Throughout the endless speculation over Harry Kane’s future, there’s been a recurring narrative that somehow the flat nature of the COVID-19 transfer market will come to Tottenham’s rescue. That whichever club Kane plumps for will be denied because they are incapable of matching Levy’s price. This vacuous nonsense needs to be addressed and put to bed before any more fans a subject to false hope.
Yes, the market is flat and the losses suffered by Premier League sides have been hinted at thus far, but just like catastrophic costs incurred by conventional businesses, they will not be fully understood until long after we’re through with most of these pandemic protocols, and the size of that damage will be nothing shy of terrifying.
The transfer market for top-flight footballers has been understandably muted for the last two windows, and this is not something that is likely to suddenly improve. The commercial activity of all clubs has been critically damaged in multiple ways since the Coronavirus arrived. The knock-on effect off of where society is outside of football has also played a significant part. Even if clubs were allowed to fling open their doors tomorrow, how many would feel comfortable jumping on a bus or a tube train? How many would be just fine with having to wear a face-covering for 90-minutes? What broader appetite is there for a COVID-19 Passport or similar? Nothing is clear. Worse yet, how many fans have found themselves economically savaged by the lockdowns? When the furloughs are withdrawn, how many fans will still be in a position to buy tickets to football matches?
If Daniel Levy was in no position to deny the sales of Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov, Luka Modric, and Gareth Bale when things were good, and make no mistake, all of those players politely or otherwise demanded to leave… then what might the same man do when things are terrible, and he has, give or take, a billion pounds of debt already weighted about his shoulders?
Professional footballers are not slaves, thankfully there are laws against that sort of thing these days, and so if a boy wants to move then the boy moves. Some will opine the old ‘ah but yeah, but if Daniel demands…’ line. Demands what precisely? Does anyone genuinely believe that Southampton wanted so little for Hojbjerg or that Wolves were ecstatic to receive so little for Doherty? The absence of money will not make one iota of difference to club transfer activity. Markets operate based upon what the market will stand. So if you’re seeking to sell your house, you can demand what was worth during a previous boom period, but it will be valued today on today’s market price.
If you have a counter view that you can substantiate, I’d be delighted to hear it – if and only if – it is based upon something a tad more tangible than yeah, but he’s one of our own.
The pull of the stadium etc means very little to footballers. We’ve only seen a deterioration in many of our players since it was built, one that predated the current coach’s arrival. This was also incidentally why the last man was fired. Ironically enough it was Kyle Walker that set the tone by fleeing N17 before it was even opened – a decision which has been proved to be the correct one.
With any good fortune, Spurs can secure Champions League football (if that is indeed the 27-year-old’s only criteria) and Kane will remain. But please don’t mistake this good fortune for anything other than what it is – luck.
Without this, Levy will be well and truly snookered, just as he has been so many times before and just as every other football club owner will be. The only change is the state of the economy, and that’s all the market ever cares about.
The only real sadness in all of this is that had Pochettino been backed, as I think most of us begged for, then it is extremely debatable that we’d be watching this continued demise of Spurs play out now.
Dembele 40, Mason 37, Bentaleb 35,…. If you understand my point then Moussa was on the bench far too much for big games.. Including the league cup final.. Far inferior players preferred in bigger games showed lack of savvy. Selling Siggurdson was also a headscratcher.
Bayern don’t pay big transfers 70 million is their record and the two Spanish giants would struggle to meet the bald tw@ts asking price. The Manchester giants on the other hand probably could meet the asking price.
Billion Pound Beggars FC
Yup.
All we’ve gotta do is lock of the back and get rid of the moaners. After that I fancy us against any team in the world. We ain’t far off.
In truth the shortcomings at Spurs aren’t essentially down to mentality or application it’s more down to ability. The side that was the best of two seasons points wise, over 2016 2017 has either been sold or aged and replaced with inferior players.
Harry and Sonny apart I don’t think we have many players that our top six rivals would cast an envious eye over. If we take both H and S,75% of our goals, out I don’t see us better than relegation fodder.
To emphasise this when Harry was out we didn’t get a single point and he had to come in several cup ties against lower level sides, Wycombe for example, to get us over the line.
Lucky we have an academy choc full of talent ready to burst through.😂
Stop lie. You pre judge.
When José walked in he did have a squad with potential to do far better.
Since, they’ve become a bunch of sulky, workshy, UNprofessional kids who don’t care for the club as much as we fans/supporters do.
Think what you like.
Er, so sorry to remind you but there’s been a lockdown for last 2 transfer windows & THFC haven’t seen any increased revenue from the new stadium yet!? (Barring the 7 of 24 months that it has actually seen supporters in).
Give José time to put HIS squad together & we WILL see a difference. (Assuming Mr. Levy does back him)
In theory? YES.
In practice??
“Same manager, different players”
This average, weak minded, lazy bunch are NOT doing ‘what it says on the tin’ i.e, being PROFESSIONAL footballers are the ones at fault!
Less than a handful of THFC players are putting a shift in on a regular, exactly the same as the end of MP’s tenure.
Football fans are the best customers in the world, the have a bind loyalty to buying your product, regardless of if it might be sub-standard…
A wooden spoon’s better than nothing. Beggars can’t be choosers…
I only look at how the owners act in the present, not what they promise or suggest might be coming down the line. Prove yourselves then who’s gonna complain? Even if it’s 2 League Cups in 22 years, for a club our size that’s pathetic.
Its not line of duty you don’t need an alibi
What’s it gotta do with you where I was?
The sort of big club mentality that furloughs the staff.
So when we lost to Bayern it was Pochs fault but the result in Zagreb wasn’t down to the manager.
I think I follow your logic🤦♂️
You were coating them cups off 5 mins ago.
I used to think you were a genuine poster with original opinions but now, I think you are just Levy’s mum…
What playing style are you referring to? If it’s high press then it’s the one adopted by those losers at City, Liverpool and Barcelona
And what are the owners gonna do re the football side of things with money coming in to the new lane? We don’t need that many players. When money was running pre covid he’d a been backed. Investment in the playing staff is the plan now. Struth. Stop the old lane thinking.
Where were you when we beat Real Madrid, Dortmund Monaco Fiorentina?
City have been winning things for the best part of ten years, five titles in that time. Pep ain’t going nowhere.
We have been in the stadium for two years and for sure based on the last three windows we aren’t buying better players.
Oh hear we go.
THFC are a complete waste of time, emotion and money.
Yeah furloughing the staff is what big time clubs do.
Small club mentality at the old lane maybe
How do you know he wants to go up norf or wherever to win things? What makes you think city or pool gonna win anything when pep and klopp leave within the next 2 years? Why ain’t/can’t he win stuff at tottenham now that we can afford to buy better players? He wouldn’t get it under ENIC at the old lane. If Leicester can do it tottenham can too.
You are right at the time United came calling he should have gone, to them.
He’d outgrown Spurs and the small club mentality of its owner and chairman.
He would also have played a brand of football more in keeping with the traditions of that great club.
Correct
I think this is an ambitious claim and the idea of trawling through Transfermrkt doesn’t appeal right now.
When it comes to ‘whose’ player is the coaches and whose is Levy’s – this is futile after Poch’s request for his job description to be changed.
Matt Doherty was poor and Pierre Hojberg was inspired, are about as close as we’d get to concrete evidence.
JM didn’t want Bergwijn – probably wanted Hart.
A decent judge would dismiss all this as hearsay…
I know the room. I’m not gonna agree with their rubbish just to be part of the gang. It would just be a suck fest. I’m bringing the balance.
I don’t think you’re reading the room Tappski.
Shirt buttons? Tottenham earn now. Shirt buttons was the old lane.
kane wants big prizes, not wooden spoons…
All I know is, in a year Poch had zero incoming transfers, Jose has had about eight over the same time period. ‘His” players? Some were and some weren’t, just the same as the last manager. So backed, I’d say it’s definitely even at the very least…
If we win the cup final do you seriously think it will make the slightest bit of difference to Harry? A winners medal would be nice yes and perhaps a fitting end to this career at Spurs.
He wants to go to club like City, for example other clubs will do, where over five years he can expect at least 2/3 league titles and in all probability a Champions League medal.
He ain’t getting that under Enic
This.
Because Levy is a 💩?
Poch isn’t perfect, and it’s pretty obvious that Jose isn’t either. You can only base things on their performance as mangers at Spurs. Even if Jose wins the League Cup, if he doesn’t get us top 4 consistently he’s not done as well over a sustained period. Juande Ramos won us the League Cup, whatever happened to him ffs?!
Not winning the Ropey which was supposed to be nailed on for Jose, has to be the biggest failure in his career so far. I love to win the League Cup but as Ole says, it just papers over the cracks…
That’s because they have owners that behave ambitiously. The only way that happens at Spurs is if ENIC sell up…
If he is in your opinion such a rotten coach why did Sir Alex try to lure him to Man Utd before they very reluctantly appointed Jose?
At Wembley watching us beat Real Madrid was pretty good too…
Getting knocked out of the Ropey League to a pub team was also great fun…
He has to work with shirt buttons as Poch did compared to our rivals in order to do that. Very unlikely.
💥
Difficult to say, although Jose was so glowing about the squad when he walked in that you could argue that if he hasn’t been backed, then can he really complain?
The League Cup is easier to win once than getting a top four place four seasons running. Once Jose has done that then fair enough.
I just think whoever thought Jose would/will work out at Spurs are bereft of a basic understanding of what our owners are doing on the football side of things.
I would also suggest that they have developed a deliberate blind spot to Jose’s recent career trajectory and how things have played out. He should be respected, but that alone doesn’t make him fit for purpose at Spurs in 2021…
You give José six years at tottenham he’ll win a lot more than nothing.
Nobody said he was Jesus Christ at all. He did a very good job and we played some nice stuff until the lack of transfers took its toll. The decline began with Walker’s sale.
I don’t believe he’s being overrated, he had his faults but overall and despite our owners and their spending levels he did an excellent job.
If he should have done so much better, then a manager of Jose’s standing should in theory be proving that. He isn’t though is he… 🤔
Has JM really been backed more than Poch?
South stand. I’ll never forget that night.
He had to go.
Stop what? Enjoying the fact we’re a cup final? Who cares how we got there. Poch won nothing at tottenham so I won’t be praising him. I have more respect for arry. Why does poch deserve my respect? For what? Playing one style of football and knackering the team in the process? Any fkin manager can play that style.
In truth losing 7-2 to the best team in Europe, who did beat Barca 8-2 is not as bad as losing 3-0 to a non descript Croatian team without a manager. Spurs worst result in Europe ever
“Behind him why? He’s only in his 50s. Has he forgotten all he knows? Do you think there is any style out there he doesn’t know? Damaged goods? “Respect what he’s done in the game? No you don’t. You talk about him (our current manager) like he’s some loser mug. All because he’s not playing the football he me and you wanna see with this current team. Let the man build his team and then judge him. Him and Sacramento gonna get it right. We don’t need that many in.
For gods sake stop..we beat one premier lo league to get to final nd that was on pens..ur going on like this final was a Jose masterclass..Brentfird.Stoke.Orient..wow..I’m delighted we are in a final but dont go overboard..Jose was backed more in his first Transfer window than Poch was in 5…Jose treatment of certain players is a disgrace he does it at every club he was at ..I’d gladly Sack him today..we are rotten to watch ..my god give me the football we played under poch for 90% of his tenure any day .
If he’s so bad a manager why Man Utd through Fergie come calling for him before they very reluctantly appointed Jose
Poch unfortunately was let down by the shysters like Eriksen in the CL final. A team that couldn’t even beat an under par Liverpool that day. Negligence really. Remember the AVB days? Sherwood running about, Redschnappes having th likes of Modders under his wing and still blew a 13point lead.
Whoever skips around the Rose’s at Hotspur Way will have to tackle the ‘Spursy’ way.
They might win today. Might.
How has 6 years of nothing poch done better than 18mth José? Cup final in his first full season. If he wins that he’s done more than poch did in a third of the time. Plus José hasn’t given tottenham their heaviest HOME European battering. You can’t compare the two managers. Poch gotta humble himself around José.
Jose’s best days as a manager are now behind him. I respect what he’s done in the game but he’s damaged goods now.
Oh grow up, don’t ‘love’ Poch. I just recognise what a good job he did under the financial constraints he had compared to our rivals. Compared to old Moany who’s actually not transformed a squad he is in record as saying he though was amazing when he took the job.
You and others have been proven wrong so your try and make it a straight Jose v Poch argument. No, it’s about who can work best in the environment at Levy’s Spurs and also produce a brand of football that is palatable to the fan base.
jose has so far failed in both of those tasks… if you want to be juvenile about it; Poch 1 – Jose 0 😂
Why have you got such a problem with him? He did better than old Moaninhio has, thought you loved the club and yiu slag off a manager that did a very good job? Bit weird innit?
Loser mentality fans. All dem good for is moaning. I can’t take them seriously. Weak.
They talk about one style poch like he’s Jesus fkin Christ. He ain’t nothing special. 10 years of nothing proves that.
Is that what you really think? You must think we’re still broke at the old lane. Two little cups in 10 years? Nonsense. No faith. Levy has proper had you over too
Not so Dembele played more games than both that season.
No we were always going to be in transition.. Our old manager wasn’t trusted to build again.
They will be queuing up for him mate. Benzema Lewendoski Suerez Ronaldo, alot of players at top clubs in the twilight of their career now coming to their end… There will be no shortage of takers I’m sure. I hope not but I could see him going to Madrid or Barca or Bayern.. The Spanish clubs spend big on players I would have thought a few would be in for him.
Leicester went from relegation candidates one year to Champions the next… 5 years is a long time in football, vardy went through all the leagues in that time.
He has to be the most loved loser ever. I wondered about the guys sense the whole first season, before all the silly decisions and sayings repeated failures…. Mason and Bentaleb preferred over Moussa Dembele all season, even including the league cup final 🤦♀️ 3 years later he’s comparing him to Ronaldinho and Maradona!
Fck poch
So tottenham won’t be fighting for the title in the next 5 years? Stop talking rubbish
If you say so.
Sadly agree. We are being fleeced. But we aren’t Manure fans so they don’t care if we win or not. We will likely always be there.
Sad but true RDBT. A few players deserve better.
Good article. Sums it up. Sad for us fans though.
A catastrophe for our Daniel would be delightful karma for this waste of space. Expensive waste of space, too!
Well that was his ploy with Mourinho, wasn’t it, save on buying the requisite players and instead get in a manager who would transform the players we had?
Agreed!
Possibly the league cup this year and maybe another trophy before the end of the decade, but that’s about it!
Simply because we’re not very good!
Absolutely correct
Yep, they just take the p*ss out of the fans but we stick around buying into their tat and false hopes of success. It’s just showbiz for them…
To be fair, Levy always manages to avoid the PR disaster that gets him sussed out. So no, from a PR perspective I don’t think he’d sell Kane to another English club…
He’s gonna stick around for a League Cup medal when he could go elsewhere and fight for the title? That’s not happening at Spurs in the next 5 years, that’d for sure…
Yup, shoulda backed Poch. The alternative was always going to be a backwards step, and so it has come to pass…
Kanes got at least 5 years left in him. If you think tottenham won’t win anything in those five years your mad. Kane. Stay where you love man. Keep the faith. Kane knows what time is is.
“pretty certainly no? As a spurs fan what happened to you? “No? Why not?
Bigupyouself Stewart Smith. YIDZ
Well played you under 18s
Mr. Levy won’t have a care in the world as he’ll know ALL 45, 000 season tickets will be sold to the existing holders or the next in line of the 35, 000+ on the waiting list (guess the remaining 17, 850 are corporate/club guests/club members).
Football supporters are the only one’s loyal to their club (apart from the very rare ‘one club men’) & the vast majority who have (or waited years to get) a season ticket, won’t wish to relinquish it easily for fear of never getting one again.
Yes, I’m sure some will not renew (or sadly can’t now due to financial hardship), but there will always be more supporters waiting for the opportunity.
My son & I will be renewing our season tickets, I’ve been a THFC fan for more years than I care to mention – clue: Jimmy Greaves was still at the club – & I’d dread to think of the money I’ve spent since my 1st match in 1972 supporting my beloved club, watching them lurch from one false dawn to another & hardly missing a home league match in last 20 years, but THFC is in my (& I’m sure most supporters) blood/heart/soul/dna/psyche, etc & that is what Mr Levy (& all club chairmen) know & cash in on.
i could see levy thinking he could do an upgraded Magnificent Seven, M7mk2, where’s the emperor’s clothes?
Clubs will pay top prices for the elites, It’s the other players that the values will drop esp the sosos and also rans. If the rumours are right even the likes of Madrid and Juve are looking at clear outs to stay solvent in a form or get 1 player in and PSG are desperate to keep who they have as who else would they get as Dele for Mbappe doesn’t look too good.
Considering after tomorrow Leicester have West Brom, Newcastle and Palace all at home in the next month it’s even less likely than that.
With both Liverpool and Chelsea winning and the Spammers three points clear we now sit in seventh spot. Tomorrow really is the must win match,
Yep, the things stated above are true. Lockdowns have financially and psychologically hamstrung our way of life. Shockwaves will be felt as most have believed the fear porn even if everything opens up completely like H mentions. It won’t anyhow. If Kane is after top 4 then we have problems. Liverpool are taking one place…that’s a given I’m afraid so you have to ask, will Leicester drop 7 points in 8 matches and will Jose steer this lot to at least 4 or 5 wins out of the last 8? The answer to that is pretty certainly No.
I think the only genuine saving graces, regarding Harry Kane, is that a) he is a life-long Spurs supporter and b) he is under contract. As a consequence I don’t believe he would want to sully his legacy at the club and ‘force’ a departure. Therefore, as no-one will meet Levy’s asking price, in spite of speculation as to his assured departure, I believe it is unlikely he will go.
There is also the fact that his transfer options are limited, as he will not be sold to an English club, so the only plausible destinations would be Barca, Real Madrid and possibly PSG. From what I have read the two Spanish clubs are cash strapped, due to the pandemic, so very unlikely suitors. leaving only a reunion with Poch as a remote possibility.
I think it will take some sweet talking from Levy, including re-upping his contract and some meaningful assurances as to the club’s ambition once some semblance of normality is returned to the EPL, to placate Kane and persuade him to stay, but that is genuinely what I think will happen, contrary to popular opinion!