The Daily ITK Discussion Thread 1st December 2018

[easley91]

Please be Ben Godfrey and Lloyd Kelly.

I went to school with a Ben Godfrey. Was at Charlton academy before finding himself in the non leagues. Found him on Football Manager once. 27 now so doubt it's him.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

I went to school with a Ben Godfrey. Was at Charlton academy before finding himself in the non leagues. No idea where he is these days though. Be hilarious if it was.

Especially if he was born in the early 70s

 

[Matecheck]

They sound like cricketers from the 1980s

Just give me Jarrod Bowen at wicket keeper, Levy!

 

[spud]

Why conflicting?
Do you understand the ‘shagging’ analogy?

I thought I did but now I'm not so sure.

I understood you to mean that we're trying to be in the running, even though we've probably got no chance, because he hasn't been taken yet (because De Jong is going to Barca and they won't go for both De Jong and Rabiot, so Rabiot is still available). Yet somebody else mentioned that 'JJetset states Rabiot is "still off to Barca" '.

So I'm clearly missing something. It's probably because I haven't got lucky in a while so shagging talk is going over my head.

 

[archiewasking]

You guys have lost me. If Barca don't want both, but JJ says Rabiot is off to Barca, then does that mean we're still in for De Jong?? Or am I completely off track??

 

[Gareth88]

I know nothing but think we need two Dm’s

 

[JonnySpurs]

My understanding of the Rabiot situation based on what I've read and the ITK......

The expectation is that he will still go to Barca (JJ confirms via ITK), however, Barca came out yesterday stating there was no deal in place - which I personally found a bit odd. The suggestion also is that they don't want him AND De Jong but the latter would naturally cost a lot of money to sign whereas Rabiot is effectively on a free. With that said Rabiot's camp have been demanding a big signing on fee, intially 10m, now asking for 15m which has put Barca off a bit. They would offer him 10m per year in wages.

The player's preference is naturally Barca, however, Spurs have made their interest clear and will pay the player 8m per year in wages but with no signing on fee. Difference being that we would pay a fee to PSG to sign him in January whereas Barca would prefer to wait til summer. The player likes Spurs and if Barca pull out then he would be happy to move to us.

To my mind this all swings on what Barca decide to do. They haven't enjoyed dealing with Rabiot's mother and haven't liked the way they keep upping their demands. PSG want to deal with Spurs because we will pay a fee and they can move player on immediately, plus we have a good relationship with them on previous deals (Aurier & Lucas).

If Barca pull the plug (unlikely as it's still a good deal for them) then we might end up being the next best option for him (Herc's ITK). I guess the trick for them is if they sign Rabiot then they won't go for De Jong and he's very highly thought of and would potentially be their preferred choice between two players but De Jong will be very pricey.

 

[nailsy]

I thought I did but now I'm not so sure.

I understood you to mean that we're trying to be in the running, even though we've probably got no chance, because he hasn't been taken yet (because De Jong is going to Barca and they won't go for both De Jong and Rabiot, so Rabiot is still available). Yet somebody else mentioned that 'JJetset states Rabiot is "still off to Barca" '.

So I'm clearly missing something. It's probably because I haven't got lucky in a while so shagging talk is going over my head.

You guys have lost me. If Barca don't want both, but JJ says Rabiot is off to Barca, then does that mean we're still in for De Jong?? Or am I completely off track??

My take on this is that Moura and Aurier are the mates that we picked up which may give us some leverage with Rabiot if he doesn't go to Barca. We're his plan B/C.

You need to keep the info from JJ and Hercules separate as they probably hear things from different sources at different times.

I don't think we're going for De Jong...or at least I don't think that's the implications here.

 

[vAs]

What happened with de Ligt? Weren't we favourites to sign him at one point? Or we missed the train and now he is too expensive?

 

[buttons]

What happened with de Ligt? Weren't we favourites to sign him at one point? Or we missed the train and now he is too expensive?

I think the moral of the De Ligt and De Jong and possibly even Rabiot stories is that we need to snap these kids up before Barca become interested!

 

[allatsea]

I think the moral of the De Ligt and De Jong and possibly even Rabiot stories is that we need to snap these kids up before Barca become interested!

You are right but there are loads on SC who will be moaning because we are buying kids who are not the finished article etc.

 

[DiscoD1882]

They sound like cricketers from the 1980s

Googlie them

 

[Trix]

Don't think I'm going to have too much to say this January. Info isn't given up as freely as it once was and it's just the odd snippet I get now, and usually asked not to pass on. As things stand we are in a very similar position to the Summer. There is 100% money to spend but only on the very few players we have shortlisted. If they are for whatever reason unobtainable that will be it. Poch has told Levy he needs signings but doesn't want to sign players just to get numbers in. We have already got a few we can't seem to move on, and the last thing we need is any more clogging up the squad. Never say never but it will be hard to get what we want. We were hoping the stadium might sway a couple that we have been chasing and are sitting on the fence, the fact that this will not happen till after January is not helpful in the short term.

 

[Col_M]

That seems a fair summary of where we are. No more signing make dos.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

We could be become the first club to not making a signing in the summer transfer window for two years running

We'll end up fielding a team like the one playing in Bedknobs & Broomsticks

 

[Trix]

I think the moral of the De Ligt and De Jong and possibly even Rabiot stories is that we need to snap these kids up before Barca become interested!

It's not that simple mate, if they know there is slight interest from the likes of Barca They are being told by their agents to hold out to keep the prices down. De Jong is a prime example of this.

 

[JonnySpurs]

Don't think I'm going to have too much to say this January. Info isn't given up as freely as it once was and it's just the odd snippet I get now, and usually asked not to pass on. As things stand we are in a very similar position to the Summer. There is 100% money to spend but only on the very few players we have shortlisted. If they are for whatever reason unobtainable that will be it. Poch has told Levy he needs signings but doesn't want to sign players just to get numbers in. We have already got a few we can't seem to move on, and the last thing we need is any more clogging up the squad. Never say never but it will be hard to get what we want. We were hoping the stadium might sway a couple that we have been chasing and are sitting on the fence, the fact that this will not happen till after January is not helpful in the short term.

This is pretty much what I expected personally and I'm ok with it.

Clearly injuries are causing us problems but we can't just go and start buying players to cover for that when we're already over our non-HG quota.

Until Janssen, GKN, Dembele, Llorente are gone....at least....then I doubt we do much.

 

[rajmak]

Don't think I'm going to have too much to say this January. Info isn't given up as freely as it once was and it's just the odd snippet I get now, and usually asked not to pass on. As things stand we are in a very similar position to the Summer. There is 100% money to spend but only on the very few players we have shortlisted. If they are for whatever reason unobtainable that will be it. Poch has told Levy he needs signings but doesn't want to sign players just to get numbers in. We have already got a few we can't seem to move on, and the last thing we need is any more clogging up the squad. Never say never but it will be hard to get what we want. We were hoping the stadium might sway a couple that we have been chasing and are sitting on the fence, the fact that this will not happen till after January is not helpful in the short term.

Thanks for the ITK Trix. From a fan perspective its very frustrating as its clear our squad needs beefing up with some quality especially in midfield. I understand we have to sell fringe players to make space available but if the very few players we have shortlisted aren't available the answer cannot be we don't make any signings? I wonder how realistic our targets are? Are they players we would pay the fee/wages for? I'm guessing they are if they have been shortlisted but I can't see the list containing players like De Jong, N'Dombele who would cost upwards of £65m

 

[allatsea]

Don't think I'm going to have too much to say this January. Info isn't given up as freely as it once was and it's just the odd snippet I get now, and usually asked not to pass on. As things stand we are in a very similar position to the Summer. There is 100% money to spend but only on the very few players we have shortlisted. If they are for whatever reason unobtainable that will be it. Poch has told Levy he needs signings but doesn't want to sign players just to get numbers in. We have already got a few we can't seem to move on, and the last thing we need is any more clogging up the squad. Never say never but it will be hard to get what we want. We were hoping the stadium might sway a couple that we have been chasing and are sitting on the fence, the fact that this will not happen till after January is not helpful in the short term.

Thanks Trix we appreciate you sharing what you can.

 

[Hakkz]

You guys have lost me. If Barca don't want both, but JJ says Rabiot is off to Barca, then does that mean we're still in for De Jong?? Or am I completely off track??

Yes.