The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 27th July 2014

[Waiwonder]

I agree our defence definately needs sorting out. I also feel that a lot of people have turned all their attention to who we could bring in as new centre backs. However as a ball playing defensive midfielder...how many have we got? Just capoue! Poch's whole philosophy will go down the gutter unless we bring in a similar player like capoue. That position is probably the most important in poch's philosophy of breaking up play and turning defence into attack in an instant in my opinion and knowing our club and history with injuries........I'll let you all dwell on that.

I'm not overly fussed which defenders we bring in. Poch has the ability to improve players' ability and awareness. As long as we strengthen defence and bring in that DLP (schneiderlin hopefully) I'll be a happy man

 

[LiamJM10]

That is a huge reason imo.

It's not worth spending £20m on someone who's ability doesn't match the fee though. Inevitability would suggest we'd pay that, and then have 4 fit defenders all season.

 

[WiganSpur]

As good as Lovren is, he's never convinced me he's a 20m defender. For that you expect someone of the highest level, no errors, no bullshit. I don't think you get that with him. The way Soldado mugged him for the equilizer at the Lane last year was ridiculous. I'm sure he did exactly the same in the Brazil game too, but wasn't punished.

Good signing for them, but for a club with limited finance, I'm glad we avoided it. Vertonghen/Kaboul/Vlad are good enough options if they remain fit. Really the only reason we're looking for a CB is because of injury, not because of a lack of quality.

I don't think Kaboul is good enough to be relied upon as part of our preferred back four now. Fine as backup, but i'd like to see a dominant, athletic centre half to partner Vertonghen. We definitely need more quality there, although Vlad looks very promising.

 

[Barry Mead]

The only thing I'd say there is that 30 of the goals we conceded last season—well over 50%—came in just seven games. For the other 31, we were pretty sound.

I think that was as much down to poor play from the opposition rather than us being sound. I remember that early run and people were talking about how few goals we conceded and I kept thinking how that had been more down to luck than any great solidity in defence. The mistakes were still there just that the opposition were not making the most of them

 

[St José Dominguez]

It's not worth spending £20m on someone who's ability doesn't match the fee though. Inevitability would suggest we'd pay that, and then have 4 fit defenders all season.

Well in Europe you'd be able to get one for far less anyway. Point was going into season with 2 CBs who have a huge question marks injury wise and Dawson is extremely risky.

 

[SpurSince57]

Aye, but our whole problem is matching & attempting to overcome the teams that scored for fun against us. We'll do as well as ever against the lesser teams, that's the way this league is these days...

But, anyway...

Chances are, we'd have lost several of those games anyway. It was the scale and manner of those defeats that really rankled, not the actual results.

 

[FreddieYid]

Has there ever been an (anti) fire sale like we're seeing with this Southampton squad before? They're all desperate to leave and yet the chairman is managing to hold out for silly money.

Yes they were a decent side last season, but there's no way that team was/is worth >£100m.

£100m? They've received £75m for 3 players alone...

 

[Colonel Dax]

Doesn't this depend on Kaboul's fitness? If he gets back to even 90% of what he was in 2011-12 (and allowing for the Ledley factor) he's better than any of the names we've been linked with.

A solid, settled defence doesn't depend on individuals. Remember, we were as solid in 2005-06 as we've ever been, but the only member of our line-up then that would get picked today is Ledley.

Big if IMO. I'm not sure we can rely on him to be one of our 1st choice CB's given his fitness record.

 

[Gedson100]

Has there ever been an (anti) fire sale like we're seeing with this Southampton squad before? They're all desperate to leave and yet the chairman is managing to hold out for silly money.

Yes they were a decent side last season, but there's no way that team was/is worth >£100m.

Ironically, our new coach could have been the glue that held those players together.
Are all these players really as good as their prices are suggesting, or, as I think is more likely, was Pochettino's system the reason a squad of decent but unspectacular players became reasonably effective & appear more than the sum of their parts?

And with that what ability limit is there on our undeniably more talented & strong squad?

 

[St José Dominguez]

Ironically, our new coach could have been the glue that held those players together.
Are all these players really as good as their prices are suggesting, or, as I think is more likely, was Pochettino's system the reason a squad of decent but unspectacular players became reasonably effective & appear more than the sum of their parts?

And with that what ability limit is there on our undeniably more talented & strong squad?

Been saying this often when people write off certain players before Pochettino has had his chance to work with them.

 

[RobjDerby]

Ironically, our new coach could have been the glue that held those players together.
Are all these players really as good as their prices are suggesting, or, as I think is more likely, was Pochettino's system the reason a squad of decent but unspectacular players became reasonably effective & appear more than the sum of their parts?

And with that what ability limit is there on our undeniably more talented & strong squad?

EXACTLY! Hence why he was appointed. Turn danny Rose into a £20m full back.

 

[Dirty Ewok]

EXACTLY! Hence why he was appointed. Turn danny Rose into a £20m full back.

Can he turn water into wine as well?

 

[Tit&Ham]

I'm a bit disappointed this far in the transferwindow. No, we don't need a massive overhaul, but at the same time we Could use one or two upgrades, and I also believe for the sake of the Squad and Poch we would have gained a lot from a "marquee" signing.

Fergie always bought one or two Even When They didn't need to.

It's still time, but whatever signings we make now will have short pre-season....

The positive about this is that I feel all supporters have decreased their expectations and therefore Poch will get time to make an impact.

Sorry, if this was a bit off-topic...

 

[SpurSince57]

I think that was as much down to poor play from the opposition rather than us being sound. I remember that early run and people were talking about how few goals we conceded and I kept thinking how that had been more down to luck than any great solidity in defence. The mistakes were still there just that the opposition were not making the most of them

I agree. For a lot of games the opposition was content to sit deep and defend; their emphasis was on survival. However, those thumpings we took against City, Liverpool and Chelsea weren't due to the system we were playing (OK, 'What System?' in Tim's case), but to individual errors, and then a collapse of morale. We actually looked to be on top, or at least Even-Steven, in most of those games.

I guess I'm saying that with better drilling and organisation our existing defensive line-up could be adequate, depending on Kaboul's fitness—which I'd say is the biggest factor in the whole debate.

 

[St José Dominguez]

I'm a bit disappointed this far in the transferwindow. No, we don't need a massive overhaul, but at the same time we Could use one or two upgrades, and I also believe for the sake of the Squad and Poch we would have gained a lot from a "marquee" signing.

Fergie always bought one or two Even When They didn't need to.

It's still time, but whatever signings we make now will have short pre-season....

The positive about this is that I feel all supporters have decreased their expectations and therefore Poch will get time to make an impact.

Sorry, if this was a bit off-topic...

I'm treating Lamela as a marquee signing. Could barely remember what he looked like until few weeks ago. We got 69pts and he barely kicked a ball.

 

[Keith Morris]

I'm a bit disappointed this far in the transferwindow. No, we don't need a massive overhaul, but at the same time we Could use one or two upgrades, and I also believe for the sake of the Squad and Poch we would have gained a lot from a "marquee" signing.

Fergie always bought one or two Even When They didn't need to.

It's still time, but whatever signings we make now will have short pre-season....

The positive about this is that I feel all supporters have decreased their expectations and therefore Poch will get time to make an impact.

Sorry, if this was a bit off-topic...

I totally agree with this, but is typical spurs approach. Would like a big signing

 

[Vwbottom]

Liverpool's inability to bargain for a player is going to go against in our pursuit of Schneiderlin, 27 million is a fucking joke.... But I've got a feeling, there abouts, its what they are asking.

 

[SpurSince57]

Big if IMO. I'm not sure we can rely on him to be one of our 1st choice CB's given his fitness record.

Agreed, but we fans are totally in the dark so can only speculate. I just hope it's not a reprise of summer 2007, when everyone agreed that we needed to sign an experienced CB but didn't, because Ledley was going to be OK. Unfortunately Ledley wasn't going to be OK, Big Tone and Rocha got injured as well, and we ended up with a horror show of Dawson and Kaboul.

 

[yojambo]

Gards ‏@Gards44 Protected Tweets 43m
Lwf a new name been mentioned by a few people Julian green

 

[Vwbottom]

EXACTLY! Hence why he was appointed. Turn danny Rose into a £20 full back.

Fixed this for you