Asier Illarramendi (to Real Sociedad)

[rocklink]

So in summary:

1. We've missed some of the better dms available.
2. They've gone to clubs we could compete with.
3. We've sold all of our dms, you'd think clearing the decks for us to bring one or two in.
4. We've started the season with a converted cb playing the role.
5. We seem no closer to signing one and are starting to be linked to 30 year old journey men like Clement.

I'm generally quite patient, but it's starting to look like we've made a horse's arse of this again.

But which club in general can sign the players they want ? Chelsea only signed pedro who is now their first teamer and now struggling to buy john stones ... City only bought sterling , otamendi to improve their first team and struggling to buy their main target KDB ... It seems like both city and chelsea have lot of gaps in their squad that not buying KDB or Stones will hamper their season ... Then UTD bought schneiderlin / schweisteigar / darmian / depay , all of the players that will sit their bench and still struggling to buy any striker .. Just like us ... Liverpool bought some overrated players and riding their luck just like they rode their luck two seasons ago and achieved 2nd place in the league...

We mighty spurs signed kevin wimmer , kieran trippier and clinton fucking njie - all of them secured our future at an instant - which club in the world can actually do this kind of signings ? NO ONE , Only might spurs .. We bought Alderweireld and snatch him from soton - that's some achievement compared to the fact chelsea is still fighting for stones ...

We passed on clasie , imbula , cabaye , mario suarez ,illaramendi (looking likely) , yarmolenko , konoplaynka, shaqiri cause they are not going to improve our team and we never buy players that will not improve our squad or not going to fit into our philosophy ... We always buy players that improve the squad like stambouli , fazio , yedlin , holtby and lot of others ...

 

[MetalFace D]

The negativity in here is suffocating. People really do need to relax and smile once in awhile....

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

Point taken Stoof, but even an optimist must admit it's getting pretty hairy right now. People inside the club may know better, but to us it only looks like the same mistakes are being made. Even the itk recently has been non committal and indefinite (but still I should add, brilliant and informative, I'm not knocking it).

I agree with what your saying about Ian, but I'd be annoyed and frustrated if I found out it was true that we weren't really pushing that hard for him. If he's gone back to Sociedad, fine, but there's somebody at this club who's highly paid job it is to convince these players that WE are the club they should sign for.

 

[Cavehillspur]

The player does get a say in this. You appreciate that he may have wanted to link up with his old club? Rather than change his entire lifestyle and live in a foreign country?

Or is that Levy's fault as well? If we were given the thumbs up from an agent - likely - then why wouldn't we go after it?

There's no indication all our eggs are in one basket, so why the meltdown I don't know? I'm not entirely sure what's wrong with a lot of you!

Fully understand why AI has gone to Sociedad I'm just concerned that we will run up of options for cm. I'm usually quite positive but I've a feeling we will have another Stambouli situ on our hands and sign Clement then likely flog him next summer.

5/6 days left is and we seemed to have a very young inexperienced squad I'm not going to lie I'm worried just hope we surprise a few in these last few days.

 

[danielneeds]

The negativity in here is suffocating. People really do need to relax and smile once in awhile....

You'd think we have signed 0 players this summer the way people are acting - instead of 4 signings! Plus Alli and Prtichard.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Deadline Day. 6.01pm

Levy is either going to be a legend or suffer a dogs abuse. Either way it's sure to be something not to be missed.

 

[Sandro30]

NEXT

Can we try for Lucas Silva next please? Ta

fuck me this is embarrassing

He's already gone out on loan.

 

[King of the Lane]

If he has gone back to RS then this is really embarrassing. We have had 2 seasons at least to sort out our DM/CM problem and we have let so many good ones slip through our fingers. Starting to become unacceptable.

 

[dwaynedibley]

You'd think we have signed 0 players this summer the way people are acting - instead of 4 signings! Plus Alli and Prtichard.

That's not the point though, we've left ourselves massively short up top, threadbare in cm and overstocked at the back, daft to say the very least!!!

 

[Monkey boy]

Deadline Day. 6.01pm

Levy is either going to be a legend or suffer a dogs abuse. Either way it's sure to be something not to be missed.

Isnt that the same after every transfer window?

 

[Impspur1]

your expecting Clement Freud?

I'd take Steffen Freaud right now!

 

[mckenz]

Point taken Stoof, but even an optimist must admit it's getting pretty hairy right now. People inside the club may know better, but to us it only looks like the same mistakes are being made. Even the itk recently has been non committal and indefinite (but still I should add, brilliant and informative, I'm not knocking it).

I agree with what your saying about Ian, but I'd be annoyed and frustrated if I found out it was true that we weren't really pushing that hard for him. If he's gone back to Sociedad, fine, but there's somebody at this club who's highly paid job it is to convince these players that WE are the club they should sign for.

It seemed when Illarramendi's name came up we were looking at other targets but he (Ian) coming available put a pause on that. (It could have been Trix, not sure).

If he is now going elsewhere then we probably have other targets. We may even have some form of agreement somewhere.

 

[Spurrific]

The player does get a say in this. You appreciate that he may have wanted to link up with his old club? Rather than change his entire lifestyle and live in a foreign country?

Or is that Levy's fault as well? If we were given the thumbs up from an agent - likely - then why wouldn't we go after it?

There's no indication all our eggs are in one basket, so why the meltdown I don't know? I'm not entirely sure what's wrong with a lot of you!

I don't think there's anything wrong with anybody on edge with 6 days to go and nothing seemingly imminent - to me it just says they don't have their head in the sand.

 

[allatsea]

I don't think there's anything wrong with anybody on edge with 6 days to go and nothing seemingly imminent - to me it just says they don't have their head in the sand.

It is not six days to go it is seven including today

 

[Spurrific]

It is not six days to go it is seven including today

Well that makes all the difference, doesn't it? It's the same every window, "we've got a week left" - then when it shuts and we've signed nobody the fury in SC starts.

Considering it took us 6 years (ish) to sign N'Jie, I can't see how we can sign someone in the next week. Maybe Berahino at a stretch.

It's fucking ridiculous that it gets to this late in the window before we try to address some of our glaring weaknesses - yes we've signed 3 defenders - one of which has played but what's the point when you've actively weakened everywhere else.

 

[fergie]

Dm this dm that- I remember a time when a defensive midfielder wasn't even a thing- bring back the sweeper system I say and stick dier there instead

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

If he has gone back to RS then this is really embarrassing. We have had 2 seasons at least to sort out our DM/CM problem and we have let so many good ones slip through our fingers. Starting to become unacceptable.

It's not really embarrassing. We've heard from many sources that Illarra was Pochs number one target for the DM role once MS became unavailable. Levy waited for the player to make a decision as he obviously was given indication that he would consider signing for us. We are just unlucky that it seems the player has decided to stay in Spain - which is an entirely understandable decision from the players point of view.

If we don't have alternative options it will be concerning but then again maybe Poch has indicated that it was either Illarra or we carry with the options we already have in the squad.

 

[pablo73]

It's not really embarrassing. We've heard from many sources that Illarra was Pochs number one target for the DM role once MS became unavailable. Levy waited for the player to make a decision as he obviously was given indication that he would consider signing for us. We are just unlucky that it seems the player has decided to stay in Spain - which is an entirely understandable decision from the players point of view.

If we don't have alternative options it will be concerning but then again maybe Poch has indicated that it was either Illarra or we carry with the options we already have in the squad.

I'd say that is highly unlikely, given that he is currently playing a young centre back out of position despite having a fully fit squad to choose from.

 

[fletch82]

Well that makes all the difference, doesn't it? It's the same every window, "we've got a week left" - then when it shuts and we've signed nobody the fury in SC starts.

Considering it took us 6 years (ish) to sign N'Jie, I can't see how we can sign someone in the next week. Maybe Berahino at a stretch.

It's fucking ridiculous that it gets to this late in the window before we try to address some of our glaring weaknesses - yes we've signed 3 defenders - one of which has played but what's the point when you've actively weakened everywhere else.

Do you think we should just sign another unsuitable or average player like stambouli or wait to try and get the players that make a difference though ?

If the option is for example wait and then sign an Illaramendi or rush and sign zakora then I'd rather wait
The zakora type will still be there waiting if all else fails at the end of the window and won't take long because he is gagging to come.
I would rather wait and maybe get the player to move us forward personally than get the random average player and have to listen to 9 months of everyone whinging because he is shit.

 

[guy]

You'd think we have signed 0 players this summer the way people are acting - instead of 4 signings! Plus Alli and Prtichard.

Massively disagree, we needed a striker, a creative attacker and a DM. We've bought 3 defenders and a young raw speed merchant.

I would say that's a fail. Can be fixed in the next 5 days of course, but can't see it myself