The Daily ITK Discussion Thread THE DALZIEL & PASCOE EDITION 1st July 2016

[THOWIG]

Every team must improve each year. We can't stand still. The competition this season is going to be unreal.

Why funny @tiger666

 

[tiger666]

Why funny @tiger666

Just the "Every team must improve each year." made me chuckle.

 

[cliff jones]

It's a squad game. Toby, Dier and Kane all overplayed, all suffered in the end. Having seen Davies in the Euros, I think both he and Wimmer can do a decent job at CB. Wanyama gives us the option to drop Dier back.

There's one glaring weakness, and this has gone unaddressed for far too long for,a Club so high in the rich list, not to manage this risk properly.

These calling for deep lying playmakers, dribbling defence splitting attacking mids, you're being greedy.

Give this young squad, and coach with whom we identify, the chance to build on their achievements last season.

The who can we get stuff is a false argument, because none of us know the budget or asking prices, you'd just be guessing. Son, for 20 odd mill certainly shocked me, but Levy saw what he considered to be a value deal on fee, wages, comm opps and bang there he was... I do hope if/when this happens again it's a fking striker...

 

[cliff jones]

They are just different players to the attacking midfielders people are suggesting. N'jie and Son I feel are more goal scorers and forwards than support players and playmakers. I for one definitely have faith in them to step up but that does not necessarily mean that we don't want another signing.

If we lack anything it's a player with a low centre of gravity, very good in tight spaces and who can beat players with ease. Think Mahrez, Ben Arfa, Hazard, Lanzini, Coutinho etc. Lamela and Eriksen, although great players are not quite the same.

From what people are saying, and from the very little i've seen of him, I happen to think Edwards could be that player with a bit of patience though.

I'm happy with Eriksen and Lamela. I think they're both improving, getting stronger. Worried about their contract renewals though. We have so many other options as things stand for next season in behind Kane...

I watched a video of Edwards dribbling a year ago and it was poetry in motion, but surely too soon for anything beyond League Cup v Southend or whoever?

 

[cliff jones]

Every team must improve each year. We can't stand still. The competition this season is going to be unreal.

You don't have to buy shitloads of players to improve. Our boys will improve.

We are well covered to deal with injuries and suspensions, well nearly...

 

[Nigel Spinal]

Every team must improve each year. We can't stand still. The competition this season is going to be unreal.

About every team in the league has been declining for about the last 5 years. Look how our co-efficient has been plummeting.

Spending stupid money doesn't equate to getting better, the EPL has just become a UAE or China, but with a lingering memory of tradition

By doing our own thing, focusing on youth and coaching, we've jumped ahead of all the unsustainable chequebook clubs.

 

[Blackrat1299]

It's a squad game. Toby, Dier and Kane all overplayed, all suffered in the end. Having seen Davies in the Euros, I think both he and Wimmer can do a decent job at CB. Wanyama gives us the option to drop Dier back.

There's one glaring weakness, and this has gone unaddressed for far too long for,a Club so high in the rich list, not to manage this risk properly.

These calling for deep lying playmakers, dribbling defence splitting attacking mids, you're being greedy.

Give this young squad, and coach with whom we identify, the chance to build on their achievements last season.

The who can we get stuff is a false argument, because none of us know the budget or asking prices, you'd just be guessing. Son, for 20 odd mill certainly shocked me, but Levy saw what he considered to be a value deal on fee, wages, comm opps and bang there he was... I do hope if/when this happens again it's a fking striker...

So what is the one glaring weakness?

 

[Nigel Spinal]

I'm not suggesting shitloads. We lacked that player last year who could unlock a defence.

There was me thinking we scored 69 goals, the second highest in the league.

It's just a perception, because we had so much possession, that we weren't effective at AM.

 

[Shadydan]

You don't have to buy shitloads of players to improve. Our boys will improve.

We are well covered to deal with injuries and suspensions, well nearly...

Agree with this, you don't need to throw money around just because everyone else is especially when we have some very good up and coming youth players. Our boys have reached nowhere near their peak yet, the more they play in the same system team and grow in this club the better it is rather then shelling out silly money on a player who isn't guaranteed to improve the team.

 

[THOWIG]

There was me thinking we scored 69 goals, the second highest in the league.

It's just a perception, because we had so much possession, that we weren't effective at AM.

It is all about perception. We scored a lot of goals, but on many occasions lacked imagination and a player who offered something different.

 

[ryantegan]

People on here have forgotten how good we were last season

 

[voxy28]

It is all about perception. We scored a lot of goals, but on many occasions lacked imagination and a player who offered something different.

Who might that be and available? Just curious.

 

[THOWIG]

People on here have forgotten how good we were last season

No one's forgotten, but there seems to be real fear of trying to recruit better players. Reading constantly about back ups or players coming in to cover for injuries.

 

[THOWIG]

Who might that be and available? Just curious.

Before Dortmund got him I would have said Emre Mor, but not going to name more names as I'm already blocking up this thread.

 

[tobi]

There was me thinking we scored 69 goals, the second highest in the league.

It's just a perception, because we had so much possession, that we weren't effective at AM.

Yes we scored a lot of goals but we are also wasteful and should have scored a lot more.

We need to create better chances (IMO we sometimes work too hard to create very little and this is where the dribbler (player with guile, technique, awareness) comes into play, we need to add another attacking layer to the team. We can't keep relying on two players to consistently provide service.

Ideally I'd have a dribbler and a comfortable passer from deep but signing Wanyama has shut that down so the attacking players must do more.

 

[nedley]

Boufal and Insigne won't, they are depth players too. Would have to take a step up to James class if we want to improve on guys like Eriksen, Alli and Lamela

Bet you would have said the same of Alli last season.

 

[Good Doctor M]

People on here have forgotten how good we were last season

Fucking right. This is a back-up striker we're talking about here - I don't think there's going to be a first-teamer bought... who would you replace?

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

Not really sure why people are getting chastised for claiming our starting XI doesnt need improving. It doesn't.

Our biggest issue last season was our lack of quality in our squad depth. Kevin Wimmer is all the proof you need that having quality squad depth makes a huge difference. Dembele's absences last season and our lack of squad depth to cover him is ultimately why we finished where we did (imo).

Wanyama gives us great squad depth in the midfield which also frees up Dier to play CB if he's needed to cover there. Janssen is great cover for Kane and also allows us to play 2 up front if required. What we really need next is somebody who can play anywhere in attacking midfield to give Eriksen competition. With that said, i think giving Kane and Eriksen some competition will really spur them on and keep them on their toes.

Of course a £30m+ superstar would be great, but I think with the money we have, our priority definitely should be to strengthen our depth.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Just the "Every team must improve each year." made me chuckle.

I love that 2 people, who are obviously nowhere near you, 'disagree' that you found that bit funny

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

People on here have forgotten how good we were last season

I'm afraid the last four games wiped out those happier memories somewhat...