The Weekend ITK Discussion Thread - 25/26 August 2012

[lillywhites61]

AVB was a scout and I imagine has a huge network at his disposal, this was probably discussed at length with Levy, he will have seen this as an added bonus, he gets a top coach as well as a scouting network.

I think that AVB will have a lot of input into who we sign but it may well be that he won't always get his top targets due to cost. There will be compromise.

We need to remember that AVB cut his teeth as a scout and so will know his stuff, you don't get brought on board by JM if you don't know what you are talking about. I really think Levy has bought into that and will certainly trust his judgement, but just cause he says a player doesn't mean we will always get him, the best want the best money. We have to hope between them they pull some gems from here or there.

 

[srups34]

Falcao. Good night.

 

[LeftKickDeath]

I know a lot of names are being tossed around...I'm not ITK but looking at things logically....I just personally feel Isco is one of the most likely to get done. The kid would tick all the boxes financially i.e. transfer fee (would be well within our means), salary (within our structure), and sell on value (he is young and talented)...not to mention the club is willing to sell. More so in a footballing sense he would bring the creativity sorely lacking in the middle and the versatility to play virtually anywhere in mid-field. Demeble would perhaps do the same buttttt apparently AVB doesn't fancy him? Haven't heard that yet about Isco from any source....perhaps I'm clutching at straws. Also some seem to be taken aback by the 8 million bid (that was apparently put forth and rejected) but I feel that's not a terrible number for an opening bid considering Carzola was eventually sold for only 12 million. In any case Malaga will make a tidy profit on a player they purchased only a year ago.

Also I don't personally like to over analyze ITK (and I apologize if it has already been mentioned) but IMHO perhaps we should take notice of who JJ is not mentioning. I'm sure most of you have better insight in how JJ operates (as far as ITK goes) but from my brief glimpse I think he goes out of his way to condense the nonsense by shooting down bogus stories; who he doesn't mention/discuss is more telling. At least it seemed to me as such...especially when Isco was brought up and he refused to discuss it. I don't know if it's is any consolation but it seems like we are working on deals...unfortunately it's not the names that are being rehashed over and over again by those who are questioning him. i.e. Solando, which seem to come out of the blue. Though I doubt that this opinion will slow down the preemptive wrist slitting that seems to be taking place in the Spurs' universe. Cheers lads, keep your chins up and COYS.

 

[tommyt]

Can people stop saying this! Soooo annoying and old now!

Meltdown

 

[Spursidol]

That's it exactly. It really makes no sense to hire a new coach and then not allow him to make his own choices with regards to player purchases. The tragedy is that people always blame the manager when it goes tits up, but yet the chairman seems to make ALL the decisions.

So your solution is to hand the cheque book over to the manager to spend on whoever he likes regardless of cost.

if you hire a builder to do up your house, do you hand over your cheque book and say - I want the best looking flat/house in town ?

Doubt it.

I know of NO club where the manager signs the players on whatever terms he likes. The manager always needs to be working hand in hand with the owner (who sometimes as a DoF in the process too). Levy is more hands on than some owners - but don't think other managers such as Fergusson (ManU) has all his own way as he does not.

 

[mw828]

Finally people are beginning to see the role that levy has given himself

Harry described the working relationship as murder. Levy gets the players that levy wants 95% of the time and it's usually on deadline day.

It's boring and detrimental to our team

Avb wants a player then let him have the player. He should be able to live AND die by the sword. Not just die

This is from the viewpoint of Harry. Even the most honest and fair-minded person would have some amount of bias. Knowing what Harry is like I wouldn't really believe a word he says. That view may be borne out of Levy not signing Joe Cole for 90k a week a couple of years ago.

 

[TH1239]

If we are as financially constricted in our budget as it appears, why did we spend a good chunk of our transfer kitty on Sigurdsson? He is a complete luxury who plays in the same position as the best player at our club. We have gaping holes in central midfield and desperately need a striker, as well as cover on the wings. We also have serious issues in goal, in my opinion.

I also disagree with the idea that waiting until August 31st provides substantial savings on our targets. Teams are not going to sell their best players to us at the last moment, when they know we are desperate. The only quality player who are shipped off on that day for cheap are players that are surplus to requirements, like Rafa was at Madrid. The numbers of high level players like that, whose wages we can afford, are very few.

Personally, I really wish we would spend the Modric money on either Dembele or Keisuke Honda and the rest on Lloris. We'd be filling out the weaknesses of our starting XI, which is critical in my opinion.

 

[mw828]

Levy looked at the book of players and just wrote : "too expensive, how about dembele?" next to everyone

Almost certainly not. We have been negotiating for tons of players. Why pretend he is some evil troll sent to destroy the club with a lust for moussa dembele?

Is a lot of this his fault? Almost certainly, but let's keep it within reason at least.

 

[sbrustad]

So your solution is to hand the cheque book over to the manager to spend on whoever he likes regardless of cost.

if you hire a builder to do up your house, do you hand over your cheque book and say - I want the best looking flat/house in town ?

Doubt it.

I know of NO club where the manager signs the players on whatever terms he likes. The manager always needs to be working hand in hand with the owner (who sometimes as a DoF in the process too). Levy is more hands on than some owners - but don't think other managers such as Fergusson (ManU) has all his own way as he does not.

I agree, but there is a difference between letting the manager go on a spending spree and sanctioning transfers that the manager suggests will improve the team.

I would think the middle road is the way to go here, but ITK seems to be saying that Levy is making all the decisions. The chairman should be saying "yes" or "no" with the clubs interests at heart, but he has to trust his manager enough to let him pick the players he wants.

 

[lillywhites61]

I am amazed by all the Levy hating at the moment I can understand the frustration but give the guy a break.

 

[xtrac]

So your solution is to hand the cheque book over to the manager to spend on whoever he likes regardless of cost.

if you hire a builder to do up your house, do you hand over your cheque book and say - I want the best looking flat/house in town ?

Doubt it.

I know of NO club where the manager signs the players on whatever terms he likes. The manager always needs to be working hand in hand with the owner (who sometimes as a DoF in the process too). Levy is more hands on than some owners - but don't think other managers such as Fergusson (ManU) has all his own way as he does not.

Agree, but i wouldnt be happy or expect the builders to be negotating with me for 3 fucking months, id tell them to fuck off, and build it myself

 

[mil1lion]

Didn't JJ say that AVB keeps changing his mind about transfer targets? Maybe that's why Daniel Levy is putting his foot down?

I'm sure if AVB suggests players that fit his system and aren't overpriced like Moutinho then Daniel Levy will sancion it. At least we know Willian is an AVB target because he wanted him at Chelsea. He needs to come up with a more realistic alternative to Moutinho if he doesn't like Dembele. Otherwise we'll be left without a Modric replacement.

 

[Yiddo1982]

#thefutureisbright

 

[Gedson100]

If we are as financially constricted in our budget as it appears, why did we spend a good chunk of our transfer kitty on Sigurdsson? He is a complete luxury who plays in the same position as the best player at our club. We have gaping holes in central midfield and desperately need a striker, as well as cover on the wings. We also have serious issues in goal, in my opinion.

I also disagree with the idea that waiting until August 31st provides substantial savings on our targets. Teams are not going to sell their best players to us at the last moment, when they know we are desperate. The only quality player who are shipped off on that day for cheap are players that are surplus to requirements, like Rafa was at Madrid. The numbers of high level players like that, whose wages we can afford, are very few.

Personally, I really wish we would spend the Modric money on either Dembele or Keisuke Honda and the rest on Lloris. We'd be filling out the weaknesses of our starting XI, which is critical in my opinion.

Day in, day out I read posts recommending the purchase of Keisuke Honda.

It's just you isn't it? No ITK, no nothing!

Maybe you should just put 'I'd like to sign Keisuke Honda' into your signature to save you from shoe-horning him into your posts.

 

[The Watcher]

So your solution is to hand the cheque book over to the manager to spend on whoever he likes regardless of cost.

if you hire a builder to do up your house, do you hand over your cheque book and say - I want the best looking flat/house in town ?

Doubt it.

I know of NO club where the manager signs the players on whatever terms he likes. The manager always needs to be working hand in hand with the owner (who sometimes as a DoF in the process too). Levy is more hands on than some owners - but don't think other managers such as Fergusson (ManU) has all his own way as he does not.

Pompey did, and look how well that worked out, won an FA Cup and everything... oh.

 

[sbrustad]

I am amazed by all the Levy hating at the moment I can understand the frustration but give the guy a break.

I've always been, and still am, in the Pro-Levy group. Having said that, if the ITK regarding his position as "Unofficial Director of Football" is true, I think he could do with giving Villas-Boas some freedom in chosing players he thinks will improve the team. I doubt AVB would ask for 35 million to buy Carroll, put it that way.

 

[Spursidol]

I agree, but there is a difference between letting the manager go on a spending spree and sanctioning transfers that the manager suggests will improve the team.

I would think the middle road is the way to go here, but ITK seems to be saying that Levy is making all the decisions. The chairman should be saying "yes" or "no" with the clubs interests at heart, but he has to trust his manager enough to let him pick the players he wants.

Not sure Levy is really making the decisions per se - if the selling club will not sell at a price the Chairman thinks the club can afford (knowing he needs to split the budget to buy 3 or 4 players) he has to tell AVB its a no go and move on to List B players.

Ideally I would like all List A players. Realistically I expect one List A plater and 2 from List B or C. as a typical result.

 

[freeeki]

Does anyone know what "Jerk chicken with a mate" means, is it some kind of cryptic, and if so referring to whom?

 

[Snarfalicious]

Does anyone know what "Jerk chicken with a mate" means, is it some kind of cryptic, and if so referring to whom?

Nope... Just jerking his chicken with his mate.

Nothing to see here (At least nothing I want to see).

 

[Gedson100]

Does anyone know what "Jerk chicken with a mate" means, is it some kind of cryptic, and if so referring to whom?

It's what you do if you're at Notting Hill Carnival.