Was there always a plan ?

[Lighty64]

You're lucky to have followed us back then. I was born in 84 so it was really the 90s when I really started to understand football and it all sort of went downhill. Typical that it went that way during my time supporting us. So I don't really know better than what we have right now. At least I can wear my Spurs shirt with pride these days. I still rememeber the mornings after a 6-0 loss dreading going to school the next day.

always wished i was 10 years older to of been able to witness the 60's

 

[coys200]

always wished i was 10 years older to of been able to witness the 60's

You might be glad you’re 10 years younger and can witness the glory years of the 20’s ?

 

[Lighty64]

You might be glad you’re 10 years younger and can witness the glory years of the 20’s ?

true because the way I'm these days i very much doubt ill see the 30's

told wife and kids i want ashes accidently spilt at WHL (before the new was okay'd) as at time it might be the only chance i'll be there to see us win the league

 

[Shadydan]

Why not? Pep was/is successful and Sherwood wasn't, under reasonably similar circumstances. What's the problem with the comparison?

I don't think you know what the definition of a comparison is.

Because Pep was bought up enriched in Barca's philosophy and culture, one of the best players to play for the club and a club legend which is why he was put forward for the role as he was a perfect fit for the Barca job hence being successful in his permanent role.

Tim Sherwood got put in charge of Spurs temporarily because we needed someone to come in and take charge of the team mid season. He wasn't a club legend or one of the best players to play for Spurs nor was he enriched in the club's culture, so no it's not "reasonably similar circumstances" one man deserved to be put in his role and the other man was given caretaker duties and to keep the hot seat warm for someone else.

 

[pook]

I remember reading a book about the 1999-2000 seasons of Spurs and Arsenal that came out shortly thereafter - The Great Divide, I believe it was called. Interesting enough, but considering the time, it didn't make particularly pleasant reading for a Spurs fan. Anyway, there was a point toward the end of the book where David Dein says (and I'm paraphrasing here), 'every morning I look in the mirror and say to myself, "what can I do today to make Arsenal better on the pitch than we were yesterday?".' I remember contrasting that with Alan Sugar and thinking 'this really sums up the difference between them and us'.

flash forward a few years, Dein leaves them and Levy comes to us, and those roles seem to have reversed. They've been the ones content to doddle along, while we've been driven from the top by a chairman with relentless vision. It hasn't happened overnight, but I think this is a huge determinant the relative fortunes of North London's clubs over the last however many years.

I've not been a fan of everything he's done - and some (i.e. the manner of Jol's sacking, threatening to go to Stratford, etc.) have bothered me a lot. But all-in-all, Levy has been the driving factor in taking us from the purgatory* years to genuine competitors. And it's definitely down to a plan. One that's come along in fits and starts, to be fair, but definitely planned.


*see Colin Ferrall in In Bruges

 

[TottenhamLegend]

As much as I want to see us lift trophies (never seen it live, missed the 08 final, not old enough to remember 99), I still take so much pride in how far we've come.

Us, Man City and Chelsea are the only 3 teams who have gone from not the top table, to the top table in the modern (PL) era. Two of those have a common link. We're the odd one out. We are literally the only club to do what we've done organically since all the money came into into the game and I'm immensely proud of that.

Levy/ENIC has his/their faults. They have also had their luck. But I am significantly pro-Levy because you get the impression everything he does is for the long term of the club. He understands he's a custodian, not a true owner. The fans are the true owners of any club. I think he gets that.

We're on a journey and I'm enjoying the ride. Every ride has that shit bit where you lose 1-0 at West Brom occasionally (never been good at metaphors)

 

[crokey]

Because Pep was bought up enriched in Barca's philosophy and culture, one of the best players to play for the club and a club legend which is why he was put forward for the role as he was a perfect fit for the Barca job hence being successful in his permanent role.

Tim Sherwood got put in charge of Spurs temporarily because we needed someone to come in and take charge of the team mid season. He wasn't a club legend or one of the best players to play for Spurs nor was he enriched in the club's culture, so no it's not "reasonably similar circumstances" one man deserved to be put in his role and the other man was given caretaker duties and to keep the hot seat warm for someone else.

You are literally comparing them

 

[Shadydan]

You are literally comparing them

Yup...Just like comparing apples and pears.

 

[Armstrong_11]

Think we have done well to reach this point in the club's history.

A mixture of good financial management and a little bit of luck.

But moving forward is gonna be a really hard road ahead. We need to play our cards right and make sure we build upon our current situation.

Next few years will be key as we juggle paying for our new home with keeping pace with the clubs around us.

Exciting time at Tottenham. COYS!

 

[guiltyparty]

You're lucky to have followed us back then. I was born in 84 so it was really the 90s when I really started to understand football and it all sort of went downhill. Typical that it went that way during my time supporting us. So I don't really know better than what we have right now. At least I can wear my Spurs shirt with pride these days. I still rememeber the mornings after a 6-0 loss dreading going to school the next day.

The early 80s was a wonderful time. My old man had a mirror celebrating all our achievements in the hallway - UEFA cup winners, FA cup winners in consecutive years, a league cup final, two 3rds and two 4th place finishes, all within six or so seasons.

As a late 70s kid, who missed the relegation year, I grew up expecting us to be competitive. We were the sexy team in white, the British Real Madrid who were up there in the league but always in for cups. I cried at the 87 cup final as I was genuinely stunned we didn’t win. It was expected, we held the record for FA Cup wins and everything.

I’m not the oldest fan by any stretch but sometimes I think younger fans don’t realise how big a deal we were in the 80s. The Europe ban, the then owner’s financial mismanagement and then the Premier League punched the gut out of the club and only in the last decade have we got back to what I see as Spurs’ natural place. While Poch is the end point of that, it’s undoubtedly Levy that’s made it happen - Spurs should never have been slumming it that way we were and he turned it into an actual business empire.

And while the 95-05 death decade is fresher in the memory, for me that will never define Spurs, as we were punching below our weight as much as we’re punching above now.

 

[alexis]

This is starting to be a levy love in. The man deserves his six mill and needs to stay with us after the sale.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

This is starting to be a levy love in.

I know, much more of it and the padlock will come out

 

[LeParisien]

I know, much more of it and the padlock will come out

fans love their club shocker.

 

[coys200]

The early 80s was a wonderful time. My old man had a mirror celebrating all our achievements in the hallway - UEFA cup winners, FA cup winners in consecutive years, four FA cup finals in a row, a league cup final, two 3rds and two 4th place finishes, all within six or so seasons.

As a late 70s kid, who missed the relegation year, I grew up expecting us to be competitive. We were the sexy team in white, the British Real Madrid who were up there in the league but always in for cups. I cried at the 87 cup final as I was genuinely stunned we didn’t win. It was expected, we held the record for FA Cup wins and everything.

I’m not the oldest fan by any stretch but sometimes I think younger fans don’t realise how big a deal we were in the 80s. The Europe ban, the then owner’s financial mismanagement and then the Premier League punched the gut out of the club and only in the last decade have we got back to what I see as Spurs’ natural place. While Poch is the end point of that, it’s undoubtedly Levy that’s made it happen - Spurs should never have been slumming it that way we were and he turned it into an actual business empire.

And while the 95-05 death decade is fresher in the memory, for me that will never define Spurs, as we were punching below our weight as much as we’re punching above now.

Although the 80s was a fantastic period. It was still a bit inconsistent there were still 8th 10th 13 th league finishes thrown in. Which you’d hope we won’t go back to now. Although it somehow felt a bit more glamorous in the 80s maybe that’s just nostalgia. It’s just all a bit more functional now with a great infrastructure like a well oiled machine. This wasn’t meant as a Levy love in. I just find it genuinely fascinating how we’ve cemented ourselves as a consistent top 4-6 club without the oil money. When our nearest rivals Everton villa etc never managed it. And it’s barely been done by anyone since the war.

 

[dontcallme]

I think the financial plan was always quite clear.

Don’t put too much resources into transfer fees. Buy intelligently and sell for profit so we can buy more expensive players without a net spend.

The actual investment went into the structure, such as stadium and training facilities, and gradually increase the wage bill as our turnover increased.

For managers and setup I don’t think there has been a plan that came to fruition.

Levy hired Arnesen with the plan for him to be in charge of the football side of things.

With his departure everything became scatter gun. DOF and head coach, then a manager then whatever Baldini was and now a manager.

 

[slartibartfast]

Just got up, worked late, and put Sky sports on.
2010 Arsenal v Spurs. 2.3 win. Goals from Bale, VdV and Kaboul.
Gallas was on his knees at the end, played for us then btw lol. Great day.
That's how the weekend should start lol.
Palacios was with us then. He was another one that gave us some much needed steel in midfield. Him, Davids, Sandro all played a big part in changing our mentality and our fortune to get us where we are now.
Its funny that Arsenals fortunes have gone in the opposite direction because they no longer have a player like that anymore. All lightweight ball players much as we used to be. Looks lovely when it works but against stronger teams you'll get steamrollered.

 

[Pauleta01]

Tbh I had to check this big 6 in the 80s cause as far as I can remember it was a big 1 in Liverpool. Everton and villa had a couple of top 3 finishes each, ok villa won the the european cup. Even United and Arsenal weren’t consistently in top 4. Liverpool completely dominated the 80s. As said it was really the top 4 when united arsenal chelsea Liverpool dominated the CL places for a decade and seemed impossible to break.

In regards to Lewis being a billionaire yes he was. But you know as well as I , it’s nothing on a par with city or Chelsea. Even being a billionaire these days isn’t enough. Take a club like palace they’d probably have to spend £500m just to challenge for top 4. And no right minded billionaire is gonna risk half his wealth on a football club. The Levy/ ENIC bashers constantly contradict themselves. Their mantra is spend spend spend, but then they don’t want to be a plastic club like city. I really don’t wanna be a happy clapper. But imo ENIC have got the balance between spending and keeping it organic and maintaining the club identity and growth almost perfect.
In the same way for me United and Liverpool don’t feel plastic because they built the heritage and deserve the right to be called big clubs.

In the 80's pre Sky, it was known as the big 5 - Liverpool, Everton, Man Utd, Spurs, Arsenal. Not sure Villa was ever mentioned in this way then.

 

[SpursDave88]

In the 80's pre Sky, it was known as the big 5 - Liverpool, Everton, Man Utd, Spurs, Arsenal. Not sure Villa was ever mentioned in this way then.

I think there is an interview with Dion Dublin when he signed for Villa referring to the big 6.

 

[coys200]

In the 80's pre Sky, it was known as the big 5 - Liverpool, Everton, Man Utd, Spurs, Arsenal. Not sure Villa was ever mentioned in this way then.

Yeah I’m pretty sure it was this 5 that was at heart of forming PL. was pretty young but honestly don’t remember villa ever being in a “big”. But it’s funny how quickly the “big” whatever changes.

 

[worcestersauce]

Yeah I’m pretty sure it was this 5 that was at heart of forming PL. was pretty young but honestly don’t remember villa ever being in a “big”. But it’s funny how quickly the “big” whatever changes.

Villa were never in any big group, they are a big club in that they can pull in good home gates and the like and they had a very successful period when they wonthe European cup but they've always been what they are now, up and down yo yo club, I like the Villa but that's the truth.
I think someone posted it right earlier on when they said the plan has always been growth off the field, training centre, which had to come first, and stadium, they started buying up property round the ground when they took over in 2001.
The belief of the board, Daniel Levy, being that whatever we did on the pitch would be ultimately pointless without the infrastructure around it so while we have been improving the playing side since 2004 it has been at a steady pace knowing that going too fast and spending too much too early wouldn't realise our dream, what we needed to do was get to the stage we are now at as we go into the new stadium, personally I think we have timed it perfectly and that is another reason why I think this is a defining moment, this summer may well be when we start to go all guns blazing into the battle to upgrade our team/squad.
I know I'll probably get a few optimistic ratings but it's not blind faith and foolish fanaticism on my part, it seems to me it is good business, I can't believe Daniel Levy has worked for two decades patiently putting everything in place to challenge big time just to decide not to and be happy as also rans.