Daniel Levy - Chairman

[ricky2tricky4city]

We still went for him according to reports so i'm not sure it was to do with the hamstrings. If his hamstrings were an issue you'd not waste time attempting to buy him in the first place

The biggest waste of time is believing reports. Your point lives or dies on them.

 

[DubSpur]

You've seen the profitability table posted on a previous page right?
At what point are we going to stop blaming 'lack of funds'?
When does this stadium turn the taps on? When do we stop hearing that we couldn't buy the likes of Neto because Chelsea were in for him? Or can we still not compete with them even though many call them freaks/basket case etc?

You stated that when we very close we never got that special one or two player. When we were close the stadium build was going on and the funds weren't there. The profitability table is for now, not during that build and when we were close. We aren't close now and need more than one or two special players. We needed a total revamp. We were one of the biggest spenders during the summer. I doubt very much that Ange would've wanted that spent on one or two players and to leave gaps all over the squad. There's still work to be done before we can say that we only need a couple of special players to make the difference. Also, there's a lot of young players with huge potential, so we may have those special players already if they are given some time.

 

[glorygloryeze]

We don't know what Ange wanted as priorities - from what I can gather he's never played with a true DM, more so 2 no.8s in which case going in with Bent Biss Sarr and then additional depth of Bergvall & Gray isn't bad, it gives 3 players first XI experience ready and highly rated potentials thereafter. In hindsight his tactics don't appear to be likely to function well enough without a DM in this league/at this level so maybe he will reach the same conclusion and make that a priority this summer?

We weren't reportedly in for a LCB, do we know Ange wanted one to replace Davies or to take minutes away from Dragusin? Fan want vs Manager want?

LB, reportedly we were in for a player from France or Italy, can't remember so we've likely not been able to do a deal for whatever reason in that position.


Why is this seen as Levy's doing as opposed to Munn/Lange or any of the other people that operate between the manager and the Chairman?

We will have to wait and see about the DM point, it might certainly be the case that he doesn't believe one (yikes!).

I have to say i can't believe Ange wants to play the way he does and doesn't know how reliant on a LCB that can come in for MVDV when injured/suspended he is. Davies is too far different for that to be plausible imo

Yes, i did see reports of another LB being targeted. We will see in January i guess (again, we can't keep relying on Udogie and i can't believe Ange thinks we can, so...)

Munn and Lange are Levy/ENIC appointments who work under the constraints that Levy/ENIC set out.
We've had DOF/transfer people who have come and gone over the decades but Levy/ENIC have been the constant.

Until there is tangible difference in transfer market activity (generally spending on young/high potential resale players as opposed to peak/finished articles who we have to beat our direct competitors near the top of the table to sign) then i will continue to look at things as being set out by conditions defined by Levy/ENIC.

 

[glorygloryeze]

The biggest waste of time is believing reports. Your point lives or dies on them.

As do most posts on any football forum; should we shut down the site now?

 

[glorygloryeze]

You stated that when we very close we never got that special one or two player. When we were close the stadium build was going on and the funds weren't there. The profitability table is for now, not during that build and when we were close. We aren't close now and need more than one or two special players. We needed a total revamp. We were one of the biggest spenders during the summer. I doubt very much that Ange would've wanted that spent on one or two players and to leave gaps all over the squad. There's still work to be done before we can say that we only need a couple of special players to make the difference. Also, there's a lot of young players with huge potential, so we may have those special players already if they are given some time.

There is still work to be done, but according to the profitability tables, we have much more resources than the 2000s and 2010s to get back to being 'close' and so we can make those same steps we did back then in quicker time, i.e. by spending more to close more of the gaps in the squad much quicker than we used to. That is, not just buying one first team position and one that had been vacant for year (i.e. the number 9).

No point in having those extra revenues otherwise.

 

[Daisuk]

1. Flits from one model to another and also goes from one type of manager to the opposite type of manager quite regularly then not giving the new man the time and the signings they need to implement their own style. I can't believe there are some on here who actually want Levy to replace Postecoglou so that we can repeat that standard 18 month cycle that has got us nowhere.

2. Presides over a premier league club that is fine with having Steve Hitchen as head of recruitment.

3. Led a period of serious underinvestment into our youth, scouting and recruitment structures. Many championship club had more investment and better structures in place than us, for several years under his tenure.

Thanks. Those are fair arguments. It seems we are currently better equipped in youth, scouting and recruitmen than we've ever been though.

We will see with Ange. Not many chairmen has got the balls to keep a manager around that is losing respect among the fans and not getting results in an exponential fashion (not saying that is the case with Ange, but in general).

 

[parklane1]

The biggest waste of time is believing reports. Your point lives or dies on them.

That is one of the biggest problems with some fans they read all the flimflam about buying this player or that player and when it does not happen the blame the man at the top. There are far too many youtubers, social media wanabees, so called ITK tossers ,experts etc etc saying brick just to fill their pages, airwaves [ making money while they do so] and sadly there are always a section of fans who believe it all.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Yeah those are definitely valid criticisms and the type of things he has got wrong. I will say he has learnt from such mistakes in those areas. And I do think he is going to give Ange more breathing space to accomplish his targets than previous managers have had, when he sent out his end of season message just before Ange was hired I sensed a change in his tone and a real acknowledgement of how he had allowed us to veer off path with the Jose/Conte appointments and recruitment during that time.

Unless things get really bad I think he is properly invested in both Ange and the route we are taking with our recruitment - but if you disagree and think he will revert to type then fair enough, there is only one way we will find out either way....

I hope you're right. Time may well tell on this, as if our current form continues then we'll likely be firmly mid-table around the New Year. I think we desperately need to give a manager time and also give a manager most of what he wants for a good 5 or 6 transfer windows in a row. I could be wrong but I don't think we have done that at all in Levy's reign.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I hope you're right. Time may well tell on this, as if our current form continues then we'll likely be firmly mid-table around the New Year. I think we desperately need to give a manager time and also give a manager most of what he wants for a good 5 or 6 transfer windows in a row. I could be wrong but I don't think we have done that at all in Levy's reign.

We haven’t
But then we have had some brick football that made out eyes burn
Some poor managers who took us nowhere
And of course some good ones too

 

[Finney Is Back]

Other than Haaland they’ve not signed any galacticos though.

But surely if a team has won 4 PL titles in a row despite their manager apparently having 'tacticial meltdowns' then it follows that Haaland must be making up for the manager's tactical meltdowns?

Or perhaps Gaurdiola is just a really good manager and 'tactical meltdowns' are something that exist only in your head?

 

[Bedfordspurs]

We still went for him according to reports so i'm not sure it was to do with the hamstrings. If his hamstrings were an issue you'd not waste time attempting to buy him in the first place

I’m sure we went for him
I believe we agreed a few but not payment terms
We know that Chelsea are paying more for players to expand the payment terms and that is likely what they did here
Their decision of course

 

[Bedfordspurs]

But surely if a team has won 4 PL titles in a row despite their manager apparently having 'tacticial meltdowns' then it follows that Haaland must be making up for the manager's tactical meltdowns?

Or perhaps Gaurdiola is just a really good manager and 'tactical meltdowns' are something that exist only in your head?

Good manager
Changing his style over time
Buys generally very very high end players
Nor scared of getting rid of anyone who doesn’t wanna be there

 

[Finney Is Back]

And the 3 seasons before that? So, they only start signing ready made players when they start getting close.

Two proven PL players in White and Ramsdale and Odegaard from Real Madrid (having proved himself on loan the season before).
Partay and Willian the season before that.
Luiz and Pepe the season before that.

They've been signing a mixture of ready made players and younger players for years.

 

[DubSpur]

Two proven PL players in White and Ramsdale and Odegaard from Real Madrid (having proved himself on loan the season before).
Partay and Willian the season before that.
Luiz and Pepe the season before that.

They've been signing a mixture of ready made players and younger players for years.

I hope we never make a Willian signing. Luiz and Pepe were signed before Arteta arrived and were moved on quickly.
White was barely PL proven, if saying he is PL proven then Johnson was PL proven when we signed him.
We've also signed Maddison and Solanke. Not really any difference.

 

[billyiddo]

Until there is tangible difference in transfer market activity (generally spending on young/high potential resale players as opposed to peak/finished articles who we have to beat our direct competitors near the top of the table to sign) then i will continue to look at things as being set out by conditions defined by Levy/ENIC.

I don't understand this last sentence - everything we do will be 'set out by conditions defined' by the owners/chairman, same as with every other club. Do you think transfer departments at other clubs act independently or something?

Last 2 summer windows have seen us buy Maddison & Solanke - 2 prem proven players at or close to their peak. Prior to that we bought Richarlson another PL player at or close to his peak. We buy a mix, same as others and we also tend to err towards potential same as with most other clubs too.

 

[Baleforce]

But surely if a team has won 4 PL titles in a row despite their manager apparently having 'tacticial meltdowns' then it follows that Haaland must be making up for the manager's tactical meltdowns?

Or perhaps Gaurdiola is just a really good manager and 'tactical meltdowns' are something that exist only in your head?

Well he’s lost games he shouldn’t have lost so they definitely happened.

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

As do most posts on any football forum; should we shut down the site now?

The transfer thread?....yeah why not.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I don't understand this last sentence - everything we do will be 'set out by conditions defined' by the owners/chairman, same as with every other club. Do you think transfer departments at other clubs act independently or something?

Last 2 summer windows have seen us buy Maddison & Solanke - 2 prem proven players at or close to their peak. Prior to that we bought Richarlson another PL player at or close to his peak. We buy a mix, same as others and we also tend to err towards potential same as with most other clubs too.

Yep
Tanaka signed rice for a record fee to gain a few points
It’s fine margins the better you get and buying prem proven may sometimes be the answer
It’s possible some think buying Maddison and Solanke isn’t enough
But then buying the guys voted the best CBs in Italy must be decent, right
We still need some quantity
I even heard someone say we buy kids clearly forgetting the outlay on Gray, Bergvall and Vuskovic is about £60m (depending on the real fee for Gray)
We’re spending money now
Just need to spend more and buy right

 

[SkipRat]

I’m also a Cowboys fan.

It has not paid off over the long term.

Was talking to someone the other day... Was also Dallas fan.

Said they have the same problem at Spurs, someone at the top who thinks they know best, but are actually clueless.

They had a player training with them last season, didn't sign them and they went on to be the best player in the league.

We had the chance to buy that South Korean defender, look were he is now, Graelish, and so many others...

But we get players like Solomon, Werner etc etc...

Levy got lucky with Poch, not because it was part of a well thought out plan... If it was planned, Poch would have got the backing he needed, and would probably still be with us.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Thanks. Those are fair arguments. It seems we are currently better equipped in youth, scouting and recruitmen than we've ever been though.

We will see with Ange. Not many chairmen has got the balls to keep a manager around that is losing respect among the fans and not getting results in an exponential fashion (not saying that is the case with Ange, but in general).

Paratici did an absolutely fantastic job. The jury is still out on his replacement IMO (not saying he is bad/isn't good, just that there hasn't yet been enough time to tell).

From what I can tell our chairman sacks managers if they fail to get into Europe at all (or look like that will happen) in the first season and then if they fail to get into, or look like they will fail to get into the Champions League from season 2 onwards.