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The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 12th June 2013

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Holtby City

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May 15, 2013
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-----------------------------Lloris(Friedel)---------------------------
Walker(Naughton)-Kaboul(Dawson)-Verts(Caulker)-BAE(Rose)
-------------Dembele(Carroll)--------Sandro(Parker)--------------
-----------------------------Siggy(Holtby)----------------------------
Lennon(Townsend)---------------------------------Bale(Dempsey)
------------------------------Ade(Defoe)-----------------------------
Livermore, Falque, Gomes

IMO we are pretty close to two good players at each position already. One striker, one winger/wide forward, one fullback, and one CM and we look pretty damn good to me. Especially considering that players like Vertonghen, Bale, Dempsey, Siggy can all play multiple positions. I think we are only selling Ade and/or Defoe with direct replacements, I imagine AVB would walk if we started the season with literally one striker.

Yeah, that's interesting. I do think our squad is pretty trim now. I think we probably need to lose 5 and bring in 3, to leave us with about 24 senior players (my thoughts in my signiture).

Parker and Friedel are the two I'd probably not bother moving on/replacing till January/next summer, as I think we have other more pressing priorites (CF, wide forward and CM).

Wages are though perhaps an issue - we could make big savings replacing both Parker and Livermore with a random 20yo Portugese/German DM.
 

PrettyColors

Rosie47 Fan
Aug 13, 2011
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So the Express reckon we are in for Barry at 4 million lol....as a replacement for Parker!
Not as bad as people say, and that's a good price.

However he's old, slow, and will have big wages. Also I think he'll want to start.
 

arunspurs

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Aug 31, 2012
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I wouldn't be so critical of Barry. He was one of the main stays in City line up under Mancini and noched up more than 5000 minutes in last 2 seasons in PL alone in a mercenary squad. For the type of football Mancini played, 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, he gave a stablity in midfield. Mancini never saw his slowness as a weakness.

Point is, he is terrible when you play 4-4-2, he is exposed big time-thats why he failed time & again playing for England.
But in a packed up midfield he is not a liabiliy. Media are quoting 3.5million. Not a bad replacement for Parker/Livermore provided we only offer him 3 Year deal on 50 to 60k a week.

I would not dismiss the link- would suppot it if Levy can strike a bargain.
 

Lilbaz

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We spent the last summer bringing down the age of our squad, i don't see why this summer we'd bring it up again.
 

arunspurs

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Aug 31, 2012
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We spent the last summer bringing down the age of our squad, i don't see why this summer we'd bring it up again.

Looking at wrong attributes.

While age is a thing we need to keep in mind in any squad, but it is not the primary objective.
Some here want Damiao who is 23 but has missed 55% of Internacional league games since Sep2011 (31 league games to be precise) but are against Barry who has played 7000 minutes in last 2 seasons (5000 of those in PL for a top 2 finished team).

Players like Klose, Nistelrooy, Raul play athihest level well past 35. While I am no way comparing Barry to them, point is - if you are fit enough & play consistently at a decent level its good enough. Age alone cannot be a factor.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
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But it is a factor as we look at players as investments. Like it or not we are like porto and aim to bring in young players on modest wages and sell them at a profit. Then we reinvest that money in more young players. This both increases the strength of our squad while keeping us in the black.
 

arunspurs

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Aug 31, 2012
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But it is a factor as we look at players as investments. Like it or not we are like porto and aim to bring in young players on modest wages and sell them at a profit. Then we reinvest that money in more young players. This both increases the strength of our squad while keeping us in the black.

Partially agreed. Levy's philosphy is value for money. That value for money extends to aged players as well. He saw value in a free transfer for Gallas, Saha & Freidel and saw a value for a 28 year old VDV. Parker is also a value player because even now Levy can sell him at the same 6m, as him being English player. Every squad needs experienced heads. So, if they present value there is no reason why we shouldn have them.

My opinion - Never buy a player who is coming in with a injury clout. Age is not a concern for me, if the player presents value to squad & the bank on reselling. On Barry, he is defintely not my first choice, but if we can strike a bargain, he is defintely better than Parker & Livermore.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
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Wages will be a factor on how much of a bargain he is though. Any idea how much he's on at city?
 

arunspurs

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Wages will be a factor on how much of a bargain he is though. Any idea how much he's on at city?
In april, it was reported that he was on 120k a week with contract ending in summer of 2014 but was ready to take pay cut to 70k a week to remain at city. If these reports are true, City are just trying to save his wages and get him out.

If he is sold out from City, I cant any PL club paying him even 70k a week. QPR are not here anymore. So, there is lot of ground for Levy to bargain with Barry.

Anyway, question is whether AVB wants him ?.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
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We already have parker. For me the money could be better spent elsewhere.
 
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