The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - OPEN

wishkah said:

Not really ITK but hopefully an interesting mini read.

I was in Starbucks in Spitafields earlier and was listening into a conversation between two parents and what I can only describe as a pre-agent. It was quite interesting regardless of how true it all is.

This guys firm is new/growing and aims to get kids in the 16-18 bracket into academies around London - they then get a fee of first contracts signed etc. The parents were from Essex and guess were meeting this chap via Liverpool St station. His firm have contacts with the London clubs who can arrange trial days (with the view of being taken on) and also enter specified teams in mini tournaments while inviting scouts. I guess it's the fall back option if you didn't get a pro contract at your club and/or want a final chance of making it pro.

Anyway, the sales rhetoric was interesting. Last year 75% of his recruits went into lower league academies which at minimum leads to a perm contract in the Conference. 15% go into the Champ and tend to stay there and 10% make it to the prem. Those who make to the prem at least have a prem club on cv even if they fall down to the lower leagues which tends to help.

The parents obviously were like, "well he supports Chelsea and he's good enough so....". The Pre-agent stated that London wise it's Palace and even Arsenal who have taken people recently but Chelsea is off limits due to the extension World Wide system they have. I.E. they don't need more kids and tend to pay hefty contracts to secure the best. Someone who's not made it else where will not be considered. Alternatively spurs is a no-go because a) the club believe in a philosophy which is instilled pre- U21 therefore outsiders have a very slim chance of coming in and b)we have the pick of the area due to our new training complex which means we are skimming the cream off the top (unless massive wages take them to Chelsea).

While I can vouch for myself hearing this first hand I can't vouch for an agency which has to operate out of the first floor of a starbucks. Although he did have some very shiny print outs.

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wishkah said:

Not really ITK but hopefully an interesting mini read.

I was in Starbucks in Spitafields earlier and was listening into a conversation between two parents and what I can only describe as a pre-agent. It was quite interesting regardless of how true it all is.

This guys firm is new/growing and aims to get kids in the 16-18 bracket into academies around London - they then get a fee of first contracts signed etc. The parents were from Essex and guess were meeting this chap via Liverpool St station. His firm have contacts with the London clubs who can arrange trial days (with the view of being taken on) and also enter specified teams in mini tournaments while inviting scouts. I guess it's the fall back option if you didn't get a pro contract at your club and/or want a final chance of making it pro.

Anyway, the sales rhetoric was interesting. Last year 75% of his recruits went into lower league academies which at minimum leads to a perm contract in the Conference. 15% go into the Champ and tend to stay there and 10% make it to the prem. Those who make to the prem at least have a prem club on cv even if they fall down to the lower leagues which tends to help.

The parents obviously were like, "well he supports Chelsea and he's good enough so....". The Pre-agent stated that London wise it's Palace and even Arsenal who have taken people recently but Chelsea is off limits due to the extension World Wide system they have. I.E. they don't need more kids and tend to pay hefty contracts to secure the best. Someone who's not made it else where will not be considered. Alternatively spurs is a no-go because a) the club believe in a philosophy which is instilled pre- U21 therefore outsiders have a very slim chance of coming in and b)we have the pick of the area due to our new training complex which means we are skimming the cream off the top (unless massive wages take them to Chelsea).

While I can vouch for myself hearing this first hand I can't vouch for an agency which has to operate out of the first floor of a starbucks. Although he did have some very shiny print outs.

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nedley said:

Were you under the table?

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dovahkiin said:

might be opinion from hertyid: I am pretty sure we won't be signing anyone.

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dovahkiin said:

might be opinion from hertyid: I am pretty sure we won't be signing anyone.

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LexingtonSpurs said:

My guess is we will sell Carroll, buy nobody, and say that we could not find anyone suitable at the right price.

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philip said:

I wonder if Shifty bring sacked and Fat Sam probably replacing him will effect our chances of signing Zaha.

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dovahkiin said:

might be opinion from hertyid: I am pretty sure we won't be signing anyone.

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doctor stefan Freud said:

Our first Starbucks ITK of the season. Hats off to you sir for some serious stalking qualities

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arunspurs said:

I really don't see the need of new players in Jan. We have been hampered by injuries since start of the season. Now we have come out of it, it seems. Players like Lamela, Son, Nkoudou have not played enough. Trippier, Wimmer, CCV, Vorm, Davies rarely played as well. Kane is getting back to his old self. So is Eriksen and to an extent Alli.

We are not even close to last season levels but we are still 4 points ahead of where we were same time last season. We can only improve considering improving player form & fitness.

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topper said:

When I saw Starbucks quoted in the original post I thought it was leading to ITK on us putting a bid in for Costa?

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philip said:

I wonder if Shifty bring sacked and Fat Sam probably replacing him will effect our chances of signing Zaha.

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coy-spurs1882 said:

don't know if we are still interested but west brom bid for schneiderlin and i think he deserves better...

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dovahkiin said:

might be opinion from hertyid: I am pretty sure we won't be signing anyone.

Click to expand...

dovahkiin said:

might be opinion from hertyid: I am pretty sure we won't be signing anyone.

Click to expand...

dovahkiin said:

might be opinion from hertyid: I am pretty sure we won't be signing anyone.

Click to expand...

arunspurs said:

I really don't see the need of new players in Jan. We have been hampered by injuries since start of the season. Now we have come out of it, it seems. Players like Lamela, Son, Nkoudou have not played enough. Trippier, Wimmer, CCV, Vorm, Davies rarely played as well. Kane is getting back to his old self. So is Eriksen and to an extent Alli.

We are not even close to last season levels but we are still 4 points ahead of where we were same time last season. We can only improve considering improving player form & fitness.

Click to expand...