football isn’t a normal job. IT is a defined subject x + y always = z in football it’s different a player may show x + y skill set but that doesn’t always = z because it’s not an office job. Criteria is based on football factors. Psychology, fitting into the team the club the philosophy etc etc. Today you may have the bit between your teeth and play like a world beater tomorrow you’re depressed and you can’t play like that. In IT it doesn’t matter what mood you’re in…problem x + y always = z. Just need the monkey to get his letters and dots in the right order and it works every time. Cant compare sport mentality and psychology to that of an office worker. He just needs a chair and a laptop and a Costa coffee and he’s good to go on whilst waiting for his train to arrive at the station. football is a different beast.
The DOF usually picks a manager that will fit a certain philosophy. Then he will look for players to fit that system. I doubt that the DOF just decides on his list without the managers input. So if the system is used properly then the DOFs list is really the managers list. Narcissistic clubs like Chelsea and some of the above mentioned will splash out on a name regardless of the managers wishes because they can afford to however as has been proven time and time again this usually ends up with on field issues and a possible clash with the owner and manager. if the system is used properly then this doesn’t happen and the only way it’s used properly is when the DOF is doing the managers bidding. He can try doing the owners bidding like a few have at Spurs and the result will be what we have had at Spurs regards our transfer dynamics.
I don't agree. You are right that a group of office workers doing standard jobs isn't the same, but elite teams exist in most walks of life and it is hard to get any elite team to perform consistently at a high level no matter how good the individuals are. One of the things you have to do is to get each individual, however good they are in their own field, to recognise their own limitations and the help they need from others. Putting too much responsibility on to a single individual is usually a mistake. If the individual is truly exceptional (eg Ferguson, Wenger) it might work well while they are around but will collapse as soon as they leave.
It can't possibly work like that. There are literally hundreds of players we might sign and the coach has a full time job coaching. He doesn't have time to even know about all possible players, never mind make judgements on which ones are best. Sure he will have views, particularly about players he has worked with previously, and those should be taken into account but the coaches list is only a small subset of the best signings.
Certain DoFs absolutely do ...and, no, this isn't me bringing up Comolli, tempting as it is The most obvious example was Los Ladrones in the Galacticos era, where the headline stars were signed and the managers had to hammer them into a team. Similarly, there's been times where Chelsea have signed players over the manager's head, most obviously when Shevchenko & Ballack were brought in even though it was obvious they didn't fit with the club's philosophy of signing the Berlin Wall to sit on the 18 yard box for 89 minutes while a pack of rabid dogs attacked the ankles of opposition players. It also has to be said that is how Paratici got the main job at Juve, as he not only went over the manager's head but even the incumbent DoF Beppe Marotta when he brought in Ronaldo, which definitely isn't going to cause issues when trying to sign Inter players going forward Also there's examples where a DoF is operating under a brief passed down from above, most obviously when Arnesen was given the brief to sign young HG talent by Levy, and that was Hitchen's remit under Paratici and (reported) will be Scoulding's whenever he arrives, and it has to be said Leonardo's brief at PSG seemed to be along the same lines albeit the remit passed down to him was to be this decade's Galacticos while ignoring the fact that the reason the Galacticos era ended was the dressing room was a bloody hornet's nest until capello came in and cracked the whip
Calcio Mercato claim that Paratici is trying to temp Juve into signing Reggie for £26m Possibly bollocks, or even joined-up thinking given our links to Owen Wijndal in recent days, but worth keeping an eye on - since inevitably Weston McKennie will be added to that conversation...
Ekrem Konur reckons Eriksen’s decided he won’t stay with Brentford. Come on, Don Fabio, secure another freebie!
How quickly people forget that he wasn't beating the first man from corners and his set pieces were on the decline. There's better out there.
How quickly you’ve forgotten he was unrivalled for assists and chances created during the years he was at Spurs. There aren’t many better out there, especially for free.
Torino’s director will supposedly fly into London to discuss a deal for Bremer according to some reports in Italy.
Could’ve put this in club or academy watch too but this thread gets the most traffic. Pretty good piece on Parrott. If you don’t want to read it, in short: Troy wants one more loan next season The club wants the perfect loan for him too Troy is then desperate to become a first teamer here Club shares his belief and have been hugely impressed with him, especially since the turn of the year See similarities in style with Kane, with regards to ability to play deeper and not just solely a finisher, hence why he got good amount of assists with MK Has bulked up during MK loan His deal expires next summer but Gold believes there’s an option for a year’s extension - my personal feeling is we’ll give him a new deal by around that time anyway, especially if he has another good loan I think the club’s in a real good place with young strikers at the moment. Parrott, Scarlett and Donley are all very highly rated, Etete had a decent loan spell too and could surprise a few. I’d be very surprised if at least one of them doesn’t become a first team player in some capacity in the years to come.
Dan KP says that, contrary to Marca's reports, we're not looking to sign Pervis Estupinan Whether or not this was because Spurs Twitter would habitually refer to him as "Perv" is subject to speculation...
Middlesbrough, Swansea, QPR and Preston are reportedly keen to take him on loan Swansea might be a good shout, as they play attacking football and having Troy link up with Michael Obafemi for club and country for a season might work out very well for all involved - and it helps that Swansea's manager is the bloke who signed off on loaning him to MK last season
How about his final year at Spurs? 20 games, 2 goals, 2 assists. As I said, he was in decline. I agree, during his prime he was excellent. I guess, just like the whole fan base, there are those that want him back and those that don't. I respect your opinion but let's agree to disagree on this one.
Nonsense, you back the coach by giving him better players that can fit into his system of play and players who he wants to coach, NOT by handing him players to coach that he may not even want.
So his final 6 months defines him instead of the previous 6 years? Players have dips in form, he had his after a summer where he thought he was going to leave. And even during that rough period he still showed loyalty to the club upon leaving as Utd were interested and he made it clear he wouldn’t leave Spurs for another English side. Plus, he was - and still is - more effective than the players that have tried replacing him. He showed he’s not in decline either, winning Serie A with Inter and massively helping Brentford avoid relegation. Their form when he joined took a big upturn. He knows the club, the league, the manager and offers something none of our current midfielders can, plus he’s available on a free transfer, it’s a deal that makes a lot of sense.
Eriksen is still top class and virtually single handed kept Brentford in the PL, the difference in their team after he arrived was clear as day. His skillset, range of passing and dead ball ability etc is something our squad is crying out for. He also does not have to take corners if that`s a problem, his overall game though is still sublime.