More changes behind the scenes ??

One or two of today's gossip columns are suggesting Blackburn will replace Steve Keen with Tim Sherwood and Wolves will offer their assistant manager position to Alex Inglethorpe.

It is inevitable that as the guy who captained their title winning side, Sherwood's name would be linked with Rovers, as is Alan Shearers'. Sherwood was extremely fortunate to get his job at Spurs, and some would say it was only because he was a golfing buddy of Jamie Redknapp that he got the job. But, he is very highly thought of by those who matter at Spurs and he most certainly has the ear of Daniel Levy on all matters. It is pretty much recognised that he has genuine coaching talent and although this possible opening at Rovers may be too soon for him, maybe he could be tempted.

His role at Spurs was with the NextGen group, but he is now working with the under 21 side along with Chris Ramsay and Les Ferdinand. He is also taking on the role of recruitment of players at all levels and the possible appointment of a DofF would not reduce Sherwood's level of involvement.

On the other hand, his relationship with AVB has been somewhat frosty recently and maybe this might be another reason for him to be tempted back up north.

With regards to Alex Inglethorpe, he has been with the club for 6 years after previously been manager of Exeter City. He has a good reputation as a good coach who has done an excellent job in his tmie with us. A move to Wolves would undoubedly be a step up for him and maybe a reward for his good work over the past years. He is a good judge of a player, indeed he was one who insisted the club persevered with talent like Tom Carroll when more experienced guys were writing him off.

A youth coach is judged not on what he wins, but hw many youngsters he brings through to the first team. That there haven't been as many as there should have been, should not necessarily go against Inglethorpe as we had a manager who preferred to ignore the young talent which was ready to be given a chance.

There have been many changes behind the scenes since Harry left and since AVB arrived. The chief scout was removed, the head scout for the academy was removed and the whole recruitment policy continues to be under close review. So I guess that if Sherwood and Inglethorpe stay or go, depends on their sense of job security at the moment at Spurs, how they get on with AVB and to what extent their curent ambitions are.

Interesting times behind the scenes at the club.

 

Seems like Levy's going for a bit of an overall, if all of this comes to fruition.
New manager, new DOF, new coaches across the board, new facilities and new players.
Might be a bit too much in one go, though.

 

Do we really need such a revolution, after our improved league placings it seems everything is being ripped up. I really can't see us breaking the new top 4 now Chelsea and Arsenal have clicked back into gear.

Hopefully these changes are for the better though.

Out of curiosity Spurcat, I've read many times that Daniel rates Sherwood highly, but why? what does he do, or say that is so impressive? Do the youngsters find him inspirational, or is he particularly eloquent or astute tactically?

 

Well firstly, Sherwood and Inglethorpe leaving is still conjecture at this point. With regards to the scouting upheaval, it is thought that Harry used too many of his old playing chums and whilst he did overhaul the set up when he first arrived, he didn't really have effctive procedures in place to follow up the talent whcih the scouts were identifying. As time progressed, Sherwood was becoming more involved i n taking on this role and as far as I can ascertain, most scouts were reporting to Sherwood rather than Harry. Nothing particuarly wrong in that in principle, but when we were missing out on certain players, then obviously it needs to be looked at again.

In answer to your question on Sherwood's merits. I can't give you all the reasons why Levy thinks so highly of him because I don't know all the reasons. He took over Clive Allen's role and Clive was a very hard task master, very strong on discipline with teh kids and probably a hard man to work for and please. Sherwood appears to be the opposite almost. Cuts the young lads a lot more slack, is hard but fair and is generous in his praise whereas \Allen wasn't. He puts his ideas across quickly and effectively and it seems to work.

 

Ah fair enough.

As ever, thank you for your insight. It's gd to hear about news and players from someone seemingly linked to the club.

 

Hope we keep hold of those two. As much as you say they don't get on too well with AVB, they seem to have similar views on how we should play and that can only be a good thing to have running through our club. To be honest I'd be very surprised if they didn't want to stay at Spurs, Wolves and Blackburn look like difficult clubs to work at these days and whilst the roles might be a step up in title they could easily end up a year down the line back at square one.

Spurcat, I was wondering if you knew who's idea it was to sign Dembele? I know he'd been on our radar for awhile but we shied away from him at the price that was given, then seemingly someone's managed to convince Levy to pay the release clause without negotiating, which is very un-Levy like, so I figure whoever it is must have Levy's full confidence.

 

I hope we keep both of them as well YV, because I do think it helped our progress over the past few years having a stable background beyond the first team. Inglethorpe has been around a few years, Chris Ramsay has been with us for a long time and that settled atmosphere undoubtedy helped.

Can't answer yourquestion about Demeble because I don't know. What I will say is that Sherwood may well have had a hand is this as he seems to be involved in most things at the moment. Also, up until very recently, Levy has been taking advice from David Pleat who does watch a lot od our under 18 games and our under 21 games, so maybe he reccommended we go for the player.

 

Evening SC, hows GBC doing? was it his appointment do you think (backed by Sherwood) and the subsequent murmur's of discontent since, that have cooled Levy's rapport with TS. It was a big call from Tim I'd say, and for it to be a bad one is a bit of a blot on his book wouldn't you say.

ps. Your Inbox was jammed over the weekend, did you get my last one?

 

Fair enough. It was refreshingly un-Levy like deal as I say, it seemed to take into account that United were waiting in the wings and Fulham would not want to lose a player of his importance on the last day of the window. Normally I'd expect Levy to try and knock the price down with him only having a year left. He's looking like a cracking signing already so hats off to whoever managed to convince Levy, if 'Arry was planning to get a Fulham midfielder it'd probably have been Danny Murphy on a free

 

I got about 285 emails from not606 informing me my inbox was jammed so I emptied it when I got back Sunday evening, but I fear yours was amongst them as I haven't heard from you in ages !!!!

GBC is now GBN !!!!

 

Once again shoot me but anyone who is involved in football knows what alot of players are like that clubs are interested in...I could have produced a dossier on every major purchase we have made...so I don't understand all these roles.


Finding youth talent etc is a specialist subject...but the type of first teamers we go for, just ask me..or ask AVB.

2 many cooks spoil the broth.

 

So go back a couple of years and what would your reccommendation have been on Spurs signing Suarez ??

 

Once I had done the research and taken all things into account I would have given him a miss aswell. I recall the issues surrounding Suarez.

You can't expect me to get everything spot on just like those that have all the tools available still made mistakes.

I would have baulked at 16million for Bent aswell but the club didn't.

I highlighted Dembele 2 seasons ago and particular that season when they hammered us 4 nil in the FA cup.

I still bang on about how 7 million is a risk worth taking on Ba and once again hrs scoring for fun, now that he has been stuck upfront .

I do believe it's a job I or many others could do. Things Sherwood does that I don't know about I can't comment on.

Call me a bit old fashioned but a manager is in the best position to recognise what his team needs.

 

The reason I used Suarez as an example was because on the old 606, there was huge criticism of the club for not going for Suarez, despite our then chief scout yelling us to go nowhere near him because he had knowledge of a darker side to the guy. That dark side has since proved to be real and so Ian Broomfields observations were correct.

Yes, an educated football follower could have deduced the same,but my point is, that in general most followers of teh game do not have privvy to info which make or break a signing or transfer, hence the involvement of others.

 

Very true they don't have the 'inside' info.

A manager however would. I am sure Sherwood gathers info the likes of me can't do. I just believe that a manager should choose who he wants his info from because trust is everything.

 

Part one... jeez!! really, bollox, it was a long one, I'll try a remember it all and do it again.

Part two...

 

For me, signing Dembele, and especially getting him for £15mil, was a no-brainer. He's a class act, and Levy did the right thing by not indulging in his usual bartering tactics, on this one. It at least hopefully shows that he does know a bargain when he sees one.

 

Probably not Murphy, as he plays for Blackburn! As long as its not Dickead E2hu!

 

He moved in the summer... on a free... from Fulham. If 'Arry was still with us, I'd put money on him going for the ex-Spurs, experienced but past it player over Dembele

 

I can only agree, Rob Green instead of Lloris is even more frightening.