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FA Will Have To Fund Arry’s Replacement

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Good morning.

It’s far from a complete surprise of course but the jungle drums have begun gently beating in relation to this whole England manager business. How much of this is factual and what elements are conjecture are for you to decide. So here we go…

While the FA have yet to make a formal approach… the two parties on our side are making ready their respective contingencies. For Arry’s part as we all know, he wants the England job and is letting the tide of popular opinion carry him gently into it.

Levy & Co have understandably gone into self preservation mode and it’s suggested that if or rather when the FA do come a knockin’ that they better brace themselves. Oh yes and bring an articulated lorry of cash with them.

It’s been suggested to me that Tottenham will understandably not roll over and have their tummy tickled in all this; a robust stance ought not be confused with brinkmanship.

The mood at The Lane is that Arry wasn’t cheap to install, a lot of hard work has gone in during this appointment and to date it has been a massive success. The poaching of Arry is not merely a challenge to the achievements but a concerted attack that will directly attempt to undo it all.

Not only will a firm stance be taken over the remainder of Arry’s contract a financial cost be placed upon it plus – and this is the really interesting bit – the cost of organizing his replacement.

Arry came in at a reported cost of £5M and his stock has obviously soared. The expectations then – based upon achievement and the requirement to uphold the standard set – of who is an acceptable replacement are understandably high.

Who knows what goes through the FA’s mind? But if they were thinking a Arry would arrive all smiles with a carriage clock under his arm they will need to think again.

The feeling is that the Club has learned a few lessons the hard way [think the shoddy and destructive Berbatov deal] and won’t be fooled again. The firm line taken in relation to Modric will set the tone. The message is you sign a contract with us, you see it out. If you don’t want to see it out bring a good lawyer and plenty of folding. 

Both sides are keen to avoid a PR disaster. But the ball is certainly in the FA’s court. Whilst the England manager position dominates the back pages, the reality is that the national side’s stock has been in a more or less continuous slump since 1966. They may release a new Engerlund shirt every 6 weeks but it’s difficult to find someone selling them at full price.

Arry could rejuvenate the FA streams like nobody ever has. But Levy & Co. are determined to safeguard the Club’s future. 

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243 comments

  • rogerspurs says:

    The weight of “public opinion” as expressed in the press ( haven’t seen any OPSI/MORI opinion polls mind) suggests Arry will get the job, in the same manner that the clamour for Keegan got him the job. To be fair to Arry football people in the main are opportunists ( no different to general society eh? – a reflection of the post Thatcher ‘revolution’ perhaps?) so if he’s offered the golden ticket to the chocolate factory we shouldn’t be surprised if he gorges himself. At 64 he’d no doubt give it a good go (he’ll do no worse than the last series of failures)and importantly for those looking for ‘the main chance’ he’ll set himself up nicely for his media punditry/golfing/ having a flutter retirement.
    The priority for us, as a club, players, fans etc must be “don’t lose the focus between now and the end of the season”. Too much is hanging on CL qualification – financial backing, keeping/signing top players, and attracting the right calibre manager for “the project”. Levy is astute enough to get the best financial deal – but the ball is well and truly in the FAs court and if I were Levy, having gauged Arry’s mood as ” well I want the England job” I’d probably quietly give Arry positive signals that he can go after we’ve qualified for the CL / won the Cup – and make sure the FA keep well away until this has been achieved. We know through more recent stadium events Levy can get his legal team on the case to get what he wants.
    Arry may surprise us and decide that he’s got too much going for him at Spurs – and he may honour his debt to Levy and the club . But in any event to those who say “don’t flatter is ego” I’d suggest the only weapon we have as fans is precisely that – play to his ego and let him know how important he is to us right now. The ‘We want Arry’ atmosphere has clearly appealed to him – we also need a song that says ” the press may want you now Arry but they’ll crucify you sooner than you think”.
    Give the bloke some support – leave the ‘will he /won’t he’ till the end of the season. It ain’t the priority at the moment, as I’m sure Daniel knows.

    • LosLorenzo says:

      If the FA really want ‘Arry, they’ll follow his suggestion that they wait ’til May to make their appointment.

  • LosLorenzo says:

    ‘Arry and his contract (and “reparations” for his replacement) is one thing. Chances are, if he is replaced, that any number of Bond, Jordan, Ferdinand, Sherwood, Parks would also de facto have to be replaced. As far as I know, they also all have contracts and make decent money. You can’t jut fire them, they’d be due compensation.

    This might Levy make see a case for getting Poyet in, as he might be willing to keep some of this lot and save a bundle o’ dosh? Not sure how I feel about that…

    • Essexian76 says:

      I’ve said as much on a few occasions, it’s not about Harry,it’s about the club’s infrastructure, the backroom boys, youth sides and so on. Continuity and someone coming in without the ego to rip up all the groundwork, just to put his own stamp on things is my biggest concern. Harry’s a figurehead, a man manager,leader for sure-but it’s the structure he’s put in place along with a great team to watch, that’s impressed me the most and that’s some act to follow-regardless of who it is.

  • UnkleKev says:

    Much is being made of ‘Arry owing Levy big time, but I would argue that he has already paid him back (and with considerable interest to boot). He has taken a club ailing at the foot of the league and transformed them into genuine title contenders. If he does go, he leaves behind him a club in extremely good health and some of the best talent in the world will champing at the bit to replace him.

    It really is a win-win situation.

  • Mike Rowe says:

    Arry will take the job if offered I fear but Levy will make sure the FA think long and hard before offering him it as the financial implications for the FA would be immense. Also how can the FA justify ripping the heart out of a club as the whole coaching staff would surely follow him out of the door to England. It may happen but it is not as much of a sure thing as some would have us believe. I support Arry whatever his decision as he has taken Spurs to a level not seen in my lifetime (and I am 51!!). The club will go on and the foundations laid over the last few years will mean we can attract good players and a manager to take us forward if needed. I would love Arry to stay and see out what he has started but if he goes it is not the end of the recent change in fortunes but a side step maybe

    • a+e shot my cat says:

      So all is Rosie then :blink:

    • mullingarspur says:

      have you forgotten the 84/85 and 86/87 seasons Mike. top of the pile on new years day 85 with real title aspirations. the nearly team of 87 that could of won the treble and alas came up short. harry’s got us a fourth place finish, shreeves(real name shreeve) got us a third as did pleat and venables.
      the fa will cough up to get harry, he is ‘the people’s choice’ after all and we’ll give norwich a few quid for lambert and real glory days will return.

      nice blog today HH.

  • Razspur says:

    `Ows about this then,

    Hello, is it me you`re looking for ?

    Oh Danny boy the FA, the FA are calling,
    They want our Harry, and won`t accept us stalling,
    Offering cash, they say they`re gonna phone ya,
    Much as Spurs can spend, could even buy Barcelona,

    Messi kissing the Cockerel badge in Lilywhite,
    Plying his trade in the premier league, dynamite,
    I dreamed of this day for fifty years,
    Will my health hold out, please no tears,

    I can go to my grave happy, knowing they done it,
    Took on the best and gone on and won it,
    Best team in the World,of that there`s no doubt,
    All with one voice, stand up and shout,

    This games about Glory…What a Story,
    One Faith, One Team, One Dream…THFC.

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