Worrying comments from Levy according to Arry

[buzz25]

clever talk from Arry making sure the price does not rocket or is he tellling the truth. words like 'return on the transfer fee' and expensive deal beyond us.

That is talk of someone in the City not a chairman ready to take on the big 4 and City

Redknapp said: 'I've spoken to the chairman about it and he thought it looked a bit expensive for a 28 or 29 year old when there wouldn't be much of a return on the transfer fee.'


'Having said that I would like him here. So it's up to Daniel. If he thinks the deal stacks up and it's financially OK then I would be interested.
'It's obvious Portsmouth are trying to sell him and Fulham and Sunderland are interested.
'But his salary would be high and overall it would be an expensive deal."
Of his other striker targets, Redknapp added: 'We have been interested in Huntelaar. The chairman has spoken to Real Madrid but I think it's an expensive deal that may be beyond us.

[CardiffSPur]

levy seems to have lost his nerve to me, he's being squeezed by man city & i think he's basically given up trying to break into the top4, as he wont pay the wages (or transfer fees) for players capable of getting us there; he seems quite happy for us to continue as we hv been for the past few seasons ie getting into europe with the odd cup final

he seems more concerned with getting the best prices for players we are trying to sell, then in bringing in anyone who's going to really improve the first team

[buzz25]

levy seems to have lost his nerve to me, he's being squeezed by man city & i think he's basically given up trying to break into the top4, as he wont pay the wages (or transfer fees) for players capable of getting us there; he seems quite happy for us to continue as we hv been for the past few seasons ie getting into europe with the odd cup final

he seems more concerned with getting the best prices for players we are trying to sell, then in bringing in anyone who's going to really improve the first team

Crouch is not everyones cup if tea but he is proven to be a useful asset for any of the clubs he had played for and scored goals.

Huntelaar is world class and if that c*** levy can spend £16m on Bent then he can cough up what Real want for him.

When is Levy going to see that players are not investments. They are essential parts of the engine to help us push onto better things.

If Levy f**** this transfer window. We need to start a petition and a campaign to get him out.

[choda]

levy seems to have lost his nerve to me, he's being squeezed by man city & i think he's basically given up trying to break into the top4, as he wont pay the wages (or transfer fees) for players capable of getting us there; he seems quite happy for us to continue as we hv been for the past few seasons ie getting into europe with the odd cup final

he seems more concerned with getting the best prices for players we are trying to sell, then in bringing in anyone who's going to really improve the first team

It's nothing to do with that. It's a case of being as ambitious as your finances allow you to be. Levy is very good at generating money as you will see by the way spurs had way more to spend since he came in, but he also doesn't risk your club falling apart. He is a good chairman and certainly doesn't lack ambition if you look at what he has put into recruiting the best managers and players we can get, building a new training ground and plans for a new stadium, but you have to do it the right way and patiently or you risk collapse, like Leeds, Newcastle etc.

[CardiffSPur]

i DO think petitions & campaigns are fairly pointless... but i do think, if we cant manage to get huntelaar or even crouch, & we werent able to get downing despite stalking him for what seems like forever, then levy / enic will probably have taken the club as far as they can;

levy had a great chance to break into the top4 a few yrs ago but f*cked it up; since man city were bought the game's changed & i can only see us getting further & further behind to be honest as time goes on

[choda]

i DO think petitions & campaigns are fairly pointless... but i do think, if we cant manage to get huntelaar or even crouch, & we werent able to get downing despite stalking him for what seems like forever, then levy / enic will probably have taken the club as far as they can;

levy had a great chance to break into the top4 a few yrs ago but f*cked it up; since man city were bought the game's changed & i can only see us getting further & further behind to be honest as time goes on

You won't get a more forward thinking chairman who can get the most money from the business and reinvest as much as possible while remaining stable for growth and progression without getting a billionaire.

Do you want spurs to be a billionaire's play pen? I'm not sure I'd want that.

Almost every other normal club is in debt and yet spurs keep ploughing the money into getting a better structure, stadium, squad, coaches etc. The other clubs are chasing success and if anything goes wrong they can't even keep paying for the debt and are monumentally f*cked, like Newcastle.

They way they spent had to catch up with them. Ashely did a shit job but he was also taking the fall for Shepards debt ridden debacle.

I think Levy's done an amazing job. He just didn't get much luck with coaches and things, but eventually you will get there and he has a proven premier league manager now. Patience.

[buzz25]

You won't get a more forward thinking chairman who can get the most money from the business and reinvest as much as possible while remaining stable for growth and progression without getting a billionaire.

Do you want spurs to be a billionaire's play pen? I'm not sure I'd want that.

Almost every other normal club is in debt and yet spurs keep ploughing the money into getting a better structure, stadium, squad, coaches etc. The other clubs are chasing success and if anything goes wrong they can't even keep paying for the debt and are monumentally f*cked, like Newcastle.

They way they spent had to catch up with them. Ashely did a shit job but he was also taking the fall for Shepards debt ridden debacle.

I think Levy's done an amazing job. He just didn't get much luck with coaches and things, but eventually you will get there and he has a proven premier league manager now. Patience.

he is a clever business man and I sure he will deliver a great stadium but what is the point of building a stadium fit for kings when we could be lower half premier league side.

It is mugs like us who keep buying shirts, season tickets every year and every year we get screwed. What Levy did in August last year in the transfer window was unforgivable. Ramos was a mistake but Levy gave him no chance. Every f***** in the world knew Berbatov was going to United and what did Levy do... he tried to play billy big balls and wave his dick around trying to be clever and then he pleads we did not know it would happen like that. It was made even worse because of the unforeseen sell of Keane too.

The only reason we ended up paying £16m for bent is because he got involved in willy waving competitive with the spammers.

He owes us in the transfer window. If he does not deliver, we will stuggle to get in the top half of the league. If we sell bent, we need another striker. If we sell Pav, we will need 2!

[earl warwick]

he is a clever business man and I sure he will deliver a great stadium but what is the point of building a stadium fit for kings when we could be lower half premier league side.

It is mugs like us who keep buying shirts, season tickets every year and every year we get screwed. What Levy did in August last year in the transfer window was unforgivable. Ramos was a mistake but Levy gave him no chance. Every f***** in the world knew Berbatov was going to United and what did Levy do... he tried to play billy big balls and wave his dick around trying to be clever and then he pleads we did not know it would happen like that. It was made even worse because of the unforeseen sell of Keane too.

The only reason we ended up paying £16m for bent is because he got involved in willy waving competitive with the spammers.

He owes us in the transfer window. If he does not deliver, we will stuggle to get in the top half of the league. If we sell bent, we need another striker. If we sell Pav, we will need 2!

Some very good points, especially regarding Berba and Bent.

Pav does appear to be likely to leave if they can get a club prepared to return most of the fee paid for him. Crouch and Huntelaar for Pav and Bent would suit me.

[KevSpur]

I agree that last August when we kicked off was a disgrace.
Bent was our one and only striker.
Looks like this season we'll kick off with no CB's.
But at least we've got 95 FB's !

[CardiffSPur]

and STILL no f*cking left winger on the radar...!? it must be like... 10yrs now...!?

[KevSpur]

What's most annoying is when that clown commolli was buying, it seemed
there was no limit to anything. ( Bent and Bentley) for example.
Now we have someone who knows what and who he wants, but it's no go.

[PaxtonPaul]

In fairness we are hardly short in the striker department and with obviously limited funds unless we sell a forward I dont see the point in bringing in another. My only concern is if we are looking to sell the likes of Bent, then the £14mill being quoted is way to optimistic. Looks like if there is going to be a major signing then it will be another last minute one. Also on the subject of too many players in the same position, what is going on at right-back? Thats now the two Kyles, Hutton, Corluka and Chimbonda!!!! Surely at least two has to go.

[KevSpur]

In fairness we are hardly short in the striker department and with obviously limited funds unless we sell a forward I dont see the point in bringing in another. My only concern is if we are looking to sell the likes of Bent, then the £14mill being quoted is way to optimistic. Looks like if there is going to be a major signing then it will be another last minute one. Also on the subject of too many players in the same position, what is going on at right-back? Thats now the two Kyles, Hutton, Corluka and Chimbonda!!!! Surely at least two has to go.

I think it's on one of the Crouch threads where I said I was happy enough
with the squad we already had ( forward wise ), so I know what you mean.
But now we actually have the man choosing the targets and choosing the team, it's ironic he can't get what he feels we need.
Look at when BMJ was manager, and that c unt commolli was doing the buying. We were crying out for a LM, yet got Kaboul, Bent and any other player that wasn't a LM.

[choda]

he is a clever business man and I sure he will deliver a great stadium but what is the point of building a stadium fit for kings when we could be lower half premier league side.

It is mugs like us who keep buying shirts, season tickets every year and every year we get screwed. What Levy did in August last year in the transfer window was unforgivable. Ramos was a mistake but Levy gave him no chance. Every f***** in the world knew Berbatov was going to United and what did Levy do... he tried to play billy big balls and wave his dick around trying to be clever and then he pleads we did not know it would happen like that. It was made even worse because of the unforeseen sell of Keane too.

The only reason we ended up paying £16m for bent is because he got involved in willy waving competitive with the spammers.

He owes us in the transfer window. If he does not deliver, we will stuggle to get in the top half of the league. If we sell bent, we need another striker. If we sell Pav, we will need 2!

Those are good points, and he has made mistakes, but overall he's done a great job imo and the fruits of that have been the extra expectation and what I believe is to come now that he also has a proven premier league manager.

As for us being a lower premier league side, well that's not realistic when you look at the squad because you are forgetting how much money has been put in already and how many good signings have been made, including the manager. We were fifth in the league since Harry came in and half of that was without Palacious, Defoe and Keane.

And we will be adding more, already have added some exciting prospects in the two Kyles. Good night from me, and it's good night from him, lol.

[choda]

I'm sure the transfers will be ironed out come the next few weeks. We do have to sell to buy in some cases because even a club as big as spurs has to curb spending in this climate. The only ones spending big are the billionaires and Perez and his bottomloss pit from Spanish banks.

As for Commolli buying players, I don't really believe he was much more than a super scout as Jol said in an interview word for word and all the official statements, quotes etc. back up the fact that the manager's always had the veto and never got a player they didn't want. Whether he was a good DoF is another matter. He certainly f*cked up last summer but he also made many good signings and set up a good youth system.

We often failed to go after the right players for the right positions on numerous occassions, but I maintain that was the managers fault as both Jol and Ramos always had far too much faith in Jenas and even Zokora for long spells.

Jol on Zokora's arrival: 'he's one of the best in europe, believe me'.

[buzz25]

In fairness we are hardly short in the striker department and with obviously limited funds unless we sell a forward I dont see the point in bringing in another. My only concern is if we are looking to sell the likes of Bent, then the £14mill being quoted is way to optimistic. Looks like if there is going to be a major signing then it will be another last minute one. Also on the subject of too many players in the same position, what is going on at right-back? Thats now the two Kyles, Hutton, Corluka and Chimbonda!!!! Surely at least two has to go.

I think it is nailed on that chimbonda and Hutton are going. Shame about Hutton because he looked a bloody good player but the man has obvious emotional and recreational issues.

We need 4 strikers. I am presuming bent will go and pav will too if we get the right price. If both go the we will need crouch and huntelaar.

By the state of our centre backs we will also need reinforcements there too

[buzz25]

Those are good points, and he has made mistakes, but overall he's done a great job imo and the fruits of that have been the extra expectation and what I believe is to come now that he also has a proven premier league manager.

As for us being a lower premier league side, well that's not realistic when you look at the squad because you are forgetting how much money has been put in already and how many good signings have been made, including the manager. We were fifth in the league since Harry came in and half of that was without Palacious, Defoe and Keane.

And we will be adding more, already have added some exciting prospects in the two Kyles. Good night from me, and it's good night from him, lol.

you say that being a lower premier league is unrealistic but I think if we don't get the right strength of squad we will finish behind villa everton possibly fulham again with spammerz improving under the impressive Zola. All we need is blackburn to have a good solid season and we won't fnish in the top half.

We need four quality strikers. A quality centre back, someone to replace jenas or poulsen so we can push Wilson forward. If bale still has no confidence we will need back up for Modric on the left.

I can see us selling bent pav and jenas and not buying quality replacements

[Lowther]

Whilst i wont cry myself to sleep every night if we dont buy anyone, i really would like to see huntelaar come in as a partner for defoe and keane. It would also signal optimism and intention as we begin the process of creating a new stadium.

[olly27]

I think it's on one of the Crouch threads where I said I was happy enough
with the squad we already had ( forward wise ), so I know what you mean.
But now we actually have the man choosing the targets and choosing the team, it's ironic he can't get what he feels we need.Look at when BMJ was manager, and that c unt commolli was doing the buying. We were crying out for a LM, yet got Kaboul, Bent and any other player that wasn't a LM.

The irony is killing me - very good point.

[KevSpur]

My view on the new stadium is it's madness.
What research has shown that a middle / 5th placed team can attract a crowd of 60000 ?
What comes first, a great stadium or a great team ?

[olly27]

I have been pleased with Levy up until now. He is now beginning te pee me off a bit. Now I know negogiating is all important but why are we announcing are public interest in the likes of Huntelaar if we arnt going to be making a decent offer in terms of what Madrid and the player would deem, at the very least, semi acceptable. I reckon we are nowhere near the levels anticipated or required and Levy is really chancing his arm.

Every single time this happens - we all get excited that something is going to happen with a big player and then nowt.

Ok this is a rant...I was creaming my pance this morning and then come home to this...:thumbdown.

Furthermore why enquire about Crouch, everyone knows what age he is. Its all relative if Sunderland had bid 8 million (hypothetically) by Levy's principles there would be no resale value on that or recouping the majority of that. Ok its a lower sum and you would be losing less but the point is why even entertain it if thats case....you will be losing money either way you look at it. Sometimes you have to the buy for the NOW and the immediate future and its not like we havn't bought youngsters (the two Kyles et al~) as investments for the future - be it to the good of the team and/or THFC bank account. We have plenty of players who have potentially high resale values. Surely this isn't the first list of criteria for every potential target we examine each time? Before anyone jumps down my throat...I know its a business, but building a team with the right blend of youth and experience is essential to achieve succuess on the pitch and move the club forward which I feel is being compromised somewhat with the constant obsession with resale values and buying players young. I am sure Levy operates under an excellent business model and I am totally ignorant in all respects of how that would operate, but we would all love the club to move forward by witnessing good football on the pitch rather than selling a youngster or two a few years later for a few more million whilst chilling out in mid table.



Of course it could of all been shrewd talk from Harry - if so, ignore above...:001_smile:

[KevSpur]

The most worrying thing for me is, if we can't afford decent players now,
how the hell can we afford them when we're up to our neck in debt cos of the new stadium ?
Southampton built a nice new stadium, but forgot about the shite on the pitch.

[choda]

The most worrying thing for me is, if we can't afford decent players now,
how the hell can we afford them when we're up to our neck in debt cos of the new stadium ?
Southampton built a nice new stadium, but forgot about the shite on the pitch.

That's why Levy is good, he won't put the club in debt to the point that we are in danger of crumbling. And he will continue to invest in the team.

People are not being realistic or patient. You can't spend big at the moment unless you have a billionaire without selling.

And he'll buy Crouch if he doesn't get Hunt/Negredo/Jones, but his preference is probably a younger one with more potential and I think he's right. Any one of the four will be a hit at spurs imo, but a younger one is more exciting.

[KevSpur]

That's why Levy is good, he won't put the club in debt to the point that we are in danger of crumbling. And he will continue to invest in the team.

People are not being realistic or patient. You can't spend big at the moment unless you have a billionaire without selling.

And he'll buy Crouch if he doesn't get Hunt/Negredo/Jones, but his preference is probably a younger one with more potential and I think he's right. Any one of the four will be a hit at spurs imo, but a younger one is more exciting.

How do you know what level of debt Levy will get us into to build a new stadium ?
To build a stadium in London, the level of debt will be massive.
And I still say, where are the 60000 middle of the table lovers to fill it ?

[olly27]

That's why Levy is good, he won't put the club in debt to the point that we are in danger of crumbling. And he will continue to invest in the team.

People are not being realistic or patient. You can't spend big at the moment unless you have a billionaire without selling.

And he'll buy Crouch if he doesn't get Hunt/Negredo/Jones, but his preference is probably a younger one with more potential and I think he's right. Any one of the four will be a hit at spurs imo, but a younger one is more exciting.

It should be Harry's choice in terms of the type of player, finances permitting of course, but I know what you mean as Harry will of handed him a list of targets.

I would argue though that an experienced head and one who is in his prime could prove to be invaluable.

Bent will be sold if we get Crouchy and it will be much of a muchness in terms of fees. Plus the 10 mil from Zokora and Gunter combined - offset somewhat by the two Kyle's.

Not sure about Crouchy's wages though - bound to want at last 60k.

[choda]

How do you know what level of debt Levy will get us into to build a new stadium ?
To build a stadium in London, the level of debt will be massive.
And I still say, where are the 60000 middle of the table lovers to fill it ?

Does spurs look like a club of midtable credentials to you right now? It doesn't to me and the potential is still only being tapped into because the nineties left the club in such a state and trailing those that cashed in on the money era.

The level of debt will be properly managed and every penny accounted for is what I'm saying. It won't be a problem, he is very shrewd.

The squad is young and very promising, it isn't midtable now (it was fifth since Harry came in) so why do you think it will be in a few years? It's not all about spending anyway, it's about having a good manager and continuity as well.

There isn't much to be added to this team and squad for it to look very tasty indeed. You just have to do that and keep it together and tweak here and there in the next few years and it all looks very bright, so I don't really see where you are coming from at all.

Put a bad coach or a coach that has trouble in England in instead of Harry and it's a different story altogether, but that's not the case.

Levy and Harry generally do a great job at what their prerogative is so it's all good.

[crisyj]

Does spurs look like a club of midtable credentials to you right now? It doesn't to me and the potential is still only being tapped into because the nineties left the club in such a state and trailing those that cashed in on the money era.

The level of debt will be properly managed and every penny accounted for is what I'm saying. It won't be a problem, he is very shrewd.

The squad is young and very promising, it isn't midtable now (it was fifth since Harry came in) so why do you think it will be in a few years? It's not all about spending anyway, it's about having a good manager and continuity as well.

There isn't much to be added to this team and squad for it to look very tasty indeed. You just have to do that and keep it together and tweak here and there in the next few years and it all looks very bright, so I don't really see where you are coming from at all.

Put a bad coach or a coach that has trouble in England in instead of Harry and it's a different story altogether, but that's not the case.

the bit i bolded is very true and could become even truer
http://fourfourtwo.com/news/restofeurope/34079/default.aspx

[Rojoknapp]

My view on the new stadium is it's madness.
What research has shown that a middle / 5th placed team can attract a crowd of 60000 ?
What comes first, a great stadium or a great team ?

We have 22,000 people on the season ticket waiting list. Filling it shouldn't be a problem.

[KevSpur]

Does spurs look like a club of midtable credentials to you right now? It doesn't to me and the potential is still only being tapped into because the nineties left the club in such a state and trailing those that cashed in on the money era.

The level of debt will be properly managed and every penny accounted for is what I'm saying. It won't be a problem, he is very shrewd.

The squad is young and very promising, it isn't midtable now (it was fifth since Harry came in) so why do you think it will be in a few years? It's not all about spending anyway, it's about having a good manager and continuity as well.

There isn't much to be added to this team and squad for it to look very tasty indeed. You just have to do that and keep it together and tweak here and there in the next few years and it all looks very bright, so I don't really see where you are coming from at all.

Put a bad coach or a coach that has trouble in England in instead of Harry and it's a different story altogether, but that's not the case.

Levy and Harry generally do a great job at what their prerogative is so it's all good.

I wish I shared your confidence in Levy, but I don't.
You may think him shrewd financially, but this doesn't always help the manager or the team. Take his prudence at the start of last season. Yes, he may have screwed a few more pounds out of manure over Berba, but he wrecked our first 3 league games by having only Bent as a striker.
He is the chairman of a football club, and many of his major decisions on that side have been a disaster.
Who decided to go down the DOF way, when all the evidence pointed out that it doesn't work in this country, and all the top clubs don't do it ?
Who has appointed is it 6 or 7 managers in his relatively short tenure ?
Who claims to want to break into the top 4, but then sells them our best players when they come calling ?
Who has presided over the multi million expenditure of the last 5 or so seasons
and achieved relatively nothing ?
We are still competing with the likes of Villa and Everton, who have spent a fraction of what we have to be in the same position.
He may not be the worst chairman in the world, but he certainly isn't the best

[olly27]

I wish I shared your confidence in Levy, but I don't.
You may think him shrewd financially, but this doesn't always help the manager or the team. Take his prudence at the start of last season. Yes, he may have screwed a few more pounds out of manure over Berba, but he wrecked our first 3 league games by having only Bent as a striker.
He is the chairman of a football club, and many of his major decisions on that side have been a disaster.
Who decided to go down the DOF way, when all the evidence pointed out that it doesn't work in this country, and all the top clubs don't do it ?
Who has appointed is it 6 or 7 managers in his relatively short tenure ?
Who claims to want to break into the top 4, but then sells them our best players when they come calling ?
Who has presided over the multi million expenditure of the last 5 or so seasons
and achieved relatively nothing ?
We are still competing with the likes of Villa and Everton, who have spent a fraction of what we have to be in the same position.
He may not be the worst chairman in the world, but he certainly isn't the best

Villa and particluarly Everton have something we badly need and that is why we have to spend more to be in a similar position to them. That something is stability. There is no subsitute for that. Look at Moyes, has the unequivical backing of his chairman and he knows the club inside out and has grown into a fantastic manager who has an intimate knowledge of the Club and all that comes with it. You cant put a price on it. If Moyes had the backing that previous Spurs managers have had recently where would they be now? Would of probably pushed Arsenal all the way over the last few seasons would be my guess.

[choda]

I wish I shared your confidence in Levy, but I don't.
You may think him shrewd financially, but this doesn't always help the manager or the team. Take his prudence at the start of last season. Yes, he may have screwed a few more pounds out of manure over Berba, but he wrecked our first 3 league games by having only Bent as a striker.
He is the chairman of a football club, and many of his major decisions on that side have been a disaster.
Who decided to go down the DOF way, when all the evidence pointed out that it doesn't work in this country, and all the top clubs don't do it ?
Who has appointed is it 6 or 7 managers in his relatively short tenure ?
Who claims to want to break into the top 4, but then sells them our best players when they come calling ?
Who has presided over the multi million expenditure of the last 5 or so seasons
and achieved relatively nothing ?
We are still competing with the likes of Villa and Everton, who have spent a fraction of what we have to be in the same position.
He may not be the worst chairman in the world, but he certainly isn't the best

This club ended up in a torrid position from the nineties. Bereft of reputation and money and sinking into midtable or relegation on a permanent basis. You needed some fresh upstart with new vogue ideas and serious ambition to really shake it up.

He decided to go the Ajax route to build success and financial stability while delivering growth at the same time. Arnesan was one of the big catalysts for spurs being far better, more exciting and having much more potential in recent years.

And all that has put the club in a position where the managers do have more of a chance. I believe he has been let down by people under him in the main, but each one also set a base for progression, particularly Jol, before he made a holy mess of decisions in his last 15 months.

Selling the players at certain junctures then became a necessity as the club was not matching their ambitions, and you can't force people to stay anymore.

I think he did very well getting some of prices he did, 18 million for Carrick and particularly 30 million for 27 year old Berba was daylight robbery.

If you look at the money he has generated, including sponsorship deals etc. and buying low selling high in the main, then buying more good players at value, he has managed to progress the club's facilities, training ground, squad and coaching staff to it's highest point in twenty years.

The club is now in position for a sustained push. It was three years ago in truth but the managers made a shite of it. That isn't happening this time around and Harry is doing all the right things.

Last summer was a disaster, Levy blamed Commolli publicly for it as he said he didnt' line up replacements early enough. I also blame Levy for not just shelling out on Arshavin as he is one of the best in the world and he could've gotten him.

Arshavin is Keane (great touch, brain, skill, good finisher) but also with pace and a strong shot, different class to the Irishman and his dilly dallying was very costly on that occassion.

He's not been without mistakes but look at where the club is due to his visions and actions. If he'd have gotten luckier with coaches we probably have been in the cl by now as well.

Now it's all there imo. Yes, we are competing with Villa and Everton but they've had a very good manager in place for a few years, that's the difference. The thing with us though is we can go much further than them because of the exciting foundations Levy has built and is building for the club. I expect that to start this year and beyond and as I say it would've happened years ago if the managers had done better.

I mean it's hard to legislate for Ramos not adapting or Jol losing the plot in his last 15 months after doing so well initially.

Overall very happy with the chairman, I take him everyday of the week over the apathetic run of the mill chairman that are at almost every club and never expand the operation and lift the roof. And the ones that do are usually either billionaires just throwing money at it or irresponsible chairmen gambling on the clubs future.

Levy has done it patiently, with stability and based on building over the long term for a very exciting future. And the fruits are bound to come when you find the right manager, which I believe we have done now.

He's had to have a very thick skin to be so innovative and different, but I believe he's had and still does have a great vision for the club and overall has done a terrific job.

[olly27]

This club ended up in a torrid position from the nineties. Bereft of reputation and money and sinking into midtable or relegation on a permanent basis. You needed some fresh upstart with new vogue ideas and serious ambition to really shake it up.

He decided to go the Ajax route to build success and financial stability while delivering growth at the same time. Arnesan was one of the big catalysts for spurs being far better, more exciting and having much more potential in recent years.

And all that has put the club in a position where the managers do have more of a chance. I believe he has been let down by people under him in the main, but each one also set a base for progression, particularly Jol, before he made a holy mess of decisions in his last 15 months.

Selling the players at certain junctures then became a necessity as the club was not matching their ambitions, and you can't force people to stay anymore.

I think he did very well getting some of prices he did, 18 million for Carrick and particularly 30 million for 27 year old Berba was daylight robbery.

If you look at the money he has generated, including sponsorship deals etc. and buying low selling high in the main, then buying more good players at value, he has managed to progress the club's facilities, training ground, squad and coaching staff to it's highest point in twenty years.

The club is now in position for a sustained push. It was three years ago in truth but the managers made a shite of it. That isn't happening this time around and Harry is doing all the right things.

Last summer was a disaster, Levy blamed Commolli publicly for it as he said he didnt' line up replacements early enough. I also blame Levy for not just shelling out on Arshavin as he is one of the best in the world and he could've gotten him.

Arshavin is Keane (great touch, brain, skill, good finisher) but also with pace and a strong shot, different class to the Irishman and his dilly dallying was very costly on that occassion.

He's not been without mistakes but look at where the club is due to his visions and actions. If he'd have gotten luckier with coaches we probably have been in the cl by now as well.

Now it's all there imo. Yes, we are competing with Villa and Everton but they've had a very good manager in place for a few years, that's the difference. The thing with us though is we can go much further than them because of the exciting foundations Levy has built and is building for the club. I expect that to start this year and beyond and as I say it would've happened years ago if the managers had done better.

I mean it's hard to legislate for Ramos not adapting or Jol losing the plot in his last 15 months after doing so well initially.

Overall very happy with the chairman, I take him everyday of the week over the apathetic run of the mill chairman that are at almost every club and never expand the operation and lift the roof. And the ones that do are usually either billionaires just throwing money at it or irresponsible chairmen gambling on the clubs future.

Levy has done it patiently, with stability and based on building over the long term for a very exciting future. And the fruits are bound to come when you find the right manager, which I believe we have done now.

He's had to have a very thick skin to be so innovative and different, but I believe he's had and still does have a great vision for the club and overall has done a terrific job.

Great post Choda - even though I was getting hacked off with Levy a bit lately I do agree in principle with all that. I do think its time to grab the bull by the horns so to speak and think Harry's willingness to get his players in will be key...we dont need major change but we do need strengthening in certain positions.

On tonights performance JD could definitely use a Crouchy to feed off :001_smile: