The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 4th June 2014

[Gaz_Gammon]

Can't go wrong for six million surely. Get him in, move Dawson on.

A younger version of Dawson is exactly what we need at Spurs, especially with Poch playing a highline. Goals galore and not a boring game to look forward to. At least with a bigger pitch to be laid at the new ground Caulker will be given a bigger turning circle.

 

[Spursidol]

Caulker has the exact same issues as Dawson (difficult turning, not an agile athlete) but he is still young, we've seen defenders that are slow can develop into stalwarts and given the status of our CB group, his addition can't be considered the worst thing in the world. My issue is that I would want him to be 3rd choice, but you know he'd want to be first-choice pairing to Vertonghen.

I don't get this first choice bit. Playing in PL, EL and domestic cups we'll be playing 50 - 60 games so we'll need rotation.

Last season in several games we had one fit CB (and 3 injured) and in quite a few only 2 fit CB's. Did we ever have 4 CB's fit at one time ? Think it was rare we had 3 CB's fit at one time.

Caulker played all 38 PL games last season. I'd rather like a fit CB to choose next season

 

[MunkoSpurs]

Was a monster before injury

pussy last season

So is that a permanant injury issue, or will a pre=season get him back to his best ?

A long term injury would take a long time to get over and back into form. I would hope that a full pre season without any injury setbacks will get him back to the player he was before. I think it's a bit early to write him off, he was immense before his injury problems.

 

[yankspurs]

Update 40 in the Read Only.

I'm an idiot.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Ryan hasn't called much right since Harry left. I doubt we sign Caulker

Ryan hasn't said we are signing Caulker.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

I'm an idiot.

Yes. Yes you are. But don't feel bad about it, you're in good company. Myself included

 

[Snarfalicious]

I don't get this first choice bit. Playing in PL, EL and domestic cups we'll be playing 50 - 60 games so we'll need rotation.

Last season in several games we had one fit CB (and 3 injured) and in quite a few only 2 fit CB's. Did we ever have 4 CB's fit at one time ? Think it was rare we had 3 CB's fit at one time.

Caulker played all 38 PL games last season. I'd rather like a fit CB to choose next season

I get that completely, but the original reason why he departed (unless you think he had sex with an important someone's daughter or made rude comments to one's significant other) was that he wanted more opportunities to play/start. I can't see Caulker being bought to answer the question of 'who starts next to Vertonghen?' I think he'd be a depth signing but undoubtedly would get a ton of match minutes throughout the season. If that's enough for him, perfect. If he wants to be a weekly starter in the PL, then maybe it's not a good fit.

 

[ryantegan]

Ryan hasn't called much right since Harry left. I doubt we sign Caulker

I know mate, he is such a melt, I'll have a word

 

[Spursidol]

A long term injury would take a long time to get over and back into form. I would hope that a full pre season without any injury setbacks will get him back to the player he was before. I think it's a bit early to write him off, he was immense before his injury problems.

But its hope not certainty.

I'd suggest Poch and co will need a plan in place to replace him in case he shows signs in pre-season that he will not make it. Or plan to have a 5th CB as nobody is going to want a repeat of last season's position with our CB's when too often we struggled to find 2 who were fit.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

I know mate, he is such a melt, I'll have a word

You can make up for it by intervening and making sure Caulker doesn't return

 

[Spursidol]

I get that completely, but the original reason why he departed (unless you think he had sex with an important someone's daughter or made rude comments to one's significant other) was that he wanted more opportunities to play/start. I can't see Caulker being bought to answer the question of 'who starts next to Vertonghen?' I think he'd be a depth signing but undoubtedly would get a ton of match minutes throughout the season. If that's enough for him, perfect. If he wants to be a weekly starter in the PL, then maybe it's not a good fit.

Never sure why he left - maybe the sex thing - but just as likely AVB didn't fancy a young relatively inexperienced player and preferred to bring in the more experienced Chirches at a similar price to Caulker : AVB showed he was almost allergic to youngsters as you may recall.

If it was an AVB foible. no reason not to come back to Spurs

 

[mpickard2087]

I get that completely, but the original reason why he departed (unless you think he had sex with an important someone's daughter or made rude comments to one's significant other) was that he wanted more opportunities to play/start. I can't see Caulker being bought to answer the question of 'who starts next to Vertonghen?' I think he'd be a depth signing but undoubtedly would get a ton of match minutes throughout the season. If that's enough for him, perfect. If he wants to be a weekly starter in the PL, then maybe it's not a good fit.

To be honest I think it was just a case of AVB being the type of manager who isn't prepared to iron out the flaws in someone's game and spend a year or two to develop them. He wants 'ready made', to fit in with his plan of not managing for ever. I think Caulker could easily have been persuaded to stay, he played a fair bit last season, it wasn't as if he came back from Swansea and was benched the entire year. A few words of encouragement and to let him know he was right in contention for a spot and I cant see why he wouldn't have stuck it out.

 

[MunkoSpurs]

But its hope not certainty.

I'd suggest Poch and co will need a plan in place to replace him in case he shows signs in pre-season that he will not make it. Or plan to have a 5th CB as nobody is going to want a repeat of last season's position with our CB's when too often we struggled to find 2 who were fit.

I agree. I would've thought that they are looking at other options and getting a plan in place. I just hope that he gets a chance to prove his fitness during pre season and he is not sold too early.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

talk of letting Kaboul go is such balls. If he retires, fine...


But moving him on to see him somewhere else is just a bloody joke. Dude's a monster.

Assuming he can play, and play for ninety minutes, and play after a yelow and play without clubbing another player...........

Yup some monster, monster..............of a liability.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

I don't get this first choice bit. Playing in PL, EL and domestic cups we'll be playing 50 - 60 games so we'll need rotation.

Last season in several games we had one fit CB (and 3 injured) and in quite a few only 2 fit CB's. Did we ever have 4 CB's fit at one time ? Think it was rare we had 3 CB's fit at one time.

Caulker played all 38 PL games last season. I'd rather like a fit CB to choose next season

He didn't want a bit part at Spurs, he wanted full time football so he went to Cardiff and ably assited them on their relegation push from what i witnessed.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

He didn't want a bit part at Spurs, he wanted full time football so he went to Cardiff and ably assited them on their relegation push from what i witnessed.

The only players we should be pursuing from the relegation fodder are players who have the potential to be something special, ie Redmond at Norwich. Caulker wasn't good enough before he left and he certainly isn't good enough now. We need a strong centre back who has a good turn of pace (Kaboul before his injury) ... Caulker is Dawson mark 2, a sloth.

 

[Spursidol]

He didn't want a bit part at Spurs, he wanted full time football so he went to Cardiff and ably assited them on their relegation push from what i witnessed.

Not sure he demanded to start every game - and for most players that proved impossible lat season.

In terms of hs Cardiff performance, the post you duasagreed with (but thin k its just youb didn't like its factual content) included the fact that the 'whoscored' website had him in their team of the season.

Its a well regarded website. All websites will have their own criteria for assessing who is the best but its pretty conclusive that he was far from bad.

Suggest you put your prejudices aside.

 

[Gedson100]

A long term injury would take a long time to get over and back into form. I would hope that a full pre season without any injury setbacks will get him back to the player he was before. I think it's a bit early to write him off, he was immense before his injury problems.

Totally agree.
Could understand if the club wanted to move on Sandro or Kaboul; they are after all privy to their detailed injury records. However, when I researched their effectiveness, Sandro pre-2012/13 injury was performing like one of the best midfielders in the league; probably worth a chance to regain fitness then? Similarly, when I analysed our defenders for 2013/14, to my surprise, Kaboul came out of it really well, despite only playing sporadically; again probably worth giving another chance, if his fitness can hold up, which is of course the million dollar question.

 

[dagraham]

If we resign Caulker it will just show our transfer policy is a complete joke.

If he wasn't good enough 12 months ago, how is he good enough now? It's hardly like he's turned into the PL best defender.

And if he was rated before, maybe we should have kept him so we wouldn't have got thrashed so often.

As somebody joked earlier, are we a football club or a commodities trader?

 

[Spurs1]

I agree, caulker isn't good enough for what we are going to be trying to do. We need quick agile defenders which caulker is not. He is strong and solid but will be caught out in our high line. Lets not waste our money on him please