Spurs plans to return to a continental structure at White Hart Lane are due to be shelved for the time being as Roma’s General Manager Franco Baldini looks set to stay in Italy.
Reports began to emerge last week after Andre Villas-Boas was quizzed about a possible Director of Football coming in at Tottenham. AVB intimated that he was perfectly happy to work with Baldini and it was even suggested that the head coach had recommended the former England number 2 to Daniel Levy.
For some Spurs fans, you only have to mention the name ‘Damien Comolli’ for them to dispute the need for a Director of Football. However, Levy is claimed to be actively looking for a ‘recruitment specialist’ but if the latest reports are to be believed, it won’t be Franco Baldini.
Txiki Begiristain is the favourite now by all accounts.
I’m not 100% against this, when Comolli was in the position, he actually signed some very good players for us, BAE, Kaboul (ok, not great 1st time round), lennon, Bale all spring to mind.
The role can work, its just everyone needs to be in agreement with regards who does what.
This system works well on the continent but certain dyed in the wool old hands believe that it’s an unnecessary roll, because they want total control. Redknapp was a prime example of this however, Damien Camolli brought some tremendous talent to the club including Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon, Younis Kaboul, Berbatov, BAE, KP Boateng, Gio to name but a few and this cannot be overlooked. KPB and Gio could have been a success if they were given more time from Redknapp. Some will say that Camolli also introduced a couple of duds like Bently and Pav but the diamonds far outweigh the rough. My only fear is that good young home grown talent may be overlooked in the process.