The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 20/21/22nd June 2014

[dovahkiin]

quite a lot stolen from trix on coys:

Taking my mate, a couple of agents, and an ex player(not ours) out on the boat for a bit of fishing today. Hopefully I will have some more info a bit later on.
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Bad news... Lovrens agent isn't here.
Good news Messi's agent is. Well a guy that helps look after some of the British based players for the same agency inc Hugo. Oh and he has never met LM.
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Heard some very positive stuff(not really regarding transfers). Just coming into the harbour so will update after I have washed down, in an hour or so.
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I thought I'd start a new thread because very little of this fits into the Lovren thread.


First off we had a great day, really enjoyed it. The conditions were a bit too good for proper fishing tbh, but for novices it was far better than what I'd call ideal conditions. Anyway I don't want to name too many names because I may well be getting a fair bit of business off the back of today's little excursion, but the stuff I can say I will. There was not much transfer related stuff talked about, but I did push them as far as I thought possible.



Lovren

This is again second hand, as although my mate speaks regularly to his agent he hasn't seen him for at least a week or so. Firstly I need to clarify the comment I made in the Lovren thread regarding him willing to strike. When Lovren joined Southampton he had better options available to him but he decided on Southampton because he bought into the long term plan that Pochetinno and Cortese pitched to him. He was made assurances that the team would be built on and not dismantled as they had a great young squad that in a couple of years could really go places. Well one year in and things are very very different. He understands though that it is not Poch's fault and that Poch has moved on to try and fulfill the same dream he had at Southampton which is to build his own footballing dynasty in his own image. Hard work, a system that is both solid defensively but has fluidity from an attacking pov. Most importantly there has to be strong team ethic where they want to win, not for the fans or the coach, but for each other. When I was told he would go on strike to get his move this was part of a very short conversation I had, where I am not sure I got the whole context. After a more lengthy chat it appears that yes he will strike but that will be a last resort. He feels that he has done things the right way by putting in a transfer request, and that coupled with a decent transfer fee should be enough. He wasn't lied to when he went there but things have changed significantly since he agreed to the move and where he originally thought it might take a couple of years to progress and start to chalenge the top sides he now believes they never will while the current regime is in place.


Levy

Not as disliked by agent folk as I thought. One of the guys that I spoke to has had many dealings with Levy over the last few years, and said Levy is very good at what he does. The agents job is to get the best deals for their players and Levy's job is to get the best possible deal for the club. He said Levy would never expect the agents to role over and he thinks the same from his POV re the chairman. Said whenever he knows he is going to be negotiating with Levy he makes certain he is prepared and knows he has to be on his A game. I asked him about Levy moving the goal posts late in deals and he replied "who doesn't if they have the other guy on the ropes". He also added he is one of the very best as far as looking after the players is concerned. Makes sure they have everything they need when they are new to the club and more so the country. Says the team Levy has working with the players from a non playing perspective are excellent. Worth noting his agency have had a few players at the club and one there at the moment. He said Agents are likely to push players towards a club they have a good working relationship with. I asked if that meant he might be willing to put a word in with Messi, to which he laughed and replied he will retire at either Barca or move back to South America. Nothing else interests him at all.


Hugo

Is very happy at the club and has settled well. believes the squad massively under achieved last season. He said as the goalkeeper he can see everything from a perspective that no one else has. (Hugo's own words apparently)" Last season, it was at times like watching a game of chess where one of the players did not know how the pieces moved. We often had the best team but the worst tactical thinking". Said he has seen enough in training to know we should have done far far better, which is why he is willing to give it another season at least. When i asked if that meant he would definitely stay, I was told "some moves are just too big to turn down". Poch has spoken to him and told him briefly what he plans to do and that Hugo is very much part of his plans. Wished him good luck at the WC and told him he hoped that he comes back with a winners medal. (I expect he said exactly the same to all our WC contingent) :smiley36: Now i don't know if any of the players were consulted prior to the appointment, but apparently he was a very popular choice with a lot of them before Tim had even gone. Read into that what you will.


Poch.

All four of the boys today were very complimentary of him(and I mean very). Even though none of them have had first hand dealings with him(yet) they were all very much of the same opinion. Stuff gets passed between agents and players very quickly and everything they had heard regarding Poch was positive. Both agents said they would encourage their players to speak to Poch if he wanted them, but one of them said they will know more about him through word of mouth than they did anyway. Many of them mix outside of the clubs because they have so much in common, and can't just do regular things.


A couple of smaller bits.

We tried to sign Agbonlahor a good while back but he thought Villa were the better long term prospect.


Villa have a young teenage lad that apparently every agent in the land is trying to get their hands on, but his old man is having none of it. Very, very special was the verdict from them all, and apparently miles ahead of his age group(and not just in this country).


Lastly this was a bit of a jolly organised by my mate for a few people that have helped regards his charity work and one name kept coming out time and again. Stand up Stephen Ireland because some of the stuff I have heard today regarding the lengths he goes to to help others are extraordinary

 

[Gedson100]

quite a lot stolen from trix on coys:

Is that all?

 

[Nine while nine]

Interesting update from Trix, kudos once more to Dovahklin and superb observation from Hugo that "Last season, it was at times like watching a game of chess where one of the players did not know how the pieces moved".

Tempting though it would be to try to guess who Hugo is referring to, I fear such an exercise would end up being pointless, antagonistic and destructive.



I reckon it's Danny Rose.

 

[Leachie]

All I got from that is we are signing Stephen Ireland. Off to the bookies.

 

[Gedson100]

Regarding Levy, any agent who doesn't like him is/would be crazy.

You're guaranteed plenty of ins and outs every summer & there's a piece of the pie for lots of people surrounding Tottenham transfers.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

quite a lot stolen from trix on coys:

The Villa teenager is probably Jack Grealish or Callum Robinson but that's only after looking it up for 5 seconds...

 

[indianspurs]

I specifically liked the Hugo part. The fact that he reckons not a lot was done right in training, tactics, etc. is in a way a good sign since like most of us he also believes there's quality within the squad, they all need the right training to fulfill their potential and I hope the new coach is able to do that

 

[thinktank]

quite a lot stolen from trix on coys:

Lovren

...Poch has moved on to try and fulfill the same dream he had at Southampton which is to build his own footballing dynasty in his own image. Hard work, a system that is both solid defensively but has fluidity from an attacking pov. Most importantly there has to be strong team ethic where they want to win, not for the fans or the coach, but for each other.

 

[mark87]

quite a lot stolen from trix on coys:

You sir are a beast, well done yet again.

 

[Mr Pink]

Agbonlahor never struck me as the sharpest tool in the box.

 

[thinktank]

Agbonlahor never struck me as the sharpest tool in the box.

I'd have taken him to the world cup instead of wellshite. Speed for days; very useful weapon to have alongside sterling, sturridge, barkley, lallana, ox.

Woy is a clueless balloon head. Not got any hope for England in the Euros. No interest.

 

[Dirty Ewok]

Regarding Levy, any agent who doesn't like him is/would be crazy.

You're guaranteed plenty of ins and outs every summer & there's a piece of the pie for lots of people surrounding Tottenham transfers.

Not just that....Levy is (for the most part) pure business, it's a numbers game for him. If you can make your case in a manner that is justifiable Levy is going to listen to what you have to say. Think the player you are representing should earn X amount of money.....then just go get the information showing that is a reasonable price. Your player wants to leave then check with Levy and see what he values your player at.

For an agent it may be hard in that he will drive a hard bargain but in many ways it will be easy because it will be fuelled by logic and accounting as opposed to emotion, fewer speed bumps driven by a moment of pure emotion.

 

[Shep]

Agbonlahor never struck me as the sharpest tool in the box.

Not only does he look thick, he constantly looks as if he's on the brink of sneezing.

 

[DaSpurs]

I wonder if we are in for 2 CB's if Poch wants the option to play 3 CB's
I can't recall him playing three at Soton but then I don't watch as much PL as some

Ha it's too bad this post was instantly blanketed by an entire essay of ITK, as it's an interesting suggestion.

I highly doubt it, considering he's never done so nor has Bielsa. Would be too much to the detriment of numbers in attacking positions, and the center of the back line is effectively shielded by the holding mid(s) with the wide-set CB's.

 

[spurs9]

Ha it's too bad this post was instantly blanketed by an entire essay of ITK, as it's an interesting suggestion.

I highly doubt it, considering he's never done so nor has Bielsa. Would be too much to the detriment of numbers in attacking positions, and the center of the back line is effectively shielded by the holding mid(s) with the wide-set CB's.

You are right about Poch but wrong about Bielsa. Bielsa usually plays 3 at the back in a 3-3-1-3 system.

 

[yankspurs]

Ha it's too bad this post was instantly blanketed by an entire essay of ITK, as it's an interesting suggestion.

I highly doubt it, considering he's never done so nor has Bielsa. Would be too much to the detriment of numbers in attacking positions, and the center of the back line is effectively shielded by the holding mid(s) with the wide-set CB's.

I think going 343 diamond later in games to change it up could be good. 6 attackers(wingers, 10, 3 forwards) with a holding midfielder to help out on defense. Interesting suggestion for later on in games, I think.

 

[DaSpurs]

You are right about Poch but wrong about Bielsa. Bielsa usually plays 3 at the back in a 3-3-1-3 system.

Interesting. Where did he do this?

Edit: Ah, with Chile sure enough. Interesting. My apology to @Barry Mead, I had only considered his work at club level I had read about.

 

[spurs9]

Interesting. Where did he do this?

Bilbao and Chilie.

Here is an article about his & Poch's systems.

http://eplindex.com/37849/marcelo-bielsas-tactical-influence-mauricio-pochettino-tactics.html

 

[DaSpurs]

I think going 343 diamond later in games to change it up could be good. 6 attackers(wingers, 10, 3 forwards) with a holding midfielder to help out on defense. Interesting suggestion for later on in games, I think.

Oh no doubt, I'm all for a coach adapting and improvising midgame and especially given his struggles with the issue at Saints. Essentially, this would likely become the formation anyway against a team parking the bus considering the wingers would be pushed high almost parallel with the striker and the wingbacks at least parallel with the advanced two mids. However, I think the most reserved player in the middle would just be that holding mid you mentioned dropped back into the center. That would allow the pivot player (Eriksen) and the other true CM (Paulinho/Holtby) to also sit high and create.

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

Hugo talking about management there I assume?