It was all going to be so straightforward. This article I mean. Been busy, in hospital tomorrow for another knee replacement, Tottenham On My Mind will limp into a new season all in good time, if you can hang on a bit.
But it’s Spurs. Nothing is ever straightforward.
Eze is on. Delays, but sorted. Palace canny – hang on until they get him for two important matches at the start of the season. Eze is happy to Join Spurs. Or not.
Hardly a JFK moment, but I can remember where I heard the news. 7.45pm, listening to a podcast recorded earlier that day where a well-connected, non-sensationalist AFC supporting pundit confirmed he had heard his club like Eze but not at that price and had long since moved on. 8pm – 62 Whatsapp messages.
A couple of years ago, I wrote about the myth that Levy is a master deal-maker. His approach rested on how he used his power – the power of being a PL club with funds available -to exploit clubs, usually lower down the pyramid, who needed the money. It can still work, witness Archie Gray’s deal when Spurs could move quickly to trump Brentford’s offer, with Leeds keen to take the cash.
But football has moved on, as it tends to do, without, apparently, Levy noticing. Like the low block, these tactics can work but are ineffective over time if you want to be consistently successful at the top level. Our indecision in the market has serious consequences. We are crying out for a creative, passing midfielder but it seems that our deal-making undermines the imperative to be successful on the pitch. Staggered payments, add-ons – I completely understand that few transfer fees, if any, are paid in full up front, but our approach leads to hesitancy and creates opportunities for others, just at the point where the team needs a decisive approach, committed to buying high quality footballers who can lift our squad from promising to being proper contenders.
We dodged a bullet with Saido Berahinho but I recall him saying subsequently, (I paraphrase) ‘we agreed £20m then Levy said, right, that’s £1.5m up front and rest in instalments.’ Willian, Petit, Grealish, all were on the way but never appeared. Nothing has significantly changed. Pre-season, Levy and new CEO Vinai Venkatesham indulged in a PR offensive. We’re going for the title and the Champions League, blah blah. To achieve this, fundamental change is required, and so far, I’m not seeing it.
But back to the Eze (non) deal. Thinking about this last night, this so-called late hi-jacking of the deal smelt a bit whiffy. There is no way that a complex multi-million pound deal could have been sorted in a couple of hours, as this version of the transfer suggests. In contrast to Spurs, AFC moved decisively when the time came but sure enough, this piece in the Independent by Miguel Delaney, a responsible journalist, confirms our neighbours, Eze and Palace were in on the deal. It was in all their interests. Palace hung on to get two more games plus the possibility of more cash, they got their man, the player is where he wants to be. Spurs have been utterly played, undone by complacency in the face of a labyrinthine plot concocted by the villains of the piece.
So this is how business is done. To be fair to Spurs, they have been lied to by all parties, consistently over a period of time and with intent, but if they had not prevaricated, this would have forced the hand of the poker faced conspirators. Also, mendacity is hardly unknown in business and finance.
One line in Delaney’s piece is worthy of note, that Steve Parish has a good relationship with an AFC board member. Conversely, Levy apparently makes little attempt to build such relationships. Indeed his tactics have hacked off many clubs. The powerful don’t have to worry unduly about how they get on with others when it comes to a deal. However, lose that power and there’s nothing left. Long-term, Levy’s approach creates unwelcome antipathy that is and always has been counter to the best interests of the club.
We’re left with more questions than answers. How much is our chairman prepared to delegate to his increasingly large and expensive recruitment team and senior club officers? This must change – the system is not running smoothly or effectively. How can we get a top class creative player in so short a time before the window closes? If we can, we’ll have to pay over the odds.
Also, how much money do we have to continue with this essential squad rebuild? We’re ok with PSR as I understand it. However, there were a couple of articles from football finance journos suggesting that we may have increased our income from the stadium and TV but are cash poor, that is, we don’t have as much cash available this season because of interest payments and in particular because several of the so-called canny instalment deals we’ve agreed in the past have to be paid up now.
There is one addition to my list of might-have-beens’ (you may have others, I’m relying on my increasingly unreliable memory). I recall that an exciting midfielder was on his way to the Lane, ready to step up from the Championship. The deal was done and goodbyes were said. He played for QPR and his name was Eberechi Eze. There’s something remarkable in such an achievement. These days it’s the only Double we’re capable of.
Anyway, the rest of the original piece, preserved for posterity:
- Thomas Frank a sound choice. Brings organisation without fundamental negativity
- It’s a step up for him, and we share his ambition for bigger and better things
- Decent motivator – history of getting the best from players, important for the fit as we develop players
- Looking forward to seeing what transpires, and let’s give him some time
- The board must invest in PL ready players to fill the squad gaps, specifically CB cover, centre forward and creativity in midfield
- Buy Eze
Maybe I should have left it at that. See you with a new knee. The morphine will dull the pain, handy right now, and sincere thanks to everyone who takes the time and trouble to comment, more frequently than I write.
TOTTENHAM ON MY MIND 
Brilliantly written piece Mate.
I had a feeling this transfer and Levi’s way of doing things will come to bite us in the @$$ and it did.
We have been played by MGW/Forest and Eze/Palace/AFC and it hurts.
Now for the next disappointment in Savinho.
Man City are still cheesed off about the Harry Kane saga, so expect more heartbreak
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Alan: share your pain in relation to Levy/THFC and hope very much that your knee pain, though I can’t share it, is soon gone.
Brian
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Eze supported Arsenal enough said.
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Good luck with your knee op awards you will be fitter than some of our players half your age
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Hi Alan,
That’s a bullseye mate.
I guess there’s not that much cash on the books at the moment but, as you say, it’s typical Levy.
The 2025 annual accounts should be published soon which will give us an insight as to the state of affairs.
If I can borrow a quote from a Richard Turner…
‘Accounting excellence is not just a skill; it’s a mindset of financial mastery’. I agree, Levy’s financial mastery may well have run it’s course.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Hibberni.
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Hello – unless you’ve got a twin, you must be the bloke who quit ‘Spurs Musings’ a couple of years ago, complaining that you couldn’t stand my relentless criticism of Levy/ENIC, because he/it was doing such a great job in restoring the club to long-term success. You seem to have changed your tune very slightly, but better late than never.
PS If you’re someone else entirely, apologies.
Cheshuntboy.
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Yes I’m the same guy Cheshuntboy.
I will always adjust my opinions if the facts justify that…
Just don’t mistake me for a ‘Levy Out’ guy
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I won’t. Shame that ‘Spurs Musings’ ended in its original form with such a whimper, but it had a good run under ‘Jimmy G2’, until age or boredom caught-up with him. Enjoy your spreadsheets, and I’ll hope for some decent football.
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Did we dodge two bullets and is there a silver lining?
After some research I have reached an opinion which argues for a different perspective on our (so-called) transfer failures.
Firstly to set the scene…
We continue to suffer from a lack of home-grown (Association-Trained) & Club-Trained players, one of whom is James Maddison, which will reduce our squad size (List A) for the UCL hence the scramble for Gibbs-White, Eze & now maybe Morgan Rogers, all of whom are home-grown & club-trained.
It seems we have in fact been trying, not only to fill Maddison’s absence, but at the same time bolster our UCL squad
I have determined (from various articles) that attacking players tend to reach their peak in performance between the ages of 25 & 28 depending on minutes played. Indeed ‘The Athletic’ pinpoints the age at 26 for ATMFs.
So, back to the above-mentioned players and prospects using FBref scouting reports as a guide for my comments.
Eze is 27, reaching his peak, good stats in and around the box and at dribbling but poor passing & defensive stats. I don’t think I would pay £68m for him given his age.
Gibbs-White is 25, doesn’t match Eze for box & shot actions but is a much better passer and defender.
Rogers is 23, the worst of the three, only two outstanding features, assists and successful take-ons.
Then where is our silver lining?
Savinho, is 21, oh boy does this guy hit the mark for box action & passing, dribbling etc.
Rodrygo, is 24, matches Savinho in the passing, progressive carries etc but not quite as influential around the box. Great if we can get him on loan.
I’m pleased we missed out on Eze & Gibbs-White. I don’t want to see fickle players at our club and at inflated prices. There are better alternatives out there.
Hibberni
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I say screw Eze and Gibbs-White and their handlers. They both played Tottenham for idiots and it’s time for Tottenham to move on. Plenty of other fish in the sea.
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Best of luck with the op, Alan. This blog is my favourite thing to read about Spurs, will be looking forward to this season’s instalments however frequently they come.
On Eze, I’d have been chuffed if we got him but happy to move on. As you say, he always wanted AFC and they were smart to keep their deal under wraps until the end. The fallout’s being way overhyped, especially by some journalists at the BBC.
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Even with your knee-capping of Levy you have let him off the hook. All of what you report is on the money, but you could have exposed him even further by recounting the Forest debacle. That’s two debacles in a month! I suspect that other (smaller) clubs are enjoying applying the hurt on Levy as a down payment on his reputation and his past behaviour. Levy comes with so much baggage into any transfer negotiation that he is now a liability.
It might be whistling in the dark but the past 48 hours has saved us from spending a fortune on a player who regarded us as second choice. And maybe it will give our fabulous transfer team a chance to stop and think about their next target. We still need a midfield enforcer along the lines of a MacAllister or Caicedo. We are still lightweight between defence and attack. Give Bergvall a freer role further up the pitch and use the serious cash to buy a first pick midfielder to bring more steel and resolve into the team.
Good luck with the knee op Alan. Keep the copy coming.
Eastander.
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And don’t forget the Cardoso debacle. Levy engineered a brilliant plan to offload another dud signing in Lo Celso. But it blew up in his/our faces when Cardoso simply ignored the arrangement and elected to remain in Spain. We are turning into the transfer laughing stock of Europe. The common denominator – Levy.
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Even while agreeing that Levy has become a liability, after hearing Arteta’s comments on how the hi-jacking occurred, I am not sure anyone, let alone Levy, could have prevented such a scenario playing out. If the player you are buying actually calls another club to beg them to come in and buy him rather than play for Spurs then we can only count our lucky stars that he didn’t sign for us. Eze is a talented player and I had high hopes for the deal but when all the cards are dealt it’s just as well he didn’t come. Plenty of other better players available and maybe some of them actually want to play for us!
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Very well written post Alan
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Well, this should make for a fun final few days leading up to the transfer deadline! I see all the other major leagues in Europe are also up against a September 1 deadline or very close to it so it looks like we shall lead the mad dash to the finishing line. What a ridiculous, amateurish, chaotic way to run a football club. Is there no one at this club with the nuts to tell Levy that he’s responsible for yet another calamitous transfer window?
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Did we dodge two bullets and is there a silver lining?
After some research I have reached an opinion which argues for a different perspective on our (so-called) transfer failures.
Firstly to set the scene…
We continue to suffer from a lack of home-grown (Association-Trained) & Club-Trained players, one of whom is James Maddison, which will reduce our squad size (List A) for the UCL hence the scramble for Gibbs-White, Eze & now maybe Morgan Rogers, all of whom are home-grown & club-trained.
It seems we have in fact been trying, not only to fill Maddison’s absence, but at the same time bolster our UCL squad.
Secondly I have determined (from various articles) that attacking players tend to reach their peak in performance between the ages of 25 & 28 depending on minutes played. Indeed ‘The Athletic’ pinpoints the age at 26 for ATMFs; So back to the above-mentioned players and prospects using FBref scouting reports as a guide for my comments.
Eze is 27, reaching his peak, good stats in and around the box and at dribbling but poor passing & defensive stats. I don’t think I would pay £68m for him given his age.
Gibbs-White is 25, doesn’t match Eze for box & shot actions but is a much better passer and defender.
Rogers is 23, the worst of the three, only two outstanding features, assists and successful take-ons.
Then where is our silver lining?
Savinho, is 21, oh boy does this guy hit the mark for box action & passing, dribbling etc.
Rodrygo, is 24, matches Savinho in the passing, progressive carries etc but not quite as influential around the box. Great if we can get him on loan.
I’m pleased we missed out on Eze & Gibbs-White. I don’t want to see fickle players at our club and at inflated prices. There are better alternatives out there.
Hibberni
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Good article mate but let’s be absolutely clear, nothing has changed whatsoever. It’s been the same chaos every single year since Levy and ENIC have been in charge of THFC. Our master negotiator simply cannot help himself, the man has to try and pick a pocket or two and procrastinates to the detriment of the club. Yet when selling our players, he demands top dollar or on your bike. I for one am not dismayed that Eze won’t be joining us because AFC is in his heart and THFC would have definitely been his second choice if that. Granted none of knows what went on behind closed doors but one would have sensed that things weren’t right the longer the saga went on. Levy’s procrastination when the MGW supposed deal died a slow death was all I needed to know that he hasn’t learnt anything, a leopard never changes its spots, it’s the same old same old all over again and if he’s still around next season as chairman, expect more of the same.
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Get well soon…you and Spurs.
It’s important to remember that nobody knows the ins and outs of deals, unless they’re directly involved…and certainly not alleged ITKs. We all formulate our opnions from media sources, good and bad, most of which are nowhere near the actuality.
The only fact I see is that we consistently leave transfer business so late in the window, irrespective of how we seem to set out each year, that it limits our options. This is in stark contrast to other big clubs. Why that happens is impossible to determine without concrete case-by-case details, which we don’t have. It has to end. It’s costing us. Equally our big buys fir the last few seasons have been underwhelming, in my opinion, apart from VDV. Good players, butvnot great.
Levy will always be the convenient sin-eater for our fans. The reality is far more nuanced, and never down to one man. Every deal had two or parties in it. We have rivals with more traction and financial models that allow them to spend recklessly in a ‘tomorrow never comes’ way.
No player is ours until they wear our shirt. The rest is noise and speculation. It used to be fun but now fans often use it to vent frustration and hatred, with faux or no knowledge. Childish, pointless and negative.
Eze’s a great player, an asset for any club. He’s not, however, the piece in the jigsaw that we need most. I’m philosophical about a might’ve been scenario.
Frank is the kind of manager we should have had years ago. Levy’s greatest personal mistake was not backing Poch in successive windows and then sacking him (never relegation form just a bad season, before anyone trots that out). I’ve been resigned to subsequent managers, but not convinced they were right for us. However this season unfolds Frank needs three full seasons to take us back to being a serious club. I hope he get them.
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MANC
Did we compete, by God did we…and this is so important to install confidence & belief.
Same squad + 2
We said (on the blog) last season that we had a terrific squad and now (at last) we have a terrific coaching team.
Here are some stats (from Opta) where we competed well against City…
Duels 98 (City 99)
Duels success rate 48.0% (City 50.5%)
Final Third Entries 50 (City 47)
Crossing Accuracy 36.4% (City 26.3%)
Shots 12 (City 10)
Shots On Target 5 (City 4)
Shots Inside The Box 10 (City 6)
Shooting Accuracy 41.7% (City 40.0%)
Tackles 24 (City 20)
Tackles Success Rate 66.7% (City 50.0%)
Defensive Third Recoveries 32 (City 21)
Hibberni
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What confuses me most this window is the players we keep trying to buy. MGW was a no go, seems as if his agent set it up so MGW and himself could get a bigger paycheck, Eze knew Spurs were never gonna get him once he rang Arse to get him now, both failed, along with Cordosa which was always gonna happen. Then there’s the aftermath, Savhino, a player City have repeatedly said not for sale unless X amount paid then maybe we talk, but we of course bid a lot under, Nico Paz, another player we want, Como say not for anything less than 70m, we offer close to 50m, way under again, but again he not for sale as Real Madrid practically own him, then Morgan Rogers, Villa put a large price on him to scare off offers, we obvs gonna bid way under again, but all players that are not available for sale so why bother, once we get the No we should move onto more realistic options. Harvey Elliot is for sale, not as good as some above but cheaper and young and wants to get into England squad, plus homegrown, Alkiouche from Monaco, 47m -50m says they will sell him for, so why not offer it, cant be much difference in risk as Paz, although I imagine he an Henry fan so prob Arse fan too.
What we are basically left with is a Leicester city player that’s nowhere near as good as any above or more than likely nobody
As a Spurs fan that is pessimistic, I can’t help it, some of the attempts of the *big signings* reek of Levy releasing a statement on Tuesday 2nd September saying “that we tried our very best to get a number 10 and winger in before deadline but failed due to certain reasons like too much being asked for bc they knew we were desperate to buy or they simply didn’t want to move but we wasted 2 weeks trying anyways, but we look forward with Frank trying to win us a competition without the right tools, plus blame other clubs for not selling cheaper to us. Also Kulu be back sometime in the season so we be fine. We can try again in Jan but don’t hold your breath. Oh also I told Frank he has 18 months to get us CL or he fired, since that’s the average time we like to give our managers, no sense letting them build a team that requires time, easier to fire the manager than build a new team every few years. Thank you and continue to pay high prices for those tickets, Dan Levy”
i know I have no idea what’s going on within the club, but I’m tired of waiting until final week to get signings in, while the clubs we try compete with do it early. I also hate this *hi-jacking* crap constantly being used about Exe, now Hincapie, Exe was always going Arse, we tried hi-jacking them, plus we only enquired about Hincapie only to be told he prefers Arse so we moved on.
i also heard a rumour that top clubs are getting players in now and next windows as best they can before this new regulator for the government comes in, so be interesting to see if that’s true.
I fear we may not get a creative mf, prob just a winger and not who we want, so will have to make do with Sarr or Bergvall becoming a temp number 10, with Kudus also playing there until Kulu back.
One thing I will say though, if Frank can get those results in his 3 competitive matches, (I include the PSG match a draw), and produce the style of play in all 3, imagine if he had who he wanted or close to it….
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As I type this, Xavi Simons is apparently in London to finalise a deal to THFC, according to certain sources. I’m a bit skeptical that it’s us he is going to, as Chelsea just sold Nkunku to AC Milan and now have funds and room for him. According to CFC sources it’s them, according to others it’s THFC.
If it is Spurs he in London for, Levy and co prob wanted it kept as quiet as possible to stop any other suitors getting him, but obvs somebody let media know, so presume CFC will just get him anyways, just like Eze did, make sure preferred team know I’m nearly signing for rivals to make them get player.
But we have all been here before many times, Spurs have player in their sights, offer below asking price, dither about buying, other club gets player without hesitation. We all know we getting Bilal El Khassonou,(I know I spelt that completely wrong), since he the cheapest and worse player on our list, plus at the bottom I presume too.
its just so frustrating, not because we seem to be not getting who we want, but the time we have had to get all transfers in, especially since it’s 4weeks since Madison got injured. Should not take a “big club” that long to get a replacement thru the door.
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So glad I was wrong about Simon’s.
however, that first half against Bournemouth right now was absolutely shocking. No shots at all, no creativity, the team look completely different from past few matches.
why is it every time we beat Man City,our very next match at home, even when against a so called lesser team, we lose. We also seem to lose every time there an international break, I think it’s 3 seasons now if not winning a match prior to international break.
cant see use turning this around, Bournemouth are playing too well and have lot more confidence. Frank will have to change things at half time…
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B’mouth 30/08.
Well, that was interesting, from a technical aspect at least.
Google 4-1-4-1 & one finds that this is a defensive formation. After yesterday I beg to differ in that it would appear to satisfy an attacking one also.
What struck me (especially in the first half) was that B’mouth had up to 5 players within easy reach of our defensive third. So easy to apply the press evidenced by our inability to move the ball into our midfield & not helped by the indecision displayed by Vicario.
Only when TF decided to ‘match them up’ in the second half did we manage to compete and threaten their goal.
Which brings me to our line-up 4-3-3 or actually 4-2-3-1.
My advice to TF (yes I dare) bin it. What I saw yesterday brought back memories of those dark days last season when it failed miserably against low blocks.
It was the same old ‘hug the touchline’ tactics about which I railed against in my posts last season &, if that wasn’t enough, when the going gets tough Johnson as usual goes missing.
Wingers need to start from a position say around 5m in from the touchline to give themselves a choice of movement.
Just before the game I watched TF’s presser; too garrulous & too much information forthcoming.
Our crowd’s performance yesterday; one word, pathetic…
Hibberni.
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Are you dancing in the street Chesh?
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Maybe a personal decision given that he still retains his shares?
Hibberni
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Go Well Daniel.
It appears that the Lewis family are reponsible for DL stepping down.
Was this move just a sop to the fanbase and will we see The Lewis Family Trust pony up some moolah in the future? I, for one, will not be holding my breath.
So now we can look forward to an ex Arsenal CEO running the club with a non-executive chairman acting as a stooge for the Lewis’s and who, incidentally (Charrington), is an ex Citigroup banker whose last appointment was in the Bahamas where the Tavistock Group is based…
These new appointees are not ‘footballing people’ in the true sense so a lot will rest upon the shoulders of Johan Lange going forward unless of course Paratici does come on board.
Let me make this clear; unless there is a sizeable injection of capital from somewhere very little will change.
I would venture to suggest that this episode is little more than power grap.
On va voir.
Hibberni.
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