Daniel Levy - Chairman

[Baleforce]

I don't care about numbers, we are talking about their talent and their status. I agree with you Klinsmann was considered a bit past it absolutely and that helped us get him, but as a player, career and status wise he was worlds apart from Rebrov, Soldadao and Berbatov before we bought them.

Klinsmann was still considered quite a an accomplishment to sign as players of his statute just didn't play in the PL at the time. A World Cup winner in an era when that was considered the pinnacle of football, I'm sorry but I'm just not having you compare him to flipping Rebrov and bloody Soldado.

Na, not having that. Don't bother about stats. Klinsmann was considered a world star at the time. Anyone who watched football knew who he was and had seen him play because he'd done it at the very, very highest level. He was a World Cup winner and had been successful in the toughest (particularly for attacking players) and best league in the world at the time.

Prior to joining us, I'd never seen Soldado or Berbatov playing. Now, you might say that's my ignorance, which is true to a degree, but many of my mates were the same. In 1994, everyone knew who Klinsmann was. Klinsmann's profile and reputation was miles ahead of Berbatov, Soldado and Rebrov when he signed.

And that type of signing was pretty much unheard of in 1994.

All fair points, but as actual usable products, all comparable.

The very fact we signed him, and the fee we paid* shows there were question marks.

*Chris Sutton moved for twice as much that summer I believe.

 

[Mcfee]

Na, not having that. Don't bother about stats. Klinsmann was considered a world star at the time. Anyone who watched football knew who he was and had seen him play because he'd done it at the very, very highest level. He was a World Cup winner and had been successful in the toughest (particularly for attacking players) and best league in the world at the time.

Prior to joining us, I'd never seen Soldado or Berbatov playing. Now, you might say that's my ignorance, which is true to a degree, but many of my mates were the same. In 1994, everyone knew who Klinsmann was. Klinsmann's profile and reputation was miles ahead of Berbatov, Soldado and Rebrov when he signed.

And that type of signing was pretty much unheard of in 1994.

He was past his peak. In fact I remember him more for being ridiculed for his diving rather than anything positive he did at the 1994 World Cup. And then his time with us revived his career, because he proved (again) what a brilliant striker he was on the pitch as well as coming across as an engaging, intelligent and likeable person off it (whether he is or not I don’t know).

 

[Bedfordspurs]

City, Real, Barca etc. top of the market doesn't mean 28 years old. It just means the players who are considered at the top of the game and most desired. Real are still going for those players ie. Camavinga, Tchouaméni, Mbappe etc.

We aren't and never have tried for that calibre of player. We tend to go for the next rung down (or lower) and there's no shame in that, you cut your cloth accordingly. I'm just not going to pretend that we are going for the top brand players when we clearly aren't.

They were kids except Mbappe and they didn’t buy him
Most of them had maybe 2 seasons of football
They were expensive but far from proven

 

[Bishop]

They were kids except Mbappe and they didn’t buy him
Most of them had maybe 2 seasons of football
They were expensive but far from proven

We aren't talking about how proven they are. This is more a debate about desirability. The most desired players are those that cost the most and usually have higher wage demands, we tend not even to attempt to sign such players.

As I'll repeat I have no issue with that really as I think you can pick those very same players up earlier in their development and before they've become household names.

Where we have stumbled in the past is once we have identified those potential talents we have too often not had the confidence to actually buy those players. The last summer or so that seems to have changed, we have gone in for these potential players and again I think we should do that, however that just wasn't the subject of the conversation.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

We aren't talking about how proven they are. This is more a debate about desirability. The most desired players are those that cost the most and usually have higher wage demands, we tend not even to attempt to sign such players.

As I'll repeat I have no issue with that really as I think you can pick those very same players up earlier in their development and before they've become household names.

Where we have stumbled in the past is once we have identified those potential talents we have too often not had the confidence to actually buy those players. The last summer or so that seems to have changed, we have gone in for these potential players and again I think we should do that, however that just wasn't the subject of the conversation.

Desirability is different
And the players you mentioned are quality players
But as you say the potential market is key for us
The success rate is higher which I know sounds daft but I think it’s because they get more time if they are young

 

[Jurgen the German]

The posters who are always complaining, probably need some form of therapy, and get to the bottom of why they are always complaining.

Equally odd are the posters who claim Levy is the best chairman in the game.

 

[90291Spur]

Equally odd are the posters who claim Levy is the best chairman in the game.

Depends on what aspects of the job he is 'best' at. Clearly from a financial perspective (including the new ground), he's done great things while not breaking rules. Football wise is another question. We've certainly improved, but he has certainly not always shown himself to be the smartest about the actual game itself.

 

[Jurgen the German]

Depends on what aspects of the job he is 'best' at. Clearly from a financial perspective (including the new ground), he's done great things while not breaking rules. Football wise is another question. We've certainly improved, but he has certainly not always shown himself to be the smartest about the actual game itself.

Yeah pretty much my view. Can’t call him the best without success on the pitch.

 

[Bishop]

Equally odd are the posters who claim Levy is the best chairman in the game.

We have to be the best at something as it's clearly not on the pitch they latch on to the boardroom.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Depends on what aspects of the job he is 'best' at. Clearly from a financial perspective (including the new ground), he's done great things while not breaking rules. Football wise is another question. We've certainly improved, but he has certainly not always shown himself to be the smartest about the actual game itself.

I don’t think any chairman are football smart
It’s why they make many appointments and end up firing so many too

 

[Lilbaz]

We aren't talking about how proven they are. This is more a debate about desirability. The most desired players are those that cost the most and usually have higher wage demands, we tend not even to attempt to sign such players.

As I'll repeat I have no issue with that really as I think you can pick those very same players up earlier in their development and before they've become household names.

Where we have stumbled in the past is once we have identified those potential talents we have too often not had the confidence to actually buy those players. The last summer or so that seems to have changed, we have gone in for these potential players and again I think we should do that, however that just wasn't the subject of the conversation.

Maddison and perisic both on £170k a week when we signed them. Not a small amount.

Also we pay large performance bonuses.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Maddison and perisic both on £170k a week when we signed them. Not a small amount.

Also we pay large performance bonuses.

Werner is on that much

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Just want to circle back to the “mess” comment form earlier
I see a plan here, something I haven’t seen for a while
We’re building a young squad with huge growth (not potential because potential has never scored a goal)
We have significantly changed the technical profile or the team
We have an outstanding crop of youth that the club are planning on developing more
The focus now so clearly on young players and hungry players
That is pretty much what Poch did with his clear out and was admired for it
That is how is see the plan, rather than a mess
It does mean we aren’t finished yet
We’re not close to be, but we’re a decent way down the journey
My opinion on the plan may change after next summer’s window if we haven’t made moves to fill gaps that their clearly aren’t youth players filling (left back and keeper) and the we don’t bring in a few more ready made players but that remains to be seen

 

[billyiddo]

Just want to circle back to the “mess” comment form earlier
I see a plan here, something I haven’t seen for a while
We’re building a young squad with huge growth (not potential because potential has never scored a goal)
We have significantly changed the technical profile or the team
We have an outstanding crop of youth that the club are planning on developing more
The focus now so clearly on young players and hungry players
That is pretty much what Poch did with his clear out and was admired for it
That is how is see the plan, rather than a mess
It does mean we aren’t finished yet
We’re not close to be, but we’re a decent way down the journey
My opinion on the plan may change after next summer’s window if we haven’t made moves to fill gaps that their clearly aren’t youth players filling (left back and keeper) and the we don’t bring in a few more ready made players but that remains to be seen

We added Solanke and was in for Neto (& Gallagher/Calafiori?) so I think we're looking to be balanced in our approach to squad building - I think next summer will tell us a lot.

 

[Bishop]

Maddison and perisic both on £170k a week when we signed them. Not a small amount.

Also we pay large performance bonuses.

Good wages but not top tier wages. Everyone pays bonuses we have no reason and no proof to suggest we pay bonuses out of line with everyone else.

 

[Lilbaz]

Good wages but not top tier wages. Everyone pays bonuses we have no reason and no proof to suggest we pay bonuses out of line with everyone else.

Don't know abbout now but we used to psy the biggest bonuses in the prem.

The minutes of the meeting read: "Peter Haine mentioned the bonus payments, also. It was felt the bonus structure and incentives should also be considered when discussing players wages as they comprised a significant part of the monies and are the most generous of any club in the Premier League."

Daniel Levy reveals Spurs wage bonuses which help keep Harry Kane & co

Much is made of Tottenham's wage structure but not the bonuses

www.football.london

 

[Bedfordspurs]

We added Solanke and was in for Neto (& Gallagher/Calafiori?) so I think we're looking to be balanced in our approach to squad building - I think next summer will tell us a lot.

I don’t know if we were in for all or any of them
But I do believe there is a plan to address things without panicking

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Good wages but not top tier wages. Everyone pays bonuses we have no reason and no proof to suggest we pay bonuses out of line with everyone else.

I’d argue the players we have haven’t merited top tier wages

 

[thfcsteff]

Werner is on that much

He cost nothing.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

He cost nothing.

But his salary is huge
People are talking salaries, wages
That’s their measure and he is on £170k a week
And he is a squad player