Daniel Levy's Transfer Window Review Underscores Hard Truth for Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur worked diligently on transfer deadline day, but to no avail. 

Only the deals to send Aaron Lennon to Everton and DeAndre Yedlin on loan to Sunderland were concluded, while the club failed to bring in either a defensive midfielder or striker. 

Both were, and remain, positions of need for Mauricio Pochettino's team.

Chairman Daniel Levy was heavily involved in Spurs' efforts to recruit West Bromwich Albion's tempestuous forward Saido Berahino, and his failure seemed to reflect poorly upon him. 

Fans and journalists alike attacked the chairman over the costliness of his perceived brinkmanship in negotiations with Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace. 

The Guardian's David Hytner gave a measured critique of Levy's conduct in the transfer window, while the Telegraph was prepared to lambast him well before the window even closed.  

In response to the largely negative reaction to Spurs' deadline-day dealings, and accusations of unfair "antics" from Peace, per James Whaling of the Mirror, Levy issued a lengthy and revealing statement on the club's official website. 

The statement extended to over 600 words and addressed a number of key issues. 

He defended the club's pursuit of Berahino and compared it with Peace's willingness to make the affair entirely public, something he implicitly described as "wholly disrespectful."

Pochettino also added his thoughts to the statement, denying accusations that he had been left short-handed by Levy's negotiating tactics:

"

I look at our squad and I know we have worked well to shape it. Strengthening our defence was a priority given the number of goals we conceded last season. Toby [Alderweireld], Kevin [Wimmer] and Kieran [Trippier] add depth and quality. In Dele [Alli], Sonny [Heung-Min] and Clinton [Njie] we have three young, fast and exciting players who can play in several different attacking positions, giving us good options. ... Much has been said about us only having one recognised striker in Harry [Kane] - I don’t accept this at all - the positional play of today’s forwards means it’s too simplistic to look for goals from any one position - playing a fluid style means players switch.

"

That all-encompassing response rather deflated the most furious fans, suggesting that Pochettino is satisfied with the composition of his team. 

A reluctance to spend unnecessarily on inferior players is not worthy of the scorn that has been directed at Levy. 

He then turned to the crucial point:

"

Our pragmatic player trading has been important in the way we have run the business of the Club and in getting us to the position where we have now been able to start work on a new stadium - the one thing that has the ability to take this Club to the next level of competitiveness.

"

The fact that Tottenham are poised to construct a massive new stadium in north London without subjecting themselves to ruinous debt is laudable, as is the fact that Levy has identified a world-class venue as crucial to reaching "the next level." 

Tottenham could qualify for the Champions League this season, but without the immense revenue streams of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United, such an achievement would be short-lived. 

Spurs found that to their cost in 2011, while Liverpool did the same last season. 

This "slow boil" approach is frustrating to even the least reactionary supporters. 

Running a football club like a business feels distasteful. 

Maintaining transfer surpluses, or a tiny net spend, while far smaller clubs gorge themselves at the transfer trough is frustrating. 

As is the fact that Tottenham have declined to make use of the newly enlarged broadcast deals. 

Not since the 2008-09 season, when Spurs were flirting with relegation, have the club deigned to spend heavily. 

The failure to reinforce the team's attack in the winter of the 2011-12 season, when an unlikely title challenge seemingly beckoned, rankles most of all. 

All of this feels distasteful, but it is an unfortunate reality. 

Such a business-oriented approach is the only thing that enabled Man United to wrench themselves out of their post-Sir Alex Ferguson tailspin. The astonishing funds at their disposal are the result of shrewd business dealing.

Tottenham aspire to a permanent place among Europe's elite. 

Julian Finney/Getty Images

They are in no position to spend their way there but must grow into a European superclub. 

They have the training facilities, some of the players and are constructing the stadium. 

With those weapons at their disposal, Spurs can genuinely aspire to fight their way into the elite cabal that routinely dominates the Premier League. 

Levy's tactics have been a routine source of frustration, but they are making his club more powerful.

Ultimately, regardless of whether he is motivated by genuine affection for the club or his responsibility to the ownership, Tottenham are benefiting from his stewardship. 

Even if it doesn't always feel like it.