The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - THE POST MORTEM 1st February

[Chris Flynn]

On the Negrido front, on 5 Live last night they were saying the Seville chairman had made it clear to everyone in Spain that unless you have 20m euro's to offer don't even bother calling me. Apparantly it was the player and his agent who were encouraging other teams interest in the hope the cahirman might take less. So that was never really on for anyone, us or Everton

 

[Mer fantastik]

Outside of Moutinho who was thought to be over £24 million; I don't think Leandro Negredo Willan anyone else we're really linked with would walk right into the starting lineup. We actually got a guy who should be penned right into our starting XI in Holtby at a ridiculous price.

I think you are right there. Was not AVB saying that we will only sign if it would enhance the squad. So basically what this is saying, to the squad, is that our players are good enough and it is now up to the squad to take it to the stars. I think it is a good thing mentally to show the players that the coach have faith in them and that Holtby is the only one to enhance the squad in this window.

To the stars lads !!!!!!!!

 

[Paolo10]

Even with Ade and JD fully fit, Ade hasn't been at it at all since he got his contract and JD will score goals, but won't do a whole lot else. We were crying out for something different, a bit of competition and we've fluffed it again.

2 years talking about Damiao now and from being so close to being all off completely fucking reeks, what didn't we know? What was the big fucking surprise after 2 years talking? I'm uber cynical today and I'd give odds on that it was our end who fucked this, similar to the untold negotiations we've undoubtedly fucked before if the more respected ITK's are to be believed...and even if it was Inter/LD who were responsible for it being off....what, no back-up plan? No Plan B? Fuck off!

'Levytime' ends up farcical yet again and we get the same rose tinted shit from apologists. Sickening deja deja deja vu tbh.

 

[Hoopspur]

If Defoe recovers from his form/gets over his injury we'll be fine
If Adebayor comes back from ACoN injury free and motivated we'll be fine
If Bale stays fit we'll be fine
If Lennon stays fit we'll be fine
If Dembele stays fit we'll be fine
If Parker stays fit we'll be fine.

That's a lot of 'ifs'. All it takes is an injury to one of those players and we are suddenly not fine. It's asking a lot to go the remainder of the season without giving these players a rest. However we can't give them a rest because the backups are not good enough - Hud, Livermore, Obika et al. I'm sorry, but they are just not good enough. Personally I can't see us getting top 4. Our squad still lacks depth, and will be seriously exposed with an injury to one of those players above.

Most of our top 4 rivals do not have an abundance of talent in the backup positions but at least they have options. Not sure we do.

The trouble is you assume all these things will happen at once. If one or two of the above happen we'll be fine, because there are reasonable options whether you think so or not. If all 6 scenarios happen then we won't be fine, we'll of had the worst bad luck possible. Why not add the keepers to the list and if they both get injured at the same time also or 3 centre halfs and a couple of full backs?

I was going to list options but frankly I can't be arsed.

 

[Mustard]

I just don't get the levy appeasers on here.

This bloke clearly loves and cultivates his image as an arch negotiator but what has he achieved? Bugger all, apart from being hoodwinked by adepaymemore. Freud was the one who sweet talked Lewis into coming and levy sanctioned it. Well it was free wasn't it.

They bought all the Spurs shares for a pittance on a vague promise of new stadium and they almost gave up when they wernt going to get 18m from the council. They are tin pot and my patience is running very thin with this mob.

I'm not going to cheer on stadium plans or a hidden balance sheet. I want the board to back our new manager.

It's too late now. We have a paper thin squad that will scrape by against Lyon then go out to AC and most likely come 6th in the league.

Levytime indeed.

 

[andyp8080]

i have some great news lads!! (and lasses)

In my infinite boredom at work i have just completed the BBC Predictor for the rest of the season and I am delighted to say that we hang onto 4th (and i can be a bit pesamistic with my predictions!!)

And Arsenal actually finish 7th

 

[LeSoupeKitchen]

Would you have settled for Gomis, Hooper et al that were bandied around early doors. I for one would not as I doubt they are any better than what we have.

Yes - I would at least have liked someone as backup.

That wasn't what I was saying seriously to anyway - I was surprised that you're clinging on to the thought that because we came so close Levy will spend the next 6months ironing out the details and he will smoothly become a spurs player in the summer.

 

[Colonel Dax]

The trouble is you assume all these things will happen at once. If one or two of the above happen we'll be fine, because there are reasonable options whether you think so or not. If all 6 scenarios happen then we won't be fine, we'll of had the worst bad luck possible. Why not add the keepers to the list and if they both get injured at the same time also or 3 centre halfs and a couple of full backs?

I was going to list options but frankly I can't be arsed.

No I didn't mention these things happening at once. I said if just one of those are injured we are in trouble. IMO of course.

 

[elDiablo]

Im quite happy. We reduced the wage bill, townsend will hopefully get some prem experience. Some other decent loans for our youngsters.

Yeah we all got strung along, but thats exactly what we want. We( Tottenham fans) love the drama. Everyone knows it. Media pander to it, and we lap it up.

We are no worse off, and we have a quick thining creative player in the team - who knows how he will link up with Ade and Defoe.

And if we dont get champs league? So what, we lose Bale. We will find another decent player im sure. Im more worried about AVB walking away than Bale.....

 

[ajcruz14]

What I find amusing is that alot of spurs fans tend to take an extremely pessimistic view on our own team(i.e. Screw you Levy you've just cost us Bale/ByeBye CL, while definitely big upping our rivals (i.e. Liverpool are a threat/on the way up, Arsenal are bound to go on a run, Everton's gonna finish 4th, etc. etc.). However if you guys check out the message boards of these same teams, their fans do the exact same thing as us, alot even predicting that we're favourites to finish 4th. Just goes to show you that despite all our differences, with regards to which club we support, all football fans are alot alike.

 

[Chris Flynn]

Right, for all the talk of 'if we'd signed a striker we could off set it against the £40m we would get from the champions leauge' here are the actual figures. http://www.uefa.com/uefa/management/finance/news/newsid=1528290.html

Quick example, if you fail to get out of the group you get about 8m euros. Just over £7m. If you add onto that the players bonuses and extra in wages you spend (as happend last time we got in) you don't make anywhere near as much as people think. The only way you make a lot out of the competition is through sustained entry and success (getting to the knock outs) year on year. This talk of spending £20m on a striker to get us to the champions league because they would basically free if we make it is nonsense im afraid

 

[sunnydelight786]

Looks like we did consider selling Sigg

And boss McDermott confirmed: "We tried to bring him back. We had spoken to Spurs and we made three offers.
"I thought at one stage we had a real chance of doing a deal, but unfortunately, we couldn't manage to do it.

 

[Chris_D]

We have been hoodwinked yet again by our chairman same ploy 2 windows running, I feel very sorry for avb talked into a job and as yet not supported by his boss he must feel let down.

I hope he stays with us for next season but can understand if he chooses to walk away and find a club that spends money to support his ideas etc.

I trust mr levy is still up counting all the money saved I hope he is well, I would imagine that some on here will give me neg rep but today I dont care as so fucking pissed off I can see 4th spot going now a real opportunity missed

I don't think anyone actually promised us anything this time around so I'm not mad about that. Our next big investment should be the new ground then a new striker. I'm still hoping a few kids come through and save us a fortune. Holtby looks like a good signing but we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Original # 10]

I just don't get the levy appeasers on here.

This bloke clearly loves and cultivates his image as an arch negotiator but what has he achieved? Bugger all, apart from being hoodwinked by adepaymemore. Freud was the one who sweet talked Lewis into coming and levy sanctioned it. Well it was free wasn't it.

They bought all the Spurs shares for a pittance on a vague promise of new stadium and they almost gave up when they wernt going to get 18m from the council. They are tin pot and my patience is running very thin with this mob.

I'm not going to cheer on stadium plans or a hidden balance sheet. I want the board to back our new manager.

It's too late now. We have a paper thin squad that will scrape by against Lyon then go out to AC and most likely come 6th in the league.

Levytime indeed.

So you think AC will beat Barca in the UCL and for their sins be demoted to the Europa League to face us?
Interesting

 

[Hoopspur]

No I didn't mention these things happening at once. I said if just one of those are injured we are in trouble. IMO of course.

As I said I didn't want to list them, but any team that loses a world class player like Bale for example would need to find an alternative way of playing - Holtby, Siggy or Dempsey there for example. The same goes with every other scenario you've indicated. As mentioned, if it all happens at once then yes we are in trouble, but if 1 or 2 happen, granted we'll be stretched but it won't be a disaster will it - do you honestly think so? You really do not have any faith in those left on the bench?

 

[The Apprentice]

seriously it could be worse. from a outside perspective you have the best player in the league in my opinion in bale. the best right back in the league in walker. one of the best keepers in the league. you play good football and will finish in the top 5 (personally i believe 4th)
compare that to Villa.

You don't watch much of us do you TJ?

 

[Mr Pink]

Looks like we did consider selling Sigg

And boss McDermott confirmed: "We tried to bring him back. We had spoken to Spurs and we made three offers.
"I thought at one stage we had a real chance of doing a deal, but unfortunately, we couldn't manage to do it.

Very interesting indeed - who the hell where we moving for then if this happened. No way we could of been selling Sig not bringing anyone else in.

 

[Mr Pink]

You don't watch much of us do you TJ?

He obviously hasn't this season, maybe last season he did...

Rafael is the best RB in the League for me - by a distance to.

 

[Sandro30]

He obviously hasn't this season, maybe last season he did...

Rafael is the best RB in the League for me - by a distance to.

If RB stands for Ratty Bastard i'd agree.

 

[Gb160]

Can we just all agree on one thing?

There is NO SUCH THING as "Levy Time"

It's a shame we didn't get a forward that we so desperately need. But we are still a top 7 side.

I just look at Villa and worry about our summer. Without Bale/Sandro and Dembele our team is pretty ordinary at the moment. Lose two of those and it's a big worry

Take the two best players out of most teams and they will look ordinary.