The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - POST MORTEM EDITION

[valtrane]

I can't help feeling that Dempsey will be our equivalent of Parker from last Summer. Not everyone was convinced in his signing due to age etc, and look how that turned out. He's clearly capable of scoring a lot of goals, important goals too, and I think he will. A lot of pundits have been saying how he would be an ideal signing for Arsenal (just like Parker!).

Also, if Moutinho really was sorted 4 minutes late, does that not mean we can go back in in the next window considering we know where everybody stands now?

 

[ButchCassidy]

well we're stronger in defence and in goal

Agree, once Kaboul comes back we are going to be very difficult to score against. One of the top back 4+GK's in the league. Plus we have beasts like Sandro and Dembele in midfield beating up on anyone who thinks they can win a ball in the air. Actually, this makes me pretty optimistic. Rock solid defense and the pace of our attacks are a good combination. Other teams are going to hate playing us this year, thats for sure.

 

[dedend]

parker is a good comparison. i never wanted him and was fuming when we signed him but he gave us something we'd been missing for ages. if dempsey bangs goals in where we wouldn't have scored before, it's good business. had we had dempsey against WBA, i reckon we would have put the game to bed before half time.

 

[Flynn]

Little disappointed about Mout's, would of made losing VDV easier.

The squad has had quite an overhaul and looking at it now the Jan window will be about cover on the wings and a creative man for the middle. It will be interesting to see if these still seem to be the priorities come Jan.

Excited to see what Kane can do in the Premier.

 

[Dr Know]

Well I blame SC for all the doom and gloom on here.

You heard there was going to be a meltdown but you cheap bastards refused to spend big on quality salt but instead asked for donations.........................hang on! I think Rob is Levy

 

[teddy_sheringham_125]

I'm not sure why people are surprised by the failure to sign Moutinho - he may be the one AVB wanted, but he is not a Levy type signing. Levy will only sign one of two types of players: single digit millions on more experienced players/bargains, or double digit millions (but no more than about 50% of what that player could potentially be worth at their best) for younger up and coming players. Somebody like Moutinho would only ever fetch £30M at the top end of his worth (see Modric), so we were never going to spend ~£25M on him - it's just too much of a gamble in Levy's eyes.

However, we've had a decent window overall. I think we have got players that can get us as many points as last year, and that's reassuring. The problem is that I feel we have lost the flair, and some truly exciting players, and that's what Spurs are all about. For that reason, I feel disappointed overall.

It's been a cracking window to watch unfold, and as ever, thanks to all the mods for making this the best place to be. And also, what on earth happened to the goat? One of the best ITKs this year, which is extremely unusual!

 

[ButchCassidy]

AVB today:

"I believe we have some fantastic attacking options following our summer transfer activity, which strengthen us in respect of what I like to describe as forwards and strikers. Our signings offer us really good combinations...

This has been a busy transfer window and I cannot praise highly enough the efforts the Club made to sign Joao Moutinho. I have said all along that this was never an easy transfer and as such we never had enormous expectations of getting this deal across the line.

I believe the window was a good one for us. I am satisfied that we have the flair, creativity and strength in depth across all areas to make significant strides this season. The most important thing now is to get on with playing football and winning games."

 

[JAYSTAR]

Dempsey is pretty good lads - just been watching a few youtube clips to remind myself of his finishing talent and it's got to be said he reads the game really well - right place, right time and he's full of self-belief!

Could be a fantastic signing. 23 goals last season is a lot! - against real competition and playing for a much weaker team...

 

[nailsy]

I think that overall our team now has more goals about it than last year. Dempsey will get more quite a few more than Lennon, Siggy should get close to VDV and Modric didn't get many anyway so I'm sure Dembele will be close to his tally. Verts has a decent scoring record as well so I'm sure he'll get more than King/Dawson would have.

If Dempsey plays on the right then we've also got Lennon for wing cover on both sides which is something we've needed for years.

 

[JAYSTAR]

I think that overall our team now has more goals about it than last year. Dempsey will get more quite a few more than Lennon, Siggy should get close to VDV and Modric didn't get many anyway so I'm sure Dembele will be close to his tally. Verts has a decent scoring record as well so I'm sure he'll get more than King/Dawson would have.

If Dempsey plays on the right then we've also got Lennon for wing cover on both sides which is something we've needed for years.

Yeah Dempsey on the right with Lennon on the bench sounds right to me - I reckon teams will hate trying to defend against our top three now - Lennon is fast but predictable and too slow on decision making - often making poor passes and crosses. Having three goal scorers up front is gonna be good.

 

[buttons]

Having read AVB's comments today, it does seem we tried hard for Mouts and were dicked around last minute, he was the difference between a good and a great window.

The best thing we can all do now is get behind AVB and the team. I for one am quite excited about the new look spurs

COYS

 

[Montasura]

AVB today:

"I believe we have some fantastic attacking options following our summer transfer activity, which strengthen us in respect of what I like to describe as forwards and strikers. Our signings offer us really good combinations...

This has been a busy transfer window and I cannot praise highly enough the efforts the Club made to sign Joao Moutinho. I have said all along that this was never an easy transfer and as such we never had enormous expectations of getting this deal across the line.

I believe the window was a good one for us. I am satisfied that we have the flair, creativity and strength in depth across all areas to make significant strides this season. The most important thing now is to get on with playing football and winning games."

For me, this is the single most important piece of imformation over the last few days. Personally I think we had a good window, think we strengthened overall, but my one concern was whether AVB would be happy, especially after the Moutinh deal fell apart. The one thing we simply could not afford was a clash so early into his tenure between him and Levy.

This puts my mind at rest.

 

[SpurSince57]

I'm not sure why people are surprised by the failure to sign Moutinho - he may be the one AVB wanted, but he is not a Levy type signing. Levy will only sign one of two types of players: single digit millions on more experienced players/bargains, or double digit millions (but no more than about 50% of what that player could potentially be worth at their best) for younger up and coming players. Somebody like Moutinho would only ever fetch £30M at the top end of his worth (see Modric), so we were never going to spend ~£25M on him - it's just too much of a gamble in Levy's eyes.

However, we've had a decent window overall. I think we have got players that can get us as many points as last year, and that's reassuring. The problem is that I feel we have lost the flair, and some truly exciting players, and that's what Spurs are all about. For that reason, I feel disappointed overall.

It's been a cracking window to watch unfold, and as ever, thanks to all the mods for making this the best place to be. And also, what on earth happened to the goat? One of the best ITKs this year, which is extremely unusual!

Yet reports from every quarter suggested that we were ready to do so—or €26m, at any rate—and that Porto were initially agreeable. You're presumably discounting them because they don't fit your theory.

 

[SpurSince57]

You don't miss something until it's gone, but when I keep seeing Modric and VDV mentioned in the same breath...god that midfield pairing was strong. Let's hope the new look midfield can do a job for us. I have faith in them.

Funny, it's just over three years since Bowyer broke Modric's leg, and of course we didn't have Rafa then. We still managed to qualify for CL, though. Sure we'll miss those two, but not as much as some people think.

 

[teddy_sheringham_125]

Yet reports from every quarter suggested that we were ready to do so—or €26m, at any rate—and that Porto were initially agreeable. You're presumably discounting them because they don't fit your theory.

I'm discarding them because they are based on wonderful, always ever-so-accurate, media reports. I've seen a report this morning that 'Tottenham were prepared to smash their transfer record and pay over 30 million euros'. The fact of the matter is that every signing we have made fits the model that I have outlined above. You can speculate all day long about whether we 'would have done this/nearly did that', but based on cold hard facts rather than speculation, I'm not sure how you can disagree.

And for the record, I am not saying that I have a problem with this approach, I am just stating that this is the approach we take.

 

[bookhouseboy]

Yesterday was a madhouse in here, and partly still is it seems...

Redknapps plan of individual brilliance as the solution has made some a bit blinded.
On paper our squad seems a bit stronger and our first-11 a bit weaker, but that's when playing according to Redknapp.

Rafa did a lot of movement on pitch, but too much of it was in the wrong place - he dropped too deep way too often; for our last 4 games last season there was an obvious adjustment done and wouldn't you know - we looked a lot better when Rafa stayed higher up instead of overloading our midfield and making it harder for Modric.

I believe AVB can do a lot on the tactical side, and those we got in this window seems to be well suited for a high pressing game - and if this works we'll be a lot more direct and hopefully create enough chances as a result.
Winning the ball high up is the best attack-weapon, and if we succeed I can live with less possession than before because of the lack of a Modric-light; hopefully that'll come - but getting all done at once isn't easy, just look at the teams around, there are some weak areas in all CL-challengers.

I'm quite optimistic for the future, but I don't expect a CL-spot this season (but 4th seems to be very up for grabs...) - I just hope we get to see a strong AVB-433 soon enough and forget all about the Modric-era (sorry Redknapp, this will always be remembered as his era, not yours).

Some actual work on our scouting-setup and eventually a new stadium and we'll compete for glory, and we'll do it the right way!

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

Was sitting around mourning the loss of 2/3 of my username. Then I thought, it could be worse. I could be that guy who joined yesterday whose username was 'Moutinho'.

 

[$hoguN]

I'm quite liking the idea of goals from midfield actually. I think Dempsey will play a fair bit as a wide attacker, Dembele will play box to box and Sigurdsson will be the more advanced. Although I imagine we may go with 2 defensive midfielders away from home.

We have the perfect striker to lay balls off for those 3 and Bale etc. It's only a shame we don't have another big man up top. We'll have to wrap Adebayor up in cottom wool after every game.

I think we will use our new additions in a 4-3-3:

Lloris​

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Walker Kaboul Vertonghen Assou-Ekotto​

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Sigurdsson Sandro Dembele​

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Dempsey Adebayor Bale​

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Which quite frankly is littered with goals. Also it is full of players who can take set pieces which is really strange considering we haven't really taken decent set pieces in years.​

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To me at least that is rather impressive and is full of players who play in the positions AVB usually like to utilise. You can also bet this team will work tirelessly off the ball and close people down. If we add Moutinho and Leandro in January I think we could be right up there.​

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[ButchCassidy]

Anyone doubting how important Dempsey and Dembele are should be watching the Fulham game. Last week they were almost able to take points off United; today without those two, they have been completely dominated by wet spam. Completely impotent in attack, Berbatov or no Berbatov.

 

[ButchCassidy]

I think we will use our new additions in a 4-3-3:

Dempsey Adebayor Bale​

​

Sigurdsson Sandro Dembele​

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Walker Kaboul Vertonghen Assou-Ekotto​

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Lloris​

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Which quite frankly is littered with goals. Also it is full of players who can take set pieces which is really strange considering we haven't really taken decent set pieces in years.

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Why is your formation mirrored?

I do like it though, and Lennon as a 65th minute substitute is any left-back's nightmare.