The Weekend ITK Discussion Thread - 1st/2nd August 2015

[Moorpheus19]

I think we've sourced farther and wider this window than ever before and have a very good set of options to fill the 2/3 places we want filled.

Don't understand the misery.

People don't want to accept our position in the food chain and that we are still building, slowly, and it will take 2/3 years to do so.

Suck it up. No gain without pain...alll kinds of gains.

Whilst I agree with you, the "problem" this Summer is that we've actually been pretty good at shifting players out. Now, 1 week out from the start and we're looking feather light in certain areas.

We're taking the normal sort of time to get people in it seems, which is fine, but in previous windows we've at least had the deadwood to fill in if needed in those first few games.

We don't have that this time round and I think that's why, despite an overall good window so far, people are still worried.

 

[thinktank]

It happens every window when we go a few days without anything happening. Although there is a lot happening. Bobby and Ade look like they are gone and we are talking to Werner, Bender, Njie and possibly Kramer and Berahino.
Lennon looks to be a deadline day grab by someone.

4th is an absolute pipe-dream this season as when January hits, the top 4 - apart from lavishly splurging as they have done already - will buy again regardless of price, so it would take the miracle of our team clicking immediately and having a monumental season, with loads of luck sprinkled on top, to achieve it.

We will be in the running for cups and hopefully can have a run in EL to take a proper look at other players in the squad.

Of course we want wins off of the big guns and to be genuine contenders in those games and we will be and I suspect we will take some nice points off of them, but top 4 is vague shimmer of light on the horizon for us.

That will be our season, best accept it now for one's own sanity.

 

[thinktank]

Whilst I agree with you, the "problem" this Summer is that we've actually been pretty good at shifting players out. Now, 1 week out from the start and we're looking feather light in certain areas.

We're taking the normal sort of time to get people in it seems, which is fine, but in previous windows we've at least had the deadwood to fill in if needed in those first few games.

We don't have that this time round and I think that's why, despite an overall good window so far, people are still worried.

We're not short of squad players for the first couple of games. People need to calm down imvho.

 

[barry]

This seems to be a good approach, shows we are being sensible at least with targets and not just panicking if our only target doesn't come off.

I admire all 3 of those forwards, I think Werner and N'Jie have massive amounts of potential. Saw a fair amount of Lyon last year and N'Jie looked very good, particularly as impact sub with 20-25 mins to go.

I know slightly less about Werner, saw him a couple of times last season and he once again looked lively. I have a couple of mates who watch a lot of Bundi, and they said that Werner shows off a lot of Reus/Schurlle qualities, with his ability to dribble and beat players, his shooting isn't bad either. Adding more goals to his game would make him a truly special player, and for £8m, it sounds like daylight robbery from what I've heard.

Berahino would be a good signing as he is already PL proven (ish) however WBA seem to be asking for more each day and it seems our valuations are way off..I would rather sign N'Jie and Werner for the same price as Berahino..

As for Kramer...I've loved the way he has played for Gladbach this year, saw him a couple of times last year on TV and he looks the business, massive engine, hard-worker, provides good defensive cover and is well disciplined. A real first-team improver right there..

This is what I love reading, an informed opinion from someone whose actually watched complete matches of the players we're after. Have to admit I've only seen njie on YouTube videos, and to say I was underwhelmed would be an understatement. Super raw. Your review has assuaged my fears.
Thank you.

 

[thinktank]

This is what I love reading, an informed opinion from someone whose actually watched complete matches of the players we're after. Have to admit I've only seen njie on YouTube videos, and to say I was underwhelmed would be an understatement. Super raw. Your review has assuaged my fears.
Thank you.

N'jie, Kramer, Werner is the magic mix for me. The flexibility that would give us would be fantastic.

 

[Moorpheus19]

We're not short of squad players for the first couple of games. People need to calm down imvho.

True but some of those squad players have even less PL experience than our fairly young first XI.

 

[Lilbaz]

We're not short of squad players for the first couple of games. People need to calm down imvho.

When ade and bobby leave we will need to bring in a backup for kane. There is no urgency in the other areas, although a quality midfielder would be nice.
Alli i think will be superb. Everytime i see him he oozes class. Bentaleb might be the one who has competition.

 

[thinktank]

True but some of those squad players have even less PL experience than our fairly young first XI.

It's not a disaster. They are hungry and eager to impress, they will be salivating at the chance to get in early and turn poch's head towards them if we end up having to use any of them in the first couple games.

Itk has been brilliant this window and there has been tons of it overall. I've thoroughly enjoyed this window so far.

 

[mikeeegreen]

When ade and bobby leave we will need to bring in a backup for kane. There is no urgency in the other areas, although a quality midfielder would be nice.
Alli i think will be superb. Everytime i see him he oozes class. Bentaleb might be the one who has competition.

You won't be saying that about a midfielder once the season is underway.

 

[Scott Spur]

Apparently the bookies have just slashed odds on us signing Berahino.......maybe there's been some movement

 

[coffer]

Berahino has had 1 season where he scored 14 goals in the premiership 3 of which were penalties. It's basically the same record as Chadli had last year. It's still a risk. If we wanted a sure thing proven in the premiership then we could have got Austin or Lambert (i'm not saying we should though). They are all punts it's just that Berahino is the most expensive punt.

Didn't Berahino score 3 or 4 in a cup game against a 2nd Div team?

 

[Lilbaz]

You won't be saying that about a midfielder once the season is underway.

Bentaleb and Alli should make a great cm pairing. Then we have Mason (England international). Dembele, Carroll, Dier.

A midfielder would be nice but we have 6 that can play there and Milos.

 

[DaSpurs]

Apparently the bookies have just slashed odds on us signing Berahino.......maybe there's been some movement

Now that is interesting.

 

[Sandros Shiny Head]

I think we've sourced farther and wider this window than ever before and have a very good set of options to fill the 2/3 places we want filled.

Don't understand the misery.

People don't want to accept our position in the food chain and that we are still building, slowly, and it will take 2/3 years to do so.

Suck it up. No gain without pain...alll kinds of gains.

But then, when we don't buy these guys and they're £25m players in a year or two, all of the "we should've bought them before they were expensive" circus will start again

 

[mikeeegreen]

Bentaleb and Alli should make a great cm pairing. Then we have Mason (England international). Dembele, Carroll, Dier.

A midfielder would be nice but we have 6 that can play there and Milos.

Bentaleb and Alli pairing? One is 19 and the other is 20. That is not a midfield pairing for a club that has top 4 ambitions. Talk about naive. Besides, that pairing offers next to no protection to our back 4. We are well short in that area. We desperately need an established CM signing ASAP. I'm just hoping we can get Bender. He'd be perfect. Not only in his play, but his experience and what he can teach the others.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

We know our leader won't sanction beyond a certain price/wages, prem level ST/CM will easily cost £20m plus each, I'm afraid it's going to be another last minute rasiak/Campbell situation. Anybody coming in now is going to be inexperienced in prem and a gamble. Maybe they can cut it. I really hope to be proved wrong but too many fruitless windows have passed now and the little guy has form.

Lamela and Soldado both cost more than that, and i read somewhere ITK from one of the regulars that the actual transfer fee has never been an issue with Levy but rather the wage demands?

Stand corrected if i am wrong?

 

[thebenjamin]

Bentaleb and Alli pairing? One is 19 and the other is 20. That is not a midfield pairing for a club that has top 4 ambitions. Talk about naive. Besides, that pairing offers next to no protection to our back 4. We are well short in that area. We desperately need an established CM signing ASAP. I'm just hoping we can get Bender. He'd be perfect. Not only in his play, but his experience and what he can teach the others.

Yup. Absolutely balls out desperate for defensive nous in CM if we have any ambition at all to improve on last season.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

Now that is interesting.

Its not really - it takes very little to affect these markets as they are so small volume - though I hope its right

 

[@Bobby__Lucky]

Apparently the bookies have just slashed odds on us signing Berahino.......maybe there's been some movement

The odds were slashed way before today. At the exact minute Ghost of armo's itk came in to SC the odds were 1/3 on and was falling.

Im pretty sure Berahino will be a spurs player, where the itk came from, the magnitude of info, SO boss weighing in, A&C weighing in...to me its certain. Any distancing press wise is to do with lowering the fee from our end.

 

[Scott Spur]

Now that is interesting.

Mind you it is Skybet......seem as bad as the tabloids.