The Weekend ITK Discussion Thread - 25/26 August 2012

[Gbspurs]

The only real competition we faced for his signature was from Newcastle. And it was easy to see why when it took so long for him to come to terms with the physicality of the football.

How long did it take him?

 

[Pringle]

Come on, they still think Chairmen of other teams are completely honest when discussing figures offered for players. It doesn't matter if Willian isn't playing, if the Shaktar CEO says 30m, then by god we'll never get him.

Agreed - it just doesnt add up. If their chairman claims we have offered 20m euros less than their asking price then why have they not picked him? Its like us not playing VDV in case it puts his 50p move to Hamburg in jeapardy.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

I'm all over it - I even did a little jig!

Based on what JJ said last night, I think that one must be really, really close. *Fingers crossed*

By really, really close, what do you mean exactly?

Really, really close as in within the next couple of days or so?

Or the Levyworld version in which we should expect to see him holding up a Spurs shirt on 31st January 2015?

 

[jonathanhotspur]

How long did it take him?

I reckon at least a season of being knocked on his arse.

 

[Snarfalicious]

Agreed - it just doesnt add up. If their chairman claims we have offered 20m euros less than their asking price then why have they not picked him? Its like us not playing VDV in case it puts his 50p move to Hamburg in jeapardy.

The only thing I can figure is that they knew they could handle Karpaty (who they played today - which they did to the tune of 3-0), and they also are 6-0 in league play to this point so they could afford to miss Willian today.

Maybe they just felt that, with a valuable commodity like Willian, it's best to just let him sit out and not play him and risk injury as well as stir up some potential rumors. It could also create a lot of interest in Willian and perhaps pull other clubs into bidding if they felt that Willian was available to be bid on, and Tottenham, being of the frugal type, could be outbid and have a robbery performed.

Or, it could just mean a deal is finalized and will be announced tomorrow (Rainbows, butterflies, naked women, hoorayyyyy).

Either that, or it's just my #TransferWindowParanoia kicking in. At this point, I think it's the paranoia.

 

[etchedchaos]

By really, really close, what do you mean exactly?

Really, really close as in within the next couple of days or so?

Or the Levyworld version in which we should expect to see him holding up a Spurs shirt on 31st January 2015?

I'd think the Shaktar version which has him holding our shirt in 2023.

 

[felmani26]

The only real competition we faced for his signature was from Newcastle. And it was easy to see why when it took so long for him to come to terms with the physicality of the football.

That stemmed from Wenger's assessment of him being too 'slight' for this league which is complete horse shit really as nowadays, technique is king for success and not just being six foot whatever and built like a brick shithouse!

As long as you work hard then physicality shouldn't really come into it and that has been a bug bear of Modric's game - especially away from home.

 

[xtrac]

i dont know why we dont go for Dempsey, proven EPL player will get us 20 goals a season imo with the way we play, or even Grant Holt, im sick of hearing about these mega superstar strikers we never get...
Also to the peeps that stated at the beginning when AVB was appointed (exciting times ahead!!) stop with the bullshit superstar strikers, im not excited im concerned as i indicated before AVB appointment, what the hell is going on?!! verts and sig, were in my eyes not AVB signings, i wouldnt be suprised if they were Harry's done on a pre contract before his sacking!! as for AVB, i feel sorry for the fella, nothing changes at THFC with regard are transfer policy, and allthough DL is protecting are club with his dealings, ffs get it sorted before we are 3 games in, and target more realistic players!!! you dont need mega superstar players to have a cracking team, just sort this fucking mess out DL!!! sorry rant over, just does my fooking head in!!!

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Agreed - it just doesnt add up. If their chairman claims we have offered 20m euros less than their asking price then why have they not picked him? Its like us not playing VDV in case it puts his 50p move to Hamburg in jeapardy.

He was out with a twisted sock. All cunningly arranged as a hors d'oeuvres to raise expectation on SC before the enevitable letdown. He'll be back for their next game.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

That stemmed from Wenger's assessment of him being too 'slight' for this league which is complete horse shit really as nowadays, technique is king for success and not just being six foot whatever and built like a brick shithouse!

As long as you work hard then physicality shouldn't really come into it and that has been a bug bear of Modric's game - especially away from home.

I know what Wenger said and my opinion is that Modric spent a long time adjusting to the English game.

 

[Colonel Dax]

It's been a while since we bought a Berbatov or a Modric. A foreign midfielder or striker just below the top level that has huge potential. For the past few windows it has seemed like Levy/ENIC have been content merely to tread water with regards to player acquisitions. Whether that's down to the stadium financing (which Levy has already refuted) or the realisation that competing with the CL big boys is futile, I don't know. We were led to believe that it was Redknapp that was holding us back in the market. That somehow we would adopt a new strategy and start spending again with a new head coach at the helm. However that theory has proved to be incorrect.

Just what exactly is Levy/ENIC's objective? As things stand, it seems unlikely we will improve on last season's league position.

In my opinion, Levy/ENIC should either shit or get off the pot.

 

[Pedro]

Great news on willian, we must be much closer than the quotes earlier from shaktar suggest. Haven't seen much of him, but seems the type of creative exciting player we need. Sounds a lot of money though, but if Avb has been tracking him since his Chelsea days then he must really rate him - he could buy anyone he wanted when at Chelsea (except modric!). Jj also sound positive on the move, hopefully we will hear something over the next few days.

 

[AssaTM]

It's been a while since we bought a Berbatov or Modric. A foreign player just below the top level that has huge potential. For the past few windows it has seemed like Levy/ENIC have been content merely to tread water with regards to player acquisitions. Whether that's down to the stadium financing (which Levy has already refuted) or the realisation that competing with the CL big boys is futile, I don't know. We were led to believe that it was Redknapp that was holding us back in the market. That somehow we would adopt a new strategy and start spending again with a new head coach at the helm. However that theory has proved to be incorrect.

Just what exactly is Levy/ENIC's objective? As things stand, it seems unlikely we will improve on last season's league position.

In my opinion, Levy/ENIC should either shit or get off the pot.

Jan Vertonghen...?

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

Agreed. Negotiations aren't about coming right in with what you'd actually pay, you start low for a reason to avoid being squeezed for every penny you have. Selling clubs start high incase they snag a dumb shit who thinks paying the asking price is how you do business.

You mean like Mike Ashley negotiating with Damien Comolli ?

 

[Blackcanary]

By really, really close, what do you mean exactly?

Really, really close as in within the next couple of days or so?

Or the Levyworld version in which we should expect to see him holding up a Spurs shirt on 31st January 2015?

2015?! How quickly do you expect levy to work? It takes time to send all those faxes upping your bid by a penny at a time! I was thinking in the realms of 'please god, make it prior to my death'.

 

[Pringle]

It's been a while since we bought a Berbatov or a Modric. A foreign player just below the top level that has huge potential. For the past few windows it has seemed like Levy/ENIC have been content merely to tread water with regards to player acquisitions. Whether that's down to the stadium financing (which Levy has already refuted) or the realisation that competing with the CL big boys is futile, I don't know. We were led to believe that it was Redknapp that was holding us back in the market. That somehow we would adopt a new strategy and start spending again with a new head coach at the helm. However that theory has proved to be incorrect.

Just what exactly is Levy/ENIC's objective? As things stand, it seems unlikely we will improve on last season's league position.

In my opinion, Levy/ENIC should either shit or get off the pot.

Sandro? Vertonghen? Both would fit that criteria imo.

 

[Colonel Dax]

Jan Vertonghen...?

although I think Jan is a good prospect, I do not believe he is on Berba or Modric's level when we signed them. Not yet anyway.

 

[Colonel Dax]

Sandro? Vertonghen? Both would fit that criteria imo.

Not in my book. Were they at Modric and Berbatov's level? Berba was the 3rd highest scorer in the Bundesliga when we signed him, and Modric was known as one of the hottest young midfield talents in Europe. Hell, I've never played Football Manager and even I had heard of Modric back then. I had not heard of Sandro however.

 

[Pedro]

Looking at itk, interviews with players etc, my predictions are: willian, m'villa, and Lloris. All have said themselves they are interested in joining, which is a good start. Leandro to arrive in January. Not ideal, but could be a lot worse. I would rather wait till jan for leandro then end up with some chump, as long as its confirmed this window.

 

[Pringle]

Not in my book. Were they at Modric and Berbatov's level? Berba was the 3rd highest scorer in the Bundesliga when we signed him, and Modric was known as one of the hottest young midfield talents in Europe. Hell, I've never played Football Manager and even I had heard of Modric back then. I had not heard of Sandro however.

Sandro had been called up to play for Brazil and was part of a team that won the south american equivalent of the champions league. Being the third highest scorer in the bundesliga isnt exactly the sign of a world class player.