“At the end of last season Mauricio was clear what we needed to do and what we certainly shouldn’t do", said Daniel. “He wanted to streamline the squad, strengthen it and retain the ability to develop the talent we already had. Importantly, we also needed to keep our key players.
“That meant reducing the squad number, improving the team defensively and adding exciting attacking forwards. It also meant that if we couldn’t secure the few key targets we wanted, we wouldn’t just add others. And we needed to keep the space for our current players to flourish."
This summer we moved early to secure our targets and were able to conclude the acquisitions of Dele Alli from Milton Keynes (to join us this July), Toby Alderweireld from Atletico Madrid (on loan last season at Southampton), Kieran Trippier from Burnley and Kevin Wimmer from Cologne.
We went on to add Clinton Njie from Olympique Lyonnais and Heung-Min Son from Bayer Leverkusen.
Aaron Lennon, Roberto Soldado, Paulinho, Etienne Capoue, Lewis Holtby, Benjamin Stambouli, Vlad Chiriches and Younes Kaboul departed the Club over the summer months and we wish them well for the future.
Mauricio said, “I look at our squad and I know we have worked well to shape it. Strengthening our defence was a priority given the number of goals we conceded last season. Toby, Kevin and Kieran add depth and quality.
“In Dele, Sonny and Clinton we have three young, fast and exciting players who can play in several different attacking positions, giving us good options.
“All of them had impressive seasons in their respective leagues last season and we are excited about their potential alongside that of our current players.
“I have been very clear that we would only add players that we felt would improve us and if any one player was not possible then I prefer we do not add for the sake of it. Much has been said about us only having one recognised striker in Harry - I don’t accept this at all - the positional play of today’s forwards means it’s too simplistic to look for goals from any one position - playing a fluid style means players switch. Also we secured Sonny and Clinton in the knowledge that we may not be adding any other forward."
Daniel added, “We have never, as a Club, spoken about another team’s players and I am not about to do so now. However, I do want to make a few general points regarding transfers.
“Firstly, there is hardly a transfer concluded across Europe which doesn’t include staged payments. This is particularly so when significant amounts such as £20m-£30m are involved - players don’t come cheaply these days.
“Secondly, we do not make anything personal. None of the proposals, discussions or negotiations we undertake involve any personal elements or ego - everything we do is in the interest of what is best for our Club.
“Thirdly, we never make anything public, particularly in the best interests of the players involved. Making aspects such as transfer requests public is wholly disrespectful to a player.
“Our pragmatic player trading has been important in the way we have run the business of the Club and in getting us to the position where we have now been able to start work on a new stadium - the one thing that has the ability to take this Club to the next level of competitiveness. I make no apologies for being ambitious for our Club and looking to deliver future success for our fans.
“This season," underlined Mauricio, “we start with a combination of our own players who have come through the ranks and players that bring skills and experience from other leagues. Most importantly, it’s a squad of players with heart - it’s a squad I’m proud to field."
THFC response re transfers
posted on 3/9/15
Anyone else get the feeling Berahino might get one of those niggly injuries that are hard to diagnose? No need to go on strike when you get one of those
..............................................
Classy...
posted on 3/9/15
comment by Islington Spur (U18857)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle2 (U1608)
posted 8 hours, 48 minutes ago
I love how Levy apologises for being "ambitious".
How is leaving your squad with 1 striker being ambitious? FFS if he was so ambitious he'd have stumped up the money for a player the manager clearly wanted.
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He is showing long term ambition by producing a state of the art 61,000 seater stadium and training facility. This is real ambition and was how I read Daniel Levy's statement.
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We all know about the building of the stadium, and that's all well and good, but it's moot regarding getting a striker in, or getting Berahino in. If he was indeed a "key target" as suggested in the second paragraph of the response, why would you try to acquire him through what looks like a half hearted approach, by offering bids below the desired price, and leaving it so late in the transfer window?
It's the same with the other 2 forward signings to an extent. Why would you sign them after the season starts, when we could have done with them before the season started?
posted on 3/9/15
comment by Spurtle2 (U1608)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by Islington Spur (U18857)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle2 (U1608)
posted 8 hours, 48 minutes ago
I love how Levy apologises for being "ambitious".
How is leaving your squad with 1 striker being ambitious? FFS if he was so ambitious he'd have stumped up the money for a player the manager clearly wanted.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He is showing long term ambition by producing a state of the art 61,000 seater stadium and training facility. This is real ambition and was how I read Daniel Levy's statement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We all know about the building of the stadium, and that's all well and good, but it's moot regarding getting a striker in, or getting Berahino in. If he was indeed a "key target" as suggested in the second paragraph of the response, why would you try to acquire him through what looks like a half hearted approach, by offering bids below the desired price, and leaving it so late in the transfer window?
It's the same with the other 2 forward signings to an extent. Why would you sign them after the season starts, when we could have done with them before the season started?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Soldado was transferred to Villarreal on the 18th August. My guess is that we were never going to buy N'jie and Son before a striker was sold. We concluded our business once Soldado deal had been confirmed. The truth is we don't now how long negotiations take place but these are peoples careers and huge amounts of money are being pushed around. You really can't rush these things hence why we are left short at the beginning of the season.
Considering these complications I think we are a well run institution. Although I understand your frustrations things could be a lot worse. Irving Scholar nearly bankrupt us don't you know!
posted on 3/9/15
comment by Islington Spur (U18857)
posted 55 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle2 (U1608)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by Islington Spur (U18857)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle2 (U1608)
posted 8 hours, 48 minutes ago
I love how Levy apologises for being "ambitious".
How is leaving your squad with 1 striker being ambitious? FFS if he was so ambitious he'd have stumped up the money for a player the manager clearly wanted.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He is showing long term ambition by producing a state of the art 61,000 seater stadium and training facility. This is real ambition and was how I read Daniel Levy's statement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We all know about the building of the stadium, and that's all well and good, but it's moot regarding getting a striker in, or getting Berahino in. If he was indeed a "key target" as suggested in the second paragraph of the response, why would you try to acquire him through what looks like a half hearted approach, by offering bids below the desired price, and leaving it so late in the transfer window?
It's the same with the other 2 forward signings to an extent. Why would you sign them after the season starts, when we could have done with them before the season started?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Soldado was transferred to Villarreal on the 18th August. My guess is that we were never going to buy N'jie and Son before a striker was sold. We concluded our business once Soldado deal had been confirmed. The truth is we don't now how long negotiations take place but these are peoples careers and huge amounts of money are being pushed around. You really can't rush these things hence why we are left short at the beginning of the season.
Considering these complications I think we are a well run institution. Although I understand your frustrations things could be a lot worse. Irving Scholar nearly bankrupt us don't you know!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If we are going to wait to sell players before we make a move for others, and I don't think it's that believable an excuse (didn't we bring in most of our defensive targets before moving others on?), then we need to consider being better at it, because in my opinion it's contributed to the points dropped or not gained from this season's start.
There was an awfully long gap between when we brought in the defenders, to when we sold Soldado and brought in the forwards. Too long a gap.
posted on 3/9/15
Listen boys I've stated it time and time again I have seen this before at Spurs we buy the best scout or the best youth coach then mess it all about. Repeat and rinse.
I have no vendetta against poch none I actually like him he is really friendly. He does more charity work for the club than I have ever seen anyone do. (Not that the media would show you that)
My problem is professionally I get wound up cos all I ever see is defending him yet the points I make are never really debated. Therefore it makes me want to criticise more because everyone defends him.
I do genuinely believe he will not last the season because I can see the way we are playing. In the last game at Everton the players stopped being so disciplined in the tactics that's a tell-tell sign the discipline is slipping. I also had a good chat with a few of the youth teams family (there's people that hold. Lot of footballing weight there they know there stuff and even they are critiquing bad when they should tow the club line)
I'm not pretending to be Alex Ferguson but I do hold footballing badges what I see on the pitch is not right. I can see the shape, the same mistakes the lack of changes etc.
It ain't personal I haven't said I don't like pochs face it is professional on that pitch.
Sorry if I irritated anyone.
Just apologise when I'm proved right hahahaha
posted on 3/9/15
but the problem is llm, you have said alot of things on here and many not proved right, i to hold my badges but it doesnt make my opinion any more important than anyone else, or more informed.
posted on 3/9/15
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 3/9/15
comment by Spurtle2 (U1608)
We all know about the building of the stadium, and that's all well and good, but it's moot regarding getting a striker in, or getting Berahino in. If he was indeed a "key target" as suggested in the second paragraph of the response, why would you try to acquire him through what looks like a half hearted approach, by offering bids below the desired price, and leaving it so late in the transfer window?
It's the same with the other 2 forward signings to an extent. Why would you sign them after the season starts, when we could have done with them before the season started?
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That is exactly the question.
posted on 3/9/15
comment by heisenberg... (U4832)
posted 9 hours, 11 minutes ago
Anyone else get the feeling Berahino might get one of those niggly injuries that are hard to diagnose? No need to go on strike when you get one of those
..............................................
Classy...
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You know what, Heis? I remember Roy Hodgson saying on the BBC News football website that Peter Odemwingie always seemed to be carrying some sort of ankle injury which rendered hin unavailable for selection. I remember that very well.
posted on 3/9/15
comment by Philspurs - Vertonghen-cheek (U3278)
posted 1 day ago
Spot on from the club. We remained professional throughout the window. We identified which players needed to be moved on, and managed to move almost all of them (with one notable exception). We identified the areas to strengthen, identified the players we wanted, and managed to get almost all of them (with one notable exception).
The Berahino transfer was conducted professionally throughout, we were just unfortunate that our valuation did not match that of WBA. Clearly the club felt there were no other suitable targets for that position worth pursuing. Personally, I'm not sure I agree with that, but I'm not in charge.
Good window overall, and a strong statement from the club.
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Well said, totally agree