Keita Baldé Diao

[Luka Van der Bale]

And potential.

Potential is not on Gray's side imo. He's nothing special.

 

[singis]

in the last week or so Italian websites and newspapers reported that he s off for juve after the Italian super cup final. not that I do not believe the itk s but maybe we were his second option after juventus.....

 

[kaz Hirai]

Could be worse, Liverpool are losing their best player.

Meh I'd rate him below mane and lallana personally.
Highlights reel player

 

[YiddoTom90]

Keita would've cost £25-30m as well...

bargain still, he makes things happen, scores goals, has a good skillset we lack, no shame in losing out to juventus. Has his heart on the move too shich makes it even harder

 

[WiganSpur]

We're not throwing a wobbler over not signing Balde, a player who lets face it was always destined for bigger and better things than Spurs. What we are annoyed at and it's been bubbling for weeks is the fact that we've not signed anyone, sold the leagues best right back and not replaced him, have 10s of millions to spend and now have an injury ravaged thread bare squad which isn't equipped to succeed on the huge Wembley pitch or in multiple competitions.

It's the right back situation i'm fuming about. Why are we always so relaxed about leaving huge gaps in the squad? I've always said it's fair enough to piss about if we're looking for some icing on the cake but for core business that should not apply.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I would much prefer Demarai Grey to be honest. I just don't rate Josh King as a player.

Fair enough. I think King showed last season that he's more the finished article than Grey, plus he's more versatile, but I can see the positives of Grey as well.

I don't mind Josh king, think he's superior to janssen

But I suspected the point of diao was not to sit on a bench but actually be a starter.
Someone who actually strengthens the first team and creates serious competition/rotation in positions behind Kane

So would be fairly disappointing to end with a dude like Josh to join sissoko , and Janssen on the bench. And may even miss the squad at times all tighter assuming lamela gets fit in September

Also a fair point, but I think this is the tough balancing act with our finances. We need to strengthen the squad as a whole, but obviously on whatever limited budget is available to us.

If we can find someone who is a genuine step up in quality within those financial boundaries then great, but if not I'd rather we do try and strengthen the squad as a whole rather than just leaving it, which I assume is the thinking behind King/Grey etc.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

We're not throwing a wobbler over not signing Balde, a player who lets face it was always destined for bigger and better things than Spurs. What we are annoyed at and it's been bubbling for weeks is the fact that we've not signed anyone, sold the leagues best right back and not replaced him, have 10s of millions to spend and now have an injury ravaged thread bare squad which isn't equipped to succeed on the huge Wembley pitch or in multiple competitions.

As much as you are correct, that's only one part of the story. Many posters do all of the sudden profess to be concerned about this specific player. By all means be exasperated about the general state of transfers so far. I agree. I just can't bring my self to lose it over Balde. Probably because I've lost it already this summer slash we really have been here many times before.

 

[Streetspur77]

Why not? If the most accurate ITK knows the score I'm sure our manager does.

I'm not suggesting that our manager doesn't know what's happened ahaha

Just wondering whether poch would be speaking to the media about it considering I doubt poch and levy have even had a chance to have a proper conversation about what's happened and what the plan is now

 

[dagraham]

I don't mind Josh king, think he's superior to janssen

But I suspected the point of diao was not to sit on a bench but actually be a starter.
Someone who actually strengthens the first team and creates serious competition/rotation in positions behind Kane

So would be fairly disappointing to end with a dude like Josh to join sissoko , and Janssen on the bench. And may even miss the squad at times all tighter assuming lamela gets fit in September

This is why this falling through is so disappointing. We need genuine competition for places, rather than just squad fillers who will probably be surplus to requirements in a year after we realise they aren't good enough.

Barkley would also provide competition for places. Let's hope we can at least get that one over the line.

Even we can't fuck that one up, surely?

 

[spursfan77]

I find it pathetic that people find our transfer business acceptable, and have the gall to call those who actually want transfers in before the season starts pathetic, bed wetters, meltdown artists. We have the money, we have the clout, we just don't have the balls.
Patience is a virtue, but this blind devotion to the transfer departments shenanigans is embarrassing. You don't have to react but don't defend them by belittling other more concerned posters.
This transfer isn't even the worst, no rb before the season starts now that's truly unacceptable.

The PR coming out of the club about keeping players under long contracts is being swallowed up too. Im glad we haven't sold anyone apart from Walker but to keep spinning that keeping an entire team that finished second is some kind of massive achievement is ridiculous if you ask me.

 

[dagraham]

I'm not suggesting that our manager doesn't know what's happened ahaha

Just wondering whether poch would be speaking to the media about it considering I doubt poch and levy have even had a chance to have a proper conversation about what's happened and what the plan is now

No I realise you didn't mean that. My point is I don't see why Levy and Poch won't have had a chance to have a chat about it. It's 2017. We have mobile phones now and everything.

 

[TH1239]

It's deeply disappointing to miss out on a player who would've been a real squad changer. With that said, at least the club identified him as a top target. I was concerned for months we weren't even interested in Keita, which was baffling given our needs.

The biggest issue, as some have noted, is Pochettino feeling he has the squad he needs to compete. He's said repeatedly since crashing out of CL last year that the squad isn't strong enough to cope with two difficult competitions. The guy has been an absolute gentleman with our transfer dealings for years, despite losing out on so many players he wanted along the way (Schneiderlin, Batshuayi, Mussachio, Zaha, Berahino just to name a few).

In fact, I don't think he's been anywhere near as ruthless as he could be in leveraging Levy into heavily backing him (to his personal credit). If Poch walked or threatened to walk (like his mentor Bielsa has done in the past), the criticism towards Levy would be brutal, and the fallout from players wanting out eventually would be huge. It could set the club back a decade, in all seriousness. Whatever happens, I think we should all agree not to judge Pochettino too harshly if we do happen to go backwards a bit this season. I think expectations are so high, that if we happen to finish outside the top 4 and don't do well in cups, he's going to get blamed. I have hope that once we get our lads fit and firing, that won't happen. Still, the league is strong this season and we've seen top clubs go backwards after having splendid seasons like we did last year (Leicester and Arsenal last season, Chelsea the season before).

On a separate note, there are other alternatives out there to Keita, but they are pricey. I think we scouted or were linked heavily to Inaki Williams from Bilbao two summers ago. He has a 45 million pound release clause. He didn't really have the type of breakout many were expecting, but he's a big talent, too. Gelson Martins from Sporting also has been reportedly tipped for the top by the likes of Ronaldo himself. But his transfer fee would similarly be huge. Maxwell Cornet would be a third name who is coming off a disappointing season, but who has massive potential (was talked about in the same breathe as Dembele and Mbappe at this time last season, as many tipped him to push on and become a star at Lyon). He apparently turned down Watford last month, but I don't know if Lyon would sell him after letting Lacazette go.

So, I think, there are players beyond the Josh Kings of the world to help our squad. Some are at clubs smaller than ours, like the three above, whose wages we could afford. The question is will Levy sanction a big transfer fee? There's no questions the club can afford to spend with 75 million in sales, a fresh 70 million pounds in new television/CL money last season and this, and a new kit sponsorship deal. Hopefully he'll give Poch what he needs to keep him happy.

 

[YiddoTom90]

It's deeply disappointing to miss out on a player who would've been a real squad changer. With that said, at least the club identified him as a top target. I was concerned for months we weren't even interested in Keita, which was baffling given our needs.

The biggest issue, as some have noted, is Pochettino feeling he has the squad he needs to compete. He's said repeatedly since crashing out of CL last year that the squad isn't strong enough to cope with two difficult competitions. The guy has been an absolute gentleman with our transfer dealings for years, despite losing out on so many players he wanted along the way (Schneiderlin, Batshuayi, Mussachio, Zaha, Berahino just to name a few).

In fact, I don't think he's been anywhere near as ruthless as he could be in leveraging Levy into heavily backing him (to his personal credit). If Poch walked or threatened to walk (like his mentor Bielsa has done in the past), the criticism towards Levy would be brutal, and the fallout from players wanting out eventually would be huge. It could set the club back a decade, in all seriousness. Whatever happens, I think we should all agree not to judge Pochettino too harshly if we do happen to go backwards a bit this season. I think expectations are so high, that if we happen to finish outside the top 4 and don't do well in cups, he's going to get blamed. I have hope that once we get our lads fit and firing, that won't happen. Still, the league is strong this season and we've seen top clubs go backwards after having splendid seasons like we did last year (Leicester and Arsenal last season, Chelsea the season before).

On a separate note, there are other alternatives out there to Keita, but they are pricey. I think we scouted or were linked heavily to Inaki Williams from Bilbao two summers ago. He has a 45 million pound release clause. He didn't really have the type of breakout many were expecting, but he's a big talent, too. Gelson Martins from Sporting also has been tipped for the top by the likes of Ronaldo himself. But his transfer fee would similarly be huge. Maxwell Cornet would be a third name who is coming off a disappointing season, but who has massive potential (was talked about in the same breathe as Dembele and Mbappe at this time last season, as many tipped him to push on and become a star at Lyon). He apparently turned down Watford last month, but I don't know if Lyon would sell him after letting Lacazette go.

So, I think, there are players beyond the Josh Kings of the world to help our squad. Some are at clubs smaller than ours, like the three above, whose wages we could afford. The question is will Levy sanction a big transfer fee? There's no questions the club can afford to spend with 75 million in sales, a fresh 70 million pounds in new television/CL money last season and this, and a new kit sponsorship deal. Hopefully he'll give Poch what he needs to keep him happy.

inaki williams would be a great signing

 

[kaz Hirai]

This is why this falling through is so disappointing. We need genuine competition for places, rather than just squad fillers who will probably be surplus to requirements in a year after we realise they aren't good enough.

Barkley would also provide competition for places. Let's hope we can at least get that one over the line.

Even we can't fuck that one up, surely?

Depends on Swansea I guess. Even then I can envision us offering 15m flat out rejected aand last minute attempt at 18 million also rejected followed by we'll try again in January.

 

[Streetspur77]

No I realise you didn't mean that. My point is I don't see why Levy and Poch won't have had a chance to have a chat about it. It's 2017. We have mobile phones now and everything.

Yeah maybe you're right just doesn't seem very poch to go running to the media before we've even processed what's happened and what we're going to do next.

You would think considering his usual personality he'd be more coy but oh well

 

[IfiHadTheWings]

It's King or Demarai Gray. Either way it's the typical last minute budget option.

Absolute joke.

Joe King?

 

[dagraham]

Yeah maybe you're right just doesn't seem very poch to go running to the media before we've even processed what's happened and what we're going to do next.

You would think considering his usual personality he'd be more coy but oh well

Yeah I know what you mean, but it's just too much of a coincidence.

 

[WiganSpur]

It's deeply disappointing to miss out on a player who would've been a real squad changer. With that said, at least the club identified him as a top target. I was concerned for months we weren't even interested in Keita, which was baffling given our needs.

The biggest issue, as some have noted, is Pochettino feeling he has the squad he needs to compete. He's said repeatedly since crashing out of CL last year that the squad isn't strong enough to cope with two difficult competitions. The guy has been an absolute gentleman with our transfer dealings for years, despite losing out on so many players he wanted along the way (Schneiderlin, Batshuayi, Mussachio, Zaha, Berahino just to name a few).

In fact, I don't think he's been anywhere near as ruthless as he could be in leveraging Levy into heavily backing him (to his personal credit). If Poch walked or threatened to walk (like his mentor Bielsa has done in the past), the criticism towards Levy would be brutal, and the fallout from players wanting out eventually would be huge. It could set the club back a decade, in all seriousness. Whatever happens, I think we should all agree not to judge Pochettino too harshly if we do happen to go backwards a bit this season. I think expectations are so high, that if we happen to finish outside the top 4 and don't do well in cups, he's going to get blamed. I have hope that once we get our lads fit and firing, that won't happen. Still, the league is strong this season and we've seen top clubs go backwards after having splendid seasons like we did last year (Leicester and Arsenal last season, Chelsea the season before).

On a separate note, there are other alternatives out there to Keita, but they are pricey. I think we scouted or were linked heavily to Inaki Williams from Bilbao two summers ago. He has a 45 million pound release clause. He didn't really have the type of breakout many were expecting, but he's a big talent, too. Gelson Martins from Sporting also has been reportedly tipped for the top by the likes of Ronaldo himself. But his transfer fee would similarly be huge. Maxwell Cornet would be a third name who is coming off a disappointing season, but who has massive potential (was talked about in the same breathe as Dembele and Mbappe at this time last season, as many tipped him to push on and become a star at Lyon). He apparently turned down Watford last month, but I don't know if Lyon would sell him after letting Lacazette go.

So, I think, there are players beyond the Josh Kings of the world to help our squad. Some are at clubs smaller than ours, like the three above, whose wages we could afford. The question is will Levy sanction a big transfer fee? There's no questions the club can afford to spend with 75 million in sales, a fresh 70 million pounds in new television/CL money last season and this, and a new kit sponsorship deal. Hopefully he'll give Poch what he needs to keep him happy.

If we're not happy with King and Gray the only way around this is spending £30m plus I'm afraid for that kind of quality

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I don't think that was the issue, I assume we were willing to pay what Lazio wanted, it's just that while Juve remained interested the player was always going to keep us on the back burner. I guess JJ was confident yesterday because it didn't look like Juve were going to come back in for the player and therefore Balde had indicated he was willing to join - then last night it all changed...

This was 'winnered' by you know who...

 

[talkshowhost86]

I think Poch's interview is him keeping the pressure on Levy.

He clearly wants 3-4 players, and he wants Levy to know that just trying for the players isn't enough.

With him having been so vocal on getting these 3-4 players, I'll be worried about Poch's future if he doesn't get them.