Andre Villas-Intheknowas
Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 10:03PM Amazing how much you can do with one quote, slightly out of context with emphasis on the answer itself rather than the question posed and no further commentary other than to craft out an inciting headline.
Andre Villas-Boas, according to various news sources, has 'rejected Spurs lies'. All very dramatic. There is nothing, it is all lies, he stated in a Portuguese interview. Apparently the question was directly referring to whether he had put pen to paper and had accepted the offer to manager Spurs. But I can't confirm that for certain as I have not seen the original interview and tradition deems that football journalism is the leading innovator in subjective reporting where ambiguity reigns supreme. Sensationalist soundbites generate click-throughs, so why bother investigating deeper.
The Telegraph have reported another quote (this taken from their article here):
Yesterday Villas-Boas denied he had been offered the Spurs job and he is anxious not to be seen to be pushing the club. He said: “There have been contacts with various clubs but it’s important for me to meet people, know their ideas, share mine and see if a common idea can be agreed.”
Slightly more encouraging, but there's no stand-out head turner in there. It's far less chaotic and doesn't fit into the more comfortably category of calamity that allows people to vent their anger and confusion. Good news isn't great news, bad news is better news. Which is why we've not seen this shared anywhere (at the time of writing).
In addition to all this, something I've yet to see reported on (so I can't substantiate it in any way, which possibly places me on par with the hacks) is that AVB is purposely distancing himself due a contractual obligation he has (had) with Chelsea. It's already been shared on Twitter publicly that the 1st of July is the date that any official agreement can be shared by club and prospective new Spurs boss if such a deal is in the making.
The reality is, there's nothing we can influence. We have no idea of the work going on behind the scenes. We don't know whether Levy is working through a short-list or not. None of that information will be known at any point, until the club make their statement and announce a press conference. All fairly simple and obvious. Yet complicated to **** because we're all so desperate to know something before it's about to happen. Hence the guess work and rumours and people taking every single thing as a literal transparent describition of what is transpiring.
Although most want this sorted as soon as possible and many believed Levy would only have sacked Redknapp if he had a full proof contingency outlined in preparation, that doesn't mean the decision should be rushed. It has to work both ways. We might need to attract someone or perhaps we need to choose from a selection of managers that want to take the hot seat. Levy might have made his mind up and then found himself curious to listen to another candidate that has express interest.
Have I covered off a fair few scenarios there?
Do they pose further shrugs and question marks? If I worked for a newspaper I could quote 'an inside source' and run with an exclusive about how our chairman is dithering and uncertain. Or perhaps not and instead talk about how he waited for the right time to make sure Redknapp wasn't in the running to take over at another 'top' Premier League club when let go by Spurs. Shrewd and calculated and in control.
I could go on.
My point? I know about us much as you do and about us much as anyone in the press knows. Nothing. What will be will be, which means if you remained awake between now and when we appoint someone or slept all the way up the announcement, it won't make a blind bit of difference either way.
Reader Comments (32)
Spooky, please stop being reasonable and rational. This is the internets FFS, you need to go mental in frustrated indignation. Why hasn't Levy signed a manager? He needs to go. Anyone right now would be better than this uncertainty that will make ALL OUR BEST players leave. Levy is an idiot, it's not his club it's MINE. You know, stuff like that.
Hey hey, let's not be too hasty.
It's not all guesswork.
Don't forget illogical, moronic and biased Spurs bashing from the likes of Cross.
Right on the button Spooky. Tell you what though, Levy is putting his Cojones on the line here. He better shape up or the wrath of the Seven Sisters will be on his skinny arse, so help me Spurs.
I wish the AVB rumour would just go away. I personally would like us to go for Martin O Neill. Lots of experience, tactically aware, improves players he has, can work on a budget and would bring youth through. I'm quite surprised his name has not been mentioned yet. Capello is after another pay day, AVB has too many questions to answer, Moyes doesn't excite anyone and Martinez is too risky. Blanc is an option but only because of the others on offer.
If we are not going to make a sensible appointment then why sack Harry. Couldn't Levy have just given him a verbal rollocking about the England shambles and media whoring as well as rotation and signing old shite and let him carry on? This is the biggest decision our club has made in a while and I pray Levy gets it right. Oh, thanks for the memories Luka. Just leave the premier league thanks.
...I'm just happy Redknapp is gone. I hated the guy since he began his "two points from eight games" nonsensical campaign to paint himself as some kind of Spurs messiah. It was actually 5 points from 9 games when he joined. Plus he wasted our 50 million on Keane, Chimbonda and Crouch!
If we give AVB or Roberto Martinez the job we may need to get rid of some of the oldies; like Gallas, who might cause him problems. Maybe VDV will also need to be liquidated for the same reasons.
We are starting this thing all over again folks.
Cheers Spooky. That's all.
I think Martin Oneil would. E a good shout for us what does everyone else think
Yeah Arry was rubbish. Second best Manager in our history.
Martin Oneil would be a major mistake and it ain't gonna happen as he would cost money,I still think its AVB no matter how much he denies it
When I first heard that "Arry" was off I was surprised but not shocked, Levy is just like a pair of 501's pretty cool!
I figured Danny Boy would already have had a contingency plan in place and that by now we would all be excited at the prospect of Mourinho or Guardiola.
When Pep said he was taking time off I figured that was the reason for the offer of but one year to mr Redknap??
However all things considered I am warming to the thought that AVB might just be the direction we need to take (personally I would still prefer Sir Glen back) bring through the youth, but if we do take AVB the poor bugger has got to be given a couple of seasons!
Right now,all the club all needs is an appointment,so that some stability and calm,can come over the club and fans alike.Then,the serious bussiness of recruiting some more talented players can be seriously attended too.At present everything is,up in the air.Plus Mr.Modric,is pushing his case once again.He obvously does not have any committment to the club now.So it is probably the sensible thing to do,and let him move.There are other players out there just as gifted,if not more so.But who ever will need time to bed into playing with the rest of Tottenham's players.Just do notlet Modric go to Manu or Cheatski.Ship him off over to Europe.For a rasonable financial return.
Ajax fans wishing Jan V all the best. Apparently all over Dutch press. Fee agreed, he's finally 'arriving'.
Great article, couldn't agree more Spooky. I get the impression that AVB is as good as confirmed but can't be announced because of past contractual clauses. It really worries me how much negativity has crept into football since 'that Russian' started practicing his dark arts in West London. The premiership is becoming a truly rotten place due to that club.
"The reality is, there's nothing we can influence..."
You mean this whole internet thing is just a complete waste of time and effort, Spooky?
We don't want reality, we want ITK, we want 100% nailed on links to the Huntelaars and Rivaldinhos of this world, we want badly drawn kit design mock-ups of shirts which can only be bought in just one shop on one day somewhere in northern Canada, we want blurry photos of unrecognisable people in car-parks or airport departure lounges, and we want twitter-based rumours of a potential take-over by trillionaire arab oligarchs.
Vertoghen, done deal.
Assuming that Blanc really is on the shortlist, there wasn't the remotest possibility of talking to him until France were knocked out of the Euros. So maybe a little clarity on the situation in the coming few days.
As for Levy having a fool-proof plan in place to follow on from H's bullet - think not. A few names on the back of an envelope - yes. A preferred candidate - possibly yes as well. But a 'foolproof plan' would have been a repeat of Ramos with H's replacement already signed, sealed and sitting behind H's desk while H was still driving out of the carpark. Think Dan's already learned that lesson.
O'Neill would've been a nailed-on certainty a few years back, but maybe his time's come/gone ?
As usual, good post, spooky. Pls keep it up as your blog is one of the very few that I read.
I spoke yesterday with a friend who has a working relationship with a relative of AVB. Apparently the AVB deal is done according to "them" - but "they" always say that don't they? Presumably the delay is either in waiting to speak to Blanc (after last night this can now be done) or just Levy's usual brinkmanship.
Of course this could just be the usual old gossip but I'd like it to be true and get him announced officially!
If theres no reason for your words, then your silence ain't absurd. Tell that to the Chelsea Mail, who perpetually print and post Modric leaving agitation. The template for such lazy journalism, is a large font anti-spurs headline followed by less words than in this post, stating absolutely nothing.Please tell me the saps who produce this bile are unpaid summer placement students. Please.
@Ronnie-Just remember it was Crouches goal against citeh that got us Champions League...........
4Mullery.
It was Paul Stalteri who scored the late winner when we beat Wham 4-3.
There will always be goal scorers. They just get better as we move forward.
Spook, you, and others are beginning to remind me of the orchestra that played on the deck of the Titanic. Me? Well I'm one of the immigrants locked in steerage up to me jewels in water, and before any of you go telling me it's just bath water, it aint, there's fish swimming in it!
The facts: none. None other than background strings, bass, and is the a woodwind? Vengoten, or what ever is name is, is finally done, not close, done! So this should be announced today then? Fantastic news. I've not meet yid yet who can pronounce this lads name without inflicting damage to their own tongue. My point is, noone really knows much about this lad, we just all want something done, anything.......I know, I know, I'm sounding scathing, but remember, I'm in steerage.
In my tiny little world communication is everything, without it, everything turns to shit. Look around you, the means to communicate underpin everything that is human. Stop communicating at your peril, it'll have serious consequences in any setting. Try this, go mute for a day, just one day, and see where it gets ya, and no pointing, that's communication. But hey, that would be stupid, wouldn't it? Everybody knows how important communicating is, look at us for instance.
So why the radio silence?
Why would Levy & co not want to communicate with the blood and bones of this club, why? If we are being sold then please God, be gentle with us....
Or am I the only Fool in steerage.....oh no there's Vengoten, he says 'Hallo'
Wisky Tom, you're so right, mate, specially about Levy and Enic!!
Dead on Spooks. That Telegraph article, despite containing only one quote, is both a) a [relatively] reputable source and b) states its points as facts, not "given to understand"s. I reckon it is right on the money.
While it is frustrating for us fans, it is a process. Better to wait a few weeks and get the right guy than jump in based on reputation. Also pleased that the Telegraph article makes AVB sound like a reasonable bloke. I do not think so many people would have recommended him to chelsea in the first place if he was such an obvious primadonna. Red-top smear campaign much?
Wisky, in no way is Levy anywhere near being perfect. I won't bring up Stratford again but mentioning it is enough to remind you all that he's hardly got our best interest at heart. It's the interests of ENIC and by having their best interests at heart, it's usually good news for Spurs. Good in terms of balancing the books and such. Matters of pure football will always be fragmented for the simple reason that they can't keep all of us happy.
Not sure how communication can work here unless you want Levy to release a statement to say 'we're interviewing prospective managers' or 'we're in deep discussions with Ajax, hold tight'.
@tonyblue
Sorry mate but only just caught up with your reply to my ' course you would' post.
I get your point mate, but hold on, we'd only just broke into top 4 mate. For years we 'd been tapping, coughing , peering/pissin through the letter box, and then BANG, armed to the teeth we piled in. 'everybody down, this is a robbery'
But it weren't was it? This wasn't a Blackburn (RIP) type smash & Grab? This forced entry had been planned in fine detail and we'd archived it twice. When have we ever done that in resent years? So my thinking was this. Rather than have to 'force entry' each year, concentrate on getting a key, with a nice colourful fob, just like the others, (Manchester united haven't got a key, granted, theyve an electronic remote control) and so, as they say, practice makes perfect, it also makes money, and money makes friends.
So, with this in mind my thinking was this, why would anyone, this includes you Tony, want to mess around with something which don't need fixing, because in doing that you may well........ oh, shit, to late, you've broke it, and you've lost a finger to, now go and get your father, you silly boy.
That's exactly what I want. Why shouldn't we be privi to who they are talking to, for all we know, Levy, looked at Chelsea last season, then looked at Sherwood, and thought, 'of course, it makes perfect sense' ! ABV is a rumour and nothing more. Surly we should know who the club are in talks with, this is a football club, not Mossad!
@JohnyB-er, sorry, I don't understand the question..............
The bookies aren't sure, the media isn't even moderately sure. No one seems to know anything. I have a feeling there's something afoot regarding a sale. It's been mooted on here by Spooky and I think there might be a delay because of that. Levy sacked Redknapp as a job that needed doing and washed his hands of him, ruthlessly. Was that a prerequisite to sale negotiations. Just a thought.
New owners would want a say in the new manager.
4M
There wasn't one mate, so stop scratching ya head, people will think you've got nits.
Spook...that can be the only valid reason, if it aint, and this is just an extension of our normal protracted, pulling teeth, anti climactical, wtf , are you coming to bed yet, soul destroying, lights are still on at the lodge, brinkmanship windows....then Levy's got a proper hater....
Levy in the USA currently? Will be surprised if true.
avb or his agent clould change the sky headline of 'AVB rejects Spurs 'lies' with one phone call.
Today England and Italy commpete to be the team to take four up the ass from germany on thursday!!! i make nevilles team slight fav today in a close dull game.
lookin forward to watching the bosch destroy boring spain in the final. bobby martinez talks a lot for a guy always bottom of the table, will be a weeping at that and i will be laugh.