Regular readers of Vital Spurs will already know my thoughts on Tottenham Hotspur’s decision to furlough non-playing staff at the club, particularly doing so prior to coming to an agreement with the playing staff so they could rightly share the burden and show some solidarity – so naturally, I applaud the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust and their ongoing efforts to see the move reversed (which it now has been).
Much has been said during the 10 days since @SpursOfficial announced their intention to reduce salaries and to furlough a proportion of non-playing staff. We thought it was time we explained our position, in detail. 👇https://t.co/NzIvmJTsro
— THST (@THSTOfficial) April 10, 2020
The full statement, as they explain their reasoning and their hopes, make perfect sense to me as football as a whole should be coming together at this moment in time, and not just protecting a club in isolation, but also ensuring the industry as a whole is in a position to come through this intact.
Sadly, given the self protectionist guff we’ve seen from Gordon Taylor at the Professional Footballers’ Association, and Richard Masters’ response from the Premier League, that thought is the furthest from their minds at the moment as they focus solely in on their own renumeration.
With the players themselves setting up their charitable NHS fund, whilst the move should be applauded, it’s left a lot of fans – like me – further disgusted with the wider attitude of footballers.
I should quickly say not all footballers and there are those who have sensible stayed quiet, but the fact it has been used by some to bite back at valid criticism in the direction of footballers and even worse, when you have the likes of Robert Snodgrass suggesting footballers should ‘earn respect’ for simply paying their taxes – the clueless bubble that Premier League football lives in is painted even more starkly.
Thanks @MattHancock it’s great to have your backing……. in future do your homework on what we do and who we are as people before coming for us. Over ÂŁ1billion in tax and NI PAYMENTS doesn’t even earn RESPECT anymore. It’s not about us it’s about the real heroes…The NHS ❤️👌 https://t.co/V9MLomN7KO
— Robert snodgrass (@robsnodgrass7) April 9, 2020
Football’s response was never about the NHS or taxes, it was about playing their part in firstly, protecting normal club staff who make their lives possible, their club and then – for me – helping out fellow clubs and playing colleagues (who were, in turn, playing their own part and protecting normal staff).
Given the wide-ranging opinions offered up so far, I expect not everyone will agree – but given I’m so steadfast in my thoughts here, I’d certainly welcome the opposite perspective.
I wasn’t actually going to have another mini-rant like this given the topic had been well covered, but our friends over at Vital Villa had their say over the weekend, and not only was I pretty much in 100% agreement, it got my own juices flowing.
So given this isn’t quite ‘furlough’ related and comes at things from a different angle, I thought it was worth raising.
Given the announcement made by Spurs earlier this afternoon, I have had to rewrite some of the above, but I can only applaud the Board for listening to the concerns raised, and although some may question why it took so long to reverse the decision, at least it has been reversed.
I can also only applaud the following announcements.
Here’s the detailed plan of how we are transforming our stadium facilities for @NorthMidNHS. pic.twitter.com/qjpxtLOUaG
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 13, 2020
Now, over to the players, Spurs have played their part.
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PY – I take your point to some degree – we don’t know the exact inner workings of the club. But when we hear past managers complain about what dealing with Levy was like, it does give us a bit of insight.
AVB ranting about not getting the players he wanted at the time, MP calling himself a head coach because he had little say in how transfers were approached, not to mention the numerous fall outs when we had a director of football (Jol/Ramos/Commolli etc).
No smoke without fire.
I am very curious to see how things will work out with Mourinho. I doubt Mourinho will accept a situation in which he doesn’t have an important say, for very long.
It seems Mourinho got a player that he rated in January (Gedson Fernandes), on a team-friendly deal, which might be a sign that compromises can be found. But if Levy tries to impose an Nkoudou-type player on Jose, I don’t see that going over too well.
BS…we are nearly there, agreeing that is haha! anyway joking aside, yes the saying “no smoke without fire” could be true regards Levy and then again it could just be bitter ex-managers getting there two penneth in knowing Levy is a thick skinned scapegoat and will never come out to the media to defend himself.
AVB getting sacked after 5 minutes work, so bitchiness.
Poch knowing he could not take the team any further and thus worked his ticket with his pathetic comments to the media.
Jol, Ramos, Commolli etc lets be honest here we just do not know what really happened, Levy has always been targeted in the media and by some fans, knowing he will not respond to either section, so as I said before he is always the scapegoat.
Levy will never force, not that I believe he does that as some think he does, players on Jose that he does not want, as you said compromises will be met, and am hoping the future re-build will be good.
It all comes down to the same scenario “we just do not know” you and others could quite rightly be correct but on the other hand you could be simply wrong.
Keep safe mate and your kin, ditto all you fellow YIDS. COYS 4 ever
I don’t know PY… I think Levy is a sucker for a bargain, and if he sees a player that he thinks he can make a healthy profit on, he will pull the trigger regardless of whether that player is actually worth a place in the squad. Time will tell.
All this talk of historical Levy doings is… historical !
What matters now is that logically…. Levy has completed 3 steps (IMO) of his business model…….full control of the club (ENIC)….. build infrastructure, Enfield Training ground… WHL Stadium (and multiple sources of revenue producing). Now focus is on the football squad, with a manager who has proved he can win trophies everywhere he has been. Once football and the world gets on way back to normal, there will be many transfer deals to be negotiated.. We have possibly the best chairman for this… Daniel Levy. COYS
If by best chairman, you mean best at aggravating other parties and haggling over nominal amounts, then yes,nobody does that better than Levy.
A lot of good argument put forward. I can see both sides re – the Stadium conumdrum. There is an argument for making ours the best stadium in Europe/the world at present also a”go to venue”not just for football but for other events and for the experience also the fact that this sets us up both training wise and stadium wise for the next few decades. However from a purely football perspective I can see BS’s argument that less could’ve been more. Which would leave us with a good large stadium but also we would’ve had money to invest in our team rather than the two or so seasons of holding firm with the squad we had. Also the the lack of foresight in not renewing contracts during this period.
I’m still with PY in this we’ll never really know who was offered player wise , what the manager wanted, and how much the incumbent players had a part to play in this seasons events. I will agree that some decent money has been spent this season however it is the lack of investment in players and maybe an apparent intransigence (from Levy) in the age of players we signed. Why do they always need to be under 27. I would argue that there is a gain (all be it short term) in a Van der Vart, David’s, Parker, or Gallas. If signing an older player gains us a trophy or two for a season or two, why not.
I may have opened another debate here. BS we won’t agree on the Leicester season except they won it we didn’t on that game you mentioned against us where Huth scored. I remember we battered them. I just feel that in that era we were as good as any and better than most. Please stay safe folks. COYS.
ND….another great post from yourself, as you have looked at both sides of the argument/debate, it still seems to me that both BS and myself are correct, so the answer is somewhere in the middle, thus easier to sit on the fence lol!
The buying of an older experienced player, I am 100% with you there, there is so much he can offer to the squad, thus getting good value in the end.
All my fellow YIDS keep bloody safe. COYS 4 ever
In addition to my last post, other than a back up striker and a RB, I believe the most important position to be filled is at CDM, a no holds barred type who will kick his own Granny, lol!, to stop anyone getting through, thus in the end shoring up the defence. COYS 4 ever
100%PY I’m with you there I’ve splinters on my ars* sitting on this fence. Looks like we’re looking at a CDM right now. But I would also want a RB. Stay safe folks COYS.
PY… As I have a non splintered backside on this thread.. I am sitting comfortably 🙂
I would say that we need 3 top players, a box to box mf… RB… CF. meantime… our existing players now fully rested and free from injury can work on Enfield training ground and in games to fully re-establish the squad harmony and step up their game performances. As it may transpire, games can be played without a full stadium of fans… it’s the same for both teams, so I expect spurs players 100% effort for 90 mins each game.
We have no margin for less than 3 points per game now… hopefully, that is the CL qualification. COYS
ND & b108s….thanks for your responses regards your arse’s/backsides lol! its put a “hole” new meaning to debating, sorry about that am getting either dryer or sadder take your pick.
b108s, I believe we have that box to box MF in N’Dombele, he has had time to get his act together now, for me the biggest priority is that “take no prisoners, kick your own Granny” stop em at all costs, no chance of getting through Def Mid, who helps the defence and allows the more ball playing mids do their bit. A RB and Striker = must haves.
I have a question regards re-starting the Prem, Corvid19 testing, who gets the priority? rich Prem players/clubs or NHS staff/carers etc. Just a thought or is it simple money pays. COYS 4 ever
PY.. NHS / Carers are already getting tested Covid-19. I would expect the PL clubs pay for their own testing i.e. players / stadium staff etc. privately. Referees / officials tested by FA / PL again privately. VAR staff by PL but not many people !
Haha…..Gary Neville is a dopey pillock, he is suggesting taking all of the PL players and staff to a sterile nation, i.e. one that doesn’t have any virus cases, to finish the PL season there. I’m sure the population of any such country would love to be invaded by 500 plus people from another that has one of the worst outbreaks in the world! lol
The season should be void, what is all the fuss about finishing the league, the health and lives of the public should be priority. Once this end we can get back to some sort of normality, if a 2and wave hits us, enjoy going back to lock down for another 6 months. Coys
123spurs….spot on there with your post 1/5/20. COYS 4 ever
Just after watching match of their day, the famous Chelsea v Tottenham encounter, rose lost the head when ahead and also Poch but every team wanted Leicester to win Premier along with refs. The following season we Tottenham Hotspur peaked but just fell short of winning. In my honest humble opinion we went backwards after that Chelsea winning season because of zero investment for two YEARS.. DANNY BOY HOW’S THE STADIUM OF DREAMS FOR EVERYTHING BUT FOOTIE and all the expenses you have laiden on Tottenham Hotspur.
Hi Pauric this is the very point I was trying to make to BS in an earlier post. In that season we were playing against Media, Refs, and other teams/supporters who wanted to give Leicester the title. They were given those little decisions to get the result. Good post m8. COYS.
The favouritism regards Leic’ Fc that season has raised its ugly head again, so bloody true, am surprised by anyone who couldn’t or refused see it.
Pauric…a so true a post, well said mate.
Keep on keeping safe all my fellow YIDS. COYS 4 ever
Hi everyone, hope you are all keeping well.
So little to talk about football wise but there are a few credible stories circulating. If you can believe the hacks Willian has been persuaded to join us on a free in the summer, how do we feel about this if true considering he fu**ed us off in favour of the chavs?
I saw a report this morning that the blades on loan goalie Dean Henderson’s contract at Manu expires in June, we should be all over this, at just 23 with considerable PL experience already he would be a great buy to replace Hugo if not next season then certainly the following one. I really rate him, he is better than Pickford and could soon be England’s number one if he continues with the form he has shown this year.
I see there is still no fix, it’s probably why there have been no new posts for 3 days, there is little point in posting on random stuff if it can’t form part of a conversation because of the delay in posts appearing. Vital clearly don’t see it as an issue requiring serious investigation. Doesn’t this go back to around December?
TQ2… We are all bored and fed up on here. VS has no real tech. support now from Vital Football.. just adverts as click bait perhaps ? As this Issue being going on too long. As we are all in lockdown… VF techs. working from home can surely fix this server problem?