The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 14th July 2014

[GetSpurredOn]

I'm agreeing with the majority here. I think defence has to be our priority. Under AVB we set up defensively, hence our better defensive record and weaker attack. Under Pochettino I'm expecting a more offensive setup, so out attacking play will be more concentrated, and our defence will be required to work harder. That's where we'll need to address. Dawson is not really mobile enough, and Kaboul is not really sturdy enough. Rose needs work, and as for Ekotto, where's his head at?
I think in Ade, Soldado and Kane, we're ok, though maybe grab another young option to gives a bit of real depth. Maybe take a punt on a young prospect.

 

[Tyler24durden]

I personally think we need a big overhaul of the squad as we have a lot of average players.

Last thing we want to hear but the defence, LW and strike force are out poorest areas imo.

I'd rather we bought a lot of players now, young who can grow as a team and have no real expectations this year (like Rodgers 1st year at Liverpool) and see how we develop.

Ade and Soldado are not good enough as one is too temperamental & the other isn't cut out for the EPL. They are both on decent money and too old for the long term.

Personally I think we should go for Bony in addition to one of Benteke, Origi or Batshuyi.

This will enable us long term options upfront rather than keep buying each year.

Lb should be Rodriguez, £15-£20m is cheap long term.

A young cb, Ginter or Rojo would be wise.

Daws should be sold & either a big bid for Stones (another long term signing) or an experienced defender like Lovren (dependant on his price) or Moreno should be brought in.

A backup gk.

Kono or Griezmann for LW, again long term options and much cheaper than constantly buying players every 2-3 years for the same positions.

Sigurdsson and Chadli to move on.

Deep lying playmaker needed, if Poch wants Schneirderlin (sp?) then we need to back him.

Other than that maybe look at Rodwell if he passes a medical or Clasie.

Paulinho can go imo as I think he offers little other than a goal threat and we need more than that.

We can offset a great deal of buys with sales with other players like the ones mentioned plus fringe players like Naughton, etc.

I think surely some kind of interest free loan from the owner for a few years to spread the net purchases over what we would spend per transfer window would be sensible.

Then we could let Poch work with the squad and let them develop together.

The average age of the team would reduce massively, players will all get better & we'd have a better balanced squad which imo could at least match last seasons position but has so much more potential long term.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I personally think we need a big overhaul of the squad as we have a lot of average players.

Last thing we want to hear but the defence, LW and strike force are out poorest areas imo.

I'd rather we bought a lot of players now, young who can grow as a team and have no real expectations this year (like Rodgers 1st year at Liverpool) and see how we develop.

Ade and Soldado are not good enough as one is too temperamental & the other isn't cut out for the EPL. They are both on decent money and too old for the long term.

Personally I think we should go for Bony in addition to one of Benteke, Origi or Batshuyi.

This will enable us long term options upfront rather than keep buying each year.

Lb should be Rodriguez, £15-£20m is cheap long term.

A young cb, Ginter or Rojo would be wise.

Daws should be sold & either a big bid for Stones (another long term signing) or an experienced defender like Lovren (dependant on his price) or Moreno should be brought in.

A backup gk.

Kono or Griezmann for LW, again long term options and much cheaper than constantly buying players every 2-3 years for the same positions.

Sigurdsson and Chadli to move on.

Deep lying playmaker needed, if Poch wants Schneirderlin (sp?) then we need to back him.

Other than that maybe look at Rodwell if he passes a medical or Clasie.

Paulinho can go imo as I think he offers little other than a goal threat and we need more than that.

We can offset a great deal of buys with sales with other players like the ones mentioned plus fringe players like Naughton, etc.

I think surely some kind of interest free loan from the owner for a few years to spread the net purchases over what we would spend per transfer window would be sensible.

Then we could let Poch work with the squad and let them develop together.

The average age of the team would reduce massively, players will all get better & we'd have a better balanced squad which imo could at least match last seasons position but has so much more potential long term.

Actually don't really agree with a lot of this, but interesting to read others thoughts, especially when they don't coincide with my own.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I personally think we need a big overhaul of the squad as we have a lot of average players.

Last thing we want to hear but the defence, LW and strike force are out poorest areas imo.

I'd rather we bought a lot of players now, young who can grow as a team and have no real expectations this year (like Rodgers 1st year at Liverpool) and see how we develop.

Ade and Soldado are not good enough as one is too temperamental & the other isn't cut out for the EPL. They are both on decent money and too old for the long term.

Personally I think we should go for Bony in addition to one of Benteke, Origi or Batshuyi.

This will enable us long term options upfront rather than keep buying each year.

Lb should be Rodriguez, £15-£20m is cheap long term.

A young cb, Ginter or Rojo would be wise.

Daws should be sold & either a big bid for Stones (another long term signing) or an experienced defender like Lovren (dependant on his price) or Moreno should be brought in.

A backup gk.

Kono or Griezmann for LW, again long term options and much cheaper than constantly buying players every 2-3 years for the same positions.

Sigurdsson and Chadli to move on.

Deep lying playmaker needed, if Poch wants Schneirderlin (sp?) then we need to back him.

Other than that maybe look at Rodwell if he passes a medical or Clasie.

Paulinho can go imo as I think he offers little other than a goal threat and we need more than that.

We can offset a great deal of buys with sales with other players like the ones mentioned plus fringe players like Naughton, etc.

I think surely some kind of interest free loan from the owner for a few years to spread the net purchases over what we would spend per transfer window would be sensible.

Then we could let Poch work with the squad and let them develop together.

The average age of the team would reduce massively, players will all get better & we'd have a better balanced squad which imo could at least match last seasons position but has so much more potential long term.

Yeah, I agree, lets overhaul the whole squad because throwing that many new players into a team at the same time worked so well last year....oh wait....

 

[SpartanSpur]

But we could just as easily buy a new attacking players and they not work out for whatever reason.

With a new manager and system these players have just as much chance of performing as a new signing would have.

I don't dispute that, however I would rather us be proactive than simply gamble with not particularly favourable odds.

 

[FreddieYid]

Wow, imagine that. A manager who is happy with what we got and isn't pissed because he didn't get to sign a 35m Brazilian Hulk and a 25m midfielder.

Bullet dodged, if it ever was a possibility that is...

 

[THFCSPURS19]

I personally think we need a big overhaul of the squad as we have a lot of average players.

Last thing we want to hear but the defence, LW and strike force are out poorest areas imo.

I'd rather we bought a lot of players now, young who can grow as a team and have no real expectations this year (like Rodgers 1st year at Liverpool) and see how we develop.

Ade and Soldado are not good enough as one is too temperamental & the other isn't cut out for the EPL. They are both on decent money and too old for the long term.

Personally I think we should go for Bony in addition to one of Benteke, Origi or Batshuyi.

This will enable us long term options upfront rather than keep buying each year.

Lb should be Rodriguez, £15-£20m is cheap long term.

A young cb, Ginter or Rojo would be wise.

Daws should be sold & either a big bid for Stones (another long term signing) or an experienced defender like Lovren (dependant on his price) or Moreno should be brought in.

A backup gk.

Kono or Griezmann for LW, again long term options and much cheaper than constantly buying players every 2-3 years for the same positions.

Sigurdsson and Chadli to move on.

Deep lying playmaker needed, if Poch wants Schneirderlin (sp?) then we need to back him.

Other than that maybe look at Rodwell if he passes a medical or Clasie.

Paulinho can go imo as I think he offers little other than a goal threat and we need more than that.

We can offset a great deal of buys with sales with other players like the ones mentioned plus fringe players like Naughton, etc.

I think surely some kind of interest free loan from the owner for a few years to spread the net purchases over what we would spend per transfer window would be sensible.

Then we could let Poch work with the squad and let them develop together.

The average age of the team would reduce massively, players will all get better & we'd have a better balanced squad which imo could at least match last seasons position but has so much more potential long term.

You do realise we signed 7 players last summer....and that didn't work. Signing another 8/9 players would be ridiculous. And you seem to think we can chuck so much money away to sign players. You are saying we should potentially sign Bony, Benteke, Rodriguez, Lovren, a backup goalie (e.g. Vorm), Griezmann, Schneiderlin and maybe Clasie

That would cost about £165million. Real Madrid spent less last summer.

What on earth makes you think we could spend that much? Sales of players wouldn't even add up to half that. And we don't have a Bale to sell.

You serious man?

 

[FreddieYid]

@Taffy-Yid_27 I'm hoping you've just got fat thumbs...

He said he believed that Kane would prove people wrong this season, and I was clarifying what people, those pro or those anti HK?!!!

 

[SpurSince57]

Well i hope your right cos i cant see him improving ades touch which is shocking at times he seems to play with diving boots and soldado may or may not be ok but kane is Bang average.
He has got a lot of work to do with some of them like Lennon who cant cross or pass straight for shit its a lot to put on an inexperienced manager imo.

Not only was Sherwood far less experienced, he managed a very respectable points average indeed despite apparently making things up as he went along. I'm sure Pochettino can do rather better.

 

[FreddieYid]

I personally think we need a big overhaul of the squad as we have a lot of average players.

Last thing we want to hear but the defence, LW and strike force are out poorest areas imo.

I'd rather we bought a lot of players now, young who can grow as a team and have no real expectations this year (like Rodgers 1st year at Liverpool) and see how we develop.

Ade and Soldado are not good enough as one is too temperamental & the other isn't cut out for the EPL. They are both on decent money and too old for the long term.

Personally I think we should go for Bony in addition to one of Benteke, Origi or Batshuyi.

This will enable us long term options upfront rather than keep buying each year.

Lb should be Rodriguez, £15-£20m is cheap long term.

A young cb, Ginter or Rojo would be wise.

Daws should be sold & either a big bid for Stones (another long term signing) or an experienced defender like Lovren (dependant on his price) or Moreno should be brought in.

A backup gk.

Kono or Griezmann for LW, again long term options and much cheaper than constantly buying players every 2-3 years for the same positions.

Sigurdsson and Chadli to move on.

Deep lying playmaker needed, if Poch wants Schneirderlin (sp?) then we need to back him.

Other than that maybe look at Rodwell if he passes a medical or Clasie.

Paulinho can go imo as I think he offers little other than a goal threat and we need more than that.

We can offset a great deal of buys with sales with other players like the ones mentioned plus fringe players like Naughton, etc.

I think surely some kind of interest free loan from the owner for a few years to spread the net purchases over what we would spend per transfer window would be sensible.

Then we could let Poch work with the squad and let them develop together.

The average age of the team would reduce massively, players will all get better & we'd have a better balanced squad which imo could at least match last seasons position but has so much more potential long term.

You do know that this isn't PSG Community don't you?!!!

 

[markieboy]

With the strikers, maybe Poch is playing a slightly cuter game with Levy... What is likely to ingratiate him most to his boss? Asking for a new £25m striker, or getting the best out of the one we signed last summer and getting consistency out of our highest earner?

If he's able to do so, it'll solidify his position with Levy, and perhaps gain him the ability to ask for the bumper signing when the time is right. Just a theory...

Yeah,but if we are labouring in 10th place in the league at Xmas because our
strikers are not hitting the net....................Poch might not be here for the January transfer window.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I think Harry Kane might prove a few people wrong this season.

Ah, yes...but which people?

 

[indianspurs]

I personally think we need a big overhaul of the squad as we have a lot of average players.

Last thing we want to hear but the defence, LW and strike force are out poorest areas imo.

I'd rather we bought a lot of players now, young who can grow as a team and have no real expectations this year (like Rodgers 1st year at Liverpool) and see how we develop.

Ade and Soldado are not good enough as one is too temperamental & the other isn't cut out for the EPL. They are both on decent money and too old for the long term.

Personally I think we should go for Bony in addition to one of Benteke, Origi or Batshuyi.

This will enable us long term options upfront rather than keep buying each year.

Lb should be Rodriguez, £15-£20m is cheap long term.

A young cb, Ginter or Rojo would be wise.

Daws should be sold & either a big bid for Stones (another long term signing) or an experienced defender like Lovren (dependant on his price) or Moreno should be brought in.

A backup gk.

Kono or Griezmann for LW, again long term options and much cheaper than constantly buying players every 2-3 years for the same positions.

Sigurdsson and Chadli to move on.

Deep lying playmaker needed, if Poch wants Schneirderlin (sp?) then we need to back him.

Other than that maybe look at Rodwell if he passes a medical or Clasie.

Paulinho can go imo as I think he offers little other than a goal threat and we need more than that.

We can offset a great deal of buys with sales with other players like the ones mentioned plus fringe players like Naughton, etc.

I think surely some kind of interest free loan from the owner for a few years to spread the net purchases over what we would spend per transfer window would be sensible.

Then we could let Poch work with the squad and let them develop together.

The average age of the team would reduce massively, players will all get better & we'd have a better balanced squad which imo could at least match last seasons position but has so much more potential long term.

Our buys from last season lack proper guidance, not quality. A Soldado is played alongside 2 inverted wingers, Paulinho with Chadli and Siggy, Lamela gets his first start on the lw and Chadli who prefers to play as a no 10 is played either as a winger or midfielder.

Lets assume we get Greizmann or Kono and play them on the rw or midfield. Chances are they will under perform. So what do we do ? Sell them and get someone else ? This method takes us nowhere. Am still of the opinion that the buys from last season are fantastic. Not all may go on to become superstars but they definitely aren't as bad as what the media says.

 

[S17PUR]

If we're not going to be spending out on a striker, it does make you wonder why we (seemingly) aren't prepared to pay a reasonable chunk of money on a top-notch LB. If we could bring in Ricardo Rodriguez, who by all accounts is very good and at 21 will have a good resale value, for £15-20m then why won't we?

I guess the same goes for CB and LW. We're talking about strengthening only a few key positions which we could probably do easily for circa £50m, a lot of which you'd think we could offset with sales. If there was a few million spare after this for a young striker, then great, if not we'd still have significantly improved our first eleven.

 

[JonnySpurs]

I think Harry Kane might prove a few people wrong this season.

Agreed and I'd argue he's already proven quite a few of us wrong with his performances last season.

 

[fatpiranha]

I personally think we need a big overhaul of the squad as we have a lot of average players.

Last thing we want to hear but the defence, LW and strike force are out poorest areas imo.

I'd rather we bought a lot of players now, young who can grow as a team and have no real expectations this year (like Rodgers 1st year at Liverpool) and see how we develop.

Ade and Soldado are not good enough as one is too temperamental & the other isn't cut out for the EPL. They are both on decent money and too old for the long term.

Personally I think we should go for Bony in addition to one of Benteke, Origi or Batshuyi.

This will enable us long term options upfront rather than keep buying each year.

Lb should be Rodriguez, £15-£20m is cheap long term.

A young cb, Ginter or Rojo would be wise.

Daws should be sold & either a big bid for Stones (another long term signing) or an experienced defender like Lovren (dependant on his price) or Moreno should be brought in.

A backup gk.

Kono or Griezmann for LW, again long term options and much cheaper than constantly buying players every 2-3 years for the same positions.

Sigurdsson and Chadli to move on.

Deep lying playmaker needed, if Poch wants Schneirderlin (sp?) then we need to back him.

Other than that maybe look at Rodwell if he passes a medical or Clasie.

Paulinho can go imo as I think he offers little other than a goal threat and we need more than that.

We can offset a great deal of buys with sales with other players like the ones mentioned plus fringe players like Naughton, etc.

I think surely some kind of interest free loan from the owner for a few years to spread the net purchases over what we would spend per transfer window would be sensible.

Then we could let Poch work with the squad and let them develop together.

The average age of the team would reduce massively, players will all get better & we'd have a better balanced squad which imo could at least match last seasons position but has so much more potential long term.

I actually like most of your picks but (no offence meant) you are delusional if you think anything like that amount of transfer activity is going to happen. I'd actually be pretty happy if we just signed one of those players (Rodriguez or Konoplyanka would do me). Hell, i'd probably be happy if we just sold Paulinho .

I'm pretty sure one of the major reasons Levy went for Poch was to rescue the less than stellar spend of the Bale money. We'll most likely see 1 or 2 new 1st teamers but as far as the squad goes it will be evolution not revolution.

 

[JonnySpurs]

The one thing that gives me confidence is that Poch is prioritising the defence and if I recall correctly Saints had the best defence in the league in 1st half of last season (could be wrong here) and we have to remember that Poch himself was an international caliber centre half and will therefore know what it takes to play in this league.

Signing Lovren was pretty inspired considering that they got him for 8 million from Lyon and he's turned out to be excellent and the kind of player we probably wish we'd grabbed last summer and would like to have this summer.

We all like it when we sign a new striker, I can remember the buzz on here when we got Soldado and I personally still have a lot of faith in him to come good. If you stop for a minute and imagine what it will be like if he really starts firing them in, we'll all be loving it.

 

[Hoopspur]

Sky Sources: Southampton offer Jay Rodriguez a new five-year contract...

Better get there quickly then...

He'll know fully well what he wants to do by now. Last year of his contract and can talk to interested clubs in January. That coupled with the fact he won't even be playing til October. Southampton won't be able to offer the wages we do, so it's a case of whether he wants to play for Poch again and what noises have been made. Rather than lose him for nothing next summer they'll take a reduced fee now or at Xmas imo.

 

[haydsmith]

I'm agreeing with the majority here. I think defence has to be our priority. Under AVB we set up defensively, hence our better defensive record and weaker attack. Under Pochettino I'm expecting a more offensive setup, so out attacking play will be more concentrated, and our defence will be required to work harder. That's where we'll need to address. Dawson is not really mobile enough, and Kaboul is not really sturdy enough. Rose needs work, and as for Ekotto, where's his head at?
I think in Ade, Soldado and Kane, we're ok, though maybe grab another young option to gives a bit of real depth. Maybe take a punt on a young prospect.

I'm really surprised so many people are so happy with the midfield. From the deep lying central midfielders through to the wide men and attacking midfielders we lack any truly top class players who consistently create chances. That's the biggest problem in the team.

 

[montylynch]

Reading back through the last 4/5 pages (and Tylers post at the top), all the names bandied about taking everyone's fancy or not, it's clear to see that none of them are English........Apart from Kane. Who most people think won't make it.

Bit of a sad indictment of English football really.