The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 24th August 2015

[Cavehillspur]

Sadly it appears Illaramendi is on his way back to Sociedad, Linked with us on a loan. Spanish press saying he's going back home.

Spanish press this afternoon reporting he prefers move to Prem than Sociedad return - in player thread.

 

[robertgoulet]

Have a feeling this is going to be a good 7 days for THFC. Trust me, I'm a doctor.

 

[SamR]

1) We've balanced the books every window for 6+ years now, despite 95% of ITKs promising the fabled 'war chest'

2) Yesterday JJ said this:

Evs79 ‏@ChrisEvs79
Need Fazio, Lennon and Townsend sales cash to buy what we need otherwise the books won't balance and we can't have that

The original JJetset ‏@jetsetyid
@ChrisEvs79 correct but you forgot Ade & I doubt AT will go

If this turns out to be correct it's confirmation that the Spurs board are actively balancing the books to greater their return on investment when they come to selling us. All the extra money will be pumped into the stadium to help fund it with less debt taken from outsider financiers, maximising their return in the future. I guess we have to accept this and I get it as a business minded person, but it is actually a joke when every other PL club are taking financial risk to improve on the pitch.

I said it the other day but everyone else is catching us up as we haven't consolidated our top 6 position - even if we get Berahino and a DM we aren't clear favourites for top 6 anymore. Just a shame really as we were a bloody good side a few seasons back.

 

[Zeb]

When even the Mods can't keep on topic, you know its a slow day.....

 

[Nigel Spinal]

Sadly it appears Illaramendi is on his way back to Sociedad, Linked with us on a loan. Spanish press saying he's going back home.

Marca said today he wants ELP not Sociedad. Going back never works - not in football, not in life

 

[diamond lights]

Marca said today he wants ELP not Sociedad. Going back never works - not in football, not in life

Some bitter experience in there

 

[Nigel Spinal]

When even the Mods can't keep on topic, you know its a slow day.....

I would have thought discussing JJ's posts about a new 'third man', no Townsend or Carroll sale, yet having to balance the books, is quite interesting and also on topic?

 

[jezz]

Because we need one. Our game management has been good - and in Eriksen, Alli, Mason, Carroll, Dembele, and to a lesser extent Chadli we have players to keep ball moving - but we haven't been able to suddenly shift from second gear right up to fourth or fifth. It's generally been painful, laboured, one gear at a time stuff, which is why immediately after half times (and drinks breaks - don't get me started) we've often hit long-ish balls for Kane. It's like Poch is telling them to do anything to put quicker pressure on the opposition backline. Poch clearly wants us to play quicker (or, more accurately, he wants us to be *able* to play quicker while generally holding the ball and switching play to stretch opponents, which we've done very well), but we can't do this effectively with the current personnel. One pacey, direct player on one side of Kane is good. Two is better.

I think at the start of the season, Poch thought he could do this with Townsend, Lamela and one more. We eventually got him N'Jie. But those three hardly hit the button marked "Proven Fit For Purpose", hence I think he'd like another.

2 of them haven't even played this season.
Harsh

 

[mpickard2087]

But we have quite a few players who can change tempo through passing - and Pritchard makes another when he comes into the side. Presently you could argue we have zero who change tempo with runs, either with or without the ball (N'Jie isn't ready, Townsend is unfit, Lennon is not in the squad, Lamela is, well, Lamela). Alli perhaps is the only player who looks to drive forward directly at the moment. Chadli does it from time to time, which is why he scores more goals than his displays otherwise probably merit.

We just need a mix. And from the evidence of the first three games, I think Poch - even if he is, as you somewhat harshly describe him as, an unimaginative tactician - will want another option with high pace.

But the reason it's only a "possible" is if we can't get a great deal, we should still be fine without one - N'Jie, Alli, Townsend, Berahino and even Onomah can play that role. Whereas ignoring the need for a back-up centre forward and first choice central midfielder would be much more negligent.

I'll keep this short as its going off topic... That was meant to be my point in that in theory/on paper, apart from maybe one reinforcement up top, that we have enough talent (and potential talent) and have both passers (Eriksen, Lamela, Pritchard, Carroll) and 'movers' (Chadli, N'Jie, Berahino maybe, Townsend) with Kane offering some of both, and from deeper the likes of Mason and Alli also bursting forward. I'd agree the balance isn't right a lot of the time, but often that's simply poor tactical/game awareness where like 3 players all come to get it to feet. I just feel we have enough good footballers, but somewhere along the line the instructions/tactics and how we are approaching the game aren't getting the best out of them. Bar reinforcing certain positions, I don't think new players is going to solve anything.

 

[HappySpur]

Sounds about right. No real need for any of them and I suspect that clears up quite a few wages as well.



Striker (Berahino) and DM (who knows) presumably.

Not sure in what other position we'd be looking.

Is JJ saying that Adebayor and Lennon will finally be sold or is his posts regarding their departure hopeful. Because if the latter, we've all suffered from that brand of optimism But I hope something is close to happening.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

Have a feeling this is going to be a good 7 days for THFC. Trust me, I'm a doctor.

So am I

 

[Mr Pink]

But we have quite a few players who can change tempo through passing - and Pritchard makes another when he comes into the side. Presently you could argue we have zero who change tempo with runs, either with or without the ball (N'Jie isn't ready, Townsend is unfit, Lennon is not in the squad, Lamela is, well, Lamela). Alli perhaps is the only player who looks to drive forward directly at the moment. Chadli does it from time to time, which is why he scores more goals than his displays otherwise probably merit.

We just need a mix. And from the evidence of the first three games, I think Poch - even if he is, as you somewhat harshly describe him as, an unimaginative tactician - will want another option with high pace.

But the reason it's only a "possible" is if we can't get a great deal, we should still be fine without one - N'Jie, Alli, Townsend, Berahino and even Onomah can play that role. Whereas ignoring the need for a back-up centre forward and first choice central midfielder would be much more negligent.

Good post Bill. That's bang on about having so few options that can change the tempo with an injection of pace coupled with good and clever movement. Have been saying that's been our biggest problem for so long now.

Hopefully Njie and Berahino will go some way to rectifying that.

 

[Lo Amo Speroni]

£17.5m net profit so far. £10m for Faz and AL leaves us change after Berahino for a CM, but not that much.

It's why I can only see JJ's 'the third man' being a loan or free.

Our finances are not that basic though. There is no way we would not buy a player for good value if the opportunity is there. Poch wants a small squad and only players that fit his remit in a position he requires. No way would we not get that player if available just because of a supposed net spend.

 

[RobjDerby]

I-T-K
Increasing Tactical Knowledge


Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

£17.5m net profit so far. £10m for Faz and AL leaves us change after Berahino for a CM, but not that much.

It's why I can only see JJ's 'the third man' being a loan or free.

I'm curious - does that £17.5M net profit include the property sale of ~ £11M?

 

[HappySpur]

I think the mystery one is Werner, and I think the deal will include a season-long loan back

I wonder if that would be worth our effort. Two matches this year and he's been a sub at the 85' mark in both. And I don't use that stat as a reason not to sign but as a reason not to loan back. The new coach isn't playing him despite the fact that he's lively when he comes on. It's weird.

 

[Lilbaz]

Have a feeling this is going to be a good 7 days for THFC. Trust me, I'm a doctor.

You couldn't give me advice about this lump i found could you?

 

[Ionman34]

Personally I think we were pretty clear on who we wanted and it was only the unexpected possibility of signing the Madrid player whose name I can't spell (fuck it, i'm calling him "Ian") that threw a spanner into the works and thus created the illusion of indecision. I think it's entirely possible that if Ian decides to go elsewhere, whoever we do get will be someone from that original list.

I'm going nowhere...

So back off Charlie!!!

 

[Bill_Oddie]

I'll keep this short as its going off topic... That was meant to be my point in that in theory/on paper, apart from maybe one reinforcement up top, that we have enough talent (and potential talent) and have both passers (Eriksen, Lamela, Pritchard, Carroll) and 'movers' (Chadli, N'Jie, Berahino maybe, Townsend) with Kane offering some of both, and from deeper the likes of Mason and Alli also bursting forward. I'd agree the balance isn't right a lot of the time, but often that's simply poor tactical/game awareness where like 3 players all come to get it to feet. I just feel we have enough good footballers, but somewhere along the line the instructions/tactics and how we are approaching the game aren't getting the best out of them. Bar reinforcing certain positions, I don't think new players is going to solve anything.

Cheers. Fair enough. Which is why I reckon this "third" option of JJ and trix (see, I can seamlessly bring this shit back on topic. Seam.Less.Ly.) is just a "nice to have". If there's one in budget, we'll go for it. Ties in with the idea of an informal conversation about Mahrez. Imagine a club signing him for 6-8m in a week's time. We'd be spewing.

 

[Rogmeister]

Have a feeling this is going to be a good 7 days for THFC. Trust me, I'm a doctor.

Pretty sure Harold Shipman might have said something similar. we all know how that worked out!