So, another Transfer Window saga is almost over. This time it’s a fruitful one. There’s little doubt that this was one of the most interesting TWs in recent times for Spurs. And it sends a clear message to anyone who follows football. That message is; Tottenham is serious in its intent.
Levy and the THFC Board have long been criticized by many supporters for keeping his hands in his pocket. Many considered that his long-term plan involved making money rather than building a team that can bring trophy success on the park. And he certainly was not a risk taker.
Levy’s detractors are mainly those supporters who do not have the patience or the vision to understand what he hopes to achieve. They demand instant success on the pitch and silverware for the trophy cabinet. Life rarely works that way…. and football never does.
Obviously everyone associated with THFC, especially the Chairman, want success, too. But to achieve long-term success there has to be a solid foundation on which to base all of the club’s operations. Levy has long been committed to making his vision a reality and has worked steadily toward that end. We have all witnessed the amazing development of our facilities in recent years. He is wise enough to know that he cannot please every supporter because, well, because everyone is different. But he is focused and motivated enough to maintain his efforts to make his vision a reality. The product that is THFC today is a vastly different product than it was fifteen years ago …. and in a good way.
The perception by some seems to suggest that the THFC members of the management Board are either stupid or out of touch with reality. And I don’t think anyone considers Levy to be stupid. Without doubt he understands that to make money in business (and football has become big business) a football club needs to achieve success on the park. That’s what Levy wants, too.
It takes a great deal of time, and many things have to come together, for a club to reach the heights of its aspirations. Few have the financial resources to try. Few achieve it. And there are so many very good reasons why they fail. Not long ago Tottenham looked, and played like, potential champions. But it wasn’t to be. That chapter, and opportunity, has now passed and Tottenham have had to start rebuilding again. All clubs go through the same process every few years.
Levy progresses the club in his own time and in his own way. He’s the boss. That’s how it works. He won’t progress the club in the way I want, or in the way anybody else wants. He has a plan and he is intent on following it. Comparing the club now to how it was fifteen years ago suggests he is going in the right direction.
Levy has taken a huge risk by bringing Gareth Bale back to The Lane in view of his age, lack of recent game time, and tendency to suffer injuries. He has taken another risk by appointing Jose as the club manager. For despite his trophy success with his previous clubs he remains an enigma. His ability to manage and support his players when the going gets tough poses a few questions. Tottenham have the players. It’s up to Jose to make them winners. In the past Jose has not been one for the long term in his managerial career. Levy is planning for the long term.
All transfers are risks but the risks posed by bringing Bale and Jose to The Lane are at the upper end of the scale. Maybe Levy is a risk taker after all. He has made some sound signings, and he has opened his wallet and negotiated some clever deals in the most economically troubled times the world has seen since he became Chairman.
But Levy is not just the Chairman of THFC; he is a supporter. Come the day when he leaves his current position behind I would still expect to see him at the ground on match days.
THFC is a strong club with world class facilities. It is a club which is respected wherever the game is played. All Spurs supporters can be proud of this. And the vision that leads Daniel Levy onwards is alive and well. Levy should get credit for this. My overall sense as I write this is that, for THFC, the good times are coming.
Interesting debate on this thread.. at the end of the day we are all spurs fans, and want the club & team to do well and win trophies. In 21 years we won 2 cups, 1999 2008. While this is not deemed successful, spurs have had a lot of off field problems to deal with. ENiC take over, various managers, UK ecomomy recession 2008 – 2010, rebuild infrastructures / training facilities to get away from A Sugars garden in chigwell (lol) and a new stadium, with dozens of setbacks. (original new stadium design was ready in 2007)
Just as we are finally in a position to move forward, .. another setback.. COVID-19. As this has affected worldwide football clubs and economies of countries, 1m people have died.
IMO levy / joe / thfc board have done very well in doing these infrastructures and £m’s expenditure and recently more £m;s on transfers, which appeases fans and shows the last 6 years or so “silverware suffering” . are in the past, and the intent of Levy / Joe’s commitment to THFC. COYS
Yes folks
This was a great thread all round and some interesting posts from all parties.
To quote earlier it is just our opinion we won’t even change Spurs never mind change the world.
For all our disagreements (and I have been involved in some) we are all football fans but in particular we are something really special we are Spurs fans we love a certain type of football our team is known fora swashbuckling, cavalier, entertaining style of football we may have only won 2 trophy but fek me we looked good doing it. So many ooohs and Ahhhhhs and nearlys.
Enjoy this commonality whilst having minor disagreements.
This is what THIS is all about.
Cummon guys COYS.
Well folks just watching the England Wales game.
Bit of a, waste of time really outside of Grealish and Ings I don’t see too much coming through.
And this is from a neutral. HK ‘S England place is safe and Dele should be back.
ND – I did say a while back ago I still thought Dele was England’s best ACM and also 1 of the best in the Prem – but he needs to get his fitness and especially form back 100% – problem is going to find it hard now competing with the likes of Lo Celso and possibly even N’Dombele!
Let’s see how it goes – hopefully he knuckles down and proves a point to JM – hoping so anyway!
Just read something I didn’t like very much:
last season for Gedson – 1.5m Euros, this season for Gedson 3m Euros plus his wages on top of course – can’t even get in our EL squad – waste of bloody money and we’re hardly going to pay 50m+ Euros to sign him next summer either – what the hell was this deal all about honestly (LOL)?!
EJ
Re Dele agreed let’s hope he gets his head right. For me that’s, what it’s all about.
Re Gedson, you gotta stick your toe in the water rather this than a N’koudou scenario.
I don’t think he’s a bad player, he maybe needed a better chance, or he was one of those neither nor players, like Walcott, Joe Cole, not quite a midfielder not quite a striker or maybe the team doesn’t quite suit.
There are those out there. They ain’t bad but just aren’t quite fitting in.
The two above, Wiltshire, Sane (at City), Barkley, I think Winksy falls into that neither nor position.
Can we afford two in our team.
ND, hope you and your kin are well?
That was a very good post there, I have to say I agree with it, players who are here nor there.
Off topic mate, I see the “deaf!” Brian Johnson is back with AC/DC getting ready for the new upcoming album, cant wait.
Watched the game last night, well half of it, sorry fell asleep so missed the 2nd half, but what I did see…simply dismal. COYS
Morning guys!
Niall…..your description of Gedson pretty much sums up the situation with Dele in my view, I don’t think his style of play fits the newer formations that we have been moving towards. He has always performed best as one of the 3 in a 4231 formation which was the one that seemed to be Poch’s preferred system, I just don’t think he works in 433 or 343 formations, I guess he might work as one of the 5 in a 352 but that might limit his opportunities to play.
There is no doubt he brings things to the game others don’t, for example, he does the unexpected which can wrong foot defences and creates openings for others, but if he wants a future at Spurs I believe he will have to convert himself into a ball carrying central midfielder rather than a ‘flicks and tricks’ advanced midfielder.
It’s good to see Chris Hughton back in the game, would be nice if we could help him out by loaning Forest some of our academy players to give them some experience at championship level.
TQ …. Do you think our players need experience at championship level because you expect us to end up there next season? ( Sorry, mate … couldn’t resist it!)
Haha!……morning/evening Geof.
Really excited about the Wham game a week on Sunday, at the risk of ending up with egg on my face it’s time someone put them back in their place after their freak result at Leicester. :- )
TQ
Good point re Dele.
I think he has the style and vigour to play in that area. He does have that extra to be good in various locations on the pitch. There are those players who are good in various positions eg Milner, who appears to be able to play well in any position. Is Dele Good enough for any position I don’t know.
But I think he can play in different forward /midfield areas.
PY
All good here thanks.
Yep re-last night. This is why I dislike much international football, particularly friendlies.
For me
This was a” pat on the back” for fringe players, it may be a chance to look at young blood, but for me it just breaks up the league.
But I do have a bias as our national team over here are rubbish. And not worth watching.
Re Accdacca good to see some old time Rock coming back. Stay safe.
https://thisisfutbol.com/2020/10/blogs/premier-league/tottenham-hotspur-alasdair-gold-gareth-bale-daniel-levy-transfer-latest-transfer-reveal-transfer-update-reaction-thfc-news/
So £600K x 40% = £240K.
£240K x 40 weeks = £9.6m.
Minus a supposed £1m discount – that means only £8.6m in wages.
Fair play if he stays for next season it’ll be £12.5m in wages roughly for the 52 weeks from 1/7/21-30/60/22!
Great going DL, etc ………………!
Then again we’ve probably blown the best part of 10m Euros (in between fess and wages) on Gedson’s loan for sure which given the current Euro rate is around £9m – poor showing here unfortunately but guess we were desperate last January with Sissoko’s injury, Wanyama leaving (added to the fact was always injured and off form by then anyway) and Lo Celso, N’Dombele and then even Dier (as was still being used as a DMC) all in and out of fitness/form at the time (Skippy also being very in-experienced) and the only we could really and truly rely on was Winks so I guess we needed cover desperately in there at CM ASAP! That said for 1 reason or another it’s not as if he played a lot though but there you go and it was and is what it was and is LOL ………….!
Morning EJ,
I don’t see the recruitment of Gedson as being for the reason(s) you suggest, he is young and inexperienced himself while Skipp at least has some PL experience. I think you are maybe being a little harsh when evaluating the potential cost of the loan and like to think he is one for the future rather than someone who was brought in to provide immediate cover for our experienced midfielders.
HI TQ …. I’m not sure I’m ready for the Hammers match. I still haven’t got over our last outing.
The main concern for me is Antonio Valencia, he is a bull of a player and when up for it can be a handful for even the very best defenders. Keep him quiet and I don’t think they have a lot of threat.
Hi TQ – at 50m+ Euros there is no way we are buying him or that he is 1 for the future – absolutely ridiculous price and even the loan fee was extortionate (1.5m+3m) – given we’re paying the same 3m Euros for Vinicius who does have plenty of experience in Portugal already, whereas Gedson was very limited still at the time there and even more so now with us in the Prem – we were desperate for cover IMHO and thus they also took advantage and pulled our pants down a bit LOL – then again we’ve probably done it back to them now with Vini – so honour’s even LOL!
For me, the time to evaluate whether Fernandes has proved to be a worthy loan oy not, will be at the end of the season.
Apart from Tanganga he (along with Foyth) is on the lowest weekly wage at the club… So he could well prove to be a complete bargain for us but without having to buy him. Who knows?
I think he is a very talented young player that may yet be of great use over the course of the season.
If we have injuries to either or both of Hojbjerg and Winks, he could prove to be very useful indeed to Jose. Especially as Sissoko is not exactly a spring chicken and Skipp is out on loan.
seems like a horror show my matt D and our target rondon subbed at HT. El ur posting numbers are you on the THFC books ? Are you 1000 % accurate about the numbersbur posting of nkt dont post or persume.
Have you been on the sherbet 123? :- )