Palacious, Keane and Defoe took us from the bottom 4 to just missing out on a EL when Redknapp first took over.
I think if we had re signed Harry Redknapp (which is perhaps what we should have done) he would be looking to sign a couple of 'old heads' for midfield to make an immediate impact on the team.
You think it’s a great unknown? Plus you seem to be ignoring the limits of these players...but at other times you highlight them..so why do you think Jose has some kind of magic wand?
There is a big difference between signings that get you out of the bottom half and those who get you into the top four though. Today's Palacios equivalent might help though.
You misjudge Levy. He would spend plenty if he thought it was likely to work. But he has seen many clubs spending fortunes and us catching them anyway so why should he think it will work?
We missed out on EL quslification by 2 points that season...it was an incredible turn around...currently we are just 6 points off the top 4 ... that kind of turn around is not unusual...2 or 3 signings of that quality could make a huge difference between now and May.
The point is that we need signings that will play in most matches until May and make a real difference. Defensive midfield, full back and possibly centre back are the only areas where I can see that is a possibility.
What are you basing the assumption that ‘he would spend plenty’ on? He has seen many clubs spending money and us catching them anyway? Really? Maybe a few of the fans and Levy need to look behind them because other clubs are spending money and catching us! The Levy apologists have a lot to answer for
On 1 January that year we were 18 points off top four. By the end of the season we were 21 points off top four. It's much easier to do better than middle of the road teams than catch the top 4.
The facts just don't bear out your argument Spurlock. Spurs have achieved more with less in the transfer market. than any of their top six rivals.We have yet to properly absorb the 4 recent transfers we made. You describe us as Levy apologists I am not here to do that for any of them but if you post your opinion of Levy then you must expect people who disagree with that assessment to comment. It should be fairly clear to anyone taking an interest in football that spending money is no guarantee of success it's far more important how and when you spend it. City & Chelsea are the two prime examples of almost unlimited spending and yes they have won things but right now they are being outplayed by Leicester & Liverpool.
How do Levy 'apologists' make any difference to how we do? And what is there to apologise for after our best ever sequence of League finishes and a CL final?
I should of course have mentioned Man United another club with far greater spending power than us, despite which they have failed to continue the success that Fergusson had or before that Busby. Liverpool with bigger resources have taken 30 years to repeat the success of The Shankly, Paisley, ***an years. During which Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich and Leicester City have all won the title with less resources than their rivals. Let's also look at Sheffield United and see what they managing to do without mega signings. It's all over football the examples of how it's management that makes the difference not just the owner with the big wallet.
Because now you seem to be seriously contemplating the notion that spending money isnt an answer whilst before the Summer gone yourself amongst others we’re doing the maths with regards to the huge amounts that will be available from here on in because that’s the whole point of the new stadium. A few weeks ago Levy was churning out something along the lines of spending money is overrated and now you are along the same lines. I’d understand that if we had a decent scouting network but we don’t. So I’d still like to know what Levy is doing to improve our first team?
I still believe the money is there. The question is whether spending it would make a difference this season. Our squad has one of the highest differences in the PL between its estimated current value and what we paid for it so why do you say our scouting network isn't decent? The only point I am making is the one @Spurf alluded to above. Man Utd have outspent us about 5 seasons running with worse outcomes. Everton have spent way more than us the last two seasons with no effect at all. We've just had our biggest spending window ever and yet people are still complaining.