The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 2nd June 2011

[Rob]

I cant believe Levy would sanction 10 million for Parker.

It makes no business sense at all.

That's the price being mention, change it to £7 mil if you want.

If we sign Parker it's not to be 4th or 5th choice (i.e. to replace Jenas or Palacious)

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

If we sign Friedel and sell Gomes that would be suicidal. A 40yr old and 37yr Old as 1 and 2 is asking for trouble. Whatever people say Friedel is on the decline and the problem is those supporting this move won't believe the doubters until he is letting in chances Gomes would have been saving!

 

[nedley]

Can't see Levy paying £10m for someone in their 30s who will be valueless in 18 months time.

Yep. I like Parker and I like what he'll bring to the squad but not for stupid fees. Like your saying, we'll be lucky to get a couple of milliion for him if he stays two seasons.

Im sure the move will involve added clauses like extra fees if we qualify for the CL.

I wouldn't want to pay anymore than 6m for him. Thats what he is worth.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Harry must see Friedel as a stop gap for one season only why we continue to look...at 40 though there really isn't another way to attempt to speculate on the thinking behind it.

I have always liked Friedel, he's had some outstanding seasons but at the age 40 - it just doesn't enthuse me one little bit.

He's been better at Villa than lots are making out but lets no kid ourselves he's on the decline big time.

Yeah that's the way I see it too, Harry (rightly or wrongly) sees it as an upgrade and for incredibly cheap.

 

[talkshowhost86]

What worries me about Parker is what it means for the Modric/Sandro combination which was starting to flourish this season.

I suppose you could argue that we'd rotate them but I can't see any of them being happy with not playing the majority of games.

Is it more that we're moving towards a proper 4-3-3 with all three in midfield and Bale and Lennon (or anyone else) either side of a target man?

 

[nedley]

That's the price being mention, change it to £7 mil if you want.

If we sign Parker it's not to be 4th or 5th choice (i.e. to replace Jenas or Palacious)

No I agree. He'll come in a one of our first choice CM and i'd be happy about that. He's just not worth 10 million. His value for me is around the 6 million mark. Whatever you spend on him your pretty much writing off what you've spent on him.

It will be interesting to see how much Levy is willing to invest in him, especially as there is a strong possibility IMO that Harry might be England bound as of the following season.

 

[mattyspurs]

What worries me about Parker is what it means for the Modric/Sandro combination which was starting to flourish this season.

I suppose you could argue that we'd rotate them but I can't see any of them being happy with not playing the majority of games.

Is it more that we're moving towards a proper 4-3-3 with all three in midfield and Bale and Lennon (or anyone else) either side of a target man?[/quote]

This is my thinking, looking at who we have been linked with, Gerviniho, Lavezzi, they are more wide forwards, so yeah, it would make sense.

 

[nedley]

What worries me about Parker is what it means for the Modric/Sandro combination which was starting to flourish this season.

I suppose you could argue that we'd rotate them but I can't see any of them being happy with not playing the majority of games.

Is it more that we're moving towards a proper 4-3-3 with all three in midfield and Bale and Lennon (or anyone else) either side of a target man?[/quote]

I hope so. It would be great to have that option and to integrate it during the season before qualifying for the CL again :grin:.

Just need Drogba now. Or Falcao.

 

[Clamour_Kid]

We're not spending 10 mil on a player to be our 4th or 5th choice central midfielder...

We spent £8m and £12m on Jenas and Palacios.

 

[fazza]

If we DID sign Freidel, I honestly think I would consider killing myself.

The shame would be unbearable.

Better start praying for you then ray: Eek

 

[ChRiStOpHe]

What worries me about Parker is what it means for the Modric/Sandro combination which was starting to flourish this season.

I suppose you could argue that we'd rotate them but I can't see any of them being happy with not playing the majority of games.

Is it more that we're moving towards a proper 4-3-3 with all three in midfield and Bale and Lennon (or anyone else) either side of a target man?

It's a bit of a long shot, but I have a sneaky feeling Harry might see us lining up something like this:

____ ____ ____ Bale
......Parker Sandro
____ . . .VdV . Modric
. . . . . . ____

He said as recent as this year that he see's Bale as a left-back long term, and he himself played Modric in a similar free-role-from-the-left for a good season or so before moving him into the middle.

I've also left Lennon out as I have a strange feeling he might not be with us next year :?

 

[talkshowhost86]

If the plan is to go 4-3-3 then we're going to need some more midfielders as cover. If you go by the approach that you need 1 back up per position we'd currently have a backup midfield of Hudd, JJ and Palacios but I'd expect to see at least two of them leave.

Also where does the 4-3-3 leave VdV?

 

[talkshowhost86]

We spent £8m and £12m on Jenas and Palacios.

Who were both first choice when we bought them.

 

[ChRiStOpHe]

We spent £8m and £12m on Jenas and Palacios.

... with both coming straight into the first team.

Plus Jenas was £9m (£7m up-front, £2m when we qualified for Europe I think).

 

[dimiSpur]

If the plan is to go 4-3-3 then we're going to need some more midfielders as cover. If you go by the approach that you need 1 back up per position we'd currently have a backup midfield of Hudd, JJ and Palacios but I'd expect to see at least two of them leave.

Also where does the 4-3-3 leave VdV?

I think VdV could work in a 3 man midfield. He can pass, get forward, shoot from distance. He can be our Lampard (when Lampard was good).

 

[ChRiStOpHe]

If the plan is to go 4-3-3 then we're going to need some more midfielders as cover. If you go by the approach that you need 1 back up per position we'd currently have a backup midfield of Hudd, JJ and Palacios but I'd expect to see at least two of them leave.

Also where does the 4-3-3 leave VdV?

I think 4-3-3 would get the best out of VdV. In 'the Lampard role', he'd naturally be a bit deeper (where he drops currently, but wouldn't be isolating the front man in this formation as there's much more emphasis in the wide men supporting the lone forward).

 

[Clamour_Kid]

Who were both first choice when we bought them.

Ok. fair point, but I see Parker coming straight in. I see Sandro and Parker playing 2 in front of the defence. Question is the fee and as West Ham are in a financial mess, we will be getting him quite cheap. My guess is £4m - £6m.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I think 4-3-3 would get the best out of VdV. In 'the Lampard role', he'd naturally be a bit deeper (where he drops currently, but wouldn't be isolating the front man in this formation as there's much more emphasis in the wide men supporting the lone forward).

I think you'r right but I'd then argue that you can't play Modric and VdV in that midfield together as it would be too lightweight. Plus even if you did play them both you're looking at dropping Sandro or Parker.

My real concern about the Parker signing is that Harry will bring him in to play instead of Sandro, and I think that would be a really poor decision.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Ok. fair point, but I see Parker coming straight in. I see Sandro and Parker playing 2 in front of the defence. Question is the fee and as West Ham are in a financial mess, we will be getting him quite cheap. My guess is £4m - £6m.

That'll depend on the interest from other clubs. If the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal are interested then it won't matter whether Wet Sham are in a mess...they'll still be able to drive the fee up.

 

[nidge]

I would find the signing of Freidel desperately disappointing. :-(

We need to be bringing in better than what we already have and people can't even use the excuse that Freidel would be a sideways step because he isn't as good as Gomes.