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Bale's agent on struggles with Daniel Levy

mawspurs

Staff
Jun 29, 2003
35,066
17,740
Gareth Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett opened up on negotiating with Tottenham supremo Daniel Levy, during a guest appearance on BBC Radio Five Live last night, admitting that he is an incredibly hard-nosed businessman.

Source: HITC
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,388
Surprised? I think Levy's style has been to our detriment overall. He's done a sterling job of building the club up but everybody who deals with him must approach the process with trepidation, and I'm not sure that is a good thing in the long run. He may get the odd bargain deal over the line but it seems that the other parties in such deals are then committed to never dealing with him again if possible.
 

Jenko

Well-Known Member
Mar 18, 2004
5,290
4,157
Surprised? I think Levy's style has been to our detriment overall. He's done a sterling job of building the club up but everybody who deals with him must approach the process with trepidation, and I'm not sure that is a good thing in the long run. He may get the odd bargain deal over the line but it seems that the other parties in such deals are then committed to never dealing with him again if possible.

But you're guessing and while I would like to agree at the moment it's pure guess work to know what the implications of his approach have meant to us long term. It could well be that without it we'd still be looking for our first appearance in the champions league in the OLD stadium (because there is no new one).

The last 4 games have seriously pissed me off too though it's fair to say...
 

SE Spurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 12, 2018
2,669
4,760
I'm sure Levy has hindered us in the past, trying to bring in players, and I doubt that'll change much. But I wonder whether his incredibly hard ball attitude, has also helped holding on to a player/coach or two. By simply not wanting the hassle, or having the time or cash, to deal with him.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,388
I'm sure Levy has hindered us in the past, trying to bring in players, and I doubt that'll change much. But I wonder whether his incredibly hard ball attitude, has also helped holding on to a player/coach or two. By simply not wanting the hassle, or having the time or cash, to deal with him.

It wouldn't seem to have helped us when it really mattered (Modric, Bale) and maybe hindered us when we needed to shift players (N'Koudou, Janssen). That's my guess anyway.
 

theShiznit

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2004
17,799
23,813
I think initially Levy's style was a help to us (after David Bentley and Darren Bent) but once he built up this reputation it seemed like sport for other chairmen to get one over him (see Jeremy Peace) and was to the detriment of player acquisitions (however not in the case of Berahino which is/was a bullet dodged)

More flexibility is required now his reputation precedes him.
 

TottenhamMattSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
10,925
16,007
I think Levy is rapidly falling behind the game.

I think back to managers that were once very successful, George Graham, Howard Wilkinson, Ron Atkinson etc. They did well with their respective clubs, some very well. Then times changed, football changed (which it does at an extraordinary rate) and they didn't. As a result they went from heroes to zeroes and just dropped off the face of the planet.

Levy, from 2001 to 2008 got us top dollar where possible and found deals on incoming players. But the game has changed. Clubs he used to rip off now have enough money to tell him where to stick it. He can no longer play the waiting game, it doesn't work. All he can do now is try and get the most money for wantaways.
 

greywizard2020

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2003
331
709
I am appreciative & grateful for what Mr Levy has done with development of the training ground & stadium, however, these efforts will be increasingly overshadowed by his miserly approach to our squad recruitment.

Its infuriating that every summer window is a exercise in brinkmanship, whereby the gaffer is not able to prepare his squad properly because the new recruits he wants are brought in (if at all) at the very last minute. Those players then don't get a proper pre-season to bed in & get used to the physical demands.

Just once I'd like Levy to back the manager properly with at least one world-class signing that is the Poch's no.1 choice. I also hope the Poch would look at bringing a player in based on their adherence to a desired criteria, as opposed to dismissing any choice the scouts bring him because they don't play in a certain team, or league.

How many players have we been linked i.e. David Brooks, Cengiz Under, Lewis Cook etc only for them to sign for someone else, then we get linked with them at a hugely inflated price.

I hope the pair of them can meet somewhere in the middle on those issues in the summer.
 

CheeseGromit

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2013
745
578
I dont think there was anything untoward in the article In fact a very positve note was his honesty Everybody knows where he stands. Very little in the piece.

I do think supporters are very quick to criticise their chairmen and Spurs are no different

I am sure we have missed out on players but know where near the long list of linked players we are associated with Each season we would need a 50 man squad with 35 of them changed every year. We only need 1 or 2 of them Its not exciting during the transfer windows but a stabe squad is good We not need a small turnover but of quality players who are (naturally) very expensive.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,336
329,024
Levy has been friends with the good people at Stellar for a long long time. There was never going to be much of a story off the back of an interview with Josh. I wouldn't be surprised if this interview was done on behalf of the club to tell everyone it's max $$$ or nothing this summer as far as outgoings is concerned.
 

davidmatzdorf

Front Page Gadfly
Jun 7, 2004
18,106
45,030
It’s bollocks, all this stuff about how Levy is hindering our development. People have droned on about this every year since 2004, during which time he’s turned us into a world footballing power on a budget. Money has been spent when value was available.

Modric Carrick Keane Berbatov Davids Bale van der Vaart Eriksen Sanchez Sissoko (!) Son Alli Dier Lloris Vertonghen

All good business and good footballers who became part of a team.
 

dtxspurs

Welcome to the Good Life
Dec 28, 2017
11,234
46,574
Levy has been friends with the good people at Stellar for a long long time. There was never going to be much of a story off the back of an interview with Josh. I wouldn't be surprised if this interview was done on behalf of the club to tell everyone it's max $$$ or nothing this summer as far as outgoings is concerned.
Worked out swimmingly last summer.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,388
It’s bollocks, all this stuff about how Levy is hindering our development. People have droned on about this every year since 2004, during which time he’s turned us into a world footballing power on a budget. Money has been spent when value was available.

Modric Carrick Keane Berbatov Davids Bale van der Vaart Eriksen Sanchez Sissoko (!) Son Alli Dier Lloris Vertonghen

All good business and good footballers who became part of a team.

So, you know more about dealing with Levy than Jonathan Barnett.
 

davidmatzdorf

Front Page Gadfly
Jun 7, 2004
18,106
45,030
So, you know more about dealing with Levy than Jonathan Barnett.
I'm sure he's a nightmare to deal with. I'm also sure it is been overwhelmingly to the benefit of THFC.

I thought my point was obvious: if you don't have money to fling about, you have to be a bit of a tough bastard if you want to compete.
 

Johnny J

Not the Kiwi you need but the one you deserve
Aug 18, 2012
18,117
47,878
Levy is the best chairman we've ever had, and I honestly believe that Poch has been stubborn about who he signs.

Before I get slated, Poch is a wonderful manager, but everyone has their flaws. He's still learning.
 

Lenn0n

Well-Known Member
Jan 9, 2011
244
342
Poch and Levy are two very different people - but there is an uncommon level of integrity that unites them. They both also have an innate 'toughness'. Football is full of sleazy self-serving money grabbing characters. Im glad our club led by people of a different persuasion.

I don't mind Poch getting into scrapes like the recent Mike Dean one. He is passionate. He is also quick to recognise and apologise when he has overstepped the mark. I don't mind the lack of popularity that Levy has with some of the fans - he is not a crowd pleaser. Neither Poch nor Levy are inclined to quickly shell out on superstars : they have effectively pursued a 'grow' your own policy and on occasions improved the the players they transfer in. I like the way Poch has had trust in his players : Sissoko, Son to take up the scoring mantle when Kane was injured, and even Lorente has made good contributions recently.

We are in the top 3/4 of the best league in the world. We have a bright future, with a quality training ground to attract the best young talent. A world beating stadium. Sound finances. Champions League football. How lucky are we supporters!

The success we have has come from good leadership.
 

Donki

Has a "Massive Member" Member
May 14, 2007
14,451
18,966
People who honestly say Levy has hindered us are probably the same people who think we are on the same level as clubs like Man U, City, Liverpool and sadly Chelsea. We simply aren’t there yet either financially or in stature.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,388
People who honestly say Levy has hindered us are probably the same people who think we are on the same level as clubs like Man U, City, Liverpool and sadly Chelsea. We simply aren’t there yet either financially or in stature.

Fair comment, but I think there are instances when his haggling and business style have cost us and has set precidents where other Chairmen avoid dealing with him. What he has done in terms of infrastructure and development though is incredible.
 
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