tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post4581635228933698158..comments2023-09-15T09:30:15.203+01:00Comments on Dear Mr Levy: I hate footballspookyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01570079480285287461noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-34515042934357715432009-02-03T19:35:00.000+00:002009-02-03T19:35:00.000+00:00To understand what is happening, we have to turn t...To understand what is happening, we have to turn the clock back to the early '80s when Douglas Alexiou and Irving Scholar took over the club from the previous board who had overseen the successes of the previous three decades. Unlike the Jack Walkers and even Roman Abramovitches of this world, Alexiou and Scholar apparently had little intent to invest in the club but rather they hoped to make it the source of their wealth. They started a number of marketing companies and floated the club as a plc, hoping to make their fortunes as the share price went up. Hence, Keith Birkenshaw's famous comment as he left the club - a remark more prescient than even he could have imagined. Two sets of owners and dozens of managers later, the reality is that nobody at the club knows how to cope with a situation over which they have only marginal control. Not only do the employees hold the whip hand but the supporters also heavily influence what is going on. It is clear that the current board and in particular the chairman are completely out of their depth. For anything substantive to change, one of two things must happen: either the club is sold to a company that has strong business leadership and will be able to take control while still understanding the way football works or Mr Levy must acknowledge his shortcomings and ask a firm of headhunters to find him a CEO who will take charge while he, Mr Levy, and the other directors withdraw completely from the day-to-day running of the club. That CEO will be single-minded in changing the culture of mediocrity that runs through the club and will also have the know-how not only to recruit the leading football employees, including the manager and principal coaches, but also the ability to coach and mentor those individuals in order to help them in their jobs. I believe that Mr Levy genuinely cares about the club but he obviously has no ability whatsoever to run an enterprise of the size of THFC and which is so much in the public eye. Let us hope that Mr Levy sees the light soon - otherwise we will be doomed to being another Manchester City or Newcastle: yo-yoing around and the laughing stock of the nation. In summary: it is fatuous to blame the current manager and the players - the problems run deep and have been around for a quarter of a century. Unless the root cause of those problems is understood and addressed, it is highly unlikely that anything significant will change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-6912360097764675352009-02-02T11:27:00.000+00:002009-02-02T11:27:00.000+00:00You've been in an excellent writing groove this pa...You've been in an excellent writing groove this past few months.I don't agree with everything here ,who does, but you are certainly more or less correct in your analysis. <BR/>Harry was a short term quick fix that may backfire on us if he sells Lennon or Gio or even Bent who is much maligned by Spurs fans, and brings in players who are no better than the ones we've got already AND still gets us relegated which I'm afraid is on the cards.<BR/>However it eases the pain if you embrace relegation as the electric shock needed to revive the apparently dead corpse that masquarades as Tottenham Hotspur FCJimmyG2https://www.blogger.com/profile/14865472614575406294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-28213226562178773362009-02-02T10:04:00.000+00:002009-02-02T10:04:00.000+00:00Believe me, we are NOT too good to go down. Wake u...Believe me, we are NOT too good to go down. Wake up and smell the coffee people, it's a ding dong battle at the bottom and we ain't getting clear. We need another run and I don't see where that's coming from.<BR/><BR/>One dodgy lasagne on the last day could see us in the Championship next season!Frankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13566018145929266425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-75207039245931844112009-02-02T07:40:00.000+00:002009-02-02T07:40:00.000+00:00Most of us actually are worried. I think the posit...Most of us actually are worried. I think the positivity stems from the fact that we don't dare be negative because our dear fragile millionaire players will fail to react if they see us lose faith and hear our disapproval.spookyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01570079480285287461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-16590269091382324262009-02-02T07:33:00.000+00:002009-02-02T07:33:00.000+00:00Corrected Top 4 to Big 4 ;)Corrected Top 4 to Big 4 ;)spookyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01570079480285287461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-13646469014894400922009-02-02T07:19:00.000+00:002009-02-02T07:19:00.000+00:00Pay them £50 a month, and the rest is a win bonus....Pay them £50 a month, and the rest is a win bonus. You'll see the poxy effort then.<BR/><BR/>-CraigAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-79428218536776122162009-02-02T04:17:00.000+00:002009-02-02T04:17:00.000+00:00I can take losses and draws and lost points, as lo...I can take losses and draws and lost points, as long as there's effort, and it's effort that lacks and it's that that galls me as a supporter.<BR/><BR/>So I asked myself why? And I think it's because it's all too easy for them to shirk the responsibility of their performance.<BR/><BR/>So I asked myself why? And I think it's because they are paid so much, they can cocoon themselves away from the public. They never walk to the shops. they never use the public entrance. They never have to face it.<BR/><BR/>So I thought, how can we make them face it? And I think the answer is pay them differently. Bentley et al can earn 45k a week, IF WE WIN. If we don't, they take home 450 instead. They risk 44,550 based on performance.<BR/><BR/>That, I think will see a lot more stuck-in-ness. More 80th minute plus concentration. But who the hell would sign for us then!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-53753118787125237652009-02-02T03:16:00.000+00:002009-02-02T03:16:00.000+00:00Look, I don't want to slag Dawson. I'm happy for h...Look, I don't want to slag Dawson. I'm happy for his rebound. But the man couldn't man mark a Rhohypnol-addled leather-boy in a biker bar.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-68397692526234986852009-02-02T02:41:00.000+00:002009-02-02T02:41:00.000+00:00Just a small point but as you said 'top 4' not 'bi...Just a small point but as you said 'top 4' not 'big 4' - you were beaten by Villa way back in Sept of this season.<BR/><BR/>Also my biggest fear -if I were a Spurs fan- would be that like the fans the players *STILL* believe they are 'too good' to go down.<BR/><BR/>The teams/players around you will battle and fight to the last whistle - I don't think that either the players or the Spurs fans have that in them. And good old Harry seems to have zero man management or motivational skills.<BR/><BR/>Your players are just not that good tbh, it's a poor team - how many of the players do you think the Top6 teams will be interested in come the summer?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-35030037567284463972009-02-02T01:50:00.000+00:002009-02-02T01:50:00.000+00:00COmpletely agree. We should drop the impatience an...COmpletely agree. We should drop the impatience and desperation for glory and do what Everton do.<BR/><BR/>Slowly, slowly...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-383012359886563672009-02-02T01:47:00.000+00:002009-02-02T01:47:00.000+00:00So much hope ..... and yet so little hope. It's a ...So much hope ..... and yet so little hope. It's a roller-coaster ride of note.<BR/>There's no mental strength and no team-work because every transfer window brings in new players - under 'panic buying' - that there is not enough time to settle down and start bonding before the roller-coaster starts again.<BR/>And 1 thing on set-pieces: if you 'mark the man', you'll always be a step behind him. For a while under Rames, we stood in formation and attacked the ball, and we were the most solid under fire that I can remember for years!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-38247431711051823512009-02-02T01:00:00.000+00:002009-02-02T01:00:00.000+00:00We'll beat Arsenal. Then the following week play s...We'll beat Arsenal. Then the following week play shit.<BR/><BR/>Its how we roll.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-79233733524034513782009-02-02T00:49:00.000+00:002009-02-02T00:49:00.000+00:00I honestly think Spurs will begin to drag themselv...I honestly think Spurs will begin to drag themselves away from the bottom three in the next few weeks. Spurs always react when things go wrong. 2-0 down, we react. OK, didn't quite get it right in the end but I we'll start making inroads and climb the table. I do think teams below us are worse off and although we have tough games coming up so do all teams around us. I think at home is the real key. We have to win them all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-52681024304979405222009-02-02T00:41:00.000+00:002009-02-02T00:41:00.000+00:00Ferguson built up that mental strength over time. ...Ferguson built up that mental strength over time. It's hard to see how we can do it over night. But I agree its something that we need to conquer if we ever want to sustain some type of serious challenge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-30170550602610934232009-02-02T00:40:00.000+00:002009-02-02T00:40:00.000+00:00I enjoy your blog Spooky. Its never the same type ...I enjoy your blog Spooky. Its never the same type of writing style from one day to the next.<BR/><BR/>I too give up on Spurs every week and then take them back. <BR/><BR/>Bane of my life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-39799131239399295052009-02-02T00:38:00.000+00:002009-02-02T00:38:00.000+00:00Spurs and mental strength has never been something...Spurs and mental strength has never been something thats binded us. The fact we persist in playing Jenas sums our general attitude towards games.<BR/><BR/>We dont have any 'cunts', excuse my french. We have no truly hated players how can push the others or in fact throw a reality check into their faces.<BR/><BR/>I'm also struggling to defend Harry at the moment. Bentley still plays up for the camera and still attempts far too much rather than just getting on with the basics and team work. How the heck does he keep performing this badly? Ok, he was alright against Stoke but his level has been so poor that he doesnt warrant a place but still gets one.<BR/><BR/>Its a mess.<BR/><BR/>But I agree. We'll save our selves by the skin of our teeth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813669675884552864.post-78511833876739196632009-02-02T00:34:00.000+00:002009-02-02T00:34:00.000+00:00Robbie Keane looks set for a return. I expect you'...Robbie Keane looks set for a return. I expect you'll be throwing rotten fruit at Levy's car tomorrow morning at the gates of the West Stand?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com