The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 13 June 2011

[We'llWinThePrem]

Matas available

Would love Mata here. Brilliant player

 

[Gbspurs]

I know next to nothing about mata. I was under the impression that he is a free roaming attacking mid/ second forward. If that's the case is he better than VDV? Shaquiri would be great on the right as I think azza is getting a little predictable. Not the most vital transfer of the window though and also highly unlikely. Still think we could do with shifting some of our rubbish first. Once Hutton, jenas, bentley and keane are gone I will feel much better about this window.

 

[agrdavidsfan]

Mata is for sale at €20 million

 

[ReadieSpur]

I doubt it would be mata. Knowing us, we're more likely to re-sign tomas pekhart. Did anyone notice martin tyler named him as 'one to watch' for the tournament?

I was excited by him when he got a load of goals in the academy, but he never really stepped up.

 

[maglajz]

Pekhart is going to Nürberg, Mata is a brilliant player but we have better players in the two position he plays

 

[Lo Amo Speroni]

Umm! I had the temerity to disagree with someone Saturday and now I have a red square, whats that all about?

 

[tobi]

Pekhart is going to Nürberg, Mata is a brilliant player but we have better players in the two position he plays

As a No.10 probably yes (VDV) but the other two positions, I disagree.

 

[maglajz]

As a No.10 probably yes (VDV) but the other two positions, I disagree.

would you put bale on bench to make room for him?

 

[StartingPrice]

I think they will mount a title challenge next season.

I believe they will be Top 3 behind the 2 Manchester teams, if they get a good wide player or 2 I can even see them winning the title.

Completely disagree, their squad is mediocre at best. I can't see how you can genuinely believe they're more capable of a title challenge than us, Arsenal or Chelsea I really can't. We wiped the floor with them at home and away last year and in the close-season they've added Henderson and now perhaps Adam, hardly going to make them miles better than they already are. I'd wager my anal virginity that we finish above them and they again fail to qualify for the Europa. They're so overrated it hurts.

I still think we'll finish above them. This is all opinion, of course, but I see it thus: Carroll is overrated and injury prone. Gerrard is on the decline and injury prone. Henderson is not going to make a big impact, and neither will Adam. Carragher is about 73 years old and has the acceloration of a Panzer tank. Maxi is decent, but no match for our wide players. Lucas is underrated, I rate Kuyt highly and I think Saurez will be excellent next season.

But really, man for man, we have a better squad. Bale, Sando, Modric, Lennon, BAE, Walker, VdV - all of these would walk into the Liverpool team.

Based on their revival when Kenny took over plus the fact that this was despite Carroll missing a lot of games and Suarez not being prolific yet I think they will improve significantly when those 2 get into their stride, add to that the fact they are loaded I think they could be a serious force if they improve their wingers.

I don't think the Dalglish effect will be permanent. West Brom had a mini-revival when Hodgson took over, but I don't expect them to drastically improve on their finish last season. It doesn't matter who Liverpool buy, be it the Hendersons, Adams or Carrolls of the world, our squad is seriously a million miles ahead of theirs.
Keeper - I'd swap. Full backs - nope, and Assou Ekotto is better than Enrique (assuming they sign him). Centre backs - nope. Dawson's younger and better than Carragher and Kaboul/King/Gallas are all better than Agger (vastly overrated). Wingers - We have IMO the best left-winger in the league and hopefully Lennon regains form whereas they have Rodriguez who scored hattricks against bad teams having off-days, and got overhyped from that. Central midfield - I honestly wouldn't take Gerrard atm (well I would, if he were ever fit anymore) I think the dynamic of Sandro/Hudd and Modric with vdV in front of them will give us the best midfield in the league next year, vastly superior to even United's Valencia, Carrick, Park etc. Forwards - Yeah I'd swap.

All my opinion of course, and I respect yours just think we have a better chance than them.

Matt, these good folk have answered most of what I would say in reply.

Let me just add - almost most all teams have a 'honeymoon effect' when they have a new manager - IMHO their true level was reflected when we spanked them at Anfield (something I was predicting would happen all season, BTW).

Those argue that they will be massively resurgent continuously cite Suarez and Carroll - all that really means is that they have sold one of their two (considered) World Class players and brought in two strikers to form a partnership which will probably be reasonably effective. The rest of their squad is not that great. Strikers don't make up a team.

There is also this fixation that they have money to burn - but do they:shrug: Do you have any reason whatsoever, other than they have spent early, that they have more money to spend than us:shrug: In truth, we would have to not sign anyone and them spend more than they can afford just to catch us up, IMHO.

As it is, I believe that when the smoke has cleared our acquisitions will show us to be stronger, again, and the gap at least maintained, if not widened.

They have one player who we would immediately say is World Class - Steven Gerrard, and as stated above, he is ageing and injured, and hasn't shown he will come back from it. We may as well include Ledley and Woody, in that case. And World Class players, or close to it, we can cite Modric and VDV, probably Bale, and possibly Sandro. And in making purchases, as I said, they are at a position we were at a few years ago, buying decent young English players, whereas we are trying to add quality, so more likely to sign another World Class player.

I accept your right to a different opinion, but I just don't agree with it, and really cannot imagine them challenging for the title, or even the CL spots next year. I could be wrong.

 

[Lo Amo Speroni]

Umm! I had the temerity to disagree with someone Saturday and now I have a red square, whats that all about?

I'm too dull to work out who to thank :duh: but thanks any way whoever you are.

Now I am back off to page 12 to catch up

 

[Bofbro]

would you put bale on bench to make room for him?

Not me i'd put Lennon on the bench though

 

[maglajz]

Not me i'd put Lennon on the bench though

he is natural left wing and he is able to play in the hole, but he has never played on the right

 

[Bofbro]

he is natural left wing and he is able to play in the hole, but he has never played on the right

I've seen him play from the right before he just uses it has a starting position but is free to come inside

 

[maglajz]

I've seen him play from the right before he just uses it has a starting position but is free to come inside

valencia's right side was for the last few years reserved for joaquin/pablo, if he ever played there, it would be for few minutes because of injuries, he's not right sided player

 

[tobi]

would you put bale on bench to make room for him?

No, I'd bench Lennon and have him interchange with VDV, creating space for the overlapping full back.

He has better awareness, composure, vision and passing than Lennon. His finishing is decent (he gets into good positions regularly) and tactically he's better too.

Along with a predator upfront, he'd take our game to another level.

He isn't a winger, he normally plays from the left.

 

[We'llWinThePrem]

He can play quite well on the right though

 

[DoublePivot]

Well, not to take away from the fantasies here, but I imagine that with Wickham and Rodwell on the english team then it's a good chance its one of those two.

 

[Lo Amo Speroni]

Well, not to take away from the fantasies here, but I imagine that with Wickham and Rodwell on the english team then it's a good chance its one of those two.

Beat me to it!

 

[spursn17]

maybe Sturridge?, can see him leaving the chavs this summer

 

[brett.spurs]

We're more likely watching our own players.