Why don't we act fast to get our targets?

[Samson]

We've always tried to do deals on deadline day. Levy loves the excitement of pulling off a coup.

There does seem to be a MAJOR financial problem at the club at the moment. There's no reason we spent so little having finally got into the Champions League. We spent more when we were bottom of the league!

I don't think it's major, but lost money in 09/10, made money in 10/11 means we need to be conservative, with an eye on FFP as much as anything.

 

[hellava_tough]

To be fair we've missed out on good, obtainable, players over the last couple of years, Carroll, Suarez, Lukaka (sic) and N'Zogbia being a few examples

I'm sure there are more

We aren't a massive club so we have to take risks on these sorts of players. That's what we did with Bale, Modric, Berbatov, Sandro, Carrick etc.

For some reason we dont seem to be wiling to take these risks anymore

 

[ultimateloner]

I think as a direction this is right, but I think it is impractical in implementation.

Effectively you are saying why don't we invest less but on greater numbers of potentially gifted players. So instead of spend 30mil on 'proven' talent why not spend 3mil on 10 less proven but potential stars.

The failure rate is going to be higher (no track record to back up, apart from scout reports/word of mouth) but the return might be bigger.

However for this policy to work as a big club its easy to come up with the following difficulties:

1) Justify spending 3mil on 'unproven talent' with the possibility of NO resale value (no reputation) + flop given lack of track record
2) Same as above but for shareholders, even worse.
3) Alot more work and potential operational risks managinag multiple parties/negotiation processes - you would incur alot more law/agency/consultation fees..
4) 1 person can't do all that so you incur more HR costs. Given no DoF theres only HR and his team to do all this - can't see that happening.

Basically too much work and investment chasing too many loose ends, so quality of work might suffer. The risk doesn't balance the reward.

 

[double0]

Our success rate on the pitch is starting to surpass our stadium output, we are in need of a new stadium. I think on the transfer front we're now in a position to cherry pick at least one quality player per season challenging starting 11 for the next 5 years IMO...with our current youth purchase taking place in the background.

This summer we only really need a striker we have good players coming through IE Rose Walker Caulker Townsend Kane Coulibaly Bostock

 

[double0]

We've won fuck all of course but I still believe our squad/teams improving with experience...on thought winning the Europa Cup or something next season will be great.

 

[boy-C]

Spursking is has got a point a lot of people have taken the piss over the years at Spursking recommendations but he has been right about a few of them. (but then again he has recommended just about every black player to ever kick a football)
But when we have such a disappointing strike force as we have at the moment it would be worth taking a punt on one or two.
I can remember at the end of last season people were saying we have learnt from our mistakes in the transfer window (waiting too long and ending up with jack) and wouldnt make them again. Unfortunately it seems like its happening again.:shrug:

 

[NEVILLEB]

I will say that if we don't sign a good striker this window then we'll definitely fall away from the top 4 in the years to come. This is our last chance...

Modric, Bale and Sandro will want to win trophies and understandably will move on to do so.

 

[RichSpur58]

I think even the most blindly optimistic supporters must realise that there is something wrong with our transfer strategy?

How can we not improve on the worst strike force in the league?

 

[NEVILLEB]

I think even the most blindly optimistic supporters must realise that there is something wrong with our transfer strategy?

How can we not improve on the worst strike force in the league?

It's healthy to be optimistic but when it blinds people to the truth then they've gone too far. We are slipping back down the mountain so Levy HAS to get a top striker this window.

 

[StartingPrice]

I think even the most blindly optimistic supporters must realise that there is something wrong with our transfer strategy?

How can we not improve on the worst strike force in the league?

I don't think I am blindly optimistic (optimistic, yes, blindly, no), and I believe we will improve on our strike force.

I therefore cannot accept the second part of your sentence.

To me it would be like if I said: "I think even the most blindly pessimistic supporters must realise that there is absolutely nothing wrong with our transfer strategy(?) We have improved on the worst strike force in the league." I'm sure you can see the weakness in these statements - I am talking about thinks that may happen as though they already have.
Likewise, you are talking about things that may not happen as though they have already failed to transpire.

For both of us, the sensible thing would be to wait until the window closes before making any bold statements, wouldn't it:shrug:

 

[NEVILLEB]

I don't think I am blindly optimistic (optimistic, yes, blindly, no), and I believe we will improve on our strike force.

I therefore cannot accept the second part of your sentence.

To me it would be like if I said: "I think even the most blindly pessimistic supporters must realise that there is absolutely nothing wrong with our transfer strategy(?) We have improved on the worst strike force in the league." I'm sure you can see the weakness in these statements - I am talking about thinks that may happen as though they already have.
Likewise, you are talking about things that may not happen as though they have already failed to transpire.

For both of us, the sensible thing would be to wait until the window closes before making any bold statements, wouldn't it:shrug:

With all due respect I think you have a unique view on most matters in this forum. It's very valuable to get all opinions so I'm not knocking you but I wouldn't say I've agreed with most of your posts. I'm sure you and many others haven't agreed with mine.

Levy may pull an amazing striker out of his hat. God knows we would all love him to. We do however have a right to be cautious and worried because he failed to do so in the last two windows. We finally got champions league football and he lost his cheque book.

Some have intimated we have some significant financial problems which may well explain it and limit our potential to compete with the big clubs. I do wonder how we've managed to spend so much for so long but when we are finally within grasp of greatness the money runs dry. Our wages are comparatively low and we should have extra TV revenue this year from the QT Champions League run.

I don't agree the new profit restrictions are going to be effectively enforced so I'm not worried about them. We've already seen Man City side step them with dodgy sponsorship deals.

The whole point of these threads is for people to air there thoughts, predictions and ideas, often before things happen. If we waited until the window was over then we may as well close the forum! We are all clever after the event. It takes skill to predict and offer solutions to future problems.

I think Levy will sign a top striker...he has to. The alternative is demise.

 

[StartingPrice]

With all due respect I think you have a unique view on most matters in this forum. It's very valuable to get all opinions so I'm not knocking you but I wouldn't say I've agreed with most of your posts. I'm sure you and many others haven't agreed with mine.

Levy may pull an amazing striker out of his hat. God knows we would all love him to. We do however have a right to be cautious and worried because he failed to do so in the last two windows. We finally got champions league football and he lost his cheque book.

Some have intimated we have some significant financial problems which may well explain it and limit our potential to compete with the big clubs. I do wonder how we've managed to spend so much for so long but when we are finally within grasp of greatness the money runs dry. Our wages are comparatively low and we should have extra TV revenue this year from the QT Champions League run.

I don't agree the new profit restrictions are going to be effectively enforced so I'm not worried about them. We've already seen Man City side step them with dodgy sponsership deals.

The whole point of these threads is for people to air there thoughts, predictions and ideas often before things happen. If we waited until the window was over then we may as well close the forum! We are all clever after the event. It takes skill to predict and offer solutions to future problems.

I think Levy will sign a top striker...he has to. The alternative is demise.

Eek
Others have intimated that we have serious money to spend. I just happen to believe that fits the facts far more readily that the counter claim that we are skint.

I have explained, several times now (sorry but it is true), why it is just plain wrong-headed to view everything through a prism of two allegedly failed transfer windows. For a start, I wouldn't call the signing of Gallas to be a failure; Sandro has all the petnetial to go on to become a World Class holind midfielder and, gauess what, he plays for Spurs; VDV - well, let's have more failures like that.

The simple fact is that our strike force was good enough, as a component part of our squad, to shoot us into the CL. I, along with everyone else, knew that we needed a new striker - to all intents-and-purposes we got one, in VDV. No-one (as in NO-ONE) knew how poorly our other strikers would adapt to playing with him, and Defoe was injured for most of the first half of the season, anyway. Again, it is easy to beat on about the strikeforce not being strengthened in January, but up to that point we were in a literally fantastic position in both EPL and CL, we should have been expecing our strikers to improve, and Defoe was coming back into the team (and given the accusations that he is a flat track bully and most of our opponents were in the final 3rd of the league, we could have been forgiven for imagining he would get a hat full of goals).

Unfortunately, what we discovered was that these final 3rd teams are now treating us like a genuine big team and shutting up shop (even United did it at WHL). We didn't know this would happen in January.

Also, as I continue to assert, Daniel Levy is still on a pretty sharp learning curve. he is doing a fantastic job, but I believe he underestimated just how difficult it would be to attract a top striker. But, if my understanding of the man is anything to go on, he learns from his mistakes and puts those lessons into effect decisively.

Now, where anyone could be forgiven for not anticipating just how few goals our strikers would score last season (and particularly in the second half of the season), there is absolutely no doubt now that they need a complete overhaul. And I really do not believe Levy will be in any doubts about how difficult this will be. So, we should see him acting decisively to overhaul our striking options this Summer. I hope you can see the process of logic I have utilised in order to reach this conclusion, even if you don't agree with the conclusions I have reached.

And what we have seen, so far, as well as the continuing emergence of Harry Kane, is the immediate acquisition of two exciting teenage strikers. That would fit in with my assertion that he will decisively act to overhaul our strikeforce. ITK continues to lonk us to one, Leandro, if nor two, Hernandez, early-twenties strikers. On top of that, ITK claims we are close to securing the signature of Vucinic, and may also be in for one more high quality mature striker.

Now, I know it is just ITK, and any number of things can go wrong even if the reports are accurate, but fact and rumour seem to combine to support my assertion, which, fundamentally is based on, what I believe to be an accurate, reading of Daniel Levy's character. I really can't see anything wishy-washy, ill-thought-out, or unthinking, in that.

Besides, the whole purpose of my post was to show the poster that his assertions, treating our failings in the transfer window as proving there is something wrong with our transfer policy, were ludicrous becuase the window isn't anywhere near closing. Essentially, all of you pessimists are just claiming that nothing is happening becuase you aren't in the inner-circle who relaly know what is going on. I can't see that as a more logical way to reach conclusions than my process.

We don't know that Citeh have got away with their side-step.

 

[NEVILLEB]

Eek
Others have intimated that we have serious money to spend. I just happen to believe that fits the facts far more readily that the counter claim that we are skint.

I have explained, several times now (sorry but it is true), why it is just plain wrong-headed to view everything through a prism of two allegedly failed transfer windows. For a start, I wouldn't call the signing of Gallas to be a failure; Sandro has all the petnetial to go on to become a World Class holind midfielder and, gauess what, he plays for Spurs; VDV - well, let's have more failures like that.

The simple fact is that our strike force was good enough, as a component part of our squad, to shoot us into the CL. I, along with everyone else, knew that we needed a new striker - to all intents-and-purposes we got one, in VDV. No-one (as in NO-ONE) knew how poorly our other strikers would adapt to playing with him, and Defoe was injured for most of the first half of the season, anyway. Again, it is easy to beat on about the strikeforce not being strengthened in January, but up to that point we were in a literally fantastic position in both EPL and CL, we should have been expecing our strikers to improve, and Defoe was coming back into the team (and given the accusations that he is a flat track bully and most of our opponents were in the final 3rd of the league, we could have been forgiven for imagining he would get a hat full of goals).

Unfortunately, what we discovered was that these final 3rd teams are now treating us like a genuine big team and shutting up shop (even United did it at WHL). We didn't know this would happen in January.

Also, as I continue to assert, Daniel Levy is still on a pretty sharp learning curve. he is doing a fantastic job, but I believe he underestimated just how difficult it would be to attract a top striker. But, if my understanding of the man is anything to go on, he learns from his mistakes and puts those lessons into effect decisively.

Now, where anyone could be forgiven for not anticipating just how few goals our strikers would score last season (and particularly in the second half of the season), there is absolutely no doubt now that they need a complete overhaul. And I really do not believe Levy will be in any doubts about how difficult this will be. So, we should see him acting decisively to overhaul our striking options this Summer. I hope you can see the process of logic I have utilised in order to reach this conclusion, even if you don't agree with the conclusions I have reached.

And what we have seen, so far, as well as the continuing emergence of Harry Kane, is the immediate acquisition of two exciting teenage strikers. That would fit in with my assertion that he will decisively act to overhaul our strikeforce. ITK continues to lonk us to one, Leandro, if nor two, Hernandez, early-twenties strikers. On top of that, ITK claims we are close to securing the signature of Vucinic, and may also be in for one more high quality mature striker.

Now, I know it is just ITK, and any number of things can go wrong even if the reports are accurate, but fact and rumour seem to combine to support my assertion, which, fundamentally is based on, what I believe to be an accurate, reading of Daniel Levy's character. I really can't see anything wishy-washy, ill-thought-out, or unthinking, in that.

Besides, the whole purpose of my post was to show the poster that his assertions, treating our failings in the transfer window as proving there is something wrong with our transfer policy, were ludicrous becuase the window isn't anywhere near closing. Essentially, all of you pessimists are just claiming that nothing is happening becuase you aren't in the inner-circle who relaly know what is going on. I can't see that as a more logical way to reach conclusions than my process.

We don't know that Citeh have got away with their side-step.

1. VDV is a attacking midfielder/forward - definitely not a striker. I love Sandro but it doesn't make up for not buying a striker.

2. We did know how badly they'd play with him because we already knew we needed a new strikeforce. Also VDV is short and slow...he doesn't physically suit any of our current strikers. Go back and look at the end of the summer window threads. I, like others, was totally gutted we didn't get a striker.

3. If anything the need for a striker became even more obvious by christmas. By that time we knew it was vital to getting 4th spot.

4. It's not about teams shutting up shop against us. It's because VDV drops deep which turns us into a 4-5-1 formation. Not the best formation for beating low placed teams. We're not even a good 4-5-1 team because none of our strikers can play on their own. That's why we don't score any goals against these lower teams...we're totally dysfunctional when we have to make the play.

5. Levy is not on a learning curve. He's simply repeating mistakes he's made before. Deadline day Levy deals have been done since he took over. He has 10 years of signing players so he has absolutely no excuse about 'learning' the ropes. I don't think he himself would offer this as any reason for not signing players.

6. Whilst I respect the ITK here you'll find very little has come to fruition since Harry took over. There is usually a deafening silence as midnight passes on deadline day as everyone wonders what happened to speculated deals.


You are an passionate member but I just don't see things the way you do.

We simply can't afford, or are unwilling to change, our pay structure to sign top strikers. That's it...

 

[kkemal]

Apart from the predictable list of players of African descent, I actually agree with this.

I think as a club, and a set of fans, we've gained a big club mindset despite not having the financial clout to back it up. It seems we're too set on signing players who are already at the peak of their abilities. Players like Rossi, Falcao, Hulk, Adebayor, Aguero, Llorente, Benzema, Higuain and so on have all been linked to us, or we've apparently actually bid for.

Getting a player of that quality would be immense, but it's not the only option we have. Our strikers are poor for us. It's not that they're bad players because, regardless of what anybody says, they're not. They're just not right for our club, our stature and our playing system anymore.

There are plenty of very good strikers out in the world that would fit in comfortably as our lone striker, playing with Van der Vaart. They may not be world class, but they'd probably comfortably score 15 goals, as well as helping to keep Rafa and Bale's scoring tally high.

I think it's a lack of imagination on Harry's part. He's insistent that the only players out there that can improve us are players that'd cost £30m in transfer fees and £120k p/w. That's just not true. There are players who'd cost half of that and still be much, much better than what we have.

There are signings to be made like Modric and Berbatov, players on the verge of greatness that just need the chance to play at a higher level. These are the kinds of players we need to be looking at, at least until we've moved into our new stadium and can afford to compete on wages etc.

:clap:

Spot on, HR is for the first time in his career dealing with a big club (bigger than his previous employers) and he is struggling in 2 key areas. IMO these 2 areas are Tactically and Transfers.

Putting tactics to one side as thats an old subject on this site its clear to see that HR is unsure on how to improve us. Spending big is not the solution and I put my hands up and admit I have asked for that in the past. The way Chelsea, Man U and Man City are going with the monies they are paying players it is only a matter of time (a few years) before 1 of 2 things happen.

1st - People will start to and are already losing interest in the EPL as their club has no chance of competing. It is becoming boring when the same 3-4 clubs are buying all the best players/big names and clubs like Spurs, Everton & Villa are getting left behind and not attracting big names.

2nd - In 2008 the finance world went into meltdown, there is no saying that this might not happen in the football world. A SSN report earlier this year reported that Chelsea FC was spending 85% of its income on player wages, how long before Roman gets fed up? Whilst the chances of this happening are slim it could happen.

DL needs to offload RK and DB for whatever he can and ask the scouts to sign us a forward in the mould of Odinwinge. If HR dont like it then tough, HR is paid millions to manage the team..........Between DL and HR im starting to miss that prat Comoli.

Football/Business is not always about profit, sometimes you have to lose a few quid or take a few steps back so that you can move forward. Yes I know its millions i'm alking about but please keep in mind how much profit this club makes..........and then keep in mind that as supporters who fund the club we are allowed to have expectations.

COYS

 

[hellava_tough]

It all comes back to our scouting network - the guys who find the great players before they join the Man Utds and Real Madrids of this world

Not that long ago Spurs were finding a number of 'gems', but now it seems to have dried up

Why?

 

[Gilzeanking]

All of the last 3 posts :up:

 

[nailsy]

It all comes back to our scouting network - the guys who find the great players before they join the Man Utds and Real Madrids of this world

Not that long ago Spurs were finding a number of 'gems', but now it seems to have dried up

Why?

I'd say that we're still doing OK. We've signed two highly rated young talents this summer. We signed Sandro last year and we are looking at Leandro this year. There are two big differences from previous years, the squad limits, and the Man City effect, both of which are squeezing the number of players we can bring in.

 

[Gilzeanking]

We don't really need to sign "Stars" like Rossi as you mention. There are a lot of players available in this position, and we can do some really good bargains. If Rossi is rated at about £30 mill, I cannot understand why we don't make a £30mill bid for Lukaku for example. If that would be accepted, it is worth it. He would be a striker for many years to come.

A player like Seydou Doumbia would be an excellent signing, for example. Another bargain would be Lacina Traore. I am not looking for big names. I am looking for a bargains with quality. M'Baye Niang has also been mentioned. Other names like El Khouma Babacar, Alexandre Lacazette, Cohi Bi Cyriac, Henri Saivet would be excellent signings.

There are so many quality players out there. We don't need to look at the so called "stars" all the time. We can create a new "Star".

Can't comment on many of these players mentioned...but I've been banging on about the limits that seem to grip the management and many on here that only 30 mill 150 Gs/week players can help us .
It just aint so . Its down to scouts to find the gems . One of the stupidist things you'll see on here is the lame question...

'There are no players available better than our strikers...if you (poster) think so then WHO ?'

This seems to impress many here that a non pro fan poster can't name a suitable player :roll: . It is down to the professional scouting network to sort this problem out . Maybe look in a place others aren't ....fuck I don't know...who's tearing it up in the Latvian League atm ? Khazakhstan League 1 ..covered is it ?
And yes the much despised Commoli found and persuaded to sign good players .

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Can't comment on many of these players mentioned...but I've been banging on about the limits that seem to grip the management and many on here that only 30 mill 150 Gs/week players can help us .
It just aint so . Its down to scouts to find the gems . One of the stupidist things you'll see on here is the lame question...

'There are no players available better than our strikers...if you (poster) think so then WHO ?'

This seems to impress many here that a non pro fan poster can't name a suitable player :roll: . It is down to the professional scouting network to sort this problem out . Maybe look in a place others aren't ....fuck I don't know...who's tearing it up in the Latvian League atm ? Khazakhstan League 1 ..covered is it ?
And yes the much despised Commoli found and persuaded to sign good players .

That depends who you believe, MJ came out the other week and said that the only player Comolli signed for him was BAE.

Comolli gets so much credit from some people on here, I wonder how he is thought of at the Scousers after trousering £75m
on 3 vastly overated players.

 

[Jay The Yid]

I think we are all missing the point slightly.

As it stands we are not a CL club and not too much of an attractive proposition to top world class players. It was always going to be difficult this transfer window to get players in.

Where we have completetly cocked up IMO was the previous 2 transfer windows. We were a CL club and in Jan we had just come off the back of beating the European champions. Everyone was talking about us as we were great to watch and played a brand of exciting football that everyone admired. THIS WAS THE TIME TO SPEND. The likes of Rossi, Aguero, Forlan etc would of come IMO if we could of put a financial package together. However we couldnt and now we are seeing the consequences.

I have said it many times before it was almost crimiminal (Not Literally!) that we did not build on our success.

Who is to blame? Both Harry and Levy.

Levy for not speculating to accumulate. I would say gambling. But honestly dont think it would of been a gamble. If we had signed a Rossi. Aguero or a Llorente in Jan we would of got top 4 IMO. That would of meant more revenue for the club.

Harry for puting too much faith in our inept 4 strikers who we all knew and still do that they were not good enough. If you believe what you hear through the grape vine. Harry turned down Suarez as he felt Defoe was better. MASSIVE MISTAKE if true.

So here we are in the summer of 2011 with no CL football and a limited budget because of this. Is any one really surprised we cant attract the top players around?

We had our chance and we blew it.