There's plenty of conclusion-jumping in that, not least Levy suggesting that we play with two strikers meaning he wanted Adebayor playing. How did they draw that conclusion? Soldado and Defoe are ahead of Ade in the pecking order, whilst Kane and Coulthirst have had more time on the pitch recently. Also, the part about Moutinho is patently false - the deal was undone due to a third party complications holding the deal up (an issue that Porto resolved in January, before selling him to Monaco in the summer), nothing to do with haggling. Also, at which point this season did he appear more flexible with his tactics?
Odd coincidence I'll give you that! In JV's case he's been played out of position at LB most of the season, covering our ludicrously self-imposed shortage in that place. He has voiced his displeasure on social media before all this. I do not blame him, its a world cup year and on the back of last season would rightfully have fancied his chances there for Belgium in the summer with Kompany's iffy fitness, but he couldn't get a run in his favoured position.
I'll need verification, but to clarify the Moutinho deal for you hbic, yes there was a 3rd party to deal with, but I believe a member of our management handling the paperwork made a mess of it on deadline day...no names so don't ask! I am 99% that is what happened.
Just like someone (at the club) told WIllian where to be so he was photographed all over the press and alert chelsea about us possibly signing him!
There allegedly was an eff up with the Moutinho deal. And also allegedly one reason why Baldini was subsequently brought in (so its like never happen again) .
I'm sorry to see AVB go much as I was sorry to see Harry leave, and for much the same reason: I'd come to associate both managers with the team I've grown to love quite unreasonably. They were both passionate about their teams, and they both got sacked. I felt less bad about Harry, as he wanted another job more. AVB wanted to stay at Spurs, and got fired because Spurs fire everyone within a couple of years, or because he wasn't a good enough manager. Both possibilities are rather sad. I'm amazed how many say he should have done better with 100 million spent on players. We had a net spend of 0. We changed most of our squad. The first fact is a neutral. The second is a huge negative. How that means AVB should have done brilliantly I don't know. It would be like your employer eliminating your retirement account and giving you a raise exactly equal to what he commandeered, then saying, "You should be grateful for the big raise." Only worse. Both years he was here, he lost his key man just before the start of the season. The manager I saw doesn't seem to be the one most others did. He was mostly just trying very hard to do his best. Would he really have been such a purveyor of dull football if Levy's blundering had not cost us Moutinho? And yet. And yet he simply could not let a good run go on. He always had a bizarre tendency towards naming a shock horror lineup at the worst possible moment to end a good run--not just this Liverpool game, but the last one as well. I read it as control-freakishness getting the better of his passion for the game. But it is striking also how many seem to agree that the best we've ever done isn't good enough for us. We deserve better based on what?
and notso if thats true about the Moutinho deal, I knew it! said that Levy never wanted him and they where never interested in making the deal.
It's all relative, though, isn't it? Sure, we've done better than at any time before, but so have another of other teams, including the likes of Saints. If most of the EPL is moving forward, and we are moving forward with it, has there really been any improvement at all? I don't think so; I think, at best, we've remained the same. Therefore, any suggestion of "improvement" has to be taken out of the equation. What has been evident, however, is the fact that (a) our football is about as bland as any of us older fans have ever seen it, (b) many in the squad seem to have fallen into the same malaise that affected the players under Ramos' watch, (c) good players have looked decidedly ordinary, when we all know they are far, far better than that, (d) our defence, previously one of our stronger facets, has turned into a complete shambles, (e) despite an embarrassment of riches in midfield, AVB never seemed to be able to find his best combo, and (f) (to crown it all), we still can't seem to find the key to unlock our strikers. If you're looking for a reason as to why AVB got sacked, pick the bones out of that lot.
And why was Baldini hired, in terms of his reputation, who recommended him to Levy? Levy has always wanted a DOF for the one of the reasons you mention SC, but just curious as to how Baldini was made the number 1 choice.
He was hired because Levy wanted a return of a DOF, a concept AVB was comfortable with and both wanted Baldini and both agreed he would be an asset to the club. As for who recommended him, well I don't know exactly how many may have recommended him, but I do know David Pleat was one who did.
Edited my above post befoe you replied, as yes I know why Levy has wanted a DOF, its his ideal system but now hearing David Pleat recommended him says enough!
Pleat is someone who Levy has regularly listened to over the past few years. He is a regular spectator at our youth games and has been unofficially working for us on an " as and when required" arrangement for much of the past two years. More recently, he has been mentoring Tim Sherwood who has been effectively a DOF to the youth set up. It was in fact Plet who was able through his contacts, to accelerate the transfer of Lewis Holtby to us when it looked as if the deal might collapse last January. Getting back to Baldini, there is now a "committee" who discuss all potential new signings. Baldini makes the recommendations and then puts them to AVB, his coaches, Tim Sherwood and Levy nd the company secretary. So for AVB to imply the summer signings were not his, is not strictly true. This arrangement was also a recommendation from Pleat as when he was at Forest, he felt having an "acquisitions committee" to underwrite all incoming signings, worked well. Although I don't think their manager at the time, Billy Davies, agreed with it.
Interesting info re Pleat, I don't particularly hold him in high regard but we only know him via media or from his management. Levy for me listens to the wrong people, he has people he calls for advice or to discuss certain matters and decides to trust them and obviously has decided David Pleat is someone to trust. By the sounds of it Pleat is recommending frequently and is that really healthy for us as a club.
I perhaps should have emphasised that since Baldini has arrived, Pleat has been very much on the periphery of things, but certainly over the previous two seasons, was definitely someone who Levy sought out for advice. This does of course go back in to Harry's time at the club and this was with his blessing.
I'm beginning to wonder if there is not a soap waiting to be written called "day by day at Tottenham Hotspur"! with Peter O'Toole playing Levy......but it's too late now.......
Showing my age here, but the BBC did have a soap many years ago based on a football club. It was called United. Must have been in the late sixties/early seventies.
