The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 20th July 2015

Hoopspur said:

Here's a longish post from COYS. I take it that Brad is our very own Mr Friedel? Some quite interesting....

For those not on coys anymore, Brad visited the Atlanta Spurs pub and gave an impromtu Q&A after. Posted by Peapod and although quite long I thought it was interesting. Brad is a great guy! Hope he stays associated with Spurs for a long time

"Let's see what all I can remember.

Winks, Onomah, CCV and Glover are all currently training with the first team, being evaluated in their development. CCV is close to ready to make the first team, but probably a year off.

Don't believe everything you hear in the press. He denied Kaboul Cabal story as we currently know it, but did mention that some players tried to go around Pochettino to Baldini/Levy, and those players then didn't play for a month. Also, Liverpool never offered Sterling anything near what the club leaked to the press.

Pochettino hates the sort of player who calls up on Sunday and asks why he didn't play. Poch's answer to that player is likely to be "Because I pick the team"

On the other hand, a player who comes in and trains hard on Monday and Tuesday and stops by his office Wednesday to ask why he didn't play is likely to be invited in, shown training and game footage and given specific things Poch is looking for, and if he works on those he will be given playing time. Those guys are Poch's guys, and a lot of the people leaving this summer are the other sort.

There is a very good feeling among Poch's guys in the direction of the club, and that has been reinforced this offseason by the players who are leaving. Friedel said it's more important right now who is heading out than who is coming in, but he does feel that we have to get another striker and/or combination of players who can get us another 10-15 goals. AVB didn't want Dempsey to leave for exactly this reason

Poch at times last season persisted with younger players irrespective of wins and losses to get them game experience at the top level, as he was building a foundation for the future.

Adebayor to Villa has legs and may happen, but if it does expect Soldado to stick around along with bringing in another striker.

About Soldado: "He ticks all the boxes -- technical ability, tactical awareness, social skills within the squad, and he was mentally strong when he arrived (this has changed somewhat due to the scoring drought). He trains really well, and it just hasn't happened in the games." Nobody seems to be able to figure out why.

He's disappointed int he development of the USMNT. Believes they should be way better than his 2002 WC quarterfinals team, but says it's pretty clear that team was quite a bit better than the current squad.

He thinks there are too many MLS clubs, and that they should have less to improve the quality of the product.

He's been offered coaching jobs at a few clubs, but turned them down. Would only consider an offer where he had faith in the people above him. Happy working his 5 year deal with Fox -- you never know what might happen though

Oh yeah, he talked at length about when Hugo was signed, and he was still playing. Brad was originally brought in to play 1 year. Hugo was bought to be the future keeper (at a really great price due to Lyon's financial troubles) but AVB actually told Levy he was fine with keeping Friedel and using that money for other players. AVB kept playing Friedel, Hugo went to Levy and asked why he was bought if he wan't starting, and Levy said the manager picks the starting players, not me. Deschamps started leaning on AVB, and eventually he saw an opportunity after they had just beat Man U to sit Brad for a game and play Hugo, and it evolved from there. Brad and Hugo got along really well, especially because Brad speaks French.

That's a synopsis of a long story/answer...someone else may have some more detail on that one.

On Tim Sherwood:

He's exactly the same at training as we see on gameday. He's always going to have issues with players because some players don't like being told "You're bad at what you do".

He also said he could still play if a team really needed him (he's currently been training for a half Ironman), but his body enjoys the lack of jumping around and falling on the ground, and so he actually feels better now than he did while playing."

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yankspurs said:

I feel like something should go into the pot either way here...

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Snarfalicious said:

I'd venture a guess and say Adebayor (Villa), Stambouli (PSG) and Fredericks (QPR) are the three to likely be on their way out next.

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THOWIG said:

I have a feeling that we have someone really exciting waiting in the wings.

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THOWIG said:

I have a feeling that we have someone really exciting waiting in the wings.[/QUOTE

Would you regard Victor Moses as exciting?

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SHaRD said:

I'm perfectly happy for Soldado to stay if we bring in a new LWF who can play CF too.

We are looking like only having Lloris and Verts left in the squad who are older than 25, so we could do with his experience.

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felmani26 said:

I really am dismayed on here how so many are finding perfectly acceptable that we have a £26million striker who has been nothing but a disaster and couldn't hit a proverbial cow's arse with a banjo!

I don't want to listen about 'experience' and being a 'good guy' - I want my striker to score goals and can slot in as and when in being a functional member in our system.

Call a spade a spade instead of literally scraping the barrel for excuses for his continued inclusion.

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felmani26 said:

I really am dismayed on here how so many are finding perfectly acceptable that we have a £26million striker who has been nothing but a disaster and couldn't hit a proverbial cow's arse with a banjo!

I don't want to listen about 'experience' and being a 'good guy' - I want my striker to score goals and can slot in as and when in being a functional member in our system.

Call a spade a spade instead of literally scraping the barrel for excuses for his continued inclusion.

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Everlasting Seconds said:

When both Trix & Fox mention 3 out, wonder whether their sources are the same on this specific piece of ITK, or whether the sources are different and maybe not with the exact same 3 players in mind.

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yido_number1 said:

Brad is a top man ! Hope he sticks around the club that calmness is great for everyone and must rub off!

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yankspurs said:

Chicharito will be in MLS next season.

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dovahkiin said:

someone interpret this in case its itk
jasper: Everton wNt in the cards of KM. very expensive desl. You then have to convince the player to go there.

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