The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 29th January

[TheAmerican]

We have been linked to Portuguese Striker Éder, made a new thread for him. Not much out there on the guy as far as player profile.

 

[Benspur]

No disrespect but fuck off.

Agree, but why is he any worse than Hooper or Graham? Desperation makes for some pretty weird ideas!

 

[GetSpurredOn]

@gstobart
Damiao is both AVB & Levy's first choice of the 'attainable' strikers. Expect #THFC will wait until the summer & look for a stop-gap now

Damiao is never going to go away is it. In summer, 'January is the perfect time to sign him' and in January 'we will wait until summer'.

Agreed, January is the Brazilian offseason I believe, so the best time to try and get him. Wating till the summer will result in his club, again, being reluctant to sell mid season.

Honestly, a shame the likes of De Jong and Van Wolfswinkel are seemingly happily ensconsed elsewhere. Young, good finishers and wouldn't cost a bomb. We seem stuck in a cycle or trying to bag an uber-striker or going for last minute punts. There seems to be no real forward panning in this regard. We're reactive, imo and I blame our 'scouting network' which must be incredibly shit.

We curently have one striker who is 30, and the other is 29 next month. We need to be lookig at the bigger picture and picking up someone in their early twenties, some kind of setup whereby as Defoe etc go past their prime, another striker is primed to take over entering their peak years. Beyond these two, our next striker is Obika, 22?, then a few players aged 18/19/20.
Part of me thinks Hooper actually represents a half decent option. Although people question the standard of the SPL, he has also scored well in ther CL, which is the level we are aspiring to play at regularly. He's a good age, potential to seel on still if things didn't work out. He would come with confidence, Spurs fan too.
Altentatively, Szalai for the fee mentioned, would be a tidy option whilst remaing cost effective, plus at 6ft4 would give us a different option.
We can't afford the uber strikers, so rather than go for players past their prime, lets go for someone before they hit their peak. Our strike force needs freshening up with someone who has years ahead of them, not ones entering, or in, their 30's.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Hickory, dickory, dock
wound down the transfer clock
we signed no one
the fun begun
Levy the dwarf we mock

 

[felmani26]

I think the point is that Danny Graham would be better than nothing.

I don't think any of us would argue that he'd be a main choice for us, but if at 7pm on Thursday we still haven't signed a striker then I'd rather bring him in than have nobody.

I think.

In principle, something is better than nothing but with someone like Graham, I don't think he is going to make much of an impression in the first team and would definitely have reached a career ceiling with a club like ours and would prove difficult to move on for us to progress.

 

[Kalim]

If the chap on the latest Spurs Show is to be believed one of the Directors at Fulham told him he thought Berbatov was going to sign for Spurs but they ran out of time so Fulham slipped in.

If a joke ... funny
If true......Sad

 

[dirtyh]

Agree, but why is he any worse than Hooper or Graham? Desperation makes for some pretty weird ideas!

it's going to get a lot worse yet. we're only on defcon 3 of panic yet. paul dickov could be a free agent by thursday, just saying...... agree with the points though that i'd rather wait and risk it if no-one is available/affordable.

 

[Misfit]

Nothing to do with committees or even the tea lady - Defoe's injury is behind this talk about Hooper et al. If he was fit we would not bebe in the dodo.

That's very true. Then again, if JD wasn't injured I still think we'd be in the plop but that is a matter of opinion and not a reflection on my thoughts of JD's efforts to help the team out this season. Just where we'd be in general.

If JD is not injured after all then I think we simply need to play Clint up alongside him. JD isn't a lone striker, bless his cotton socks trying to adapt though. Ade up top on his own when everyone is fit with JD and Clint as the second choice striking option and we'd just about get through, imo. Holtby changing things also, very much for the better.

 

[ajspurs]

I haven't even read that gstobart tweet, I just saw Damiao's name and got a headache straight away. Am so sick of seeing links with him.

 

[ohwhenthespurs]

Nothing to do with committees or even the tea lady - Defoe's injury is behind this talk about Hooper et al. If he was fit we would not be be in the dodo.

Not sure I agree with that. Adebayor, for me, while talented wasn't the right answer this summer, although he represented the best short-term value. Dempsey was a square peg into a round hole because the price was attractive and his Premier League stats added up. VDV was traded for Sigurdsson and a small profit for whatever reason, and we left ourselves with Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton, both young and inexperienced, as the only right-back options and only Benny for left-back, with the coach wanting to compete in all four competitions.

Modric and VDV weren't adequately replaced and the lack of creativity from midfield is painfully clear to see. If we think we're not scoring enough goals only because we don't have a good enough striker, we're deluded.
We brought in a suitcase full of cash in the summer, and yet in my eyes the team is arguably slightly worse.

Added to that we've got a collection of tosspots such as Jenas, Bentley and Huddlestone, who couldn't give two figs, and are sat collecting healthy wages that we could be paying to someone else, because Levy's too proud or stubborn to admit he's never going to get his money back on them and take a hit. The amount we've paid them in wages to do jack shit over the past three years would have negated that hit anyway if we'd sold them at the lower price.

It's the same old same old to me. Each new coach and brave new era is hamstrung by this process and approach.
We're by no means in a bad position - look at the league table, but the chances of a settled team of class players happy to stay long-term, with a manger who's happy and carrying his plan to fruition over a five-year period to have us challenging to win the league, are extremely slim if you ask me.

 

[atoubasrightfoot]

His firework habit's getting that bad is it?

Knowing his reputation he would get in to a mishap with his fireworks, manage to burn down our new training ground, injure gareth bales and azza in the process, forcing us to share a training ground with St Stephens Under 11's side for the remainder of the season.....

 

[King of the Lane]

 

[Misfit]

Agreed, January is the Brazilian offseason I believe, so the best time to try and get him. Wating till the summer will result in his club, again, being reluctant to sell mid season.




We curently have one striker who is 30, and the other is 29 next month. We need to be lookig at the bigger picture and picking up someone in their early twenties, some kind of setup whereby as Defoe etc go past their prime, another striker is primed to take over entering their peak years. Beyond these two, our next striker is Obika, 22?, then a few players aged 18/19/20.
Part of me thinks Hooper actually represents a half decent option. Although people question the standard of the SPL, he has also scored well in ther CL, which is the level we are aspiring to play at regularly. He's a good age, potential to seel on still if things didn't work out. He would come with confidence, Spurs fan too.
Altentatively, Szalai for the fee mentioned, would be a tidy option whilst remaing cost effective, plus at 6ft4 would give us a different option.
We can't afford the uber strikers, so rather than go for players past their prime, lets go for someone before they hit their peak. Our strike force needs freshening up with someone who has years ahead of them, not ones entering, or in, their 30's.

Yep. Szalai would be an interesting choice and at the price not a risk. I sense that we're waiting to see if the likes of Coutlhirst or maybe Coulibaly can develope rapidly over the next couple of yrs. Both seem to have a lot of potential and if they live up to it, we might just be in a strong position in a few yrs but for now, there are stop gaps and then there are stop gaps. Hooper at £8m+ ain't a stop gap and is a fairly big risk if he doesn't hit.

 

[Viggspur]

I think the point is that Danny Graham would be better than nothing.

I don't think any of us would argue that he'd be a main choice for us, but if at 7pm on Thursday we still haven't signed a striker then I'd rather bring him in than have nobody.

I think.

I really don't like the idea of us going in for a last minute bid for Danny Graham, or Hooper for that matter. If they aren't going to improve our 1st team then what's the point. He'd want a four year deal and come the summer when we are looking for a proper upgrade on what we have up top we'll all be complaining that we've got Graham on our books earning 30-40K p/w! I'd much rather go for a young up and coming striker now who won't cost much or save the money for the summer when prices are lower and we may actually sign one of our main targets. Dempsey, although not a great striker can do a job there til Ade returns (hopefully for saturday!) and with Holtby, Bale and Lennon behind him should give us just enough to overcome Norwich.

 

[Bobbins]

Rather than resorting to someone like Danny Graham surely we might as well just recall Harry Kane? It'll just mean extra wages that we'll be struggling to get off the bill in the next window otherwise.

Not sure about Hooper. He's got the knack, so might be worth a punt as a final alternative (at a small price). Negredo is the only realistic name that I am convinced will make the difference though.

As much as I think Kane will come good, he is not a proven Premier League player - Danny Graham is.

If Defoe was fit and Ade not at the ACN I'd be happy with Kane being the third choice, but we currently have no strikers fit at all - and Graham has proven he can score goals at the highest level.

Some of the reactions to Graham on here, claiming he's a 'white Heskey' and other shit, are embarrassing. We are so up our own arses sometimes. He's a good player, who could do a decent job for us, and wouldn't cost much in fees and wages. Simple.

 

[arunspurs]

Looking back at Strikers linked with us in Summer, the one striker who has really done well is Yilmaz for Galatasaray, 15 in 26 games this season, with 6 in CL including a hatrick against Cluj & the winning header against United. With 6 goals he was the best scorer in group stage of CL this season.
Would have been a steal at 4m. Sometimes (or most times) $$$ is not everything.
Hoping we get someone who can find the net consistently.
Exactly 60 hrs to go - desperately need a Striker.

 

[hugrr]

Looking back at Strikers linked with us in Summer, the one striker who has really done well is Yilmaz for Galatasaray, 15 in 26 games this season, with 6 in CL including a hatrick against Cluj & the winning header against United. With 6 goals he was the best scorer in group stage of CL this season.
Would have been a steal at 4m. Sometimes (or most times) $$$ is not everything.
Hoping we get someone who can find the net consistently.
Exactly 60 hrs to go - desperately need a Striker.

Good god have you ever even heard of Daniel Levy?!?

 

[Hoddle_Ledge]

Looking back at Strikers linked with us in Summer, the one striker who has really done well is Yilmaz for Galatasaray, 15 in 26 games this season, with 6 in CL including a hatrick against Cluj & the winning header against United. With 6 goals he was the best scorer in group stage of CL this season.
Would have been a steal at 4m. Sometimes (or most times) $$$ is not everything.
Hoping we get someone who can find the net consistently.
Exactly 60 hrs to go - desperately need a Striker.

Hoping for him myself, especially now Drogba is at Gala. Does anyone at Spurs know about him though?

 

[yido_number1]

Not sure I agree with that. Adebayor, for me, while talented wasn't the right answer this summer, although he represented the best short-term value. Dempsey was a square peg into a round hole because the price was attractive and his Premier League stats added up. VDV was traded for Sigurdsson and a small profit for whatever reason, and we left ourselves with Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton, both young and inexperienced, as the only right-back options and only Benny for left-back, with the coach wanting to compete in all four competitions.

Modric and VDV weren't adequately replaced and the lack of creativity from midfield is painfully clear to see. If we think we're not scoring enough goals only because we don't have a good enough striker, we're deluded.
We brought in a suitcase full of cash in the summer, and yet in my eyes the team is arguably slightly worse.

Added to that we've got a collection of tosspots such as Jenas, Bentley and Huddlestone, who couldn't give two figs, and are sat collecting healthy wages that we could be paying to someone else, because Levy's too proud or stubborn to admit he's never going to get his money back on them and take a hit. The amount we've paid them in wages to do jack shit over the past three years would have negated that hit anyway if we'd sold them at the lower price.

It's the same old same old to me. Each new coach and brave new era is hamstrung by this process and approach.
We're by no means in a bad position - look at the league table, but the chances of a settled team of class players happy to stay long-term, with a manger who's happy and carrying his plan to fruition over a five-year period to have us challenging to win the league, are extremely slim if you ask me.

Bit harsh on Huddlestone sure he would move on for regular game time!

 

[talkshowhost86]

I really don't like the idea of us going in for a last minute bid for Danny Graham, or Hooper for that matter. If they aren't going to improve our 1st team then what's the point. He'd want a four year deal and come the summer when we are looking for a proper upgrade on what we have up top we'll all be complaining that we've got Graham on our books earning 30-40K p/w! I'd much rather go for a young up and coming striker now who won't cost much or save the money for the summer when prices are lower and we may actually sign one of our main targets. Dempsey, although not a great striker can do a job there til Ade returns (hopefully for saturday!) and with Holtby, Bale and Lennon behind him should give us just enough to overcome Norwich.

I suppose it very much depends on the extent of Defoe's injury. I really don't think we can get 4th if we have to play Dempsey upfront for the majority of the season as he simply isn't a striker.

Ade coming back will help us obviously, but if Defoe is out for a sustained period then I'd rather have another striker on the books (for a reasonable price and assuming we have the money) than having nobody at all.

Obviously the ideal situation would be to bring in a striker who's going to be our main man for the long term, but as the window goes on that seems increasingly unlikely.