The doom and gloom at Spurs feels as if it has lifted a little after the North London Derby win, and it could be the fact the players are regaining their fitness, or that the gravity if the situation is beginning to hit home.
Eric Dier’s contract extension, we are told, caused ripples of astonishment in Lilywhite House as the boy demanded that his wages were doubled to £120,000 a week. Tottenham have spent the last few years hitting Deloitte headlines galore as Levy’s fancy fiscal footwork made Spurs a money making machine.
For all the gripes about the clubs’ lack of trophies, Spurs’ ability to “compete” as Pochettino called it, was in fact an ability to rake in competition money consistently, season upon season.
COVOD-19 struck and Tottenham’s money world has come horribly unstuck. While all the world’s clubs had their income stopped overnight, only Spurs were into the banks for over £600million. Daniel Levy was forced to get a further emergency loan from the Bank of England.
Spurs are currently 8th in a 7 horse race for a European cash boost that they have never needed quite so badly. The worse news is that both Wolves and Sheffield United show no signs of slowing.
The Athletic also make a great point about the probable impact upon sponsorship deals.
A deal might be structured in the sense of, ‘We’ll be your noodle partner come what May but if you do well in Europe we’ll pay you a higher amount per game.
Charlie Eccleshare reveals an interesting point in his piece, that relates to a very common caveat in Levy’s sponsorship deals…
Tottenham are not understood to have commercial deals that would be at risk were they to miss out on Europe, but being in the Europa League would give them greater leverage when negotiating new deals. And clauses like these do exist — Manchester United are believed to be at risk of losing 30 per cent of their income from Adidas if they fail to qualify for the Champions League for two successive seasons.
Spurs, as ever, have left it all to the last minute, their fate is the hands of others.
On an upbeat note, Mourinho has confessed to not being in love with the Europa, but he would love to play in it. After all, is a professional.
The question remains, how far can this dysfunctional squad progress in more than one competition?
Well, I guess it’s been a while since the physio room at Hotspur Way had full occupancy.
Yes we’re more likely to catch Sheff Utd but if Wolves lose to Burnley and we win against Newcastle, we could be ahead of Wolves with 2 to play. It’s that close.
Wolves have a superior GD to us as well, so they would have to drop something from at least 2 games. Not likely. Sheff United are the ones we need to slip up.
Now that citeh have bought the game in it’s entirety, the rule book will now be rewritten and be known as The World According To Pep, which will include no physical contact or challenges allowed , so that his teams can go through on goal unchallenged and win 107 nil, like the Python sketch of The Long John Silvers vs The Surgeons.
Ah Bindippers/Citeh/Blue Scum/Utd
normal service is resumed Sky can have another winkfest while the mid tablers go back to…………mid table
Imagine being a player and doing games behind closed doors in an East European dystopia! Travel all the way there and back and prepare 48 hrs to play Liverpool on a Sunday. Nonsense. Bleak times for fans. Joe won’t invest unless he sees revenues seriously plummet. I don’t think losing out on Ch Lg is enough to even make him look up from his abacus.
The last time Newcastle were on the beach they put five past us on the last game of the season,Pochettinho was furious in letting Arsenal finish above us. One game at a time.
Unlikely to be crowds at stadia until next year at least so we’ll have to make do with watching our 5:45 Kosovo kick offs from the armchair!
FFP is dying like you say. Problem for us is that we’re too expensive to be attractive to most investors. Unless Joe Lewis fancies putting his hand in his pocket, we’ll be following the same path – spend only what you make.
Football died as we knew it a long time ago. I look back at the old days with fondness, but I can’t keep a straight face when I hear ‘Chelsea, City, United, Liverpool won because of their money.’ So what? Yesterday’s decision drove another stake in the heart of football. To not be part of that party when we have the resources and opportunity is just folly.
The quality of the Prem is rank average if we are fighting for a European place still. Let’s be honest we’ve been rubbish, just better than 12 of the other lot. Glory, Glory hey? I’d be a blessing not going to Kosovo for a 5:45pm kick off on a Thursday. We need to draw a line under this season, start a fresh and try to do better than 8th, especially as FFP is done and dusted. Usmanov has paid Everton £50m for the ‘rights’ to name the Park End stands Megafon. Not to name it, but for the right to name it!
No fanks.
Sheikh Mansour
Yes, you’re right. I’m assuming Arsenal don’t win the Cup, and Sheff Utd don’t win all their games. But I would consider those two scenarios very likely, so to clarify, what I should have said is: in all probability, if we win our 3 remaining games we will do it. Plenty to aim for. As for whether this is likely or not, who knows? They are winnable games that’s for sure. Newcastle are on the beach, Leicester in very poor form and Palace have nothing to play for. On paper at least it’s all there if we want it.
Thats not strictly true though, is it? Arsenal need to not win the FA Cup (what motivation could they have than us finishing in 7th) and if wolves and Sheff united win all theirs too, then we cant catch them. united and liecester are 1 win away from uncatchable for us – so our fate is very firmly in the hands of a series of fortunate events. Add to that, based on our current form I cant see us beating any of the last 3 teams.
During this time of “not a lot a money about” who else would you want at the club
Win the last 3 games and we’re in Europe, simples. We have winnable games so time to pull the finger out…