Well, it’s turned into a semi-interesting week for fans of Tottenham Hotspur – but not in a way many of us would’ve liked it to be.
Following Sunday’s late breaking European Super League nonsense, on Monday morning Spurs took an unexpected step and decided to sack manager Jose Mourinho. Now maybe I’m too cynical for my own good, but this smacks of changing the narrative and trying to drive headlines as nobody can be in any doubt about how badly the ESL has been received, not just at club level, but across the wider footballing world.
European Super League
Love It
Disgraceful Move
There is absolutely only one driver to this – greed and money – and having previously misjudged the mood when it came to Covid and furlough, Daniel Levy, the board and our owner have again monumentally misjudged fans in their chase for what I can only see as a criminal and cartel like ‘closed shop’ competition that gives all those involved a clear unfair advantage over fellow domestic sides – which in turn, ruins the credibility of that leagues competitive nature.
Not a merit based advantage that we currently have, but an advantage wholly gained by a handout for involvement and nothing more.
Fans are hoping to return to a more normal life after Covid, and Spurs pull this stunt now and to me, simply sack Mourinho as a public relations move to deflect attention. It’s contemptible and disgusting behaviour in no way demonstrating what our club should stand for.
We play Southampton this Wednesday evening, I’m not so sure how much I care now.
I understand that you are one of many that have been angered by the ESL, Wentworth. But why should Levy or Lewis feel the need to apologise?
They will say (and have said) that they were involved in the best interests of THFC.
Just because you and others don’t believe this or don’t approve of the proposed ESL. It doesn’t make you right and them wrong. It is still just a matter of opinion.
Personally, I fail to understand why it has created such a fierce commotion across the football world. And even as far as the PM and politicians getting involved.
It all seems to be completely out of all perspective and way over the top.
Totally agree there HT, for me I believe the there is a brainwashing syndrome going on by the tv/media etc, all we have really got is one side to the story, never mind the apologies by some, that’s PR, so not really worth a wank.
Blame the 12, 6 English clubs, but do not look at the real side, that being the Corrupt, bloated fat pigs aka UEFA.
So on we go.
HT…..the supporters protesting outside the ground are very likely the same who want a rich sugar daddy to come along and buy the club and spend their fortune on players. There aren’t any philanthopists like Jack Walker anymore, just businessmen who would all want to join anything that maximised a return on their investment.
Wentworth – just to add to your point about ENIC, the club put out the e mail for season ticket renewals only a couple of weeks ago knowing full well that if the ESL went ahead, the premier league would become a devalued product.
HT – I take your point but pretty well the whole of football came out against the ESL and all of those involved would have known that the ESL would have been good only for their bank balances.
Re Sundays game, City have their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. I wonder how that will affect their team selection. COYS
It’s an interesting one DH as I suggested earlier in the thread. We know Stones is out (not that it means a lot) but you have to wonder if Pep will risk DeBruyne on Sunday even if he has recovered from his injury. I think now the quadruple isn’t possible, and considering their burning desire to win the CL, I think we will see a few of their top stars on the bench at the start but they still have loads of quality players. I don’t think Pep will be considering anything other than winning the LC though!
Niall, how could you not notice how bad Reguilon is? It’s what I’ve been saying for weeks. There is one thing that that this ESL business has decided me on and that’s my preference for entertainment over an imperative to win trophies. Basically the winning of trophies has become nothing more than who spends the most. Put yourself in the shoes of a West Ham fan, no that’s unsavoury, a Crystal Palace fan then. What hope do they have of winning trophies unless bought by a sheik? A closed shop for the uber funded is perhaps the only hope of football returning to a more level playing field for the majority.
LT…totally agree along the lines of “winning trophies. COYS
Good post LT I couldn’t agree more
LT
Probably in the malaise that was our football, I tended to focus on the usual suspects.
Mea culpa, Me culpa, mea maxima culpa, 😉
My suggestion for manager.. G Potter of brighton. Good football side a young manager proved himself in Norway and PL.
Now last night, Lloris made the save of the season… soton full pelt attack on 442 shape, and slowed down 2nd half. Lucas got in the way of sunny twice and showed he is not a CF. But Bale showed his ability again, we need a 352 shape or 442 v city sunday. COYS
We started really well against Everton in a 352 formation.
block…you’re not the first to suggest Graham Potter, the guy Cooper managing at Swansea has also been suggested as a bit of a left field option, apparently has quite a few admirers of his management and playing style.
Just remember sky sports are from angels themselves. Yet most have to pay for it to watch our team. I don’t pay for it anymore.
123spurs….agree with you there, but do not forget BT sport, all had a lot to lose.
Funny re Moura.
Has a fantastic work rate, but a lot of times the blinkers are on and he over runs himself before getting a pass off or a shot at goal. Can this be coached out of him, not sure.
As I said Bale is a game changer, he was just that bit better than anyone one the field last night.
I think Dele has similar attributes, can change a game with that one piece of magic, but has he lost his Mojo and are Spurs the club to bring it back.
Re the manager, As I mooted earlier, I’m gonna sit back enjoy the rest of the season for what it is, and whomever comes, comes.
Who ever leaves, leaves, I’ll see where we are after the Euros.
Lookin forwards to Sunday, hoping for a decent result.
Regarding the new manager, having thought about it for a while, I would have Nagelsman as my first choice followed by Graham Potter. There are risks with all managers but one thing we would get from both of them is good quality football. I love watching Brighton play, with better finishing, they would be much higher in the league. I believe he is an inventive, progressive coach.
The choice we make and factors that any new manger we employ would have to take into account are the possible sale of our top players. I am sure Kane, Son and others are not enthralled by the prospect of no European football or Europa League football at best. One thing is for sure, it will be an interesting summer at Spurs.
I disagree HT. I think Lewis and Levy are only interested in money making for themselves. There was no consultation with officials, coach, players or fans. Greed and self interest. These faceless old fogies have no interest in football or the fans that support the Spurs.
Most of the other owners were polite enough to say sorry, we messed up. Our lot couldn’t care a damn. Very sad.
ww…sorry I do not agree with your post 100%, as for Levy only interested in money for himself, no! could it be about helping to get our debt paid and more dosh being ploughed into the club, as for Lewis maybe, but that could also be to make Spurs a viable prospect for a sale.
As for this ESL thing, apologies haha they ain’t worth a wank or the paper they might be written on, just a PR thing, they all know the fans when allowed back will still turn up in their droves, watch, wait n see.
Again there is also two sides to every story, have we heard from the 6’s their reasons, no we haven’t, so it is all one sided in favour of Sky/BT and the media sensation makers.
As for myself I cannot say Yeah or Nay as I do not know both sides, simple as that. COYS
A major criticism of the proposed ESL was that it was the rich clubs looking after themselves …. lesser clubs could never aspire to sit at their table in the future. The clubs that initially signed up for the ESL were only interested in business profit.
So the back-swell happened and the ESL proposal was stopped in its tracks …. for now. It’s the people’s game, came the cry. That is a concept that most grass level fans cling to.
But …. what difference would it make and who is kidding who?
In every major European League (especially in England) there is a small group (two or three in some leagues) of rich clubs looking after themselves and making it almost impossible for those lesser clubs to aspire to sit at their table in the future. We know that because those clubs have enjoyed fame and fortune for decades.
The media even have a collective name for these clubs ‘The Big Six’ (whoever they are).
The first match I ever saw was between Madrid and Barcelona on a scratchy black and white TV set decades ago. Nothing has changed except I can now watch the same match in colour. Money always looks after money in football.
There is already a Super League inside most domestic leagues.
As so many supporters are so adamant about why the ESL is all about greed and not about the love of football. Does this now mean we should stop slagging off ENIC for not paying so much more money to it’s players? (The going rate as I’ve heard it called)… Should we now not concern ourselves with the constant cries that we should be buying more expensive, more top of the range priced players and paying them vast amounts? And should we now just accept that we are still not in a strong enough financial position to expect THFC to compete with the likes of PSG, City and United? Barca or Real?
Speaking of Barca, they are on the verge of bankruptcy. It was recently leaked that their debts amount to something into the region of £1.1 billion. And due to this, they have not been able to pay Messi and his team mates their full wages.
Speaking of Messi, what he has alone taken out of Barca is said to amount to almost half of that £1.1 billion debt. Then again, he is their prize asset. Albeit one they can in no way, no longer afford.
This is all utter madness! And yet supporters still expect our club to make attempts to compete in the same world as Barca and the other ‘super rich’, and yet debt ridden clubs.
It’s beyond belief!
We can’t on the one hand want to be up there at the top of the pile and yet on the other, complain about how we then go about it. Not if we truly want to compete with the very best.
We can’t have it all… We simply can’t compete, whilst not being seen as to be ‘greedy’, if you like… Or, should I say, financially superior!
So which is it to be? Accept our lot, or try make much more money, and anyhow we can?
HT … Well put.
HT – what the big six did was to take away any semblance of sporting integrity. How would West Ham and Leicester feel if they qualified for the Champions League only to be told they couldn’t compete in it. Instead poorly run mid-table clubs like Spurs and Arsenal are going in instead. How do our season ticket holders feel about being sent out season ticket renewal reminders with the owners knowing full well that if the ESL went forward, the premier league would be a totally devalued product.
On the flip side, the hypocrisy this week for various people in the game is staggering (especially those employed by Sky & BT). Players coming out against it whilst instructing their agents to get more and more money out of their club. The ESL has been inevitable ever since Sky starting pumping huge amounts of money into the game.
Thanks Geof. …………
Hi Doncaster. I do get all that. But imo, the integrity of the game that you and others speak of, went out the window many, many moons ago…
I will point out that I haven’t said that I’m for the ESL. However I did say that I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing. And because of the instant uproar from all and sundry, I still don’t know, because it was stamped down upon so quickly and from all directions. Without any room for serious debate or both sides of the argument to be given a fair shout.
My point has a lot to do with not just the hypocrisy of those that make a fortune from the game as it is, but the huge hypocrisy I see and hear from supporters……..
I won’t go into all this now. It’s far too complex for my sore head. All I know is that if the club’s at the top of the pile are in such serious financial constraints, then the rest will suffer all the more too. More so than ever before……..
Anyway, if there was a ESL, then the likes of WHU would surely have a greater opportunity to enter into the CL than ever before. As the so called top 6, but especially those that are actually in the top 6 of the PL would not then be in their way. 😉
Having now finished reading, I can see there a number of writers seeing things from a different angle and maybe the way things are going.
Demand from many fans, as HT said, for this player that player, pay this wage pay that wage, where is the dosh coming from?
Donny….some good points there, but let me say this would the 2 teams you mentioned, Wham n Foxes, then say add the The Toffees, have been so anti, PR stunt, if they had been invited to join a ESL thing, I do not think so. COYS
HT – you are right, the hypocrisy in the game is staggering and this ESL is the inevitable result of the staggering amounts of money in the game.
I have just listened to a podcast – The football writers podcast from BT Sports and it nearly made me throw up. The demand for fines, points deductions or worse, journalists getting on their high horse one minute and then saying that of course they will be going to the Carabou Cup final on Sunday. They came across as people who hated everything about the game whilst no doubt making a handsome living from it.
I had to turn it off – PompeyYid – I switched to listening to a live album from Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan – far more satisfying.
Donny….that makes sense haha, two very good artists.
BT Sports they are just as bad as Sky, all bloody hypocrits, watching BT last night, the chat before Foxes v WBA, first all 3 expert pundits, Joe Cole, Savage and Chris ? forgot surname, saying how brilliant etc the fans have been blah blah, then in the next breath punish the billionaire owners with £50m fines each, that can go into grass roots football, ok, then fine/deduct 12 pts off of the 6 teams involved, I sat there with my gob open thinking what a thick bunch of nobs you are, firstly the Billionaire’s lawyers will have something to say about the fine, which in turn will cost the FA and the Prem, but the biggest bit of hypocrasy has to be the points deduction, first you build up the fans, well done etc, then you punish them with a points deduction of the Club they love.
You really couldn’t make it up. COYS
No apology from the faceless hierarchy. Just a begrudging statement from our hideaway chairman.
“We regret the anxiety and upset caused by the ESL proposal.
Hmmm.