- Jul 30, 2005
- 1,117
- 339
I know you're not trying to defend him, just putting forward his view, but for what it is worth my view is that the real point is he was offered a contract of a certain length and remuneration, which came with a list of responsibilities which Harry was happy to sign a couple of years back. The question is, why Harry was happy with the terms then, signed up to them, but suddenly thought they weren't enough now? He had a year left on his contract, a year to convince his employers he was worthy of an extension, but he suddenly felt he was better than that. It was his prerogative of course, and nothing wrong with valuing oneself highly, but the deal was the deal, and suddenly it wasn't good enough. I can't really see what Levy could have done differently in the circumstances.
Allow me
The reason is that Harry knew he'd over-leverged himself and fucked both the England job and our job. He knows full-well that he has hit a wall with what he can do with this squad. He reached his ceiling. So, rather than take the challenge of earning a new contract by flying out the traps this season, he chose to tell the universe how nothing could be done in a year, that he could bring the title in a couple of years, etc, etc, VERY easy things to say but really, they don't stand up to close scrutiny. He knew the game was up, he knew HE'D pushed the game to breaking point, so the only way out was to "publicly" present himself as the victim of his own "success"...enter Stretford to make sure that with that, he got a chunk of wedge...if Harry REALLY believed he could've brought the title to us, (1) he'd have cemented 3rd last season with ease and (2) he'd have taken the challenge on with gusto of a year and see what happens. Truth is everyone knew for a while it was over, but Harry won't ever publicly accept any hint of blame or criticism. Harry first!