Daniel Levy is not a football man - Clive Allen

[CosmicHotspur]

Of course he's not a football man. He's a w... erm... banker.

 

[eddiebailey]

Levy’s record on footballing appointments is poor indeed: Hoddle, Santini, Comolli, Villas Boas and to an extent Ramos (we had been courting him for months) were all appointments made when Levy had time to weigh up his options and make a considered decision, and each time he blew it. Arnesen is pretty much the only name in the credit column, with the jury very much out on Baldini.

On the other hand the emergency appointments of Jol, pushed on him by Arnesen, and of Redknapp, pushed on him by Kemsley, worked out rather well. Levy’s own emergency appointments, Pleat and Sherwood, did as well as could be reasonably expected, but were left exposed by Levy’s lack of commitment to them (as ultimately were Jol and Redknapp).

Daniel seems to dither about what he wants, no doubt with one eye towards Lewis, who knows even less about football than he does, and then when he does commit to someone he almost invariably misjudges his man.

Our only real chance of bringing in a successful manager is serendipity: a caretaker who does well enough to force Daniel into appointing him. A shame that Tim turned out to be not quite up to the job.

I am reminded of the C. Day Lewis poem, The Unwanted, where the longed for child of the planned pregnancy is “as frail a one, as ailing, freakish pale a one, as ever the wry planets knotted their beams to thwart”, but the accident conceived in shame and panic enters the world “divinely formed and fair”.

That’s what Spurs need as manager, a proper bastard.

 

[millsey]

Levy’s record on footballing appointments is poor indeed: Hoddle, Santini, Comolli, Villas Boas and to an extent Ramos (we had been courting him for months) were all appointments made when Levy had time to weigh up his options and make a considered decision, and each time he blew it. Arnesen is pretty much the only name in the credit column, with the jury very much out on Baldini.

On the other hand the emergency appointments of Jol, pushed on him by Arnesen, and of Redknapp, pushed on him by Kemsley, worked out rather well. Levy’s own emergency appointments, Pleat and Sherwood, did as well as could be reasonably expected, but were left exposed by Levy’s lack of commitment to them.

Daniel seems to dither about what he wants, no doubt with one eye towards Lewis, who knows even less about football than he does, and then we does commit to someone he almost invariably misjudges his man.

Our only real chance of bringing in a successful manager is serendipity: a caretaker who does well enough to force Daniel into appointing him. A shame that Tim turned out to be not quite up to the job.

I am reminded of the C. Day Lewis poem, The Unwanted, where the longed for child of the planned pregnancy is “as frail a one, as ailing, freakish pale a one, as ever the wry planet knotted their beams to thwart”, but the accident conceived in shame and panic enters the world “divinely formed and fair”.

That’s what Spurs need as manager, a proper bastard.

Good post. We do need that. But who is that??

 

[eurodat]

Levy is good on the business side, he just needs someone he can trust to look after football affairs. It's a shame Frank Arnesen left. I wonder if he is happy at Chelsea? He could have run the show at Spurs rather than accepting a bit-part role there.

Sadly, there are many who would say that a bit part at Chelsea is better than running the show at Spurs lately but the next managerial appointment and the success it will bring (in years, not weeks!) will change all of that.

 

[Donki]

Levy is good on the business side, he just needs someone he can trust to look after football affairs. It's a shame Frank Arnesen left. I wonder if he is happy at Chelsea? He could have run the show at Spurs rather than accepting a bit-part role there.

He aint been at Chealsa for a good few years now, he clearly wasn't happy there .

 

[Matthew Wyatt]

His dad was Les Allen, his cousin paul allen - spurs is in his blood.
I thought he was very harshly treated when he was booted out after AVB was appointed.
We should try to keep some continuity this time and not sack Ramsey and Freund just for the sake of it.

Speaking of Freund, where is he and what's he been doing? I wasn't sure he was still with us.

 

[postigol]

Speaking of Freund, where is he and what's he been doing? I wasn't sure he was still with us.

The only departure I'm aware of is Sherwood so far. I'd have expected Ferdinand to be let go, though he'd probably quit to join Sherwood at his new club anyway if he's no.2 there. I think Freund is safe for the time being.

 

[UbeAstard]

Good post. We do need that. But who is that??

It will only become clear a year or 2 after he is found.

 

[millsey]

It will only become clear a year or 2 after he is found.

What job will he be in by then?

 

[JoeT]

Levy’s record on footballing appointments is poor indeed: Hoddle, Santini, Comolli, Villas Boas and to an extent Ramos (we had been courting him for months) were all appointments made when Levy had time to weigh up his options and make a considered decision, and each time he blew it. Arnesen is pretty much the only name in the credit column, with the jury very much out on Baldini.

On the other hand the emergency appointments of Jol, pushed on him by Arnesen, and of Redknapp, pushed on him by Kemsley, worked out rather well. Levy’s own emergency appointments, Pleat and Sherwood, did as well as could be reasonably expected, but were left exposed by Levy’s lack of commitment to them (as ultimately were Jol and Redknapp).

Daniel seems to dither about what he wants, no doubt with one eye towards Lewis, who knows even less about football than he does, and then when he does commit to someone he almost invariably misjudges his man.

Our only real chance of bringing in a successful manager is serendipity: a caretaker who does well enough to force Daniel into appointing him. A shame that Tim turned out to be not quite up to the job.

I am reminded of the C. Day Lewis poem, The Unwanted, where the longed for child of the planned pregnancy is “as frail a one, as ailing, freakish pale a one, as ever the wry planet knotted their beams to thwart”, but the accident conceived in shame and panic enters the world “divinely formed and fair”.

That’s what Spurs need as manager, a proper bastard.

I agree; so we really missed the boat on Van Gaal.

 

[whitesocks]

Speaking of Freund, where is he and what's he been doing? I wasn't sure he was still with us.

Freund kept his distance from AVB this season - he must have known there was a storm brewing.
He obviously kept away from sherwood.
It would be nice to see him bouncing again, but like with Allen, we might not find out his fate until the start of next season.

 

[ItsBoris]

I hate when people use the phrase "is a football man."

Is Sir Alex Ferguson a "football man"? Certainly more so than Clive Allen is, and certainly more so than Harry and Jamie Redknapp are. Who did he pick to manage Manchester United? David Moyes....

 

[spud]

If being a 'football man' is being somebody like Redknapp, Sherwood, Neil Ruddock or Allen, then Levy is probably glad if he isn't.

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

we need to compile a glossary of meaningless and irrelevant football phrases. "(proper) football man" would be right near the top of it, I'd imagine, along with people being described as "passionate" and "(refreshingly) honest", or having a club "in their blood/DNA".

 

[Matthew Wyatt]

Freund kept his distance from AVB this season - he must have known there was a storm brewing.
He obviously kept away from sherwood.
It would be nice to see him bouncing again, but like with Allen, we might not find out his fate until the start of next season.

But did he have an official role or was he just picking up a salary? Yes, would be nice to see him and Allen still involved.