The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 22nd May

[Barry Mead]

I don't think it helps playing for a team that was nearly relegated! Can you imagine Adebayor at Villa!? He's bad enough at a top 4-5 club. I think benteke would be a sensation with the service our team would provide him.

You could argue against that though, at Villa no team played a tight defensive game against them but attacked them leaving him a lot more time and space than most teams give us. That and in his early games I doubt defenders gave him too much attention and so made life a little easier, then a few goals and his confidence boosts him and he's up and running. He's done well this season goal wise, but as we have seen enough times before with others there's no guarantee he'll repeat it. The worry is that he'll be hugely priced on the back of a good season that could prove his best.

 

[Mr Pink]

Apologies Pinky, I'm sure that is a rare occurrence for you.....

nah - you were right!

My optimism always comes out after a few beers!!! - must be pretty obvious

 

[Indisguise]

nah - you were right!

My optimism always comes out after a few beers!!! - must be pretty obvious

Amongst other things... (that come out). What was it that A&C called the thread dedicated to your last night out now... can't remember exactly. "Mr Pink and the... something... something"?

 

[yojambo]

Some people seem to under an illusion that crosses are the only way strikers score.
In Spain not many teams will even attempt crosses, certainly not Barca (who see a cross as a player running out of ideas)

Old fashioned wing play is dead, football has evolved, let the brainless fullbacks cross aimlessly if they must. The last truly great crosser of the ball was Beckham and they were more like curled passes.

Getting by a man and whipping a ball in is now (thankfully) the domain of the Allardyce's and Pulis' of the football world.
Pass and movement; it's the future...

While i do agree with your post i dont think the highlighted comment is quite right.
In the mid 2000's Pep Guardiola wasn't wanted by any clubs because at the time football
preferred a tough tacking anchorman like Davids, Viera or Makelele instead of a deep lying play maker.
Because of this Pep retired, but now its his system / philosophy most try to copy. Popularising
deep midfield passers like Busquets, Pirlo and Carrick. In the space of a few years there was a huge
shift in football.

The point im trying to make is that football works in cycles, perhaps in the future a team
will win the CL using a system of 2 out and out wide men. I wouldn't say football has evolved beyond the winger.

 

[Mr Pink]

You could argue against that though, at Villa no team played a tight defensive game against them but attacked them leaving him a lot more time and space than most teams give us. That and in his early games I doubt defenders gave him too much attention and so made life a little easier, then a few goals and his confidence boosts him and he's up and running. He's done well this season goal wise, but as we have seen enough times before with others there's no guarantee he'll repeat it. The worry is that he'll be hugely priced on the back of a good season that could prove his best.

Based on what he's actually done this season its extremely unlikely that he would regress significantly. Its possible that he might not get better or match this season's level but I would doubt it. Consider his age and it was his first season in the EPL its reasonable to assume that he'll be capable of becoming even better.

His age is key though as he comes with resale value. Even if it didn't work out we would still be able to sell for a decent price. Its very unlikely that he's going to go from this season's form to somebody we can't get off our books ie a Bentley.

Levy does like there to be plenty of scope for rising value though - that might be the only concern if Villa were looking for something extremely high, although that would probably deter us anyway if it was too unrealistic.

 

[Mr Pink]

Amongst other things... (that come out). What was it that A&C called the thread dedicated to your last night out now... can't remember exactly. "Mr Pink and the... something... something"?

was to do with a lesbian taxi driver - don't bring that up!!!

 

[Spurger King]

was to do with a lesbian taxi driver - don't bring that up!!!

That's what she said.

 

[Mr Pink]

That's what she said.

thought that read...that's what he said

 

[ravo]

Some people seem to under an illusion that crosses are the only way strikers score.
In Spain not many teams will even attempt crosses, certainly not Barca (who see a cross as a player running out of ideas)

Old fashioned wing play is dead, football has evolved, let the brainless fullbacks cross aimlessly if they must. The last truly great crosser of the ball was Beckham and they were more like curled passes.

Getting by a man and whipping a ball in is now (thankfully) the domain of the Allardyce's and Pulis' of the football world.
Pass and movement; it's the future...

It's good to know my role in the football world...

EDIT - isn't pass (or push) and move something that the side of '61 used to be famous for? Hardly new...

 

[ohh Teddy Teddy]

Regarding Benteke, is it just me who thinks it may be a risk paying £20m+ for a player who has only played 1 season in the PL albeit a good season? In my eyes £20m is a huge risk on him despite the potential he has shown.

And no, i'm not Daniel Levy!

 

[beats1]

If Dortmund can do it, why can't we?

I agree with the sentiment but we cant afford to buy youth and develop them as the club hasnt got the culture tbh. We have some better youth players than the current dortmund ones had when they initially joined them and they cant get look in. Also Premier league prices are higher than Bundesliga price and if we sign someone from there, then they will just be dumped in the development squad. Also AVB hasnt shown he is good at developing youth or even trusting youth unlike Klopp.

 

[beats1]

Regarding Benteke, is it just me who thinks it may be a risk paying £20m+ for a player who has only played 1 season in the PL albeit a good season? In my eyes £20m is a huge risk on him despite the potential he has shown.

And no, i'm not Daniel Levy!

It is and the price is likely to go down unless he starts scoring 30 goals or something

 

[ohh Teddy Teddy]

You say dilly dally! Stats say 66 league goals this season which is out highest amount in 20 years and level with what we scored last season. You honestly think Villa are equal to us in-terms of service!?

66 goals is good for Tottenham I agree but when it matters, we simply haven't scored enough. There have been many a time where we have relied on the brilliance of Bale to win us games. We struggle to break teams down because we do dilly and dally alot outside the box. We've dropped points due to this.

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

I see it's been yet another productive and on-topic day in the realms of the ITK discussion thread then lads.

 

[Gedson100]

Last summer we needed a Modric replacement & Levy went out and spent £15m (a lot for our Dan) on the best available midfielder in the league in Dembele. This year, how can I put this so that it ignores years of not buying a striker...hmm... : our Head Coach has demanded a STRIKER!!
Benteke is probably the best attainable striker in the league, and might be had for a similarly large but fair fee to Dembele: GO FORTH DANIEL AND MULTI-BUY!

 

[Spurger King]

Regarding Benteke, is it just me who thinks it may be a risk paying £20m+ for a player who has only played 1 season in the PL albeit a good season? In my eyes £20m is a huge risk on him despite the potential he has shown.

And no, i'm not Daniel Levy!

I agree. I'm skeptical.

Remember when we were quoted £25m for Kenwyne Jones?

 

[Mr Pink]

I agree. I'm skeptical.

Remember when we were quoted £25m for Kenwyne Jones?

I'll reassure you Spurger. Kenwyne Jones never, and I mean ever exhibited some of the facets that Benteke has to his game. Not even close.

 

[Spurger King]

I'll reassure you Spurger. Kenwyne Jones never, and I mean ever exhibited some of the facets that Benteke has to his game. Not even close.

Well the good thing is that it's not my decision. If we go for him I'll trust AVB's judgement and support him.

I just have a lot of doubts.

 

[daryl]

I agree. I'm skeptical.

Remember when we were quoted £25m for Kenwyne Jones?

We nearly paid £30 mill for Andy Carroll

 

[Mr Pink]

Well the good thing is that it's not my decision. If we go for him I'll trust AVB's judgement and support him.

I just have a lot of doubts.

Fair enough. The Jones example always drives me mad though because they really aren't similar at all