The Daily ITK Discussion Thread 1st December 2018

[$hoguN]

They over-paid, relative to the market. You can argue that they did not over-pay, since they are leading the league - but we would have to take the same approach - and pay what teams are asking, and pay wages that players are asking.

We would also need to sell one of our key players to fund those transactions.

None of those scenarios seem likely right now.

We have run at a net zero for a long time now, there must be money in the bank to allow us to push the boat out for one or two players. We don’t need 7 or that, we just need targeted investment. Is paying N’Dombele an extra £20k per week bad if it leads to us actually winning some trophies and increasing our commercial value

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

We have run at a net zero for a long time now, there must be money in the bank to allow us to push the boat out for one or two players. We don’t need 7 or that, we just need targeted investment. Is paying N’Dombele an extra £20k per week bad if it leads to us actually winning some trophies and increasing our commercial value

I think we should do it. Unfortunately, that is not how Levy operates.

 

[thebenjamin]

Until they ask him: "Will you be here next season?" And Poch responds: "You know me, I can't discuss rumours..."

Realistically who is going to sign in the knowledge the manager who signs you may not be here next season.

 

[Mr Pink]

At some point the way we approach windows does need to change though. If we are serious of backing up the huge infrastructure investment We do need to be willing to match other clubs. Otherwise we have to accept trophies won’t come our way

Agree, and exactly what I'm saying. We need to adapt and evolve our strategy, which had served us so well but now is the time to demonstrate ambition.

 

[Goobers]

Thank for the ITK guys. I suppose that the CL is not the pull that everyone thinks it is for players. Perhaps the new stadium will help.

 

[Grey Fox]

Happy New Year to you, you slags ?

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

You telling me there are no more players in the profile of Son?

There are, just look to his old club - Brandt, Haivertz, Tah - all would not only be squad additions but genuinely push for first team regular spots. Way too much laziness in accepting the very limited names we are linked with - de Ligt, de Jong, Ndombele, Rabiot - and who are also linked with Barca et al are the only players who would improve us, it simply isn’t true but very convenient for Levy to spin that narrative while he continues to balls up the stadium and its sponsorship.

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

I think the ITK points towards us having definitive targets - I personally do ‘t Have any problem with that. Rather that than signing our plan B or C. The problem is securing those targets obviously.

Definitive targets that cost more than we are willing to pay in transfer fees or wages are by definition just a smokescreen for not spending.

All those on here who are sanguine about us not spending in another window shouldn’t be surprised when our manager walks, I would if I was him.

 

[dave5150]

Interesting point.

So we are aware of the up-and-coming players but have made mistakes in which we go for. N'Jie, N'Koudo and Janssen are clearly talented footballers who we thought would work for us but they didn't. Kante - who we were, by implication, equally aware of - went to Leicester. Predicting which talented footballer can develop and benefit your club / team is clearly not an exact science, and perhaps begs the question about who is evaluating the talent, character, potential and suitability of players.

I would suggest just buying all the young players we are interested in and then loaning them out to see who comes good but that hasn't really worked for Chelsea...

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

The scouting is excellent! It is the rest that isn’t. My opinion on closing statement.

Really ? Is that the scouting network that with at least 6 months notice that we were going to sell our first choice RB for £50m+ and knowing that we play a system that relies on pace from our full backs decided that Serge Aurier was the answer, so much so that we would wait until the last day of the window to sign him ? A player that had a track record of being “erratic” defensively to say the least. Sorry but I’m not buying the faith in our scouts and especially Hitchen’s supposed expertise with the French league, just not evidenced at all.

 

[Yiddo1982]

The scouting is excellent! It is the rest that isn’t. My opinion on closing statement.

You must have posted this or a line similar to this several times over the last year or two. Can you provide any context, as I have no idea what you're trying to say? It's useless without it.

 

[Hercules]

You must have posted this or a line similar to this several times over the last year or two. Can you provide any context, as I have no idea what you're trying to say? It's useless without it.

?

 

[Col_M]

You must have posted this or a line similar to this several times over the last year or two. Can you provide any context, as I have no idea what you're trying to say? It's useless without it.

Remember the Shagging story? It’s not what’s down your trousers she’s interested in, its what’s in your bank account. And your family history, not what your great great grandfather once did.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

Happy New Year to you, you slags ?

My mum says hi but wants to know who the other women are

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

Remember the Shagging story? It’s not what’s down your trousers she’s interested in, its what’s in your bank account. And your family history, not what your great great grandfather once did.

Insider trading?

 

[Darrenh61]

Interesting debate guys re why no top stars want to join us despite champions league and new stadium and poch....I put it to you one main factor, wages!
We simply don’t pay top dollar and won’t pay top dollar even with the new stadium, it will be better than it has been but levy does not sanction excessive wages.
I really do believe this is why we cannot get people like rabiot, de jong etc

Why did aguero join Man City? Why did drogba join Chelsea? Etc
Neither Chelsea or city had any great history until their mega rich owners transformed the clubs and their wage structures. The media immediately said these would be super clubs, agents believed this, saw the wages and convinced their super stars to jon previously tin pot history clubs...the rest is history.

Unless Daniel levy changes our wage structure dramatically, the new stadium will not change this material factor that drives where the top players go.

 

[scottlag10]

If only the "just back Poch FFS Levy" crew would take note of this bit...

Most , rightly or wrongly?, are now on the 'how has Levy let Toby and Eriksen get to less than 2 years left on their contract' argument!

 

[guy]

You must have posted this or a line similar to this several times over the last year or two. Can you provide any context, as I have no idea what you're trying to say? It's useless without it.

One could assume he is referring to the decision makers higher up failing to be swift and decisive in the market to secure the scouted names.

Early signs are not good for this window, I feel we are perhaps being trigger shy so as not to get burnt again ala the french n's and vj. Is this poch or Levy or a combination?

It's all good sticking to your guns with regard to specific targets, but if they do not want to come to thfc, you have to go and find plan b, otherwise you are just cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Clearly rabiot, de jong, ndombele are out of reach. Move on to the haidara's, seri's, Berge's et al.

 

[TheChosenOne]

Thank for the ITK guys. I suppose that the CL is not the pull that everyone thinks it is for players. Perhaps the new stadium will help.

It used to be until players of a certain calibre realised they could get loadsamoney for doing fcuk all 25 games a season.

 

[scottlag10]

I think we should do it. Unfortunately, that is not how Levy operates.

Well Levy needs to re-think how he will fill a 62,000 stadium at the prices we charge if we do not maintain our current level of competitiveness? !