The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - DEADLINE DAY 31st August 2021

[Jaddas]

3 goals scored, 2 of these from set pieces. Outside of Son & Kane, we don't have enough goals in our team. Surely the cheque book holder can see this?

 

[TheAmerican]

So let me get this straight. We have signed a CB so highly rated that Messi had a hissy fit because Barcelona didn't get him first, massively improving in a key position. We then signed one of the most talented young attacking players in Spain. We have now taken further advantage of Barcelona's financial woes to nab one of their RBs, massively improving in another key position. We have managed to keep the best striker in the world. And we are now having a meltdown because Levy won't sanction a £50 million bid for Adama Traore!?!

It’s not worth a meltdown but it is disappointing that we’ve left ourselves with only one senior striker in the squad. Adding another winger would at least help us get more attacking depth should Kane or Son be injured.

 

[SheffieldAndy]

"Moaning about it wont change anything"...thats what people used to tell me when I was little about apartheid and indeed when I was older about Poll tax.

I think its right for fans to be able to vent their displeasure at the very high prices being charged, if we dont feel that our money is being spent. The "dont pay it then" argument is a little facile imo.

There’s a big difference between money not being spent, and money not being spent how you’d like it to be.

 

[14/04/91]

Levy never stepped in and blocked the Romero deal.

The difference is he's on loan initially. The fee will be payable from next season onwards when we have more cash through the door

 

[soflapaul]

Levy's job should be to set the budget and nothing else. One relatively successful window (if one concedes that point, although I don't, but that's a different discussion) is blown away as mitigation when compared to still not grasping after twenty years that he is not equipped to make these kinds of decisions.

Surely that's why he hired Paratici. It's in the job title: Paratici's official job title is Managing Director Football; it's not Managing Director of Football (Except When Levy Feels Itchy About a Deal).

Please don't consider this as a defense of Levy because it sounds to me that we went backwards but there could be extenuating circumstances. Levy does have to manage cashflow. In addition, new circumstances have appeared such as the so called influx of cash is not forthcoming. (where is that announcement we all were waiting for?) Trix made an earlier post that it wasn't the money that kept him away and it sounded as if it was a timing issue. If Levy stepped in when it fit the budget including the cashflow budget, then that's a problem and a big one. For instance, if they wanted all 45 or 50m up front, that might blow the cthat it did fit the cashflow planning out of the water and hence his stepping in (or in it) is understandable.

I'm still leaning towards it is a Levy screw up because you would think Fab and Steve would understand the cashflow requirements of the deals. So the feedback that the mood inside is bad suggests that people's expectations are not being met which points to Levy going backwards.

 

[ohtottenham!]

Levy is like Wenger in his final seasons. Did well, took us to a new level but is now stagnating and out staying his welcome.

Wenger won 3 PL titles and 7 FA Cups if wiki is correct.

 

[RJR1949]

When negotiating it’s very useful to be able to say something like:

“We’re getting there but my boss will never go for it. Please could you give something else that’ll help me convince my boss to give me the go-ahead”.

Maybe this is what’s happening at Spurs.

 

[taidgh]

When negotiating it’s very useful to be able to say something like:

“We’re getting there but my boss will never go for it. Please could you give something else that’ll help me convince my boss to give me the go-ahead”.

Maybe this is what’s happening at Spurs.

Straw grasping at its finest. And I mean that in the most respectful way.

 

[glacierSpurs]

It’s not worth a meltdown but it is disappointing that we’ve left ourselves with only one senior striker in the squad. Adding another winger would at least help us get more attacking depth should Kane or Son be injured.

Then Lucas will play upfront. Its always in that order which Levy thinks will work. I can never understand. Seriously how hard it is to get a true forward who can be a backup to Kane other than youngsters. I really don't think any forwards from Championship clubs will mind.

 

[Inq]

Just realized Levy and Tanguy have similar attitudes. Both want the famous/rich/champions league club but neither are willing to put the effort in to get there. ?

if what is said to be true

 

[Stoof]

When negotiating it’s very useful to be able to say something like:

“We’re getting there but my boss will never go for it. Please could you give something else that’ll help me convince my boss to give me the go-ahead”.

Maybe this is what’s happening at Spurs.

"My client will never get sign-off from their board on this; they've specifically signed off on these elements of the deal so it will take weeks before the next board meeting and the deal timeline doesn't allow for that".

Funny how many times I've used that and in the end my instructing contact has gone, "ah fuck it, give in".

 

[nugsie]

Seriously i do wonder about people on here. Firstly there is no proof that Levy has stopped any deal bar one ITK post which, whilst in all good faith COULD be slightly inaccurate or biased in some way. Secondly, nobody on here has a clue about what deals were, or were not in the pipeline anyway. Thirdly of those deals, nobody knows what the selling clubs were asking AND, more importantly HOW they wanted to be paid. Finally, nobody on here knows the current financial position of the club with regards to commitments and revenue forecasts.

If you take all these unknowns and add them together i cannot see how anyone can get so bent out of shape about anything they read on here.

IF Levy said no to the deal with Wolves, it may be because they want a large portion, or all, of the c£45m upfront. Levy may have budgeted that amount but is unable to sanction it all in one year. He would then have a duty to the club and shareholders not to push the in-year spend above their operating budget. By doing so he may jeopardise the clubs credit rating and impact the ability to "re-mortgage" the loan debt that they are constantly trying to rebalance. Look at the Ronaldo deal. Utd are paying c£18m for him over FIVE years. Utd have way more cash coming in than Spurs and even they wont front up £12m in one year.

However disappointing you think the window is, it has to be in context with the club you support. Tottenham do not have huge sums of money to play with and if we cannot structure a deal within our means we should not risk the future accounts. At the end of the day we have found a potential long-term replacement for Hugo before he leaves next season on a free. We have upgraded our RB position which was one of the weakest positions last season. We have strengthened our CB position by replacing Toby with a younger model. We have refreshed the CM by bringing Skipp back and releasing Sissoko. We have brought in the talented Gil (who will play more than most think), we have brought in an exciting young CM for the future, kept our talisman, signed Son up to a new contract and replaced a manager who was not supported by the fans or the players. That is not a bad summers work. No there is no replacement for Vinicius (but did he offer more than Scarlett could do this season? I dont think so) and no we haven't replaced Bale directly but between Gil, Berg and Lucas could they not fill that goal/assist tally? Probably.

We are Tottenham, not City or Utd or Chelsea, we cannot compete with them in regards to dealing in the market and if we compare our transfer dealings and squads to them we will always be disappointed. We need to be looking at clubs like Leicester who are able to scout and develop players into those of "top 4" quality. We will be a nearly club until we get lucky or get sold, we have to live with that fact and just enjoy the ride......or get off.

I've one foot in and one foot out. I support spurs when it's going good and couldn't give a fuck when it's going bad.

If the club and Levy want to fuck around scrabbling for europa league/top 4 without seriously committing to what it takes to be a serious league and CL contender year in year out, then I'm quite happy to fuck around with my support.

All the good bits with none of the shit.

 

[MelbYid]

3 goals scored, 2 of these from set pieces. Outside of Son & Kane, we don't have enough goals in our team. Surely the cheque book holder can see this?

after 3 games!!!!! calm, calm
also lmao "outside of Son and Kane we don't have enough goals" every teams doesnt have enough goals outside of their two best forwards

 

[parklane yid]

Presumably because it’s an initial loan and the fee is deferred. Wolves want straight cash now for Traore and that’s why he’s put a stop to it. Any time a chunk of money is needed he baulks and the excuses come.

Still has to be paid, there has to be more to it than levy just not wanting to spend

 

[Finchyid]

3 goals scored, 2 of these from set pieces. Outside of Son & Kane, we don't have enough goals in our team. Surely the cheque book holder can see this?

Maybe the bank manager cant

 

[LeBonge79]

Remember those 27 minutes earlier this summer when we thought we were signing Lautaro Martinez? Ah, those were the days.

Edit: To partner Kane. Lol.

 

[Aphex]

after 3 games!!!!! calm, calm
also lmao "outside of Son and Kane we don't have enough goals" every teams doesnt have enough goals outside of their two best forwards

Just not true. Liverpool, United and CIty have goals galore in their sides. Take Lukaku out and Chelsea still have lots of potential goalscorers. The rest of our squad are allergic to scoring goals in comparison.

 

[HobbitSpur]

Is it not at all possible Levy has stepped in to call Wolves bluff and hopefully bring the price down? Will Adama be a £50m player next summer with 1 year remaining?
Plenty of time to go, anything can still happen.

If Traore keeps them up this season will be worth far more than what they will potentially lose in his transfer fee next summer

 

[Lea]

If you want me to "enjoy" being a nearly club, then get your mate Daniel to charge me fucking "nearly" prices for my Platinum ST.

It sound like you been forced to have a ST. It isn’t compulsory feeling sorry for yourself isn’t healthy either walk away like some did.

 

[PLTuck]

Our top priority was defence. That has been addressed.
Our 'DNA' is taking educated punts on potential. We've done some of that.

Another forward would have made it an ideal window. NDombele was never going to go this window, even though I'm sure we tried so another creative CM was long shot at best.

A good, solid, if at first glance unspectacular window