Transfer Windows Club and Manager view v Fans view

Transfer Windows: Club and Coach View vs Fans View

I would say, the majority of fans have no idea about transfer windows and what they are for or how they are approached.

The dynamics of football clubs' transfer strategies often clash with fans' immediate desires and expectations. 

Clubs generally operate with a long-term vision in mind, while fans focus primarily on short-term results, usually the upcoming season. 

The clubs’ long-term planning is more appropriate and thus fans’ short-term focus can be seen as misguided.

1. Sustainability and Financial Stability

• Clubs' Perspective: Clubs must ensure financial stability by adhering to budgetary constraints and regulations like UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) for clubs hoping to compete in Europe as well as domestic regulations, which differ from country to country.
  
  A long-term approach allows them to balance spending, avoid financial pitfalls and ensure that the club remains competitive over multiple seasons. By investing in younger players or those with potential resale value, clubs can secure future revenues, either through player sales or increased on-field performance.
  
  
• Fans' Perspective: Fans often want immediate success, pushing clubs to spend heavily on established stars.
  
  However, this can lead to unsustainable wage bills and transfer debts, which might jeopardize the club's long-term health, indeed it has for countless clubs, look at Leicester City who were relegated and will be fighting relegation this season too.
  
  Clubs that overspend for short-term success often face financial difficulties, as seen with clubs that have gone bankrupt or been forced to sell off key assets. Evey side with less money than Spurs at the time of their victory have been relegated from the Premier League.

2. Squad Development and Continuity

• Clubs' Perspective: Building a successful squad is a gradual process. Clubs look to create a balanced team with a blend of youth and experience, which requires careful planning.
  
  By identifying young talents or players who fit a particular style, clubs can develop a cohesive team that performs well over time, rather than relying on short-term fixes that may not integrate well.
  
  Ange Postecoglou has always worked this way, with success and Tottenham are clearly working this way. I expected this process to take 5 transfer windows (3 summer) to be near completion with ongoing tinkering.
  
  
• Fans' Perspective: Fans frequently demand instant results, desiring big-name signings without considering how those players might fit into the team's long-term strategy.
  
  This is shown on social media with comments like, how does that help us this season, thus making judgements against different criteria to a manager or club.
  
  This can lead to an imbalanced squad with short-lived success. Players brought in under pressure to perform immediately may not gel with the existing team, leading to underperformance and wasted resources.

3. Adapting to Managerial Changes

• Clubs' Perspective: Clubs must plan for the long term, including potential managerial changes. They often sign players who fit a broader club philosophy rather than just the current manager’s tactics.
  
  This ensures that the team remains functional even if there’s a change in leadership, avoiding the need for an expensive overhaul every time a new manager is appointed.
  
  Tottenham have returned to our attacking roots and with an ageing squad, have needed one of those overhauls, but this overhaul appears to be at a higher level than any other in the Premier League era.
  
  
• Fans' Perspective: Fans often view signings through the lens of the current manager's needs, sometimes pushing for players that suit a particular tactical system without considering the broader picture.
  
  When the managerial tenure is short, these players might not fit the next manager’s approach, leading to disjointed performances and further financial losses.

4. Player Development and Value Growth

• Clubs' Perspective: Investing in young talent and giving them time to develop is a cornerstone of long-term planning.
  
  Clubs recognize that nurturing a player can lead to significant future gains, both on the pitch and in the transfer market.
  
  This strategy requires patience but often pays off, as seen with clubs that have turned young prospects into superstars like we did with Gareth Bale, Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, all of which some fans wanted to get shot off because they weren't an immediate success.
  
  
• Fans' Perspective: Fans can be impatient with young or unproven players, demanding instant impact and sometimes overlooking the potential for growth. The above three prove that point and, quite frankly, prove fans wrong.
  
  This can lead to premature judgments and pressure on the club to sign established stars, which might stifle the development of future key players.
  
  Ange Postecoglou said in his pre-Newcastle press conference that he refuses to buy a centre-back this season that will stand in the way of Ashley Philips coming into the squad next season.
  
  

  "Yeah, we can go out and sign another centre back, but if the right player's not there, I'm not going to do it. It's as simple as that. I'm not, I never have, I never will.
  
  For me, it's about getting the right people in and there wasn't an opportunity for us to bring in someone who I thought was going to add to our group, so we don't do it. We've got Ashley Phillips, we've got young Luka Vuskovic available next year. Two young centre-backs.
  
  I don't want to block their pathway by doi something now. It might look from the outside, like we've got another player, but if that player is not going to be suitable to what we're doing and not going fit in, why would I bring them in and potentially block the path for somebody else."

  So while a group of fans with an agenda will blame Levy, it's Postecoglou who doesn't want to bring one in. Illinformed shoehorning to fit an agenda!

5. Longevity and Legacy

• Clubs' Perspective: Clubs that plan for the long term are more likely to build a lasting legacy. By focusing on sustainable growth, youth development, and smart investments, they can create a foundation for continued success.
  
  This approach not only wins trophies but also builds a club's reputation, making it an attractive destination for top talent.
  
  
• Fans' Perspective: Fans often prioritize immediate success over building a legacy, pushing for short-term solutions that may bring quick wins but do not contribute to the club's long-term stature.
  
  Clubs that cater to this pressure might enjoy brief periods of success but struggle to maintain it in the long run, as proven by all the domestic trophy-winning relegated clubs (7), none of which have recovered financially enough to compete today, who won with less money than Spurs at the time.
  
  Every other trophy has been won by clubs with more money than Spurs at the time. A very significant, but overlooked fact, not opinion, provable by published annual accounts fact.

To Wrap Up

While fans' passion for their club is understandable and their desire for immediate success is natural, clubs must operate with a broader, more strategic view.

Long-term planning, though sometimes slower to bear fruit, is crucial for a club's financial health, squad cohesion, and sustained success.

In the fast-paced world of football, patience and foresight are invaluable, and clubs that stick to their long-term plans often find themselves in a stronger position over time than those that succumb to short-term pressures.

Now obviously you will want to read more of the scintillating blog so here you go, dig in:

• Tottenham Hotspur's UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Group Stage Analysis
• Why a Europa League run is important for Spurs
• Spurs' parallels with the England cricket team
• Why Tottenham Hotspur is Betting on Striker Dominic Solanke

Bye for now.

COYS