EPS article: Tottenham may lack vision on the field, but not in the boardroom

[Dharmabum]

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/totten...k-on-field-ambition-but-not-in-the-boardroom?

Tottenham may lack vision on the field, but not in the boardroom



What kind of season do you feel Tottenham had? Here's the one I remember: a league campaign that never seriously threatened for a Champions League place, an uninspired Europa League that ended in the first round of the knockout stages, a fourth-round home FA Cup defeat, and a Carling Cup final defeat to Chelsea.

There were some high spots. The two home wins against Chelsea and Arsenal, along with the emergence of Harry Kane and the continued excellence of Hugo Lloris. On balance, though, I'd call it a fairly average season. A little better than some, a little worse than others, but still one that never truly delivered on expectations.

Here's the season Spurs actually had: According to Brand Finance, a company that measures a football club's global financial value, Spurs moved from 12th to 10th in the world brand league table, increasing its value by over $100 million in the process. Spurs still may be a long way behind the top four English clubs, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, but they comfortably outperformed Juventus, AC Milan, Inter, Napoli, Ajax and Atletico Madrid.

It's hard to believe. I can't help feeling Juventus fans would have had a much more exciting season than anyone at White hart Lane did. A Serie A title and a Champions league final is the kind of year Tottenham can only dream of. Atletico Madrid may not have repeated their annus mirabilis of 2013-14 but they still qualified for the Champions League, as did Ajax. The two Milan clubs for once failed to make the Champions League but they both still have records in that competition of which Spurs can hardly imagine.

All this comes with the obvious caveats, of course. World football isn't a level playing field. The TV rights for the Premier League are far more valuable than those for any other national league, and the highest-ranked club in the world outside Europe is Brazil's Sao Paulo at 43rd. Yet the fact remains that Spurs, a club that has won just a single trophy in the past 15 years -- the Carling Cup in 2008 -- and has only once qualified for the Champions League, is the 10th most valuable brand in world football.


What's more, the biggest obstacle keeping Tottenham from climbing higher up this particular table is not a continuing lack of on-field success, it's the size of its stadium. If (once) the new stadium is built and the capacity is increased from 36,000 to 60,000, then the sky is apparently the limit.

What the Brand Finance global rankings best illustrate is the disparity between the aims of a football club's board of directors and its fans. For chairman Daniel Levy, Spurs is first and foremost a business whose financial interests must be protected at all costs; on field success is merely an added bonus. When Levy bemoans the way the £90 million windfall for Gareth Bale was spent, his main complaint isn't that Erik Lamela, Roberto Soldado and Paulinho have failed to win the club a trophy, it's that the club overpaid for their services. The bottom line is all that really counts.

Fans see things rather differently. Our priority is the trophy cabinet not the balance sheet; one based on sentiment rather than business. We often fail to appreciate we are part of the balance sheet: a captive market to be exploited for as much money as possible. While we take some stoical comfort in the passion and loyalty we show to the club when things are going badly, Levy just sees us as numbers to be taken for granted. He knows there are enough people, like me, who can be guaranteed to renew their season tickets come what may.

This isn't a particularly welcome home truth. It isn't the way we want our football to be. But it is perhaps a salutary reminder of where we stand. Because while the fans may argue among themselves about the reasons for Spurs having shown so few signs of improvement, despite -- or even because of -- the changes in managers and personnel, the reality is staring us in the face. For those in charge of the club's finances, everything is looking rather rosy. What fans may call a lack of vision and strategy is actually a highly effective business plan.

John Crace is a columnist and feature writer for The Guardian. He is also a THFC season-ticket holder. Follow him on Twitter @JohnJCrace.

 

[stonecolddeanaustin]

I'm sure it's been said 1,000 times on here before so I won't go into too much detail but we are where we are because of what football has become these days, with the gap between the richest clubs and the rest getting wider and wider. We nearly went bust at the worst possible time (i.e. as the prem started) as otherwise we could've positioned ourselves as a top four club when it really mattered about 15 years ago as the league really started to go global. There's no real way of closing the gap that's been created now though (aside from an oil baron sugar daddy, the effect of which would now be limited by FFP) and even a new stadium will only do so much. Given the circumstances, I think we've done about as well as we could, apart from a few blips which might have made a short term difference.

In short, football's gone to shit really and there's not a lot we can do about it. One of the only reasons I still have such an interest now is the optimistic hope a few of our youth team may turn into superstars.

The Chelsea and City brand worth more than Barca though? Nah, I aint buying that for a second!

http://brandirectory.com/league_tables/table/top-50-football-club-brands-2015

 

[Lighty64]

football changed after Hillsbrough - going all seater, Heysel being banned from Europe, even though the Heysel was most probably the last straw in what was happening everytime an English team played in Europe.

the UEFA and the introduction of the Premier League and Sky, turned football into a business not a sport. gone are the days of a team being promoted and then going onto win the top League, will never happen again. Yes I know at 1 time a lot of us had to suffer 1 team mainly dominating the League, but in those days it was a lot harder for the bookies to put prices on table toppers and relegation favourites.

the EPL has killed football, even if we might have more talented players these days, we also have 72 other teams that only have 1 aim in their sites, 1 day to be a premier league team. This has seen too many teams hit administration.

UEFA then go introduce a competition called the Champions League. no problem except you don't have to be a champion to play in it. they have also since dropped the Cup Winners cup, merged it with UEFA Cup to the Europa League, and then allow failures in the main comp a chance to still a chance to win another comp.

all that's left now days is earning MONEY, the now days most football players only give a shit about money, not the badge on their kit, or the team they play for, and if they are talented/good enough they can get the bonus of playing for a team that gives them the opportunity to pick up trophies as a bonus.

give me back the late 70's through to late 80's without the disasters, and I know i'd enjoy football a lot more than I do today

 

[NEVILLEB]

We got into the Champions League based on smart transfer decisions.

We dropped down to 5th/6th based on dumb transfer decisions.

The stadium will help a bit but it's not going to compensate for poor choices.

 

[Lilbaz]

No-one would want us to win a trophy more than Levy.

 

[lukespurs7]

I'm sure it's been said 1,000 times on here before so I won't go into too much detail but we are where we are because of what football has become these days, with the gap between the richest clubs and the rest getting wider and wider. We nearly went bust at the worst possible time (i.e. as the prem started) as otherwise we could've positioned ourselves as a top four club when it really mattered about 15 years ago as the league really started to go global. There's no real way of closing the gap that's been created now though (aside from an oil baron sugar daddy, the effect of which would now be limited by FFP) and even a new stadium will only do so much. Given the circumstances, I think we've done about as well as we could, apart from a few blips which might have made a short term difference.

In short, football's gone to shit really and there's not a lot we can do about it. One of the only reasons I still have such an interest now is the optimistic hope a few of our youth team may turn into superstars.

The Chelsea and City brand worth more than Barca though? Nah, I aint buying that for a second!

http://brandirectory.com/league_tables/table/top-50-football-club-brands-2015

spot on.

 

[Lilbaz]

I'm sure it's been said 1,000 times on here before so I won't go into too much detail but we are where we are because of what football has become these days, with the gap between the richest clubs and the rest getting wider and wider. We nearly went bust at the worst possible time (i.e. as the prem started) as otherwise we could've positioned ourselves as a top four club when it really mattered about 15 years ago as the league really started to go global. There's no real way of closing the gap that's been created now though (aside from an oil baron sugar daddy, the effect of which would now be limited by FFP) and even a new stadium will only do so much. Given the circumstances, I think we've done about as well as we could, apart from a few blips which might have made a short term difference.

In short, football's gone to shit really and there's not a lot we can do about it. One of the only reasons I still have such an interest now is the optimistic hope a few of our youth team may turn into superstars.

The Chelsea and City brand worth more than Barca though? Nah, I aint buying that for a second!

http://brandirectory.com/league_tables/table/top-50-football-club-brands-2015

Agree with the sentiment but disagree with some of the points.

Under sugar we spent and wasted a huge amount of money. The problem was we didn't get CL football we didn't even get European football for a number of years. We lost global clout, and branding just as it mattered. Even so under Enic we clawed our way back and if it wasn't for oligarchs pumping £1bn into Man City and Chelsea respectively we would have finished regularly in the top 4 over the last 6 years.

FFP has limited the effect of oligarchs, now what needs to be done to save football is to do something about the Champions League.

 

[Shea]

Too bad the people at City didn't want to be based in London and buy us instead of them

 

[Lilbaz]

Too bad the people at City didn't want to be based in London and buy us instead of them

To bad the people who bought city got involved in football in the first place. If they and Roman had bought a formula one team instead the world would be a lot better place.

 

[Shea]

To bad the people who bought city got involved in football in the first place. If they and Roman had bought a formula one team instead the world would be a lot better place.

Maybe but I'd happily have seen them buy us if it meant we would have enjoyed the success they have had since the take overs

If they hadn't been taken over maybe we'd have made the cl a few more times but I doubt we'd have had any real success still

But had the take overs never occurred maybe Chelsea would have done a Leeds and that would have been a thing of beauty for anyone who grew up in West London like myself

 

[Lilbaz]

Maybe but I'd happily have seen them buy us if it meant we would have enjoyed the success they have had since the take overs

If they hadn't been taken over maybe we'd have made the cl a few more times but I doubt we'd have had any real success still

But had the take overs never occurred maybe Chelsea would have done a Leeds and that would have been a thing of beauty for anyone who grew up in West London like myself

We'd have got CL 5 out of the last 6 years. We might have kept hold of our best players and attracted better ones than we have. With regular CL we'd have got better sponsorship deals. Who knows we might have had a shot at the title. Maybe not but I can dream.

 

[MarkyP]

I think the argument about fans not caring about the clubs "balance sheet" and just caring about a Trophy cabinet and on field success is a somewhat an outdated argument... True to an extent, but outdated slightly. Perhaps down to the fact the numbers being thrown around are move prevalent in the media, and are now a lot larger than they used to be, focus on wages and how clubs raise funds etc..... however..
You just need to look at the transfer forums on here, to site an example, and it is littered with comments about paying "x" amount for this player.. or this is too much or this not enough..
The odd comment about "just pay the extra £2million Levy" - being immediately shot down by another poster commenting on how we aren't in a position to do that, and we should be looking at our operating model as a club, not spending above our means... another comment about how we aren't bank rolled by Russian Oil Money or Arab Sovereign Wealth Funds etc..

I think more than ever supporters are conscious, aware and concerned about the financial aspects, management and guidance of a club.

As a supporter, it impacts us to a certain degree with regards to ticket prices and merchandising.. but does it directly affect me that as a club we spent £30m on Lamela or £20m? not really. But do I care? Yes. I am happy with that if we CAN afford to do so, as its MY club, and I want us to be on as a financially stable footing as possible to ensure the longevity of the club, and the prospect that we may one day reach those upper echelons of the financial elite through both prudent financial management and on field success... you can have a go at throwing money at it at and saying "to hell" with managing the finances in a sensible way and hope the gamble pays off... but...
If you were to ask any fan of Leeds United or other clubs that went down the route of prioritising "trophies" over "prudent balance sheet" management - I would imagine most would argue, in hindsight, if they were to do it all over again, cash is king.. and they wouldn't have gone hell for leather for it... need that mix, which I think, to be honest, we actually have right now based on what the club is doing in terms of stadium, training facilities, team investment.

 

[Hoops]

We got into the Champions League based on smart transfer decisions.

We dropped down to 5th/6th based on dumb transfer decisions.

The stadium will help a bit but it's not going to compensate for poor choices.

Very dumb decisions indeed

 

[JimmyG2]

John Crace is a Guardian writer and may not believe
exactly what he seems to be saying.
I would rather come 5th with large numbers of our own playing
than top four with a bought in team.
Really proud of what we did this season
with yet another new manager
and looking forward to more of the same next season.

 

[Shea]

We'd have got CL 5 out of the last 6 years. We might have kept hold of our best players and attracted better ones than we have. With regular CL we'd have got better sponsorship deals. Who knows we might have had a shot at the title. Maybe not but I can dream.

Well yes (assuming that no other clubs would have outperformed us had Chelsea and city not had their lotto win)

But city have actually won the league title twice, an fa cup and a league cup which is more than I've seen spurs win in my entire time supporting spurs since the late 80s

Even more had we had the success Chelsea have experienced since roman took over

Some might not want success if it came thay way,which is fine each to the their own but for me personally I'd love to have seen spurs have the success Chelsea have had since their take over and even the success city have had since

 

[Hoops]

Meh, article could have been written ten years ago. Nothing new

 

[Lilbaz]

Well yes (assuming that no other clubs would have outperformed us had Chelsea and city not had their lotto win)

But city have actually won the league title twice, an fa cup and a league cup which is more than I've seen spurs win in my entire time supporting spurs since the late 80s

Even more had we had the success Chelsea have experienced since roman took over

Some might not want success if it came thay way,which is fine each to the their own but for me personally I'd love to have seen spurs have the success Chelsea have had since their take over and even the success city have had since

Not saying i wouldn't want success if it came that way. I'm saying i'd prefer it if we did it off our own backs and weren't beholden to a sugar daddy.

Take a read of my signature.

 

[nicdic]

I'd probably guess he's one of our fans that expects us to be winning trophies every year and in the top 4.

Deluded.

 

[SteveH]

Well yes (assuming that no other clubs would have outperformed us had Chelsea and city not had their lotto win)

But city have actually won the league title twice, an fa cup and a league cup which is more than I've seen spurs win in my entire time supporting spurs since the late 80s

Even more had we had the success Chelsea have experienced since roman took over

Some might not want success if it came thay way,which is fine each to the their own but for me personally I'd love to have seen spurs have the success Chelsea have had since their take over and even the success city have had since

Chelsea and City are shells for very very rich owners. Any success those two have is soulless, expected and for me tainted. I do not want that for my club Spurs. Arsenal had plan and it has taken time but credit to them for doing it the proper way.

Yes we are copying Arsenal and that is only common sense!

If or when we win something I will be proud to be a Spurs fan.

 

[Shea]

Chelsea and City are shells for very very rich owners. Any success those two have is soulless, expected and for me tainted. I do not want that for my club Spurs. Arsenal had plan and it has taken time but credit to them for doing it the proper way.

Yes we are copying Arsenal and that is only common sense!

If or when we win something I will be proud to be a Spurs fan.

It's a personal matter of perception

I don't know any proper man city fans but I know many life long Chelsea fans and I don't know a single one who enjoys the clubs successes any less because it was contributed to by Russian ownership and money

I think for the most part rival fans look to demean the success of these rich clubs and dismiss it as less meaningful in someway because of how it was achieved and I suspect most (not all perhaps) of the fans that attempt to dismiss the success of these clubs would be far less dismissive if we were the ones benefiting from the cash injection and tangible success (silverware)

It's all well and good copying Arsenal and or given Arsenal credit for going about their tasks the proper way but I'd rather be winning things regularly like Chelsea than having 7/8 baron years doing things the right way like Arsenal before winning the FA cup a couple times while Chelsea win the league again after already having won the CL and Europa league in recent seasons

I can't speak for others - clearly many of you have a different outlook on football than I do, which is fine we're all different. On a personal level though, having supported Spurs since the 80s and never seen them have any meaningful success I'd love it if we had had the type of success Chelsea had had and to me personally having achieved it via billionaire investment wouldn't cheapen my enjoyment of it in the slightest

Tottenham is generations deep in my family, I've been going with my dad for years, I went to games with my granddad as a kid before he passed and indeed it was the only real connection I had with him and the only real meaningful memories I now have of him, so the club means a lot to me and I would support them if they were relegated to the conference....but, because I love the club so much I'd also love to see them become successful and win things like the elite clubs in Europe do

Real win things via ill gotten gains, excess backing from the government and ridiculous debts allowed to give them a huge financial advantage - no one things of them as anything other than an elite and uber successful club regardless

Barca's actions have landed them a transfer ban, again though no one seeks to discredit their seeks or label it tarnished in anyway inspite these dealings or the unfair advantages they and Real get in Spain with the allocation/distribution of money

I understand those of you who'd rather not be successful or achieve relative success in a way you consider the right way than have lots of success in what you consider the wrong way, I don't object to you feeling that way it's a perfectly understandable moral stand point - it's just different to my own outlook, me personally would rather see the club be highly successful in the manner that Chelsea have been since their take over than relatively successful in the way Arsenal have been in the same period of time