The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 31st July 2012

[Makkaveli101]

I really hope some of this ITK comes off soon. It's strangely quiet at every club though, apart from Chelski. I'm intrigued by the lack of ITK on midfielder/wingers. Who will repace Pienaar?

 

[bigpalacios]

Was Roger Morgan the first one to get on the Pienaar deal?

I think he was the first one to reveal Bales contract aswell.

Niceone Captain Morgan.

 

[kythg]

I really hope some of this ITK comes off soon. It's strangely quiet at every club though, apart from Chelski. I'm intrigued by the lack of ITK on midfielder/wingers. Who will repace Pienaar?

Everyone is away on pre-season/ olympics, beyond that with the moves more likely to actually happen people are waiting for the first big moves to happen, for example, Adebayor to us so Van Persie can move to City. Or Modric to Madrid so we can move for Moutinho. On that end it seems to be about who is going to blink first.

 

[Darrkespur]

Everyone is away on pre-season/ olympics, beyond that with the moves more likely to actually happen people are waiting for the first big moves to happen, for example, Adebayor to us so Van Persie can move to City. Or Modric to Madrid so we can move for Moutinho. On that end it seems to be about who is going to blink first.

Agreed, it's always like this at this time of the year. Once one or two deals go through the whole thing snowballs. I think it's potentially going to drag out a bit because of the olympics, more because teams are abroad more for their friendlies this year to avoid clashing with the transport situation. Once the olympics have finished and we're back permanently in the capital, I think that's when the deals will all go through.

 

[nedley]

MELTDOWN!!!!!

 

[Spurger King]

So does this mean Luka is now officially training on his lonesome?

 

[Indisguise]

MELTDOWN!!!!!

 

[spud]

Who will repace Pienaar?

I hear they've earmarked a pot plant in the reception area at the new training ground. It will be on the pitch as often and - under the flora and fauna exceptions rule - will not take up a squad place. Plus it's home-grown.

 

[mil1lion]

I hear they've earmarked a pot plant in the reception area at the new training ground. It will be on the pitch as often and - under the flora and fauna exceptions rule - will not take up a squad place. Plus it's home-grown.

You call it a plant pot, his real name is David Bentley.

 

[brasil_spur]

I agree! But still on the books and paying their wages! We have to shift 1 or 2 as soon as we sign Lloris. (If we sign him)

There are options for Gomes back in Brazil and Cudicini should be easy enough to get someone to take off our hands.

 

[spud]

There are options for Gomes back in Brazil and Cudicini should be easy enough to get someone to take off our hands.

I have a feeling (not ITK in any way) that we have no interest in Lloris and that Gomes will be our keeper this season.

 

[Tottenham Tom]

I have a feeling (not ITK in any way) that we have no interest in Lloris and that Gomes will be our keeper this season.

There is not a chance that this will be the case.

 

[brasil_spur]

I have a feeling (not ITK in any way) that we have no interest in Lloris and that Gomes will be our keeper this season.

I doubt it, remember Parks is still the GK coach and if he wasn't able to turn Gomes around under Harry i can't see him doing it under AVB.

Gomes could be a decent keeper for a club and back when our ambitions went as far as the UEFA cup and the outside chance of 4th he could've done a job for us. But with ambitions of securing 4th as a minimum this season and going even further than that we need an upgrade on our current keepers.

 

[y1dk1d]

Better at what though. Better at hitting a long raking diagonal once a game ? yes. Better at playing a high tempo tempo, pressing, passing & moving 90 minutes of football without giving the ball away continually under pressure ? No.

I'll take Allen.

Huddlestone has a better shot, IS better at passing (especially long passing), stronger and we already have him. Joe Allen is a decent player, but not good enough and at £15m, no chance. Not saying Scud is a Luka replacement but he is better than Allen IMO.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Huddlestone has a better shot, IS better at passing (especially long passing), stronger and we already have him. Joe Allen is a decent player, but not good enough and at £15m, no chance. Not saying Scud is a Luka replacement but he is better than Allen IMO.

Think about how we will play under AVB. Now think through which player has the attributes that might fit that system better.

Hudd has a better shot ? You kidding me ? I think Allen scored as many goals last year, his first year in the EPL, playing for a mid table side having their season in the EPL, than Hudd averages most seasons.

Hudd is better at passing ? Occasionally he will be better at a long raking pass. Those passes are rarely incisive, and those passes also are unreliable and sometimes concede possession. Allen on the other hand averages more passes per game than Hudd and has one of the highest average completion rates in European football, much higher than Hudds. His assist rate is low but then so is Hudds, and Hudd has been playing for a top five side (with a vastly superior bunch of individuals around him).

So when you say better at passing what you really mean is better at hitting an occasional longish diagonal, non incisive, non visionary pass, when not under pressure and when in space.

Better at passing to a team mate, better at retaining possession whilst under pressure then that would be Allen. Better at passing more often, that would be Allen. Also being better at pressing the opposition and better at tackling would again be Allen.

That's why I think Allen would be more suited to us now than Hudd.

 

[Mr Pink]

I see this thread is keeping nicely on track

 

[Breezer]

Think about how we will play under AVB. Now think through which player has the attributes that might fit that system better.

Hudd has a better shot ? You kidding me ? I think Allen scored as many goals last year, his first year in the EPL, playing for a mid table side having their season in the EPL, than Hudd averages most seasons.

Hudd is better at passing ? Occasionally he will be better at a long raking pass. Those passes are rarely incisive, and those passes also are unreliable and sometimes concede possession. Allen on the other hand averages more passes per game than Hudd and has one of the highest average completion rates in European football, much higher than Hudds. His assist rate is low but then so is Hudds, and Hudd has been playing for a top five side (with a vastly superior bunch of individuals around him).

So when you say better at passing what you really mean is better at hitting an occasional longish diagonal, non incisive, non visionary pass, when not under pressure and when in space.

Better at passing to a team mate, better at retaining possession whilst under pressure then that would be Allen. Better at passing more often, that would be Allen. Also being better at pressing the opposition and better at tackling would again be Allen.

That's why I think Allen would be more suited to us now than Hudd.

Do you really rate Allen? Or do you just not rate Hudd?

 

[SpurSince57]

I doubt it, remember Parks is still the GK coach and if he wasn't able to turn Gomes around under Harry i can't see him doing it under AVB.

Gomes could be a decent keeper for a club and back when our ambitions went as far as the UEFA cup and the outside chance of 4th he could've done a job for us. But with ambitions of securing 4th as a minimum this season and going even further than that we need an upgrade on our current keepers.

He went a long way to turning him round for over a season until Gomes started doing strange things again about halfway through the season before last.

Possibly, but is that Lloris, especially for the kind of money Aulas seems to be demanding? Lyon conceded 51 goals last season, which isn't terribly encouraging, even if there were mitigating factors. (Their defence has gone completely to pot, according to a guy who watches them regularly.) On shots-to-saves, Friedel was third or fourth best in the EPL last season. and not too far behind Hart—who was protected by a more reliable defence. Clearly, Brad can't go on for ever, but a new keeper seems to me to be some way behind a couple of strikers and a Modric replacement as far as priorities are concerned.

 

[y1dk1d]

Think about how we will play under AVB. Now think through which player has the attributes that might fit that system better.

Hudd has a better shot ? You kidding me ? I think Allen scored as many goals last year, his first year in the EPL, playing for a mid table side having their season in the EPL, than Hudd averages most seasons.

Hudd is better at passing ? Occasionally he will be better at a long raking pass. Those passes are rarely incisive, and those passes also are unreliable and sometimes concede possession. Allen on the other hand averages more passes per game than Hudd and has one of the highest average completion rates in European football, much higher than Hudds. His assist rate is low but then so is Hudds, and Hudd has been playing for a top five side (with a vastly superior bunch of individuals around him).

So when you say better at passing what you really mean is better at hitting an occasional longish diagonal, non incisive, non visionary pass, when not under pressure and when in space.

Better at passing to a team mate, better at retaining possession whilst under pressure then that would be Allen. Better at passing more often, that would be Allen. Also being better at pressing the opposition and better at tackling would again be Allen.

That's why I think Allen would be more suited to us now than Hudd.

I see what you mean. I know that Allen has a great pass completion rate but I don't really remeber him making a brilliant pass creating a chance. Just simple short passes. I think that you are a bit hard on Huddlestone, I don't think he is great but I still think he is better than Allen and he has undoubtedly got a better shot. Also I think he his better under preassure as he has the size and strength to hold off a player, unlike 5ft 6in Joe Allen. Allen doesn't create enough chances but Huddlestone can play balls from anywhere directly to a player. I think that Huddlestone is better than Allen but I would rather Dembele over the two and I'd much Prefer Moutinho/Sahin over Dembele

 

[Roscilous]

Enquiry has been made for another Oscar, not the Chelsea signing! Player IS allowed to leave club, price still being negotiated.