There's a few posts I agree with, which have summed up the window very well. Lots of positives to take from it, and a few negatives. Unfortunately the negatives are quite big negatives. We can't change it now, so we move on and get behind the kids who'll be given plenty of chances now. I'm excited to see the likes of Alli, Pritchard and co. It's about time we had a few more hungry passionate players wearing our shirt. However, over the last 24 hours I've been trying to work out what I think has actually happened behind the scenes. Not only yesterday, but Levy's thought process during this window. There's no way we'll ever know the answers, but it's fun to speculate. So....I wonder if our "Plan A" all along, were the purchases of Son and Clinton? An out and out striker in today's market costs an absolute fortune, we all know that. Prices being paid around deadline day are just astronomic and affordable for us. - even Soldado's fee 2 years ago was from the bale funds. There's been a lot of speculation about how the "payment structure" for berahino was set up. Some sources saying it was £5m up front with the rest in installments. Some saying differently. Who knows what is true. Regardless, west brom wanted £25m or so. Where the hell were we going to get £25m from? (bearing in mind our track record of not making a net spend, and the stadium etc etc.) We've not spent any money in years, we weren't suddenly gonna cough up £25m, were we? let alone a DM for £20 mill aswell. I feel like a moron for hoping that we'd see a £25m "marquee striker" holding up our shirt on deadline day, but IMO, it was just a day of carefully planned unacceptable offers made to West Brom because Levy didn't actually want to make the signing. Did anyone notice on deadline day this year that sky were getting so much info very quickly about the 3rd bid, 4th bid, 5th bid. Since 'Arry, we've not had info leaked in that quantity on deadline day, ever. Even during the moutinho saga, sky found out, but no one knew what the hell was going on all day. It does make me wonder if it was a plan that was cleverly executed to make us all think "we tried". It also might explain why levy leaves these big "must have" signings until the last day. - Because they are make believe. But he has to be seen to be doing the right thing for the fans. And to top it off, at the death, our net spend before the sale of lennon was around 4m and we sold him for a similar figure which balances the books. Perfect for Levy. This is just me speculating of course, but I honestly don't think we should be thinking about players who cost "£Xm" until we've worked out who the player is who's leaving to make those funds available. Sounds obvious, but it seems more silly getting carried away by who we need, when facts show us that we're not going to spend any money. "Who are we going to sell?" is what I'll be asking myself from now on. I don't actually have a problem with our lack of funds at the moment which stops us from competing. I can also deal with the fact that because we haven't quite got that experience or depth, it might cost us any form of success for now. What gets me is the expectation of our manager by Levy and the chopping and changing. I honestly don't know what I'll do if Poch is sacked and we have to start again. the thought of groundhog day is terrifying. I really hope this season is a success in terms of the maturity of our youngsters and Poch getting us playing exciting football with the squad he's got. There'll be inevitable pressure on them, but I suppose it's a good job they play for spurs and have fans like us!!! COYS
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/window-wrap-summer-2015-020915/ Very open, honest, revealing and above all robust letter from Levy and Poch explaining the logic (or lack thereof) in the transfer window. Many of the points mentioned are ones that have been brought up here on numerous occasions: 1) The stadium is our absolute #1 priority, and transfer policy is reflected in this with outgoings needing to outweigh incomings. Levy goes so far as to say " I make no apologies for being ambitious for our Club" when speaking about this. 2) Poch clearly sees, or has been told to see by a bald man holding a P45, Son and Njie as options up front. 3) The whole Berahino opera was WBA blowing what was going on entirely out of proportion and making things needlessly public and toxic. 4) This is the only point I and many other strongly disagree with I suppose. Poch says: "I have been very clear that we would only add players that we felt would improve us and if any one player was not possible then I prefer we do not add for the sake of it." ....Yes, we know that. But no-one in their right minds was marching on your office demanding an improvement on Kane! Such a player would've cost us north of £50m! We were specifically asking and hoping for a player who isn't as good as Kane so that he'd be happy sitting on the bench as cover, pure and simple. Now, saying that Son and Njie are options up front may be true but we all know full well that barring a miracle they aren't going to be the best options, besides for which Son will be starting regularly at RM - so who plays up front if Chadli and Kane are injured and Son and Njie are playing in midfield?! Exactly. What we were after was an Austin, a Rondon, even a bleeding Berbatov, a someone - anyone who could do a job 10-15 times a year, Such a player would've been well within our budget and wage bracket, and could've allowed Son and Njie to develop and flourish in their natural positions. Oh well, it's nice to actually have some communication and explanation from chairman and manager. Far more than the poor sods at Arsenal get http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/window-wrap-summer-2015-020915/
“We have never, as a Club, spoken about another team’s players and I am not about to do so now. However, I do want to make a few general points regarding transfers. “Firstly, there is hardly a transfer concluded across Europe which doesn’t include staged payments. This is particularly so when significant amounts such as £20m-£30m are involved - players don’t come cheaply these days. “Secondly, we do not make anything personal. None of the proposals, discussions or negotiations we undertake involve any personal elements or ego - everything we do is in the interest of what is best for our Club. “Thirdly, we never make anything public, particularly in the best interests of the players involved. Making aspects such as transfer requests public is wholly disrespectful to a player. “Our pragmatic player trading has been important in the way we have run the business of the Club and in getting us to the position where we have now been able to start work on a new stadium - the one thing that has the ability to take this Club to the next level of competitiveness. I make no apologies for being ambitious for our Club and looking to deliver future success for our fans." Somebody get Jeremy Peace some aloe vera, because he just got BURNED.
Personally I saw that as further confirmation that Poch is a "yes" man. Some of the comments are just embarrassing.
"'I think he's a great competitor and a good sort to have at your club...I have always liked him" - Harry Redknapp, following the signing of Ryan Nelsen "He's got good movement, can score goals but probably needs a change...I can remember speaking to Rio Ferdinand and he said he was the best forward he'd played against." - Harry Redknapp, following the signing of Louis Saha Just saying...
What would you have had him say, O.S? Come out and directly criticise his bosses' strategy? Mourinho did that a few weeks ago and look where it got him - no Stones, no decent back up striker and no cover in central midfield. Whether or not we like it, the stadium is Levy's ace of spades in every discussion like this. He's nigh on untouchable for it as none of us, yourself included, truly knows the financial implications it will have. I'm sure Pochettino would've enquired about the £300m project and how it would affect his career before he took the job; and I'd like to think that Levy was honest enough to tell him truthfully 'I'm afraid you'll need to sell to buy". I'm not trying to make excuses for him as I still think we make many mistakes and they tend to be the same mistakes over and over. But surely there's a limit where there's nothing more that can be done?
There's been a lot of unhappy fans on social media and Levy was trending last night on twitter. He's probably felt like he's needed to say this due to a fair bit of pressure. we can all have our opinions on whether Poch is simply a yes man, or whether Son and Clinton are genuine options up front. who knows. All that I personally care about now, is that we stick with this manager and get behind him and his young passionate players. Poch might have faults, just like any other manager. We might have a moan from time to time that he's got no plan b, but I don't think it would matter who our head coach/manager was right now, no one is going to do any better overall. Please stick with this manager for longer than 18 months Levy, as some managerial stability might just bring some unexpected success.
I hear you, I was real disappointed by the window too, but honestly what an be done now? Until Pochettino proves us wrong by flopping monumentally, I / we have to take his word and trust that he actually can win games with this squad. Hopefully, and surely, he knows more about this squad than we do. If he doesn't achieve at least an improved points tally on last season, then I shall agree, he is a yes man. Here's hoping, and looking forwards to January.
Poch was desperate for Berahino. To come out and say what he has supposedly said today is just lying to save Levy's face. I don't like that.
I think he's trying to save his own too Spurcat, and keep us fans positive about the near future. If he did otherwise it would only lead to more chaos. The team would lose confidence, fans might neglect to buy tickets etc.... A united front is best. Let's just hope he means what he says and can still deliver.
Fair enough. So the comment about being 'lovers' was true then? What confuses me is where Son figures in all of this. Surely he was the alternative we turned to after it became clear that Peace was out-brinkmaning Levy? I mean, Berahino's strongest position is not as an out n out striker. He flourishes playing off the main striker - just like Son. Or were we hoping to land both and play Kane, Son, Eriksen, Berahino? If the latter's true, the same logic as I mentioned above applies - we cannot, cannot afford overheads of £25m and would've needed to sell 3 of the 4 remaining pieces of deadwood in order for that deal to happen. The fact that Levy tried to make it happen with only Lennon out the door, thereby an unprecedented in recent times net spend of £22m, sounds a bit more positive to me.
I agree, it's not all bad. I don't see how Poch lied actually come to think of it. He said he wanted particular players (Berahinho and a DM?) and didn't want to settle for a lesser alternatives. I figure Son would have come in anyway especially as there were rumblings of Lamela leaving. It appears Son does play primarily as winger although he's flexible. It's a very bold statement of belief in the squad by Pochettino, as long as there are no excuses later if things don't go to plan, I'm happy to remain positive.
Roo nailed it, and I said similar yesterday. We can stomach the mistakes in the transfer market and a lower, non-existant net spend because of the new stadium but what we absolutely can't have again is Levy firing the poor ****er in charge if we drop down the league when everyone around us is spending money like its going out of fashion. You wouldn't break Mo Farah's leg then say "mate you're **** because you didn't win that race"
I'd like to think Levy know's better by now. Stability is all right now. I mean, who the F would he try to hire next anyway?!?
I take the very out-of-character selling of almost every outgoing at a loss to be the clearest indication we've had in years that Levy is willing to trust his man.
Good point. I hope you're right. And i hope that means Mitchell as well seeing as we finally have a pair who have worked together before and actually wanted to again
So you guys don't think Poch feels let down by his boss ? Of course he does, Berhino was his main target and Levy ballsed up. If he goes public on being happy with the current squad, then he has to deliver. Let's hope he does.
You could also see the trimming of the squad as a sort of "we don't need all these players if we aren't getting in the CL any time soon" My worry is keeping the stars we have. Well lose at least 2 over the next 2-3 years and we'll have to do better in the market than the last windfall year
Why is there any certainty that Levy was the one who ballsed it up? We put in 4 bids for the player; the first was £15m and the final was close to £25m. That's an enormous increase for a player who probably isn't worth that amount. Judging by the player himself's comments yesterday, as well as what Tim Murphy said on the BBC, it sounds as though Peace did just as much if not more balling as Levy. Do you think Mourinho is furious with Abramovich for not bringing in Stones? Do you think he expected the Russian to up the bid to £50m? The reality is that as TV money increases, these 'little insignificant clubs' will be harder and harder to box into a corner. There's no way in hell the likes of WBA can afford Rondon without TV profit; so now they have a top quality striker who can do the job for them if Berahino is sold/sulks for a season - what has Peace got to lose?! Even if Berahino leaves next summer for £12m, they're still assured of a £25m profit from TV rights. So Peace looks at next season and sees a profit margin of £25 + £12m = £37m...and likely wonders to himself 'what on earth are we going to do with that kind of money?! A club like WBA doesn't spend £37m in one bleeding season! I know, I'll use the money to fend off the vultures circling overhead.'
