The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - The Weekend of 19/20th January

[HappySpur]

But John Carew might consider a comeback.

A few years back I said he wouldn't be a bad forward for us off the bench. As you might expect that went over as well as a thread on "Tasty Curried Dog Recipes". Let's just say under the new system of ratings my neg rep would have been in the thousands after that Probably would have been deserved.

 

[Snarfalicious]

If, and I realise it's a sizable 'if', Liverpool were to sign Sneidjer, having already brought in Sturridge, what would the odds be on them beating us to 4th place?

If we don't bring anyone in, and they do manage to pull that one off, I'm scared that it could happen. I hate that club too, their fans are beyond embarrassing, and I live in Merseyside so I know that more than most.

Their defense is still a debauchery.

Norwich sat back all day and when you do that against a possession side, you're going to concede. We won't do that to them, and their midfield is not as good on paper as people make it out to be. Lucas Leiva, while he used to be phenomenal, is still not quite there yet. Gerrard is a pretty static defender and would struggle against athletic midfielders (like all the quality clubs have) and being an active defender won't be a big part of Sneijder's game.

They will still have troubles defending, and while they will score goals, I don't think they are well-rounded enough.

They've also still got some tough matches left: Arsenal, Man City, us, Everton, Chelsea.

 

[dricha1]

If, and I realise it's a sizable 'if', Liverpool were to sign Sneidjer, having already brought in Sturridge, what would the odds be on them beating us to 4th place?

If we don't bring anyone in, and they do manage to pull that one off, I'm scared that it could happen. I hate that club too, their fans are beyond embarrassing, and I live in Merseyside so I know that more than most.

They haven't beaten any club this season currently in the top ten. Their manager has a touch of the foot-in-mouth and I don't think they'll finish top 4, our threats for top four are Chelski, Arse and Everton. I too live near Liverpool and I know I'll go into work on Monday with the red half full of how they've turned the corner, they play City and Arse next....

Bringing this back on topic Sneidjer is a long way from full fitness, none of the other top clubs seem to be in for him, and so I am willing to trust the club on this should they decide to give him a miss. We need reinforcing up front but I'm willing to wait for the right player if some itks can tell us that all on 'the committee' are singing from the same hymn sheet. The suggestion they are not is the biggest threat to our progress, more so than any other January signing imvho

 

[Oshi]

That's the thing with Sneijder when is he going to be able to contribute regular 90mins? Marchish? Can't see Levy of AVB spunking dollar on that deal, by the time he is match fit, up to speed with fellow payers and the league it will basically be holiday time. Loan to buy would be perfect in protecting that capital.

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

Our midfield is now comprised of a 32 year old returning from injury and a player with a recurring hip problem. If either get injured our replacements are a player who has a slower turning circle than The Titanic and a young England international who will never be better than mid table. We need to ship out Huddlestone and Livermore, by all accounts we can get 6mil for each from QPR and Fulham, which would more than cover the cost of bringing in Holtby and either MVila or Sissoko. We then need to address the forward positions where we have no cover for any of the front 3 beyond Dempsey/Sigg. This hole in the squad has existed since Berbatov left in 2008 and quite frankly it is crass incompetence that it hasn't been addressed (my opinion is that Ade isn't the answer just a cheap deal that appealed to Levy).

 

[south kent yid]

Our midfield is now comprised of a 32 year old returning from injury and a player with a recurring hip problem. If either get injured our replacements are a player who has a slower turning circle than The Titanic and a young England international who will never be better than mid table. We need to ship out Huddlestone and Livermore, by all accounts we can get 6mil for each from QPR and Fulham, which would more than cover the cost of bringing in Holtby and either MVila or Sissoko. We then need to address the forward positions where we have no cover for any of the front 3 beyond Dempsey/Sigg. This hole in the squad has existed since Berbatov left in 2008 and quite frankly it is crass incompetence that it hasn't been addressed (my opinion is that Ade isn't the answer just a cheap deal that appealed to Levy).

Have we ever spent the Berbatov money on a replacement ? Add the Modric and VDV money in as well and were sitting on a war chest, so wheres it gone if the ITK's are right about us being hard up.

 

[MilkyBarYid]

Jasper watch

Apologies, if this has been posted already, nothing earth-shattering, but worth leeching all the same:

As I already said, still confident at least 2 signings will be confirmed. Finances erm, no comment...

Originally posted by conn the king

Jasper, just an off the wall question if you know...was Freund a Levy appointment for the future, or was he similar to Di Matteo in appointment in that AVB had someone alongside him who knew the Club?


AVB wanted someone who knew the club, knew about Freund and told club to bring him in and this was agreed at interview stage.

RE: Sando

realistically will not start training until August-September, that is if all goes well, and if nit does not will not be back until Christmas.

There is some financial stuff in there re. sponsorship and naming rights but not really appropriate for this thread.

 

[Doonsbury]

Our midfield is now comprised of a 32 year old returning from injury and a player with a recurring hip problem. If either get injured our replacements are a player who has a slower turning circle than The Titanic and a young England international who will never be better than mid table. We need to ship out Huddlestone and Livermore, by all accounts we can get 6mil for each from QPR and Fulham, which would more than cover the cost of bringing in Holtby and either MVila or Sissoko. We then need to address the forward positions where we have no cover for any of the front 3 beyond Dempsey/Sigg. This hole in the squad has existed since Berbatov left in 2008 and quite frankly it is crass incompetence that it hasn't been addressed (my opinion is that Ade isn't the answer just a cheap deal that appealed to Levy).

Ade was not a cheap deal! He was a very expensive deal in the long term, just not all upfront. Agree that we some more up top though.

 

[Shepspurs]

More snow predicted. I mentioned in the United thread that we called off a game a couple of years ago due to the icy conditions creating a safety risk for fans. The pitch could be flawless but if the streets are deemed to be dangerous then the club could well decide to postpone it.

That must put all of our home matches at risk.

 

[Sandro30]

Jasper watch

Apologies, if this has been posted already, nothing earth-shattering, but worth leeching all the same:



There is some financial stuff in there re. sponsorship and naming rights but not really appropriate for this thread.

Chuck the finance stuff in, just as interesting to read and it's still ITK.

 

[Harry_Snatch]

There are two things that confuse me about the whole AVB transfer situation. The first is that he spent time as a scout and has supposedly spent time prior to us watching players and making lists, yet his top list of targets are a group of well-known, £20 million plus players. Now I don't spend a great deal of time watching football outside of the premier league, but even I could tell you that Moutinho, Hulk and Leandro would improve the team and probably give us a top four finish. The second thing is why he would expect Levy to make these kinds of signings, as he has absolutely no history of doing so?

The harmonization of strategy needs to happen pretty quickly imo, and if AVB really does have an eye for talent, let's start working on a group of players that are perhaps not quite so well-known, have the capacity to improve the team and are realistic targets for our club and our chairman.

This is about right. Granted Lloris was world class when we signed him and Vertonghen was and is the Belgium captain so hardly well known but signing players at that end of the spectrum in attacking areas gets much harder. It seems clear that what is needed is to take a slight punt like Newcastle did with Cisse and Ba.
To be fair to AVB he was more of a team scout in that he would analyse the strengths of opposition teams as opposed to travelling about looking for players. Doesn't change the fact that of all of our players that really matter now a very high % of them were largely unknown when they came to us: Bale, Lennon, JD, BAE, Sandro, Walker. We got to where we are by signing and developing. A lot of noise was made about signing big strikers but it's just proved to be too difficult. I wouldn't even care if Townsend or Bostock or Cdebballos or Pritchard was given a crack.

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

Have we ever spent the Berbatov money on a replacement ? Add the Modric and VDV money in as well and were sitting on a war chest, so wheres it gone if the ITK's are right about us being hard up.

'Arry in his wisdom spent the Berbatov money on buying back Defoe and Keane -

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

seriously man that avatar is the best I have seen in years.....top quality

Ahem.

 

[Snuzzy]

Let's stop kidding ourselved we can get £6m for Livermore and Hudd. No. More like £8m for the pair.

 

[venablesphil]

I'll be quite happy with two signings - If one of them is a decent striker and the other is a creative midfielder then I'll be ecstatic!

 

[south kent yid]

'Arry in his wisdom spent the Berbatov money on buying back Defoe and Keane -

Dont think Keane and berbatov came to £30m more like £20m .

I read that we were in £5m profit after the summer window shut so the other question is where did the champions league money go and where has the £40 odd million from modric/VDV dissapeared to if the ITK's are right.

 

[south kent yid]

I'll be quite happy with two signings - If one of them is a decent striker and the other is a creative midfielder then I'll be ecstatic!

We must get another forward in, we will start with Defoe and Dempsey but if things arn't working wheres our plan b ? We havn't got one.

 

[ohwhenthespurs]

Something definitely stinks about this Moutinho business, as Archibald and Crooks was saying yesterday.
Whether or not you think Aqkayid and co are bullshit merchants, the fact is that a week or two ago they were confident that we'd agreed a deal for Moutinho and that we'd sign him this window.
So, either we were trying to sign him, or the club were telling people that we're trying to sign him.
Which doesn't fit in with the emerging consensus that we don't have money to spend this window and therefore we're not going after Moutinho.
What's changed in the last week? Or do Spurs really go to the trouble of leaking deals that they've got no intention of doing?

I would love to read a blow by blow behind the scenes account of Spurs' transfer dealings throughout the Levy era. I think it would be absolutely fascinating to read exactly what goes on.

 

[south kent yid]

I stand corrected Keane and Defoe cost us £32m....That shocked me TBH

 

[OPModric]

Adam Brooks EssexPR
@EssexPR
Diame to Spurs rumours really picking up..... would he be a good signing or not ? opinions #COYS

Don't know about this guy, but 63 000 followers.