When will Spurs make their move?

[mawspurs]

Premier League clubs are spending freely this summer in a bid to muscle in on the top four next season.

Read the full article at BBC

 

[dricha1]

Quite a balanced article. I do wonder though how frustrating it must be for the manager not really getting new players until after the seasons start and if we'd get more points had we sorted the squad before the season starts.

 

[millsey]

Way we do transfers a complete farce. Get ready for another slow start to the season

 

[lis spur]

As they say ,back up to Harry ,don't rock the boat and trust in our Manager ,can almost smell it COYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[davidmatzdorf]

It's basically a general interview with Jon Smith that happens to be mainly about Tottenham, because he takes an interest in the unusual way we deal with transfers and salaries.

It's worth a close read, because Smith, who is an agent and seems to know a lot of detail, basically contradicts virtually every cliché that the transfer-season moaners post here, every week:

• No, players are not just interested in the bottom line, they like a club with a dream or a mission.
• Spurs can still attract top players without paying huge salaries.
• Playing for a London club is influential in players' transfer decisions.
• We do not pay substantially less than other clubs, we just have a system that is heavily-weighted toward performance bonuses.
• Levy is "a good guy to deal with" who "does everything with a smile".
• Now is not the right time for Tottenham to break its wage structure - that, from an agent.

Are there any other bits of clichéd moaning fan bullshit left for him to skewer? I think he's got the full house there.

And then agent Sky Andrew joins in:

"Spurs do not need to spend big this summer. ... It's phenomenal what Spurs have done ... similar to what Manchester United did in the Beckham and Neville era. Transforming young players into great players."

Agents. These are agents talking. They stand to benefit directly if we start splattering money around. But they think it would be a bad idea. Unnecessary.

 

[Sweetsman]

It's basically a general interview with Jon Smith that happens to be mainly about Tottenham, because he takes an interest in the unusual way we deal with transfers and salaries.

It's worth a close read, because Smith, who is an agent and seems to know a lot of detail, basically contradicts virtually every cliché that the transfer-season moaners post here, every week:

• No, players are not just interested in the bottom line, they like a club with a dream or a mission.
• Spurs can still attract top players without paying huge salaries.
• Playing for a London club is influential in players' transfer decisions.
• We do not pay substantially less than other clubs, we just have a system that is heavily-weighted toward performance bonuses.
• Levy is "a good guy to deal with" who "does everything with a smile".
• Now is not the right time for Tottenham to break its wage structure - that, from an agent.

Are there any other bits of clichéd moaning fan bullshit left for him to skewer? I think he's got the full house there.

And then agent Sky Andrew joins in:

"Spurs do not need to spend big this summer. ... It's phenomenal what Spurs have done ... similar to what Manchester United did in the Beckham and Neville era. Transforming young players into great players."

Agents. These are agents talking. They stand to benefit directly if we start splattering money around. But they think it would be a bad idea. Unnecessary.

Excellent summary, but clearly not to the liking of some.

 

[npearl4spurs]

Really good article. Thanks!

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

2029

 

[Danners9]

This bit is certainly true, "Fans are excited by numbers. The press make a big story out of numbers, so where there becomes a bit of a grey area is: Do supporters want to just see big money being spent? Or do they want to see a club being run properly and developing young players?"

Just a shame who said it..

It leads to pundits and even former players saying a certain team has done the best business (Phil Neville re: Everton!) and a team has 'won' the transfer window. Who has done the best will, as always, be shown in May.

The trouble is that doing nothing equals going backwards as others strengthen and as fees and wages continue to increase, some clubs are in danger of being left behind. Spurs are in a difficult position where the first XI is pretty strong and they will be shopping for cover or prospects, but selling that to a player is tricky and then equating 'squad player' with the wages required is a problem.

The figures quoted for players like Josh King (30m) are ridiculous and are not good value, but it seems to be the going rate at the moment. Similarly, 10m for Juan Foyth (7 first team appearances) are just as mad. Again though, going rate... Levy trying to squeeze every bit of value out of a deal isn't going to work any more.

 

[Japhet]

My only real concern is that Poch is happy with the way we operate. I have my doubts.

 

[Dennism]

We are in a difficult situation. There is competition for all the good players and the fact that we do not pay the higher wages always places us at a disadvantage. We have the new stadium to pay for but even when that is sorted things will still be hard. The other clubs have a worldwide presence that they got when the Premier League took off. Unfortunately when that happened we we still hampered by the financial problems caused by Irving Scholar and his mates. This has led to a financial gap we will probably only be able to bridge with a sugar daddy (like City have).

 

[Deleted member 27995]

First time in my life time supporting Spurs we have been in this position.

I'm sure we'd agree there are perhaps a few areas that would need strengthening but it's finding those players now.

As someone else said keeping Poch happy is as important.

Interesting article, ta for posting.

 

[tcyrus]

It's basically a general interview with Jon Smith that happens to be mainly about Tottenham, because he takes an interest in the unusual way we deal with transfers and salaries.

It's worth a close read, because Smith, who is an agent and seems to know a lot of detail, basically contradicts virtually every cliché that the transfer-season moaners post here, every week:

• No, players are not just interested in the bottom line, they like a club with a dream or a mission.
• Spurs can still attract top players without paying huge salaries.
• Playing for a London club is influential in players' transfer decisions.
• We do not pay substantially less than other clubs, we just have a system that is heavily-weighted toward performance bonuses.
• Levy is "a good guy to deal with" who "does everything with a smile".
• Now is not the right time for Tottenham to break its wage structure - that, from an agent.

Are there any other bits of clichéd moaning fan bullshit left for him to skewer? I think he's got the full house there.

And then agent Sky Andrew joins in:

"Spurs do not need to spend big this summer. ... It's phenomenal what Spurs have done ... similar to what Manchester United did in the Beckham and Neville era. Transforming young players into great players."

Agents. These are agents talking. They stand to benefit directly if we start splattering money around. But they think it would be a bad idea. Unnecessary.

Might be the first time, I agree with everything you've said.

 

[yiddopaul]

We are in a difficult situation. There is competition for all the good players and the fact that we do not pay the higher wages always places us at a disadvantage. We have the new stadium to pay for but even when that is sorted things will still be hard. The other clubs have a worldwide presence that they got when the Premier League took off. Unfortunately when that happened we we still hampered by the financial problems caused by Irving Scholar and his mates. This has led to a financial gap we will probably only be able to bridge with a sugar daddy (like City have).

I would image that global recognition is a lot easier now due to social media, internet etc, certainly it can happen much quicker than when the Prem began. We've already made great advances globally, especially since we've had such high profile players/transfers. (Bale, Kane, Alli etc etc). We're already much more recognized in the US.

And i do not think we need (I don't want) a 'sugar daddy', we will be on a par with Arsenal, Liverpool once the stadium is up and running. I certainly don't want to turn into City/Chelsea and be like their souless clubs.

We're doing alright as we are thank you very much. Let the others look on with envy at how we're going about building our club.

 

[whitesocks]

Might be the first time, I agree with everything you've said.

It was one of the best posts ever until he quoted Sky Andrew.

 

[Cinemattis]

It's basically a general interview with Jon Smith that happens to be mainly about Tottenham, because he takes an interest in the unusual way we deal with transfers and salaries.

It's worth a close read, because Smith, who is an agent and seems to know a lot of detail, basically contradicts virtually every cliché that the transfer-season moaners post here, every week:

• No, players are not just interested in the bottom line, they like a club with a dream or a mission.
• Spurs can still attract top players without paying huge salaries.
• Playing for a London club is influential in players' transfer decisions.
• We do not pay substantially less than other clubs, we just have a system that is heavily-weighted toward performance bonuses.
• Levy is "a good guy to deal with" who "does everything with a smile".
• Now is not the right time for Tottenham to break its wage structure - that, from an agent.

Are there any other bits of clichéd moaning fan bullshit left for him to skewer? I think he's got the full house there.

And then agent Sky Andrew joins in:

"Spurs do not need to spend big this summer. ... It's phenomenal what Spurs have done ... similar to what Manchester United did in the Beckham and Neville era. Transforming young players into great players."

Agents. These are agents talking. They stand to benefit directly if we start splattering money around. But they think it would be a bad idea. Unnecessary.

I really like your summary. The article and your comment makes a lot of sense IMHO.

BUT: there´s one crucial point you missed that is "moaned" about quite often: The timing of the signing/arrival of new players, i.e. before pre-season training, or after PL kickoff/at the very end of the window.

The article comments on this from a bussiness point of view, talking about prices and fees, and discussing if deals are harder or not to finalise late in the window.

It is not, however, discussed from a footballing/sporting point of view. I think most would agree to the logic and benefits of getting new players in early in regard to embed them into the manager´s philosophies, training structure and level (we´ve all read countless articles and comments about Poch´s gruelling training regime and how much it takes to climatise to it), and not least becoming a part of the squad. Any psychologist, mental coach, etc would stress the importance of the "team building" aspect - which, again - we´ve understood is very important for Poch. And was for Ferguson and his famous class of `92 which is heavily referred to in the article. And if we remember: that team almost every season had one or two important additions of marquee players (Cantona, Nistelrooy, Cole, Yorke, Solskjaer, Stam, van Persie, etc), as well as squad players and young prospects (C Ronaldo, Forlan, Berg, Johnsen, etc).

I 100% share the view that we don´t necessarily need to spend big. Our starting XI is as good as any on the day. But I do believe our squad is thin when it comes to that level of quality (or close to it), and there is a need to bolster our squad. Our European efforts (as such) and the FA Cup semifinal last season make vaild points to this. And Poch has clearly pointed this out himself on several occasions. Not with many players or superstars for megamoney (what is "expensive" in today´s crazy market btw?), but with a few right signings and/or promotions from our youth squad. The point is: get them in early, and make them an integral part of the squad.

 

[davidmatzdorf]

I really like your summary. The article and your comment makes a lot of sense IMHO.

BUT: there´s one crucial point you missed that is "moaned" about quite often: The timing of the signing/arrival of new players, i.e. before pre-season training, or after PL kickoff/at the very end of the window.

...

The point is: get them in early, and make them an integral part of the squad.

I did some research the other day and posted it on another thread. Starting with the arrival of Damien Comolli in 2005, roughly half of our summer signings have been in May/June/July. The other half have been in August. I think (after a couple of corrections) the final figures were 24 in May/June/July and 26 in August.

Also, a notable number of our important/key/star players were signed early in a summer transfer window: Berbatov, Modric, Bale, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Dier & Wanyama being obvious examples. I think there is a widespread mis-perception, born of impatience, at work here.

 

[S17PUR]

Also, a notable number of our important/key/star players were signed early in a summer transfer window: Berbatov, Modric, Bale, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Dier & Wanyama being obvious examples. I think there is a widespread mis-perception, born of impatience, at work here.

Perhaps I'm misinterpreting your point, but doesn't this support the idea that we should be bringing in our targets early in the window? If the majority of our best signings have been made in June/July then fans have every right to be concerned at the lack of incomings given that we're about to enter August, when our business, I assume, is generally less successful historically.

 

[davidmatzdorf]

Perhaps I'm misinterpreting your point, but doesn't this support the idea that we should be bringing in our targets early in the window? If the majority of our best signings have been made in June/July then fans have every right to be concerned at the lack of incomings given that we're about to enter August, when our business, I assume, is generally less successful historically.

There is a longstanding convention, a forum factoid, that we sign "nearly all of our players in the last few days of August". It's not true. We sign half of them before August starts. That was my point.

I wasn't "stating my opinion". As I have written here often, opinions are overrated. I was setting out some accurate information that contradicts commonly held opinions.

My opinion on the prevalence of early signings for players who turned out to be great successes is that they are the ones on whom we pounced before the rest of the market had properly noticed. Not one of the players I listed (Berbatov, Modric, Bale, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Dier & Wanyama) was a an established star before arriving at Tottenham. Modric and Bale were widely expected to become international stars. The others were all a bit under-the-radar.

I'm not concerned about our lack of signings at all. I think the other longstanding convention and forum factoid that "the other clubs are all improving and we will be left behind" is incorrect. The other clubs are not "improving", they're "signing players". As we found the hard way in 2013, signing a lot of expensive players does not guarantee improvement.

We could improve a few areas of the team with some judicious arrivals, but it's not essential, unless there are more of those Alderweireld/Wanyama bargains in the market.

 

[mawspurs]

We need to strengthen our squad as others have pointed out. We don't really need any marquee signings at this point. So we shouldn't panic because none are arriving.

We should be able to get squad players in even late in the window. the problem is getting the right quality of player who is prepared to be rotated or spend long spells on the bench.

Fortunately this fits with the clubs policy of buying young players with potential who are more likely to be prepared to do that.