A View From Anfield: Spurs

Article by e-Liverpool Correspondent Franklin Sagini
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All the gooners, no need of thanking us at Merseyside and taking us for a night at the pub… we all carry the same opinion on Spurs. The Lilywhites will all claim that the media hates them. But in support of the press, it’s hard to pick positives from them. I respect the fact that they have a large fan base of dedicated supporters (In UK alone), but the fans have been made to buy into something that doesn’t really exist. ”The Spurs way”. We can’t help ourselves but just laugh them of. What is it? We all know it’s a fallacy but they claim it’s playing with pure flair and exhilarating football while tearing teams apart. Well it’s not quite that unless you embrace exaggeration to certain extents.

Well in the 50s and 60s we saw what they were capable of. But they never came close to playing the Spurs way in 2006 along with 2010-11. Spurs’ fans will be quick to disagree but as long as you’re under the age of 60, you are among the disillusioned fans. Everything Spurs have done so far has been an attempt to emulate their past achievements. It’s not wrong to dream of better days in future, but better days won’t come easy and knock on your door. You have to make the correct choice and follow the right path season after season. But that has not been the case, making one step forward and two steps backwards. That is why you will be referred to as the perennial over-spenders and underachievers of the premier league. Thanks in no small part to Daniel Levy for playing a role in achieving that title.

In February 2001 something great happened, Levy became the chairman of Tottenham after ENIC bought a controlling stake in the club. Levy was formerly a director of the Scottish football club Rangers. Within a month of taking over, George Graham departed despite leading Spurs to their first trophy in eight years. In Levy’s time in charge, nine managers have departed the club. He is an ‘incredible’ business man, not a football person. All those poor decisions of his have come back to haunt him. This shows that even Daniel Levy himself has no idea what “The Spurs way” is. In the summer of 2013, Spurs allowed their prized asset to depart the club. They went on and splashed over £100m on several foreign players who are simply not good enough. Only Eriksen alone has made his mark, yes Eriksen, the one that got away. Scouted by Liverpool, but signed for Spurs. It seems that Spurs really lack a vision for the club. They are always trying to sign whoever is linked with Liverpool or Arsenal. Other than YouTube do they have scouts? God knows how many YouTube channels have Levy and Baldini subscribed to.

Holtby, Soldado, Glyfi and Eriksen were all at one time been linked with Liverpool. But Levy went ahead and pulled of a coup and captured their signatures. Apart from the latter, the rest are flops. A player can’t lose his prowess overnight; I firmly believe it’s the lilywhites who don’t know how to use them well. Their lack of vision has proved costly in the transfer market. I was happy for Willian when Chelsea hijacked his transfer; I think he was rescued from being a flop. The rest of the flops were scouted via YouTube; Capoue, Chiriches, Chadli, Lamela and Paulinho. It is evident that Spurs are trying to copy Liverpool’s vision. But where they go wrong is by trying to hijack their transfers. For instance, Liverpool wants Lallana, but also Tottenham are in the race. Are they even serious!! They have so many ‘number 10’s in their squad and most notably Christian Eriksen. Heard that they want Moreno and are willing to sweeten the deal by involving Capoue and Soldado. Gamble after gamble causing them shambles, when will they ever learn?

Okay, they saw Liverpool’s gamble on Brendan Rodgers pay off and guess what, they also took a similar dive. I was surprised how Levy convinced Poch to join Spurs, I don’t think Poch is any special from the past managers and with a dismal run of performances; he’ll face the sack too. I think fourth place finish by Harry is and was their best ever and a repeat of that is highly unlikely. Let’s face it, nowadays all the teams in the top four are title contenders, so how can Spurs dream of Champions League football while they are not ready to push for the title. Am not sure why Spurs faithfuls were left disappointed last season, I think sixth place finish is a good one for the Lilywhites. Of all the teams that finished above them last season, only Everton look vulnerable of their position. Let’s not forget that Manchester United finished below Spurs ,so if Red devils rediscover their mojo, again Spurs will have to settle for a sixth place finish. Spurs have failed to attract top class talents and that’s why they will always struggle to make it to the top four. Angel Di Maria publicly stated that it hurts to be linked with Spurs when you feel you are playing well for your team.

If you have been observant, those good players who sign for Spurs always try to use the team as a stepping stone to gain visibility across Europe. The Modrics, the Lloris, Vertoghens and so on. Am pretty sure Eriksen is also doing the same. You can’t blame them at all. Soldado, Lamela and Co were trying to do the same although it hasn’t worked out. Even Poch himself is following that path. Those players don’t really care of “the Spurs way” they care more about their futures. Or it’s because they know it’s a fallacy. Advice to Spurs, follow your vision and stay true to it if at all it exists. I overheard they want O’shea, Liverpool is not interested so I doubt they’ll bid…charming of Spurs isn’t it? #COYS

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