A protest is planned at Spurs’ training centre at Hotspur Way tomorrow and one would imagine, if one asked those involving themselves, why they were there, then there would be dozens of different reasons.
There are innumerable reasons for fans to be at odds with their football club. This is a big subject, and I won’t pretend I’m going to be able to exhaustively address the matter in this one post.
What is readily identifiable, however, is the foolhardy nature of the idea, and this ‘strategy’ is not new. Weak and poor attended displays of discontent have been held previously outside the stadium in the past, a recent one included one group of fans signing about a party upon the demise of chairman Daniel Levy. So not in my name, on that point alone.
Bedsheets and banners are the order of the day at these things, along with much social media hashtag activity, but no actual statement addressing the core aims that the discontent much improve.
Indeed, much of the social media activity can be identified by the sort of grammar one would expect less from someone that completed their basic formal education, and more like someone inadvertently parodying a football hooligan from the 1980s.
Awareness
If these people are raising awareness, then you lost me at awareness. I’ve been uncomfortable with the ENIC business models for very many years, I’m all stocked up on awareness.
What is noticeable by its absence is a coherent and credible supporter’s trust to facilitate meaningful dialogue.
The meaning of ‘out’
If these people are seeking to force Daniel Levy, or ENIC as a whole out of the club, then they are woefully ignorant to how private businesses are protected by laws in this country. I’m proud to live in a country where a mob storming the gates will be denied.
New owners for a business with so much debt and a playing side in a state of flux will not be achieved by holding up bedsheets or chanting hate speech.
Damage
Protesting at Hotspur Way is also bad form in respect of the fact it isn’t the administrative headquarters of the club, that’s Lilywhite House, at the stadium. Additionally, a right to protest by fans surely ought to be limited to where they involve themselves with the club. At the stadium.
Neither the staff at the training camp nor the players need to see this, it will only cause distress to innocent parties.
Reputational damage to the club surely only backfires on a group wanting new owners. The list of potential buyers would be short enough as it is.
The truth
What we’re looking at here is a group of people that are in no way representative, who fancy getting themselves on TV, whilst ‘giving it large’. I’d be shocked if any broadcaster wants to provide this embarrassing fringe with any publicity.
Not quite. Leeds (21st Nov) 59k, Brentford (2nd Dec) 54k, Norwich (5th Dec) 57k.
Then factor in the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, fear of late cancellations and the heavy schedule of December/early Jan including some midweek fixtures…
I haven’t told anyone what they can and can’t do either. If there’s a coherent objective then it’s not at all obvious to me.
They want enic to put the club up for sale? Replace Levi as chairman? Borrow money? Put the fans in charge of transfer decisions?
I think the phantom down-ticker ruined the spirit of it, so it had to go.
I’m talking about removing owners, not managers.
Brian isn’t mentally well. Not sure his name should be discussed, tbh
A final destination style death will do. Preferably involving the sky walk or choking on a Tottenham pie.
Levy’s probably also hiring a sniper as we speak, to take them out from the wooded area next to the training ground.
Inside the stadium on matchdays being covered by Sky/BT I guess.
Don’t forget Levy and Conte had already agreed to go their separate ways in the summer…
“Pie in the Sky” which is precisely why they’re protesting in person too.
Ha SSN have moved their reporter into the training ground presumably at the invitation of the club. Brian Dagul’s protest outside in the entrance has already impacted the club!
I respectively disagree. Nuno had recently won manager of the month and nobody takes into account how a manager talks at pressers. It was an amazing coincidence that Levy pulled the trigger immediately after the very first “Levy Out” protests ringing around the stadium.
Don’t forget Levy had already lost out on Conte in the summer due to a disagreement about the level of ambition.
So Levy had then decided the policy and was prepared to lose out on Conte.
He didn’t just sack Nuno he returned to Conte and basically ate humble pie. That is a massive about turn and I think most fans would see the connection with the first personal attacks he had ever experienced in his stadium directly before.
Levy is so out of touch and lives in a bubble, so I believe he had no idea of how toxic things had become relating to him and enic, and those protests really scared him and opened his eyes.
Just checking the BBC, our 2 new potential signings are still at ‘Spurs are keen on’ status. There is still scope for Levy to eff it up by low balling to the very end.
Don’t want Levy dead just hanging off the skywalk on a bungee cord
Put the effort into hitting ENIC where it really hurts. Their pockets. Stop buying match day tickets, season tickets, sausage rolls, beer, and merchandise.
Pie in the sky I know but it’s the only protest they’ll understand.
How about a canadian style convoy H?
Funny to think though, had NES not been as bad as he was then Conte wouldn’t be our manager at all!
’Levy & Co – making up as they go along… for over 22 years’ 🤔
😂
I’d suggest that the results and the press conferences led to his demise.
You’ve lost me…
Unless he’s a vicar!
Wow…..pretending to be an “ultra” thought this was a sensible site where grown men can put up their views among genuine supporters
But to lower this to your level E/S My dad’s bigger than yours!!
How very dare you
It’s all about ‘critical mass’, however one needs to be careful that a legitimate gripe isn’t then made to look like the territory of the lunatic fringe, if you don’t go about it the right way.
I refer to ‘Insulate Britain’ and ‘Extinction Rebellion’ as prime examples. Finding a pensioner in hiking boots on top of your train to work hardly gives the impression that these people are actually in touch with reality whatsoever…
I agree, but this method of protest has to have such an impact that it is not just noticed but actually makes a difference to enic, however that is a difficult task.
Fan protests led directly to the removal of Nuno and the appointment of Conte, so yes they do work.
Won’t do any harm though will they? If only to raise public awareness. It’s no difference to us banging on relentlessly on here, and I’d say a lot more useful as we’re just preaching to the converted.
I’ll remind everyone that it was the protests at the stadium (something else they intend to do), that led to the appointment of Conte…
ENIC is first and foremost a property investment company, their assets are the land, stadium & training ground. They have never had any interest in the football side of the club.
It’s all about bums on seats to them, whether that being football, american football, pop concerts or boxing matches.
Our owner lives in the Bahamas, very rarely attends games, only ever in London to park his yacht up.
Even Hoddle said when he was manager for 2 and a half years he never met/spoke to him once.
They will carry on charging sky high prices because they know die hard supporters will continue to pay.
Now that restrictions have been completely lifted we will see what the true support of the club is.
Think since November, the highest attendance has been about 45K which is only 9K better than a full house at WHL
Levy isn’t there to learn about how to run it properly, only to manage the assets..
Exactly. A few ‘uncomfortable’ yet well thought through chants and songs at matches, to sully the atmosphere in the retail bowl might also help make the powers that be, that little bit more jumpy too..
Bedsheets FC, no thanks
This is an actual plan, cut the money off 👍
Boycotting games is clearly the only serious ‘protest’ the punters can implement, and the only one that will create an ounce of anxiety within the club’s boardroom, as it will be linked to match day revenues.
As much as I can’t abide Levy, songs about wanting him dead reminds me of the kind of juvenile sh*t you might have heard in the school playground, from the usual plastic gangsters.
Here you go mate, here’s a shooter, go and sort it out if that’s what you want so badly!
Stop pretending to be an ‘Ultra’ or some kind of sinister version of Danny Dyer, because you make yourselves look like silly boys, and a laughing stock…
SPOT ON
It’s also a democratic nation where protests are entirely legal. Thank god we don’t live in Putin’s Russia. I’m not telling anybody what they can and can’t do.
Yes there is a coherent objective and it should be pretty obvious.
As for SSN not giving them airtime, I think they’ll find it hard to avoid when they go live there for updates, especially if there is a megaphone!
Protests are a waste of time……if you want the owners out, the only way is to not attend games, refuse to buy food/drink in the stadium.
Other than that find a super rich relative and get them to buy the club.
Both scenarios won’t happen, so ENIC are here long term, today is a classic example of their p**s take of the fanbase.
Press releases saying they are happy to pay players release clauses, on the last day knowing damn well it is too late in the window.
If the board was genuine, those release clauses would have been met three weeks ago.
Even Hoddle said the other week, Levy has no idea how to run a football club and he had the exact same issues when he was manager TWENTY YEARS AGO
Protests are a waste of time……if you want the owners out, the only way is to not attend games, refuse to buy food/drink in the stadium. Other than that find a super rich relative and get them to buy the club.
Both scenarios won’t happen, so ENIC are here long term, today is a classic example of their piss take of the fanbase.
Press releases saying they are happy to pay players release clauses, on the last day knowing damn well it is too late in the window.
If the board was genuine, those release clauses would have been met three weeks ago.
Even Hoddle said the other week, Levy has no idea how to run a football club and he had the exact same issues when he was manager TWENTY YEARS AGO
Absolutely; and there are also a lot of disgruntled fans that don’t spend much above their sky subscription anyways, due to geographical and/or financial constraints. There really needs to be a joined up approach to voicing these complaints, which is surely where the supporters trust needs to be a lot more sophisticated. They are central to any hopes for meaningful change, but like too many organised movements these days, seems more interested in promoting its own self importance, through extreme and I’ll thought out ideologies
Have fan protests alone ever removed owners who didn’t want to leave!
Mike Ashleigh, the Glazers and Kroenkes have withstood much worse abuse and for much longer.
In the end what shifted Ashleigh was money. Protest in the ground would be more effective, having the fans asking you to do one in the presence of the big shots in the comfy seats would definitely be an uncomfortable experience..
Some are doing something! What are we supposed to do just sit by and watch this ship sink?? I’m not spending my money on any Spurs merch
The way you influence Levy is you make him feel embarrassed and he feels it personally. The chanting at Levy in Nunos last game got him to take action, the bad press in losing out on deals the other day and then all of a sudden we are getting deals with a bit more sense of urgency shows Levy reacting to that.
Bed sheets and even not buying stuff are not likely to effect Levy.
The best way to protest against Enic and Levy is to turn up at the stadium with flags and banners and demonstrate outside without going into the stadium, don’t spend money in the club shop or anywhere else Levy may make a profit from. Hitting them in the wallet is the only way to get their attention.
Exactly what I wrote earlier. Any protest is better than none.
Paying a tenner less for a ticket wouldn’t make this turd polishing exercise any more palatable – not to me at least.
It’s possible to hold an opinion and still not think its useful to stand outside shouting it through a megaphone. Is there even a coherent objective shared by the people there?
And they are deluded if they think sky sports will give them air time.
ENIC’s investment in the transfer market and player salaries does not justify their premium ticket prices. That is my bone of contention. The only way this may change is by fans protesting with their wallets. This is being seen someway already in the recent lost ticket revenue reported. The more this intensifies the bigger the pressure on ENIC to adjust their business model to adjust ticket prices to achieve parity with footballing investment or to increase investment accordingly.
The problem is the world outside of this blog don’t even really understand what all the hooha is about. From the outside we have “the best stadium in the world”, world class training facilities, world class manager, kept Harry Kane away from those nasty glory hunters in manchester and are genuinely challenging for top 4.
So the bed sheet brigade don’t like a few recent signings or the fact we’ve won 1 trophy in 20 years… well these are problems shared by more than just THFC.
The nuances of Levy’s negative points will be lost on Joe Public.
It’s today at Hotspur Way to coincide with the Sky Sports cameras being there for Deadline Day. Good luck to them, they’re only voicing the same opinions that most of us have on here, but are too lazy to get out there and do it in person. From a little acorn a great oak tree sometimes grows…
Only one way to make yourself heard with business men….. in the pocket! They might think if they see empty stadiums…. But it will never happen
You are probably right that the demonstration will be a complete waste of time but, having said that, any demonstration against Enic gets the thumbs up from me. I don’t think Levy liked being booed before he sacked NES. Falling stadium attendances is a bit of a signal that the natives are getting restless. I can’t say that the fans will be won over by the signings of two Juve reserves. I would have preferred if we had signed Zakaria from Gladbach for €5 million who is an upgrade on Bentacur whom he is effectively replacing. I will reserve judgement as we still have nearly 12 more hours of the window but if Ndombele is going to Lyon and Lo Celso goes out on loan, why have we not replaced them with AMs? Still no sign of a RB, Emerson is useless, CB or a back up for Kane but how long have we been saying that for? I thought Trippier’s comments on Dembele being sold and his general disdain for Levy’s methods were pretty accurate. Can you bring back the up/down tick approval rating or is there a reason you discarded it?
Same people who turned up last year to swoon over an aging crock