“It was strange”- Journalist has noticed something really weird about Tottenham’s Wilson Odobert announcement, his explanation though means a lot about the deal
Tottenham Hotspur unexpectedly bolstered their squad on Friday morning by signing Wilson Odobert from Burnley. The signing came as a surprise to many, as there had been little to no prior indication that Spurs were even interested in the young winger. The news caught the attention of fans and pundits alike, not just because of the unexpected nature of the transfer but also due to the manner in which Tottenham chose to announce it.
Tottenham Hotspur has become known for their flashy, well-produced announcement videos and social media posts when unveiling new signings. This trend was evident when they recently introduced Dominic Solanke and Archie Gray, both of whom were presented to the public with elaborate media packages that included cinematic videos and stylish photoshoots. These announcements were designed to generate excitement among the fanbase and to showcase the club’s media capabilities.
However, the announcement of Wilson Odobert’s signing was a stark contrast. Rather than a polished video or a carefully crafted narrative, the club opted for a much more traditional, understated approach. The announcement was brief and lacked the usual fanfare, which led to some confusion and speculation among fans. Many were left wondering why such a low-key approach was taken for this particular signing.
Josh Hughes, a journalist for The Mail, shared his thoughts on this curious situation during an appearance on The Spurs Chat Podcast. Hughes, who closely follows Tottenham’s activities, found the announcement to be quite peculiar. He highlighted the club’s choice of words, particularly the phrase “subject to formalities,” which he noted is rarely used in modern football. This phrase typically suggests that some minor details still need to be finalized, but it’s uncommon for a club to publicly acknowledge this in an official announcement. Hughes expressed his surprise, noting that it’s been a long time since he’s seen Tottenham, or any top club for that matter, make such a statement without also providing the usual visual confirmations, like the player holding up the club shirt.
Hughes also pointed out that the lack of a traditional announcement video or photo session was unusual, especially considering the effort that usually goes into these presentations. Normally, once a player has passed their medical, the club wastes no time in putting together a high-quality media package to present the new signing to the world. However, in Odobert’s case, this did not happen, which led to further speculation.
One possible explanation, as Hughes suggested, could be the timing of the announcement. The signing of Odobert coincided with a particularly busy day for Tottenham’s media team. Friday was designated as a media access day at the club, meaning that the team was likely preoccupied with preparations for the upcoming match against Leicester City. This would have included interviews, press conferences, and other media-related activities that might have taken precedence over preparing a more elaborate announcement for Odobert.
Moreover, Friday was also something of a mini-deadline day for Tottenham. New signings had to be registered by 12 PM if they were to be eligible to play in the weekend’s fixtures. Given this deadline, it’s possible that Tottenham had to rush through the formalities of the Odobert deal to ensure that he could be included in the squad for Monday’s game against Leicester. The timing of the announcement, which was made at 10:30 AM, suggests that the club was focused on getting the deal over the line in time for registration, rather than on producing a polished announcement.
Despite the unconventional nature of the announcement, the signing of Wilson Odobert could prove to be a valuable addition to the Tottenham squad. Odobert, a talented young winger, has shown great promise in his time at Burnley, and his arrival at Spurs could provide the team with additional depth and options in attack. Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham’s head coach, will now have the opportunity to assess Odobert in training and decide whether he is ready to make an immediate impact in the first team.
The decision to announce Odobert’s signing in such a low-key manner may have been driven by practical considerations, but it has certainly sparked discussion among fans and analysts. Some have speculated that the club might unveil a more elaborate presentation for Odobert at a later date, once the immediate pressures of the current match preparations have subsided. Others have wondered whether this is a sign of a new, more reserved approach to announcements by Tottenham, though this seems unlikely given the recent examples of Solanke and Gray.
In any case, the most important outcome is that Wilson Odobert is now a Tottenham player, and he could be in line to make his debut as soon as Monday. While the circumstances of his announcement were unusual, the focus will now shift to how he performs on the pitch and what he can bring to the team. Fans will be eager to see how Odobert fits into Postecoglou’s plans and whether he can contribute to Tottenham’s ambitions for the season.
