The Daily ITK Discussion Thread 20th July

[Hoopspur]

Pleased about Son. As much as anything it’s an indication he is happy at the club. Hope that is true.

 

[Indisguise]

I'd like to say that I can't believe the meltdown in here, but I've seen enough transfer windows that not only can I believe it, but was actually expecting it.

Sometimes it's necessary to take a step back and look at the itk we get in conjunction with how we've seen the club act for several years. Taking this into account, the most important itk we've had all summer isn't the "we'll be spending big, we're buying superstars, we're backing Poch" stuff, it's the thing that Trix has been telling us all summer- that we will be doing our deals late, because we pretty much have to.

We have a pretty good idea of where Trix's info comes from, and that being the case, why anyone would choose to disregard what he's been telling us seems a bit daft to me. We aren't a top tier club, and unless/until we can change that, we are always going to be on the list of top players' second-choice options- so we need to wait until the big clubs have done their business before we can move for whoever is on our list that hasn't gone elsewhere.

It's a necessary evil, and no amount of wailing about our business, Levy, our targets, falling behind other clubs, starting badly, or anything else is going to change that. I personally have enough respect for Poch's intelligence to think that he completely understands this, and therefore I have to be a little bit worried by Herc telling us that Poch isn't happy. Something somewhere isn't right, but what that is we just don't know; although I do struggle to believe that Poch was expecting us to have signed everybody he wanted by now.

Now obviously this is all personal opinion, but I'm not seeing anything this window that I haven't seen many times before, and I'm not seeing anything that I wasn't expecting. Every summer we get the optimistic itk, everyone gets excited about it, and then a few weeks down the line we start to hear more realistic things and everyone loses their shit. Yet the one constant every window is Trix telling us how we do business, and why we have to do it that way. Sometimes I think people deliberately ignore an evident truth because they don't want to believe it, and that's just a ridiculous way to look at things. Temper your expectations to be in line with where you know we are as a club, and take anything that doesn't gel with that with a bucket load of salt. You know, like you've been told to do a hundred times by the people who know what they are talking about in regard to handling itk.

We're all grateful for every piece of info that any of the itks give us, and yes it's nice to hear that we're building up, that deals are close, that we're going to love the business we do this window...and yes, it would be fantastic if it came to pass. But having seen the way the club has operated for many years, that people expect anything to be different this time round is frankly bewildering. And the meltdown is, as ever, absolutely hilarious.

Pffft!

 

[Grey Fox]

Christ on a bike, its NOT about fees its about squad numbers. Poch does not want a huge squad and Levy does not want to pay large wages to players for turning up for training who might get on the bench for the odd game.
We have had no bids for those potentially earmarked for leaving as of last night so what do you want the club to do?
I have heard activity and announcements will happen next week, existing contracts and expected movement.
The only offers for our players are loan deals and thats not great when you consider some of their ages.
I'm still optimistic Ducks lined up in a row.

 

[jay2040]

Different year, same old shit...

Is it wrong to expect a different approach just one season! I think our recent success warrants a change in last minute buys.

Love the honesty Hercs too.

 

[Chris Flynn]

I understand your points however, if the teams around us strengthen whilst we stand still, then surely we are then weaker than last season?

Its like groundhog day. We here this in this thread every summer and still finish ahead

 

[dagraham]

Christ on a bike, its NOT about fees its about squad numbers. Poch does not want a huge squad and Levy does not want to pay large wages to players for turning up for training who might get on the bench for the odd game.
We have had no bids for those potentially earmarked for leaving as of last night so what do you want the club to do?
I have heard activity and announcements will happen next week, existing contracts and expected movement.
The only offers for our players are loan deals and thats not great when you consider some of their ages.
I'm still optimistic Ducks lined up in a row.

Unfortunately though, isn’t this lack of interest in our cast offs a direct result of us buying cheap crap in the first place?

 

[McArchibald]

Christ on a bike, its NOT about fees its about squad numbers. Poch does not want a huge squad and Levy does not want to pay large wages to players for turning up for training who might get on the bench for the odd game.
We have had no bids for those potentially earmarked for leaving as of last night so what do you want the club to do?
I have heard activity and announcements will happen next week, existing contracts and expected movement.
The only offers for our players are loan deals and thats not great when you consider some of their ages.
I'm still optimistic Ducks lined up in a row.

Thanks for the info.

This is the downside for buying bargains. They won't be moved without some serious financial losses.
Levy should take that into account when next he decides a player is too expensive and he can just as well take a punt on a cheap alternative...

 

[daryl hannah]

Unfortunately though, isn’t this lack of interest in our cast offs a direct result of us buying cheap crap in the first place?

Damn - There doesn't seem to be a rating higher than 'winner.'

 

[Grey Fox]

Unfortunately though, isn’t this lack of interest in our cast offs a direct result of us buying cheap crap in the first place?

You saying Toby and Rose are crap?

 

[Ricky_Yid]

I'd like to say that I can't believe the meltdown in here, but I've seen enough transfer windows that not only can I believe it, but was actually expecting it.

Sometimes it's necessary to take a step back and look at the itk we get in conjunction with how we've seen the club act for several years. Taking this into account, the most important itk we've had all summer isn't the "we'll be spending big, we're buying superstars, we're backing Poch" stuff, it's the thing that Trix has been telling us all summer- that we will be doing our deals late, because we pretty much have to.

We have a pretty good idea of where Trix's info comes from, and that being the case, why anyone would choose to disregard what he's been telling us seems a bit daft to me. We aren't a top tier club, and unless/until we can change that, we are always going to be on the list of top players' second-choice options- so we need to wait until the big clubs have done their business before we can move for whoever is on our list that hasn't gone elsewhere.

It's a necessary evil, and no amount of wailing about our business, Levy, our targets, falling behind other clubs, starting badly, or anything else is going to change that. I personally have enough respect for Poch's intelligence to think that he completely understands this, and therefore I have to be a little bit worried by Herc telling us that Poch isn't happy. Something somewhere isn't right, but what that is we just don't know; although I do struggle to believe that Poch was expecting us to have signed everybody he wanted by now.

Now obviously this is all personal opinion, but I'm not seeing anything this window that I haven't seen many times before, and I'm not seeing anything that I wasn't expecting. Every summer we get the optimistic itk, everyone gets excited about it, and then a few weeks down the line we start to hear more realistic things and everyone loses their shit. Yet the one constant every window is Trix telling us how we do business, and why we have to do it that way. Sometimes I think people deliberately ignore an evident truth because they don't want to believe it, and that's just a ridiculous way to look at things. Temper your expectations to be in line with where you know we are as a club, and take anything that doesn't gel with that with a bucket load of salt. You know, like you've been told to do a hundred times by the people who know what they are talking about in regard to handling itk.

We're all grateful for every piece of info that any of the itks give us, and yes it's nice to hear that we're building up, that deals are close, that we're going to love the business we do this window...and yes, it would be fantastic if it came to pass. But having seen the way the club has operated for many years, that people expect anything to be different this time round is frankly bewildering. And the meltdown is, as ever, absolutely hilarious.

Some great points..

Although i do disagree with the "where we are as a club" statement.

We are champions league regulars with some the most advanced stadium and training facilities in the country. We finished above, Liverpool, Chelsea & Arsenal and regularly do.

But we are trying to buy players like we did 4/5 years ago which is the problem, thats not where we are as a club anymore, we are a one of the top english clubs yet refuse to act like it in the transfer window.

 

[philip]

If not signing Zaha is because we can't get rid of players, that's ridiculous. We're in a 5 or 6 way fight for 4 CL places and the team directly below us have strengthened massively.

We need to be a bit ballsy

 

[tiger666]

thats not where we are as a club anymore, we are a one of the top english clubs yet refuse to act like it in the transfer window.

We still don't have the same money to spend as some others, whether we finish above them or not.

 

[Favour]

Its like groundhog day. We here this in this thread every summer and still finish ahead

Really? Was last season ahead of the year before?

 

[Trix]

According to the club (it's been mentioned by one or two ITKers, I believe, on here) the funding for the stadium was not going to affect transfer funds.

Which I'm told is still the case. Doesn't mean we won't end up with zero net spend though as per.

 

[absolute bobbins]

For reasons known only to him!

Fuck me this is obscenely stupid, log off and have a long hard look at yourself.

 

[dagraham]

You saying Toby and Rose are crap?

Of course not. Although I was under the impression that Rose was staying.

 

[Ricky_Yid]

Which I'm told is still the case. Doesn't mean we won't end up with zero net spend though as per.

zero business - zero net spend

Levy is Shrewd

 

[allatsea]

He invests in what he knows. Happy to find an extra £400-£500m for the stadium, but not happy to see success on the football pitch (zero net spend, again?).

(We finished 23 points behind City).

Can you give us the weekends Lottery numbers as apparently you can see into the future.

 

[King of Otters]

Unfortunately though, isn’t this lack of interest in our cast offs a direct result of us buying cheap crap in the first place?

More likely a result of us quoting extortionate fees to potential buyers.

 

[only1waddle]

You saying Toby and Rose are crap?

And Sissoko wasn’t cheap, nor was Janssen!!