The Daily ITK Discussion Thread 8th July 2016

[Gb160]

Thiis is so smart, especially if he puts it out there subtly... What better way to make the fringes of the squad train like demons?

Exactly what I was thinking...it's very clever.

 

[eddiev14]

in regards to JJ's comment: I know some of you won't agree for some reason, but I think we will be leaving ourselves in grave danger if we don't find cover for Dembele. You could almost argue we lost the title from a lack of cover in Dembele in that CM box-to-box role.

I've got a feeling Wanyama will have a big impact for us and won't just be there to back-up Eric Dier.

I also think Edwards will get games in the cups, which is hugely exciting.

 

[DanielJohnCosta]

I've got a feeling Wanyama will have a big impact for us and won't just be there to back-up Eric Dier.

I also think Edwards will get games in the cups, which is hugely exciting.

fair enough but they both don't cover that role

 

[tommo84]

Expecting everything to go very quiet again for us now until August. The mentions of Wijnaldum and Gotze pretty much just confirm that AM is where we're looking next (as already widely expected) but there's nothing to suggest we've identified a preferred target yet - more that we're still getting an idea of which possible targets we feel we have a genuine chance of getting. That sounds very much like where we were at with strikers 4 or 5 weeks ago when there was still widespread talk of Batshuayi and Sanabria as well as Janssen.

 

[longtimespur]

fair enough but they both don't cover that role

Can't think of anybody that could cover Dembele. He's a "one of a kind" player

 

[Lilbaz]

fair enough but they both don't cover that role

Alli can do it if required.

 

[Parkie]

Exactly what I was thinking...it's very clever.

But also logical as he now has the option of 442 and other systems to experiment with - taking into account the range of sides we will face in the CL as well as cups and PL. he will want to have a good look at how the players play best before cutting from the squad. We've got Son, Chadli, Clinton and Janssen to look at alongside Kane. If we are going for 2 upfront then there's one set of players needed, if sticking with 1 striker, then at least one of them will be surplus to requirements. The same would be true of midfield where Bentaleb/Mason could be needed or discarded depending on how they perform. Bear in mind that Clinton, Mason and Bentaleb were all injured last season and Chadli fell out of favour. Each can be told they are being given a chance to prove themselves and fully assessed in possible systems rather than jumping the gun and selling immediately.

 

[KidCOYS]

in regards to JJ's comment: I know some of you won't agree for some reason, but I think we will be leaving ourselves in grave danger if we don't find cover for Dembele. You could almost argue we lost the title from a lack of cover in Dembele in that CM box-to-box role.

Let's bring back that brilliant Paulinho guy we signed

 

[voxy28]

if Poch buys another AM, this player must be better than Chadli else forget it.

 

[doom]

in regards to JJ's comment: I know some of you won't agree for some reason, but I think we will be leaving ourselves in grave danger if we don't find cover for Dembele. You could almost argue we lost the title from a lack of cover in Dembele in that CM box-to-box role.

nobody in the world can cover for Dembele, Wanyama though can cover the position

 

[Khilari]

in regards to JJ's comment: I know some of you won't agree for some reason, but I think we will be leaving ourselves in grave danger if we don't find cover for Dembele. You could almost argue we lost the title from a lack of cover in Dembele in that CM box-to-box role.

Yes, but who? Someone 'as good as Dembele'? Someone better?

I'm not sure I know who fills either criteria that we would be willing to pay for.

So we are left with someone who can fill in but obviously isn't as good else they'd be starting ahead of him. i.e. Ryan Mason.

 

[Young Nasty Man]

@Grey Fox in the RO:

Almost certain that there will be one more, as I reported earlier in the window we/Poch still want an AM, we have had talks with 3 or 4 player's reps. led to believe Götze is one of those .

Apparently Poch will get pre season and tour out of way before deciding who he lets go.





Go rate his post, not mine

Boner Jams 99'

 

[Gedson100]

When was the last time we didn't sign someone in August? Someone else will come in, it's gotta be almost certain.

We have midfield cover in Wanyama and a serious Kane alternative in Janssen. The first team is strong, and we're probably up to about 15-16 players without a real drop off in quality. And we start the season without a significant hole.

Least concerned I think I've ever been. Any further signings are just a bonus

 

[Grey Fox]

So, one transfer saga comes to an end and immediately after we're fed itk on another one to come in, Gotze no less!!!

Come on, call me a cynic, but I can't quite shake the feeling we're being strung along a bit here...

Why

 

[DanielJohnCosta]

Yes, but who? Someone 'as good as Dembele'? Someone better?

I'm not sure I know who fills either criteria that we would be willing to pay for.

So we are left with someone who can fill in but obviously isn't as good else they'd be starting ahead of him. i.e. Ryan Mason.

it's a big game football, i'm sure on the scale of who can play the position there is someone in-between Dembele and Mason

 

[dirtydave]

I'm liking the squad as is now. Maintaining the bond is so important. I'd love it if we could ruin west ham by taking Payet for £50m or, say, Mahrez for £35m or Koke for £40m but, for me, it's that level we add now or nothing else.

 

[eddiev14]

fair enough but they both don't cover that role

To an extent I agree. We don't have another 'ball carrier' in our squad, but then Dembele is pretty unique like that. I'm not sure we should entrust the key to our success on a player of his qualities, because there are so few of them.

To buy another Dembele would be super hard. To then get him to accept that he'd be back-up to Dembele would be even harder.

It's probably easier to just hit the training ground and work on a way of playing without him.

 

[Dirty Ewok]

So, one transfer saga comes to an end and immediately after we're fed itk on another one to come in, Gotze no less!!!

Come on, call me a cynic, but I can't quite shake the feeling we're being strung along a bit here...

I could see how that feeling could be there. We have had numerous summers where agents endlessly link their players with us in the media only for the player to end up signing elsewhere or getting a new contract.

But in this case it seems that we are actually looking for some support at the AM slot and a couple ITKs have said Gotze is one of the players we are looking at.

Does that mean we end up signing him? No.

But it does mean we are doing our due diligence and likely working through our list and thus far Gotze seems like it still may be viable option.

Maybe it falls through, maybe we look at another option who knows....but this one doesn't seem like the normal cases of us getting strung along by an agent in the media.

 

[jedimonkey]

Bloody hell, @Grey Fox, you've done it now.

Let the arse stretching commence.

 

[Grey Fox]

Bloody hell, @Grey Fox, you've done it now.

Let the arse stretching commence.

Beware A&C is lurking