[Deep Purple]

Originally Posted by Steve AWOL

You'd better not let Redknapp' acolytes hearing you spout such heresy as, judging by The Current Bun, Harry is the greatest manager Tottenham Hotspur have ever had and ever will have and no other manager in the entire World can guide us to 4th place and another FA Cup sem-final defeat!

In fairness, he's been the best we've had since Keith Burkinshaw, and that was a long time ago.

Only Bill Nick was better than Keith in my lifetime, so thats not bad.

[kimindex]

Fixtures out tomorrow morning. I reckon we'll get the Hammers or Chelsea away.

[Cantona07]

Originally Posted by Steve AWOL

You'd better not let Redknapp' acolytes hearing you spout such heresy as, judging by The Current Bun, Harry is the greatest manager Tottenham Hotspur have ever had and ever will have and no other manager in the entire World can guide us to 4th place and another FA Cup sem-final defeat!

I am more intelligent that your average red top reader.

I will meet you here next May and you ca explain why sacking Harry was the right move while you are booking your CL flights.

[Steve AWOL]

Originally Posted by Cantona07

Do you believe you are entitled to compete for such trophies and Harry Redknapp not winning them is a failure?

Do you believe that your new manager whomever he may be will get to 3rd next season?

I am not so fortunate as to support ManU so cannot expect to win the Premier League every season like yourself. All I ask for as a humble Spurs fan is to win an FA Cup every decade or so and play some entertaining football whilst trying to qualify for the Champions League and beat Arsenal at home in the league. Harry delivered on the latter which is why I would've liked him to stay on at the club in the hope of seeing him win the former but sadly Levy did not appear to want him to continue his tenure.

I doubt we'll get another opportunity to finish 3rd in the league any time soon as I can't see Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all having such dire league campaigns as they did last season. I just hope that whomever Levy chooses next is allowed a few seasons to build his own squad (possibly in conjunction with a DoF) and can continue the good work done by Jol and Redknapp.

Fingers crossed whomever it is has that bit of luck that will allow us to finally finish a league campaign above our hated neighbours for the first time since since 1995 to banish the memories of "lasagna-gate" and "mind-the-gap"!!

[Deep Purple]

Originally Posted by kimindex

Fixtures out tomorrow morning. I reckon we'll get the Hammers or Chelsea away.

I hope the tougher matches are spread out evenly this time, because if we dont win for a few games, the manager will be in trouble!!

[Pee]

Originally Posted by Deep Purple

At his best he is a very good plaayer, so why weren't all the big names after him?

For us, he's been very hit and miss, with big questions over his fitness levels.

I think there was a case for being wary. Levy went for it, and overall he's done a good job, but he has spells of doing very little.

He's had the biggest clubs after him for much of his career, and was at possibly the biggest. There wasn't a transfer scramble because he only became available late in the day on deadline as he had fallen out with his manager.

I'm not saying he shouldn't have been wary, but he seemed no to know much about him, evidenced by his not knowing how best to use him.

[Steve AWOL]

Originally Posted by Deep Purple

In fairness, he's been the best we've had since Keith Burkinshaw, and that was a long time ago.

Only Bill Nick was better than Keith in my lifetime, so thats not bad.

We really haven't had much luck with managers since Burkinshaw and reading through the list of revolving door mediocrity makes for depressing reading.

I also would've preferred Harry had been given longer at the club but it just wouldn't be Spurs if we don't have a summer of turmoil

Originally Posted by kimindex

Fixtures out tomorrow morning. I reckon we'll get the Hammers or Chelsea away.

Wouldn't mind us giving the Spammers a rude welcome to the top flight! Although it would be great if our new manager could open up our league campaign with our first win at Stamford Bridge since 1980s

[kimindex]

Originally Posted by Steve AWOL

We really haven't had much luck with managers since Burkinshaw and reading through the list of revolving door mediocrity makes for depressing reading.

I also would've preferred Harry had been given longer at the club but it just wouldn't be Spurs if we don't have a summer of turmoil



Wouldn't mind us giving the Spammers a rude welcome to the top flight! Although it would be great if our new manager could open up our league campaign with our first win at Stamford Bridge since 1980s

Yes, I think we can all agree on that!

[Deep Purple]

Originally Posted by Steve AWOL

We really haven't had much luck with managers since Burkinshaw and reading through the list of revolving door mediocrity makes for depressing reading.

I also would've preferred Harry had been given longer at the club but it just wouldn't be Spurs if we don't have a summer of turmoil

I hate this modern way of getting rid of managers at the slightest excuse, which is why I am so annoyed about this.

We've had our best run since Keiths days, and we've sacked the manager!

[JasonWatkins]

Originally Posted by Steve AWOL

Although it would be great if our new manager could open up our league campaign with our first win at Stamford Bridge since 1980s

And if that new manager was AVB, I think it would be the icing on the cake really and (almost) sweet revenge for them knocking us back to the Europa League ..

[soulboy77]

Originally Posted by Deep Purple

I hate this modern way of getting rid of managers at the slightest excuse, which is why I am so annoyed about this.

We've had our best run since Keiths days, and we've sacked the manager!

Amazing how many clubs including ours have learnt nothing about the stability of having a manager long term. It's made worse by the fact that our league finishing positions have actually been decent over the last few years and but for securing a really top striker, would have been even better.

I'm resigned now to seeing us go backwards next season especially if Luka and/or Bale leave before we can go forwards again.

[Knarf44]

Moving on from the debate about Harry I'm not sure if many of you have actually taken on the earlier post by Pee I think that included a long piece about the cost of signing squad players.

From what I have been understanding part of Levy's vision in seeking a younger manager and coaching team is a greater emphasis on producing our own players. The new training centre is more about that than providing the First team with somewhere nice to be during the week.

From this mornings ITK it also seems that AVB is not necessarily the shoe-in that many expect. He is definitely being interviewed but so are some other young European coaches which is why nothing will happen quickly. The only thing we can safely assume for now is that it will be a younger coach who is appointed.

[Deep Purple]

Originally Posted by Knarf44

Moving on from the debate about Harry I'm not sure if many of you have actually taken on the earlier post by Pee I think that included a long piece about the cost of signing squad players.

From what I have been understanding part of Levy's vision in seeking a younger manager and coaching team is a greater emphasis on producing our own players. The new training centre is more about that than providing the First team with somewhere nice to be during the week.

From this mornings ITK it also seems that AVB is not necessarily the shoe-in that many expect. He is definitely being interviewed but so are some other young European coaches which is why nothing will happen quickly. The only thing we can safely assume for now is that it will be a younger coach who is appointed.

I just hope cost isn't the major factor, which tends to be the way with Levy.

Producing good young players should have been in place for years, but that shouldn't be an excuse to not get better players in, and pay them the going rate.

The balance has to be right, and we should be looking at the now too, especially has we have done so well over the last three seasons.

I suspect Harry and Levy were at opposite ends of the scale when it came to that.

[Steve AWOL]

Originally Posted by Knarf44

Moving on from the debate about Harry I'm not sure if many of you have actually taken on the earlier post by Pee I think that included a long piece about the cost of signing squad players.

From what I have been understanding part of Levy's vision in seeking a younger manager and coaching team is a greater emphasis on producing our own players. The new training centre is more about that than providing the First team with somewhere nice to be during the week.

From this mornings ITK it also seems that AVB is not necessarily the shoe-in that many expect. He is definitely being interviewed but so are some other young European coaches which is why nothing will happen quickly. The only thing we can safely assume for now is that it will be a younger coach who is appointed.

Spurs wage bill has more than doubled from £41m in 2006 to £91m last season, how much of that is due to squad players like Pienaar, Bentley, GDS and all the other deadwood in the squad I wonder...

The Swiss Ramble: Tottenham - Grounds For Optimism Or Concern?

Considering the £millions these squad players are earning every year they are on our wage bill it does seem odd that Levy seems unwilling to sell them unless he can recoup most of their transfer fee.

Originally Posted by Deep Purple

I just hope cost isn't the major factor, which tends to be the way with Levy.

Producing good young players should have been in place for years, but that shouldn't be an excuse to not get better players in, and pay them the going rate.

The balance has to be right, and we should be looking at the now too, especially has we have done so well over the last three seasons.

I suspect Harry and Levy were at opposite ends of the scale when it came to that.

I suppose that's why Levy would prefer someone like Comolli in charge of transfers as his successful signings had good re-sale value (Berbatov, Modric, Bale) whilst Harry' best signings (Parker, Friedel, Gallas) have virtually none.

[Steve AWOL]

Vertonghen still sounds keen on a move to Spurs at least...

Vertonghen move 'still close' | Tottenham Hotspur News, Fixtures, Results, Transfers | Sky Sports

Jan Vertonghen's agent has insisted the defender is still on track to join Tottenham despite Harry Redknapp's departure as manager.

Spurs began talks with Ajax over the transfer of Vertonghen some weeks ago, but the two sides are still reported to be some way apart on their valuation of the 25-year-old defender. And doubts were raised about whether the deal would be finalised when Redknapp parted company with the club on Thursday.

However, Vertonghen has previously made it clear that he wants to move to White Hart Lane despite interest from other Premier League clubs, and his representative Mustapha Nakhli remains hopeful. "Nothing has changed at all. He is coming to Tottenham for the club and not for the manager," Nakhli said.

"Managers come and go. Of course Jan is sorry that Harry Redknapp is no longer there but he is going for the club. We have a good relationship with Daniel Levy. He wants the deal to happen and there is a good atmosphere (between us). I don't know when it will happen but the deal is close, very close."

[Deep Purple]

Originally Posted by Steve AWOL

Vertonghen still sounds keen on a move to Spurs at least...

Vertonghen move 'still close' | Tottenham Hotspur News, Fixtures, Results, Transfers | Sky Sports

This is making the Berbatov sale look quick.

but the two sides are still reported to be some way apart on their valuation of the 25-year-old defender.

[Knarf44]

Deleted double post.

[Knarf44]

With the new appointment I assume there will be a corresponding overhaul of our scouting system as the Club will seek to attract some of the best U19s and U16s in the world. The whole strategy of playing in youth football tournaments is not just about developing existing young players but also getting our name out there competing against bigger and better known clubs and making contacts.

If you follow the progress of all our teams you will know that we have been quite successful in these tournaments and slowly but surely young prospects from around the globe are starting to appear at the Club on a regular basis to experience our coaching or on a trial basis with a view to signing.

I personally think that this should have been done years ago and who knows what effects it might have had on our fortunes. Nevertheless since the days of Billy Nick we have produced a lot of good solid professional players but only rarely a gem eg Hoddle, King. So, putting more emphasis on developing gems can only be a good thing.

[soulboy77]

Anyone watching the Netherlands game? Huntelaar is looking like a light weight, can't hold onto the ball to save his life. If this is how he plays normally, I can't see him lasting 5 minutes in the Premiership.

...And our very own VDV on the score sheet with a cracking shot!

[shelleyj89]

^To be fair, it's one game. You don't get a goal scoring record like his by being poor.

[Steve AWOL]

Originally Posted by soulboy77

Anyone watching the Netherlands game? Huntelaar is looking like a light weight, can't hold onto the ball to save his life. If this is how he plays normally, I can't see him lasting 5 minutes in the Premiership.

...And our very own VDV on the score sheet with a cracking shot!

From what I've seen/read about Huntelaar he is purely a goal poacher and has a fairly poor all round game, basically a tall slow version of Defoe.

Great goal by VdV and unlucky not to score a brace, otherwise anonymous as was most of the Dutch team.

[JasonWatkins]

Originally Posted by shelleyj89

^To be fair, it's one game. You don't get a goal scoring record like his by being poor.

And the dutch have been pretty poor in this tournament as well, with all sorts of stories about the unrest in the camp as well.

[soulboy77]

Originally Posted by shelleyj89

^To be fair, it's one game. You don't get a goal scoring record like his by being poor.

Agreed, haven't seen that much of him really. I do think Huntelaar is a bit of an enigma. He has a phenomenal scoring record in the Netherlands and currently in Germany (48 goals this season gone) but only average when he played in Spain and Italy.

[Knarf44]

If we do sign him I'll reserve judgment on him until January. By then he should have adapted to the faster pace of the EPL and gelled with his teammates.

From what little I have seen he does seem to get most of his goals in the box which means he's a predator rather than a hold up play or linkman.

He seemed to play a slightly withdrawn role today which obviously didn't suit him but as already said the Dutch were hugely disappointing considering the individual talent they had on the pitch.

[JasonWatkins]

here we go .. f**ks sake ..

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...am-revolt.html

But some senior Spurs stars have spoken to Chelsea players who claimed Villas-Boas was a nightmare to work with and told them to steer well clear of the Portuguese coach