Redknapp

[parklane1]

Well Redknapp has history of walking out on clubs, if Levy is going to go back to a DOF it will be no surprise if he walks again.

 

[billyiddo]

We really shouldn't be looking to go back to a DoF again, it was a disaster last time and would be again. The problem is that the manager is ultimately responsible for the way the team plays but he's not responsible for bringing in the players, so he's going to blame the quality of players and the DoF blames the manager. At least with a manager he identifies the players and then if they don't perform he's got nobody to blame but himself.

to say the Dof system was a disaster is way off the mark, we wouldn't be anywhere near where we are now had we not had Arnesen & Commoli laying the foundations on which Redknapp built his success - the real talent of our current team was acquired during this period - you can argue that Commoli failed to provide a balanced team in his time and that's something id agree with, but that does not equate to it being a disaster - it took us from mid to lower table nothingness to consecutive 5th place finishes, provided us with our first trophy in a decade and a change in transfer policy which saw us replace buying older players on high wages to signing up and coming talent for low transfer fee's as well as the odd star from abroad. yes, it ended badly but that was more the fault of individuals than it was the system - we are still seeing evidence of it's successes today.

it was a long term project which would have yielded results for years to come - however we decided to end it and subsequently (some people) judge it because of a short term failure

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

I see. To me, this always ends up in tears as at some point the manager and the Dof wont agree over a players potential or whether hed fit in the formation.

Then you have the chairman who listens to one more than the other and the problems starts. I dont think it is very good for harmony, unless you have two guys who always agree, which is i believe really rare.

Then why does it work perfectly well on the continent?

Genuinely it doesnt seem especially different from any other management set up.

You have someone running the team day to day
Someone working as a general manager, running day to day admin etc
Someone looking at strategy (how we proceed as a club)
Someone negotiating contracts with existing players
Someone dealing with transfer negotiation
Someone running the academy set up
Someone running the scouting set up....

How these responsibilities are divided is what defines the set up. Ultimately though what is the difference between a "traditional" set up where you have a manager, a chairman and a chief exec running things and a dof set up where you have a manager, dof, chief exec/chairman/owner?

Each is prone to the same weaknesses, as it is strengths.

As I understood the dof role when we originally implemented it the idea was to take a lot of the behind the scenes management away from the manager (day to day) so that he can focus soley on the team and performances. Hardly a bad idea!

Look at Arsenal with the Wenger/Dein relationship, Dein was heavily involved in team affairs (so much as negotiations, transfers, day to day club management and strategy were concerned) and their partnership was extremely complimentary and brought them a huge amount of success. Yet while it wasnt a dof set up it was as invasive as most seem to assume it would be

 

[Gutter Boy]

I'll pledge ?ú500 to the pay Redknapp off cause.

is Levy panicking because he is scared of missing out on an AVB, Martinez or Rodgers:-k

Think there's a good chance.

Liverpool and us will have the same short-list and we don't want sloppy seconds. I suspect Levy wants AVB myself.

 

[indianspur]

West Brom have a DoF type, I think Fulham too, its just that are not officially titled DoFs

it could be the case that Levy is tired of the extra workload since Comolli left....remember before Comolli he did have Arnesen and Pleat in similar roles

 

[GGyid]

you may or may not be aware that Daniel Levy's wife is very ill and he may wish to have a structure in place that allows him more time

 

[billyiddo]

Nayims post

^ interesting to look at Arsenals relative lack of success since Dein has left as well

 

[indianspur]

you may or may not be aware that Daniel Levy's wife is very ill and he may wish to have a structure in place that allows him more time

i heard that he has spent a lot of time away from the club recently

 

[charlietheyid]

yeah those are the possible problems - way i see it, DoF is a long term position and should be relatively behind the scenes - the way we have gone about it in the past gives the DoF too much limelight therefore people think there is more of a problem than there actually is - all the reasons you can give for a manager falling foul of a DoF are as possible to happen with any other high rank staff member or even the chairman himself - what would happen if Levy thinks that redknapp isn't getting the best out of the players ? he'll sack him right ? what happens if Levy doesn't like the transfer targets that Redknapp puts forward ? he'll tell him that aren't viable etc etc

So in fact, you need two calm guys. Leonardo and Ancelotti at PSG are not fighting yet but they havent won the title. If you have a dof or a manager with a bit too much character, then its trouble.

 

[thfcsteff]

I know I am going to get slaughtered for this but a forum is here to share information.

Have had it on good authority that there is a compensation package on the table from Spurs in return for the departure of Mr Redknapp, apparently it is small in financial terms however Spurs are keen to bring in a new boss.

Careful mate, you'll get slaughtered by some here...I did when I dared to suggest something I knew...you're best off going back into the shadows and letting it play out mate...

 

[thfcsteff]

I will be honest now, if it does not come off it does not come off, I wont make any excuse as I won't know the reason that he takes it or not.

There is a HUGE difference in claiming to be ITK and sharing a peice of information you have been given in good faith by someone you have no reason to doubt.

I'm telling you mate, don't even go there...people have a hatred of it, even when you try to be honest...again, I hear ya...

 

[Spursalot]

Careful mate, you'll get slaughtered by some here...I did when I dared to suggest something I knew...you're best off going back into the shadows and letting it play out mate...

Maybe, if we had an ITK thread it would be viable.


That way it would be easy enough to go back and see how much that person had been right/wrong and make judgements from that.

 

[thfcsteff]

is Levy panicking because he is scared of missing out on an AVB, Martinez or Rodgers:-k

Levy does not panic. He has had plans in place for a while now...anyone who doubts that he will be strong at this CRITICAL time in our history has not paid any attention to the way he's operated. have some faith in the man. BTW, looking forward to another "Pinocchio" dingy and more ridicule myself...

 

[indianspur]

Levy does not panic. He has had plans in place for a while now...anyone who doubts that he will be strong at this CRITICAL time in our history has not paid any attention to the way he's operated. have some faith in the man. BTW, looking forward to another "Pinocchio" dingy and more ridicule myself...

no, im sure Levy is not one to generally panic, and im sure he is good at contingency plans, but i do feel his hand maybe being forced a bit by the fact that Liverpool sacked Dalglish and FSG seem to be going after one or two of Levy's ideal men for the Tottenham job

 

[thfcsteff]

From what I've seen it's another cook, another political power player and an increased chance in disharmony at the top!! The only time it seems to function is when the DoF has hired the Manager and that Manager was his choice.

It's someone who can identify, and conclude, the deals for proper players and proper targets. It's someone who can fudging see that Edison Cavani and Luis Suarez, among others, are genuinely excellent players (I will repeat again I am delighted Suarez did not get signed in the end), it's someone who can actually fudging handle keeping a squad player like Pienaar happy, and it's someone who does not always go for "experienced" high-wage players that in 2 or 3 seasons will leave us with over-paid, underachieving deadwood. Looking forward to another slagging from you for even daring to say any of this...

 

[Gutter Boy]

you may or may not be aware that Daniel Levy's wife is very ill and he may wish to have a structure in place that allows him more time

Thought it was his mum.

Levy's wife works for the club doesn't she (she actually pre-dates him there).

 

[1882]

parklane1

Well Redknapp has history of walking out on clubs, if Levy is going to go back to a DOF it will be no surprise if he walks again.

The last 3 Clubs Redknapp left (West Ham, Southampton & Portsmouth) ALL went down within a year or so of his departure... I'm hoping the fudger stays to be honest!

 

[thfcsteff]

Maybe, if we had an ITK thread it would be viable.


That way it would be easy enough to go back and see how much that person had been right/wrong and make judgements from that.

You know what? Take what you want, leave what you don't. Honestly, who gives a fudge mate? I dared to say, after the Fulham match, that Levy was furious and got slaughtered for it, so I decided to STFU...even African's slagging this grays geezer...like it or not, some people DO hear things from people they know who work at the club in corridors where things are said, and over the years, many of the people who hear this stuff keep quiet. Because on the rare occasion when they venture out, they're accused of being on one side or the other AND of being tossers who fictionalize for their own good and glory. Perhaps the main occupants of this forum are right, maybe those who do hear things should STFU and keep it to themselves...I'm beginning to conclude that it's back to opinion-only posts...

 

[thfcsteff]

no, im sure Levy is not one to generally panic, and im sure he is good at contingency plans, but i do feel his hand maybe being forced a bit by the fact that Liverpool sacked Dalglish and FSG seem to be going after one or two of Levy's ideal men for the Tottenham job

I think the only problems Levy has here are financial and how to handle the storm...I'm sure HR has it all perfectly laid out in terms of patter...it's a game, like it always has been...Harry first...I have no idea of the Chelski rumors are real or not, but I'll tell you this, it would be perfect wouldn't it? A match made in heaven as Redknapp might be the only person tough and selfish enough to ride out Abramovich.

 

[billyiddo]

So in fact, you need two calm guys. Leonardo and Ancelotti at PSG are not fighting yet but they havent won the title. If you have a dof or a manager with a bit too much character, then its trouble.

i would say the key is getting the right DoF in place first, before the manager is appointed, but id like the dof to have less say than before in first team matters - so i see no reason why a dof couldn't be brought in to work alongside redknapp at this moment.

i believe Arnesen was the right guy and would still be here today had Chelsea not illegally approached him and eventually taken him from us. this kind of threw Levy's plan out the window and he had to act quick to get a replacement in - enter Damien. had Levy had more time he may well have come up with a better replacement, that said he still signed us some important players which are still playing a big part today.

i can understand why people have doubts over it but in my mind in this day and age - having someone long term at a football club who can put in place a long term transfer strategy and set up a dedicated scouting network (among other things) is very important - especially for a club like ours where we have to maximize our productivity in these area's