The College Dropout

If I was them, I wouldn’t be petrified. Our owners will do the easy stuff for us. Anything difficult they won’t try. They just need some type of barrier.

Swap Amanda and Eddie Howe - I hope you see how this doesn't make sense. She was forced to leave. She needs to do the best she can elsewhere.

Aye. She seemed all-in when she was here and that's that.

Exactly. It's worked out. We have a trophy and CL football and I don't think that happens without Big Joe. I'll take it and all the consequences. But I see the vision Ashworth had. His job was to look after the medium/long-term of the club and selling Big Joe at peak value would've helped that. I personally think we should focus on the short term anyway. B2B CL campaigns and such. Our transfer approach has aligned with that by signing mostly PL players and players 22-25. We aren't spending a decent wedge on kids that need development in the main. I always thought Hall was an Ashworth-led signing. I didn't think Hall would nail down a starting spot that season and that whole situation cost us some points and Europe imo. But that's paid off in the medium term already. We've picked our poison this summer anyway. One thing about signing athletic players is that their peaks are usually earlier in their careers. We do have to time their sales smartly.

We haven't had a HG player capped since... Carroll?

How much of that is down to the leadership/owner? He owns multiple clubs and has regular shady dealings with others. Out ownership is slow. Can't see them sanctioning so much action over sustained windows. Don't think Eddie loves it either.

The contract, his injuries etc.

Lauryn Hill actually got all of her flowers in her pomp though. It would be more apt for HBA had a Ballon D'Or.

Having a better squad would've likely got us more points/wins. But aye we are here based on decisions made. Major wins and some drawbacks.

Yep. The Anderson fee is artificially inflated too. It's more like £15-18m. I don't think we are where we are today we've our decisions to keep the older more experienced players. But I rate Ashworth vision of moving on Big Joe.

Performance yesterday wasn't anything to get excited aboutl Barely involved. Wanted too many touches. You would want your new £70m to show some glimpses of a special talent. But Isak had lots of games of barely doing anything too. It's not Eddie Howe's Newcastle United though.

But aye he wouldn’t have developed the same way

We had that strong end to the season where we got up to 7th. Anderson was in that team and was playing well.

Levi Colwil was massive competition. With his injury he’s unlikely to be fully fit for the WC if fit at all. Guehi Stones Konsa Maguire maybe if he can play regularly Dunk Hes not got a lot of competition as a left footer if that’s of primary importance.

How was he?

EXCITED

Also imagine finishing 3rd in a 2 horse race then your marquee signing in the summer is Moussa Sissoko. Thats not the moves of a footballing winner.

Lack of trophies init. Never felt like he was trying to win the league imo. Consistently having the lowest wages to revenue ratio of the top 6 clubs and any club in the division suggests cost control is more important than on pitch success at all times. Leffe points to great reasons for that (although much of that time was the 0% interest era) but that’s the argument. In recent years his on pitch decisions have been bad. Remember when he could barely find a manager? It was mostly because of his interference right or was it something? I respect how dedicated he was to Spurs and the mission he had. I think he succeeded in his mission.

All fair. As i said I think he was one of the best in the business for 10-15 years and he’s been brilliant consistently revenue wise (and cost wise I guess). There are lots of things from the Levy playbook I wish our owners would use. But everyone has shortcomings , nobody is perfect. What would you consider to be his shortcomings? Not other Spurs fans but your own opinion.

Genuine question - when did he go for it? You will know better than me. The low wages to revenue ratio suggests he never went for it. The year you challenged for the title your big summer signing was Moussa Sissoko. As comparison when Arsenal first challenged for the league they tried to sign that Chelsea DM and Mudryk (wow) that January. Then bought Rocr and Havertz the next summer. My memory serves Levy treading when in a similar situation

I think the Cisse signing was him going for top 4. When did he ever strengthen in January to that extent without the threat of relegation? I think it’s well known that Ashley is a gambler right?

I’ve been championing his selling negotiation powers. But he’s messed up a lot with the buying trying to save relatively minor sums and then deals not landing. Overall he’s done a stellar job imo. It’s just that with a bit more bravery, ambition, risk - you could’ve won so much more. He never let himself get excited and really go for it. Even Mike Ash would’ve gambled on it more if he were ever in Spurs position. Levy was focussed on the bottom line.

It’s much more Liverpool than Arsenal tbf. Aim to maximise brand value and growth by winning/competing at the highest level. That’s how they make money/succeed. There’s like 8 aristocratic clubs in Europe, less that are in a league that can generate masses of revenue. Barca, Real, Juve, Bayern, Man U, Liverpool. You can argue Arsenal and the Milan clubs too - Arsenal not the European heritage but they are the 3rd biggest club in England the strongest league. Under FSG Liverpool have reestablished themselves as an A1 elite club. On and off the pitch. Arsenal are trying similar. The owners are looking to make money through growing the value of the club and brand. Spurs don’t have the natural potential as either. But Levy was content to do the CL money train thing, commercial revenue, stadium revenue etc. Winning or seriously competing wasn’t the aim. He just saw it as a risky expense. FSG plans involve Liverpool being competitive, it’s key to growing the value of their investment. Which is why they’ve allowed themselves to have what the second or third highest wage bill in the PL? No longer sell their best players.

The owners will remain the same though no? He’s not sold his shares right? Money will still be in their MO. A new chairman might be better on the football front though. But we’ll see - maybe they try the Liverpool/Arsenal route. They don’t have the brand recognition/legacy for that though.

Did he do something? he was Spurs. For about 10 years he was one of the best bosses in the English game. Maybe even 15. For the last 5 years at least he’s lost his way on the football front.