The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 20 August 2011

[StartingPrice]

I'm not so sure it is done, you know, SP. When we signed Sandro, was it not announced that he would be joining us after Inter had finished their cup run, which basically got strung out due to them going all the way?

We knew he was coming well in advance there, so surely any deal for Leandro would have been announced by now?

I just don't see the benefit of Spurs keeping this deal quiet.

I know.
And agree.
That's what I am saying.
We have the evidence of ITKs and the comment (which could have been totally throw away) by a co-commentator, to Jamie Redknapp.
other than that we are surmising.

But the general feeling is that it is happening.

But you are right - there is little reason to explain why we wouldn't just announce it if it is done. One possibility would be that Inter said that they found it wasn't a good idea to announce Sandro, so could we please keep it quiet this time. Alternatively, maybe we don't want to make it too obvious to whatever strikers we have remaining from last season, that they will probably be kicked into touch in January by announcing it now. I am hypothesising, I really don't know.

 

[Pedro]

If they want us to buy him outright, you can guarantee they'll drag it out till the 28th when we play them, seeing as non-playing agreements have been made illegal in player transfers.

This has crossed my mind. If they can somehow get over the issue of wages then buying him outright would be great. If we are doing this set fee at the end of the loan then we may as well just buy him, I expect city see it this way too? How do they gain from a deal that if he is shocking we send him back and if he is great we get him for 12m? Surely the transfer fee would be low because of the risk of signing him, having a low set fee only if he is good doesn't make much sense. Personally I think he will be awesome for us.

 

[SlunkSoma]

Think we are just stalling as both can't play the next two games, Ade the next three - no sense in getting them in yet from Levy's perspective. Madness if true as deals could fall apart.

 

[Arkie]

We could buy him.

Offer a notional transfer fee and a huge signing on fee to the player but with wages within our pay structure.

Downside is if he kicks off as he has done at Scum and City we're stuck with a player whos bad around the club, ( a bit like city now)

 

[nedley]

Think we are just stalling as both can't play the next two games, Ade the next three - no sense in getting them in yet from Levy's perspective. Madness if true as deals could fall apart.

Why cant they play in the next 2-3 games?

 

[GoldstarYid]

Why cant they play in the next 2-3 games?

Wont be registered in time for Utd then Adebayor cant play vs City. Don't know where the other games are coming from hes talking about. Probably match fitness reasons i don't know.

Edit: Other game is Hearts.

 

[Snuzzy]

not registered in time for Man U, not registered for Hearts, Ade couldn't play vs. Man City if on loan

 

[nedley]

Gotcha.

T'was being abit thick.

 

[Wellspurs]

If they want us to buy him outright, you can guarantee they'll drag it out till the 28th when we play them, seeing as non-playing agreements have been made illegal in player transfers.

Could just drag it out till 26th 12:01 ? Or in the past, gentlemans agreement not to play against City?

 

[Lilbaz]

When is the new kit out? They'd have to have bought someone by then just to increase sales.

 

[Pedro]

We could buy him.

Offer a notional transfer fee and a huge signing on fee to the player but with wages within our pay structure.

Downside is if he kicks off as he has done at Scum and City we're stuck with a player whos bad around the club, ( a bit like city now)

But that's why we get him for so cheap, I don't quite understand why we get him so cheap after a year when we would only go through with the transfer if he has been good and not a problem. In that even bigger clubs could be in for him anyway - would he be forced to sign for us? If levy pulls off the reported loan then great, but it seems more sensible to just buy him (which would be after the city game) and fill the gap with the massive signing on fee. I wonder how that would work over the course of say a 4 year contract though - that would be a massive signing on fee, what if he leaves after a year? Maybe it would be done by annual bonuses??? I can see why they say this deal is so complicated!!

 

[Lilbaz]

But that's why we get him for so cheap, I don't quite understand why we get him so cheap after a year when we would only go through with the transfer if he has been good and not a problem. In that even bigger clubs could be in for him anyway - would he be forced to sign for us? If levy pulls off the reported loan then great, but it seems more sensible to just buy him (which would be after the city game) and fill the gap with the massive signing on fee. I wonder how that would work over the course of say a 4 year contract though - that would be a massive signing on fee, what if he leaves after a year? Maybe it would be done by annual bonuses??? I can see why they say this deal is so complicated!!

Loyalty bonus. Basically a signing on fee spread over the contract, if he puts in a transfer request he loses it.

Levy is the man for bonuses, and it is the best way to get them players hungry.

 

[Pedro]

By my rough calcs the signing on fee would have to be £16m to cover the wage difference over 4 years, so maybe a 4m annual bonus. hmmmm May stop other players asking for their rise, but they may ask where their bonus is???

 

[Ionman34]

I know.
And agree.
That's what I am saying.
We have the evidence of ITKs and the comment (which could have been totally throw away) by a co-commentator, to Jamie Redknapp.
other than that we are surmising.

But the general feeling is that it is happening.

But you are right - there is little reason to explain why we wouldn't just announce it if it is done. One possibility would be that Inter said that they found it wasn't a good idea to announce Sandro, so could we please keep it quiet this time. Alternatively, maybe we don't want to make it too obvious to whatever strikers we have remaining from last season, that they will probably be kicked into touch in January by announcing it now. I am hypothesising, I really don't know.

Until THFC deem to fill us in on any details, hypothesise is about all we can do really.

About the only scenario that actually makes sense to me is the Inter asking us to keep it quiet one. If it's in the interests of keeping the relationship with them sweet then fair enough.
I don't, however, see how keeping it from our strikers helps our situation though. Personally, I'd use it as the Carrot for them. "Each one of you guys is on probation. The one who performs best is the one that stays.' That way you get the absolute best out of all of them and, even if you've alreadydecided who stays, the others are in the shop window. The better they perform, the more in demand they'll be and the better the price we get for them.

I dunno mate, I just get the feeling that we've walked away from this deal. If the last reports are to be believed, I think 18 million is probably a bridge farther than Levy is prepared to go for a relative unknown, particularly when he got Sandro for 8 million.

One thing is for sure, we'll know for definite in January!

 

[Spurger King]

I'm quite calm about it really. No rush to announce Diarra or Adebayor just yet. Obviously we need to announce Diarra fairly soon so that he can play against City, but Ade won't be available for that game or the Hearts game, so if it's all agreed let's just wait for the announcement, which I'm sure is on it's way when everyone is good and ready.

 

[silentownage001]

slow day :bang:

I'm quite calm about it really. No rush to announce Diarra or Adebayor just yet. Obviously we need to announce Diarra fairly soon so that he can play against City, but Ade won't be available for that game or the Hearts game, so if it's all agreed let's just wait for the announcement, which I'm sure is on it's way when everyone is good and ready.

spot on. i just think we should get them in asap so they get training since they havent had much of a preseason. i do think adebayor is done or almost done since vdv, dawson and livermore have talked about him. though vdv and dawson seemed a bit more itk like than what livermore said

 

[venablesphil]

I'm quite calm about it really. No rush to announce Diarra or Adebayor just yet. Obviously we need to announce Diarra fairly soon so that he can play against City, but Ade won't be available for that game or the Hearts game, so if it's all agreed let's just wait for the announcement, which I'm sure is on it's way when everyone is good and ready.

Fully agree, I think we aren't in any rush to announce it for those very reasons, also may weaken our hand if we are trying to sell one or two of our current strikers if we have announced Adebayor. Also we have had countless postive ITK reports on the signing inc ValYid saying it was pretty much done.

I second the sit back and stay calm approach.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Not that I put that much store in it, but this ITK silence is a bit worrying.

Of course, i'm probably wrong, (I usually am) But if this was 'done' it would have been announced already IMO. I don't think we're into 'tactical delays'

And thinking about it, if there were some sort of minor hitch, surely it would have been resolved by now?

Don't get to excited and you won't be reaching for the rope if it all goes tits up.

Everyone expected us to sign Joe Cole last year didn't they? IIRC the ITK's announced it along with several mainstream media outlets. It'll be interesting seeing how this one pans out.

 

[spud]

Serious? We beat Liverpool and Arsenal away last season and they still finished above us.

Sure about that?

 

[Marty]

Serious? We beat Liverpool and Arsenal away last season and they still finished above us. They wont take too much from 1 game.

Are Liverpool in the Europa League at our expense?