The Daily ITK Discussion Thread 23rd July

[mawspurs]

Regarding onomah, although rebrab says he don’t think he’s going, if he was it might be down to a lack of versatility if he can only play in CM, I’ve not really seen him enough to comment on that but Poch likes versatile players and it seems Josh struggles when not in his favourite position

 

[wishkah]

that might be because we don't value the players in that price range good enough bar de Ligt, then Ajax go and raise the bar. Richarleson is a good player but I'd not want us to spend that much on him

yeah I get your point, but if we have teams we lower revenue splashing 50, we should be able to do 60 or 70.

that's were we have conflicting stories re the impact of the stadium - does it allow us to splash or does it constrict us.

 

[nailsy]

If we can't find squad space for a home-grown youngster who is rated the best player by our coaches at every age group, particularly in a position where we badly need non-destroyer options, then I question the point of the Academy.

Not questioning the ITK, for avoidance of doubt.

His place in the squad has been taken by Winks though. Surely that proves why we need the academy?

 

[Lighty64]

yeah I get your point, but if we have teams we lower revenue splashing 50, we should be able to do 60 or 70.

that's were we have conflicting stories re the impact of the stadium - does it allow us to splash or does it constrict us.

not many of them have just built a brand new stadium, and by the end of the window if we do get any of our targets, we will of spent a lot more than them

 

[thelak]

Great post. The only thing I would say is that there was a concern over perhaps the last third of the season in terms of performances and a lack of guile when we were finding it difficult to break teams down. I don't know whether new signings are the answer but if it was down to a lack of options to change games then we might end up having the same issue again.

To my mind the issue is not so much what we have which is a great squad but in this league standing still is going backwards when you look at how our competition is strengthening - and as you say it was v fine margins at points last season beating some of the lower league teams that set up to play 11 behind the ball

Also after 3-4 years together as a squad freshening up and adding competition for places is important - personally think we have been on a great organic development curve under Poch but a lot of players that have vastly improved vs 3-4 years ago have now plateaued so from here investment vs player improvement will be the big driver of the next step up - and in fact some players in the next season or so may start to drop off due to age, injuries etc - our Belgian contingent if they all stay for e.g

ITK seemed to suggest this was what Poch and the club had concluded at the end of last season too so the frustration is current ITK with the clock ticking suggests it’s like any other summer

 

[db1]

To my mind the issue is not so much what we have which is a great squad but in this league standing still is going backwards when you look at how our competition is strengthening - and as you say it was v fine margins at points last season beating some of the lower league teams that set up to play 11 behind the ball

Also after 3-4 years together as a squad freshening up and adding competition for places is important - personally think we have been on a great organic development curve under Poch but a lot of players that have vastly improved vs 3-4 years ago have now plateaued so from here investment vs player improvement will be the big driver of the next step up - and in fact some players in the next season or so may start to drop off due to age, injuries etc - our Belgian contingent if they all stay for e.g

ITK seemed to suggest this was what Poch and the club had concluded at the end of last season too so the frustration is current ITK with the clock ticking suggests it’s like any other summer

Exactly and we may be surprised in the end with some quality players, but if not we have the very real worry that Poch was promised backing and didn't get it and our best players won't think that we're ambitious enough for them.
We know we've done amazing of late and not had to spend our way there etc. so spare it BSoDL- that's clear, but it won't be the same if our best players and manager want to leave.

 

[Lilbaz]

Exactly and we may be surprised in the end with some quality players, but if not we have the very real worry that Poch was promised backing and didn't get it and our best players won't think that we're ambitious enough for them.
We know we've done amazing of late and not had to spend our way there etc. so spare it BSoDL- that's clear, but it won't be the same if our best players and manager want to leave.

Yet our best players and manager have just signed new contracts or are in negotiations to do so.

 

[The_Dude]

You make some very valid points that I agree with, however the premier league is very unforgiving, and despite our good work it is clear that we have been punching above our weight for the last 3 years, and if we want to continue challenging for the title and securing champions league then at some point we are going to have to adapt to a more braver stance in the transfer market, if not it is inevitable that we will fall away while are rivals move ahead. This is the best squad I have ever known at Spurs with a top notch manager, and I want us to be ambitious so we can fulfil our potential.

Do you think we were punching above our weight? We certainly were financially and had no right to be as good as we have been over the last 3 years. But in terms of squad ability, I think we had the best team in England for two of those three years and should’ve won something.
If we keep the same squad I still think we can challenge for the league, and if we add just two quality players I believe we have a great chance. Can’t see City being as strong as last year as most very successful teams have a bit of a drop off and we have a few more things in our favour I.e. home stadium and WC experience for our players (although that could be a negative at the start of the season)

 

[James 23]

This issue has been covered at boring length in previous ITK daily threads. It is not about the wage bill.

Ok so its not the wage bill !, it will be some other excuse then.....I find excuses boring, lets just sign Grealish or no-one and see were it takes us....

 

[db1]

Yet our best players and manager have just signed new contracts or are in negotiations to do so.

I'm sure under some sort of impression that we're going to be ambitious to give them the chance of achieving their aspirations with us. We have been told by ITK that this was the case with Poch. You think they'll be happy if promises are not kept? I'm hoping we don't find out and they feel that they have been backed following the window.

 

[The_Dude]

Losing toby, getting maguire, losing dembele, getting lewis cook.

Overall as a squad we are regressing.

Grealish will not be that talent. I dont mind youngsters but we should be looking at jadon sancho level, not grealish kind.

Very worrying because if i was poch i wont be happy

Still gutted we missed out on Sancho last year, he was the one player I really wanted. Tbf he’s got good game time at Dortmund but I think he would’ve been perfect for us, pace and technique unlike Njie and N’Koudou. Didn’t the itk’s say last year, he wouldn’t be out there for long? Hope so as I think we’ve really missed out just cos we didn’t pay a little extra

 

[Gb160]

Yet our best players and manager have just signed new contracts or are in negotiations to do so.

Exactly, they can't be very worried about the direction the club's going...its weird that people keep coming out with this stuff tbh.

 

[LeParisien]

Stars I get your point but there are plenty of serviceable players the past few years who could’ve done the same job as the punts like N’Jie, N’Koudou, Llorente etc who ended up costing the club what £40m? Veljkovic, Berchiche, Falque all did relatively well once departing. Townsend arguably would’ve done a better job than the two N’s.

That’s the wrong argument. Townsend was released because he didn’t have the attitude or the talent to make it at a champions league club. We knew that and have been proven right.

The Ns were two risks that might have had the ability but in the end didnt. So they have been cast aside too.

The Ns were not signed because Townsend was released. They were signed to try to bring in quality that Townsend had failed to provide.

All three were released because they were not good enough. They are all duds to the challenge of trying to gain the required quality.

 

[SpursTillIDie1882]

Hi Yoda, welcome to SC

.... the force is not so strong with this one

 

[ardiles&villa]

I miss POTL

 

[Lilbaz]

I miss POTL

Why we're getting just as much itk now as we ever did?

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Circumstances change, be patient. For me, THIS is the key window, new stadium, big brand and excellent performances on the pitch. After this window, if we've not improved, I'm changing my viewpoint on Levy.

Our squad didn’t get bigger during the World Cup...it’s a rather odd explanation for the lack of activity imo. Particular considering a fair few we want to get rid of weren’t playing at the World Cup.

Are we really saying that we can’t bring anyone in now on the basis that we are unwilling to risk the prospect that we couldn’t get rid of anyone before the end of August and have them unregistered until January , or am I missing something?

 

[Lighty64]

I'm sure under some sort of impression that we're going to be ambitious to give them the chance of achieving their aspirations with us. We have been told by ITK that this was the case with Poch. You think they'll be happy if promises are not kept? I'm hoping we don't find out and they feel that they have been backed following the window.

you do realise that sometimes promises can't be kept if the team we want to purchase from won't sell. everytime I read this F'ing promise and brave quote, I think people must think it's so easy. it's not, if the players Poch has handed to Levy are not available anymore then what do you want. we can only buy the 2 quality players everyone keeps drumming on about if the clubs are willing to sell at least near the prices we expected. we haven't got a bottomless pit to go pay 70m+ on 2 players when we want 3-4 players.

 

[Lilbaz]

you do realise that sometimes promises can't be kept if the team we want to purchase from won't sell. everytime I read this F'ing promise and brave quote, I think people must think it's so easy. it's not, if the players Poch has handed to Levy are not available anymore then what do you want. we can only buy the 2 quality players everyone keeps drumming on about if the clubs are willing to sell at least near the prices we expected. we haven't got a bottomless pit to go pay 70m+ on 2 players when we want 3-4 players.

For me i think we had ambitions for this window. Sell toby and dembele and a few others to help raise funds. Also a big naming rights sponsor coming in. None of these have panned out yet.

Still a while to go and we should bring in at least a couple.

Not what any of us wanted and can understand fans being frustrated.

 

[gerishep]

I miss POTL

Our present Itk's are much better and we get more regular updates.