooomed.
Although logical, success on the pitch equates to success off it.
The Fox - interesting you say that because Kaboul was our man of the match vs Utd, and Ekotto was our man of the match vs Citeh. Dawson was our player of the season in 2009-10 (but needs to back it up...). I believe Kingy will bless us with at least 12 games.
spooky - well, it has worked so far ... a 4th place and three 5th place finishes were "dreams" before Levy arrived....
Spooky, well Portsmouth well successful on the pitch for a period...then far from successful off it. And the age-old Leeds example. There is only so much success off the pitch that you can obtain in the short term. That is why it should be a gradual improvement. Yes we are all impatient, but the last 6 seasons has been many times better than the 9 years that preceded it - on and off the pitch. So we are going in the right direction. We just need to maintain our top 5 status until a stadium arrives.
@TonyRich - I agree, both Kaboul and Ekotto are capable of having blinders. Problem is, they both have a tendency to switch off - Kaboul numerous times v City, Ekotto at least once in almost every game. To me, a good defender is not one who plays occasional blinders but one who (almost) never makes blunders. And please don't get me started on Dawson. :)
"Tony - if that's the case then the argument that Levy is managing the club for the sake of the shareholders interests, then we is dooooomed."
I believe the board of any company has a legal duty to manage the company in the shareholders' interests. In theory anyway.
If a club speculates in the transfer window (within their own means) and has success and progression on the pitch, then shareholders will smile. I guess with City being who they are, a safety (and frustrating) route has to be taken by Levy. You get that impression considering the lack of spending not just in this window but the recent ones too.
We have spent, just not crazy (but then we spent crazy for 15 years and did jack shit).
I have a feeling Dawson is playing with an injury because his reactions looked pained when we conceded. Once we have either Billy G or King back we will be fine. Just got to job share.
I'm just going to enjoy this season come what may, sit back relax and try and enjoy our team, youngsters, youth teams. were so much better than we ever were that even finishing 5th or 6th isn't the worst thing in the world, its all about setting expectations, I think we have a great chance of 4th but we will only get it on merit at the end of the season.
If we don't get CL then maybe some key players might want to go but we will have so much money we could buy a whole new team.
I'm putting my blinkered glasses on and getting on with cheering on our amazing club.
COYS
I've read somewhere that the Russian league (due to the upcoming world cup) will be switching from a summer league to winter. As such the winter window will be of significant importance to them...therefore making Pav a highly prized purchace.
So, methinks Pav to leave in the winter with Leandro to arrive.
As for Harry, I believe his rescheduled court case is for this month, so we'll soon see if we have a new manager by Christmas...
...restart the merry-go-round, it ain't over yet!
Happy?
In the words of the famous Basil Fawlty "Happy Dear? (Mr. Levy).......yes, I remember that"...of course it was many years ago, long before the current owners were in charge.
Good point regarding the duty to the shareholders, because it all depends as to what they want from their (lack of) investment.
My guess is that the priority with the current mob is to build the new stadium, fill it with season-ticket holders and then sell what they bough for £25million for a huge profit.
Of course there problems to achieving that given that they never built the stadium when it was needed and would have been much cheaper, hence the OS fiasco which continues to this day. Interesting to see someone say that the Season Ticket waiting list has gone down which if true signals another problem for the Chairman. He still doesn't understand that the priority for the club has to be to create a winning/competitive football team on the pitch, not just for one season but on an ongoing basis in order to attract bigger sponsorships and create the demand that just might fill all those otherwise empty seats in the new stadium.
Having said that, I don't think they care whether the seats are filled or not as long as we stay in the EPL it would still be an attractive package to sell.
And that is why,IMO, the wishes of the fans and the aims of the Board are not aligned and why we will still be having this debate until the new stadium is built, probably in another 5 or so years.
@Dave K, What a shame all you've written is your opinion, and not a single fact in your missive backs up your view. That aside, ponder this, Tottenham Hotspur are a PLC, I spell that out because you've obviously not taken that simple fact into account. Daniel Levy is the chairman of said PLC,and if the shareholders thought that he and the current board of directors were not serving in the clubs interests, then a chairman Daniel would be no longer! Levy stood by his work, and my opinion is that had he'd taken the cash offered, you'd have been the first to say what that he'd reneged on his earlier statement. Now DaveK, get some facts, and get them right, then as I told you before take them to a newspaper, the Daily Mail would be a good choice, and furbish those facts, providing they can be substantiated, and you'll earn a pretty penny, which you would, no doubt donate to the Tottenham trust! "He doesn't understand what it takes to create a winning team" You actually said that, really, you're so funny!, have you actually looked at when ENIC took over and where we were before?, really, try it, you'll learn!
Ruiz would have been a very good signing. I watched the Dutch Super Cup between Ajax and Twente a couple of weeks ago.
Twente went down to 10 men early in the second half. Ajax equalised shortly afterwards. Game over? No. Ruiz controlled the game for Twente, despite their sending off. He looked like an absolute world beater, and he scored a spectacular late winner for Twente. He would have been handy to have as an option, especially with Lennon's current form and fitness.
Levy's played a blinder: only major signing is a loan and this leaves a very good squad ready for a new manager should harry be otherwise engaged (or levy gets rid).
I think a top 4 very possible... and uefa cup, maybe. I can see us caning most teams except the top few and getting the points required that way... maybe!
It makes me laugh that shareholders are perceived as cognac swilling toffs who only care about their profits, because let me tell you, there are far more profitable ventures than THFC whether Levy is a financial god or not. A large majority (not all) of the shareholders are fans, just like us, except they actually put something back into the club they love instead of bitching about it on the internet. If we didn't have shareholders we wouldn't have a club, we'd be in a mess like Everton for example. Grow some fucking brains some of you.
Levy has indeed done very well for us this window even if we are a little disappointed not to have got some bigger players, but he is fiscally responsible and thinking about the future well being of the club. Patience is a virtue my friends and we're on the right track.
I also maintain that if Gio is played in the VDV role (as someone said) he could do very well for us. We haven't seen that yet and I hope to be proven right this season. If Arry can be bothered.
Still pissed we didn't get Ruiz, although thinking about it, he did bugger all for Twente at the Lane last year (I think).
The point is, its run like a business. If it wasn't Mr Lewis would throw shit loads of money and we'd all be finding reasons why it's actually okay to have a billionaire owner cause we got history and tings.
I think it sux that Alnwick is included and Walker isnt!
"A large majority (not all) of the shareholders are fans, just like us"
Sorry. Canada Yid, 90% of the Tottenham shares are owned by ENIC/Joe Lewis (and "cognac swilling toff" is a pretty good description for him), maybe some by Levy himself (little bonus sweetener).Unless you think think the majority of Spurs fans are private equity firms and billionaire tax exiles. you're way off base.
This plc argument is constantly raised, responsibility to these mythical thousands of shareholders, but it's nonsense. It's ENIC--there are no other material concentrations of shares. Yes, there are probably a few hundred folks out there with a few shares each, but their influence is zip. ENIC can do pretty much whatever it wants with Spurs, provided they don't break any laws. No shareholder police will come break down the door and cart Levy off to jail should our net spend go up for a few years or the wage ceiling be lifted.
I'm not criticizing what happened in this particular window, but the strategy persued is a decision made by our owner and has nothing to do with the fact that there is a "plc" at the end of the club's name.
Thanks for the lecture Essexian.
Fact, we have no new stadium after 10 years. Arsenal, Sunderland, Middlesborough, Bolton, Wolves, Hull City and even Brighton have all managed to do it.
I refer you to this link http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_XB/xb/news/9852035683a81310VgnVCM1000001a56f00aRCRD.htm for a report on the financial imperatives of a new stadium from Deloittes which cover the last 20 years but shows that businessmen who understand their business get their priorities right.
As regards your statement about shareholders Ziegemonster has said it all....effectively the (vast) majority shareholders are ENIC and Daniel Levy, so noone is going to effectively question their agenda.
As regards my comments about the success of the team, while I admit that the results over the last 4/5 seasons have improved dramatically from Levy's starting point, things still move like a sine wave, 2 steps forward one step back. The reason now, more than ever, that he needs a successful team on the pitch is to ensure revenue streams that will now be required to pay the debt that will be incurred by the new stadium, assuming that it goes ahead. He had the chance to cement the success of our 4th place season by investing in better players, but blew it.
You can argue all you like about the depth of the squad, the quality of the squad, and how bad the manager is/was, but finally a combination of injuries to Modric, Lennon, Bale and the revolving CB's proved a step too far with CL football and no functioning strikers as well.
This window from a balance sheet perspective makes perfect sense, and even from a squad perspective as well, but when a Chairman says I've decided that Crouch is being sold because there is demand for him and not for any of the others then money is obviously the driving factor. Perhaps Levy will turn up at the Lodge and take training sessions as well....no, could be too obvious.
Finally, I have no idea what you are talking about re:Taking the money...I assume it's about Modric and I have supported Levy's stance on that so not sure what you are saying. And as for taking facts to a newspaper, again, I've no idea what you are on about. As stated, the statement regarding the divergent aims of the Board (ENIC and LEVY) and the fans is my opinion only and as such can be regarded as speculation, but that is what this site is about, opinions. Sorry mine don't agree with yours, but then there would be no debate would there?
I'm just happy that VdV is out for 6 weeks. Maybe we can actually get around to some football without that fat berk
Technically, a sine wave type performance would be one step forward, two steps back, one step forward if you were to evaluate the entire period of the wavelength. The amplitudes would cancel each other out.
@big sky nerd...thanks...could be worse than I thought!
A small meaningless statistic....I compared the league finishes for the 10 years prior to ENIC and found that we averaged around 11th place, and in the first 10 years of ENIC we averaged around 9th place, so progress indeed although we have some way to go to achieve the average of the 62-71 period when we averaged 5th.
Upwards and onwards?
Chaps, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't Joe Lewis and Levy also fans? Regardless of the percentage of shares they hold this still supports my argument. If they can make some money out of Spurs along the way I won't begrudge them that because they are still working in the best interests of the club primarily, in my opinion.
I'm glad everyone liked my cognac swilling toff statement though :)
Levy is looking at the bigger picture. The one relating to the stadium. Long term, the investment has to work and by doing so the club will be stronger for it. Problem is, the old way of doing things (on the pitch) take a back foot to the off the field aspects.
Agree totally Spooky
Well, since the US supreme court has said that corporations can be people and have the same free speech rights as an individual therefore no limits on corporate campaign contributions, I suppose it is theoretically possible that a private equity firm could be a football fan. I remain unconvinced (in both cases).
This sounds like a "greed is good" argument or the popular "yeah, Harry's a self serving dick but it serves his interests for Spurs to do well". It's a question of degree, isn't it? And more importantly short term versus long term. What's good for Harry and yes, possibly, Spurs short term results--buy expensive Prem proven players on big wages--is not good for Spurs long term or even next season term (See Portsmouth). Since Harry doesn't plan to be with us long term, it wouldn't be his problem. And it appears that Levy recognized that and spiked Harry's guns this last window.
There's a distinction between making a profit, (fans do acknowledge the need for the club to make profits more years than not and to not rack up huge losses) and maximizing profit (which it what investment firms like ENIC do). ENIC/Levy initially told Jol he had five years to get champions league and axed him at the start of year three because they thought they found a short cut with Ramos. Similarly, they thought they found a short cut to a new stadium (which they had been promising for close to ten years, I believe?) with the OS. NDP went from viable to non-viable because an opportunity presented itself to maximize profit i.e. more profit more quickly by moving rather than by building at or near White Hart Lane.
On balance, I don't think Levy/ENIC have done a bad job but I think there is a tendency to be like generals who are fighting the last war, not the current one. They tried to go big once and got badly burned--How much did the Jol/Ramos debacle cost the club, what with paying compensation to Jol and his staff, to Sevilla (for Ramos), to Leeds (for Poyet) then more when they were sacked along with all of their staff? Must have been a pretty penny.
So now we're looking at a write-off season because Levy quite reasonably doesn't want to give a lot of cash to a short term manager whose earlier buys are looking a little less than clever. But if you've lost faith in a manager, why keep him? Cause you don't want to pay the compensation? His contact goes out to 2013, two years counting this one, so, what, 6 million max? You don't want the bad publicity and bad feeling from sacking a "successful" manager? 3 wins in the last 17 premier league matches is rather more than a blip, spending more time bigging up other clubs rather than pumping up Spurs and the flagrant public challenging of the chairman's stated positions regarding Modrich and other transfer/sales targets are more grounds than many clubs have for sacking managers.
Very few institutions or individuals deliberately screw up, yet screw ups happen. The road to hell...Yep, there are far worse owners out there, but if ENIC were all that and a bag of chips, we would already have a new stadium and/or cemented a place in the CL before ManCity upset the apple cart.
Excellent read.
Excellent points well made.
All of which points to a year in limbo effectively, followed by a season in transition perhaps? Grim.
Excellent read Ziege ,i for one believe that in this world the ultimate achievements count and not the intention of the subject achieving them
F ex If the Palin family would buy up half Alaska and make a national park out of it to prepare another challenge for presidency , lots of people would argue : it s only for their image and that would be true. But in the end half of Alaska would be saved and that is what counts.
If greed is what is needed to achieve , then i ll accept it. But i'd prefer a less negative ambition if i had the choice , but seeing that Levy and Enic have the dough means that i have no choice but to accept. Not blindly and without questioning their ways of dealing with the club but in the end its up to them. And it is never a wise investment strategy to let a product/investment lose value.
They want succes but at the lowest cost possible , that's just capitalism for you.