Daniel Levy - Chairman

[MKSpur]

I know nothing....

cryptic. Enrique?

 

[thfcsteff]

I was just in the Pochettino thread and @glasgowspur made a brilliant point which has escaped most of us...I will hope he takes the bait and re-posts here, in short, he suggested that Levy has been under such enormous stress and pressure for many years now, perhaps it is taking its toll.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I was just in the Pochettino thread and @glasgowspur made a brilliant point which has escaped most of us...I will hope he takes the bait and re-posts here, in short, he suggested that Levy has been under such enormous stress and pressure for many years now, perhaps it is taking its toll.

It would have too
He was known for managing every detail in its minutiae
And he does look like he has aged

 

[BrainOfLevy]

I was just in the Pochettino thread and @glasgowspur made a brilliant point which has escaped most of us...I will hope he takes the bait and re-posts here, in short, he suggested that Levy has been under such enormous stress and pressure for many years now, perhaps it is taking its toll.

It's a really interesting point.

I came at it from the angle of thinking the job became something that Levy wasn't best suited to. When organisations scale, the right person to lead from to the first $100M of revenue is not often the right person to lead them to over $1BN, and so on. As the business changes, the nature of the job changes, the considerations are different, and I'm not sure Levy knew the moves to help as compete more closely with Liverpool and Chelsea. Which is why I was advocating for new owners, honestly.

But maybe it is stress. Maybe he is just making bad calls, but in a fit state he is more than capable. I tried to rationalise the Jose appointment in so many ways (the squad was older and didn't want to press, so low block counter was perfect. We had some bigger names in the squad and needed a manager who could manage the biggest egos. We were trying to build our profile to get the best stadium rights deal and needed a big name to fill the Amazon doc. We needed someone super confident in his work and not afraid of the spotlight to get us over the line in high pressure situations. All of it...and more) but looking back the appointment never made sense. We never acted as a club in a way that would suit Jose. We still made Levy signings - Bergwijn, Rodon etc. It just looked like a bad call.

From the period of 2014 to 2017, I would say we looked so well placed, in everything. We were super strategic. We knew our place in the order of things, and we knew exactly how we were going to improve our place in the order of things. We were strategic. We made the right decisions, always. They all made sense. Something changed as 2018 came into focus, and ever since then something hasn't felt quite right. A misalignment. A breakdown, somewhere.

Maybe it is bad decisions, because of stress. Maybe he's listening to the wrong people because he doesn't have the bandwidth to make the right calls himself anymore.

 

[glasgowspur]

Just for @thfcsteff

I think levys methods can take us further, what I'm not sure about is if Levy is in a fit state to do it.
Most agreed poch was burnt out and needed a break, well that is the way Levy is beginning to look to me.
The two or three years have all the hallmarks of someone overworked and losing focus.
He's been under huge strain, the stadium, poch, covid, Jose, our form, search for dof, manager, Harry Kane. And that's all we know about.
Has to take a toll.

I'm a modest fellow generally, so wouldn't normally quote my own insightful genius to the plebeian masses, but as steff asked I suppose I must.

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

Just for @thfcsteff


I'm a modest fellow generally, so wouldn't normally quote my own insightful genius to the plebeian masses, but as steff asked I suppose I must.

This has crossed my mind as well. A lot of what's gone on recently I would contest is out of character. And a large part of our off pitch character, is Levy. We are generally not 'noisy' as a club. Levy keeps his counsel and controls much in privacy.

His workload has been epic and I'd hope he is still in good health. The move to delegate (a painful proposition in itself for him) might be telling? With the way he is, I wouldn't dismiss the thought that he's been 'told' to delegate, and that's by the type of people we ALL listen to.

And if true, it's probably making him ill(er) watching this all go on

 

[DTA]

I was just in the Pochettino thread and @glasgowspur made a brilliant point which has escaped most of us...I will hope he takes the bait and re-posts here, in short, he suggested that Levy has been under such enormous stress and pressure for many years now, perhaps it is taking its toll.

It would have too
He was known for managing every detail in its minutiae
And he does look like he has aged

It's a really interesting point.

I came at it from the angle of thinking the job became something that Levy wasn't best suited to. When organisations scale, the right person to lead from to the first $100M of revenue is not often the right person to lead them to over $1BN, and so on. As the business changes, the nature of the job changes, the considerations are different, and I'm not sure Levy knew the moves to help as compete more closely with Liverpool and Chelsea. Which is why I was advocating for new owners, honestly.

But maybe it is stress. Maybe he is just making bad calls, but in a fit state he is more than capable. I tried to rationalise the Jose appointment in so many ways (the squad was older and didn't want to press, so low block counter was perfect. We had some bigger names in the squad and needed a manager who could manage the biggest egos. We were trying to build our profile to get the best stadium rights deal and needed a big name to fill the Amazon doc. We needed someone super confident in his work and not afraid of the spotlight to get us over the line in high pressure situations. All of it...and more) but looking back the appointment never made sense. We never acted as a club in a way that would suit Jose. We still made Levy signings - Bergwijn, Rodon etc. It just looked like a bad call.

From the period of 2014 to 2017, I would say we looked so well placed, in everything. We were super strategic. We knew our place in the order of things, and we knew exactly how we were going to improve our place in the order of things. We were strategic. We made the right decisions, always. They all made sense. Something changed as 2018 came into focus, and ever since then something hasn't felt quite right. A misalignment. A breakdown, somewhere.

Maybe it is bad decisions, because of stress. Maybe he's listening to the wrong people because he doesn't have the bandwidth to make the right calls himself anymore.

This has crossed my mind as well. A lot of what's gone on recently I would contest is out of character. And a large part of our off pitch character, is Levy. We are generally not 'noisy' as a club. Levy keeps his counsel and controls much in privacy.

His workload has been epic and I'd hope he is still in good health. The move to delegate (a painful proposition in itself for him) might be telling? With the way he is, I wouldn't dismiss the thought that he's been 'told' to delegate, and that's by the type of people we ALL listen to.

And if true, it's probably making him ill(er) watching this all go on

It's a other reason why the "Levy out" šhit is so misguided and Ãrsenalesq.

It's not us lads. Let's fűcking not sink to the scum's level.

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

It's a really interesting point.

I came at it from the angle of thinking the job became something that Levy wasn't best suited to. When organisations scale, the right person to lead from to the first $100M of revenue is not often the right person to lead them to over $1BN, and so on. As the business changes, the nature of the job changes, the considerations are different, and I'm not sure Levy knew the moves to help as compete more closely with Liverpool and Chelsea. Which is why I was advocating for new owners, honestly.

But maybe it is stress. Maybe he is just making bad calls, but in a fit state he is more than capable. I tried to rationalise the Jose appointment in so many ways (the squad was older and didn't want to press, so low block counter was perfect. We had some bigger names in the squad and needed a manager who could manage the biggest egos. We were trying to build our profile to get the best stadium rights deal and needed a big name to fill the Amazon doc. We needed someone super confident in his work and not afraid of the spotlight to get us over the line in high pressure situations. All of it...and more) but looking back the appointment never made sense. We never acted as a club in a way that would suit Jose. We still made Levy signings - Bergwijn, Rodon etc. It just looked like a bad call.

From the period of 2014 to 2017, I would say we looked so well placed, in everything. We were super strategic. We knew our place in the order of things, and we knew exactly how we were going to improve our place in the order of things. We were strategic. We made the right decisions, always. They all made sense. Something changed as 2018 came into focus, and ever since then something hasn't felt quite right. A misalignment. A breakdown, somewhere.

Maybe it is bad decisions, because of stress. Maybe he's listening to the wrong people because he doesn't have the bandwidth to make the right calls himself anymore.

I don't think you're analysis for the recruitment of Jose is off at all. All your points are valid and I agree with.. Most of us though, thought that we knew how it would end and it duly did. Was that reason enough not to employ him, obviously yes in my eyes BUT let's be honest, Levy had a hard on for him, so that was always going to tip the balance in giving him a go.

I think it's easy to think we were doing everything perfectly for the period 2014-17 BUT quite simply we had a brilliant manager. If that brings excellent results, joyful football, title challenges and big finals all that obviously translates to everything being rosy.

Just as if the new appointment did similar, 90% of the current nonsense would be forgotten. We are, short term, not going to offer the new man any more than what Poch had, but Poch proved, if you're good at your job, just the value you add can be enough (or near enough).

A lot hasn't really changed over the last ten years in regards to the business plan towards the football side, close to minimal net spend, wages at the lower end of % versus turnover. Poch suffered (got killed) by an unplanned pinch point that effected even that model.

Ironically, as we started to break away from that model and upped the wage bill (paying proper wages) and spent way over normal in the transfer market....we've got worse

What's changed most is the manager, some are just better than others.

 

[Raziel]

It's a really interesting point.

I came at it from the angle of thinking the job became something that Levy wasn't best suited to. When organisations scale, the right person to lead from to the first $100M of revenue is not often the right person to lead them to over $1BN, and so on. As the business changes, the nature of the job changes, the considerations are different, and I'm not sure Levy knew the moves to help as compete more closely with Liverpool and Chelsea. Which is why I was advocating for new owners, honestly.

But maybe it is stress. Maybe he is just making bad calls, but in a fit state he is more than capable. I tried to rationalise the Jose appointment in so many ways (the squad was older and didn't want to press, so low block counter was perfect. We had some bigger names in the squad and needed a manager who could manage the biggest egos. We were trying to build our profile to get the best stadium rights deal and needed a big name to fill the Amazon doc. We needed someone super confident in his work and not afraid of the spotlight to get us over the line in high pressure situations. All of it...and more) but looking back the appointment never made sense. We never acted as a club in a way that would suit Jose. We still made Levy signings - Bergwijn, Rodon etc. It just looked like a bad call.

From the period of 2014 to 2017, I would say we looked so well placed, in everything. We were super strategic. We knew our place in the order of things, and we knew exactly how we were going to improve our place in the order of things. We were strategic. We made the right decisions, always. They all made sense. Something changed as 2018 came into focus, and ever since then something hasn't felt quite right. A misalignment. A breakdown, somewhere.

Maybe it is bad decisions, because of stress. Maybe he's listening to the wrong people because he doesn't have the bandwidth to make the right calls himself anymore.

funny enough I think he finally did what everyone wanted

- The years of waiting for the stadium, and the revenue it would allow to invest in the team must have been insane (Especially with fans/media screaming about investment)
- Stadium arrives and instead of keeping on track, waiting another year for cash to build, he went strait to the final step (hire the manager for the right now, Jose challenges aside)
- It possibly could have paid off as a gamble, but then Covid happened, cash dried up and ability to back Jose in summer to the fullest went.

He's built to this moment for 20 years, he played his hand early and Covid happened and now he has to rebuild again for a couple of years .. yes, I'd be fudging stressed.

 

[Daisuk]

Haha.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1407317921576099841

 

[BrainOfLevy]

I don't think you're analysis for the recruitment of Jose is off at all. All your points are valid and I agree with.. Most of us though, thought that we knew how it would end and it duly did. Was that reason enough not to employ him, obviously yes in my eyes BUT let's be honest, Levy had a hard on for him, so that was always going to tip the balance in giving him a go.

I think it's easy to think we were doing everything perfectly for the period 2014-17 BUT quite simply we had a brilliant manager. If that brings excellent results, joyful football, title challenges and big finals all that obviously translates to everything being rosy.

Just as if the new appointment did similar, 90% of the current nonsense would be forgotten. We are, short term, not going to offer the new man any more than what Poch had, but Poch proved, if you're good at your job, just the value you add can be enough (or near enough).

A lot hasn't really changed over the last ten years in regards to the business plan towards the football side, close to minimal net spend, wages at the lower end of % versus turnover. Poch suffered (got killed) by an unplanned pinch point that effected even that model.

Ironically, as we started to break away from that model and upped the wage bill (paying proper wages) and spent way over normal in the transfer market....we've got worse

What's changed most is the manager, some are just better than others.

Its the decisions that were made at a time when it was rosey. The strategic alignment. We haven’t had that for 3 years now, I would say, and I would say that was why Poch was able to be successful.

 

[glorygloryeze]

I think things are much simpler re the club/Levy than having to look into what might be going on in Levy's personal life (remember we have had recently at least one player where that 'luxury' of reason/excuses was NOT afford, even though they lost a sibling...).

Basically, i don't think Levy has changed his approach over the years at all: he's still seems to be that chancer/ducker-and-diver who worked us up to being a club who worked smart enough to build ourselves new stadium on the back of steadily using the TV money in a much wiser and more long-term way than lot of our peers.
However, pulling off last-minute wheel-a-deal moves here and there when you're up-and-coming is great and actually cool, but won't look so good when you are seen as a megaclub or an aspiring megaclub.

Think of the players, teams, chairmen and agents that those methods have cheesed off on the journey over the last 20 years and it might just be that what credit was in the bank has finally been spent and there's little goodwill to give from other, even if it's to cover up/excuse odd or infuriating ways of working (which likely were covered up/explained away before when we had much more 'PR credit' and a better 'PR machine' to cover negative stories more).
The credit might actually have been used up within our own club and Levy is being hung out to dry now by those in his own circle who would have protected him much better than they have now...

Either way, Levy reputation as a 'great leader' of THFC is almost certainly done, even if he gets Emirates Marketing Project to cough up more than 150M for Kane...and it's likely all his own doing..

 

[parklane1]

funny enough I think he finally did what everyone wanted

- The years of waiting for the stadium, and the revenue it would allow to invest in the team must have been insane (Especially with fans/media screaming about investment)
- Stadium arrives and instead of keeping on track, waiting another year for cash to build, he went strait to the final step (hire the manager for the right now, Jose challenges aside)
- It possibly could have paid off as a gamble, but then Covid happened, cash dried up and ability to back Jose in summer to the fullest went.

He's built to this moment for 20 years, he played his hand early and Covid happened and now he has to rebuild again for a couple of years .. yes, I'd be fudging stressed.

I think the bolded bit is important and one that is overlooked by s ome fans.

 

[Lilbaz]

I think things are much simpler re the club/Levy than having to look into what might be going on in Levy's personal life (remember we have had recently at least one player where that 'luxury' of reason/excuses was NOT afford, even though they lost a sibling...).

Basically, i don't think Levy has changed his approach over the years at all: he's still seems to be that chancer/ducker-and-diver who worked us up to being a club who worked smart enough to build ourselves new stadium on the back of steadily using the TV money in a much wiser and more long-term way than lot of our peers.
However, pulling off last-minute wheel-a-deal moves here and there when you're up-and-coming is great and actually cool, but won't look so good when you are seen as a megaclub or an aspiring megaclub.

Think of the players, teams, chairmen and agents that those methods have cheesed off on the journey over the last 20 years and it might just be that what credit was in the bank has finally been spent and there's little goodwill to give from other, even if it's to cover up/excuse odd or infuriating ways of working (which likely were covered up/explained away before when we had much more 'PR credit' and a better 'PR machine' to cover negative stories more).
The credit might actually have been used up within our own club and Levy is being hung out to dry now by those in his own circle who would have protected him much better than they have now...

Either way, Levy reputation as a 'great leader' of THFC is almost certainly done, even if he gets Emirates Marketing Project to cough up more than 150M for Kane...and it's likely all his own doing..

Whoa which player did we not support? Lamela said when his brother hurt himself poch and the club said he had to go back to argentina to be with his family.
Palacious was on a plane 6 hours after we found out about his brother.

As for levy. I doubt much has changed. He's always wanted a dof for continuity. Just when we have coaches that do well that want more power we scrap it.

 

[Raziel]

Either way, Levy reputation as a 'great leader' of THFC is almost certainly done, even if he gets Emirates Marketing Project to cough up more than 150M for Kane...and it's likely all his own doing..

You really think so? let me play a scenario

- We finally get our brick together, get a manager (perhaps underwhelming appointment at first), he plays some decent football, we get 5th in season 1, we win UEFA conference thing.
- Stadium pulls full year revenue, we invest more next summer, same manager gets CL spot in season 2.

Spurs go on another decent 5 year run, we pick up one more trophy.

You think any fan will remember this moment? or this 18 months? news for you, heard this same commentary when he got rid of BMJ.

I haven't even added anything fanciful like in year 3, we choose not to renew said managers contract and Poch returns having won the treble in France and takes us to 7 more years of wonderful football.

 

[Finney Is Back]

You really think so? let me play a scenario

- We finally get our brick together, get a manager (perhaps underwhelming appointment at first), he plays some decent football, we get 5th in season 1, we win UEFA conference thing.
- Stadium pulls full year revenue, we invest more next summer, same manager gets CL spot in season 2.

Spurs go on another decent 5 year run, we pick up one more trophy.

You think any fan will remember this moment? or this 18 months? news for you, heard this same commentary when he got rid of BMJ.

I haven't even added anything fanciful like in year 3, we choose not to renew said managers contract and Poch returns having won the treble in France and takes us to 7 more years of wonderful football.

I agree with you here…. The problem is that I don’t like our odds on it actually happening.

 

[Lilbaz]

I agree with you here…. The problem is that I don’t like our odds on it actually happening.

It's going to be a struggle to break into the top 4 the next couple of years (those teams are so strong). But think we will improve. As long as we can get the stadium fully open next season, we can build back.

Obviously a good coach and paratici making good choices on players is very important. But we are in a better position than the likes of leicester and west ham. Even arsenal.

 

[Gazza]

It's going to be a struggle to break into the top 4 the next couple of years (those teams are so strong). But think we will improve. As long as we can get the stadium fully open next season, we can build back.

Obviously a good coach and paratici making good choices on players is very important. But we are in a better position than the likes of leicester and west ham. Even arsenal.

How? Leicesters recruitment is outstanding and have shown that they are happy to buy some up and coming great players, have a settled competent manager without any pressure.

West ham last season looked quite tidy and look like they have a solid squad in the making.

Arsenal have some very very good young players and a bigger budget than us.

We are not in a better place than any of those teams mentioned currently. Things may change but currently not the case if I may disagree.

 

[glorygloryeze]

You really think so? let me play a scenario

- We finally get our brick together, get a manager (perhaps underwhelming appointment at first), he plays some decent football, we get 5th in season 1, we win UEFA conference thing.
- Stadium pulls full year revenue, we invest more next summer, same manager gets CL spot in season 2.

Spurs go on another decent 5 year run, we pick up one more trophy.

You think any fan will remember this moment? or this 18 months? news for you, heard this same commentary when he got rid of BMJ.

I haven't even added anything fanciful like in year 3, we choose not to renew said managers contract and Poch returns having won the treble in France and takes us to 7 more years of wonderful football.

..Or...

We end up hiring manager number 10th on our April shortlist who we have to pay even more than we would have Poch just to take the gig because a) we are desperate for someone to take the job and b) he knows he wasn't that high on our shortlist but can pull us by the short and curlies as he knows he can...

Then we spend a couple of years trying to get into CL places but not quite making it (Kane replacement not being, well, as good as Kane) and manager gets sacked for two consecutive 6th places in a row...we think back with nostalgia for those days we were squabbling over whether we were showing how big a club we were when we decided not to buy anyone that summer of 2018


Nostalgia can go both ways...

 

[Lilbaz]

..Or...

We end up hiring manager number 10th on our April shortlist who we have to pay even more than we would have Poch just to take the gig because a) we are desperate for someone to take the job and b) he knows he wasn't that high on our shortlist but can pull us by the short and curlies as he knows he can...

Then we spend a couple of years trying to get into CL places but not quite making it (Kane replacement not being, well, as good as Kane) and manager gets sacked for two consecutive 6th places in a row...we think back with nostalgia for those days we were squabbling over whether we were showing how big a club we were when we decided not to buy anyone that summer of 2018


Nostalgia can go both ways...

Is there a job open in football that is better than spurs at the moment? How many coaches are out of work?

Our april list went out of the window when paratici signed.