Daniel Levy - Your Thoughts?

[Tottenham Jamspurs]

Evening guys,

SO - Daniel Levy. What do you all make of him?

Levy is a very good chairman and am proud to have him as ours. People constantly abusing him for not "spending the extra £2m" but clubs like Portsmouth, Leeds etc "spent the extra £2m" - If he feels we are being done over with a price he backs out - I see that as a good thing.

He also does whatever he can to hold onto our players - Managing to hold onto Berbatov and Modric for extra season then getting a combined £70m for 2 players that, in my opinion, werent really worth more than £25m each.

I love that we have a chairman who stands his ground, doesn't get pushed around by clubs and tries to hold onto our best players, but a lot of our fans seem to hate him for being "cheap".

We are one of the best run clubs in the country and I feel that is greatly down to him.

 

[PleaseNotPoll]

We punch above our financial weight, we've built a training complex that's been hailed to the heavens by all and sundry, we're building a new stadium and we seem to be moving forward in virtually all areas.
His high profile probably says enough about him. Look at the equivalent job being done elsewhere in the Premier League and I don't think that you'll find anyone better.

 

[Spurm]

In the cold light of day i find it hard to criticise what he has done and achieved at Spurs, but like everything he could improve in 2 areas:

1 - Occasionally, just occasionally, it is necessary to pay that extra few quid for the player we absolutely need. If we had ended up with a new striker instead of Dempsey last summer then we may not be in the EL now. But most the time i back his stance on not being held to ransom

2 - Transparency - obviously not everything should be in the public eye and it would be detrimental if it was. But from time-to-time it would be nice to hear something. For example, what is this relationship with RM and what does it involve? What is being done, what will be done about the RM tapping up of Bale? Other chairmen hit the media much more regularly and while i don't want him to become a media whore it might be an idea to use them once in a while

 

[No Kane No Gain]

He's done a very good job for us and long may it continue.

There are times when fans will get frustrated with him for missing out on players but they seem to forget that every club misses out on players, it's not simply a case of throwing an extra few million at a player/club and to get a deal done.

 

[totsfan]

In the cold light of day i find it hard to criticise what he has done and achieved at Spurs, but like everything he could improve in 2 areas:

1 - Occasionally, just occasionally, it is necessary to pay that extra few quid for the player we absolutely need. If we had ended up with a new striker instead of Dempsey last summer then we may not be in the EL now. But most the time i back his stance on not being held to ransom

2 - Transparency - obviously not everything should be in the public eye and it would be detrimental if it was. But from time-to-time it would be nice to hear something. For example, what is this relationship with RM and what does it involve? What is being done, what will be done about the RM tapping up of Bale? Other chairmen hit the media much more regularly and while i don't want him to become a media whore it might be an idea to use them once in a while

I would like to know what this relationship with Real is about as well

 

[Roo]

He's done a geat job getting the new stadium sorted and turned us into a half decent team. (when compared to that of the early 2000's and 90's.)

However, IMO, he does have his faults.

For example, waiting till the last minute to sort deals out which then fall through, have been really disappointing. - why have we waited till deadline day? We've done a lot of this, when there's been players we've been crying out for. Ultimately, a mixture of waiting till the last min and not getting the required player, has cost us IMO. The knock on affect has meant points have been dropped, players haven't gelled with their new team mates, we've gone for "cheap" options, over that player we really need, etc etc. - all these little things add up.

However, it appears that's changed in this window, thank god. I don't think there's any denying that we've really pushed our luck in recent years and we've been caught out a few times. You've only got to look at this striker situation. We've needed someone since berbatov!

We seem to have learnt our lesson now, after several failed CL qualification attempts, and realised that we needed that extra push.

Other than all of the above taking too long for Levy to realise, IMO, he's a good chairman.
It's just a shame we couldn't have addressed some of our issues earlier, in order to prevent Deja Vu several times.

 

[Moorpheus19]

He's done a geat job getting the new stadium sorted and turned us into a half decent team. (when compared to that of the early 2000's and 90's.)

However, IMO, he does have his faults.

For example, waiting till the last minute to sort deals out which then fall through, have been really disappointing. - why have we waited till deadline day? We've done a lot of this, when there's been players we've been crying out for. Ultimately, a mixture of waiting till the last min and not getting the required player, has cost us IMO. The knock on affect has meant points have been dropped, players haven't gelled with their new team mates, we've gone for "cheap" options, over that player we really need, etc etc. - all these little things add up.

However, it appears that's changed in this window, thank god. I don't think there's any denying that we've really pushed our luck in recent years and we've been caught out a few times. You've only got to look at this striker situation. We've needed someone since berbatov!

We seem to have learnt our lesson now, after several failed CL qualification attempts, and realised that we needed that extra push.

Other than all of the above taking too long for Levy to realise, IMO, he's a good chairman.
It's just a shame we couldn't have addressed some of our issues earlier, in order to prevent Deja Vu several times.

I believe Mr Lewis opening his cheque book may have something to do with us spending more - I think if it were up to Levy, there'd be no-one on my IN list on the transfer thread.

Also, I think AVB has had a say in things - he's probably said that he needs backing financially or he won't be here long.

Other than that - I agree with your post. He's not made too many single huge mistakes (i.e. buying a player for way too much, or selling a player for far too little) - but he does make lots of small mistakes that contribute to being far bigger (i.e. the few mil out on Moutinho, Damiao etc.)

 

[Spurf]

The public view I have of him and that's all I have, like most of us. is that he is an excellent chairman.

Why?

1. Because Spurs are secure financially in a very difficult enviroment. The temptation to spend on players is always there and the price of success and failure in this area is very high indeed. He has learnt from past errors ie Bentley and Bent and you can't ask more than that from anybody.

2. PNP has pointed out the infrastructure we have gained and are gaining during his time.

3. He is not afraid of difficult decisions like sacking Redknapp and going with AVB. Very brave IMO and shows the level of ambition. The safe pair of hands that was Redknapp was not enough, he wanted more. Good for him.

Spurs are on the brink of something special I hope it works out for him and for us.

from me.

 

[Roo]

I believe Mr Lewis opening his cheque book may have something to do with us spending more - I think if it were up to Levy, there'd be no-one on my IN list on the transfer thread.

Also, I think AVB has had a say in things - he's probably said that he needs backing financially or he won't be here long.

Other than that - I agree with your post. He's not made too many single huge mistakes (i.e. buying a player for way too much, or selling a player for far too little) - but he does make lots of small mistakes that contribute to being far bigger (i.e. the few mil out on Moutinho, Damiao etc.)

In a nutshell, what i was trying to say was If something doesn't work, don't try it again, as you'll probably end up with the same result. - Hence some of our transfer window business, which has given us the same result come may.
I don't want to have too much of a dig at levy, as he has donea good job. As a club and a business, we're getting better and better with everything taken into consideration. its just certain things that wind me up!

 

[Moorpheus19]

In a nutshell, what i was trying to say was If something doesn't work, don't try it again, as you'll probably end up with the same result. - Hence some of our transfer window business, which has given us the same result come may.
I don't want to have too much of a dig at levy, as he has donea good job. As a club and a business, we're getting better and better with everything taken into consideration. its just certain things that wind me up!

Yeah we are getting there.

I think we'll plateau soon without the new stadium though.

The new stadium is catch 22 as Arsenal have found - they're through the pain now and can start rebuilding.

I fear we have years more angst before we get anywhere near where we want (consistently).

 

[redwhiteandermblue]

More or less what Roo said.

While we have yet to see how last year's buys pan out, we've done really well recently on everything to do with buying and selling, which is the chairman's first priority.

On the other hand, the last minute deadline day thing is at least a middling fault, not a small one.

But if you asked me who I'd rather have as chairman, Levy's ability to buy intelligently and cheaply and sell dear has been so marked over the last few years that I'd say nobody. While it's not just him, we seem to be as intelligent as anyone in scouting, evaluating, buying and selling players.

 

[Hoddle is a god]

I agree with Moorpheus, that AVB's influence will have encouraged the club to spend the cash in this transfer window. I'd be very surprised if we didn't get a decent striker in, this Summer.

One can imagine AVB telling Bale to hang around and see what the team can do once he's settled in and has a few of his own signings under his belt. It's good news for us that Bale clearly gets on with AVB and seems to have a lot of respect for him.

On balance, I've been pleased with Levy. Yes, he has made his mistakes (getting rid of Jol, getting in the clown to replace Jol, buying back Keane from 'Pool, etc), but I've also cheered him when he stood up to old Bacon Face's tapping-up of Berbatov, and Mad Dog's attempted tapping-up of Rat-Boy.

So, yeah, on balance, I am glad we've got Levy as chairman.

 

[Spurm]

Yeah we are getting there.

I think we'll plateau soon without the new stadium though.

The new stadium is catch 22 as Arsenal have found - they're through the pain now and can start rebuilding.

I fear we have years more angst before we get anywhere near where we want (consistently).

Plateau - I agree. That is why I sometimes wonder whether now is the time to gamble on the pitch. If we are to maintain on the field while paying the new stadium then we NEED the CL money like Arsenal have had otherwise they will leave us in their dust. Right now we have the core of a team (Lloris, kaboul, Verts, Paul, Sandro, bale) and more importantly a manager we can build around long-term (hopefully). We just need that little bump and if we don't do it while we have that special core then it could be a long time before we get that chance again without massive investment.
I do I have to say that arsenal have done superbly well with getting and paying for the emirates and they clearly have money to spend (that's wenger's problem), hopefully we can emulate them, but win sme trophies

 

[PowerSpurs]

Put it this way - if his clone was at Arsenal or Liverpool and so had access to 50% more resources do you think he would have allowed them to be squandered to the extent that they have been? I'm glad he's our chairman and not theirs.

 

[Dier Hard]

I'm 100% behind Levy.

Even if at times his drive for a hard bargain can sometimes result in loss of additions which can be annoying, he's still done amazing for this club and I truly wouldn't want anyone else running us.

#TeamLevy

 

[Hoddle is a god]

I'm hoping that Venkys come in and buy us. There is some synergy, after all - Venkys slaughter chickens and our emblem is a cockerel.

They'd get rid of Levy and put that woman in charge, the one who knows absolutely **** all about football.

It would be the dawn of a new day for Spurs.

 

[Spurm]

They'd get rid of Levy and put that woman in charge, the one who knows absolutely **** all about football.

Karen Brady?

 

[crackerman jack]

I think Levy has done a great job. In the Premier league years before he took over our average league position was between 10th and 11th. Since 2001 our average league postion is closer to 7th. The last 4 years we have finished in the top 5 with 2 top 4 finishes. He has built us into a team challenging towards the top end of the table rather than mid table where we have been for so long.
I think some fans have short memories. Do we want to go back to the days when we almost went bankrupt? We are now in a very stable financial position and at the same time pushing for champions league football. This is the best team/squad I can remember since I have been supporting Spurs (about 25 years). I will back Levy all the way. I totally respect how we do business as a club. Although it would be nice to have a Sugar Daddy pumping millions into our club it is quite satisfying that we do things the right way. The thing that I guess is frustrating is that our biggest rivals have an even better business model and have managed to still be above us while paying off a new stadium. As much as I dislike Arsenal I respect them a lot. If I didn't support Spurs I wouldn't mind a club like theirs being successful as they do business the right way.
Does anyone know the latest update on the stadium? Roo - you said that Levy had got the new stadium sorted. I haven't seen that it is sorted yet?

 

[Spurm]

Although it would be nice to have a Sugar Daddy pumping millions into our club it is quite satisfying that we do things the right way. The thing that I guess is frustrating is that our biggest rivals have an even better business model and have managed to still be above us while paying off a new stadium. As much as I dislike Arsenal I respect them a lot. If I didn't support Spurs I wouldn't mind a club like theirs being successful as they do business the right way.

I wouldn't want a sugar daddy. I know i'll probably get a bunch of wums saying i'm lying but i really wouldn't want to just get bankrolled to success, its soulless.
Agree on Arsenal, they have my begrudging respect. I find myself hating other clubs more than Arsenal nowadays tbh.