Levy, ENIC and DC

[vegassd]

My problem with what he's done, is far less than my problem with what he is going to do.

Arsene Wenger won 3 titles and 7 FA Cups - should Arsenal have kept going with him indefinitely because of what he did?

I was talking about our league position progression so I don't think comparing to Wenger's cup wins is relevant. And of course nobody should stay indefinitely - that's an absurd argument to make.

Let's look at Wenger for a second though. He made Arsenal one of the greatest clubs in Europe and set that incredible unbeaten run which may never be matched. But they spent about 10 seasons in the top 2, then 10 seasons in the top 4, and most recently 2 seasons outside of the top 4 (or roughly those numbers). That's a decline in league performance which was not tolerated by their fans despite the recent FA cup victories.

And I think most importantly of all it wasn't a one season dip... it was a steady decline over the course of about 15 years. There will have been highs and lows in there, but the trend was most definitely downwards.

The reason I am focusing more on league position rather than silverware is that traditionally silverware is won by the clubs finishing high in the league. That league performance brings money and that translates to better playing/coaching staff and better facilities. The success feeds itself, even if it takes a while to come to fruition.

So I think that the idea of removing a man largely responsible for our upward trend over the past 15 years because you are worried about what he might do in the future is a touch naive. The doom mongers are out every season saying that Levy is holding us back, or that now is the time to spend loads of money, but time and again the club has progressed under Levy's stewardship.

The fact is that we don't know what the end of the season looks like yet. We might finish second and win the FA cup. We might finish 6th and lose every knockout game we play. With that in mind, I don't think it's a particularly logical point of view to want to remove the chairman who has overseen such an upward curve in the club's development over the past 15 years.

It seems to me that some people simply don't like the bloke and tend to over-inflate the negatives in order to justify wanting him removed. It's perhaps a bit like Steve Jobs being sacked by Apple - by all accounts he was a total pain in the arse to deal with and often described as not understanding the modern marketplace, but just look at the fortunes of the company with and without him.

 

[NickHSpurs]

I'll reserve my anger until they tell us how they plan on compensating season ticket holders, I'm not confident they'll even begin to redeem themselves but let's see!

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

I'll reserve my anger until they tell us how they plan on compensating season ticket holders, I'm not confident they'll even begin to redeem themselves but let's see!

Credits against next year’s season ticket

 

[CantSmileWithoutYou]

Apparently the compensation package is a free packet of walkers crisps and a drink (soft drink only) per ST holder.

To be redeemed upto 1 hour before Kick Off and only if purchasing a Pie...

 

[markiespurs]

I'll reserve my anger until they tell us how they plan on compensating season ticket holders, I'm not confident they'll even begin to redeem themselves but let's see!

Wouldn't surprise me if we get jack shit in the form of compensation.

 

[sxboy]

Why should anyone get compensation?

Season ticket holders will be offered tickets at Wembley or a refund as we were for Fulham and as Wembley isn’t that far why would you not go?

And who are you angry with DL? Mace?

Frustrating not to go into the new ground yet but it isn’t the end of the world and not worth getting angry about.

 

[[email protected]]

Before you can judge Levy you have to accept what he is or isn’t. Obviously he isn’t sheikh mansour or Abramovich. Once you accept that it’s alot easier to judge him. He’s an astute businessman whos plan from the start was to organically grow the club. Then you have to compare similar clubs to us 17 years ago and where are they now without oil billions. Villa Newcastle Everton even to a degree West Ham all had the same potential as us. Similar or better stadiums similar fan bases. But where are those clubs now and where are we. You have to look at the big picture to quantify Levy performance. Imo as long as we continue the same trajectory I don’t think anyone can not say Levy tenure is anything but a success. The stadium will be his legacy and gives the opportunity but not a guarantee to be at the top table for the next 50 years. You really can’t blame him for trophies. This decade and especially last 3 years we should have at least won a cup or 2. The squad has been clearly good enough to do that.

Mate I always have a huge respect for your views, and this post is as well-considered as ever, but I can't help but feel a little saddened and disappointed when, - rather than a trophy-winning football team - supporters champion the new stadium as Levy's legacy. It seems that we've become so emasculated as a fan-base that we now value property over silverware; bricks and mortar over titles and cups. We're always hearing, "we may not have won any titles but look at our training facilities, look at our stadium!".
I'd just like for once to see Levy prioritise investment in the football team!
You're absolutely right that we should be thinking of the bigger picture and long-term security for the next 50 years, but selfishly as a fan I'm less interested in the future and more concerned with the here and now. Wasn't it Maynard-Keynes that said "in the long-term we're all dead"? I totally agree that "in the last 3 years we should've won a cup or 2"; this squad is so close, mate! And perhaps with a little less focus on cheese rooms and correspondingly more investment in those one or two game-changing players instead of multiple cheap low-risk grabs, I feel we would've won a pot or two. Ah mate, I know it's all "ifs and buts" but like I said we're so tantalisingly close, which again is why this window was such a resounding disappointment. My biggest fear is that our stadium build replicates Arsenal's model, and we find ourselves consistently hamstrung in the transfer market for years to come, or worse still, have to sell our best players to balance the books. Unfortunately, I don't think ENIC would hesitate for a second to do just that.

 

[CantSmileWithoutYou]

Why should anyone get compensation?

Season ticket holders will be offered tickets at Wembley or a refund as we were for Fulham and as Wembley isn’t that far why would you not go?

And who are you angry with DL? Mace?

Frustrating not to go into the new ground yet but it isn’t the end of the world and not worth getting angry about.

We havent been offered a refund. We've been offered a 'credit'. There's a difference...

 

[sxboy]

We havent been offered a refund. We've been offered a 'credit'. There's a difference...

Again though why wouldn’t you go to the game.

I didn’t know it wasn’t a refund which it should be but not compensation.

Credits a bit annoying but you would use that for cl games would you not?

 

[CantSmileWithoutYou]

Again though why wouldn’t you go to the game.

I didn’t know it wasn’t a refund which it should be but not compensation.

Credits a bit annoying but you would use that for cl games would you not?

Why? Hate going to Wembley. My dad has mobility issues and I've been going with him since 1981 and Wembley is a major problem for him to get to.

So I'd like the money back. Not a credit.

 

[CantSmileWithoutYou]

Again though why wouldn’t you go to the game.

I didn’t know it wasn’t a refund which it should be but not compensation.

Credits a bit annoying but you would use that for cl games would you not?

Plus the cost of getting there is a vast difference over 20 plus games and they've charged us a lot more for tickets this year for the privilege of a fortnightly pilgrimage to that soulless shithole.

 

[markiespurs]

Why should anyone get compensation?

Season ticket holders will be offered tickets at Wembley or a refund as we were for Fulham and as Wembley isn’t that far why would you not go?

And who are you angry with DL? Mace?

Frustrating not to go into the new ground yet but it isn’t the end of the world and not worth getting angry about.

Geographically Wembley is’nt that far away, but traveling up there can take a good hour or more extra and getting the tube at Wembley Park after he match is a total nightmare unless you leave the match 10-15 minutes early.

It’s also a lot more expensive traveling to Wembley that it is to WHL

 

[sxboy]

Why? Hate going to Wembley. My dad has mobility issues and I've been going with him since 1981 and Wembley is a major problem for him to get to.

So I'd like the money back. Not a credit.

Ok I get what your saying. Wouldn’t the credit go against next years?
Still don’t see what the compensation is for, you should get the refund if you want it but I also bet there is something in the terms covering that.

 

[sxboy]

Geographically Wembley is’nt that far away, but traveling up there can take a good hour or more extra and getting the tube at Wembley Park after he match is a total nightmare unless you leave the match 10-15 minutes early

I hate going to Wembley and it takes me more than an hour each way to get there instead of whl, I’m not saying it’s not a pain I’m saying why should anyone get compensated for the delay? A refund yes but not compensated.

I’m also having trouble understanding why this is a big surprise and why it’s such a big deal.

I’m sure when I bought my ST I thought we’d be in the ground for all home games but I also knew there was a very real chance we wouldn’t.

 

[[email protected]]

Until 2 years ago we were much closer to west ham financially than liverpool. Everton and newcastle 10 years ago had similar turnovers to ours.

And yet, West Ham and Everton, with - as you quite rightly point out - smaller revenue streams than us, outspent us this summer to the tune of £88.5 million and £99 million respectively! The Premier League is awash with money. Some clubs are spending that considerable cash on football players; others less so!

 

[markiespurs]

I hate going to Wembley and it takes me more than an hour each way to get there instead of whl, I’m not saying it’s not a pain I’m saying why should anyone get compensated for the delay? A refund yes but not compensated.

I’m also having trouble understanding why this is a big surprise and why it’s such a big deal.

I’m sure when I bought my ST I thought we’d be in the ground for all home games but I also knew there was a very real chance we wouldn’t.

I was viewing compensation as a refund

As long as it’s not some kind shitty credit like they did before, then i’d reluctantly be ok with a partial refund,although i’m not holding my breath.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

I honestly just wholeheartedly disagreed with that line in his post and thought the gif would be funnier than clicking the disagree button which seems to cause more angst. Bad attempt at humour. I love him really.

You've lost me there buddy

 

[Lilbaz]

And yet, West Ham and Everton, with - as you quite rightly point out - smaller revenue streams than us, outspent us this summer to the tune of £88.5 million and £99 million respectively! The Premier League is awash with money. Some clubs are spending that considerable cash on football players; others less so!

Yes and we know why. We are building a fuck off new stadium. Which along with the training ground we have spent over £500m on in the last ten years.

 

[ToDarrenIsToDo]

The most important thing the club can do now is tie Eriksen down to a new contract. I'd rather that than half a season back at Spurs. Get him pinned down, give the fans back their season ticket money and just pitch up tent at Wembley instead of keep putting off opening dates for the new stadium.if they delay it again it'll become a genuine farce

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

What happened to you in the transfer forum?

I'm not 100% sure, but think it's something to do with some itk coming into the itk thread, and me saying someone had posted a tweet about it & it was in the player thread. I didn't post the tweet, but rules are rules & I must've overstepped them and deserve to be locked out of that part of the site.

However, someone kindly told me that I could still read it if I logged out. Worst thing I ever heard. As you know, I love the transfer section because I like responding with gifs & sarcasm. Reading through some of the responses has been a nightmare.

Have you seen the episode of Friends, when Chandler isn't allowed to mock the others when they say something stupid? That's me now. If I'm ever allowed back in, I'm gonna let off so much steam.