The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - The Bumfluff Edition 8th July 2013

[mattyspurs]

Hmmm...Holtby City/Dan Ashcroft called him a 'Stewart Dowing' type, although I'm more inclined to agree with you from what I have seen.

What? Wait! Dan Ashcroft is back?? This has just made my day

 

[Mr Pink]

I think Benteke will be a very hard deal to pull off without spending a lot of money, and you have to wonder whether there are better value deals around considering he's only had one season in the Premiership.

He did look pretty special last season, but for over 20m we'd have to be pretty certain he's the real deal.

We've got to remember that he would come with good potential resale value given his age (with the potential to increase as well) and that affords a great deal of protection in terms of committing a large fee. Couple that with his wage demands not being obscene, I would assume, and all of a sudden the fee needed to get him doesn't look that high risk in my eyes.

He's only going to get better, has all the raw ingredients to be an uber forward in this League, like he's already started to show. I think he'll get better and his value will be even higher this time next year.

Its a deal Levy would be into if he could trim that fee down a little I reckon.

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

We've got to remember that he would come with good potential resale value given his age (with the potential to increase as well) and that affords a great deal of protection in terms of committing a large fee. Couple that with his wage demands not being obscene, I would assume, and all of a sudden the fee needed to get him doesn't look that high risk in my eyes.

He's only going to get better, has all the raw ingredients to be an uber forward in this League, like he's already started to show. I think he'll get better and his value will be even higher this time next year.

Its a deal Levy would be into if he could trim that fee down a little I reckon.

That assumes he continues an upward trejectory, many examples of players who have spiralled down after their first good season, with the most recent being Andy Carroll. I'm not suggesting Benteke isn't a good player but at 20m I think he is a huge risk especially as what we require of him is very different than what Villa require. We need someone who can unlock a team that parks the bus. You only need to look at Darren Bent pre and post Spurs to see how much better suited he was to being in a team that parked the bus or at least didn't face teams that did.

 

[Mr Pink]

That assumes he continues an upward trejectory, many examples of players who have spiralled down after their first good season, with the most recent being Andy Carroll. I'm not suggesting Benteke isn't a good player but at 20m I think he is a huge risk especially as what we require of him is very different than what Villa require. We need someone who can unlock a team that parks the bus. You only need to look at Darren Bent pre and post Spurs to see how much better suited he was to being in a team that parked the bus or at least didn't face teams that did.

No it doesn't really mate. Well it does for his value to rise further. But in terms of his value being protected, he would have to be pretty shit this season for us to be fecked in that department. Even if he had a reasonable season we would still be in a decent position in terms of his value ie his age, off the back of one good season and one decent one etc...that's where I'm coming from.

In terms of your comparisons. Benteke is a vastly superior footballer to Carroll, he's already shown that and nothing like the type of player Darren Bent is either. Far more to his all round game in terms of linking up and bringing others into play than either of those two have ever come close to showing.

 

[Barry Mead]

JJ pretty much revealed the other player was Benteke but told us not to get excited because we did the same with Willian last season!

The way I read it was that he was simply saying a number of players have been shown round but it doesn't mean they signed, rather than saying Benteke was there

I guess those that hope for Benteke will want to believe he was there and those that don't will maybe not. JJ's probably having a little titter to himself

 

[Spurs_Bear]

The way I read it was that he was simply saying a number of players have been shown round but it doesn't mean they signed, rather than saying Benteke was there

I guess those that hope for Benteke will want to believe he was there and those that don't will maybe not. JJ's probably having a little titter to himself

Yep, exactly what I said earlier.

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

The way I read it was that he was simply saying a number of players have been shown round but it doesn't mean they signed, rather than saying Benteke was there

I guess those that hope for Benteke will want to believe he was there and those that don't will maybe not. JJ's probably having a little titter to himself

Same... Not sure where this interpretation has come from.

The wink to me implied JJ was referring to some ITK he posted after the Summer transfer window which divulged some sensitive info, some of which regarded players being shown around the training complex. This ITK was posted late at night and only a select few saw... It was deleted soon after on request.

I for one believe there's nothing in any Benteke link.

 

[Mr Pink]

Chelsea apparently are interested in Benteke - doesn't surprise me at all...some similar qualities to that of Drogba.

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

Chelsea apparently are interested in Benteke - doesn't surprise me at all...some similar qualities to that of Drogba.

Given Lukaku has a way higher ceiling potential I'd be very surprised

 

[Barry Mead]

That assumes he continues an upward trejectory, many examples of players who have spiralled down after their first good season, with the most recent being Andy Carroll. I'm not suggesting Benteke isn't a good player but at 20m I think he is a huge risk especially as what we require of him is very different than what Villa require. We need someone who can unlock a team that parks the bus. You only need to look at Darren Bent pre and post Spurs to see how much better suited he was to being in a team that parked the bus or at least didn't face teams that did.

Well the Everton lad Jelavic and Barcodes Demba Cisse are probably good more recent examples, both struggled last season to repeat their excellent starts to the PL the previous January and I would imagine any asking price last summer would be significantly lower this summer

I think you are right to be concerned about the difference between playing in a team that are considered top 4/5 and a bottom team. No one goes out to defend against Villa, morte and more in recent years as we have consolidated around 4th/5th we are facing teams that defend deep, pull players behind the ball and allow strikers little time or space

Our priority is to get strikers and attackers with the skill, vision and intelligence to unlock those tight defences rather than rely on the battering ram apporoach.

Of course it doesn't mean that you can't find a player with both, Drogba had some lovely skills for a big guy, Ibra is another big striker with a lot of skill, but they tend to be as rare as rockinghorse shit

Could Benteke be one of those players? well I wouldn't want to gamble £25 mill to find out, especially when you can sign a proven quality player with the skills sets and the track record for considerably less, even if you have to factor for age

 

[Sum Monsterism]

jj said: "Well we showed numerous players around last season that didnt come to fruition including Will i an so don't go too excited about us showing Benteke around...... "

which very much sounds like we showed benteke around. not entirely sure how anyone could interpret that differently...

 

[Supersi32]

Given Lukaku has a way higher ceiling potential I'd be very surprised

I wouldn`t say its a given to be fair, both have the potential to be absolute beasts.

 

[Mr Pink]

Given Lukaku has a way higher ceiling potential I'd be very surprised

Way higher ceiling potential? Lukaku had a good season at West Brom but for me Benteke's all round game is better, definitely. He scored more to in a team that was struggling. I think his all round game has the potential to be up there as one of the best forwards in the League, better even.

In any case, Torres could well go and a lot of rumours that Ba is going to be sold as well. Perhaps they'll want two uber type forwards.

I really do think some on here are under rating Benteke.

 

[Mr Pink]

jj said: "Well we showed numerous players around last season that didnt come to fruition including Will i an so don't go too excited about us showing Benteke around...... "

which very much sounds like we showed benteke around. not entirely sure how anyone could interpret that differently...

Exactly.

 

[Sum Monsterism]

out of the two I'd fancy a Lukaku over a Benteke. But neither will happen.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

jj said: "Well we showed numerous players around last season that didnt come to fruition including Will i an so don't go too excited about us showing Benteke around...... "

which very much sounds like we showed benteke around. not entirely sure how anyone could interpret that differently...

It was more the " " at the end of his post. That got me thinking he (JJ) may feel a little positive about this.

On another note, looks like we can't sell Huddlestone, due to the fact that it appears he played quite a part in Paulinho coming. A quote from 'The Mirror' today said, “In Brazil we watch a lot of Premier League matches. Spurs have some big players. I hope to work with them towards new successes. “.

 

[Jamturk]

I can't believe we're not in for Demba Ba

 

[y1dk1d]

Not had an ITK-less day since 22nd of June. Hopefully and update of Villa today will make sure that continues!

 

[Sum Monsterism]

I can't believe we're not in for Demba Ba

Ba(h) Humbug!

 

[WhiteHart4Ever]

No it doesn't really mate. Well it does for his value to rise further. But in terms of his value being protected, he would have to be pretty shit this season for us to be fecked in that department. Even if he had a reasonable season we would still be in a decent position in terms of his value ie his age, off the back of one good season and one decent one etc...that's where I'm coming from.

In terms of your comparisons. Benteke is a vastly superior footballer to Carroll, he's already shown that and nothing like the type of player Darren Bent is either. Far more to his all round game in terms of linking up and bringing others into play than either of those two have ever come close to showing.

More than type of player (and Carroll showed some great linking up-play at toons tbh) is the whole one season wonder thing: much like Cisse, Carroll, Jelavic and others it's a question of being able to do this not just one season. For instance we're now being linked to Krkic (sorry about the spelling) who was amazing when he first turned up for Barca, but has since struggled to maintain the form.

And this is why Benteke is a risk, IF he doesn't deliver. Furthermore, while you're partly right that it's not that much of a risk in long-term financial terms (wage, sell-on even if he fails, etc.), I can't see us investing 15m+ in more than one striker, and he'd bloody well deliver next season...