THBN - Tottenham Hotspur Blog News

Why Constructive Criticism Builds Winners — And Destructive Critics Prove They’re Not One

2025-07-20T06:00:00.071+00:00

“Winners take responsibility, losers don't.” — Trophy Series | Tottenham Hotspur Blog News

Good morning to the winning mentalities and thank you.

To the rest, I'm laughing at you.

It's all way over your head as yesterday's article demonstrated the Yves Bissouma Situation, and oh, by the way, I have been talking with the club, yes.

Most recently the Head of Football Communication.

If I have criticisms of players, it's only right that the club have a private contact for me.

I'll explain all in today's article, but before we do, let's hear from Thomas Frank and take an excerpt from his first press conference:

"It is better to be positive than negative because it is very difficult to achieve anything or achieve anything big or do things that were not possible before if you're not optimistic."

🧠 Mentality Assessment: Anonymous Abuse

❌ The Mentality of Anonymous Abuse

Abusing someone anonymously is not just an act of cowardice — it reveals a deeper psychological profile that stands in direct opposition to a winning mindset.

Here’s what it shows:

1. Lack of Accountability = Losing Mentality

Winners step forward and own their views.
Even if they disagree, they sign their name to it.
They’re proud to stand for something.

Anonymous abusers?
They hide in the shadows because even they know their comments wouldn’t survive scrutiny.
They want to cause harm — without risking any of the consequences.

That’s the very definition of weakness.

2. Jealousy Disguised as Criticism

When someone targets your work — not with reasoned disagreement, but with personal abuse — it usually means your work is effective.

They see the momentum.
They feel your insight.
They sense that your voice is being heard.

And rather than compete with that by improving themselves, they try to tear you down.

That’s not disagreement.
That’s insecurity.

3. They Want Power Without Effort

Anonymous abusers crave influence, but they don't want to do the work to earn it.

They don’t create content.
They don’t build audiences.
They don’t sign their names.

Yet they think they’re entitled to criticise those who do.

That’s the mark of someone who resents ambition — not someone who’s trying to achieve anything.

🕳️ What Hiding Says About Them

Let’s get to the psychology of being anonymous:

It removes the need for courage
It strips away any risk
It emboldens the worst in people — because they know they won’t be held to their words

This is anti-leadership behaviour.
True leaders are transparent.
They’re willing to be challenged.
They don’t need masks.

💡 Winning Mentality vs. Anonymous Cowardice

Winning Mentality	Anonymous Cowardice
Owns their voice	Hides behind a screen
Critiques ideas	Attacks people
Builds something	Tears others down
Competes with respect	Tries to sabotage
Uses failure to grow	Uses abuse to feel big

🧨 Final Thought

The abuse I'm receiving isn’t about me — it’s about what I represent:

Progress
Conviction
Vision
Courage to put my name to my thoughts

People who lack those traits often feel threatened by those who have them.
So they lash out.

But remember: nobody anonymous ever changed the world.

And nobody with a losing mentality ever won anything — except maybe a comment war they didn’t even have the courage to sign.

Anonymous people are proving they have losing mentalities by hiding and thus their opinion is worthless.

And I haven't delved into the world of constructive criticism over negative criticism.

There’s a world of difference between constructive and destructive criticism.

One seeks to build — the other to belittle.

Constructive criticism challenges ideas, offers perspective, and respects the process of improvement.

It’s rooted in a desire to see something — or someone — get better.

Destructive criticism, by contrast, is cowardly and corrosive.

It hides behind anonymity, offers no solutions, and thrives on negativity.

It’s the voice of someone who’s never built anything — and never will.

To me, that’s a losing mentality.

And a losing mentality offers nothing worth listening to.

🙏 To Those Who Put Their Name to It…

Not everyone hides.

Some of you take the time to think.
To ask insightful questions.
To challenge ideas respectfully.
To add value — not venom.

You don’t always agree with me — and that’s the point.
Debate builds understanding. Criticism sharpens thinking.

But you put your name to it.

That alone sets you apart.

It shows courage.
Conviction.
And above all — a mentality worth respecting.

Winners take responsibility, losers don't.

This blog is for you.

Thanks for raising the level.

COYS

The Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series

Part 1: The Introduction ➤ Broad intro, failure analysis, foundation for the series

Part 2: Daniel Levy Talks a Big Game — But Is He Playing to Win? ➤ Spurs had the skill, lacked the mentality. Mentality is the missing ingredient.

Part 3: The Hidden Reason Spurs Fell Short — And It Wasn’t Skill ➤ Kane-era players looked like winners, but the club never taught them how to cross the line. Who’s responsible? Both the chairman and manager.

Bonus Article: Trying Hard Isn’t a Winning Mentality — And That’s Why Spurs Fans Don’t See the Problem ➤ Excellent standalone piece that breaks the common fan misconception.

Part 4: Can You Build a Winning Team Without Any Winners in It? ➤ Spurs proved in 2025 that mentality wins trophies. But now the manager has no silverware. Can you build belief without experience — and who teaches it?

Part 5: How Can You Tell If a Player Has a Winning Mentality? ➤ Most fans can’t — and neither can clubs. Spurs need to scout mentality, not just ability. Winning mindset isn’t loud or flashy — it’s consistent under pressure.

Part 6: Fans Say We Need Better Players — But What If We’ve Been Wasting the Ones We’ve Got? ➤ The problem isn't the squad. It's the environment. Spurs don’t develop winners — they hope they've signed one. Postecoglou proved coaching can change that.

The Yves Bissouma Situation

2025-07-18T06:00:00.028+00:00

You don’t fix a losing culture by protecting players who helped create it.

Spurs Transfer Speculation

Morning folks, the obvious stories you can get elsewhere with everyone fighting over a piece of gristle to say they bought it to you first, as if that means you are always going to read, listen, qatch to them.

So I'll leave the dogs fighting over a bone on their own and continue to offer something different from the perspective that matters, a winning mentality one.

It's off to Italy today to discuss our stubborn midfielder, who needs to be told he won't be picked in the UEFA Champions League squad.

Spurs need to be ruthless, winners are.

If people don't like that attitude, they are probably not winners, more interested in image and being someones friend, that's not a winning mentality.

Winning comes first, popularity comes second.

I'll grant you, you could argue Bissouma is, under those terms, demonstrating a winning mentality, but there is plenty of evidence to prove otherwise and I suspect his motives are more about him being in a comfortable, friendly environment.

Anyway, onto the Yves Bissouma section.

Yves Bissouma

The new coming out of Italy regarding Yves Bissouma, yet another player digging his heels in and refusing to leave after only giving about 7 decent performances all season.

It shows that these players have the wrong mentality, something I have pointed out about Bissouma before because clearly he thinks he has performed well or is he here for the money?

I wouldn't call Juventus a step down and he is more likely to win trophies with them. Their plan is to rotate him in midfield so he gets plenty of game time so does he see Spurs as a cushy number, somewhere where he can continue to inhale nitrous oxide on the quiet?

The question has to be asked, is he simply running down his contract so he can get a signing on fee and demand bigger wages at his next club?

Is the desire to stay at Spurs a smokescreen for that desire because he can't be expecting a new contract offer when he hasn't produced the goods on the field on a consistent basis.

Those two screenshots are from TuttoMercato Web and Italian aggregator.of Italian news. In Italy and Spain, clubs talk to the press more.

They come out of meetings and immediately talk to any waiting reporters so you often get more and more accurate news from them.

Comfort is the enemy of greatness. And the ally of underperformers.

Mentality Profile: Yves Bissouma

Key Evidence:

Performance inconsistency:
- "Only giving about 7 decent performances all season."
- Indicates a lack of professional pride or failure to maintain high standards over time.
- Consistency is a hallmark of elite mentality — especially in midfield, where rhythm and reliability define winning teams.
Resistance to move:
- “Refusing to leave” despite underperformance.
- Suggests comfort > challenge, or entitlement > accountability.
- A true winner looks for the right environment to thrive, not the easiest one to coast.
Juventus opportunity rejected:
- Juventus isn’t a “step down.”
- Juventus offer more chance of trophies, with a rotational role (which could suit his erratic form).
- Turning this down would hint at deeper motivations — possibly:
  - Fear of competition?
  - Prioritising lifestyle/security over trophies?
  - Hidden strategy to run down the contract?
Discipline and off-field attitude:
- Reference to "inhaling nitrous oxide" (even if done privately).
- Not just about legality — this reflects carelessness with public image, club representation, and personal development.
- Mentality includes self-regulation off the pitch.
Perceived self-worth vs. actual output:
- “Clearly he thinks he has performed well” — but he hasn’t.
- Delusion or denial like this is dangerous to dressing room culture.
- Winners crave feedback, adapt, and fight for a place. They don’t ignore the mirror.

🔍 Overall Assessment

Bissouma’s current attitude and actions — both on and off the pitch — do not align with a winning mentality.

He lacks the humility to admit he hasn't delivered.
He rejects the challenge of earning a role elsewhere.
He may be choosing personal comfort over career ambition.
There’s no public hunger, no messaging from his camp about fighting back or proving himself.

If anything, this resembles the “participation mentality”: being satisfied with being part of a big club, rather than being a big player at the club.

THBN The Final Word:

“You don’t fix a losing culture by protecting players who helped create it.”

Once again, I'm delighted to have challenged your thinking, challenged your mentality because plenty of you are Yves Bissouma in disguise, particularly on social media.

Social media has moved the world on, it is everything now, it is where opinions are formed, where the news comes from.

Just like Yves Bissouma, you have a responsibility in the way you act on social media, but too many of you are a total disgrace and your actions prove you don't actually want trophies, you just want your ego to be right.

COYS

The Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series

Part 1: The Introduction ➤ Broad intro, failure analysis, foundation for the series

Part 2: Daniel Levy Talks a Big Game — But Is He Playing to Win? ➤ Spurs had the skill, lacked the mentality. Mentality is the missing ingredient.

Bonus Article: Trying Hard Isn’t a Winning Mentality — And That’s Why Spurs Fans Don’t See the Problem ➤ Excellent standalone piece that breaks the common fan misconception.

Part 6: Fans Say We Need Better Players — But What If We’ve Been Wasting the Ones We’ve Got?

2025-07-17T07:19:00.003+00:00

“If you don’t teach players to win, don’t be surprised when they don’t.” — Trophy Series | Tottenham Hotspur Blog News

Good morning folks, welcome to Part 6 of 8 of The Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series.

Spurs fans love a big name.

Especially in the transfer window.

It's the limit of some people's vision.

When things go wrong, the default answer is: spend more. Sign someone proven. Splash £60 million.

But what if the problem isn’t the player?

What if it’s what happens to him after he gets here?

Because we’ve spent the money.

We’ve brought in names.

We've made names.

We’ve had Champions League finalists, World Cup winners, Premier League standouts.

And it hasn’t worked.

Not because they weren’t good enough.
But because Spurs didn’t know how to make the most of them.

“We’re Not a Club That Elevates Players — We Absorb Them”

Watch what happens when top players join Spurs.

They don’t elevate the squad — the squad dilutes them.

You can feel it:

Cristian Romero walks in with a trophy-winning pedigree.
He plays like a warrior. Wins duels, lifts the back line.
But over time, even he starts to show signs of… regression.

Why?

Because he’s surrounded by players who haven’t felt winning.
Who haven’t lived it.
And if the culture isn’t strong enough, it doesn’t pull them up — it brings him down.

That’s how elite players lose their edge at Spurs.
And it’s been happening for years.

We Thought the Problem Was the Squad — But It Was the Environment

Think back to the players fans said weren’t good enough.

Ndombele. Lo Celso. Bergwijn.
Doherty. Emerson. Reguilón.

Some left and looked better.
Some were clearly miscast.
But the core truth is this:

Spurs never gave them the mental training, expectation, or environment to thrive.

And when they failed to shine?
We didn’t ask: What did we do wrong?
We said: Get better players.

It’s not just lazy — it’s expensive.

And worse… it hides the real issue.

“If you don’t teach players to win, don’t be surprised when they don’t.” — Trophy Series | Tottenham Hotspur Blog News

Postecoglou Proved It — Coaching Can Turn Players Into Winners

Look at the leap under Ange.

Same players.
New manager.
New belief.

Spurs won the Europa League in 2025 not by buying a new squad — but by getting more out of the one they had.

Postecoglou didn’t wave a wand.

He created an environment of belief, standards, and conviction.
That changes how a player walks. Talks. Thinks. Leads.

Romero was always elite.
But Romero with belief is a leader. A force. A winner.

And now — he might be sold.

The Cycle Will Repeat Until the Club Changes Its Mindset

Let’s say Son and Romero leave.
Let’s say we reinvest £90 million.

If we don’t change the environment — we’ll break the next batch too.

The fans will say they weren’t good enough.
But we’ll know the truth:

The club wastes players.

Not deliberately.
Not maliciously.
But by failing to teach what winning looks like, feels like, demands.

The Fans Want a £60M Signing — What We Actually Need Is a £60M Culture

Until Spurs become a place that creates winners…
Not just signs them…

We’ll stay in the nearly zone.

Because winners don’t thrive in chaos.
They thrive in systems. In cultures. In clubs that expect them to lead — and equip them to do so.

That’s what Klopp did.
That’s what Ange started.
That’s what Frank must continue — or risk falling back to square one.

🔚 THBN The Final Word

Tottenham fans think the problem is personnel.

But personnel are only half the picture.

The truth is simpler — and more brutal:

Spurs don’t develop mentalities.

They recruit ability, then hope.

It’s time to stop hoping.

It’s time to train players to win — not just hope they arrive that way.

Because we’re not losing finals anymore due to bad luck.

We’re losing them because we didn’t create enough leaders.

And if Thomas Frank can’t change that — Spurs will keep replacing players.

But never changing the outcome.

COYS

The Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series

Part 1: The Introduction ➤ Broad intro, failure analysis, foundation for the series

Part 2: Daniel Levy Talks a Big Game — But Is He Playing to Win? ➤ Spurs had the skill, lacked the mentality. Mentality is the missing ingredient.

Part 3: The Hidden Reason Spurs Fell Short — And It Wasn’t Skill ➤ Kane-era players looked like winners, but the club never taught them how to cross the line. Who’s responsible? Both the chairman and manager.

Bonus Article: Trying Hard Isn’t a Winning Mentality — And That’s Why Spurs Fans Don’t See the Problem ➤ Excellent standalone piece that breaks the common fan misconception.

Part 4: Can You Build a Winning Team Without Any Winners in It?

Part 5: How Can You Tell If a Player Has a Winning Mentality?

A transfer roundup

2025-07-15T08:56:00.001+00:00

Tottenham Hotspur Transfer Talk with THBN

Good morning, a quick transfer roundup from foreign sources. I'm sure there are a few bits others haven't reported.

As you know, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Belgian international centre-back Koni De Winter, who is available for €20-25 million (£17.39-£21.73m, but Italian reports say the player's preference is to stay in Italy.

Croatian international and former Lilywhites midfielder Luka Modrić, who is 40 in September, has signed a one-year deal with a one-year extension option with AC Milan after leaving Real Madrid.

Modrić, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner, is the most decorated player in the Spanish club's history: 6 UEFA Champions Leagues, 5 FIFA Club World Cups, 1 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, 5 UEFA European Super Cups, 4 LaLiga titles, 2 Copa del Rey, and 5 Spanish Super Cups.

Liverpool want £60 million (€69.02m) for England U-21 midfielder Harvey Elliott and West Ham United seem to be the club most interested in him. The Hammers are said to be about to make a £40 million (€46.01m) bid with a buy-back clause for Liverpool.

A buy-back clause is not something Spurs would consider having in a contract because it doesn't give you control over a player.

Manchester United outcast Jadon Sancho, linked with Spurs, is likely off to Juventus. The Serie A side have submitted a bid of €10 million (£8.69m) and the winger would be happy to sign for The Old Lady (La Vecchia Signora).

Juventus want to sell former Aston Villa central midfielder Douglas Luiz and the 27-year-old Brazilian international has indicated that he wants to join Tottenham Hotspur, having disappointed after his move valued at €51.50 million (£44.7m) move last summer,

That was made up of €28 million(£24.34m), plus the signings of Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea.

From what I hear, West Ham United are the club most interested in him at this stage, than can of course change in an instant when another club moves into gear.

Juventus are interested in Yves Bissouma, but Bissouma doesn't want to leave Spurs, which is blocking squad improvement. In Italy they report he is valued at €25 million (£21.73m).

Half a dozen good games at the end of the season and one during it, doesn't make the Nitrous Oxide inhaling African a player to keep.

Local paper La Repubblico di Torino report that Juvuntus must sell before they can buy, hence why they are actively persuing all enquiries for Luiz.

Juventus are considering terminating the contract of Dušan Vlahović, whose €315,000 a week wages they want off the books.

Everything is at a standstill regarding him at the moment, which will of course all centre around the wages he wants.

No club wants to pay a transfer fee if they have to stump up high wages, thus fees have to be reduced so more can be available to up his wages.

I have seen talk of €15 million for him, but at £200,00 a week, that's a year and a half's wages. At £150,000 a week, it's 2 years wages.

I'd be looking to pay him £150,000 a week which, with our bonus payments (some of the best in the Premier League) would nearly double that amount.

He and Dominic Solanke fighting for the centre-forward role looks good on paper.

A termination of his contract financially helps whichever club he moves to. Spurs would need to revive his Fiorentina goalscoring exploits in the Premier League, but he would be value if successful.

You are taking a chance on that, though, but Fiorentina showed there is an out-and-out goalscorer there.

Juventus want to replace him with Kolo Muani of UEFA Champions League winners PSG, but they need the French club to shift their position and allow a loan with option to buy deal.

COYS

The Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series

Part 1: The Introduction ➤ Broad intro, failure analysis, foundation for the series

Part 2: Daniel Levy Talks a Big Game — But Is He Playing to Win? ➤ Spurs had the skill, lacked the mentality. Mentality is the missing ingredient.

Bonus Article: Trying Hard Isn’t a Winning Mentality — And That’s Why Spurs Fans Don’t See the Problem ➤ Excellent standalone piece that breaks the common fan misconception.

Part 4: Can You Build a Winning Team Without Any Winners in It?

Part 5: How Can You Tell If a Player Has a Winning Mentality?

2025-07-14T06:30:00.091+00:00

“Spurs have been scouting wrong for years.” — Trophy Series | Tottenham Hotspur Blog News

How Do You Spot a Winning Mentality — Before It’s Too Late?

Good morning.

Winning mentalities (positive people) say Spurs won the 2025 UEFA Europa League, while losing mentalities (negative people) say Spurs finished 17th.

That's it in a nutshell.

Morgan Gibbs-White has a release clause. Spurs said we'll pay it, end of story.

That's it in a nutshell.

Putting league position over trophies is exactly what the very same people have been complaining about, hypocrites.

When I have finished laughing, we can move on.

No wonder this blog goes over their heads.

But enough of the nutshells, onto today's offering.

Tottenham Hotspur won the Europa League in 2025.
We proved we could win.
But now, with Son and Romero likely to be sold… and a manager with no trophies to his name…
We’re back at a crossroads.

And here’s the uncomfortable truth:

If we don’t know how to spot winners — we won’t build another winning team.
And if we don’t know what a winning mentality actually looks like, we’ll keep buying the wrong players.

Most Fans and Clubs Get This Wrong

Ask most fans what a winning mentality looks like and they’ll say things like:

“He never stops running.”
“He wore the armband.”
“He claps the fans even after a loss.”
“He plays through pain.”

They’re describing effort.
Emotion.
Grit.

And they’re not wrong.

But they’re not right either.

Because here’s the truth:

Trying hard isn’t a winning mentality. It’s the minimum.

Real Winners Behave Differently

If you want to spot a winning mentality, don’t look for veins popping in the tunnel.
Look for this:

A refusal to hide when things go wrong.
An ability to lift teammates — not just themselves.
Total clarity in pressure moments.
An internal standard that never drops, no matter the scoreline.
The ability to influence results without needing the ball.

Cristian Romero didn’t win all his finals by chance.
He won because he played the same way every game — aggressive, accountable, unapologetic.

He doesn’t play the occasion.
He is the occasion.

Spurs Must Change How They Scout Mentality

We’ve scouted wrong for years.

We look at:

Goals
Assists
National team caps
Whether they’ve “played in Europe”

But do we ever ask:

“What does he do when we’re 1–0 down?”
“Is he a leader when it’s quiet?”
“Can he raise the players around him?”

Those things don’t show up on a stat sheet.
You don’t see them in YouTube compilations.
But they win trophies.

With Leaders Like Son and Romero Potentially Leaving…

We don’t just lose skill.
We lose standards.

We lose players who:

Trained like it was a final
Set the tone without needing a manager
Carried belief into the dressing room
Made others believe this club could win

If we don’t replace that mentality, then we don’t replace those players — no matter who we buy.

The Risk with a Manager Who Hasn’t Won

Thomas Frank now walks into a dressing room full of Europa League winners.

And he has to convince them that he can take them further.
Without ever having done it himself.

That’s hard.

So the club must support him by identifying players with inner drive — not just outer polish.
We need hunger.
Ambition.
Fire.

Not names. Not reputations. Not resale value.

We’ve Seen What Happens Without It

Since 2008, we’ve had squads that tried.
Squads that were almost good enough.
But not quite.

4 finals.
No trophies.

Until 2025.

7 finals under Daniel Levy

2 trophies.

Why?
Because Ange Postecoglou didn’t just coach football.
He coached belief.
And he signed players who had it — or could be shaped to have it.

🔚 THBN The Final Word

If you go back to the FA Cup finals of the 70's and 80's the rhetoric from Brian Moore and studio experts was:

How the youngsters in each team handle the occasion will decide the game.

It was about mentality back then, it's nothing new.

Tottenham Hotspur’s new era can’t be built on guesswork.
We can’t afford to keep finding out whether a player has the right mentality after they sign.

We need to know before they pull on the shirt.

That means building a new scouting layer — for personality, not just passing.
Mentality, not just metrics.

Because if we don’t learn how to spot winners…

We’ll go back to just signing names.
And wondering why nothing changes.

COYS

The Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series

Part 1: The Introduction ➤ Broad intro, failure analysis, foundation for the series

Part 2: Daniel Levy Talks a Big Game — But Is He Playing to Win? ➤ Spurs had the skill, lacked the mentality. Mentality is the missing ingredient.

Bonus Article: Trying Hard Isn’t a Winning Mentality — And That’s Why Spurs Fans Don’t See the Problem ➤ Excellent standalone piece that breaks the common fan misconception.

Part 4: Can You Build a Winning Team Without Any Winners in It?

2025-07-12T06:30:00.000+00:00

“Buying winners is not the solution at Spurs.” — Tottenham Trophy Series | Tottenham Hotspur Blog News

Tottenham Hotspur won the Europa League in 2025.

The narrative changed.

For the first time in 17 years, Spurs crossed the line. They lifted a trophy.
Players like Son and Romero — already elite — became winners.
They’d felt it. Lived it. Delivered it.

But now?

Son is likely to be sold.
Romero too — a combined £90 million heading out the door.
And the new manager?
Highly rated. Respected. But no silverware on his CV.

So now we’re asking the question all over again…

Can you build a winning team if nobody in the dressing room has done it before?

❌ You Can’t Just Buy Winners

Let’s get one thing clear:
Most clubs don’t build a winning mentality — they buy it.

They sign players from Bayern, Real Madrid, Man City.
They appoint managers with six league titles and a Champions League.

But that’s not an option for Spurs.
We don’t have oil money.
We don’t offer Premier League-ready squads full of stars.
And as history shows — even when we brought in proven winners like Mourinho and Conte — they didn’t build a winning team here.

Because they didn’t teach mentality.
They demanded it.

And when they didn’t get it — they collapsed.
So no — buying winners is not the solution at Spurs.

🧠 What Real Winners Actually Do Differently

If we’re serious about building a winning culture, we need to understand what winners actually do.

Not just in finals. Not just in May.
Every day.

Here’s what they bring that others don’t:

They hold teammates accountable — even when it’s awkward
They stay calm under pressure — and calm others too
They train with the same intensity they play with
They speak about winning like it’s inevitable
They act when others panic — they don’t wait for someone else

These aren’t slogans. They’re habits.

You don’t learn them from YouTube clips or matchday motivation.
You learn them by living them.

💡 Can You Build a Winning Team Without Winners?

Yes.
But it’s the hardest route possible.

You need:

A manager who knows what mentality looks like, even if he hasn’t lifted trophies
Senior players willing to buy into the standard and enforce it internally
A club willing to back the process — not the headline signings

Postecoglou built that for a while.
He got players believing, fighting, owning the moment.
Romero responded. Son stepped up. Maddison embraced his mentoring role. The squad transformed.

But if Son and Romero leave this summer?

The mentality they helped create goes with them — unless someone carries it forward.

That’s the risk.
And the challenge.

🛠 Stop Buying Names. Start Building Men.

Spurs fans want names.
They want transfers. Ambition. “Back the manager.”

But history is clear:
That’s not what makes Spurs win.
We’ve spent before. We’ve bought stars. We’ve appointed “proven winners.”

It didn’t work.

Because character > CV.

Mentality > marketing.

We need to stop thinking we can sign our way to trophies.
We need to sign players hungry enough to build it with us.

And we need a manager who can develop more than tactics.

He has to develop men.

🔚 THBN The Final Word

Spurs proved in 2025 they could become winners.
But with Son and Romero potentially leaving — and a new manager with no silverware — the cycle could restart.

The only way out?

Make winning mentality a club-wide standard — not something a few players bring with them.
Not something we buy in waves.
But something we train, live, and demand — every week.

You can build a winning team without winners…
But only if you create the conditions for winning to exist.
And only if you have the courage to commit to it.

The new manager has to convince 25 players that he can teach them what winners like Cristian Romero already know.

Without ever having done it himself.

That's not just a tactical challenge — it's a credibility crisis.

Because when the pressure mounts, when the moment arrives, when players are looking for leadership — they're not looking at Thomas Frank's Wikipedia page.

They're looking for someone who's been there.

Someone who's felt the weight of expectation and delivered anyway.

Someone who can say: "I've done this before. Follow me."

Every manager talks about process.

Every manager talks about culture.

Every manager talks about "building something special."

But when you're 2-1 down in a cup final with 20 minutes left, players don't remember your team talk from Tuesday.

They remember whether you've been in this situation before.

Whether you've found a way when others couldn't.

Whether you've actually delivered when it mattered.

And the new manager has to replace that presence with... what exactly?

Hope?

Tactics?

Motivational quotes?

None of that works when you're in the trenches.

Make no mistake, Frank has a massive job on his hands, far bigger than you realise.

Can you build on the mentality, that's his biggest role and the one that will define whether he is a success or not.

My worry is that the club don't know that job exists!

It's not impossible though, Jurgen Klopp did it at Liverpool.

PLayers follow conviction, not tactics.

Postecoglou's conviction won us the 2025 UEFA Europa League.

And finally, let me throw in something losing mentalities won't agree with.

Frank's job is to create new winners.

That means:

Finding players who are hungry to prove themselves, not players who are already proven.

Creating an environment where standards are set by the group, not just the manager.

Making every training session, every team meeting, every decision about building character first, talent second.

And most importantly — accepting that he might not be the one who gets the credit when it works.

Because the best managers don't create followers. They create leaders.

And leaders don't need their manager to have won trophies.

They need their manager to believe they can win trophies.

That's what Ange Postecoglou did.

COYS

The Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series

Part 1: The Introduction ➤ Broad intro, failure analysis, foundation for the series

Part 2: Daniel Levy Talks a Big Game — But Is He Playing to Win? ➤ Spurs had the skill, lacked the mentality. Mentality is the missing ingredient.

Bonus Article: Trying Hard Isn’t a Winning Mentality — And That’s Why Spurs Fans Don’t See the Problem ➤ Excellent standalone piece that breaks the common fan misconception.

Trying Hard Isn’t a Winning Mentality — And That’s Why Spurs Fans Don’t See the Problem

2025-07-10T06:07:00.000+00:00

Why Spurs Fans Miss the Real Problem — And Why Managers Like Mourinho and Conte Couldn’t Fix It

Morning folks, I told you Spurs would want to pay £50-55m for Mohammed Kudus and a deal for £55m has been agreed with West Ham United, as have personal terms.

He has his medical today and signs a 6-year deal.

At Tottenham Hotspur we’ve had some good squads.

Spurs have been in seven finals since 2008.

Finished second in the Premier League under Pochettino.

Had Kane, Son, Eriksen, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Lloris in their prime.

So why didn’t we win?

Ask most fans and they’ll say bad luck. Injuries. Referees. Daniel Levy. The usual.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Trying hard isn’t a winning mentality.

It’s the minimum.

Most Fans Don’t Understand What a Winning Mentality Actually Is

They confuse effort with expectation.

They think if a player runs a lot, screams in the tunnel, or cries after a final — they’ve got the right mentality.

But true winners don’t just try.

They expect to win. They refuse to lose. They drag others over the line.

That’s not something you switch on in May.

It’s who you are every week, every training session, every half-time team talk.

And here’s the problem:

The club never taught them how to cross the finish line.

Because the club didn’t know it needed to.

Because the “teachers” — managers, coaches, even board members — hadn’t lived that mentality themselves.

So they built squads with talent… but no belief system.

And fans, watching talented players trying hard, never saw the deeper issue.

I have been revealing the problem for over 10 years.

The same problem.

Mourinho and Conte Proved It

You might say: “We brought in proven winners.”

True. But they weren’t mentality builders.

They were chequebook managers.

“Give me the best players and I’ll win things.”

Sure. So will most managers.

But at Tottenham Hotspur, Mourinho and Conte didn’t inherit a ready-made squad of proven winners.

They didn’t teach the players how to win — because they couldn’t.

They’d always bought it. Not built it.

And when the players couldn’t match the standards they barked at them — they collapsed.

That’s not a winning culture.

It’s a shortcut. And shortcuts fail at Spurs.

Postecoglou vs. Frank: One Had It. One Theorises About It.

Ange Postecoglou won the Europa League in 2025.

He adapted. He motivated. He created belief.

Players like Cristian Romero — who has won every final he’s played in — responded to Ange’s mentality.

Because they recognised it.

Winners know winners. They feel it. Like heat.

And that brings us to the biggest truth of all:

You can’t teach what you haven’t lived.

Thomas Frank is a brilliant developer of players. But he’s never lifted a trophy at this level.

So everything he’s selling — belief, ambition, mentality — is theory.

Players can smell that.

It is a genuine concern.

Most People Don’t Have It — And That’s Why They Dismiss It

This is the bit fans hate.

They think “mentality” is some motivational slogan.

They don’t realise it’s the difference between getting over the line and folding in the final.

And when you try to explain it to them?

“It’s like trying to describe the colour red to someone born blind.”

Go ahead.

Try it.

You’ll say: “It’s the colour of fire… of anger… of danger.”

They’ll say: “What does that mean?”

That’s what it’s like explaining winning mentality to people who’ve never felt it.

They say it’s poppycock because they can’t picture it.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not real.

Spurs Had the Skill to Win. They Just Didn’t Know How.

This is the tragedy.

We had enough talent to win multiple trophies over the last 15 years.

But talent doesn’t teach you how to cope with 1–0 down in a final.

Or how to demand more from teammates who aren’t at it.

Or how to keep your head when 60,000 fans panic.

That’s not technique.

That’s mentality.

And until the club learns how to build that — not just buy it — Spurs will stay nearly men.

No matter how hard we try.

COYS

The Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series

Part 1: The Introduction

Part 2: Daniel Levy Talks a Big Game — But Is He Playing to Win?

Part 3: The Hidden Reason Spurs Fell Short — And It Wasn’t Skill

2025-07-08T06:30:00.063+00:00

“Whose Job Is It to Build a Winning Mentality?” — Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series | Tottenham Hotspur Blog News

The Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series Part 3: They Thought They Were Winners — But They’d Never Been Taught to Win

Welcome to Part 3 of the Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series.

Part 1 was just the Intro to let you know what's coming.

Part 2 relates to Daniel Levy's words that we want to win the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League, which isn't anything new. I have been reminding you of Daniel Levy's words that the vision (in other words, the long-term plan) is to rival Barcelona and Real Madrid both on and off the field.

Two things come out of that, Levy didn't say win them this season and you have to build the off field infrastructure to pay for the on field, just as Sir A;ex Ferguson explained right after he had retired in a program about him.

What is the core purpose of this article?

To prove that Spurs' historical trophy failures weren't down to lack of skill…
But due to a lack of taught winning mentality.

It explains why world-class players like Kane, Modric, Son, and Eriksen kept falling short…
…and how you can’t blame them when no one at the club actually knew how to win.

This sets up Article 4, which will likely be about what a winning mentality really is.

But first:

Tottenham Transfer News

Yves Bissouma

Quick bit of transfer news: Serie A giants Juventus are looking at Yves Bissouma, who has only a year left on his contract and is therefore available for around £13 million to £17 million (€15-20m).

Cristian Romero

Spanish newspaper AS reports that LaLiga side Atlético Madrid have made a new £60.30 million (€70m) bid for our World Cup-winning Argentinian centre-back Cristian Romero.

Their proposal is worth an initial £47.38 million (€55m), with a potential further £12.92 million (€15m) in add-ons.

That'll do with that for now, the regurgitation sites can Chinese Whisper all the transfer news to you.

Admittedly, they all just change the terminology, so a player we might have only scouted becomes someone we have tried to sign and failed, when nothing has even happened!

So, onto the Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series Part 3.

We just explained in Part 2 that infrastructure has been built, and now it’s about mentality.
This article explains why the players weren’t the problem — the culture was.

They Thought They Were Winners — But They’d Never Been Taught to Win

Tottenham Trophy Series — Part 3 of 8

Tottenham Hotspur have had world-class players.

Some of the very best.

Harry Kane. Luka Modric. Christian Eriksen. Hugo Lloris.

Talented. Professional. Loved.

But not winners.

At least — not while they were at Spurs.

The Myth of the Winning Squad

Spurs fans haven’t been told this squad was good enough to win — in fact, many believe the opposite.

They still demand bigger names. More spending. Superstar signings.

But here’s the truth:

Spurs didn’t fail because they lacked talent.
They failed because they lacked mentality.

That’s a harder sell.
It doesn’t come with a transfer fee.

But it’s the real reason the club spent years nearly winning everything — and actually winning nothing.

Until 2025.

That’s when it finally clicked.

Spurs won the UEFA Europa League.

And players like Son finally got the medals their talent deserved.

But the lesson remains:

Without mentality, talent alone will never be enough.

Modric Had to Leave to Learn

Luka Modric is one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.

But even he had to leave Spurs to become a serial winner.

The moment he stepped into Real Madrid, he entered a different reality.

He didn’t just see how winners played. He saw how they trained, how they spoke, how they thought.

And he adapted.

He became one of them.

But that never happened at Spurs — because the environment wasn’t there.

Whose Job Is It to Build a Winning Mentality?

It’s the question that defines the last 20 years:

Is building a winning mentality the job of the chairman — or the manager?

The answer?
Both. But in different ways.

🏗 The Chairman’s Role — Architect of the Environment:

Sets the culture: What’s valued — money, style, or legacy?
Hires the builders: Appoints staff who can actually develop a mentality.
Allocates tools: Infrastructure, budget, time.
Protects or breaks the cycle: Sack the builder too soon? Start from zero again.

“The chairman doesn’t train the players — he trains the culture.”

⚽ The Manager’s Role — Builder of the Mindset:

Instils daily behaviours: What winners do, not just what they say.
Maintains standards: Benches talent if it harms culture.
Models the mindset: Shows resilience in action.
Needs time: Mentality systems take 2+ years, not 2 months.

“The manager doesn’t just pick the team — he programs their operating system.”

Where Spurs Went Wrong:

Levy hired short-term winners (Mourinho, Conte)… not long-term builders.
When Ange Postecoglou arrived — the first builder in years — he wasn’t backed long enough to finish the job.
The club tried to buy a mentality through individuals… not build it into the system.

“Building a winning mentality is like constructing a house: the chairman lays the foundation — but only the manager can build the walls.”

Winning Mentality Isn’t Natural. It’s Taught.

Here’s the lie football keeps selling fans:

That winning mentality is something you’re born with.

Wrong.

It’s something you’re taught.

By leaders who’ve lived it. By teammates who hold you to it. By clubs who design it into every part of their system.

Spurs had effort.
Spurs had pride.
Spurs had elite skill.

But they never had the environment to build winners.

Because no one at the top had built them before.

And you can’t teach what you’ve never known.

“You can’t lead others to glory when you’ve never been there yourself.”

The Painter Analogy — And the Mental Block at Spurs

Try explaining the colour red to someone who’s been blind from birth.

That’s what explaining winning mentality feels like to those who’ve never lived it.

At Spurs, it’s been misunderstood for decades.

We thought it was about passion. Or effort. Or going the extra mile.

But winning isn’t emotional. It’s strategic.

It’s knowing how to handle setbacks. It’s preparing for pressure before it arrives. It’s staying ruthless when others panic.

That isn’t instinct.
That’s trained response.

And Spurs never trained it.

A Squad That Looked the Part — But Lacked the Programming

The Kane-era squad looked like winners.

The skill was there.

Runners-up in the Champions Lrague and the Premier League prove that.

To the untrained eye — they were winners.

But inside?

The hard truth: They’d never been taught how to win under pressure.

That’s why we saw:

Nervy finals
Capitulations from winning positions
Brilliant seasons with no finishing line

And fans blamed the players.

But the players weren’t broken. They were just undercooked.

“Effort looks like progress — but it’s not the same as winning mentality.”

THBN The Final Word

Tottenham Hotspur’s golden generation had the tools.

But they never had the toolbox.

Because no one at the club ever built one.

And until that changes — we’ll keep mistaking quality for mentality.

One is obvious.
The other is hidden.

One gets you to a final.
The other wins it.

Fans still call for big names.
But what Spurs really need… is winners.

And winners aren’t bought. They’re built.

In the next article, we’ll go even deeper:

What is winning mentality — and how do you know if a player has it?

See you in Part 4.

COYS.

Daniel Levy Talks a Big Game — But Is He Playing to Win?

2025-07-05T06:30:00.031+00:00

“The right infrastructure has been built. Now let’s build the winners to go inside it” — Tottenham Trophy Series | Tottenham Hotspur Blog News

From Blueprints to Belief: Why Spurs Must Now Build a Winning Mentality

Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series — Part 2 of 8

Daniel Levy wants to win the Premier League.

He’s said it.

He’s said he wants to win the Champions League too.

Big words. Big vision.

So why has one Europa League win in 2025 been the only breakthrough?

Why do we keep finishing almost there… but never build on it to become serial winners?

Infrastructure First — And That Was the Right Call

Let’s get something straight: Daniel Levy did the hard part first.

The stadium.
The training ground.
The revenue foundations that will help Spurs compete for the next 50 years.

He took a club flirting with relegation in 2001 and turned it into a global force.

The infrastructure needed to come first — and Levy delivered it.

But here’s the problem:

We’re not in the infrastructure phase anymore.

We’re in the winning phase.

And that’s where Levy has to prove he understands that what comes next is not corporate.
It’s cultural.

The Skill Has Always Been There. The Mentality Hasn’t.

Let’s stop pretending Spurs have been unlucky.

Seven finals.
Second in the Premier League.
Regular top-four finishes.

We had world-class players.
Kane. Son. Lloris. Modric. Bale. Eriksen. Vertonghen. Alderweireld.

But we didn’t build a squad of winners.
We didn’t create a system that taught players how to win.

Because no one inside the club knew how.

“We’ve had the skill to win.
We just never learned how to cross the finish line.”

And that’s not something you fix with slogans.

You fix it with conviction.

Saying You Want to Win Isn’t the Same as Building to Win

When Levy says, “We want to win the Premier League,” what does he mean?

Because building to win isn’t about ambition.
It’s about alignment.

The board.
The manager.
The recruitment team.
The backroom staff.
The culture.

They all need to believe in the same vision.

And too often at Spurs, we’ve had none of that.

We’ve had world-class talent with average beliefs.
We’ve had rebuilds started — and abandoned.
We’ve had short-term panic buys and big-name managers brought in to ‘fix it.’

All while telling fans that the next phase is about winning.

But the evidence says otherwise.

“You don’t win the Champions League with soundbites.”

Ange Showed the Way — And Levy Needs to Learn from Him

Ange Postecoglou wasn’t just a good coach.
He was a culture builder.

He understood that if you want to create a winning team, you have to first create winning behaviours.

You train like a winner. You prepare like a winner. You think like a winner.

That’s what Levy needs to embrace.

Not just facilities.
Not just finances.
Not just phrases.

He needs a structure that breeds winners.

From recruitment… to psychology… to captaincy… to academy pathway.

Winning has to be designed in.

Not hoped for.

The Next Phase: Staff, Culture, and Mentality

The buildings are done.
Now it’s about what happens inside them.

Do we hire staff who have lived the winning mentality?

Do we hire coaches who can build it in others?

Do we create an environment that demands more than effort — it demands outcome?

This is what Levy has to master next.

He doesn’t need to step aside.
He needs to evolve.

He’s always been a long-term thinker.
Now the long-term needs mindset, not bricks.

Can We Spot Winners by Name? No. We’ll Have to Wait and See.

Here’s the tough part.

Fans want instant verdicts on new signings.

But mentality isn’t printed on a transfer fee.
It’s not in the YouTube compilations.
It’s not something you can scout from a sofa, without knowing what you are looking for.

So every player we sign now… we won’t know if they’re the right ones until we see:

How they react to setbacks

How they train when injured

How they lift others when heads drop

How they perform in finals — not just semi-finals

And that’s why we need a club structure that detects mentality.
That develops it.
That demands it.

Because otherwise, we’ll keep asking the same question in 2030:

“Why haven’t we won anything yet?”

THBN The Final Word

Daniel Levy’s vision got us here.

But vision alone won’t win us regular trophies.

Now is the time for action.
For alignment.
For mentality.

The right infrastructure has been built.

Now we need to build the winners to go inside it.

COYS

The Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series

Part 1: The Introduction

Transfer Rumour Report: Tottenham Hotspur’s Interest in Kees Smit

2025-07-04T06:09:00.007+00:00

Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring Dutch wonderkid Kees Smit… but can we outbid Europe’s elite

Inside Tottenham Hotspur’s Pursuit of Europe’s Most Wanted Teen Midfielder

Good morning folks, this one doesn't seem to be general knowledge, it's not in the mainstream media yet.
Tottenham Hotspur, under the new management of Thomas Frank, are reportedly in the race to sign AZ Alkmaar’s 19-year-old Dutch midfielder Kees Smit, who has emerged as one of Europe’s most promising young talents.
This report examines Tottenham’s interest in Smit, his background, the competition for his signature, and the potential implications for Spurs’ squad.
The information is based on recent reports from reputable sources and social media discussions, including a tweet from

@Bovaboutfootie

highlighting the transfer rumour.

Player Profile: Kees Smit

Kees Smit, born in 2006, is a 19-year-old attacking midfielder currently playing for AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Smit rose to prominence after an outstanding performance at the UEFA Under-19 European Championship in 2025, where he was named Player of the Tournament for his role in helping the Netherlands secure the title.
Known for his technical ability, elegant dribbling, and eye for goal, Smit has also been a top scorer in the tournament, showcasing his versatility and potential.
He joined AZ Alkmaar’s senior squad in the summer of 2024 after progressing through their youth system and has a contract with the club until June 2028.

Smart players win the Euro U-19 Golden Player Awards

Tottenham Hotspur’s Interest

According to multiple sources, Tottenham Hotspur have been closely monitoring Smit for months, with technical director Johan Lange playing a key role in scouting the young midfielder.
Reports indicate that Spurs had representatives in Romania to observe Smit’s performances at the U19 Euros, where he impressed with his composure and creativity.
The club’s interest is part of a broader strategy under Thomas Frank to bolster the squad with young, dynamic talents suited to his high-energy, attacking style of play, especially as Tottenham Hotspur prepare for our return to the Champions League in the 2025/26 season.
A tweet from

@Bovaboutfootie

on July 4, 2025, stated, “Tottenham and Chelsea in the race for AZ Alkmaar’s 19-year-old Dutch star Kees Smit! The next big thing in midfield? #THFC #CFC #TransferRumor,” reflecting the growing buzz around Smit’s potential move to the Premier League.

Competition for Smit

Tottenham Hotspur face stiff competition for Smit’s signature. Chelsea are also heavily linked, with sources confirming their long-term interest in the midfielder, having scouted him alongside Spurs at the U19 Euros.
Other Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Leeds United, are reportedly keeping tabs on Smit’s situation.
Beyond England, European giants such as Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Marseille, and Barcelona have also shown interest, with Barcelona scouts closely following his recent performances.
This widespread attention underscores Smit’s status as a highly coveted prospect, often described as AZ Alkmaar’s “crown jewel.”
Here is a Spanish tweet, but I think the figure is way off the mark:

Kees Smith gives you legs, vision, and hunger. You can mold him right away under Xabi, and if it doesn't work out, the loss is minimal. For €5M, he's a must-sign.

Transfer Context and Challenges

Smit’s contract with AZ Alkmaar, which runs until 2028, gives the Dutch club a strong negotiating position.
While no specific transfer fee has been confirmed, AZ are reportedly demanding a “towering” sum for their starlet, which could disrupt the transfer market if a deal is agreed upon.
Tottenham Hotspur’s financial situation, with a reported net transfer debt of £279 million, may complicate our ability to secure Smit, especially given the competition from wealthier clubs like Real Madrid and Chelsea.
This £279 figure is what we owe other clubs in instalment payments for players we have bought over the last 5 years.
You ask where the money goes, that's where it goes, in transfer fees!
Thus selling players helps the situation.
One cup run, or one Champions League season doesn't wipe out that debt, only the end of individual instalment payments for individual players does.
An initial loan fee for a player, delays annual instalment payments to pay fo them.
Negotiating a transfer fee is not always just about the fee, it's about how the fee is paid, over what period yo suit each clubs accounting situation requirements, with PSR in mind.
However, Spurs’ Champions League qualification for the 2025/26 season could be a significant factor in attracting Smit, offering him a platform to compete at the highest level.

Potential Fit at Tottenham Hotspur

Smit’s skill set aligns well with Thomas Frank’s tactical vision, which emphasizes fluid attacking play and dynamic midfielders.
His ability to dribble, create chances, and contribute goals would complement Tottenham Hotspur’s current midfield options, including players like James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall.
At 19, Smit represents a long-term investment with the potential to develop into a key player, addressing Spurs’ need for depth and creativity in midfield.
However, his integration into a competitive Premier League squad would require careful management, given his relative inexperience at the senior level.
🔎 Who is Spurs target Kees Smit? (19, CM, 🇳🇱, 6’0”)🔹 Player of the Tournament at the U19 Euros🔹 Creative playmaker with elite vision🔹 Controls tempo and dictates play🔹 Excels in vertical passing and dribbling🔹 Strong spatial awareness and composure

Critical Analysis

While the excitement around Smit is justified, given his performances at youth international level, there are risks associated with his potential transfer.
His limited senior experience at AZ Alkmaar raises questions about his immediate readiness for the Premier League’s intensity.
Additionally, the high transfer fee and competition from multiple elite clubs could inflate costs, potentially making the deal less viable for Tottenham Hotspur unless we prioritise him over other targets.
The club’s recent history of investing in young talents, such as Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich, suggests we are willing to take calculated risks, but financial constraints may force us to be strategic.

THBN The Final Word

Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Kees Smit reflects our ambition to build a squad capable of competing in the Premier League and Champions League under Thomas Frank.
Smit’s technical prowess and standout performances make him a highly sought-after prospect, but Tottenham Hotspur face fierce competition from Chelsea, Real Madrid, and other top clubs.
While social media buzz, such as the tweet from

@Bovaboutfootie

, highlights the growing hype around Smit, Spurs must navigate financial and strategic challenges to secure his signature.
If successful, Smit could be a transformative addition to Tottenham Hotspur’s midfield, offering long-term potential and aligning with Frank’s vision for the club.
For the latest updates on this transfer rumour, fans can follow developments on platforms like X or visit trusted sources.

Sources

TBR Football, July 3, 2025
Soccernews.nl, July 3, 2025
Tribuna.com, June 27, 2025
FootballTransfers.com, June 23, 2025
Football.London, July 3, 2025
@Bovaboutfootie
on X, July 4, 2025
Additional X posts from
@GraemeBailey
,
@Blue_Footy
,
@Bergvallisking
,
@okoh0255
,
@ouggi
,
@Jp51Nieuws

COYS

Tomorrow, Part 2 of The Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series

Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series: Part 1 Intro

2025-07-03T06:30:00.001+00:00

You don’t win trophies by luck. You win them by design” — Tottenham Trophy Series | Tottenham Hotspur Blog News

What Needs to Change at Tottenham Hotspur to Win Trophies Regularly?

Introducing the Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series — A Candid Look at What’s Holding Spurs Back

Tottenham Hotspur have just ended a 17-year trophy drought with the 2025 UEFA Europa League triumph.

But for many fans, it’s not enough.

I have always maintained Spurs have to build to win multiple trophies, not buy to win one.

The UEL trophy needs to be a launching pad, not a nostalgic moment in another barren decade.

So, what needs to change for Spurs to win regularly?

Not just the odd cup — but compete seriously for Premier League and Champions League honours, like Daniel Levy has publicly stated.

That’s the question this series tackles.

Not with public relations (PR) spin.

Not with recycled headlines.

But with critical thought, brutal honesty, and an unwavering focus on mentality.

What Is the Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series?

This is an 8-part investigative and mindset-led series from Tottenham Hotspur Blog News that explores the real structural, cultural, and psychological reasons Spurs haven’t become serial winners — and how we could.

It’s not just a checklist of what to fix.

It’s a blueprint for changing the DNA of the club.

Across the series, I’ll ask the uncomfortable questions:

Are Daniel Levy’s words hollow or simply misaligned with his actions?
Can a manager who’s never won trophies instil a winning mentality?
Does Tottenham Hotspur’s conveyor belt of youth development actually help or hinder title ambitions?
Why do most players and staff think they have a winning mentality… but don’t?

I’ll examine everything from recruitment strategy to loan systems… from culture-building to tactical identity… from Maddison’s growing leadership to the ghost of Postecoglou’s Europa League win.

And I’ll compare it all to clubs like Manchester United — now in disarray — to see what Spurs can learn by watching others implode.

What To Expect

Each article will deep-dive into one topic. This isn’t filler. It’s forensic.

Every claim will be backed with logic, context, or comparison.

Every solution will be practical — not utopian.

And everything will be seen through the lens of a winning mentality — what it is, who has it, and how you build it from top to bottom.

This is Tottenham Hotspur’s most important conversation.

I hope it sparks the debate the club needs.

The Trophy Series Articles:

What Needs to Change at Tottenham to Win Trophies Regularly? (You’re reading it)
Daniel Levy Talks a Big Game — But Is He Playing to Win?
Why Spurs Keep Falling Short: Recruitment, Depth, and the Wrong Profiles
>Extra Article: Trying Hard Isn’t a Winning Mentality — And That’s Why Spurs Fans Don’t See the Problem
Can a Manager Without Silverware Create a Team That Wins It?
The Youth Conundrum: Building for the Future or Sacrificing the Present?
Tottenham Hotspur’s Culture of Nearly: Can That Be Unlearned?
Money, Mentality, and the Myth of Spurs’ Poor Spending
This Squad Needs a Milner or Silva — Not Just Another Talent

If Spurs want to win regularly, the excuses must stop.

So must the short-termism.

This series is for fans who want better.

Building the off-field infrastructure was essential, the material element of that has been done.

Next comes the hard part, the culture shift.

From serial nearly men to serial winners.

Ange Postecoglou showed the club the mentality it needs.

Time will tell if we learnt the lesson the Aussie taught us.

See you in the next article.

COYS

Spurs’ Champions League Dilemma: One Club-Trained Player and the Race for Academy Output

2025-07-01T05:35:00.021+00:00

Tottenham have just one club-trained player for the Champions League—this graphic shows why that’s a serious problem

Good morning to all those who don't go around with hatred in their hearts, spewing it out on social media all day like a treatment works full of sewage.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in the UEFA Champions League.

But we are walking into Europe with a problem…

We have only got one club-trained player eligible for the UEFA squad.

One.

And unless something changes this summer, Spurs won’t be allowed to register a full 25-man squad.

Not because we lack talent…

But becausewe lack homegrown depth in exactly the place a sustainable club is supposed to be strongest - its own academy.

This isn’t just a squad issue.

It’s a mirror.

A mirror reflecting the years Spurs have spent chasing transfers… while failing to produce enough elite-level players from within.

It has been a perennial problem that simply has to be solved.

And with UEFA rules tightening around club-trained quotas, Tottenham Hotspur face a simple choice:

Start fixing the pipeline - or start leaving players at home on European nights.

So today, we'll delve into the world plenty a fan moans about, even though it's vital.

Where are the gaps, what do the rules demand, and which solutions could save Spurs from a self-inflicted Champions League headache?

The UEFA Rule Spurs Can’t Afford to Ignore

You don’t need to be a lawyer to understand this.

UEFA’s squad rules are simple.

To register a full 25-man squad in the Champions League, every club must meet two homegrown quotas:

4 Club-Trained Players
(Players who were at the club for three years between ages 15–21)
4 Association-Trained Players
(Players developed in any English club’s academy, including Spurs)

No exceptions.

LOL, except Ben Davies, trained at a Welsh club playing in the English association. Spurs had to ger special dispensation for him.

If you don’t have enough club-trained players, you don’t get to replace them with others.

You just register fewer players.

So if Tottenham only have 1 club-trained player, we can only submit a 22-man List A squad.

That’s three fewer senior options available on Champions League nights.

Three missing names from the team sheet.

Three lost opportunities for squad rotation or game-changing substitutions.

In a tournament that demands depth, composure, and flexibility… that’s a huge competitive disadvantage.

And it’s not just about the one gap.

It’s the pattern.

Because right now, Spurs are nowhere near hitting the quota.

Let’s look at who qualifies and what the real shortfall looks like.

Who Actually Qualifies? Spurs’ UEFA Registration Breakdown

Let’s strip it back for you.

Here’s how Tottenham Hotspur’s current squad looks through UEFA’s eyes:

🧠 Club-Trained Players (Need 4 — Have 1)

These are players who spent at least three years at Tottenham Hotspur between the ages of 15 and 21.

✅ Brandon Austin — Backup 3rd choice goalkeeper and wasn't it great to see him get some game time last season. A nice reward for his loyalty.
And that’s it.

❌ No Harry Kane.
❌ No Oliver Skipp.
❌ No Alfie Devine, Jamie Donley, or other U21s who’ve not yet qualified by age or registration timing.

Shortfall: –3 players
And no easy internal fix unless someone graduates mid-season or is recalled early.

🏴 Association-Trained Players (Need 4 — Have 6)

These are players trained at any English club for three years between ages 15–21.

✅ James Maddison
✅ Brennan Johnson
✅ Dominic Solanke (expected signing)
✅ Ben Davies (trained at Swansea)
✅ Djed Spence
✅ Archie Gray (but may not yet qualify by UEFA’s age/timeline definition)

Problem? You can only register 4 of them as AT.
The rest are treated like foreigners — they take up precious non-locally trained slots.

🌍 Non-Locally Trained (Max 17 Players)

This is everyone else — foreign signings, international stars, academy players from abroad.

Tottenham Hotspur already exceed 17 when all senior pros are included.
Which means: somebody has to be cut.

The result?

Either you drop a key player from your Champions League squad…
Or you waste a slot on a backup keeper like Austin just to fill a homegrown quota.

It’s not a talent issue.
It’s a structural failure.

A club like Spurs — elite facilities, a massive stadium, a world-class training ground — should never have a shortfall of academy-developed players.

But right now, they’ve built a squad that’s brilliant on paper…

And broken in UEFA’s system.

Remember, we have two extra association-trained players who, if selected, would take up two of the 17 foreigner places, leaving only 15 we can select.

Do you start to see now why sell to buy raises it's head, it's not about money as Spurs accounts say we have more cash reserves than most, if not all, Premier League clubs, some £72 million I believe.

🔥 The Stakes: What Happens If Spurs Don’t Act?

1. Reduced Squad Size = Competitive Weakness

UEFA rules clearly state:

If a club has fewer than eight locally trained players, the maximum number of players on List A is reduced accordingly. talksport.com

Tottenham Hotspur currently fall three club-trained players short, and are overcapacity on association‑trained players.

Result?

If nothing changes, Spurs are locked into a 22-man Champions League List A - losing three spots.

That’s:

Fewer cover options (e.g., no backup right-back or extra midfielder).
Less flexibility for rotation, tactical adjustments, or injury cover.
A direct hit to squad depth in a gruelling competition.

2. Association‑Trained Overload = Over‑Quota Cuts

On top of the club-trained shortfall, Spurs have at least six association-trained candidates vying for just four spots uefa.com.
That means at least two association-trained players will be treated as foreign in UEFA terms—costing valuable non‑locally trained slots or forcing them off List A altogether.

Bottom line?

Even good players like Archie Gray or Djed Spence may lose squad status - not for ability, but because of registration rules.

3. Structural Symptoms of a Bigger Problem

This isn’t a one-off blip - it’s a symptom.

Tottenham Hotspur have:

One club-trained senior player (Brandon Austin),
Rely heavily on foreign imports to build our core,
And consistently sell away academy talents (losing club-trained slots).

They now face a paradox:

Great squad - but
Uefa-ineligible depth.

💡 Immediate Solutions: The Only Way Forward

Sign or Recall Club-Trained Talent
- Bringing in club-trained players like Kyle Walker-Peters or Dennis Cirkin would instantly fill the quota.
- Even if not first-team starts, they free up registration space for other key players.
Capitalize on Club-Trained Exodus
- Spurs could negotiate to buy back former club-trained academy players now playing elsewhere, solidifying their UEFA squad.
- It’s not nostalgia; it’s a necessity under current regulations.

This is the core of Tottenham Hotspur’s challenge:

A broken academy-to-first-team pipeline, combined with overreliance on imports, has created a UCL registration bottleneck.

If Spurs want full-strength squads, strategy has to shift now:

Academy delivery + club-trained signings = UEFA squad compliance & competitive depth.

🌟 Key Club-Trained Targets to Boost Tottenham’s UCL Squad

🛡️ Kyle Walker‑Peters (Right Back) – currently at Southampton

Genuine Spurs academy graduate, left in 2020. Fully qualifies as Club‑Trained.
Out of contract this summer; Spurs have shown clear interest to bring him back spurs-web.com.
Provides experience, positional need, and lets Tottenham Hotspur help the club-trained quota without overloading flexibility.

🟩 Dennis Cirkin (Left Back) – Sunderland

Developed at Spurs - club‑trained - before leaving in 2021.
Sunderland are open to a new contract or departure; Spurs are “interested” in re-signing him talksport.com.
Solid young defender who adds defensive depth and checks the UEFA box.

🧱 Cameron Carter‑Vickers (Centre-Back) – Celtic

Academy graduate - now proven in senior football; fully club-trained
Offers defensive backup with experience in European competition.

⚽ Other Viable Club‑Trained Options

Troy Parrott (Striker, AZ Alkmaar) – Spurs academy product reddit.com.
Japhet Tanganga (Defender, Millwall) – provides CB/RB versatility, homegrown-qualified.
Marcus Edwards (Winger, Burnley) – forward option from academy ranks.
Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp – club‑trained with senior experience.

🧩 How These Signings Solve the UCL Puzzle

Meeting UEFA’s 4‑player Club‑Trained requirement: Adding just two of Walker‑Peters, Cirkin or Carter‑Vickers would elevate Spurs from 1 to 3–4 club-trained players - immediately unlocking a full 25-man List A.
Boosting squad depth: These players aren’t just numbers - they fill positions where Spurs currently lack cover (e.g. left-back, right-back, centre-back, striker). But they aren't really good enough to be honest.
Financially prudent and strategic: Targets like Walker‑Peters and Cirkin are attainable. Walker‑Peters is a free agent and Cirkin’s buy-back window adds leverage.
Long-term academy signalling: Reinvesting in former academy talents sends a public message - Tottenham Hotspur values homegrown development, both in and out of the club.

If Spurs land two of these, the UCL registration crisis is solved on paper - but also in practice: we can field a deeper, more flexible squad in Europe while rebalancing registration categories.

🧬 Fixing the Pipeline: Why Spurs Must Rethink Academy Strategy

Tottenham Hotspur don’t just have a short-term Champions League problem.

We have a long-term identity crisis.

Because a club that can only name one club-trained player in its UEFA squad…

Is a club that has neglected the most sustainable source of squad depth, registration compliance, and cultural continuity - its own academy.

The Brutal Truth

Tottenham Hotspur’s academy isn’t broken.

But it isn’t elite either.

Yes, it has produced Kane, Winks, Skipp, Edwards, and Walker-Peters over the past decade…

But there’s been no consistent conveyor belt of top-level players pushing into the first team—year after year, season after season.

Other top clubs are now investing heavily in their youth infrastructure - not just to produce stars, but to meet UEFA registration rules without compromise.

Meanwhile, Spurs are buying foreign U21s and watching our own academy graduates get sold off or loaned out permanently.

That might balance the books.

But it doesn’t build a future.

I appreciate they are not good enough, and that is part of the problem, but I have to ask, would they have become better players had they received compulsory mind-traaining from a sports psychologist.

It is so frustrating that it is not a proactive role but a reactive role.

They seem to be problem solvers, not ability enhancers.

Venai Venkatesham needs to look at their role, we are missing an opportunity.

The Kaiser Approach, improve every aspect!

What Needs to Happen

This summer must be the turning point.

Tottenham Hotspur’s board, recruitment staff, and football operations team must treat club-trained depth as a strategic priority - not just a bonus.

That means:

Identifying which U17–U19 players can genuinely become List A options in 3 years.
Retaining more of the brightest talents, instead of cashing in at 18 or 19.
Recruiting domestically when signing U21s, so they qualify as association-trained at minimum.
Building a first-team culture that welcomes academy players, rather than burying them beneath £20m backups.

Because when you look at the numbers…

Spurs don’t just need talent.

They need four club-trained players every season.

And that only happens when an academy isn’t just good…

It’s ruthlessly aligned with the first team’s needs and UEFA’s demands.

🚪 The Exit Trap: Why Spurs Keep Losing Their Own Talent

There’s a reason Tottenham Hotspur keep falling short on club-trained players.

And it’s not just because the academy isn’t producing.

It’s because young talent doesn’t want to wait anymore.

Modern Talent Doesn’t Queue — It Moves

The best 18-year-olds don’t see development as a 5-year plan.

They want minutes.

Responsibility.

Relevance.

And if they don’t get that at Tottenham, they leave - chasing senior football wherever they can find it.

Spurs’ academy isn’t leaking talent because it lacks quality…

It’s leaking because it lacks opportunity.

The Loan Model Needs Reinvention

Tottenham’s current loan strategy is reactive.

Too many prospects get sent out to clubs with seemingly no long-term plan - no tactical fit, no development guarantee, no control over their evolution.

Others leave permanently with no safety net.

Clubs like Real Madrid, meanwhile, insist on buy-back clauses.
If a player explodes, they don’t miss out - they re-sign them.

✅ It’s structured.
✅ It’s flexible.
✅ And it keeps control of talent that may just need one or two seasons to grow into a Champions League squad player.

Tottenham Hotspur?
More often than not, we lose that second-chance window.

💡 What Spurs Must Do Next

If Spurs are serious about fixing the club-trained crisis, we can’t rely on sentimental re-signings or hoping the next crop magically breaks through.

We need a multi-pronged strategy, including:

1. Mandatory Buy-Back Clauses for All Academy Sales

Not optional — standard practice.
Set intelligent price tiers based on appearances, promotion clauses, or European qualification.
Learn from Real Madrid’s model and build a return path before the talent leaves the club.

2. Intelligent, Purposeful Loans

Send players to clubs with aligned styles and clear first-team opportunities.
Build relationships with 3–5 “strategic partner clubs” who prioritise our loanees.
Assign internal staff to monitor, feedback, and guide each loanee with a tactical reintegration plan.

3. Truthful Talent Evaluation

Many of the players recently linked as club-trained options - Tanganga, Carter-Vickers, Parrott - aren’t good enough to raise the standard; indeed, they all aren't.
Nostalgia should never override meritocracy.
Tottenham Hotspur must create a pipeline that produces players good enough to improve the squad, not just fill UEFA quotas.

4. Reward-Linked First-Team Pathways

Create a published roadmap from U18s to senior squad.
Offer performance-triggered first-team contracts and rotation opportunities.
Make staying at Tottenham Hotspur the best chance for a young player to reach European football - without needing to leave first.

I'll bang the drum again; wouldn't being world leaders in mentality training give every top player a reason to stay?

This is a no-brainer for me.

Because if the club keeps losing its own players…

Only to buy back lesser versions, three years older, at five times the cost…

Then we’re not running a development system.

We’re running a football orphanage.

🧠 THBN: The Final Word

OK, so you have read this far, now the brains in the room will conclude it for you.

This isn’t about registration quotas.

It’s about identity.

A club that can only name one club-trained player in Europe isn’t short on talent…

It’s short on direction.

Tottenham Hotspur have built a stunning stadium, a world-class training ground, and a squad full of international stars—

But we’ve failed to build a club where top young players stay, develop, and thrive.

We’ve failed to plan for UEFA squad rules.

We’ve failed to extract maximum value from our own academy.

And worst of all?

We’ve failed to build a culture that produces Champions League-level mentalities - not just skillsets.

This has to change.

Tottenham Hotspur must become world leaders in mentality training.

Not reactive sports psychology for players in crisis.

But proactive mental development - daily, embedded, and compulsory.

Because what’s the point of producing technical players if they crumble under pressure?

Or buying back academy players who never learned how to win?

UEFA Champions League football demands more than quality - it demands resilience, composure, and the kind of ruthless edge that doesn’t show up on spreadsheets.

You don’t fix that in the transfer market.

You fix it in the mind.

Spurs can’t afford to be passive anymore.

We need a loan system that develops winners.
A buy-back model that protects late bloomers.
And an academy pipeline that doesn’t just produce players—
…it produces mentality monsters.

If we’re going to win in Europe (again), this is the price of admission.

Club-trained…
Mentally trained…
Tottenham Hotspur-trained.

COYS

Next Article: The start of the Tottenham Hotspur Trophy Series - an 8-part series looking at what Spurs need to do to win trophies regularly

Tottenham Transfer Bits and Bobs - OK over 17 players

2025-06-29T05:07:00.001+00:00

Tottenham Transfer Talk: A mixed bag of rumours, valuations, and future prospects — just a few bits & bobs from the summer window.

Good morning folks.

I'm just publishing notes today, rather than full write-ups. I'm sure you can search the web for those.

Yes, I'm being lazy today.

There are plenty on social media who slag off Desting Udogie, even some who think Djed "I only play when I'm motivated" Spence, a right-back, is better when he steps in for Udogie.

CIES Football Observatory, a rather accurate world renowned company have named the top defenders in the world, which is all based on their own valuations.

Their valuations are far more accurate than Transfermarkt, which has been statistically proven.

At number 10 on their list is Destiny Udogie, whom they currently value at €51 million.

Brennan Johnson is the highest valued Spurs player at €52-67m

Tottenham Hotspur finished 17th for shots on target in the Top 5 leagues of Europe, the Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1.

Spurs recorded 4.9 per game.

Liverpool 6.0
Chelsea 5.7
Manchester City 5.5
Bournemouth 5.1
Tottenham Hotspur 4.9

Which all rather proves that if Tottenham have fit defenders, wanting to perform in the Premier League that we would be challenging for a Top 4 place.

We had a vision, we had a tough time and the fans bottled it, leaving the chairman with no real option but to appease the fans by trying to keep the club together.

PR therefore dictated Ange Postecoglou had to go, he, like me, knew what was just around the corner next season.

But the fans we referred to at the top of the piece lack the ability to look past their nose.

Kota Takai

New signing Kota Takai was included in the CIES Under-20 Top 100 after impressive performances in the 2024 Olympics and the 2024 Under-23 Asian Cup.

Tottenham Transfer Talk

Koni De Winter

Koni De Winter is a sought after defender who Spurs are interested in. Italian Serie A side Genoa have set a value of €30 million on him.

Corriere dello Sport reported this week that Tottenham Hotspur are at the forefront of a transfer scramble, having monitored the Belgian closely throughout the season.

Yves Bissouma and Richarlison look like they are going to join José Mourinho at Fenerbahçe SK although there are reports that the Turkish side are growing tired of the Portuguese manager.

Deal for Richarlison will probably be an initial loan deal worth £6.41 million (€7.5m) with an obligation to buy next summer for £21.35 million (€25m). Total deal value £27.76 million (€32.5m).

His contract runs until 2027 but we have been trying to shift him for two years.

I understand the Bissouma fee would be around £17.08 million (€20m) in a loan with an obligation to buy deal. The 28-year-old has been offered a €5 million salary.

Galatasaray are an option.

We have also agreed that the much-maligned striker who helped us win the UEFA Europa League, could join Galatasaray too, so there could be more twists.

Turkey is a financially attractive option for financial reasons as their tax system.

Tax implications: Turkey has relatively favourable tax structures for high earners compared to some European countries.

For established players, the combination of decent wages and lower living costs can make it financially attractive.

Heung-min Son is unlikely to leave before the Asian tour given his commercial importance and when he is sold, any fee will have to reflect that.

Son is contractually obligated to be on the Asian tour and Tottenham Hotspur will have to pay a fine if he does not participate.

Son said his goodbye's to staff and players after the season having achieved his dream of listing a trophy for the club.

OK, what else is going on?

Well, Aston Villa have to sell so Spurs are very interested in taking Jacob Ramsey and I am sure you have probably seen the reports that West Ham United are not going to try for him as they think we have already secured him and that we are just haggling over a fee.

Obviously, Villa want to get as much as possible to address their Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) concerns, with a key deadline approaching on June 30, 2025

Villa are asking £40 million and Newcastle United have mooted a deal involving a swap with Harvey Barnes.

Ramsey is a player Tottenham tried to buy last summer, offering £20 million plus Argentinian international midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso.

The Lilywhites have reached an agreement with Leeds United for 16-year-old striker Oliver Boast who has been playing in their U-18 Premier League side. It's all a part of trying to create a conveyor belt of talent.

The Tottenham Hotspur Academy is there to create professional footballers, to be self-sustainable by selling players and for the cream to force their way into the 1st XI squad.

Hoovering up young talent is a part of that process; we must always be building for the future.

Tottenham Hotspur Targets

Below is a table summarising the key transfer targets, including their current clubs, positions, ages, and approximate fees where available: The top 4 have already signed of course.

Player	Current Club	Position	Age	Approximate Fee
Kota Takai	Kawasaki Frontale	Centre-back	20	£5 million
Luka Vuskovic	Hajduk Split	Centre-back	18	£12 million
Kevin Danso	Lens	Centre-back	26	£21 million
Mathys Tel	Bayern Munich	Forward	20	£29.8 million
Marc Guehi	Crystal Palace	Centre-back	24	Not specified
Morten Hjulmand	Sporting CP	Central Midfielder	24	Around £50 million
Antoine Semenyo	Bournemouth	Right Winger/Forward	25	Not specified
Jack Grealish	Manchester City	Left Winger	29	Not specified (potential loan)
Bryan Mbeumo	Brentford	Forward/Winger	25	£70 million
Yoane Wissa	Brentford	Centre-forward	28	Not specified
Eberechi Eze	Crystal Palace	Midfielder/Winger	25	Not specified
Adem Zorgane	Sporting Charleroi	Midfielder	20	Not specified

This list reflects Tottenham's strategy to enhance their defensive and attacking options, with a mix of young talents and experienced players. Fees for some targets, like Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze, remain unclear, indicating ongoing discussions.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with several Serie A players in recent transfer weeks, reflecting our interest in bolstering the squad with talent from Italy.

Here are the key players mentioned in recent reports:

Timothy Weah (Juventus): The Lilywhites are among the clubs showing strong interest in the Juventus forward, with inquiries made about his availability. Weah’s versatility and pace make him an attractive option for Spurs.
Yann Bisseck (Inter Milan): Tottenham are pressing hard to sign the Inter Milan centre-back, with reports indicating that Inter’s chief executive was in London for talks recently. There’s also mention of potential leverage involving our centre-back Radu Dragusin, who Inter have an interest in.
Niccolò Pisilli (AS Roma): Reports suggest Tottenham have agreed a deal in principle to sign the AS Roma midfielder after the U21 European Championship. While his entourage confirmed Spurs’ interest, they denied any formal bid has been made to Roma yet.
Mario Gila (Lazio): Tottenham are among several high-profile clubs, including Chelsea, PSG, and Real Madrid, targeting the 24-year-old Lazio centre-back. His development over recent seasons and versatility make him a potential replacement for Cristian Romero, who has been linked with a move away. A bid around €50 million (£42.5m) could tempt Lazio.
Giovanni Leoni (Parma): Tottenham are considering an opening offer of around €25 million for the 18-year-old Parma central defender, viewed as a wonderkid with significant potential.
Michael Kayode (Fiorentina): Spurs are reportedly in the race for the Fiorentina defender, with a potential deal now closer to £17 million, down from an initial £25 million valuation. Tottenham face competition from Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

These links indicate Tottenham’s active pursuit of Serie A talent, particularly in defensive and attacking roles, as we aim to strengthen our squad under Thomas Frank’s management for the 2025/26 season.

However, none of these deals are confirmed, and negotiations could depend on factors like player contracts, transfer fees, and competition from other clubs.

Lukas Ullrich (Borussia Mönchengladbach): Reports in Germany say we are interested in the 21-year-old left-back from Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Ullrich, who has been compared to Alphonso Davies for his attacking flair, is seen as a potential long-term option for Spurs’ left-back position.

Willian Pacho (Eintracht Frankfurt, Bundesliga, Ecuadorian): A 22-year-old Ecuadorian centre-back, Pacho, was mentioned as a possibility during the 2024 Copa America. Valued at around £60 million by Frankfurt, his progressive passing and aerial presence align with our needs. No recent reports confirm active negotiations, but he remains on Spurs’ radar

Javi Puado (Free Agent, formerly Espanyol): Tottenham have reportedly shown interest in the 26-year-old Spanish winger Javi Puado, who is currently a free agent after his contract with Espanyol expired.

His versatility and availability without a transfer fee make him an appealing option, though no concrete developments have been confirmed.

Miguel Gutierrez (Girona): Tottenham expressed interest in Girona’s left-back Miguel Gutierrez as early as February 2024, with the player reportedly turning down other clubs due to his dream of returning to Real Madrid, who hold a buyback clause.

Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Chelsea are also monitoring the situation, but no recent updates confirm Tottenham’s pursuit in the 2025 window.

Georges Mikautadze (Lyon): We are reportedly keeping a close watch on Lyon’s 24-year-old Georgian forward, who had an impressive 2024/25 season with 17 goals and 11 assists. Spurs are said to be preparing a concrete offer, with Juventus also in the race. Lyon’s off-field financial issues could accelerate a potential move, making Mikautadze a key target to replace Richarlison.

Malick Fofana (Lyon): According to reports, Tottenham have shown interest in Lyon’s winger Malick Fofana. The 20-year-old’s pace and versatility make him an attractive option for Spurs. No formal bid has been confirmed, but his profile aligns with Thomas Frank’s preference for fast, direct players.

Randal Kolo Muani (PSG, on loan at Juventus): We have retained interest in the French striker, who is currently on loan at Juventus from PSG. Reports indicate Spurs were interested in January 2025, and our pursuit continues into the summer window. It remains unclear whether Juventus or PSG will keep Kolo Muani, but our interest suggests we see him as a potential addition to their forward line.

Outside the big 5 leagues, there are rumours about:

Aleksandar Mitrovic (Al-Hilal, Saudi Pro League): Tottenham are reportedly interested in the 30-year-old Serbian striker, who is considering a return to European football. Mitrovic’s Premier League experience with Fulham and his goal-scoring form in Saudi Arabia make him a potential target to replace Richarlison. Everton are very keen on signing him..
Hamza Igamane (Rangers, Scottish Premiership): The young Moroccan forward has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur among other Premier League clubs. His performances in Scotland have caught attention, but no concrete negotiations have been reported, and his transfer remains speculative at this stage.
Yankuba Minteh (Feyenoord, Eredivisie): We are monitoring the young Gambian winger, who has also attracted interest from other clubs. Minteh’s pace and potential make him a fit for Frank’s attacking system, though no formal bid has been confirmed.

Transfer Strategy

Tottenham’s transfer activity demonstrates our focus on young, high-potential players who can develop into first-team regulars or provide long-term value.

The signing of Takai reflects technical director Johan Lange’s data-driven approach, targeting players who score highly on metrics and fit Thomas Frank’s tactical setup. However, I suspect the Japanese player was found by Ange Postecoglou.

The interest in players like Mitrovic and Minteh suggests Spurs are also exploring established talent from emerging or secondary leagues to add depth and experience, particularly in attack.

That will do as a very basic roundup for today.

COYS

A New Dawn at Hotspur Way: Is a Winning Mentality Finally Taking Root?

2025-06-26T06:30:00.007+00:00

A new dawn at Hotspur Way: fresh light, fresh mentality — the winning edge Spurs fans crave.

📌The Culture Shift Spurs Fans Have Been Waiting For

As a passionate Spurs fan, who, like Glenn Hoddle, has a heart condition, well, two actually, I've seen my fair share of ups and downs.

We've had moments of brilliance, periods of frustration, and a consistent yearning for that elusive winning edge.

I repeat, many fans, indeed, most people do not have a winning mentality; they have a normal mentality, a mentality of someone who tries to win.

But a winning mentality is much more than that.

Harry Kane employed his own chef to work on his nutrition, for instance.

I have deliberately taken some time to let the dust settle and think about the bigger corporate vision after the tremendous work Ange Postecoglou did.

So I had to look at the situation in a different way to fans and it drew me to ask this:

Is a seismic shift underway at Tottenham Hotspur?

Because it feels like the club is finally embracing a true winning mentality – a culture that goes beyond just wanting to win, but truly believing in it, and acting accordingly,

I have my initial reservations about Thomas Frank, as you know, but I'm interested to hear a few press conferences to see what can be gleaned.

I'm hoping these press conferences are better than his initial PR interview.

This isn't just about results on the pitch; it's about a fundamental change in the club's DNA, from the boardroom to the training ground.

I think Ange Postecoglou was the most important head coach we have had since Bill Nicholson, and that he has shown the club the difference between a winning mentality and the common or garden mentality virtually all of the population has.

He has kick started a culture change and we are seeing it being played out.

Since when does Daniel Levy come out and say we want to win the Premier League, we want to win the UEFA Champions League?

He didn't pre-Ange!

Let's delve into the recent developments that suggest we're on the cusp of something special.

The Winds of Change: Departures and Arrivals

The recent news of Scott Munn being placed on gardening leave [1] and the retirement of long-serving executive director Donna Cullen [2] are more than just personnel changes; they signal a clear intent from the club to reshape its leadership structure.

Donna Cullen, a significant figure at Spurs for over two decades, including nearly two decades on the board, has been a constant presence.

Her departure, alongside Munn's, suggests a deliberate move to bring in fresh perspectives and align the club's administrative side with its ambitious on-field goals.

Into this evolving landscape steps Vinai Venkatesham as the new Chief Executive Officer [3].

Venkatesham's arrival is particularly noteworthy given his background at Arsenal, where he held various key roles, including CEO.

This appointment, coupled with Daniel Levy's explicit declaration of aiming to win the Premier League and Champions League [4], paints a vivid picture of a club no longer content with merely competing, but truly striving for the pinnacle of European football.

Ange Postecoglou: The Catalyst for a New Mindset

While the sacking of Ange Postecoglou [5] might seem contradictory to a narrative of positive change, it's crucial to understand the context.

Postecoglou, a self-proclaimed 'serial winner,' brought a refreshing honesty and a clear philosophy to the club.

He consistently spoke about the importance of a winning mentality, often stating that simply wanting to win isn't enough, as every team wants to win.

A true winning mentality, he argued, is something deeper, something ingrained in the very fabric of the club.

His comments before the UEFA Europa League final, where he revealed that even some club staff expected Spurs to fail [6], were incredibly telling.

This highlighted a deep-seated issue within the club – a culture of pessimism and a lack of belief, even among those working behind the scenes.

That comes about because of the mass of negativity on social media. The fans on there have a lot to answer for.

They don't know it, but they are and have been a noose around the club's neck.

Postecoglou was actively trying to dismantle this ingrained negativity, pushing for a mindset where success is not just hoped for, but expected and worked towards relentlessly.

Vision, Belief, and Positivity: The Pillars of a Winning Mentality

As a long-time observer of the club, I wholeheartedly agree that vision, belief, and positivity are the cornerstones of a genuine winning mentality.

It's not enough to simply have talent; you need a clear vision of where you're going, an unwavering belief in your ability to get there, and a positive outlook that fuels resilience in the face of adversity.

For too long, perhaps, Spurs have lacked this collective conviction.

We've seen flashes of brilliance, but often, when the pressure mounted, the belief seemed to waver.

Seven finals under Daniel Levy, but only two trophies testify to that.

Postecoglou, despite his short tenure, started to instill this.

He challenged the status quo, demanding a higher standard of thought and action.

His emphasis on playing a certain way, regardless of the opponent, was a manifestation of this vision and belief.

He wanted players and staff to embrace the challenge, to believe in their system, and to approach every game with a positive, attacking mindset.

It wasn't the skill level that needed changing, it wasn't the system that needed changing, it was the mentality and that is how he set about it.

Winners don't shy away from all or nothing, they welcome it.

The safety-first mentality was what was keeping Spurs back.

My fervent hope is that Daniel Levy and the board have had a lightbulb moment and are now looking to improve the league position, but from a winning mentality perspective.

It's a part of a bigger picture, a bigger mental picture, because if that is the case, then we are in business.

Are Spurs Finally Getting It?

The recent executive changes, coupled with Daniel Levy’s significant, bold declarations, suggest a concerted effort to align the entire club with a winning philosophy.

The appointment of Vinai Venkatesham, a proven operator from a rival club, signifies a desire for fresh, results-driven leadership off the pitch.

This, combined with the clear statement of intent from Levy regarding Premier League and Champions League aspirations, indicates a departure from past perceived hesitations or a focus solely on financial stability.

While the departure of Ange Postecoglou was a shock to many, it can be viewed through the lens of this evolving mentality.

Perhaps the club felt that to truly reach the next level, an even more radical shift was required, or that a different approach was needed to complement the newfound ambition.

It’s a ruthless decision, but winning mentality often demands ruthlessness. It’s about making the tough calls that serve the ultimate goal, even if they are unpopular in the short term.

The key question for us, the fans, is whether these changes will translate into sustained success and a tangible shift in the team’s on-field performance and resilience.

A winning mentality isn't just about hiring the right people or making bold statements; it's about fostering an environment where every individual, from the players to the tea lady, believes in the collective vision and is empowered to contribute to it.

This is the bit fans don't get. The business has to have a winning mentality, too.

They must buy into the vision and believe, they will perform better if they do.

It’s about building a culture where failure is a learning opportunity, not a confirmation of inherent weakness.

For too long, the narrative around Spurs has been one of 'Spursy' moments – moments where we snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, or fail to capitalise on opportunities.

This is precisely what a true winning mentality seeks to eradicate, yet our fans try to perpetuate it on social media.

It’s about developing the mental fortitude to see out games, to overcome setbacks, and to consistently perform at the highest level.

The Road Ahead

The signs are certainly promising.

The clear ambition from the top, the strategic changes in key personnel, and the foundational work laid by individuals like Ange Postecoglou in challenging the old guard, all point towards a club that is serious about shedding its past inhibitions.

As fans, our role is to embrace this shift, to maintain our belief, and to support the team with the positivity that a winning mentality demands.

It won't be easy, and there will undoubtedly be bumps along the road.

But I feel a genuine sense of optimism that Tottenham Hotspur is not just talking about winning, but actively building the infrastructure and fostering the mindset required to achieve it.

The journey to becoming consistent winners is long, but with vision, belief, and unwavering positivity, I believe we are finally on the right track.

THBN The Final Word

It is my view that Daniel Levy has a great vision for this club, he can see it in his mind's eye.

Building the infrastructure to be able to support on-field success had to be put in place first.

I think he has a vision for the playing side too.

That area may not be his forte, but he knows what he wants: a conveyor belt of high-quality quality coming out of the Academy to provide the club with players capable of winning the Premier League and Champions League consistently.

Now, the problem with this is, it's his vision, he can see it clearly.

The problem arises when you bring other people into help build that vision because they probably see a different version of it, achieved in a slightly different way.

Maybe, just maybe, Daniel Levy is no, that's not what I see, I want it done like this.

I can explain a vision to you and you can tell me you understand it, but you don't understand it like I do and there is the problem.

The people Daniel Levy has brought in, clearly feel they see his vision, but they haven't been able to deliver it, therefore, they get changed.

Make no mistake, Spurs are building a youthful side to be supplemented by youth from the Academy and eventually, replaced by youth from the Academy.

Everything is being built towards that vision and should be judged against that vision.

Do you see!

References

[1] [Alasdair Gold] Tottenham Hotspur's chief football officer Scott Munn ... - Reddit. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/coys/comments/1lik2aq/alasdair_gold_tottenham_hotspurs_chief_football/ [2] Long-serving Tottenham executive Donna-Maria Cullen announces ... - The Athletic. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6396969/2025/06/02/tottenham-donna-maria-cullen-exit/ [3] Tottenham Hotspur appoints Vinai Venkatesham as Chief Executive ... - Tottenham Hotspur. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2025/april/tottenham-hotspur-appoints-vinai-venkatesham-as-chief-executive-officer/ [4] Levy wants Spurs to be Premier League winners - Yahoo Sports. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://sports.yahoo.com/article/levy-wants-spurs-premier-league-205257070.html [5] Club statement - Ange Postecoglou departs - Tottenham Hotspur. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2025/june/club-statement-ange-postecoglou-departs/ [6] Ange Postecoglou challenges his Tottenham players to BREAK the ... - Daily Mail. (n.d.). Retrieved from Daily Mail

COYS

Thomas Frank Series Part 6: The Wilson Odobert Prediction

2025-06-25T06:03:00.007+00:00

Quote graphic for Part 6 of our Thomas Frank Series — questioning whether Wilson Odobert will deliver at Spurs under Frank’s system.

🔍 THBN Introduction

Good morning, folks and welcome back to the blog that stands out amongst the dross.

My friendly seagull is looking through the patio door, wanting to know what scraps might be coming out to feed him.

If I put the crumbs out from the suet balls, which the discerning birds insist must be the Premium quality, they only eat the cheaper ones afterwards, the seagull eats the crumbs.

It is a constant battle to feed the birds and not the pigeons and seagulls but these pigeons are intelligent creatures and find a way.

Anyway, onto Spurs and a continuation of The Thomas Frank Series.

Wilson Odobert joined Tottenham Hotspur from Burnley in August 2024, touted as one of Ligue 1’s most exciting young wingers.

However, his first season in North London was disrupted by a long-term injury, stalling his development and limiting him to flashes of promise rather than consistent end product.

Now, with Thomas Frank’s arrival, Spurs fans are asking — is Odobert physically and mentally ready to repay the faith shown in him?

And does his playing style fit the high-intensity, efficient Brentford blueprint Frank will surely bring?

1. 📊 2024–25 Season Overview

At Burnley (Championship):

Appearances: 1
Goals: 1
Minutes: 89

At Tottenham Hotspur:

Premier League: 16 appearances (9 starts), 1 goal)
UEFA Europa League: 4 appearances, 2 goals
Total Minutes: 850
Shots: 13 (4 on target)
Shooting Accuracy: 29%
Big Chances Missed: 5
Assists: 0
Key Passes: 8
Crosses: 60
Tackles: 31
Interceptions: 10
Clearances: 17
Yellow Cards: 3
Source: fbref.com

2. 🧩 Fit Under Thomas Frank

Thomas Frank's system emphasises structured pressing, quick transitions, and efficient use of wide players.

Odobert's pace and work rate align with these principles, but his end product needs improving.

Strengths:

High work rate and defensive contributions (31 tackles show he can fit Frank’s style)
Ability to stretch defences with pace (takes full-back on 1v1)
Willingness to press and track back

Areas for Improvement:

Finishing: Conversion rate needs to improve from 7.7%
Decision-making in the final third
Consistency in delivering quality crosses

3. 🎯 2025–26 Season Projection

Assuming Odobert adapts to Frank's system and earns regular playing time:

Appearances: 25–30
Goals: 4–6
Assists: 3–5
Key Contributions: Increased involvement in pressing sequences and transitional play

4. 🧭 THBN The Final Word

Wilson Odobert possesses the raw attributes to thrive under Thomas Frank's guidance.

With focused development on his end product and decision-making, he could become a valuable asset in Spurs' attacking arsenal.

Now let's cover a topic. fans want the club to buy ready-made players, but people are not generally buying these players these days; everyone is now buying youth. Look at Chelsea.

Daniel Levy saw this was the way to go years ago and implemented it once; now we have doubled down and have been implementing it again for the last couple of years.

Postecoglou was brought in because that's exactly what he does. He shifts old guys and replaces them with youth to win trophies.

Once that is done, you are just ensuring the conveyor belt continues.

Thomas Frank will be backed in the same way, and he will have agreed to that before he took the job, so any talk of Levy not backing a manager is just clueless fan talk.

tt's an appalling time for my eyes at the minute.

The last week has been particularly bad, having to use a magnifying glass to read text messages.

The sugar levels need bringing down again, and the eyes will improve, well, one of them.

Nothing I can do about the scratch impairing vision in the other eye, hence why it is pointless for me to attend games, I wouldn't be able to see the ball, and the players would just be blurs.

COYS

Next up: A New Dawn at Hotspur Way: Is a Winning Mentality Finally Taking Root?

⚙️ The Thomas Frank Series

Part 1: The Thomas Frank Prediction
Part 2: The Dominic Solanke Prediction
Part 3: The Brennan Johnson Prediction
Part 4: The Son Heung-min Prediction
Part 5: The Mathys Tel Prediction

🧠 Go Deeper:

I wasn’t going to share this — but here’s the internal scouting folder I put together during this series.

No waffle. No ads. Just the stats, notes, and gut calls on the five forwards who could define the Frank era at Spurs.

👉 Click here to open the private folder

Thomas Frank Series Part 5: The Mathys Tel Prediction

2025-06-24T06:30:00.114+00:00

Headline image for Part 5 of the THBN Thomas Frank Series, asking if Mathys Tel will become Tottenham Hotspur’s next breakout star under Thomas Frank.

Good morning and today we continue with our Thomas Frank Prediction Series, links for which you can find at the bottom.

This morning, it's the turn of Mathys Tel to come under the spotlight.

As Spurs fans, I don't have to waste my time telling you who he is to appease some Google algorithm.

So far, looking forward, the THBN predictions will be:

Thomas Frank MISS

Dominic Solanke HIT

Brennan Johnson MISS

Son Heung-min HIT

⚡ Thomas Frank Series Part 5: The Mathys Tel Prediction

1. 🔢 2024‑25 Snapshot (Tottenham Hotspur Loan)

20 appearances, 3 goals (2 PL, 1 cup), 1 assist during his loan stint from February
In 13 Premier League games: 2 goals, 0.26 xG/90 (2.40 xG total), 0.18 npxG/90 (1.70 npxG), 1.41 shots/90 (13 total shots), 61.5% shot accuracy, 15.4% conversion
Also contributed 0.20 xA/90 and averaged 1.41 key passes/90, plus excellent dribbling ability: 4.01 dribbles/90 (95th percentile, which means he's better than 95% of players in his position)
Overall record including cups/Europe: 20 games, 3 goals, 1 assist

2. 🧩 Fit under Thomas Frank

Frank’s system at Brentford thrives on:

🔁 Fluid attacking structure — wing-forward rotation and interchanging positions.
⚡ Pressing forwards who can both press quickly and exploit transitions.
🎯 Early shots, efficient chance creation, and intelligent off-ball movement.

Tel’s attributes:

High-intensity dribbling and ball progression, matching Frank’s desired forward dynamics.
Predicted shots and xG suggest he’s capable of injecting direct threat, with plenty of encouraging early numbers.
Penalty-taking reliability (1/1 converted) indicates composure under pressure
Assist and key-pass data (0.20 xA/90, 1.41 key passes) suggest potential in link-up play.

3. 🎯 Projected Output (2025‑26)

Scenario	Shots	Conv %	Goals (PL)	Assists	G+A Total
Conservative	45	15%	7	5	12
Expected	55	18%	10	6	16
Upside (adapt + volume)	60+	18–20%	11–12	7+	18+

Takeaways:

Expect 10 PL goals, 5–6 assists in a full 30+ game role.
If sharpens finishing and takes more early shots, could reach 12 goals, 7+ assists, 19+ goal involvements.

4. 🧭 Conclusion

Mathys Tel embodies what Thomas Frank seeks: dynamic, press-happy attackers who can dribble, make early runs, and rotate fluently.

With a full campaign and tactical adjustment, a 10-goal, 6‑assist season (16 goal involvements) is a realistic baseline, with higher upside if his shot volume/finishing improves.

I think Spurs fans will be very happy with his signing by the end of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

OK, Part 6 tomorrow and we move on to Wilson Odobert.

⚙️ The Thomas Frank Series

Part 1: The Thomas Frank Prediction
Part 2: The Dominic Solanke Prediction
Part 3: The Brennan Johnson Prediction
Part 4: The Son Heung-min Prediction

Thomas Frank Series Part 4: The Son Heung‑min Prediction

2025-06-23T06:30:00.018+00:00

Headline image for Part 4 of our Thomas Frank Series — analysing if Son Heung-min will thrive under Thomas Frank’s system at Spurs.

Good morning once again folks, the start of a new week.

Frank could be a downer, Solanke an upper, Johnson a downer and Son an upper.

That's the thinking process at the moment, assuming Son stays.

⚡ Son Heung‑min under Thomas Frank: Prediction & Analysis

1. 🔢 2024‑25 Snapshot

7 Premier League goals & 9 assists in 30 PL appearances (2,118 min) — 16 goal involvements, 0.68 G/A per 90
7.14 xG, 0.28 non‑penalty xG/90, 39 shots (26 on target) → 66.7% accuracy; goal per 5.6 shots
9 assists, 0.37 xA/90, top 2% for key passes (2.17/90)
Despite scoring involvement, Son finished slightly below his expected goals, indicating a dip in finishing compared to previous campaigns

2. 🧩 Fit under Thomas Frank

Frank’s approach at Brentford emphasizes:

⚡ Directness, pressing & quick transitions.
🔁 Wingers who can efficiently shoot early and supply crosses.
🧩 Collective buildup, fewer tap-ins, more creative movement.

Son’s strengths:

Clinical early shooting and off-ball movement.
Strong chance creation (key passes/xA elite).
Leadership & relentless running — ideal for Frank’s pressing setup

Areas to adapt:

Increase shot volume or efficiency — his 7 goals came from just 7.14 xG.
Sustain involvement across all competitions, not just through assists.
Maintain fitness: injuries (e.g., post-April foot issue) limited some impact

3. 🎯 Goal & Assist Projection (2025‑26)

Scenario	Shots/Season	Conversion	Goals	Assists
Baseline (PL only)	50 shots (1.66/90 × 38)	18–20%	9–10	9–11
Sharper Efficiency	50 shots	20–22%	11	10
More Chances Created	55–60 shots	22%	12–13	10–12

Summary:

Realistic range: 9–11 league goals, 10 assists (19–21 G/A total)
Optimistic case (if efficiency + volume both up): 12–13 goals, 10–12 assists (22–25 G/A total)

4. 🧭 Conclusion

Son is an excellent match for Frank’s system: early shots, interplay, pressing, leadership.

With slight increases in shot volume or sharpness, he’s poised to match or even exceed his 2024–25 output.

Expect 20+ combined goal involvements, with 12+ this time as goals, growing into the role Frank envisions.

I feel, if he stays, that we could see a Sonny revival this season.

I'm optimistic.

So, who is coming up tomorrow in Part 5?

Mathys Tel.

⚙️ The Thomas Frank Series

Part 1: The Thomas Frank Prediction
Part 2: The Dominic Solanke Prediction
Part 3: The Brennan Johnson Prediction

📚 Sources

FBref – Son Heung‑min Profile & Match Logs (2024‑25): includes 7 goals, 9 assists, 7.2 xG, 5.6 npxG, 8.2 xA, and per‑90 stats reuters.com+14fbref.com+14en.sportschosun.com+14

FBref Scouting Report – 2024‑25 Premier League: highlights his shot‑creating (4.99 SCA/90) and assist metrics (0.38 xA/90) aws.fbref.com+2aws.fbref.com+2aws.fbref.com+2

FBref Player Comparison – Attacking/Winger metrics 2024‑25: contextualises his creativity and defensive work fbref.com

Football365 – Premier League Assist Rankings 2024‑25: confirms Son had 9 assists (joint top‑5) football365.com+1aws.fbref.com+1

Reuters & BBC – Foot injury in April 2025: notes squad absences in Europa League due to the injury x.com+7cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com+7reuters.com+7

Reuters – Saudi interest 2025: outlines performance dip and contract context

Thomas Frank Series Part 3: The Brennan Johnson Prediction

2025-06-22T05:42:00.025+00:00

Headline image for Part 3 of our Thomas Frank Series — analysing whether Brennan Johnson might struggle under Frank’s system at Spurs.

Morning folks.

The birds have been fed, the pigeons try to eat it all, the Jackdaws take over and have their powerful blows, the pigeons pick up the pieces.

The starlings and the sparrows seem to have one big argument every morning as a flock of them descend. They are like a group of school children.

The magpie will come later.

Wrens, robin (think it's singular) and tits take their chance and all the while our seagull drops by to see if there is any more for him.

He has even walked in the house!

Anyway, enough of the joys of living at the seaside, onto today's topic, Brennan Johnson under Ange Postecoglou vs. what he might face under Thomas Frank.

There have been two articles in The Thomas Frank Series on Frank and Dominic Solanke, links for which you can find at the end of this article.

⚡ Brennan Johnson under Ange Postecoglou

Role: Direct runner, wide outlet, space exploiter.
Ange’s structure was built to drag defences apart, creating channels behind full-backs for Johnson to attack.
He often ghosted in at the far post for tap-ins — classic inverted winger getting on the end of cut-backs or low crosses drilled across the six-yard box.
Spurs under Ange averaged over 17 shots per game, with high-quality chances for wide forwards because the full-backs inverted, midfield compressed, and wingers got 1v1 isolations.
Johnson’s finishing was erratic, but the volume of easy chances covered for that.

🐝 Brennan Johnson under Thomas Frank (Brentford style)

Frank’s Brentford use structured pressing, direct counters, and overlapping wing-backs, not constant high-possession wave attacks.
The wide forwards in Frank’s 3‑5‑2 or 4‑3‑3 work hard off the ball, press back lines, and exploit transition moments — but don’t get endless tap-ins.
Mbeumo and Wissa scored plenty, but through high-efficiency, fewer-shot chances — they create their own finishing angles, take shots early, and are clinical when they arrive in the box.
Brentford’s chance creation relies more on set-pieces and second balls than the constant cut-backs Ange’s wingers, particularly Brennan Johnson, feasted on.

🔍 What This Means for Johnson

What changes:

✅ Needs to develop more decisive end product — fewer tap-ins, more self-made goals.
✅ Must improve off-ball movement to link up in tighter spaces and in counters.
✅ Will be asked to contribute more defensively and physically — winning duels, second balls, and being more robust.
✅ Might get fewer clear-cut xG chances; he’ll need to lift his composure and shot variety.

Risks:
If Johnson remains overly reliant on tap-ins, he could look anonymous for stretches.

Frank’s system won’t carry him to easy back-post goals at the same clip Postecoglou's did.

Fans may see the same frustrating trait: fast but end product patchy.

📊 Expected Goal Tally for Johnson (2025–26)

Factor	Impact
Minutes played	Likely 2,200–2,500 PL mins
xG/90 under Ange: 0.35	May drop to 0.25 under Frank
Conversion rate 22%	Needs to improve for consistency
Realistic total	5–7 PL goals

Projection:
If he adapts quickly — 7–8 goals, maybe more if he sharpens finishing. If not, a frustrating 4–6 goals with fans complaining he goes missing.

🧭 Bottom Line

I think Brennan Johnson could be a serious weakness under Thomas Frank. I do not see him scoring anywhere near the number of goals he did last term.

Brennan Johnson must:

Grow from a back-post tap-in merchant to a more rounded threat.
Be comfortable creating or finishing in chaos, not just structured wing overloads.
Handle higher defensive work rates and more physical battles.

This will sound silly to some, but I'd sell our top scorer while his stock is high, however, I don't think anyone would buy him.

Thomas Frank has a lot of development work to do on the Welsh international.

Tomorrow, folks, we move on to assessing club captain Son Heung-min on the assumption he stays.

⚙️ The Thomas Frank Series

Part 1: The Thomas Frank Prediction

Part 2: The Dominic Solanke Prediction

Thomas Frank Series Part 2: The Dominic Solanke Prediction

2025-06-21T04:59:00.033+00:00

Bold headline image for our Thomas Frank Series Part 2 — the predicted goal tally for Dominic Solanke at Tottenham Hotspur under the new manager.

Dominic Solanke might be underrated, but then again he might not.

Would he have been the supporters' choice to replace Harry Kane?

No.

One season of OK goals doesn't make a striker for me.

Nobody questions his work rate, but I'm struggling to remember a goal that wasn't a tap-in.

New boss, new system. How will he fare?

Brentford CF vs Dominic Solanke

Brentford’s centre‑forward play - typified by Bryan Mbeumo (and partner Yoane Wissa) - under Thomas Frank and Dominic Solanke’s role under Ange Postecoglou at Spurs have some clear stylistic differences:

⚽ Playstyle Differences

Brentford CF: Pressing + clinical finishing

Brentford’s front trio (Mbeumo/Wissa/Schade) combined high pressing, aerial threat, and clinical finishing inside the box - best shot-on-target rate (40%) in the Premier League and scoring 54 league goals with fewer shots
Mbeumo individually outperformed his expected xG by over 6.0, showing incredible efficiency
Their constant movement, risk-taking, and combined attacking pressure led to eight games with four or more goals (Southampton, Ipswich Town, Leicester City x2, Wolves, Newcastle United, Brighton and Manchester United)

Solanke under Postecoglou: Big‑chance striker in a creative setup

Under Ange, Solanke’s all-around attacking game soared: 1.27 big chances per 90, 0.65 xG/90 (up from 0.53), though conversion sat at 20% premierleague.com
Spurs' system created chances for him, but his job was to occupy defenders, link play, and convert those chances
He’s praised for his pressing, hold-up play, and spatial intelligence, crucial to Postecoglou’s forward style

🔍 What it means for Solanke

Moving to a Brentford‑style front would demand more from Solanke:

Sharper finishing: Brentford strikers average 40% shots-on-target; Solanke’s conversion would need to sharpen
Aerial presence and physicality: Mbeumo & Wissa added goals via headers—something Solanke hasn’t been known for despite aerial ability
Shared goalscoring load: Brentford spread goals among multiple frontmen. Solanke may need to adapt from sole‑scorer role to a more collective one, involving rotating runs, intelligent pressing, and contributing to buildup. Johnson scored more, but Solanke was the main central piece.

That said, his proven ability to press, link play, and score big chances means he could adapt well - but his goal tally will largely depend on conversion rate and integration into a multi-striker unit.

Goal prediction for Solanke under Thomas Frank — Tottenham Hotspur Blog News.

📊 Expected Goal Tally for Solanke (2025–26)

Factor	Impact
Minutes played	Likely 30–34 PL matches (2,700 min)
xG/90 (0.65)	17.5 xG over season
Conversion rate (20–22%)	14–16 goals
Spurs’ chance creation	Possibly boost xG to 0.7+
Improved conversion hope	Could push to 18–20 goals

Realistic goal prediction:
14–16 goals if his conversion rate stays steady, 18–20 if he ups efficiency.

🧭 Bottom Line

Brentford’s forward roles require:

Sharper, more consistent finishing,
Aerial threat and physical attacking,
Interchanging, collective pressing.

Solanke already brings strong hold-up, press, and chance creation - but to thrive in that mould, he’ll need to increase individual shot accuracy and integrate smoothly with a front-line unit. If he does, a return of 18–20 goals is well within reach; conservatively, expect 14–16.

Tomorrow, we will look at our leading Brennan Johnson, another tap-in man.

Will he fit Frank's system?

For the first in The Thomas Frank Series, click the link below:

Thomas Frank Prediction

COYS

Thomas Frank Prediction

2025-06-20T04:50:00.001+00:00

“Compete means try. Not good enough — not anymore. #THBN #Spurs”

Thomas Frank’s First Words: Will He Do What Ange Did — Or Just Keep Levy’s ‘Compete’ Talk Alive?

Daniel Levy says we want to win the Premier League and the Champions League.

Sound familiar?

It should.

But listen closer — he used to say “compete”.
Now it’s “win”.
One word swapped — same comfort blanket underneath.

Compete means “we’ll try, don’t blame me if we don’t win.”
Win means “we’ll do it, judge me if we fail.”
And at Tottenham Hotspur, there’s always been a safe distance between the two.

Ange Postecoglou tore that distance up.
He didn’t say compete.
He said win.
He lived it.
He delivered it — in Europe, no less.

So now Thomas Frank walks in...
And the question is simple:
Is he more ‘win’ — or more ‘compete, but said nicely?

A Polite First Impression

Frank’s first words are sugar.

He calls the job “extraordinary.”
He loves the squad — all “talented,” all “exciting.”
He praises Levy, Vinai, Johan Lange.
He says “alignment” five times before breakfast.
He promises “front-footed attacking football” — the safest PR line in North London.

It all sounds good.
But it’s comfort talk.
It’s smart talk.
It’s compete talk.
And we’ve heard it all before.

It is a red flag.

Where’s the Fire?

Frank didn’t promise a ruthless clear-out.
He didn’t drop a single big demand for upgrades.
He didn’t challenge the club’s excuses.
He didn’t threaten the status quo like Ange did from day one.

He talks about risk — but it’s risk wrapped in health and safety tape.
He talks about winning — but only after talking about alignment, processes, good people.

He sounds like the perfect man for a boardroom that wants calm progress.
But a title-winning man?
No chance.

What Frank Really Brings

Let’s be fair.
Frank’s a superb coach for steady growth.
Brentford played brave, clever football.
He developed players the club sold for profit.
He worked inside a smart system and maximised every pound.

If you want top-six stability...
If you want a harmonious dressing room...
If you want no fights with Levy and Vinai...
Frank is your man.

If you want to bully City, Liverpool and Madrid for a Champions League?
Forget it.

The Trophy Question

Will he lift a cup?
Yes — he could.
League Cup, FA Cup — definitely possible.
He’s tactically sharp.
He knows how to find an edge.
He knows how to spring a surprise.

But big European nights?
A Premier League parade down Tottenham High Road?
This club, this budget, this alignment, this safe pair of hands?

No.
Not unless Levy and Vinai shock everyone and spend like oil billionaires — and even then, you need a manager with that killer instinct to turn a good team into a relentless, cold-blooded machine.
Frank is calm.
He is smart.
He is not cold-blooded.

The Wrap Up

✅ Positives:

He gets alignment — big for a club that’s been a civil war between manager, board and fans.
He loves attacking football — that’s the Spurs DNA.
He respects the foundation Ange laid — good humility.
He’s clear on taking risks and letting players be brave — which suits Spurs’ attacking talent.

❌ Red Flags:

It’s very safe. No hard edge, no Postecoglou-style big statements about flipping the club on its head.
He keeps saying “I think” and “hopefully” — words of a smart builder, not a general about to storm a fortress.
He praises the squad a lot — but doesn’t lay down immediate demands to upgrade it ruthlessly.

The Brentford style was stable, modern, and maximised limited resources.

But Spurs need more than clever structure — we need giant-killer arrogance.

Ange had that.

Ange said win.
He did it — with a squad that had forgotten how.
Frank says compete — but dresses it up as win.
It sounds nice.
It feels safe.

It keeps the boardroom peaceful.

It pulls the wool over fans eyes.

And it will deliver something — a semi-final, a final, maybe a cup day at Wembley.

But if you dream of a title, a Champions League banner, a legacy that outlives Levy’s PR lines...
Don’t get too comfortable.
This is the same story.
Just spoken in perfect corporate English.

In tomorrow's article, the second in The Thomas Frank Series - The Dominic Solanke Prediction, we will take a look at our striker and ask if he fits the Thomas Frank system and answer how many goals will he score.

COYS

Thomas Frank Inherits a Winning Squad — But Will the Winning Mentality Survive?

2025-06-17T05:55:00.000+00:00

"Pressure = Anxiety = Mistakes — Winners handle pressure, losers correct mistakes. A reminder of the mentality Spurs must protect. Tottenham Hotspur Blog News."

A Winning Mentality or Another Reset — Which Spurs Will We Get?

Tottenham Hotspur just did something only Spurs could do.

Finish 17th in the Premier League…
Then win the Europa League in the same season…
Then sack the winning manager who gave them both the worst and best of times.

Ange Postecoglou’s reign split the fanbase…
But beneath the arguments was a truth no one can deny:
He installed a winning mentality in a squad that hadn’t tasted European glory in decades.

Now, with Thomas Frank arriving from Brentford —a manager respected for structure but with no trophies to his name — the big question looms:

Does a winning culture outlast the man who built it?
And how do players like Son and Romero — both rumoured to be restless without Postecoglou — react when the voice that raised their standards is replaced by one yet to prove he can win at this level?

This summer, Tottenham face a bigger rebuild than just transfers…
They have to protect the intangible asset Postecoglou leaves behind:
A squad that finally knows how to win when it matters most.

"17th place. European champions. Only Spurs could tear it up, then tear it down two weeks later. Tottenham Hotspur Blog News."

🔑 Key Takeaways:

✅ This doesn’t just say “Frank in, Ange out” — it asks: “Can mentality survive a culture change?”

✅ Its it right to use the Son & Romero storyline as a direct litmus test for whether belief in the project holds?

👉 Do you think Son and Romero staying or leaving will decide if this winning culture survives — or is it bigger than any one player now? Drop your take in the comments.

"Managers build tactics. Winners build belief. Which survives Thomas Frank at Tottenham Hotspur? THBN."

📌 Frank’s Tactics vs Winning Standards: Where They Might Clash

Thomas Frank’s Brentford sides were admired for tactical discipline and pressing structure…
But they never had to carry the weight of big‑name winners expecting silverware, week in, week out.

At Spurs, it’s different.

This squad now includes Europa League winners…

It includes a World Cup winner...

And they didn’t scrape it by luck — they fought through knockout football where only the mentally tough survive.

Frank inherits that muscle memory…
But he also inherits the risk:
His default style — pragmatic, low block, counter‑attack — might calm a leaky defence…
But will it stifle the expressive, high-risk mindset that helped win a European final?

To Dare Is To Do.

If Frank tries to clip their wings too much, expect whispers.
If he doesn’t impose shape fast enough, expect familiar collapses.
His biggest job isn’t just tactics — it’s proving to these players he can lead them to more nights like Bilbao.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

✅ Frank’s biggest test: balancing structure without suffocating Spurs’ newly found killer instinct.

✅ Europa League success wasn’t just a fluke — it demanded risk-taking and belief under pressure.

✅ Keeping big players on board means showing ambition equals trophies, not just mid-table safety.

👉 What do you think — can Frank really keep the dressing room believing in trophies, or is this back to safe Top 6 Spurs? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below.

📌 Young Blood: Tel and Moore — Signs Spurs Won’t Abandon the Future

Mathys Tel wasn’t just a panic buy for goals.
Tottenham Hotspur paid big to secure a young forward already blooded at Bayern Munich — a club obsessed with proven pedigree.

It’s a statement.
One that says: Even with a new manager, this club wants explosive talent it can grow, not short-term stopgaps.

Then there’s Mikey Moore.
Still just 16 when he made his Premier League debut, breaking club records and fearlessly running at senior defenders like it was an academy training session.

These two aren’t guaranteed stars yet…
But they prove one thing:
Spurs still believe in building around young, hungry players.

The same hunger Postecoglou demanded — risk, courage, no fear — must be nurtured, not benched.

Frank’s real test?
Keeping these lads fearless while adding the discipline needed to survive a brutal domestic campaign.
If he gets that balance right, Spurs have a strong foundation and not have to turn to the transfer market as often..

🔑 Key Takeaways

✅ Tel’s permanent deal shows Spurs are still investing for tomorrow, not just patching holes.
✅ Mikey Moore’s meteoric rise proves the academy pipeline is real and trusted — even after a chaotic season.
✅ Frank must protect their attacking instincts while teaching them structure — the future depends on it.
👉 Do you back Frank to give these youngsters a fearless stage… or will caution kill their spark? Tell us in the comments!

"Spurs don’t need another reset. We need to protect the standard we just proved we can reach. Tottenham Hotspur Blog News."

📌 What Losing Senior Winners Means for Dressing Room Standards

Trophies aren’t just medals.
They’re proof that tough decisions, sacrifices, and standards work when pressure hits boiling point.

I have said it many times: when you are anxious, you revert to your default.

Pressure creates anxiety.

Players now know how to deal with it, they have the mental experience to draw upon.

They have lived it.

New signings may not have done.

The new head coach hasn't.

Last season’s Europa League win gave Spurs’ dressing room that proof.
But losing the leader who delivered it — and potentially seeing trusted lieutenants like Son, Vicario and Romero follow him — tears holes in that culture fast.

They are three of the leadership group.

That would just leave James Maddison carrying the responsibility, who of course, I nominated as captain over Son and Romero, before suggesting adding Vicario to it!

For all the talk about young talent and tactical resets, the dressing room runs on hierarchy.
Senior winners show the kids what fight looks like when half the crowd wants you sacked and rivals smell blood.

If Son goes, Spurs lose more than goals.
They lose a player who bought into Postecoglou’s vision and made it real on the pitch — even in a season where the league campaign fell apart.

Frank needs to lock down what’s left of that core — or rebuild it overnight with new leaders who’ve lifted something real.
Otherwise, the risk is simple: a squad with potential but no backbone when the season turns ugly.

🔑 Key Takeaways

✅ Spurs’ senior winners anchor the mentality Postecoglou built — losing them weakens standards instantly.
✅ Son, Vicario and Romero’s decisions this summer signal whether the dressing room still buys into the next project.
✅ Frank must either convince them to stay or replace that winning experience fast, or risk a soft underbelly again.
👉 If Son goes, can anyone truly replace his example for the youngsters? Have your say below!

📌 THBN: The Final Word

Tottenham Hotspur have made a habit of tearing things down just when we look ready to build something lasting.

This summer tests whether we’ve finally learned to protect what matters most — the mentality that dragged us from a humiliating 17th place finish to lifting a major European trophy the 'experts' and our own toxic fans had written us off for..

Thomas Frank’s task is massive.
He has to keep the dressing room believing they’re winners, even though he hasn’t yet won anything himself.
He has to convince restless leaders like Son and Romero that this is still a project worth bleeding for.
And he has to prove to every kid watching — from Mikey Moore to the next academy dreamer — that Tottenham Hotspur still mean business when we say we’re building for tomorrow.

If he pulls it off, Spurs fans might finally see stability and silverware walking hand in hand.
If not…
We know exactly how that story ends — because we’ve lived it too many times before.

🔑 Key Takeaways

✅ Spurs fans must watch this summer closely: does winning culture matter more than just shiny signings?
✅ Frank inherits belief but must prove he can nurture it, not just organise it.
✅ THBN will keep calling it as I see it — so stick around, debate it, and share your sensible voice.
👉 Are Spurs still on the right path after Ange — or did Levy hit reset on a winning culture? Drop your final verdict in the comments section.

Tottenham Transfer Talk

Right, a spot of transfer news. Spurs made an enquiry for 20-year-old Roma central midfielder Niccolò Pisilli, but he has made it clear he has absolutely no intention of leaving the Italian capital, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

🔥 COYS

Want some further reading?

Hard luck, here's some anyway:

The Jackanory Series

The Takeover Talk Series

Takeover Talk Part 2: Is Tottenham Hotspur built to win trophies… or built to be sold at peak perception value?

2025-06-14T06:30:00.000+00:00

Tottenham Hotspur Blog News reports on a potential $4.5 billion Petronas takeover of Spurs.

**From X Tweet to Fan Theory: Debunking the £3.5bn Petronas Takeover of Spurs — and What Spurs Fans Are Really Talking About**

Tje Big Reveal - If you're a toxic, you might like the twist at the end

“BREAKING: Malaysian oil and gas giant Petronas set to buy Tottenham Hotspur for £3.5bn — Daniel Levy to leave immediately!”

A wild takeover claim just went viral.
£3.5 billion.
Petronas — the Malaysian oil and gas giant.
Daniel Levy — gone with immediate effect.

It sounded too good to be true.
And that’s exactly what it was.

But in the noise and excitement, a more important question emerged — one that goes beyond whether the tweet was fake…

What if Spurs fans weren’t chasing facts… but chasing a feeling?
What if this isn’t just about a takeover rumor — but a reality they already sense?

Let’s dig into the tweet, the truth, and what this moment really reveals about where Tottenham Hotspur is heading.

📡 The Tweet That Set Spurs Twitter on Fire

The story broke — or rather, exploded — via a tweet from @_4Jords, a small Tottenham fan account on X (formerly Twitter), who posted:

“Huge HUGE News! #Tottenham reportedly finalising a $4.5bn takeover by Malaysian sovereign state-owned oil and gas giant Petronas…!! 💰 Daniel Levy will LEAVE #Spurs with immediate-effect… 💥 WOW… this MASSIVE for #THFC!”

No link.
No source.
No second-hand confirmation.

No journalist or media outlet backing it up.

And yet… it went everywhere.

That one tweet exploded across X with toxic fans desperate for change.

🔍 The Truth? There Is None.

I decided to have a root around the Internet:

Malaysian news outlets — no mention of any deal.
Petronas investor communications — nothing.
Spurs’ official site or shareholder documents — dead silent.
Trusted football media like BBC, or Sky — not a peep.
Trusted news and business sites like Bloomberg — hush.

Not only that — but forums like SIMB and BigFooty quickly flagged the tweet as speculation at best.

“Seems unlikely,” wrote one fan. “Petronas doesn’t even have a sports investment division.”

And they’re right.

Petronas has shown zero history of investing in football. The only oil-money rumours that ever had legs were tied to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and American venture groups.

🤔 So Why Did Everyone Believe It?

Because of what it represented.

Not Petronas.
Not Malaysia.

But Daniel Levy leaving.

After:

Sacking Ange Postecoglou just two weeks after winning the UEFA Europa League…
Donna Cullen quietly stepping down from the board…
Yet another potential managerial pivot toward someone like Thomas Frank…

Fans are no longer just frustrated.
They’re exhausted.
And they believe the club they love is being run with different priorities.

Which leads to the real question:

Is Tottenham Hotspur built to win trophies…
…or built to be sold?

💼 A Business That Sells the Dream — But Not the Ending

In a recent piece I published, I explored this question in depth:

🔗 Is Tottenham Hotspur a Better Investment if We Do Not Win Trophies Regularly?

It suggests something bold… and uncomfortable.

That maybe Spurs are more valuable as a business when we don’t win trophies.

Here’s the Logic:

Trophies cost money: Elite managers. Bigger wages. Riskier signings.
Near-success is easier to sell: Every buyer can claim they're the one to finally get it done.
Scarcity builds value: The longer you wait for a trophy, the more people crave it.
Expectation resets the game: Once you win, anything less becomes failure.

And for investors?

That’s a less attractive model than the profitable nearly-men.

⚖️ The Two Tottenham Hotspurs

Model	Result
Trophy-chasing club	High risk, higher wage bill, elite egos
Always-almost club	Controlled costs, global growth, big resale potential

Tottenham have:

A state-of-the-art stadium
A massive London location advantage
A global fanbase built on hope, style, and Son/Kane-era visibility
And under Daniel Levy — a reputation for financial discipline over silverware

This is a club built with business precision.

🧠 So Was That Tweet Fake? Yes, possibly.

But Was the Feeling Real? Absolutely.

Spurs fans aren't stupid.

They didn’t fall for a takeover tweet because they lack intelligence.
They believed it because, deep down, it aligned with a story they’re already seeing unfold.

A story where:

Managers are disposable, even after winning.
Board decisions feel surgical, not sporting.
And fans are left wondering if they're supporting a club chasing trophies — or stock value.

🔚 THBN The Final Whistle

There is no Petronas deal yet.
Daniel Levy is still at the club.
The tweet was a puff of smoke — not fire.

But what it revealed is no illusion.

Spurs fans are asking serious questions.

Well, most are just spouting hate to tear the club apart.

Questions, not just about managers or players…

But about what the club actually wants to be.

If you're one of them, start here:

🔗 Is Tottenham Hotspur a Better Investment if We Do Not Win Trophies Regularly?

Because the most painful question in football might be the one no one dares to answer…

What if we’re not supposed to win?

COYS

PS: Now, for those who need it explained so they, yet again, don't draw the wrong conclusions, this post merely asks you a question, it doesn't state my view!

Takeover Talk Part 1: Is Tottenham Hotspur a better investment if we do not win trophies regularly?

2025-06-13T06:30:00.005+00:00

“Are Tottenham more valuable when we don’t win trophies?” — A provocative question posed by Tottenham Hotspur Blog News on the true value of success.

A post for the toxics to bask in.

This is the real question behind everything going on.

Let’s answer it directly, then explore the logic in layers.

Tottenham Hotspur have just won the UEFA Europa League.
Seventeen years without silverware — and now, finally, a trophy.

But 2 weeks later, the man who delivered it — Ange Postecoglou — has gone.

No thank you to Daniel Levy.
No mention of the board.
Just a short farewell to the fans… and silence where the gratitude usually goes.

If you missed it, here’s yesterday’s deep dive into why Ange Postecoglou’s sacking might say more about Spurs’ long-term direction than it does about results.

Now reports suggest Spurs are turning to Thomas Frank — a respected manager, yes, but not one associated with silverware.

So what’s really going on?

Because this isn’t just about football anymore.
It’s about money, strategy, and the value of perception.

Is Tottenham Hotspur actually a better investment when we don’t win trophies or when we do?
And could the business model under Daniel Levy be designed to keep the club forever close… but never quite there?

Read on.

🔥 **Is Tottenham Hotspur a better investment if it does not win trophies regularly?**

Yes — potentially.

From a pure investment perspective, not winning trophies but always having the potential to can be more attractive to certain types of buyers and investors than regularly winning.

💼 Why?

Here’s the business logic:

1. Expectation Sells Better Than Satisfaction

If Spurs regularly win, then they have “arrived” — the growth curve flattens.
A buyer comes in asking: "What’s left to improve and grow?"
But if Spurs almost win, or get close every year…
- A buyer can pitch themselves as the missing link.
- This inflates the sense of potential upside without having to sustain the costs of winning.

Daniel Levy may be unintentionally (or strategically) keeping the club in a permanent state of "nearly" — because it maintains hunger, excitement, and resale potential.

2. Trophies Cost Money

Consistently winning trophies usually means:
- Paying higher wages
- Hiring elite managers
- Bigger transfer budgets
- Accepting higher risk (financial and sporting)
Investors prefer lower-risk assets with controlled costs and predictable revenues.
Spurs under Levy has been a masterclass in cost control, wage efficiency, and brand growth — all without the expense of trophies.

3. Global Brand Growth Isn’t Dependent on Trophies

Spurs are in London.
They have a world-class stadium.
They’re in the Premier League (which prints money).
They’ve had stars (Kane, Son), and a progressive playing style.

Many global fans support clubs that don’t win — because they’re exciting, historic, or promising. Spurs fit that perfectly.

4. Scarcity Value of the First Trophy

The longer you wait, the more hype builds around “ending the drought.”
That moment — like winning the Premier League for the first time — becomes priceless.
But if Spurs win a League Cup every 2 years, the mystique fades.
From an investment perspective, scarcity increases narrative value.

“So is Daniel Levy avoiding trophies?” — A bold question from Tottenham Hotspur Blog News, probing the deeper motives behind Spurs' business strategy.

🧠 So is Daniel Levy avoiding trophies?

Not necessarily deliberately… but:

He may prioritise sustainable financial growth and control over the higher-risk, high-cost trophy chase.
His model has created a high-value club without the instability that comes with hiring/firing superstar managers and buying 30-year-old winners.
“The goal for Thomas Frank is to qualify for the Top Four in the Premier League and make it to the R16 in the UEFA Champions League (UCL).” This is what you get when you protest to get a serial winner with a winning mentality out of your club because you want more points first and foremost. So don't complain, it's what you toxics asked for.

🤔 But what if Tottenham Hotspur did win regularly?

It wouldn’t be bad — but the business would change:

Costs go up.
Fan expectations rise permanently.
Every failure becomes a crisis (see Man United).
The club moves from “asset with potential” to “mature business with pressure.”

In short:

Winning clubs become harder to run.
Non-winning clubs with potential are easier to sell.

🧨 Final Verdict

Scenario	Investor Appeal
⚽️ Wins Regularly	Prestige, global status, but higher costs/expectations
⌛ Doesn’t Win, Always Close	More flexible, cheaper to run, massive potential upside for the next buyer

Tottenham Hotspur, right now, is the golden goose — not laying trophies, but still laying profits and dreams.

COYS

Disclaimer: This is a debate piece that does not necessarily reflect my personal views

Coming up tomorrow: Takeover Talk Part 2: Is Tottenham Hotspur built to win trophies… or built to be sold at peak perception value?

Toxic People in the Game: The Guardian's Character Assassination Job on Ange Postecoglou

2025-06-12T06:30:00.079+00:00

Tottenham Hotspur Blog News responds to what it views as a personal and unfair attack on manager Ange Postecoglou by The Guardian.

A disgraceful personal attack on Ange Postecoglou by Jonathan Liew and the Guardian

Clearly not the Guardians of decency

While we are writing about football snobbery and the toxics, this is what happens when you give them a voice.

The article suggests Ange Postecoglou might be better suited to leagues like the K League or League of Ireland—a dismissive swipe at his career outside Europe's elite.

Jonathan Liew accuses Postecoglou of building his success on “nuclear-strength bullshit”—a toxic and personal attack disguised as commentary.

Even as Postecoglou leaves Spurs with a major trophy, the piece ridicules his past achievements in Australia and Japan—exposing deep-rooted Euro-snobbery.

I’ve seen some outrageous articles in my time.

But this one — Jonathan Liew’s Guardian piece on Ange Postecoglou — might just take the biscuit.

Not because it’s a sharp footballing insight.
Not because it makes a point I disagree with.
But because it’s an outright character assassination, dressed up in clever words and hidden behind faux-intellectual snobbery.

Let’s not beat around the bush.
This wasn’t football journalism.
It was a personal attack from a man who appears to despise Postecoglou’s background, philosophy, and achievements.

And for The Guardian to publish it?
That’s on them.
They’ve given a platform to someone who used it not to inform, but to sneer.

If you want to do that, then do it from your own blog.

A Trophy Ignored, A Legacy Distorted

Postecoglou just delivered Tottenham Hotspur the UEFA Europa League.

Read that again.

A man who came in during a rebuild, with half the squad injured, fans divided, and media vultures circling…
… finished the season with silverware.

It was the club’s first European trophy since 1984.
Yet that barely earns a nod in this piece.

Instead, Liew makes smug digs about the Greek Super League, the K League, the League of Ireland…
…like Ange is some kind of managerial con artist whose time at Celtic, Japan and Australia shouldn’t count.

He even suggests that Perth Glory or Gamba Osaka might be his next level.
That’s not criticism.
That’s Euro-snobbery wrapped in sarcasm.
And it stinks.

When Football Journalism Turns Toxic

Here’s the bit that crossed the line for me:

“A managerial reign so evidently built upon a towering silo of nuclear-strength bullshit.”

This isn’t punditry.

This is the language of a toxic individual who wants to humiliate, not debate.

Ange Postecoglou was transparent, passionate, and consistent in his philosophy.
You might disagree with his tactics. Fine.
You might question his choices. Go ahead.
But to accuse him of being a fraud?
That says more about the writer than the subject.

Out of Context and Out of Order

Yes, Spurs finished 17th.

But this is deliberately out of context.

The second half of the season was sacrificed to target cup glory — a strategy that paid off.

Anyone who watched the games, tracked the injuries, or listened to Postecoglou explain the club’s long-term direction knows exactly why that league position happened.

Whether you agree with that approach or not this piece oversteps the mark by a distance.

Next season would’ve been a different story.

That was obvious.

However, the club didn't agree with that approach in the end.

Because his sacking wasn’t about results.

It was about control.

"No, we are not prepared to pay that price to win them. "

"No thanks," the toxics shouted.

The spreadsheets agreed.

Points come first.

Final Thought

This piece of journalism demonstrates when social media is so toxic.

Journalists then write to that audience.

They all do it, just not quite this brazenly.

This is read by the rest of the football world and Tottenham Hotspur then gets a reputation.

To win something, you have to fight against the reputation.

Players who join have to overcome that reputation.

17 years prove that that is difficult.

This is why the actions of the toxics stop Spurs winning.

It's the consequences of their actions that are too distant for them to see.

Hence, they shout, because they always shout, it wasn't me.

You don’t have to like Ange Postecoglou.
You don’t have to agree with his methods.
But if you’re going to write about him — especially after winning a major European trophy — at least do it with honesty and fairness.

Because what we just saw from The Guardian wasn’t journalism.

And the saddest part?

There are people out there who’ll lap it up.

Toxics live in their own little worlds, whereas others understand it's a global world these days and think accordingly.

Micky van de Ven, who obviously knows more about Ange Postecoglou than any reporter or our toxic fans had this to say to Dutch outlet Voetbalzone:

"I think many of the players got along with him well. And of course, he is the first coach who has brought success to Spurs in a long time."
"That also shows that he has a certain quality. That also means that he has a winning mentality, 100%.
"From that, you would of course say that it is strange that he was fired."

He clearly holds the same view as myself.

COYS

The blog with a forthright opinion (that's correct) - Go on, click it

https://tottenhamhotspur.blogspot.com/2025/06/jackanory-part-3-curious-case-of-man.html

Jackanory Part 3: The Curious Case of the Man Who Forgot What Winning Meant

2025-06-11T06:30:00.003+00:00

The anti-Levy crowd have become the very thing they say they hate! — Tottenham Hotspur Blog News

A Jackanory Tale for the Misremembering Masses

Are you sitting comfortably, boys and girls?

Good.

Then, welcome and let’s begin reading today's story: The Curious Case of the Man Who Forgot What Winning Meant.

Once upon a time, there was a man who supported Tottenham Hotspur.

Or so he claimed.

He had seen us win. He had seen us lose. He had seen us lift trophies that shaped European football history.

And yet... in May of 2025... when his beloved club lifted silver under impossible conditions...
He didn’t celebrate.

He sulked.

Why?

Because it wasn’t the right man who delivered it.
Because it wasn’t the right competition.
Because — and let’s be very honest — it didn’t suit the narrative he had committed to back in November.

So instead of owning the contradiction, he did what many now do in the age of social media certainty:
He rewrote history.

The UEFA Europa League?

Second-tier rubbish.

Bill Nicholson?
Must’ve just got lucky then.

Keith Burtenshaw?

That doesn't count then.
Trophies?

Not worth it if the manager isn't your mate.

Is the FA Cup second-tier to the Premier League?

Is that worthless, too?

How about the League Cup?

Well done to our football snob, he has just dismissed Tottenham Hotspur as a club who have hardly won anything of note.

It's a classic tale of Football Snobbery.

A Football Snobbery Tale — Tottenham Hotspur Blog News

This was the comment, left on my recent article, Reddit Experiment #5, that inspired today’s story boys and girls.

“Ange made us winners of a second-tier trophy... made us losers in the Premier League.
Romero wants out. Son’s done. Good day to you.”

But it wasn’t a good day.
Not for him.
Because what he accidentally revealed wasn’t a hot take...

It was the moment he stopped being a supporter.

You see, boys and girls —
Supporters support.

That’s what the word means.

They back the club through tough storms and shifting tides.
They celebrate the rare moments of triumph — not tear them down because they arrived from an unexpected captain.

But this man didn’t support.

He followed.

And followers only cheer when it fits their mood, their timeline, or their agenda.

So while Tottenham Hotspur became champions of Europe (yes, really — the same way we were in 1963)...
He sat on his island of bitterness, rewriting history and dismissing the clubs 'Glory, Glory' years.

Which, in its own way, is quite the achievement.

But not one we’ll be adding to the honours board.

Football is no longer a 90-minute game. It’s a 365-day business judged by people who don’t go — but do shape the brand. — Tottenham Hotspur Blog News

Chapter 2: The Part-Time Fan and the Power of Perception

Are you still with us, boys and girls?

Not long now...

Just one more little lesson — before juice and biscuits.

You see, our curious friend didn’t just forget what winning meant.

He forgot where he was living.

Not physically — no.
(Although judging by his view of football, one might assume he’s stuck in 1974...)

No — we mean digitally.

Because today’s world is not run by programmes or matchday queues or the 5:15 post-match grumble in the pub.

Today, the internet runs everything.

Perception shapes truth.
Social media sets the tone.
And the noisy few — often the least informed — control the narrative, not the many silent realists.

This is the world Daniel Levy lives in.

This is the world Ange Postecoglou operates in.
This is the world I live in.

And this is the world our friend pretends doesn't exist.

Because part-time fans think social media is divorced from life.

Donald Trump won the US election because of social media.

He had Elon Musk in his corner.

Labour won the UK election.

Because Starmer won the nation on social media, lying to anyone who would listen.

Perception, not reality, dictates.

And perception is shaped on social media.

But our gentleman and his friends can't see that strategy.
They don’t see the long game.

They don’t understand brand perception, sponsor confidence, or the global marketplace Spurs now operate in.

They tune in for 90 minutes...
They shout a lot...
And if the pixels on their phone show a league table they don’t like — they demand scalps.

To them, every week is the end of the season.

The finishing line.

But here’s the thing he's missing:

Football is no longer a 90-minute game.

It’s a 365-day business, broadcast 24/7, judged on Twitter, shaped on Reddit, debated on YouTube, and dissected by millions who don’t attend the games — but do shape the brand.

And guess what?

Sponsors care what those people think.

And Brennan Johnson giving one clap and turning his back proves that what is said on social media affects player performance and, therefore, team performance on the pitch.

This is not 1978 when Glenn Hoddle didn't have to listen all week to fan noise.
It didn't exist.

The players are on social media.

That's their world today.

You either understand that...

Or you remain a dinosaur.

So when a section of Spurs fans vomits negativity online...

When they downplay silverware...

When they imply Bill Nicholson’s European triumphs were second-rate...

They’re not just embarrassing themselves.
They’re damaging the club they claim to love.

They’re toxic.

They’re loud.

And in this century — the century of noise — that matters.

Chapter 3: The Season of the Silver Ghosts

Are you still with us, boys and girls?

Good — you’re doing better than some grown-ups.

Now then...

Let’s talk about Arsenal.

(Shhh… don’t say it too loud. We’re not supposed to mention the club down the road in our bedtime story — it might frighten the little ones...)

You see, Arsenal had a nearly season.

Knocked out in the FA Cup semi-final.
Knocked out in the Champions League semi-final.
Finished second in the Premier League — again.

And what did they win?

Nothing.

No trophy.
No open-top bus parade.
Not even a thank-you card from UEFA.

But Spurs?

We also reached a domestic semi-final — the League Cup.

And then — under pressure, under fire, and under siege from, unbelievably, our own “supporters” — Spurs won the UEFA Europa League.

A major European trophy.

Silverware.

Real, tangible success.

And guess what?

Both clubs qualified for the Champions League.

So who had the better season?

The team who lifted a cup...
Or the one who nearly lifted two... but dropped both?

It should be obvious.

It should be Spurs.

But the noisy mob say otherwise.

You see — they moved the goalposts again.

Last year, they said:

“We want trophies!”

This year, we gave them one.

So they changed the chant:

“We want league position!”

What next?

“We want vibes?”

Because by any fair measure — by footballing logic, not Twitter tantrums — Spurs had the better season.

Spurs won silver.

Arsenal collected sympathy.

This is exactly what these people have been moaning about on social media.

Exactly the same thing.

Nothing matters but silverware.

Here's silverware.

Oh, well, it does matter.
What do we do now.
I know, we'll moan about the things we didn't win.
Yeah, let's do that.

And so the Neanderthals did.

So why are these so-called fans siding with a club that won nothing?

Why are they glorifying a season of almosts, when we delivered a real result?

They complain when we deliver seasons of nearly!

Because the truth is painful.

And the truth is this:

They’re not supporters. They’re protestors.

They don’t back the club.

They bait it.

They don’t want success.

They want to be right.

Even if that means undermining their own team to prove a point...

...That was already wrong.

And if you think it couldn’t get more pathetic...

Let’s remind ourselves of the final insult.

Tottenham Hotspur fans — some of them actually inside our stadium — wanted us to lose.

Yes.

They wanted Spurs to lose against Manchester City...

Just to stop Arsenal winning the league.

They didn’t back the badge.
They didn’t back the players.
They backed their hate.

Hate for Arsenal...
...and hate for their own football club's success.

Imagine that.

Utterly disgraceful.

Chapter 4: The Spreadsheet Supporters Who Hate the Spreadsheet Boss

Still with us, boys and girls?

Good. Because this next part’s important.

You see, our friend — and those like him — say they hate Daniel Levy.

They call him a spreadsheet merchant.
A money man.
A man who prioritises league position and revenue over glory and silver.

But here’s the twist...

When Tottenham Hotspur lifted a major European trophy...

These same people dismissed it.

“It’s only the Europa League.”
“We finished 17th.”
“We didn’t qualify for the Champions League the right way.”

So let’s ask the obvious question:

What exactly are they angry about?

Because if they’re upset we didn’t finish higher...
If they’re upset we didn’t make more prize money...
If they’re now ranking seasons based on revenue brackets...

Then guess what?

They’ve become the very thing they say they hate.

They’re spreadsheet supporters in disguise.

Undercover spreadsheet supporters.

Yes, that's right Billy, they are funny men.

(And the children all laughed out loud).

They’re actually backing data over silver.
Standing for balance sheets instead of moments of glory.
Choosing status over substance.

And the best part?

They don’t even know they’ve done it.

They still think they’re fighting “for the soul of the club” — while undermining the exact thing that built it:
Bill Nicholson’s legacy of winning major European trophies.

You can’t chant “Levy out” because he only cares about money —
...then call a trophy meaningless because it didn’t come with a Top 4 bonus.

You can’t demand ambition —
…then reject the first European trophy in 41 years.

Unless, of course, this was never about ambition...

It was about control.

Again.

Chapter 5: The Legacy They’re Too Snobbish to Defend

Or The Curious Case of the Man Who Forgot What Winning Meant

Well done, boys and girls —
If you’re still reading, you’ve outlasted most of the angry men in the back row.

Now let’s take a little trip...
Back in time.

The year is 1963.

Tottenham Hotspur become the first British club to win a major European trophy — the Cup Winners’ Cup.
Under Bill Nicholson.
With pride, passion, and prestige.

Then in 1972, we win the inaugural UEFA Cup.
And again in 1984, under Keith Burkinshaw, we win it on penalties at White Hart Lane.
An iconic night.
A defining moment.

These were our European nights.
Our legacy.

And now?

The same competition, with a new name — the UEFA Europa League — is being dismissed by our own fans as “second-tier” and “meaningless”.

And by the very fans who marvelled, like I did, in those "Glory, Glory" times.

Let’s be clear:

If you think Ange’s trophy doesn’t count...
Then neither did Nicholson’s.
Neither did Burkinshaw’s.
And neither did our club’s claim to European glory.

That’s the snobbery we’re dealing with.

Not footballing insight.
Not historical awareness.

Just modern ego wrapped in social media validation.

Because when you say:

“It’s only the Europa League…”

What you’re really saying is:

“Our European history is worthless.”

And that’s not a critique of the manager.

It’s not even a protest.

It’s a betrayal.

A betrayal of our past, our honours board, and every player who’s ever lifted silver for Spurs.

So if you’re going to write off Ange’s success…

Then go ahead.

Take a marker pen to 1963.
Score through 1972.
Erase 1984.
Because you can’t celebrate history while trying to rewrite it every time your ego takes a knock.

That’s not loyalty.

That's not support.
That’s legacy vandalism.

Chapter 6: The Followers Who Forgot How to Support

Are you still with us, boys and girls?
Good — not long now.
Let’s finish the story together.

Once upon a time, there was a football club called Tottenham Hotspur.
It had supporters — real supporters.

They cheered when we won.
They stood tall when we lost.
They understood what the word “support” meant.

But slowly… something changed.

Support became conditional.

Fans only supported if we played well.
Only believed if the manager was fashionable.
Only stayed loyal if the league position sparkled for Instagram.

When the going got tough —
They didn’t get going.
They got toxic.

They booed their own players.
They blamed the club’s owners.
They demanded the sacking of a manager who just delivered our first European trophy in 41 years.

“But it’s only the Europa League,” they said.
“We finished 17th!” they shrieked.
“Sack him!” they tweeted.

They weren’t supporting.
They were sulking.

They weren't backing the club.
They were trying to bend it to their will.

They weren’t supporters at all.

They were followers.

Just 90-minute fans, turning up for the highs, and storming off at the lows.

Supporters support. Followers perform.

The anti-Levy brigade demand “trophies”…
Then dismiss the ones they’re given.
They rage about “spreadsheet football”…
But then measure success with league placings and data tables.

They’ve become the very thing they claimed to hate.

And in doing so, they’ve made it impossible for the chairman to do anything but act.
Because unity sells.
Mutiny doesn’t.

Sponsorships suffer.
Perception falters.
The brand is bruised — by the very people who claim to love it.

So the story ends like this:

A manager gave us silver.
The fans gave him scorn.

And the man who brought back European glory?
They told him to get out.

Because they don’t support.

They follow.
They moan.
They expect.
They forget.

They forgot what winning means.
They forgot what supporting means.

But not you, boys and girls.
You know better now.

THE END
(…for now.)

COYS