The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 4th June 2014

[$hoguN]

Caulker is a strange one. He seemed a stunning prospect until he returned from his spell at Swansea.

Since then, his career and development seems to have stagnated. He made some real amateur mistakes in his season for us, failing to listen to calls, being caught out of position and generally not defending brilliantly. At Cardiff, his season has been indifferent, a few goals but some poor defensive performances.

The fact that Rodgers got him to play well says to me that he may be able to play for a manager like Pochettino, but his performances over the last couple of years have not merited him getting a further opportunity at a club aiming for CL football. (Conversely, I do think he will end up under Rodgers at Liverpool though and probably will excel there.)

 

[Sum Monsterism]

caulker = meh

 

[Hot-Spur]

Caulker meh, that would be like dating an ex or the wrong person, you know they aren't right for you so what's the point in doing it?

 

[thinktank]

Caulker is slow and loses concentration far too often.

We need a proper CB ffs.

 

[$hoguN]

Caulker meh, that would be like dating an ex or the wrong person, you know they aren't right for you so what's the point in doing it?

Playing Devil's advocate, Kaboul was dire for us the first time around as he seemed to lack any positional sense and was prone to lapses in concentration. Yet, when he returned he had matured into a very good defender. I am not saying Caulker would be similar, however sometimes circumstances change and people mature.

 

[spursfan77]

I would doubt it, unless he was going to be assured a lot of game time.

Surely someone like Hull will go for him.

Don't they fancy Daws?

 

[Mr Pink]

Don't they fancy Daws?

Yeah think you're right. Was just using them as an example.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Playing Devil's advocate, Kaboul was dire for us the first time around as he seemed to lack any positional sense and was prone to lapses in concentration. Yet, when he returned he had matured into a very good defender. I am not saying Caulker would be similar, however sometimes circumstances change and people mature.

He was also in and out of the team for us which didn't help. He looked a lot more assured when getting game time at Swansea, and by all accounts has had a good season for Cardiff this year.

I suppose those issues would arise again for us though if he's not a regular starter, and I'm not convinced he's good enough to take that role from any of Vertonghen, Kaboul or Chiriches.

 

[SpurSince57]

Totally agree, think we need to buy 2 x cb and I wouldn't mind seeing one of these being Caulker. Positive he can still be coached and improve. As he's cheap and young we could always sell him in the future. Sure Harry will still be around somewhere

Quite possibly he can, but one of the reasons he was said to have left is that he wanted to be first-choice CB, and he's not that yet—not for us, anyway. First and foremost, we need another finished article. After last season, I'd be happier with five specialist CBs, too—the idea that we signed Capoue because he can do a job at CB was unfounded. OK, he can do a job, but not a very good one.

 

[$hoguN]

He was also in and out of the team for us which didn't help. He looked a lot more assured when getting game time at Swansea, and by all accounts has had a good season for Cardiff this year.

I suppose those issues would arise again for us though if he's not a regular starter, and I'm not convinced he's good enough to take that role from any of Vertonghen, Kaboul or Chiriches.

I'm not sure this is correct. I won't claim to have watched all Cardiff's games, but my impression is that is was very much a mixed bag of a season.

However, like yourself, I do not believe he is good enough to command a place in our 1st team and hence I think we would be better letting him go somewhere else.

 

[$hoguN]

Quite possibly he can, but one of the reasons he was said to have left is that he wanted to be first-choice CB, and he's not that yet—not for us, anyway. First and foremost, we need another finished article. After last season, I'd be happier with five specialist CBs, too—the idea that we signed Capoue because he can do a job at CB was unfounded. OK, he can do a job, but not a very good one.

The problem is that you do not want to have too many players competing for a CB role as rather than breeding competition it breeds discontent as people just do not get enough opportunities. Ideally we would have 4 CBs and youth players pushing for that 5th CB slot.

 

[SpurSince57]

Dawson showed that he isn't more than a 4th choice CB at this point. He is loyal to the club and we all love him and last time his position came under fire, he stepped up and performed, but it seems like it's time to move on. He is slow and goes too hard into tackles, which is fine when he gets it right, but he's often just asking to get sent off. Caulker is a young, inexpensive, English defender who is already familiar with the club. He is perfect to challenge Chiriches for that 2nd spot. He reminds me of a younger Kaboul really.

Essentially, we should sell one of Kaboul or Dawson anyways and Caulker for 6m is a good deal.

Dawson was also playing when we had 13 of our 14 clean sheets last season, but let's dismiss that as pure coincidence.

 

[AX-Spur]

If Caulker accepts being 3rd/4th choice, then absolutely should we bring him in. Young, english, home grown and club trained. He played EVERY league game this season (wasn´t he the only player to play all (full) games in the PL?). He is a goal threat, he scored over 15% of Cardiffs goals (5 of 32), not bad for a CB.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

So we are hearing a fee of 6M for Caulker, are we?

Anyone rememer/ know how much we sold him for?

I don't see why we would bring him back tbh, he was judged for whatever reason not suitable, shipped out, had a mediocre season at a shit club ... what has he done apart from being young and English to warrant a return?

 

[Geyzer Soze]

If Caulker accepts being 3rd/4th choice, then absolutely should we bring him in. Young, english, home grown and club trained. He played EVERY league game this season (wasn´t he the only player to play all (full) games in the PL?). He is a goal threat, he scored over 15% of Cardiffs goals (5 of 32), not bad for a CB.

Well if that's correct, then it negates my previous comment then. I thought he was pretty mediocre, but then i don't watch Cardiff except when they play us so i wouldn't really know, just going on chatter.

 

[Spurs Lodge Kittens]

It's a toughie - but i think Caulker may settle the decision for us. I don't think he'll want to come back. Once you've tasted undisputed first team football (as a captain i hasten to add) then why step back into a place you already left because you were fed up being 3rd/arguably 4th choice.

 

[SpurSince57]

The problem is that you do not want to have too many players competing for a CB role as rather than breeding competition it breeds discontent as people just do not get enough opportunities. Ideally we would have 4 CBs and youth players pushing for that 5th CB slot.

In principle, I agree completely, but last season we were down to one functioning CB on at least a couple of occasions, and two a lot of the time. That's not the first time in recent seasons that has happened. 2007-08 we had King out, followed in rapid succession by Gardner (no shocks there!) and Rocha. That left us with Dawson and a hopelessly out-of-his-depth Kaboul.

If he comes to anything, I suspect Fryers will develop into a CB rather than a LB, so that would be the fifth spot sorted out. I'd be minded to say goodbye—regretfully—to Kaboul, keep Dawson and get another proven, quality CB to partner Vertonghen (assuming van Gaal doesn't decide to whack in an offer we can't refuse).

 

[Jocke W]

It's a toughie - but i think Caulker may settle the decision for us. I don't think he'll want to come back. Once you've tasted undisputed first team football (as a captain i hasten to add) then why step back into a place you already left because you were fed up being 3rd/arguably 4th choice.

Because he LOVES Spurs ??

 

[Good Doctor M]

Dawson needs a strong player beside him or mistakes start to creep in, that's his flaw. Caulker is probably going to turn out to be a great CB. Don't understand why we sold in the first place. It's a no brainer for me to get him back. Think he and Verts would make a seriously solid pair. If he's up for a return. £6 mil makes sense.

 

[Teddy Klinsmann]

Is prefer us to pass on Caulker. Lovren the player we need.