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.
IMO… Dele excels as a no.10, passing to HK10. bale, sonny and ghosting in and following up shots loose balls etc. So as a 433 he would need some freedom to play his game, albeit with some direction from Jose. Alternatively, 4231 shape would be jose’s way of playing different tactical depending on opponents… for example change shape at half time, if we are being outplayed. So giving us a variety of tactics we will be difficult to play against
block 108…..I can’t see Jose playing a particular formation just so he can fit one player in.
TQ2.. what I am saying is… jose has said many times he adapts his teams tactical game depending on opponents. Also the players and injuries / loss of form is taken into account. So Dele can get back into thhe team considering the above, and of course his desire to regain fitness and form. COYS
BS
Reading my mind there.
I think JM has several tactics he now likes to employ. + We are fighting on several fronts at present which should pretty much use the whole squad if we remain successful in each competition.
As you said there are also injuries to consider.,if and when they come.
But as I stated earlier we are more now than just a high press team(much as I liked that).
I think JM has now taken the predictability out of our side. Which makes it difficult IMO for the opposing manager to set a team out to beat us. But there is always the ref who never seems to be on our side.
Niall D… was your post to me or Belgian Spurs ?… lol
Yes , how many times have we said poch had no plan B or C when spurs were struggling in games? At least jose has multiple tactical plans. 🙂 Refs. have their own agendas, especially when Man Utd are one of the teams playing…. I think it was a PL record for any team to get 23 penalties in a season.
Sorry B108
I’m a d’ck.
Tryin to write with her rabbatin on to do something for her.
I could sit all day but the minute the very minute I get on this site she’s on my back.
You talking bout spurs again ya De ya De yaaa.
Any wonder I get mixed up who I’m writing to. 🙁 🙂
Niall…..LOL, do what I did mate and get rid of her, divorce I mean – not literally! 🙂
Been there once £110,000 later. No won’t do that again. Staying married.
Point taken Niall…….mine was pretty costly too! 🙁
Interesting reports about a bust up between OGS and Bruno Fernandes in the dressing room at half-time last Sunday. It is claimed that Bruno was very critical of the effort of his team mates but also of the tactics employed by OGS. Probably why the Poch rumours have started again, would make more sense to ditch the manager rather than their current best player. Shame really, imagine our current squad with a playmaker like Bruno in it!
Bit worrying about the reports HK10 has suffered a muscle injury in training, I’m not sure how seriously to take it as it could be being used as a reason for him only playing one of the two games to appease Jose and everyone else who doesn’t want to see him overplayed?
agree TQ bruno is top class, OGS won’t last much longer it seems now. Kane should not be playing any internationals IMO, the guy needs a break, rest up and play some snooker.
If Man Utd sack Ole, and appoint poch. can we see the immediate hard pressing , running poch instructs his players? I doubt it as utd players are not that type of squad. So transfers out in January, (pogba?) will not be a surprise, which means rebuilding the squad, and utd results not consistent.
IMO… Spurs are on an ascendancy and Utd 5th at seasons end. COYS
true block poch like to press, but surely if you don’t have the players to press a manger cant and shouldn’t do pressing tactics, formation and tactics should suit the players not the other way around.
The trouble with having Bruno in our squad…….there would be constant squabbling with Harry over who would take the penalties! 🙂
TQ …. I can’t see that question coming up. Who’s going to take the ball from Harry?
Hi Geof, are you watching the Chelsea v City game? I watched our game against Manu yesterday, there is no doubt we have improved as a squad but still a way off the top 4. Kennedy is proving a good signing as a defensive midfielder but we really need a strong box to box player to drive our play forwards. Looking forward to Morgan starting (hopefully in the NLD next Sunday) as we are a bit sterile up front.
Block
The only way that United team is getting top five is to get more penalties than last season. Impossible.
Or is it??? 🙁
Strange England line-up with 3 right backs in the side! Good to see HK10 isn’t starting but I guess he will get 15-20 minutes if fit and needed.
just suffered watching ireland v wales, very poor standard of football, id stay from rondon doesn’t fill me with confidence. How Maguire is playing at international level is beyond me.
dier is not international standard.
As I said earlier
These internationals do nothing but break up the league.
What they should do is put an extra week on the post Christmas break for these games and again 2 weeks at the end of the season. You could easily fit 6 to 8 international games in then. Have the squad with you for a full week or 2 without worry of injury or possible up coming league matches.