THST Statement on the Transfer Window

[Deeyal]

Surely if the terrain is changing and clubs like Everton, Southampton, and West Brom can decide to not sell players for big money, we are capable of doing the same.

WBA would have sold Berahino if we had given them adequate time to find a replacement and offered them a financial package that was acceptable. This seems pretty clear from the WBA chairman's staterments. I think in most cases a player will have a price, despite what the selling club says publicly. But it would not be sensible to sell one of your key player at the arse end of the transfer window without some kind of replacement.

 

[dimiSpur]

I think it's a very well-written statement that addresses the main concerns of a great majority of supporters.

To those who think the window was good/acceptable, I say the following. We have addressed the defence, that is most certainly a plus. We have signed a good defender in Alderweireld and an excellent prospect in Wimmer. We've also bolstered the right back position with a player who in my opinion, will take over the position from Walker by the end of the season.

In the wide areas, we have added much needed pace. Son and N'Jie come in to add pace to what can only be described as a pathetic and lackluster lineup of Chadli, Dembele and Lamela.

Here's where it goes downhill.

We've added those players, who IMO have to start in those positions and in failing to sign a striker, expect them to fill in wherever necessary. So where Kane can't/won't start a game, we instantly lose one of those wide attackers from their position. Bear in mind that we also play 50-60 matches a season, and you can see how this is an issue.

I don't think there's anyone that isn't disappointed that we didn't sign a striker. It was a massive problem for us last year, with only Soldado available to come on/fill in for Kane. Now we've even lost him. We had one target it seems - Berahino. We were "in talks" with WBA for most of the window, what on earth we discussed for 2 months, I've no idea. We were getting seemingly erroneous ITK that the deal is done, yet we were bidding until the last hour for him, meaning the deal was not done. Why did those bids not go in last week? Or at the start of the window? All this to try and save £5m? It's not worth it, surely. It's been proven that it's not worth it.

That we had a maximum price we were willing to pay, I accept. I agree that prices are inflated. But he's WBA's player, they can ask for what they want. Pay up or shut up. We weren't willing to pay up, so we should have shut up earlier and gone after other targets. The way we handled this situation alone, warrants serious questions to be asked. It was diabolical.

Defensive midfield. We were light last year. We wanted Schneiderlin. We didn't manage to get him. We got through the season without one, but the need for one was evident. Summer comes, we sell Stambouli who played there and Capoue. Capoue was an outcast. Stambouli played many Cup and European fixtures and filled in there where necessary. Come the end of the window, we've got a young CB playing there, who may or may not be cut out for that position long term and nothing else. Not even Stambouli. To this end, we hear we made a bid for Wanyama that was lower than the price Southampton paid and Witsel tweeting that Zenit were unwilling to sell late in the window with no chance of a replacement being brought in. So again, in Witsel's case, we hear that we went in too late.

Personally, I'm sick and tired of this lastminute.com transfer policy. It leaves you open to being shafted and in consequence - ridicule. Not to mention a squad with apparent weaknesses.

The silly thing is, our window was poor because we failed to get 2 players in. If they were brought in, we'd be saying it was one of the best windows we could have hoped for. It's a funny one. But I think the manner in which we went about failing is the issue. It's the same old rubbish from Levy.

Supporters support. But we are not lambs. Anyone who says "support the club don't criticise" is completely wrong IMO. That notion is way too close to "God works in mysterious ways", where you're asked not to think but just move in a certain requested direction. Spurs fans pay premium bucks for mediocrity. The occasional high end performance, the occasional 4th finish. It cannot continue like that.

We're building a stadium I hear... And? Net spend in the black every year with TV income rising as well as ticket prices. A great deal with the NFL for the stadium. I think we can manage a second striker and a DM in the squad. We're not saying spend 100m, we're saying address the main issues.

What Levy seems to banking on is the supporters' backing, financial and moral. But you try filling a 61,000 seater with a team languishing in 8th-10th, or worse. I dare you Danny boy. I double dare you.

 

[kremlyn]

all of the above either had better squads going into the window so less need to address key areas or shown they have the ambition to invest in their squad and try and improve .......

That's only true relative to us. So it's not true. Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal are all supposed to be contending in the CL and the title race. All recognised they needed to spend and Man U and Arsenal had the same deficiencies as us; DM and ST.

West Ham have not invested they've just got a whole load of players on loan, that's not ambition, that's a huge gamble on players who could well be half-hearted at best.

We've had a much better window than Man U relatively. We've strengthened our attacks similarily (relative to budget), cleared a lot of deadwood but we've massively and adroitley strengthened our defence.

We haven't had a perfect window, we tried to but failed. We did strengthen our biggest areas of weakness (defence and pace). Hardly anyone did have a great transfer window.

Who knows what will happen but this sense of entitlement is perverse.

 

[the shelf]

I think it's a very well-written statement that addresses the main concerns of a great majority of supporters.

To those who think the window was good/acceptable, I say the following. We have addressed the defence, that is most certainly a plus. We have signed a good defender in Alderweireld and an excellent prospect in Wimmer. We've also bolstered the right back position with a player who in my opinion, will take over the position from Walker by the end of the season.

In the wide areas, we have added much needed pace. Son and N'Jie come in to add pace to what can only be described as a pathetic and lackluster lineup of Chadli, Dembele and Lamela.

Here's where it goes downhill.

We've added those players, who IMO have to start in those positions and in failing to sign a striker, expect them to fill in wherever necessary. So where Kane can't/won't start a game, we instantly lose one of those wide attackers from their position. Bear in mind that we also play 50-60 matches a season, and you can see how this is an issue.

I don't think there's anyone that isn't disappointed that we didn't sign a striker. It was a massive problem for us last year, with only Soldado available to come on/fill in for Kane. Now we've even lost him. We had one target it seems - Berahino. We were "in talks" with WBA for most of the window, what on earth we discussed for 2 months, I've no idea. We were getting seemingly erroneous ITK that the deal is done, yet we were bidding until the last hour for him, meaning the deal was not done. Why did those bids not go in last week? Or at the start of the window? All this to try and save £5m? It's not worth it, surely. It's been proven that it's not worth it.

That we had a maximum price we were willing to pay, I accept. I agree that prices are inflated. But he's WBA's player, they can ask for what they want. Pay up or shut up. We weren't willing to pay up, so we should have shut up earlier and gone after other targets. The way we handled this situation alone, warrants serious questions to be asked. It was diabolical.

Defensive midfield. We were light last year. We wanted Schneiderlin. We didn't manage to get him. We got through the season without one, but the need for one was evident. Summer comes, we sell Stambouli who played there and Capoue. Capoue was an outcast. Stambouli played many Cup and European fixtures and filled in there where necessary. Come the end of the window, we've got a young CB playing there, who may or may not be cut out for that position long term and nothing else. Not even Stambouli. To this end, we hear we made a bid for Wanyama that was lower than the price Southampton paid and Witsel tweeting that Zenit were unwilling to sell late in the window with no chance of a replacement being brought in. So again, in Witsel's case, we hear that we went in too late.

Personally, I'm sick and tired of this lastminute.com transfer policy. It leaves you open to being shafted and in consequence - ridicule. Not to mention a squad with apparent weaknesses.

The silly thing is, our window was poor because we failed to get 2 players in. If they were brought in, we'd be saying it was one of the best windows we could have hoped for. It's a funny one. But I think the manner in which we went about failing is the issue. It's the same old rubbish from Levy.

Supporters support. But we are not lambs. Anyone who says "support the club don't criticise" is completely wrong IMO. That notion is way too close to "God works in mysterious ways", where you're asked not to think but just move in a certain requested direction. Spurs fans pay premium bucks for mediocrity. The occasional high end performance, the occasional 4th finish. It cannot continue like that.

We're building a stadium I hear... And? Net spend in the black every year with TV income rising as well as ticket prices. A great deal with the NFL for the stadium. I think we can manage a second striker and a DM in the squad. We're not saying spend 100m, we're saying address the main issues.

What Levy seems to banking on is the supporters' backing, financial and moral. But you try filling a 61,000 seater with a team languishing in 8th-10th, or worse. I dare you Danny boy. I double dare you.

Absolutely spot on.

 

[robhumphreys]

I think it's a very well-written statement that addresses the main concerns of a great majority of supporters.

To those who think the window was good/acceptable, I say the following. We have addressed the defence, that is most certainly a plus. We have signed a good defender in Alderweireld and an excellent prospect in Wimmer. We've also bolstered the right back position with a player who in my opinion, will take over the position from Walker by the end of the season.

In the wide areas, we have added much needed pace. Son and N'Jie come in to add pace to what can only be described as a pathetic and lackluster lineup of Chadli, Dembele and Lamela.

Here's where it goes downhill.

We've added those players, who IMO have to start in those positions and in failing to sign a striker, expect them to fill in wherever necessary. So where Kane can't/won't start a game, we instantly lose one of those wide attackers from their position. Bear in mind that we also play 50-60 matches a season, and you can see how this is an issue.

I don't think there's anyone that isn't disappointed that we didn't sign a striker. It was a massive problem for us last year, with only Soldado available to come on/fill in for Kane. Now we've even lost him. We had one target it seems - Berahino. We were "in talks" with WBA for most of the window, what on earth we discussed for 2 months, I've no idea. We were getting seemingly erroneous ITK that the deal is done, yet we were bidding until the last hour for him, meaning the deal was not done. Why did those bids not go in last week? Or at the start of the window? All this to try and save £5m? It's not worth it, surely. It's been proven that it's not worth it.

That we had a maximum price we were willing to pay, I accept. I agree that prices are inflated. But he's WBA's player, they can ask for what they want. Pay up or shut up. We weren't willing to pay up, so we should have shut up earlier and gone after other targets. The way we handled this situation alone, warrants serious questions to be asked. It was diabolical.

Defensive midfield. We were light last year. We wanted Schneiderlin. We didn't manage to get him. We got through the season without one, but the need for one was evident. Summer comes, we sell Stambouli who played there and Capoue. Capoue was an outcast. Stambouli played many Cup and European fixtures and filled in there where necessary. Come the end of the window, we've got a young CB playing there, who may or may not be cut out for that position long term and nothing else. Not even Stambouli. To this end, we hear we made a bid for Wanyama that was lower than the price Southampton paid and Witsel tweeting that Zenit were unwilling to sell late in the window with no chance of a replacement being brought in. So again, in Witsel's case, we hear that we went in too late.

Personally, I'm sick and tired of this lastminute.com transfer policy. It leaves you open to being shafted and in consequence - ridicule. Not to mention a squad with apparent weaknesses.

The silly thing is, our window was poor because we failed to get 2 players in. If they were brought in, we'd be saying it was one of the best windows we could have hoped for. It's a funny one. But I think the manner in which we went about failing is the issue. It's the same old rubbish from Levy.

Supporters support. But we are not lambs. Anyone who says "support the club don't criticise" is completely wrong IMO. That notion is way too close to "God works in mysterious ways", where you're asked not to think but just move in a certain requested direction. Spurs fans pay premium bucks for mediocrity. The occasional high end performance, the occasional 4th finish. It cannot continue like that.

We're building a stadium I hear... And? Net spend in the black every year with TV income rising as well as ticket prices. A great deal with the NFL for the stadium. I think we can manage a second striker and a DM in the squad. We're not saying spend 100m, we're saying address the main issues.

What Levy seems to banking on is the supporters' backing, financial and moral. But you try filling a 61,000 seater with a team languishing in 8th-10th, or worse. I dare you Danny boy. I double dare you.

Top post could not agree more.

 

[ILS]

Surely if the terrain is changing and clubs like Everton, Southampton, and West Brom can decide to not sell players for big money, we are capable of doing the same.

But if you look all three players belonging to those teams, they were all approached late into the transfer window and did not give the selling teams enough time to implement a strategy in spending that money.

If United coming sniffing around for Kane and Lloris in June next year and start offering big money...Levy will sell just like he always has done.

 

[Francis Gibbs]

nicely balanced letter from THST ....... water off a ducks back to Levy of course but still doesn't mean this shouldn't be put out there. Cant wait for the cliche riddled response

 

[Jamturk]

nicely balanced letter from THST ....... water off a ducks back to Levy of course but still doesn't mean this shouldn't be put out there. Cant wait for the cliche riddled response

Pressure is coming from everywhere though, the media are on the case.

They even referenced the cynical movement of Son into the strikers group on the main website..

 

[EastLondonYid]

We always seem to be just 1 or 2 players short of having a really good team....this is a reoccurring trend that has been happening for a few years now.

We sort out the defence and suddenly decide to only have one proper CF, its like a wind up.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

I think it's a very well-written statement that addresses the main concerns of a great majority of supporters.

To those who think the window was good/acceptable, I say the following. We have addressed the defence, that is most certainly a plus. We have signed a good defender in Alderweireld and an excellent prospect in Wimmer. We've also bolstered the right back position with a player who in my opinion, will take over the position from Walker by the end of the season.

In the wide areas, we have added much needed pace. Son and N'Jie come in to add pace to what can only be described as a pathetic and lackluster lineup of Chadli, Dembele and Lamela.

Here's where it goes downhill.

We've added those players, who IMO have to start in those positions and in failing to sign a striker, expect them to fill in wherever necessary. So where Kane can't/won't start a game, we instantly lose one of those wide attackers from their position. Bear in mind that we also play 50-60 matches a season, and you can see how this is an issue.

I don't think there's anyone that isn't disappointed that we didn't sign a striker. It was a massive problem for us last year, with only Soldado available to come on/fill in for Kane. Now we've even lost him. We had one target it seems - Berahino. We were "in talks" with WBA for most of the window, what on earth we discussed for 2 months, I've no idea. We were getting seemingly erroneous ITK that the deal is done, yet we were bidding until the last hour for him, meaning the deal was not done. Why did those bids not go in last week? Or at the start of the window? All this to try and save £5m? It's not worth it, surely. It's been proven that it's not worth it.

That we had a maximum price we were willing to pay, I accept. I agree that prices are inflated. But he's WBA's player, they can ask for what they want. Pay up or shut up. We weren't willing to pay up, so we should have shut up earlier and gone after other targets. The way we handled this situation alone, warrants serious questions to be asked. It was diabolical.

Defensive midfield. We were light last year. We wanted Schneiderlin. We didn't manage to get him. We got through the season without one, but the need for one was evident. Summer comes, we sell Stambouli who played there and Capoue. Capoue was an outcast. Stambouli played many Cup and European fixtures and filled in there where necessary. Come the end of the window, we've got a young CB playing there, who may or may not be cut out for that position long term and nothing else. Not even Stambouli. To this end, we hear we made a bid for Wanyama that was lower than the price Southampton paid and Witsel tweeting that Zenit were unwilling to sell late in the window with no chance of a replacement being brought in. So again, in Witsel's case, we hear that we went in too late.

Personally, I'm sick and tired of this lastminute.com transfer policy. It leaves you open to being shafted and in consequence - ridicule. Not to mention a squad with apparent weaknesses.

The silly thing is, our window was poor because we failed to get 2 players in. If they were brought in, we'd be saying it was one of the best windows we could have hoped for. It's a funny one. But I think the manner in which we went about failing is the issue. It's the same old rubbish from Levy.

Supporters support. But we are not lambs. Anyone who says "support the club don't criticise" is completely wrong IMO. That notion is way too close to "God works in mysterious ways", where you're asked not to think but just move in a certain requested direction. Spurs fans pay premium bucks for mediocrity. The occasional high end performance, the occasional 4th finish. It cannot continue like that.

We're building a stadium I hear... And? Net spend in the black every year with TV income rising as well as ticket prices. A great deal with the NFL for the stadium. I think we can manage a second striker and a DM in the squad. We're not saying spend 100m, we're saying address the main issues.

What Levy seems to banking on is the supporters' backing, financial and moral. But you try filling a 61,000 seater with a team languishing in 8th-10th, or worse. I dare you Danny boy. I double dare you.

Bravo, Sir, Bravo!! Sums it all up absolutely perfectly

 

[nicdic]

WBA would have sold Berahino if we had given them adequate time to find a replacement and offered them a financial package that was acceptable. This seems pretty clear from the WBA chairman's staterments. I think in most cases a player will have a price, despite what the selling club says publicly. But it would not be sensible to sell one of your key player at the arse end of the transfer window without some kind of replacement.

Rondon and Lambert say hi btw.

 

[Metalhead]

So embarrassing.

Why? If the Trust is supposedly representative of the fan base and the fans are, let's face it, probably questioning the lack of a couple of core signings, why is it embarrassing to issue such a statement?

 

[nicdic]

I think it's a very well-written statement that addresses the main concerns of a great majority of supporters.

To those who think the window was good/acceptable, I say the following. We have addressed the defence, that is most certainly a plus. We have signed a good defender in Alderweireld and an excellent prospect in Wimmer. We've also bolstered the right back position with a player who in my opinion, will take over the position from Walker by the end of the season.

In the wide areas, we have added much needed pace. Son and N'Jie come in to add pace to what can only be described as a pathetic and lackluster lineup of Chadli, Dembele and Lamela.

Here's where it goes downhill.

We've added those players, who IMO have to start in those positions and in failing to sign a striker, expect them to fill in wherever necessary. So where Kane can't/won't start a game, we instantly lose one of those wide attackers from their position. Bear in mind that we also play 50-60 matches a season, and you can see how this is an issue.

I don't think there's anyone that isn't disappointed that we didn't sign a striker. It was a massive problem for us last year, with only Soldado available to come on/fill in for Kane. Now we've even lost him. We had one target it seems - Berahino. We were "in talks" with WBA for most of the window, what on earth we discussed for 2 months, I've no idea. We were getting seemingly erroneous ITK that the deal is done, yet we were bidding until the last hour for him, meaning the deal was not done. Why did those bids not go in last week? Or at the start of the window? All this to try and save £5m? It's not worth it, surely. It's been proven that it's not worth it.

That we had a maximum price we were willing to pay, I accept. I agree that prices are inflated. But he's WBA's player, they can ask for what they want. Pay up or shut up. We weren't willing to pay up, so we should have shut up earlier and gone after other targets. The way we handled this situation alone, warrants serious questions to be asked. It was diabolical.

Defensive midfield. We were light last year. We wanted Schneiderlin. We didn't manage to get him. We got through the season without one, but the need for one was evident. Summer comes, we sell Stambouli who played there and Capoue. Capoue was an outcast. Stambouli played many Cup and European fixtures and filled in there where necessary. Come the end of the window, we've got a young CB playing there, who may or may not be cut out for that position long term and nothing else. Not even Stambouli. To this end, we hear we made a bid for Wanyama that was lower than the price Southampton paid and Witsel tweeting that Zenit were unwilling to sell late in the window with no chance of a replacement being brought in. So again, in Witsel's case, we hear that we went in too late.

Personally, I'm sick and tired of this lastminute.com transfer policy. It leaves you open to being shafted and in consequence - ridicule. Not to mention a squad with apparent weaknesses.

The silly thing is, our window was poor because we failed to get 2 players in. If they were brought in, we'd be saying it was one of the best windows we could have hoped for. It's a funny one. But I think the manner in which we went about failing is the issue. It's the same old rubbish from Levy.

Supporters support. But we are not lambs. Anyone who says "support the club don't criticise" is completely wrong IMO. That notion is way too close to "God works in mysterious ways", where you're asked not to think but just move in a certain requested direction. Spurs fans pay premium bucks for mediocrity. The occasional high end performance, the occasional 4th finish. It cannot continue like that.

We're building a stadium I hear... And? Net spend in the black every year with TV income rising as well as ticket prices. A great deal with the NFL for the stadium. I think we can manage a second striker and a DM in the squad. We're not saying spend 100m, we're saying address the main issues.

What Levy seems to banking on is the supporters' backing, financial and moral. But you try filling a 61,000 seater with a team languishing in 8th-10th, or worse. I dare you Danny boy. I double dare you.

Problem is that you and so many others are making everything so black and white.

We know next to nothing of what has actually gone on, and yet everyone is fashioning a story from this limited information to suit their agenda.

You argue that it's negligent and poor planning etc. to not go for a back up when it becomes clear that we're not going to meet Berahino's asking price. But I say, transfers don't actually work like that, it's a negotiation, we were in talks with WBA for a long time, and seemingly were confident of getting the player. ITK came from the players side, and from both clubs all pointing toward it happening. I find the solution to the conundrum being that Levy just didn't stump up to be too simplistic. Second, I could argue that it's actually a better model to not quickly move on from the player that we've identified as our primary target for two reasons, one, we don't want to settle for less, and two there is the likelihood that the negotiations could work out. I'd rather not sign the guy we really want, than have a filler who will potentially disrupt the squad and only need to be moved on in 12-24 months time.

The same can be said for a midfielder, we clearly looked at a number of players that many of us were very keen on. None of them happened. You argue poor planning and execution. I could say, well, we're happy to go with what we've got unless we can attract someone who is a significant step up on the current squad. Aiming high at players like Bender, Kramer, Illarramendi, Witsel, etc. means that it's not so simple to just buy players. We have an incredibly talented academy and players coming through so why not make the most of that. Again, I could say that seems like decent foresight rather than signing another Stambouli for a year.

Add to this that everyone appears to be re-writing history. N'Jie is a striker. He played for Lyon as a striker. OK he played with someone else, but he still played as a striker. We have more than one striker. He may play more often out wide then through the middle, but he is a striker none the less.

You think that the most pressing needs were Striker and CM, but I think the defence and pace were. We sorted the defence out early (our most important business in my opinion), and OK we didn't get the pace in before the season, but in plenty of time. People tip their hat toward the signings that we made but still wanted two more, even though in another thread the very same people would still be questioning the sense in signing 7 players with the Bale money. Had we signed a CM and ST we'd have signed 7 players, as well as adding Alli, Pritchard, Carroll, Onomah, and Winks to the first team squad. Perhaps there might be some benefits to not signing all of these players.

The real reason for this kind of outburst from so many fans, and thus this letter from the trust, is that so many fans are grossly out of touch with reality. The money of Chelsea, City, United, and Liverpool has clouded our judgement. One CL venture a number of years back and the money others have spent has made some think we should just be able to do the same. We're clearly on another level to these teams in terms of money, and so to think that we'll be able to do the same is ridiculous. And for those who then will start shouting about Stoke, West Ham or anyone else, we're also in a completely different place to them. It's a lot easier to find players to improve a bottom 10 team, than a top 5 team. We have the biggest jump to make in the league.

 

[Deeyal]

Rondon and Lambert say hi btw.

Well the WBA chairman obviously doesn't see them as a straight replacement to Berahino, so what exactly is your point?

 

[ethanedwards]

Everybody almost unanimously wanted those three players out. They are out, and now some wishing we hadn't. Even though most wanted them nowhere near the team most of the time.

Bollocks.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

Mason and Bentaleb were a midfield partnership for a team that finished 5th last season, and I'd say our squad looks healthier than last year. So I think the statement is pathetic.

Like those two players, your trying to defend the indefensible.

Any fan worthy of the name can see why we are again failing to win games from a leading position. As for that team who finished "5th last season" that team could have finished seventh when all said and done if not for the collapse of two other teams on the last day of the season. To suggest that we do not need a DM, and striker support of some quality to support Kane is plain stupid.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

Hole, digging stop.
You made an intemperate, erroneous, sideswipe
at a perfectly reasonable statement
which many would agree with
and now feel obliged to defend the indefensible.
Step away from the spade and let us have our say.

The voice of reason and common sense. You Sir are one hundred percent spot on.

 

[Gb160]

Like those two players, your trying to defend the indefensible.

Any fan worthy of the name can see why we are again failing to win games from a leading position. As for that team who finished"5th last season" that team could have finished seventh when all said and done if not for the collapse of two other teams on the last day of the season. To suggest that we do not need a DM, and striker support of some quality to support Kane is plain stupid.

It's not stupid, it's just @nicdic having a different opinion to yourself.
Bit much mate tbh.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Thst zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[dimiSpur]

Problem is that you and so many others are making everything so black and white.

We know next to nothing of what has actually gone on, and yet everyone is fashioning a story from this limited information to suit their agenda.

You argue that it's negligent and poor planning etc. to not go for a back up when it becomes clear that we're not going to meet Berahino's asking price. But I say, transfers don't actually work like that, it's a negotiation, we were in talks with WBA for a long time, and seemingly were confident of getting the player. ITK came from the players side, and from both clubs all pointing toward it happening. I find the solution to the conundrum being that Levy just didn't stump up to be too simplistic. Second, I could argue that it's actually a better model to not quickly move on from the player that we've identified as our primary target for two reasons, one, we don't want to settle for less, and two there is the likelihood that the negotiations could work out. I'd rather not sign the guy we really want, than have a filler who will potentially disrupt the squad and only need to be moved on in 12-24 months time.

The same can be said for a midfielder, we clearly looked at a number of players that many of us were very keen on. None of them happened. You argue poor planning and execution. I could say, well, we're happy to go with what we've got unless we can attract someone who is a significant step up on the current squad. Aiming high at players like Bender, Kramer, Illarramendi, Witsel, etc. means that it's not so simple to just buy players. We have an incredibly talented academy and players coming through so why not make the most of that. Again, I could say that seems like decent foresight rather than signing another Stambouli for a year.

Add to this that everyone appears to be re-writing history. N'Jie is a striker. He played for Lyon as a striker. OK he played with someone else, but he still played as a striker. We have more than one striker. He may play more often out wide then through the middle, but he is a striker none the less.

You think that the most pressing needs were Striker and CM, but I think the defence and pace were. We sorted the defence out early (our most important business in my opinion), and OK we didn't get the pace in before the season, but in plenty of time. People tip their hat toward the signings that we made but still wanted two more, even though in another thread the very same people would still be questioning the sense in signing 7 players with the Bale money. Had we signed a CM and ST we'd have signed 7 players, as well as adding Alli, Pritchard, Carroll, Onomah, and Winks to the first team squad. Perhaps there might be some benefits to not signing all of these players.

The real reason for this kind of outburst from so many fans, and thus this letter from the trust, is that so many fans are grossly out of touch with reality. The money of Chelsea, City, United, and Liverpool has clouded our judgement. One CL venture a number of years back and the money others have spent has made some think we should just be able to do the same. We're clearly on another level to these teams in terms of money, and so to think that we'll be able to do the same is ridiculous. And for those who then will start shouting about Stoke, West Ham or anyone else, we're also in a completely different place to them. It's a lot easier to find players to improve a bottom 10 team, than a top 5 team. We have the biggest jump to make in the league.

You say we know nothing of what went on and that we have jumped to conclusions, before speculating over you're own conclusions. You may prefix them with "may have" but at the same time you defend these points vehemently for 4 pages.

On this transfer, in retrospect, the evidence shows our ITK's were way off the mark. That can happen. Peace stated from the start that £30m is what it would take. We bid less than that. It was rejected. Berahino put his transfer request in. We then bid more. In between all the above there were public statements from WBA that they had a price and that had to be met. The mistake you're making is you're assuming that the ITK is correct over the clear evidence and actual statements from the Clubs. Was Peace serious about only wanting £30m? We weren't to know then. But we sure as hell do know, having placed all our eggs in that one basket - of Peace folding.

As for "signing another Stambouli", no that's not what I said. I said why did we sell Stambouli when we brought no one in. I also said it was poor planning and execution in that any targets we did identify, we didn't seem to go after them strongly enough. That may not be the truth, but when Witsel says something along the lines of "it was too late for me to move unfortunately" and Le Tissier points out our bid for Wanyama was as pathetic as it was, then questions are asked. We are allowed to do that.

As for defence and pace, yes I agree. But no defence can be as good as it can be without protection. Hence the DM issue. As for pace, we've added it, but as soon as Kane is out and we shift NJie or Son up front, we'll still have Lamela and Chadli in the team. No point to having pace up front if we're creating the same congested area outside the opponents' boxes.

As for being out of touch with reality, no. I don't think wanting to sign a second striker and a DM where we're currently playing a centre half is out of touch with reality. I think you not accepting that mistakes have been made (again) is out of touch with reality. It's a support of Levy that rivals that of a Catholic for Jesus. Not saying it's wrong, just that it's blind. No one is saying put the club at risk by buying Ibrahimovich. Far from it. But we've spent nothing again in real terms when we needed to spend.

I see what we're doing at Spurs. We're building a young squad, with players that hopefully will develop by the time we're in our new stadium. But we're also a Club with high expectations, arguably due to our chairman, who sacks managers that finish 4th or 5th - for whatever reason (I'd like to add that I agreed with all sackings bar perhaps AVB, mainly due to who replaced him). So that adds an added burden to the development of these youngsters. We don't need any more weight on their shoulders, like having to learn new positions during the season (Dier, Son, N'Jie).

I think Levy needs to re-think his transfer policy. Try and get deals done quickly. If you can't, move on to the next one. I guarantee in the long run, that will benefit us.