The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 4th July 2014

[lemony snickets]

It speaks volumes to me, when the games 0-0 or 1-1, against so called lesser opposition & we're struggling to find a goal with 20 minutes left, that pivotal, game changing substitution that we desperately need......and it's Siggy who comes on..... He's got to go for me, if we can make that part of a swap deal even better

 

[Teddy Klinsmann]

I've always liked Siggy. Scored a number of important goals in the past couple of seasons and despite a lot of criticism always gave his all unlike some others. Will do very well back starting games regularly for Swansea - I'd expect him to get close to double figures in goals. Probably not suited to the Poch system. Wish him well if he goes.

 

[Teddy Klinsmann]

It speaks volumes to me, when the games 0-0 or 1-1, against so called lesser opposition & we're struggling to find a goal with 20 minutes left, that pivotal, game changing substitution that we desperately need......and it's Siggy who comes on..... He's got to go for me, if we can make that part of a swap deal even better

Yes not the most inspirational sub but yet did score some important goals when coming on. I'm thinking back to his first season and remember him scoring in win at West Ham and 2-2 vs Everton both from coming of the bench.

 

[JonnySpurs]

Well I'm pretty happy with what I read from Ali Z. LB, CB, LWF and ST are the 4 positions we all know we need to strengthen. That wouldn't be wholesale changes either, just a tweaking of the squad.

Like everyone else I really like Sig. He's scored some crucial and brilliant goals for us but the reality is that it's always been hard to find the right slot for him. I recall that he came on at HT against Saints last season at WHL and was awesome, scoring the winner, was rewarded with a start for the next game and really didn't do anything of note.

I've always felt like this has been the issue with him. Great in spells but anonymous when he starts a game. Maybe that's been the coaches fault and they just haven't found the right spot for him in our system? Maybe Poch knows what to do with him and maybe he doesn't.

If he is sold then I will trust that Poch has made the call and is happy with it.

 

[Lukasz]

How come Ali Z is considered proper ITK again ?

 

[Gb160]

How come Ali Z is considered proper ITK again ?

If you don't think he is ITK then ignore it...

 

[spursfan77]

I do hope Gylfi stays, it would be a very heavy price for Ben Davies if it was £8-10 million AND some deal for Siggy!

Little worried about Ade's wages tbh I'm not comfortable with breaking our famous wage barrier for Ade! It seems likely Falcao is off to RM so I'm sure if we offer Ade to Monaco for a tempting price, they'll bite, then his contract is there problem!

They reduce this year, don't they, by about half?

 

[SpurSince57]

I do hope Gylfi stays, it would be a very heavy price for Ben Davies if it was £8-10 million AND some deal for Siggy!

Little worried about Ade's wages tbh I'm not comfortable with breaking our famous wage barrier for Ade! It seems likely Falcao is off to RM so I'm sure if we offer Ade to Monaco for a tempting price, they'll bite, then his contract is there problem!

It doesn't occur to you that we've broken it already?

However, it was pointed out several years ago that the 'famous' wage barrier is a fiction. Levy assigns a percentage of the turnover to wages, and as long as we keep within that there's no ceiling as such. Bale was reputed to be on very big money when he left. (As a point of information, the percentage rose from 46% in 2008 to 65% in 2013.) On top of that, Ade received a £4m signing-on fee to compensate for the reduction in his wages, according to the Telegraph, which is normally the most reliable of the papers when it comes to this sort of stuff.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...or-from-Manchester-City-in-deal-worth-9m.html

Ali Z doesn't actually supply a figure. I can't imagine why.

 

[SpurSince57]

They reduce this year, don't they, by about half?

No, he's been on £100k a week from the off. See my reply to Luke.

 

[mpickard2087]

On our strikers, I would suspect that Soldado's wages are not far off Adebayor's so no wonder all the Spanish clubs went quiet.

 

[dantheyid]

I don't see why a striker is of such importance tbh.
I'm happy with ade, bobby and Kane, I would love a big shiny striker obviously but I believe a left back and centre back are crucial and I can live with the 3 forwards we have

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Regarding the latest info I would guess that Davies LB, Remy or J Rod LWF, and ether Lovren or Rojo for CD. Hector M would probably have been second choice after Lovren but I can't see us spending larg amounts on a player who is seriously injured.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

I don't see why a striker is of such importance tbh.
I'm happy with ade, bobby and Kane, I would love a big shiny striker obviously but I believe a left back and centre back are crucial and I can live with the 3 forwards we have

We desperately need a new striker. Ade's prone to throwing a wobbler and going walkabout (done it pretty much every season since he left Arsenal). Soldado failed big time last season. I personally think he's a very good player but we can't afford for him to be a dud next season. I also like Kane but it is unfair to expect him to deliver 10-15 goals next season. With only Eriksen contributing goals from midfield (not counting Sig), we have a serious lack of players that we can rely on for goals. A proven, preferably premier league striker (Lukaku or Bony) is a must. We also need a goal scoring left sided winger/forward.

Look at Liverpool, Sturridge, Suarez and Sterling all contributed. Whereas as Lamela was injured, and Chadli, Lennon and Townsend couldn't hit a barn door.

 

[faze_coys]

I don't see why a striker is of such importance tbh.
I'm happy with ade, bobby and Kane, I would love a big shiny striker obviously but I believe a left back and centre back are crucial and I can live with the 3 forwards we have

this, also think chadli could be moulded in to a backup CF or Support Striker, think hes much more effective in the centre (not CM) rather than wide

 

[dagraham]

I think it's probably in all parties best interests if Sig moves on. He's never really convinced tbh. He doesn't have the touch to play the number 10 role and isn't quick or tricky enough for the wide positions.

One thing he does do though is score goals (and easily our biggest threat from outside the box).

A final thought occurred to me though. Sig never gets any credit or cut any slack for his goal contribution. Yet Paulinho gets cut all the slack in the world for his, even though he contributes as little as Sig overall.

One is an Icelandic footballer who played for Reading and Swansea and the other is a Brazilian with an "O" at the end of his name. As the yanks say, go figure.

 

[dagraham]

I don't see why a striker is of such importance tbh.
I'm happy with ade, bobby and Kane, I would love a big shiny striker obviously but I believe a left back and centre back are crucial and I can live with the 3 forwards we have

Because Soldado can't fulfil the Ade role if Ade Is injured/suspended/out of form and it's too much to expect Kane to do so at this stage. Quality in the final third is what its all about.

We do need a LB and CB but I'm delighted if Poch has recognised that we need more up front.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

I think it's probably in all parties best interests if Sig moves on. He's never really convinced tbh. He doesn't have the touch to play the number 10 role and isn't quick or tricky enough for the wide positions.

One thing he does do though is score goals (and easily our biggest threat from outside the box).

A final thought occurred to me though. Sig never gets any credit or cut any slack for his goal contribution. Yet Paulinho gets cut all the slack in the world for his, even though he contributes as little as Sig overall.

One is an Icelandic footballer who played for Reading and Swansea and the other is a Brazilian with an "O" at the end of his name. As the yanks say, go figure.

I think it's more a case of Sig scores some important goals but is anonymous the majority of the time and other than his shooting ability he offers very little else. Whereas Paulinho undoubtedly has quality and talent way beyond Sig and with an actual coach who uses tactics, he can develop into a more consistent performer for us.

 

[spursfan77]

No, he's been on £100k a week from the off. See my reply to Luke.

Not sure why I liked your post. Obviously I hate him being paid that much money!

 

[ryantegan]

Harry Kane will have a big year I think

 

[dagraham]

I think it's more a case of Sig scores some important goals but is anonymous the majority of the time and other than his shooting ability he offers very little else. Whereas Paulinho undoubtedly has quality and talent way beyond Sig and with an actual coach who uses tactics, he can develop into a more consistent performer for us.

On what basis? I'd say there was plenty of doubt and I have seen nothing other than a few flicks to show this. And that's my point. I think people are judging Paulinho on his reputation and price tag.