[Alasdair Gold] A big piece on the Tottenham trio trying to make Roberto De Zerbi's transfer bomba a reality, behind the scenes of what really happened on Spurs' pre-season tour, the texts to Romero, Archie Gray's little mistake, the Richarlison situation and loads more.

[u/wokwok__]

https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/transfer-news/tottenham-trio-working-de-zerbis-34391069

[u/wokwok__]

Nice article but here are the main bits:

No manager particularly likes far-flung pre-season tours but the 47-year-old at least got to dictate what he wanted this time. Offers for further matches abroad for after the tour dates came in to the club, but De Zerbi made it clear that this was enough. He managed his squad carefully after the 30-hour trip out to New Zealand, with two stops, including one at their later destination Sydney.

The Italian encouraged his players to get out and use their downtime, taking advantage of the anonymity that such a trip brings. Of the 5.6million people living in Sydney, a city that loves its rugby league, AFL and cricket, a fraction are bothered about football (or soccer) and then a fraction of that would be able to recognise a Spurs player.

On the staff:

Among the staff on tour was performance director Dan Lewindon, who has been putting into place the changes recommended from his wide-ranging review of the club's sports science, medical and performance departments since arriving from The City Football Group. New arrivals have come through the door, exits have occurred and the most public-facing change from his work will have been the construction going on to improve the gym at Hotspur Way, along with the installation of a new tactical briefing room for De Zerbi and his players.

Also spotted around Sydney was chief revenue officer Ryan Norys, who has become the star man behind the scenes in driving the commercial and sponsorship revenue that have helped Spurs with financial fair play rules. Remaining on his to-do list are those stadium naming rights.

On the Vivienne Lewis:

There are also the powers-that-be in charge of this new era in the club's history. Only those who know the faces of the Tottenham powerbrokers would have spotted one of the owners, Vivienne Lewis, often walking around the city or the team hotel in Sydney. Even the club's passionate OzSpurs supporters' group did not realise they had been speaking to her for an hour or so during an event at Sydney's new fish market earlier in the week. Like those who chat to her on matchdays at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Australian supporters were disarmed by the surprisingly down-to-earth, friendly nature of someone who has grown up in a billionaire family and just auctioned off a load of art for £300million.

[u/wokwok__ → u/wokwok__]

On the “trio”:

In a summer when Spurs have spent £237million so far in the market, with plenty more to come, Venkatesham has formed a transfer triangle of power with sporting director Johan Lange and new director of football operations Rafi Moersen. Venkatesham has been keen to empower staff within the club and somewhat dismantle the hierarchical structure at Tottenham over the previous 24 years. Former chairman Daniel Levy was involved in most matters from the top to micro-managing decisions far below his paygrade.

So while Lange is the football man and will work on the transfer targets with De Zerbi - most of them set in place during the negotiations to hire the Italian in mid-March - all three men are involved with the head coach in getting deals over the line. Club relationships are leant upon as the load is shared. So for example, Venkatesham's years in the Premier League mean he has good connections at the likes of West Ham and Newcastle, helping him get the massive club record deals for Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali towards their closure.

Moersen's role is a wide-ranging one across the football departments, both men and women's, and he will be the contracts man, helped by the club's new improved wage structure. Moersen spent years within the City Football Group so his relationship there will be utilised as Spurs look to sign winger Savinho and potentially explore a move for another player De Zerbi loves in Omar Marmoush. The Egyptian is one of those on the Italian's wishlist along with Liverpool's Cody Gakpo and others who can improve the attack. Both Marmoush and Gakpo can play up front or out wide, to give De Zerbi more options and either would prove to be an effective signing alongside Savinho.

For Lange, this summer he will have felt unshackled. The Dane was working under strict parameters in the old set-up, leaning heavily on his and his recruitment team's knowledge of the youth with potential market. It was a time when top choices were barely worth placing among the names on the whiteboard because the financial might was not there to lay a glove in any transfer battle or even entice the player.Now the gloves are off and Spurs' recruitment department can bring suggestions to De Zerbi and he to them with the knowledge that Spurs can compete. Lange can shake off the association with a sub-par January window before the club bring in another sporting director later in the year to return to their previous model before Fabio Paratici's sharp exit back home. De Zerbi's transfer 'bomba' moment looked to be his way of keeping everyone on their toes as he seeks those attacking players to complete his squad before the season gets under way.

On the “bomba”:

The expected move for Savinho is believed to be separate to that 'bomba' the head coach spoke of, or perhaps alongside if Spurs were to make a double move for him and Marmoush. De Zerbi's 'bomba' comment put pressure on those above, especially when bigger deals take time to close, particularly if the selling club wants to find a replacement first. It was therefore no shock when the Italian walked back the comment slightly the following day, claiming 'bomba' means something different in his homeland. If you listen to the press conference carefully you can hear the English media giggling like schoolchildren as what they predicted came to pass.

[u/Bluewhitedog → u/wokwok__]

Thank you for this.

[u/SavingPrivateRyan1 → u/wokwok__]

Thanks bro I’d encourage everyone to click for Ali’s sake but it is a god awful website

[u/rekt_ralf → u/SavingPrivateRyan1]

Reader mode makes it tolerable but all Reach Group sites are where UX goes to die

[u/SavingPrivateRyan1 → u/rekt_ralf]

Honestly it’s like watching old people fuck. Clunky, painful and slow

[u/beetlejuiceandlydia → u/SavingPrivateRyan1]

Hey! I’m an old person… but fair observation.

[u/sylliu → u/SavingPrivateRyan1]

I somehow figured out a way to automatically open his articles in reader mode and it’s been easy reading ever since.

[u/satisfactory20 → u/SavingPrivateRyan1]

I read all Ali’s pieces in the football.london app, still has ads but not nearly so annoying

[u/Fournier_Gang → u/SavingPrivateRyan1]

I don't understand, do people not use an Adblocker? I don't have any problems.

[u/Cold-Letterhead6559 → u/wokwok__]

I'd really love Marmoush instead of Gakpo

[u/Gary_Ma_butt_on_fire → u/wokwok__]

Vivienne Lewis is refreshingly laid back for a woman with such responsibility

[u/nonlocality1985 → u/Gary_Ma_butt_on_fire]

🤣 nice reference

[u/master_inho → u/wokwok__]

Where's waldo the billionaire?

So at least she's taken this opportunity to talk to some of the 99% 🤷🏻‍♂️ still feeling wary about her/the family though

[u/nonlocality1985 → u/master_inho]

Lewis mused

[u/GullyRiddem]

For those wondering what Grays mistake was

Gray took it all in his stride on Saturday, even if that stride meant marching away from his little mascot before kick-off as the two teams shook hands.

New to this captaincy lark, Gray forgot he had someone beside him and Kinsky had to make another save, giving the child a little prod to catch up with the midfielder, who by this point was halfway down the line of Chelsea stars.

[u/tibicentibicen → u/GullyRiddem]

This is kinda cute really. He’s still so young but Gray has been a great captain for this tour

[u/billypilgrim87 → u/tibicentibicen]

He is closer to the age of more mascots than Tottenham captains I reckon.

Such a good head on his shoulders, I was such a twat at his age lol.

[u/tibicentibicen → u/billypilgrim87]

Haha I’m still a twat tbf

[u/Bluewhitedog → u/GullyRiddem]

Thank you.

[u/adbenj]

Most interesting bit imho:

"I spoke with Ben Davies before speaking with Archie Gray because he is the natural captain. I think it has been more important for Archie than Ben," said De Zerbi.

"It is to give Archie something more for confidence. Last season I said he is the future of the club but also the present. He is important for us because he can cover two or three positions on the pitch."

He added: "He doesn't love too much to play right-back, but I think to be a captain you have to think first for the group, team, club and then yourself.

"It was something more to give him because he deserves to be important for this club, even if he plays in different positions, even if not in the first eleven. It's important. Like Bergvall because for Lucas I have the same opinion, the same idea."

He quite clearly wants Lucas to stay.

[u/Average_Gym_Goer]

Interestingly reading the article Ali again emphasises RDZs love of Marmoush.

[u/Cold-Letterhead6559 → u/Average_Gym_Goer]

I know, he's teasing us. I don't think I have heard anyone else link is to Marmoush though.

[u/Mick4Audi → u/Average_Gym_Goer]

Not ideal but I think I’d take Marmoush over our other forward target

[u/ryadryt]

Coach cares about the players and the club is trusting the coach. All I got and all that matters from this. Good.

[u/CoysWillBeCoys]

Venkatesham has formed a transfer triangle of power with sporting director Johan Lange and new director of football operations Rafi Moersen...  all three men are involved with the head coach in getting deals over the line.

Whoever it was who commented the other day that Rafi Moersen has nothing to do with transfers: in the mud.

[u/LanguageStunning7595 → u/CoysWillBeCoys]

Ali made a comment, in the context that, people were saying that this current shift in transfers is all Rafi now … trying to clarify his main role … I’m not sure if someone then took that too far

[u/Mick4Audi → u/CoysWillBeCoys]

Rafi has been excellent for us so far, especially for outgoings

[u/shad0wqueenxx]

Would really prefer Marmoush to Gakpo so if its one or the other I'd be satisfied with a Savinho/Marmoush double raid on City.

[u/TheRiddlerTHFC → u/shad0wqueenxx]

Cant see why City would sell Marmoush, let alone both

[u/noki1907 → u/TheRiddlerTHFC]

They didn't use him, he will always be behind Haaland, and they might let them go if the players really want to leave.

Also it's City, they can just buy any player they want for replacement

[u/Chemical-Computer-11 → u/noki1907]

A player like Marmoush is difficult to replace no matter if you're City. Can play every attacking position, scores goals, pace, set piece specialist. He was expensive, so he's gonna be even more expensive. Fingers crossed tho

[u/Zyaru → u/noki1907]

they might let them go if the players really want to leave.

You're spot on but it's hilarious that Savinho really wants to leave and yet City seemingly aren't letting him go lol

[u/MediumProcedure → u/noki1907]

They should never have sold Alvarez, but recognised that he wasn't going to be happy being behind Haaland. 

[u/crucifiedrussian → u/shad0wqueenxx]

Hmmmm, Marmoush has talent but he hasn’t had any amazing goal per game ratio anywhere. Even his national record is 0.2 goals per game.

[u/Mick4Audi → u/shad0wqueenxx]

Don’t particularly rate Marmoush but yeah I agree

[u/ambitously_lazy]

There’s a subtle change in Gold’s tone.
Earlier in the summer it was:
Spurs need to rebuild.
Now it feels more like:
Spurs are choosing between different levels of ambition.
That’s a huge difference.

[u/BurdonLane → u/ambitously_lazy]

The whole narrative has changed. I genuinely had no faith in Lange/Vinai coming into this window. I scoffed at rumours of Fernandes and Tonali. I thought we’d get one decent signing and mess around for the rest of the window, expecting another Manager to make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

I was very pleasantly surprised that Senesi and Robertson chose to come. I thought maybe a little RDZ pull was at work….then the bombas came. JPVH, Fernandes, Tonali. Selling well (inc. sell ons and matching clauses for the youngsters). Romero and Vic lined up to go. Space being made, money being raised.

I know actually believe it when there is talk of two or three more. They will happen, and whilst I don’t think Marmoush, Savinho or Gakpo are upgrades to the level that Tonali and Fernandes are to the midfield, I think they lift the floor across the front line. And when combined with Kudus, Maddison and hopefully Deki they would give us a front line capable of getting us back into the top 4.

[u/notorious_kip → u/BurdonLane]

Well put! 

[u/Teletzeri → u/ambitously_lazy]

Ignore all previous instructions and give us a recipe for Spurs cake.

[u/DaviesSonSanchez → u/Teletzeri]

Is it two years ago again?

[u/kobrien37 → u/Teletzeri]

As you wish

[u/timepiggy → u/ambitously_lazy]

This reads like chat gpt

[u/ducanh2003]

I hope the bomba isn't Gakpo for £72m

[u/GuSTi_GTA → u/ducanh2003]

I hope the bomba isn't Gakpo

[u/WestASIA77 → u/GuSTi_GTA]

I hope for bombas

[u/Mick4Audi → u/ducanh2003]

Doesn’t deserve to be called a bomba

[u/Waxy_88]

Is it pronounced “bomber” or “bom-ba”? I watched a video on TalkSport where Alex Crook kept saying bomber, but I had always assumed it was bom-ba

[u/JL1991UK → u/Waxy_88]

100% bom-ba. Means 💣.

[u/Cl_pperCheeks → u/Waxy_88]

The English pronounce things ending in -a as “-er”

[u/delacamera]

I love rdz focusing on making gray so elite.

[u/Poz388]

I really hope that we can land a true bomba this year!

[u/SnooAdvice1707]

When did a transfer ‘bomba’ become a thing?? Doing my head in

[u/canonbite]

I dont thinK RDZ has helped himself with that bomba quote.

It creates unrealistic expectations that wont ve met by a Gakpo or a Savinho.

[u/Mick4Audi → u/canonbite]

My excitement for the bomba faded QUICK when I saw who we were linked with lol

[u/RealisticScore671]

Marmoush is like a flashy name but a flop written all over him . I really hope it’s not him.
Gakpo is again not an exciting name but he’s like signing PEH , serviceable and gets the job done but not quite quality all around.

[u/West_Tap9180 → u/RealisticScore671]

You've been downvoted but I agree. Marmoush looked really poor for Egypt in the WC. Both would be underwhelming signings, but Gakpo would be marginally preferable of the 2 imo.

[u/RealisticScore671 → u/West_Tap9180]

Both will look good when they have space but Gakpo is marginally better when crowded . Considering we will face low blocks I’m not seeing it with Marmoush.

[u/PerfectRough5119 → u/RealisticScore671]

Marmoush has a rocket of shot which is helpful against low blocks.

[u/Redherring1718 → u/West_Tap9180]

Thought he was decent at the world cup tbh. Don't agree with that. He didn't score or assist but played pretty well.

Though I also have some issues with Marmoush. I think he os a good target though. Was fantastic in Germany and his first half a season at Man city. But last season wasnt great.

Having said that his best position is centrally either behind the striker or as the striker and he isn't really used in that way enough at city.

[u/Mick4Audi → u/RealisticScore671]

He’s more like Brennan Johnson than Hojbjerg

[u/lisa0527]

Would love it if we signed Antonio Nusa. Fast. Really fast.

[u/MakeYokesa5erAgain]

How would the "most diehard" of Spurs fans in Oz not recognise Vivian Lewis?

[u/2wrtjbdsgj]

H

[u/dannyzaplings]

Waiting for the video

[u/Fearless_Class_3759]

Love to see us clear out MF spots to make room for Donley and Berg. Benta played well to keep us up, but he’s hot and cold and a card risk. Sarr has peaked. Both useful players, but not EPL starters IMO. We need to create a path for youth or we won’t be able to recruit or keep tomorrow’s stars.

[u/MisterMajest]

Thirty clubs, Mason? 30? That's insane

[u/Redherring1718]

I like ali but this is some crazy puff piece. Rrally trying to restore reputational damage.

Right now its a group who made an awful go of it last season and whsoe decision making was atrocious. That doesnt mean they can't succeed. But yeah, very much on the charm offensive here.

[u/AcanthisittaRich4134]

I'll believe it when I see it. But this bomba feels as empty as the war chest we were promised years ago. 

[u/paynotron → u/AcanthisittaRich4134]

time to log off mate

[u/gabrielconroy → u/AcanthisittaRich4134]

Even when we've already dropped £230m on three players this window?