Daniel Levy - Chairman

[Finney Is Back]

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.

My point was solely in response to the following point that you made in a post:
Arsenal did that mostly by buying young players and developing a proper team and squad. It's only once they were close that they bought the one or two players that are ready made.

I then pointed out the various players that Arsenal had brought in over the last 3 years showing that they had brought in a bunch of ready made players as well as youngsters.

You then asked for the 3 seasons before that so I pointed out some more players signed in the 3 seasons before that. It was you that asked for the three seasons before that so not sure why you then talk about one of those seasons being before Arteta arrived? Whether or not you ever want to make a signing like Willian is by the by, he was another ready made, proven player that Arsenal signed (and actually proved at Fulham that he was still a very good player).

I agree with you regarding Ben White, he wasn't proven and a similar signing in terms of profile to ours of Johnson yes.

I never mentioned a single thing about the types of players that we have signed, so I have no idea why you are bringing those into the argument regarding Arsenal only signing ready made players once they were close?!?

 

[Finney Is Back]

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.

I've got to say that I am absolutely fine with Spurs spending money on young, promising players that aren't yet the finished article and/or at their peak. However, if this is our strategy (and there is nothing at all wrong with this strategy) then we have to give our managers far more time than we have been prepared to give them previously.

 

[Finney Is Back]

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

I'm not sure there has ever been a manager EVER who hasn't lost games they shouldn't have lost? Certainly not over anything more than a tiny sample size anyway.

 

[DubSpur]

My point was solely in response to the following point that you made in a post:
Arsenal did that mostly by buying young players and developing a proper team and squad. It's only once they were close that they bought the one or two players that are ready made.

I then pointed out the various players that Arsenal had brought in over the last 3 years showing that they had brought in a bunch of ready made players as well as youngsters.

You then asked for the 3 seasons before that so I pointed out some more players signed in the 3 seasons before that. It was you that asked for the three seasons before that so not sure why you then talk about one of those seasons being before Arteta arrived? Whether or not you ever want to make a signing like Willian is by the by, he was another ready made, proven player that Arsenal signed (and actually proved at Fulham that he was still a very good player).

I agree with you regarding Ben White, he wasn't proven and a similar signing in terms of profile to ours of Johnson yes.

I never mentioned a single thing about the types of players that we have signed, so I have no idea why you are bringing those into the argument regarding Arsenal only signing ready made players once they were close?!?

It was in response to the original point of my post about that we don't go out and buy a pile of proven players and just compete for the title immediately, that it takes time. Arteta bought a lot of young/unproven players. He (or Edu) bought a lot (not all) of players that turned out to be poor before they got it right.

 

[Baleforce]

I'm not sure there has ever been a manager EVER who hasn't lost games they shouldn't have lost? Certainly not over anything more than a tiny sample size anyway.

I agree.

But each battle lost to an inferior force is a failing of preparation and approach.

 

[SkipRat]

I've got to say that I am absolutely fine with Spurs spending money on young, promising players that aren't yet the finished article and/or at their peak. However, if this is our strategy (and there is nothing at all wrong with this strategy) then we have to give our managers far more time than we have been prepared to give them previously.

The problem is he won't though. And the fans won't.

And whether we like it or not, we need to find that balance between ready made players and youth.

We can't afford to not be in EUFA our CL...

We need a strong first team, but our first team has been calling apart for the last 5 years and it will take years to repair.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

The problem is he won't though. And the fans won't.

And whether we like it or not, we need to find that balance between ready made players and youth.

We can't afford to not be in EUFA our CL...

We need a strong first team, but our first team has been calling apart for the last 5 years and it will take years to repair.

It’s being repaired though
Our first 11 is pretty fan good and a match for any side
There is depth in most roles
But there is still work to do
Who would have guessed though that we would lose our frost choice, second choice, third choice, and fourth choice left wingers within a couple of games of each other
Or that someone’s widows meant ww had to weaken the Europa squad by not having out back up full back in it who then got injured and couldn’t cover in the league or cup
Which meant our key CB then gets injured playing in a role he would have
It’s all a knock on
Doesn’t change that fact we have gaps but every squad does
And we aren’t the finished article yet by some way

 

[SkipRat]

It’s being repaired though
Our first 11 is pretty fan good and a match for any side
There is depth in most roles
But there is still work to do
Who would have guessed though that we would lose our frost choice, second choice, third choice, and fourth choice left wingers within a couple of games of each other
Or that someone’s widows meant ww had to weaken the Europa squad by not having out back up full back in it who then got injured and couldn’t cover in the league or cup
Which meant our key CB then gets injured playing in a role he would have
It’s all a knock on
Doesn’t change that fact we have gaps but every squad does
And we aren’t the finished article yet by some way

But it is not, it's bang average...

Pretty damn good sides don't have a 50/50 win lose avarage over the last 30 odd games.

There could be many arguments as to the reason why.

It could be that the coaches are not getting their ideas across effectively...

It could be that the players are actually limited...

Who knows, but recently their attitude towards games has been poor and the commitment and effort hasn't been there.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

But it is not, it's bang average...

Pretty damn good sides don't have a 50/50 win lose avarage over the last 30 odd games.

There could be many arguments as to the reason why.

It could be that the coaches are not getting their ideas across effectively...

It could be that the players are actually limited...

Who knows, but recently their attitude towards games has been poor and the commitment and effort hasn't been there.

We haven’t played many games with a fit first 11 have we in that period
And of course keeping that side fresh would be key
It’s impossible but I’ve seen the first 11 be exceptional and also the back ups too
It really isn’t bang average

 

[SkipRat]

We haven’t played many games with a fit first 11 have we in that period
And of course keeping that side fresh would be key
It’s impossible but I’ve seen the first 11 be exceptional and also the back ups too
It really isn’t bang average

We have played more than enough.

And even after the injured and suspensions, we still played like toffee.

We beat Villa, to put CL in our hands and we bottle it.

The fact we have lost every game before an international break, or almost...

Stinks of school kids taking it easy, before a school holiday.

It's pathetic, and its is just not good enough.

We are a mediocre team, until they start proving it to us consistently.

 

[Jurgen the German]

We haven’t played many games with a fit first 11 have we in that period
And of course keeping that side fresh would be key
It’s impossible but I’ve seen the first 11 be exceptional and also the back ups too
It really isn’t bang average

How many teams have been able to play their best 11 consistently over the last few months?

I wouldn’t say our team is bang average but it’s not as good as many on here think. We don’t have a single world class player or anyone even close to world class. We have a team of good players but not one exceptional player. I don’t think our first eleven is a match for the top 3 when everyone has their best players on the pitch.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

How many teams have been able to play their best 11 consistently over the last few months?

I wouldn’t say our team is bang average but it’s not as good as many on here think. We don’t have a single world class player or anyone even close to world class. We have a team of good players but not one exceptional player. I don’t think our first eleven is a match for the top 3 when everyone has their best players on the pitch.

Liverpool seem to be able to most weeks and arsenal did every game last season
Beyond that, no one
But my point was that our first 11 is of a quality good enough to give anyone a game
Issue is with injuries and fatigue, combined with gals in the squad we suffer, like some other teams do
Hence my comments. I’ve seen us be brilliant and I’ve seen be awful

 

[Danishfurniturelover]

What the fudge is it with new posters thinking it's ok to call other posters childish names?

Think a few of these new posters need putting on probation till they fit the style of the site.

Which despite a few disagreements on politics is far superior to every other forum on the Web.

 

[thfcsteff]

It was probably more likely.....

Angeball and Neto's hamstrings did not compute

Yet somehow we have ended up with a younger, cheaper alternative whose hammys are seemingly broken!!!!! You couldn't make it up.

 

[thfcsteff]

Think a few of these new posters need putting on probation till they fit the style of the site.

Which despite a few disagreements on politics is far superior to every other forum on the Web.

And even there we find a way to get back to where we should - being people.

 

[thfcsteff]

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 were in early for Calafiori, and had made some headway as I understand it before we stopped making headway and the goons swooped in and got the deal done. He would've absolutely offered cover in both left sided positions along with Davies. Radu has been handed a raw deal as he is not a LCB. I think he'd have played more games at RCB and Romero would've got the rest his fatigue and occasionally performances have deserved.
Ange wanted Gallagher, made it very, very clear. Over two windows. Which does support your point about not a pure 6 but wanting a fierce box-to-box talent who would consistently perform. I'm not saying whether it was possible or not, albeit there is a school of thought which says it was most certainly in January, but he didn't get him.
Eze was another player he wanted, instead he got Odobert (faint whiffs of Mane and ending up with NJie and NKoudou???).

Gray is a fine player, and he will be excellent for sure. Bergy needs a loan and more development. Will L will develop into a top forward. And with Mikey Moore, we are blessed! I'd add Luca Williams Barnett into the conversation.

The reason Daniel's name is being floated in conversation is that he signs the checks/directs the flow of cash.
As I have said before, I am somewhat at peace with it all. We are who we are, Daniel operates how he operates. But when people start getting tinkled off about Ange and inconsistency, I think it is important to point out where the foibles lie.

If we're going to leave our operations as they are, then it is imperative Ange gets the time he needs (IMO this season and next at least - unless we're staring at relegation). But I am not sure people are brave enough. We shall see my friend...

 

[Jurgen the German]

Liverpool seem to be able to most weeks and arsenal did every game last season
Beyond that, no one
But my point was that our first 11 is of a quality good enough to give anyone a game
Issue is with injuries and fatigue, combined with gals in the squad we suffer, like some other teams do
Hence my comments. I’ve seen us be brilliant and I’ve seen be awful

Give teams a game yes but that’s not the same as being as good as them. We gave Arsenal a game this season but finished 20 points behind them last season. Same with Emirates Marketing Project.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Give teams a game yes but that’s not the same as being as good as them. We gave Arsenal a game this season but finished 20 points behind them last season. Same with Emirates Marketing Project.

True
But that wasn’t the post or the context
I’d always expect us to finish behind teams that have had more years with the coach and also more money invested

 

[Diamond Lights]

so many thoughts and various threads i wasn't sure where to post.

As Chief Grumpypants i usually ask to sack the manager. I'm kind of ambivalent now. I don't think sacking Ange is worthwhile, as whilst he's done some infuriating things, he's also not the root cause of the issues.

I wildly, wildly over anticipated our squad beginning of the season. Foolish of me. I often hear how Ange ball is predicated on wingers.

We have a 32 year old Son (looking every bit of his age this season), Timo Werner, and literally children. I mean, changing the manager isn't going to improve fortunes if those are your options.

Our defence is woefully undercooked to the point where Ben Davies is both our back up LB and CB, with a massive lack of full back options especially on the left side to the point we've had to play our best CB at LB in Cup Games.

I've been anti-Levy for a long time. We had an opportunity to sign a starting XI winger this Summer (Neto perhaps). Instead we went for a 19year old from Burnley. We've gone full circle to wanting Mane and getting N'Jie. Nothing will change.

I've reached the conclusion that being charged the second highest prices in the league, have 2 STs in the North... i'm just part of the problem. Sure, there will be another mug to take my STs and expect different, but it won't change.

Too many Ex Pro's have come out and said the same thing about Levy. He's not interested in winning things, he just needs enough to fill the stadium, and keep the money flowing in. He's showed us this time and time again, it won't change. We signed ONE player that was needed for the First XI this summer. It's not enough when our peers are upgrading all over the shop. It's not enough when we're charged some of the highest in the league whilst concessions are continually cut to the bone.

I'm done. end of the season i'm giving up my seats.

 

[Bishop]

We haven’t played many games with a fit first 11 have we in that period
And of course keeping that side fresh would be key
It’s impossible but I’ve seen the first 11 be exceptional and also the back ups too
It really isn’t bang average

You're making excuses no team ever has a fully fit first 11 available consistently. What demonstrates how good a side or squad is how they perform across the range of games. For us to be pretty damn good we haven't shown that in these 11 matches + cup games.