The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 15th July

[O'Brien]

Munny for nothing

Levy’s tricks for free

 

[Majick]

surely "Ange needs time to assess" is just an excuse, anyone knows a bit about football would say that CB is our main problem

We have over 30 senior players on the books. With the best will in the world, I don't think we'll sell everyone we'd like to this window - ruthless or not, there's only so much we can do in one summer given how many spare parts we've accumulated. Even with Lloris, Sanchez and Perisic going, say, we'll still have too many players. We can probably shift a few, but spaces are going to be limited with Solomon

So while I would very much expect Postecoglou to be pushing for a starting quality centre back, perhaps he just wants to see for himself exactly how rough a back four with our current players is. Over the coming week or so, he'll get to see near enough the full squad in two (friendly, admittedly) matches and trial various combinations in them plus working with them in training.

And maybe after that he'll give the nod to Levy - all in on a Tapsoba-priced signing because the current lot can't be coached into a decent back four without that kind of individual quality, or pull the trigger on Van Der Ven because he thinks that 15-20m difference in fees can be better invested elsewhere.

Or maybe it's Levy being Levy, goalposts are moving, and we're relying on that being enough to confuse opposition forwards rather than actually doing the necessary.

 

[CanadaSpurs]

Or maybe it's Levy being Levy, goalposts are moving, and we're relying on that being enough to confuse opposition forwards rather than actually doing the necessary.

You’ve been a supporter for how long and this is what ITK seem to be saying, so what do you think is most likely?

 

[worcestersauce]

It almost seems like Postecoglu has said he wants to look at the defenders he has while on tour and Levy has taken that as a reason to hold back on any purchase until he gets clarification, probably hoping he won't have to spend any money. Or maybe Kane came back and told him he won't stay so he's reassessing possible purchases.

 

[spursfan77]

I'll be honest. As of now If we don't end up short yet again, with poundland versions or last minute panic buys I'll be surprised.

Surely the Solomon deal was indicative of this. A fortunate free transfer rather than paying out a sum for a player. Yet lots seem to have fallen for it.

On the other hand, the squad is big. We need to sell quite a few players and I suspect that’s part of the reason why more players haven’t come in. It doesn’t help that they are all on the other side of the world. Plenty of time to go yet but I’m more concerned we haven’t sold enough players (because the manager wants to look at a few despite their limitations being obvious) than haven’t bought enough, at this stage.

 

[chas vs dave]

Surely the Solomon deal was indicative of this. A fortunate free transfer rather than paying out a sum for a player. Yet lots seem to have fallen for it.

On the other hand, the squad is big. We need to sell quite a few players and I suspect that’s part of the reason why more players haven’t come in. It doesn’t help that they are all on the other side of the world. Plenty of time to go yet but I’m more concerned we haven’t sold enough players (because the manager wants to look at a few despite their limitations being obvious) than haven’t bought enough, at this stage.

The squad is big, but the wage bill isn't. We could easily afford to sign before offloading.

I will criticise levy/enic if we don't strengthen further, however I'm not wetting the bed now. I will wait and see.

 

[Klinsmannesque]

I appreciate the ITK but I refuse to believe we won’t get 1 top centre back in.
Granted to late in the window maybe but I’d be astounded if we don’t.

I still think we sign VDV.

You spelt CCV wrong

 

[mattspur1986]

You know what, I’m not even a little bit surprised by trix’s news. He will never ever change! We heard that the VDV deal had been agreed and then it all went quiet!

was obvious something was up, and surprise surprise it’s levy YET AGAIN!

to go into the new season with our current defensive options is terrible! Absolutely terrible! So careless!

 

[Stoof]

You know what, I’m not even a little bit surprised by trix’s news. He will never ever change! We heard that the VDV deal had been agreed and then it all went quiet!

was obvious something was up, and surprise surprise it’s levy YET AGAIN!

to go into the new season with our current defensive options is terrible! Absolutely terrible! So careless!

Must have missed this.

 

[mattspur1986]

surely "Ange needs time to assess" is just an excuse, anyone knows a bit about football would say that CB is our main problem

stevie wonder could probably tell you cb is our main problem, Tbf probably knows more about football than the vertically challenged one.

 

[mattspur1986]

Must have missed this.

well both h88/true have implied that the deal was all but agreed, then trix has laid out what he has, maybe I’m jumping the gun but it reads as if levy is up to his tricks.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I'll be honest. As of now If we don't end up short yet again, with poundland versions or last minute panic buys I'll be surprised.

Appreciate the ITK from you and Herc but we can’t have it both ways.

If you’re saying Ange wants more time to assess the squad then some more incomings need to be put on hold as we already have a squad of 31 players!!! None of us can say for sure if any of the current CB’s could work a bit better for Ange’s style of play so understandable he needs a bit more time to fully assess as it’s unlikely we will be able to sell 3-4 of them so he will want to see which ones he can work with, see which profile of player that then needs him to sign before pulling the trigger on some options.

There was negativity ITK about the Manager search process early on yet I said let’s see how it ends up as that is what matters and we ended up imo with a very very good choice in Ange. There was also negative ITK last Jan window about Levy and the Porro deal but we signed him in the end. There was negative ITK at the start of the Maddison rumours saying they’d very much doubt we will sign him, yet we did…

We’ve signed 3 good signings early this summer in Vicario, Maddison and Solomon. We’ve also been told there is lots of interest in quite a few of the players Ange may well look to sell.

I know Levy and his old tricks but I’d honestly be staggered if we reach the start of the season and haven’t signed a new CB and by the end of the whole window I think we will have likely signed 2 depending on who Ange wants to move on.

We are always told take things with a pinch of salt either way, it seems like things change almost daily so honestly I think a lot on here would benefit from taking a step back at times emotionally and wait and see what happens and until something is signed and official then it’s not done either way.

I remain cautiously optimistic at this point that we will end up with 1-2 new CB’s and some other signings and will be in a good position, the process to get where we want to be might not be as smooth and efficient as we’d like with Levy involved but I think ultimately this summer we will get more or less where we want to be.

 

[Trix]

Ok maybe I was a little ott last night so I'll try to clarify without saying too much and getting anyone in trouble.

The VdV deal isn't officially off, but we've managed to upset a few people at the last minute once again.

Get everything agreed, and then not be happy with the way the deal is shaped. Its once again trying to get that extra last minute win on a deal we have already got the win on. We've been here numerous times before and we know from past experience we are not worried to walk away for things like this and worse someone else swoops in or the player just has enough of the pissing about.

As I say maybe a bit ott last night, however I'm now fully aware things haven't changed which is why I posted what I did.

 

[coy-spurs1882]

Ok maybe I was a little ott last night so I'll try to clarify without saying too much and getting anyone in trouble.

The VdV deal isn't officially off, but we've managed to upset a few people at the last minute once again.

Get everything agreed, and then not be happy with the way the deal is shaped. Its once again trying to get that extra last minute win on a deal we have already got the win on. We've been here numerous times before and we know from past experience we are not worried to walk away for things like this and worse someone else swoops in or the player just has enough of the pissing about.

As I say maybe a bit ott last night, however I'm now fully aware things haven't changed which is why I posted what I did.

really surprised that there are still people willing to deal with Levy. in other industries you would probably be blacklisted if you do business like this

 

[yido_number1]

really surprised that there are still people willing to deal with Levy. in other industries you would probably be blacklisted if you do business like this

I thought levy was supposed to be leaving the football side alone and letting Mum and the team get on with it.

 

[FibreOpticJesus]

really surprised that there are still people willing to deal with Levy. in other industries you would probably be blacklisted if you do business like this

Or you pay a super premium rate from the off.

 

[chelmyid]

Ok maybe I was a little ott last night so I'll try to clarify without saying too much and getting anyone in trouble.

The VdV deal isn't officially off, but we've managed to upset a few people at the last minute once again.

Get everything agreed, and then not be happy with the way the deal is shaped. Its once again trying to get that extra last minute win on a deal we have already got the win on. We've been here numerous times before and we know from past experience we are not worried to walk away for things like this and worse someone else swoops in or the player just has enough of the pissing about.

As I say maybe a bit ott last night, however I'm now fully aware things haven't changed which is why I posted what I did.

Totally expected and annoying and out right boring that people can’t see the error in their ways - the only shed of light on taking though (im and I’m stretching but there you go) is it would appear the hierarchy at least agree we need a new CB and we will hopefully get one. Whether they end up with the right one at the right time is a completely different conversation for a different thread - but that’s the only consolation I’m taking!

 

[Cavehillspur]

Ok maybe I was a little ott last night so I'll try to clarify without saying too much and getting anyone in trouble.

The VdV deal isn't officially off, but we've managed to upset a few people at the last minute once again.

Get everything agreed, and then not be happy with the way the deal is shaped. Its once again trying to get that extra last minute win on a deal we have already got the win on. We've been here numerous times before and we know from past experience we are not worried to walk away for things like this and worse someone else swoops in or the player just has enough of the pissing about.

As I say maybe a bit ott last night, however I'm now fully aware things haven't changed which is why I posted what I did.

Thanks Trix, really is so frustrating the way we operate on some transfers especially one like this in an absolute key positon which isn't going to cost the world.

 

[Spursberg]

Maybe the reason we try to squeeze the VDV deal , is because the club are not sold on him beeing a player that will instantly improve our first 11? He is 22 and only had one ok season in the Bundesliga.
Hopefully something else cooking in the background and VDV is the "backup" That said i am not surprised at all that Levy is again trying to save a small amount, and probably end up with Lenglet in the end.

 

[Russ1201]

I thought levy was supposed to be leaving the football side alone and letting Mum and the team get on with it.

Issue is he just has to stick his nose in. Wouldn't suprise me if he mess up this deal. Not building my hopes up but we will see soon enough.