What's the deal with Son and his military service? Is that this year?
Spurs 2018/19
- Thread starter Adisa
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Unless he wins the Asian Games, he has to start before he is 30.
Levy's job, first and foremost, is to secure the long-term future of the club as capable of competing with the best for long after Pochettino or any other manager has gone. This is the whole point of the £1 billion investment (or not far short of) programme that's been underway for several years now in our new training centre and stadium complex.
As for Levy's transfer strategy, this has for several years now worked remarkably well overall: a mixture of largely prudent buying and selling, combined with youth promotion, that's assembled a talented squad. Pointing to one summer - this summer - doesn't change my general assessment, even if you bemoan the lack of signing new players in it, which I don't especially.
Levy is the longest-serving club chair in the Prem, so he knows a thing or two and his whole background is in economics. So I'd back his judgement over any other club chair, regardless of whether he's in a minority of one, in predicting a collapse of the transfer bubble … a bubble which has expanded wildly in recent years.
If it does collapse, Spurs will be in an even better position than they are now in comparison with many other Prem clubs, who'll be stuck with players that they can't sell except without making huge losses.
If it doesn't collapse in a season or two or three, then you can come back to me with your question as to whether Levy should resign.
You can even send me the question on a cold winter's day whilst you sit in one of the heated seats in our 17.5k capacity single-tier stand, using the seat's USB point to re-charge your i-pad
whilst you sit in one of the heated seats in our 17.5k capacity single-tier stand, using the seat's USB point to re-charge your i-pad
Well that's me convinced, feck the football, I can just sit and watch Netflix while the games on.
Also, Levy's job is primarily to help us win trophies, which is kind of the point of a football club. The other stuff is nice, but he's meant to be making us as competitive as he possibly can, and the best way to go about doing is not to give the best manager you've had in years no reinforcements when anyone who watched us last season could tell you they were needed. Levy's transfer strategy has actually been poor for a few seasons now, it doesn't work in the football climate of today and will continue to fail until he realizes that the market has changed and that he needs to adapt to it. We're no longer a mid-table side who can get by on taking punts on the likes of Nkoudou and Stambouli, we need to be going after genuine quality.
Amazing how nobody else seems to be trusting in this theory, despite other clubs seemingly being ran by equally qualified chairmen, these are multi billion pound businesses, I'm pretty sure Levy isn't the only one with a background in economics. How exactly is the bubble going to burst because teams are spending lots of money on players, when this money has either been made by huge revenue (United) or injected in to the club by men to whom a billion pounds is a drop in the ocean? (City's owners).
Amazing how nobody else seems to be trusting in this theory, despite other clubs seemingly being ran by equally qualified chairmen, these are multi billion pound businesses, I'm pretty sure Levy isn't the only one with a background in economics. How exactly is the bubble going to burst because teams are spending lots of money on players, when this money has either been made by huge revenue (United) or injected in to the club by men to whom a billion pounds is a drop in the ocean? (City's owners).
Trippier was signed after Alli, becoming a very able replacement for Walker, when all and sundry were predicting a big drop in quality down our right side when Walker was sold.
Son and Alderweireld were both also signed after Alli.
Lucas Moura, who only joined in January, and who I think will do well this season
Don't take it all so seriously … and besides, there's some cracking programmes coming on Netflix.
It wasn't a big drop in quality, but it was a drop. I still maintain Walker is better than Trippier despite the latter having a fantastic world cup, Walker's top level athleticism was far better defensively and allowed us more tactical flexibility. Trippier offers far better delivery but on a number of occasions got shredded by wingers who properly had a go at him (Sane the most obvious example, although against Juve too) and also it meant we had to regularly play Aurier, who was an absolute disaster whenever he got on the field.
I've heard Vikings (all 5 glorious seasons) is coming to Netflix.
No-one has moaned about how "unfair" the market is … that's entirely your own invention. As is the suggestion that it's impossible to improve the squad. But do keep pounding away at these aunt sallies …
You also seem to believe that every single player in every rival squad is better than Sissoko or Lamela. But they ain't.
In fairness, this thread must be hilarious for United fans. Feeling grumpy about your own window? Come and have a gander at this. Instantly cheers you up, I'd imagine.
In fairness, this thread must be hilarious for United fans. Feeling grumpy about your own window? Come and have a gander at this. Instantly cheers you up, I'd imagine.
Mate, I'm always happy. I drink a lot.
Also you shouldn't forget that you will be protected by fully automatic sprinkler coverage.
No transfers cannot be a good thing concidering your squad, surely even the most deluded Spurs-fan can agree to that. The squad is thin, and standing still in a transfer window whilst every club around you is moving forward means that you'll more or less are going backwards.
I'd genuinely rather the club signed my cat than ever have to be subjected to watching him play 'football' ever again. Can't wait for him to run in a straight line until he runs out of space and kicks it out for the one millionth time in a game.
Is he a good dribbler?
I went and watched Aberystwyth Town play last year, and I'm pretty certain the majority of players on show still had more technical ability than Sissoko does.
All grouped together in 2015 though, Alli was loaned backed so joined up with the squad when the others joined.
Unless theres a January rabbit pulled out of hats then it could be 4 years before you have a similar success story.
A strategy can't fail you for 4 years and still be considered an on going success.
He is like Fellaini without a chest and head, and that is saying something.
Spurs are going to feck up the season with this new stadium, it's never going to be ready for the Liverpool game. FA should have told them that it was Wembley for another season back in May when it was obvious they were behind.
I'd amend your statement to say that "he's meant to be making us as competitive as he possibly can for the long-term"
And as I've said before, your claim that "Levy's transfer strategy has actually been poor for a few seasons now" doesn't even remotely square with the facts: one of Europe's most valuable squads, who've finished 3rd, 2nd and 3rd in the world's most competitive league.
You mention "punts on the likes of Nkoudou and Stambouli", but ignore the "punts" taken on Sanchez or Alli or Trippier etc etc.
The bubble has been inflated to a large extent by TV money, not just sugar-daddy clubs or wealthy clubs like United. TV money can reduce, sugar-daddies can pack up and go home, clubs can go bust ...
It will be ready, a bit rough around the edges perhaps, but ready enough. There are test events taking place now, leading towards the issue of a safety certificate.
Our most valuable players are probably Eriksen and Kane. One player who was signed five years ago (amid a mountain of awfulness) and the other is a youth product. We've done very well in the league but I attribute more credit to Pochettino than I do Daniel Levy, since before he took over we were conceding screamers to Jon Flanagan and were finishing behind Everton. Poch rebuilt the squad and massively improved the players at the club, not Levy.
Yes, we've also had successes. He's signed more bad than good lately though, his record is decidedly average for the last few seasons. The likes of Llorente, Janssen, Sissoko, N'jie, Nkoudou, Stambouli etc have been total and utter flops, many of which were rushed through at the last minute. His transfer record recently has not been exceptional, and pretending it has been is delusional.
TV money isn't going away, interest in top level football is only increasing. What evidence do you have that TV money will reduce? If it does, clubs will just accordingly reduce their spending, at the moment they're just spending what they earn. In that case, transfer fees will go down, but it won't make a difference to players already signed, so how does not competing in the current climate help us? Also, it's already been said but the 'sugar daddies' are very much set to stay for the long term and have laid down foundations for the future. Blindly believing they will pick up their ball and go home doesn't really make sense.
He's going to need that to stop self-combustion from all the righteous, red-faced anger when we thrash the opposition 4 - 0, when it could have 5 or 6 nil if only we'd splashed the cash this summer.
Much can be said about you, Glaston, and I've said plenty, but I must admit I would love to have your abillity for unhinged optimism.
I'm out of here … done more than enough responding for one day. Perhaps we can return to the market bubble thing another day … there are some interesting articles out there on the subject.
Really strange from Spurs. I can only guess that the money simply isn't available. That said it's the club's own fault for not cashing in on Alderweireld earlier on and using it to strengthen areas they need. Instead he'll move anyway for £25m which gets you very little these days.
Martial was never leaving United let alone to Spurs. The deal was never on and the player never had any interest in going there. I'm confident Spurs knew United's stance very early on with this as it's hardly been made secret.
I'm sure the new stadium is lovely but with so many players running down their contracts and none coming in the other way I would start to worry as a Spurs fan. Shame really as they aren't a bad club and most of their fans are decent.
Martial was never leaving United let alone to Spurs. The deal was never on and the player never had any interest in going there. I'm confident Spurs knew United's stance very early on with this as it's hardly been made secret.
I'm sure the new stadium is lovely but with so many players running down their contracts and none coming in the other way I would start to worry as a Spurs fan. Shame really as they aren't a bad club and most of their fans are decent.
This transfer inactivity will bite them. I don't get how they haven't signed even 1 player. It's baffling.
What happened to Barrios? Thought that was a done deal
Despite no transfers Poch got a new haircut and he looks fresh. Based on that they'll have a great season.
Not trying to wum or anything, but didn't Pochettino's new contract come with the promise of them investing a fair bit?
Harry Kane signing a new deal as well as Pochettino were brilliant deals for Spurs
What happened to Grealish? Thought that was a done deal? Be brave, take risks? Spurs transfer money won't be impacted by the stadium costs? Splash the cash window? 
I think he will be off to Madrid next season with Eriksen who did not renew his contract. Also I dont think Spurs will make top 4, we finished above them last season and neither team changed noticeably. Liverpool have backed the Kloppster and City are City. I think top 3 are locked in, that 4th place will be interesting, if Spurs fall out of the CL spots does Kane stay?
They seriously couldnt find an upgrade on Sissoko or Lamela? Just about anyone is an upgrade on Sissoko and a player that plays 10 games a season is an upgrade on Lamela who is injured again lol.
The state of the Spurs fans on here. It's like anything that happens is always going to benefit the club, at least Squishy is a bit more realistic.
I think he will be off to Madrid next season with Eriksen who did not renew his contract. Also I dont think Spurs will make top 4, we finished above them last season and neither team changed noticeably. Liverpool have backed the Kloppster and City are City. I think top 3 are locked in, that 4th place will be interesting, if Spurs fall out of the CL spots does Kane stay?
They seriously couldnt find an upgrade on Sissoko or Lamela? Just about anyone is an upgrade on Sissoko and a player that plays 10 games a season is an upgrade on Lamela who is injured again lol.
The state of the Spurs fans on here. It's like anything that happens is always going to benefit the club, at least Squishy is a bit more realistic.
I think spurs will be fine. The only thing unhinged is the transfer craze that a large portion of the fans are goaded into by the scrupulous media. They have a very young squad and they have addressed their weaknesses in time by adding Sanchez and Moura. They could have used a budget option forward I guess, but other than that I just don't see these "glaring weaknesses" that everyone else is bleating about. Pochettino will actually have constant headaches over who to pick on the wing, now that Lamela has finally recovered.
They look like a solid, settled side.
Glaston is as humourless, relentless and strident as ever, but on the main point right. Plus ca change.
They look like a solid, settled side.
Glaston is as humourless, relentless and strident as ever, but on the main point right. Plus ca change.
Ergh. How many times in this thread are we going to see people draw an equivalence between the general idiocy surrounding the transfer market (people believing tabloid articles, expecting 10 transfers every summer etc) and people wanting the club using the window to address its very obvious weaknesses with maybe a couple of players? It's bizarre.
How exactly have we addressed our central midfield weaknesses (A concern expressed by a number of Spurs fans in this thread) by signing Moura and Sanchez? I like how you've decided you don't see weaknesses, so people who actually watch the side week in week out must be incorrect. Did you watch Dembele being forced in to making 10 fouls a game in order to keep up with play, and looking exhausted by the second half? He's been our most crucial midfielder in seasons past, yet is now clearly on a 'use carefully' basis. That needed fixing, at the minimum this window a central midfielder needed bringing in to add depth and a bit more quality, we have nobody (except for Winks, who is returning from a bad injury) who can pick a pass in that area, or at least a midfielder with similar attributes to Dembele so we wouldn't miss him so badly when he's injured, which is a lot these days.
We also obviously could have done with a wide player, what with Son being out for the Asian games, and the fact we regularly resort to using Lamela and Sissoko, who between them managed an impresssively terrible 3 goals and 3 assists between them last season. Moura goes some way to remedying this, but phasing out Sissoko entirely (its pointless playing him) and bringing in another wide attacker could be crucial to picking up extra points, Lamela offers work rate but has zero end product. Backup for Alli in the form of Grealish would also have clearly helped us out, because Alli spent most of last season coasting through games (despite doing well statistically) and clearly needs a little bit of competition, but once again we're going to be entirely reliant on him due to a lack of depth. Too much pressure on a player of his age, and nobody to come in when he's having a period where it's pointless having him on the pitch.
Nobody is having headaches over who to play on the wing. Our only proven option there who delivers is Son, who will be out for a period of time, with Lamela offering work rate but nothing but frustration in attacking areas, and Moura being an unknown factor. Admittedly though, it's lowest on our list of priorities. We're 'settled and solid', in other words meaning we've failed to freshen up the squad or add any competition for spots, and told the entire league we aren't interested in doing any better than top four. Don't see why it's hard to see that some fans would be very dissapointed by the complete lack of ambition, especially due to comments which upped expectations at the start of the window.
Basically, it's a bit odd that some are making out people are being unreasonable or transfer muppets for expecting a couple of players to come in to this team. We haven't won a trophy since 2008, have a key player in Dembele on the wane, and clearly need more competition for certain spots. This team isn't one which is proven as winners and can't realistically be improved, and even City added Mahrez, so I find it bizarre that people are surprised when the fans aren't happy that we're the only club to decide we could not strengthen.
"You'll be able to charge your iPad in your heated seat"
"Well fcuk me, show me where to sign!"
I used to play for them!
Edit: As this is the Spurs thread I'll say something Spurs related, their transfer window was bad.