Jermaine Jenas is saying what most Spurs fans have already said!

Jermaine Jenas is saying what most Spurs fans have already said!

By Don Scully

Yes, our ex-Spurs player Jenas sends a blistering message to Daniel Levy over our current direction (or lack thereof).

As everybody knows, we had a disastrous 2020/21 campaign, and Jenas warned that this disastrous campaign could continue unless Levy changes his objectives. He has suggested that ENIC’s “half-hearted” ownership of the club is costing them as they attempt to challenge the Premier League’s elite. This is something I’ve been saying for years.

Ever since we got to the Champions League Final and Pochettino said that the club must invest, we have been wandering around directionless. Two managers later (Mourinho and Mason), and we’ve even slipped further back. Mason was relieved of his temporary manager’s job, but we haven’t found anybody yet (even though there have been rumours), and because of this and two poor seasons, Levy and the fans have become a laughing stock. At least 10 top managers have been interviewed, and either they didn’t want it, or Levy didn’t want to invest heavily, as some managers insisted.

Then there is our transfer policy; under Levy, it has also been called into question on numerous occasions. Jenas has appealed to the club’s hierarchy to get their affairs in order if they want to challenge at the top of the league table. He said: “Maybe there needs to be a mindset shift in the club now. I have always felt that as owners of the football club, they have done a great job up until this point where it is, the stadium, the training ground, the visualisation of what Tottenham are. They are at a bit of a crossroads. I have always said you are going to have to make a decision at some point.”

However, where Jenas does give him praise, and I agree here (as most fans will concur) is where Levy has provided the club with a world-class playing facility, stadium and building projects; however, like all of us, he wants to see far more ambition in the transfer market going forwards.

Jenas has also said, “Do you [Levy] want to be part of the big boys that spend the money, pay the big wages and compete at the top level like Chelsea do, like Man City do, like Man United do, like Liverpool do? Do you want to be part of that? Or are you going to half-heart it again for the next 10 years? Half-hearting, it is showing you what you are right now. Financially there will be a really good model when that stadium kicks in, but if they want to be part of the elite, I would like to see them be part of the elite to the fans and go and compete at the top level for the best players. They let Bruno Fernandes go to Manchester United, he could have been a Spurs player if they had gone a bit deeper. There are loads of situations like that.”

Observations on what Jenas said

Most Tottenham hotspur supporters will agree with what Jenas has said; only those dewy-eyed supporters will throw their support behind Levy, believing he is a saint and has done a brilliant job on the field of play.

As I said, credit to Levy for the stadium/ money machine he has created. But that alone isn’t enough. Initially, we were a football club, and that meant a club that won trophies and put their heads above the parapet. Better expressed by what Bill Nicholson said,

“It’s magnificent to be in Europe, and this club – a club like Tottenham Hotspur – if we’re not in Europe… we’re nothing.

“The public can’t be kidded. They know what they want to see, what is good and what is bad and what is just average. At least I believe they do.”

“Any player coming to Spurs, whether he’s a big signing or just a ground staff boy, must be dedicated to the game and to the club. He must be prepared to work at his game. He must never be satisfied with his last performance, and he must hate losing.”

Obviously, Levy doesn’t fall into that category.

“Spurs have got to be the best in the land, not the second best.”

Daniel Levy should remember that.

“If you don’t win anything, you have had a bad season.”

Another quote that Levy should take heed of.

“It’s been my life, Tottenham Hotspur, and I love the club.”

His life, our life, but not the board’s life, sadly.

Everything that was quoted by Bill Nicholson and what he passionately believes in cannot be said about Daniel Levy, Joe Lewis or the Board. To them, it is about money and enriching themselves. Joe Lewis saw the club’s acquisition as making more money for himself; Levy saw he could make a name for himself (and maybe a statue erected in his honour) with top Chairman’s wages, which he achieved. Is that progress on the field?

By Don Scully

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Don Scully

I have been following Spurs since the sixties and work in London. My current job is as a professional writer (working in the media), and I have work connections to the club and had previously worked for them. Including working at the old White Hart Lane stadium.

I also have my own blog and have written for the SpursWeb app & its website.