Spurs 2018/19

:lol::lol:

No words. Is there anything you can't try and spin in to a positive? It's been an absolutely terrible window. We've addressed none of our problems whereas Liverpool and Chelsea (our two biggest rivals for top four) have both added players and strengthened, the former considerably. Both teams who finished above us strengthened more than we did despite not doing much themselves. You can't just stand still and expect to not slide down the table eventually when others around you aim to constantly improve and add to their team.

United struggled with some terrible managers and poor spending, yet eventually it paid off and they finished ahead of us, it's a terrible example. The biggest spenders in the league (United, City, Chelsea) win the most leagues and trophies, United in their 'terrible' period after Fergie have won more trophies than we have in our best period in ages. You can't just sit there and continue to deny the clear fact that those who strive to improve their team are the ones who win trophies, the most important thing in football and what will be remembered, not shiny new facilities.

We've got a fantastic team which needs a little extra to compete, but we've completely failed to even attempt to add that. To not even try an add a midfielder with Dembele's current issues is an absolute disgrace, it's clear he's on the wane and we're once more going to completely rely on him as the only player to provide any kind of drive from midfield. We're going to be in a massive struggle for top four now, and better hope that we don't suffer any bad injury issues, that the world cup players can come back and be ready quickly, and that missing Son for a period of time doesn't have too much of an impact.

What was Pochettino meant to say, exactly? He's not going to rip in to Levy a week before the season starts. He's going to do his absolute best to work with what he has, and of course he's going to have praise for the team. If you actually think he didn't want more from this window, and that he's satisfied with adding absolutely nothing, then you're outright delusional.

Sunshine, Chelsea now have a less-good GK (and paid £35m net for the privilege). And last time around they ended up with a less-good striker (Morata, compared to Costa) and lost Matic. Will Kovacic (loan) and Jorghino compensate enough for these to take them back into the top 4? I doubt it.

Apart from City, who we'd not be catching this season anyway regardless of who we signed, Liverpool are the only rival to have - on paper at least - really strengthened IMO. And some of our rivals have managers who are new to the Prem and/or have unhappy camps and/or face the EL burden.

You're quick enough to use Pochettino's previous quotes when it suits you - and to place your own interpretation upon them - but when it comes to today's quotes, suddenly you disavow them.

And again you equate not signing new players with "standing still", when that's not necessarily the case … because some players sometimes improve through further coaching and new players from the youth ranks sometimes come through and shine.

If you can't improve a squad or first XI except by spending crazy sums and hoping that the gamble pays off, then sometimes you're better off keeping your powder dry. This seems to have been the case this summer, with prices spiralling even higher into ridiculous realms. Levy is on record as saying (last summer) that he believes the market bubble will burst, leaving some clubs in difficulties, and I happen to agree with him.

I don't expect a determined pessimist and critic like you to agree - or even understand - and so I'll leave you to continue ranting and raving.
 
Absolute shambles of a window from us...simply no way around it. Any positive energy the fans had for the new stadium and season ahead has surely been canceled out by our insistence on making this transfer window as useless as possible. I'm usually a big Levy supporter, but surely this falls squarely on his shoulders. It's unacceptable.
 
Sunshine, Chelsea now have a less-good GK (and paid £35m net for the privilege). And last time around they ended up with a less-good striker (Morata, compared to Costa) and lost Matic. Will Kovacic (loan) and Jorghino compensate enough for these to take them back into the top 4? I doubt it.

Apart from City, who we'd not be catching this season anyway regardless of who we signed, Liverpool are the only rival to have - on paper at least - really strengthened IMO. And some of our rivals have managers who are new to the Prem and/or have unhappy camps and/or face the EL burden.

You're quick enough to use Pochettino's previous quotes when it suits you - and to place your own interpretation upon them - but when it comes to today's quotes, suddenly you disavow them.

And again you equate not signing new players with "standing still", when that's not necessarily the case … because some players sometimes improve through further coaching and new players from the youth ranks sometimes come through and shine.

If you can't improve a squad or first XI except by spending crazy sums and hoping that the gamble pays off, then sometimes you're better off keeping your powder dry. This seems to have been the case this summer, with prices spiralling even higher into ridiculous realms. Levy is on record as saying (last summer) that he believes the market bubble will burst, leaving some clubs in difficulties, and I happen to agree with him.

I don't expect a determined pessimist and critic like you to agree - or even understand - and so I'll leave you to continue ranting and raving.

They brought in a very talented keeper for the future, and brought in Kovacic and Jorginho (both better than anything we have in midfield if Dembele continues to look like he's past it). They were also in meltdown most of last season yet still won a trophy, and whenever they get a new manager generally do pretty well, but yeah let's write them off.

Pochettino is about to kick off the new season, do you genuinely think he was going to start mouthing off to the press about how unfair it is? We probably will hear some quotes from him, but not till he's left the club. 'Sometimes players improve..' yeah and other players at other clubs won't improve? The same can be said for literally anybody in the league. We dropped down a place in the table from last season and did absolutely nothing, how exactly do you expect us to not continue to drop when we do nothing to improve?

Levy's talking absolute nonsense in order to excuse himself from doing anything in the market, and of course a shill like you will lap it up. I don't expect somebody who huffs Levy's farts to do anything but support him when he's completely incompetent in the market and leaves our manager high and dry either. What clubs are going to be in difficulties exactly? Liverpool who are still spending less than their revenue? Or United who are still spending less than their revenue? Or City and Chelsea who are owned by multi fecking billionaires? Stop talking utter nonsense.

You talked crap about how Levy would make a statement this window and that our finances were great, and now you're attempting to do a 360 and scrape the bottom of the barrel for reasons to praise Levy. It's genuinely pathetic to watch to be honest, I mean acting like it's incredible we've handed out a couple of contracts? Get a grip.
 
After being told all window that I'm a pessimist for being worried we might not sign anybody this window ... I'm now being called a pessimist because I'm not happy we didn't sign anybody this window. Quality stuff.
 
So if after getting top 4 and getting past the group stages doesn't urge the likes of Levy to spend, what will? No fecking ambition at all. People can scoff but a signing like Zaha even at the prices quoted could have made a huge difference.
 
you've been saying for months that this was going to be the summer Spurs finally opened up the purse strings, with the new stadium, larger income on its way, making a statement signing for the new ground, etc etc

then they go and don't sign anyone lol

True. I thought I Spurs would spend a lot this summer. But I don't think the fact that we haven't is down to lack of finance, but more down to market conditions. It's one thing to have money to spend, but quite another to spend it on crazy asking sums.

Let's take Grealish as an example. As a Championship player with promise, then maybe £20-25m (tops) would have been a gamble worth taking, but £40m or more? Not so much.

Or Zaha, further example. £70m or more? Not worth it.

When you see Chelsea spending £35m net for the privilege of downgrading their GK, you know it's a market that has lost most of its rhyme and reason. But the market bubble will burst … as all bubbles do.
 
Looks like @GlastonSpur is the one and only surviving member of the Levy Fan Club.

It's refreshing to have a Spurs fan on here pointing out how much shite he writes. When Utd fans do it he calls us jealous of your new stadium and goes on about net spend, average league finishes since Fergie retired etc.

I have to say, I find it staggering you've bought nobody. One serious injury to one of your starting 11 and you're in huge trouble.
 
I always reserve judgements on transfer windows until after they've closed … and, unlike a fair few people, I don't see them as a race to see who can sign the most new players or spend the most money.

They key area for us to strengthen IMO is CM, because even if Dembele stays this summer he's not really capable any more of playing lots and lots of games.
So are current players potentially improving going to strengthen your CM?
 
Not a single signing? Wow. I'd be fuming if I were a Spurs supporter. It looks like they'll hang on to Alderweireld which is definitely a positive, though.
 
True. I thought I Spurs would spend a lot this summer. But I don't think the fact that we haven't is down to lack of finance, but more down to market conditions. It's one thing to have money to spend, but quite another to spend it on crazy asking sums.

Let's take Grealish as an example. As a Championship player with promise, then maybe £20-25m (tops) would have been a gamble worth taking, but £40m or more? Not so much.

Or Zaha, further example. £70m or more? Not worth it.

When you see Chelsea spending £35m net for the privilege of downgrading their GK, you know it's a market that has lost most of its rhyme and reason. But the market bubble will burst … as all bubbles do.

Chelsea paid £35m net because Kepa is 23 and has his entire career ahead of him, and they lost Courtois on the cheap because of his contract. You can either accept the market is like it is (it's not going to burst, revenues are going up and up) or you can refuse to participate and you will go backwards. Levy has chosen the latter and our performances on the pitch will suffer because of it.
 
Not a single signing? Wow. I'd be fuming if I were a Spurs supporter. It looks like they'll hang on to Alderweireld which is definitely a positive, though.

would be if they would play him, last year they never played him because he wouldn't sign a new contract. still aint signed a new contract so will be interesting to see if he plays.
 
Spurs are past the point where keeping players represents a good window. There's no excuse.

We're not … not when there are at least 9 clubs around who currently can offer higher wages.
 
Alderweireld could still be off by the way.

Other European teams can still buy him until the end of August right?
 
True. I thought I Spurs would spend a lot this summer. But I don't think the fact that we haven't is down to lack of finance, but more down to market conditions. It's one thing to have money to spend, but quite another to spend it on crazy asking sums.

Let's take Grealish as an example. As a Championship player with promise, then maybe £20-25m (tops) would have been a gamble worth taking, but £40m or more? Not so much.

Or Zaha, further example. £70m or more? Not worth it.

When you see Chelsea spending £35m net for the privilege of downgrading their GK, you know it's a market that has lost most of its rhyme and reason. But the market bubble will burst … as all bubbles do.
What possible evidence do you have that the market bubble will suddenly burst? We can either accept the market as it is or sit around complaining and sign nobody. It appears we have chosen the latter. Your willingness to accept this with little to no pushback is a bit perplexing.
 
Not a single signing? Wow. I'd be fuming if I were a Spurs supporter. It looks like they'll hang on to Alderweireld which is definitely a positive, though.

It'll be the same situation it was last season. He will mostly be on the bench because Pochettino wants fully dedicated players, so it'll be a waste of wages and we'll probably end up losing him for much less money anyway. Can't say I'm exactly buzzing to have kept him.
 
Chelsea paid £35m net because Kepa is 23 and has his entire career ahead of him, and they lost Courtois on the cheap because of his contract. You can either accept the market is like it is (it's not going to burst, revenues are going up and up) or you can refuse to participate and you will go backwards. Levy has chosen the latter and our performances on the pitch will suffer because of it.

Doesn't matter how you slice it, the fact remains that Chelsea spent £35m net on a GK who very likely is not (and likely will not be) as good as Courtois. This £35m net is partly down to the current crazy market conditions.

I don't accept your simplistic premise that not participating in a crazy market is bound to equate to going backwards. For a start, the season has yet to unfold. And for all you know, the players that would have cost X now might well cost 0.5X in January or next summer.
 
True. I thought I Spurs would spend a lot this summer. But I don't think the fact that we haven't is down to lack of finance, but more down to market conditions. It's one thing to have money to spend, but quite another to spend it on crazy asking sums.

Let's take Grealish as an example. As a Championship player with promise, then maybe £20-25m (tops) would have been a gamble worth taking, but £40m or more? Not so much.

Or Zaha, further example. £70m or more? Not worth it.

When you see Chelsea spending £35m net for the privilege of downgrading their GK, you know it's a market that has lost most of its rhyme and reason. But the market bubble will burst … as all bubbles do.

Stop wearing your ass for a hat and admit that you were wrong. Your squad is worse than the squad that finished the season.

You needed to add at least one player. You've not got any. It's a huge failure in a very tricky window. There's no shame in admitting that you've had a terrible summer.

Levy has had an absolute nightmare on behalf of your club.
 
We're not … not when there are at least 9 clubs around who currently can offer higher wages.

whos the 9 clubs ? harry kane not on 200k a week now ? cant imagine there is 9 clubs who could pay that to a player
 
would be if they would play him, last year they never played him because he wouldn't sign a new contract. still aint signed a new contract so will be interesting to see if he plays.

They'd be fecking idiots not to
 
It'll be the same situation it was last season. He will mostly be on the bench because Pochettino wants fully dedicated players, so it'll be a waste of wages and we'll probably end up losing him for much less money anyway. Can't say I'm exactly buzzing to have kept him.

Have you ever been exactly buzzing about anything?

Perhaps a last minute purchase of some bang average new player for £150m would get your pulses going ...
 
Doesn't matter how you slice it, the fact remains that Chelsea spent £35m net on a GK who very likely is (and likely will not be) as good as Courtois. This £35m net is partly down to the current crazy market conditions.

I don't accept your simplistic premise that not participating in a crazy market is bound to equate to going backwards. For a start, the season has yet to unfold. And for all you know, the players that would have cost X now might well cost 0.5X in January or next summer.

Why? By all accounts he's a fantastically talented goalkeeper who many rate as one of the world's best in his age group. I'm not going to pretend to know much about him personally, but I'll bow to superior knowledge on it, whereas you seem to have decided he isn't/won't be as good without watching him play? I think there are doubts around him adapting to a new league, pressure of a big fee etc .. but I have no idea how good he is in relation to Courtois other than the latter has a bigger reputation.

Of course it is. We have weaknesses and problems we have not fixed, other clubs have done. Our depth is going to be awful this year, we've got a number of injury prone as hell players, and we're still massively reliant on several key players, which will likely backfire. Participating in this market would have helped fix this.
 
It'll be the same situation it was last season. He will mostly be on the bench because Pochettino wants fully dedicated players, so it'll be a waste of wages and we'll probably end up losing him for much less money anyway. Can't say I'm exactly buzzing to have kept him.

But what on earth is the point of hanging on to him if you're not going to play him?
 
whos the 9 clubs ? harry kane not on 200k a week now ? cant imagine there is 9 clubs who could pay that to a player

5 clubs in the Prem pay higher wages than us. Then figure in Barca, RM, PSG etc.
 
Have you ever been exactly buzzing about anything?

Perhaps a last minute purchase of some bang average new player for £150m would get your pulses going ...

Sorry for not being delighted we've just done absolutely nothing Glaston. You sat there with the party poppers out with a 'We got Kane on a new contract' banner ready?
 
Doesn't matter how you slice it, the fact remains that Chelsea spent £35m net on a GK who very likely is (and likely will not be) as good as Courtois. This £35m net is partly down to the current crazy market conditions.

I don't accept your simplistic premise that not participating in a crazy market is bound to equate to going backwards. For a start, the season has yet to unfold. And for all you know, the players that would have cost X now might well cost 0.5X in January or next summer.

having watched both players for there clubs last season Chelsea ain't downgraded. infact a lot of people in Spain wanted Kepa to be the number 1 for the WC.
 
I think Spurs are just in a tough spot with the market conditions, the stadium financing, etc. Realistically, they were never going to spend the kind of money that would have landed established top talent in this market. But I'm surprised they haven't added some depth by taking a punt or two on a couple younger developmental players in the 15-25M range.

This team has had relatively good injury luck the last few years, despite playing a very high intensity style that has to be pretty taxing on players. If they have bad luck with a run of injuries - the way that Arsenal, Liverpool, United have all had at one time or another in the past few years - the wheels could really come off.
 
But what on earth is the point of hanging on to him if you're not going to play him?

Feck knows. Not wanting to sell to a rival club I guess, whereas at a cut price other teams might be interested. I guess he's still going to be a squad player and used when needed, and we couldn't sign a replacement in time.
 
Good to see Spurs has just as many muppets as we have.
 
having watched both players for there clubs last season Chelsea ain't downgraded. infact a lot of people in Spain wanted Kepa to be the number 1 for the WC.
That's because they're reactive idiots!
Wasn't Kepa making mistake after mistake after coming back from injury last year?
 
Good to see Spurs has just as many muppets as we have.

I'd argue there's a slight difference between being annoyed when you don't sign Bale and when you don't get a single player after your manager asks for signings.
 
having watched both players for there clubs last season Chelsea ain't downgraded. infact a lot of people in Spain wanted Kepa to be the number 1 for the WC.

Also worth pointing out that Courtois was perfect for Conte's system (i.e. force play wide due to 3 CBs+Kante and deal with crosses). Kepa is an ideal fit for Sarri's system in that he can play with his feet to resist pressing and is a better shot stopper.
 
Why? By all accounts he's a fantastically talented goalkeeper who many rate as one of the world's best in his age group. I'm not going to pretend to know much about him personally, but I'll bow to superior knowledge on it, whereas you seem to have decided he isn't/won't be as good without watching him play? I think there are doubts around him adapting to a new league, pressure of a big fee etc .. but I have no idea how good he is in relation to Courtois other than the latter has a bigger reputation.

Of course it is. We have weaknesses and problems we have not fixed, other clubs have done. Our depth is going to be awful this year, we've got a number of injury prone as hell players, and we're still massively reliant on several key players, which will likely backfire. Participating in this market would have helped fix this.

Have they? As I've said, Liverpool aside I'm not sure that any of our rivals will be better this season than last. But you of course know better … because signing new players, regardless of all other considerations, is bound to make them better - right?