The Daily ITK Discussion Thread 20th May 2016

[Dougal]

You are gloomy this afternoon.
I think at least one of Carroll, Mason, Bentaleb must go. That's not a symptom of lack of loyalty or failed strategy or short sightedness. By golly, Carroll & Mason should prove that loyalty is rewarded, but of course only to a certain point. They also have to be good footballers. We have to sell players who are no longer a fit. It's just a part of the game.

Sorry, I've been reading a lot more SC recently.
It's a trimming the fat process I guess. We had a lot of similar players, mostly out on loan and some got a chance. Some took it, some didn't. The harshness of modern day football I guess.

 

[Hoddle_Ledge]

Very surprised if Spurs let Bentaleb go. He's got a lot more to offer then Mason and Carroll. Injuries cost him this season,

 

[Breezer]

With no Europa League, I am not sure such players are best served being at WHL next year. I'd prefer they were loaned out somewhere where they'd get games. Pritchard perhaps the only exception as he has done the loan rounds at at 22 (I think?) needs to settle somewhere.

If Carroll, Bentaleb, Mason, Chad etc all exit. Then I don't think we can send out the others on loan without leaving ourselves short. Personally I think Winks is top class and I expect him to push on next season and give our current midfield something to think about.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Sorry, I've been reading a lot more SC recently.
It's a trimming the fat process I guess. We had a lot of similar players, mostly out on loan and some got a chance. Some took it, some didn't. The harshness of modern day football I guess.

I here you. I'd love for modern football to be less ... modern. But it's a very unemotional sport these days, probably serving money laundry better than the hearts of the fans.

 

[Col_M]

With no Europa League, I am not sure such players are best served being at WHL next year. I'd prefer they were loaned out somewhere where they'd get games. Pritchard perhaps the only exception as he has done the loan rounds at at 22 (I think?) needs to settle somewhere.

Interesting POV. I never really considered it but the CL is obviously a step up from Europa and we therefore can't rest the top players.

 

[Hoddle_Ledge]

If Carroll, Bentaleb, Mason, Chad etc all exit. Then I don't think we can send out the others on loan without leaving ourselves short. Personally I think Winks is top class and I expect him to push on next season and give our current midfield something to think about.

Can't wait for Winks to break through! Might be one season too soon for him though but would expect him to get some cup starts.

 

[Jospur]

If Carroll, Bentaleb, Mason, Chad etc all exit. Then I don't think we can send out the others on loan without leaving ourselves short. Personally I think Winks is top class and I expect him to push on next season and give our current midfield something to think about.

And don't forget Pritchard...

 

[Farms14]

Bentaleb is better than Palace. Isn't Carroll out of Contract now?

I would keep Bentaleb if he is happy with squad rotation and ship out Mason. Mason has a great attitude and the will to succeed but unfortunately IMO he is not to the quality we need. He would flourish in a mid table prem team

 

[CockOnBall]

Can't wait for Winks to break through! Might be one season too soon for him though but would expect him to get some cup starts.

I think Winks is excellent as well. Very composed, technical player. But I agree with you in that next year may be a little too soon. Especially considering he appears to be behind Carroll and Mason this year.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

It will be interesting to hear our response to the goats bentaleb info

To be honest, personally speaking, it doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

I genuinely don't think he'll play for the club again and, in my opinion, these recent stories about a change of attitude & him working hard etc, are stories that have been manufactured by the club to make Bentaleb more saleable.

Time, I'm sure, will reveal all.

 

[Hoddtastic72]

I'd consider loaning him there. They can get bent for a loan move though.

Wha

 

[talkshowhost86]

I think with Bentaleb it completely depends on his relationship with Poch. We've all heard rumours of issues with Bentaleb but nothing concrete and his lack of appearances could be just as easily explained through injuries as it could through any alleged 'attitude' problems.

Personally I'm not convinced that any of Carroll, Mason or Bentaleb are of the required level if we want to push on next season, but it's also unrealistic to expect a complete overhaul in that area, so I'd expect at least one of them to stay.

 

[tommyt]

Care to explain? It's not looking good for you if/when A&C sees this so I'd get in quick if I were you...

It's cryptic...

 

[tommyt]

A joke taking a dig at the quality of the ITKs? The kind of "joke" that'll lose him access to here as soon as A&C spots it?

It's not a dig at anyone. It's a carry on from yesterday's thread.

 

[Rob]

It's cryptic...

Bye then :-(

I tried.

 

[tommyt]

Bye then :-(

I tried.

Seriously nothing to it.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Seriously nothing to it.

Yep, they just press "block" and it's all done in an instant

 

[danielneeds]

I think with Bentaleb it completely depends on his relationship with Poch. We've all heard rumours of issues with Bentaleb but nothing concrete and his lack of appearances could be just as easily explained through injuries as it could through any alleged 'attitude' problems.

Personally I'm not convinced that any of Carroll, Mason or Bentaleb are of the required level if we want to push on next season, but it's also unrealistic to expect a complete overhaul in that area, so I'd expect at least one of them to stay.

This is the thing. I don't think there are any poor players in the squad now, it's all about the ones with the mentality Poch wants going forward.

 

[Stoof]

PL clubs successfully lobbied to have their first installment of the new TV revenue paid a month early. So THFC are expecting approximately 35m to drop into their accounts on July 1st. The apparent motivation for this was to allow clubs to do deals ahead of Euros. So I do think the attempt is there at least to make moves now. You see clubs like Arsenal and West Ham have already made 20m+ bids for players.

But all deals are structured finance deals. Not too many lump sum merchants around.

 

[talkshowhost86]

This is the thing. I don't think there are any poor players in the squad now, it's all about the ones with the mentality Poch wants going forward.

A lot of it is about mentality certainly, although I think with the Champions League, and the likely crazy spending of our rivals, we'll be stepping up in quality next season and that is the area of the pitch where I think we are least well equipped to make that step up.

None of Carroll, Mason or Bentaleb are bad players by any means. Bentaleb clearly has bundles of potential and would be a good Dembele competitor if he gets his injuries/attitude sorted.

As for Mason and Carroll I like them both but am not sure either is going to improve vastly beyond where they are now, so if there are better options available then I'd like to improve in that position.