In the hours since Thomas Frank’s dismissal I’ve seen many mentions of how his failure to join the ‘Tottenham Way’ was a huge part of his downfall.
Even before his sacking, this was often said about the former Brentford boss.
If they are looking for a replacement, it is essential that they need someone who understands the ‘Tottenham Way’ if they are to be successful in the role.
What this basically boils down to is all these third rate experts who are former Spurs players recommending other former Spurs players and managers to get the job.
Suggestions from those ideal to fully understand the ‘Tottenham Way’ if they get the job include Tim Sherwood (who no one else would dream of hiring as manager), Robbie Keane (who was manager in Israel last season and is currently manager at Hungry) and Harry Redknapp (who turns 79 in less than three weeks!!!).
Yeah, I don’t see what could go wrong if Spurs hired one of these people as managers, or even all three…
I love the delusions of grandeur among former Spurs players, pundits, fans and so on.
This belief has somehow left them steeped in a long history of great football that has probably left the rest of us all green with envy as we watch from a distance. If only we could play the ‘Tottenham Way’ too….
In reality, it’s all nonsense, any club claiming to be somehow the eternal guardians of the beautiful game. You hear this from people like Man U fans and supporters of other clubs. As if they’re entitled to brilliantly entertaining football because that’s what they’ve always done, even though that’s absolutely not the case. Yes, clubs like Liverpool and Man U have had periods where they were the dominant team in English football, bought the best attacking players and played great football. However, this has been far from ‘always’ the case. When was the last time you thought I wanted my team to play like Man U???
Anyway, back to Spurs: it’s actually another ‘Tottenham Way’ I want to talk about.
One that they have indeed become famous for in recent times, but definitely not a ‘Tottenham Way’ that Newcastle United would like to copy.
The other ‘Tottenham Way’
Responsible for Tottenham
Until April 2021 – Jose Mourinho
Until June 2021 – Ryan Mason
Until November 2021 – Nuno
Until March 2023 – Antonio Conte
Until April 2023 – Cristian Stellini
Until June 2023 – Ryan Mason
Until June 2025 – Ange Postecoglou
Until February 2026 – Thomas Frank
Until – ?????????
Spurs will ultimately have had nine or ten different managers (counting Mason’s spells as separate managerial times) picking the Tottenham team in the space of less than five years. Certainly nine, but it will be ten if they put someone in charge temporarily and appoint a ‘permanent’ new boss within a few months.
Spurs have a huge financial superiority over most clubs, as well as many other advantages, yet they create a total mess.
In the Brentford accounts released today it was announced that Tottenham paid Brentford £6.7 million in compensation to get Thomas Frank. Maybe not as much money as Chelsea, but how much have Spurs shelled out in recent years, paying compensation to other clubs to get their managers, and then having to pay off the same managers (and their staff) not long after?
Of course, if you pick a bad one you can’t blindly persevere, but how can Spurs (and Chelsea) keep doing this time and time again?
That brings me to Newcastle United.
Which brings me to Eddie Howe.
Eddie Howe has brought stability, continuity, consistency AND success to Newcastle United, despite not having the financial and other advantages that the likes of Spurs and Chelsea have.
Yet a fair number of Newcastle United fans would like to see our club follow the ‘Tottenham Way’, despite what Eddie Howe has shown year after year, and would be happy to replace him with a random pick who they are ‘confident’ can do better than the genius we have as United boss.
In addition to his recruitment of top players and his tactical knowledge for over four years, Eddie Howe is also a class man when he represents us off the pitch, how he speaks to the media, his honesty and willingness to accept responsibility and not throw his players under the bus like some of the pranksters Newcastle United have used in the past.
I’d like to think Tottenham will put another ten or more managers in charge, with Eddie Howe still our leader. If that happens, Newcastle United will be in a very good place.
#Tottenham #Newcastle #United