The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 10th August

[alamo]

Relating to the posts from WLB and Herc (big thanks to all the ITKs for their continued charing of inside info!) and our continued problems to sell players:

I found the Athletic article by C. Eccleshare from Wednesday ("Why Tottenham are struggling to sell their unwanted players") quite interesting. The usual arguments on our price demands and players reluctance to leave as well as the chasm like divide between PL clubs and the rest of Europe when it comes to financial muscle is discussed. But there is also a fourth point which I think is very relevant to our position:

It should also be pointed out that a club’s reputation can have a big effect on how easy or hard it is to sell players. (...) it’s amazing how different perceptions are of players when they’re at a club deemed to be a good place for them to develop. (He refers to how Man City can receive good money for their fringe players). And the opposite can be true — as Spurs have demonstrated. Tottenham’s struggles over recent years make it even harder to sell unwanted players because there’s no real sense from prospective buyers that it’s been a place where individuals have been well coached or picked up good habits. Until this perception changes and until big contracts that were handed out pre-Covid expire, selling players will remain a particularly acute problem for Spurs.

I do believe he´s on to something here; when, over the past 4 years, would one say that we have been a club where players will have had a positive development tactically, technically, physically and/or mentally? Spurs players might very well be seen as damaged goods because they are Spurs players.

You wouldn´t buy a car from a dodgy dealer with a bad rep would you? The car itself might be outstanding, but the seller isn´t and thus you don´t trust that the car is actually any good.

Interesting outlook on the ITK info regarding outgoings, and a lot of agreement from members,

Is it really the case though? Every year the top players from relegated teams get snapped up. Our league positions have been mostly decent apart from last year given recent standards. Hardly something to label players as stagnant and not worthy of signing.

Edit: can't argue with the "big contracts" part though.

 

[tototoner]

Why can't people see that selling unwanted players is not easy. The players would rather wait to find as good an offer as possible and not care how that affects Spurs rebuild.
We can't always blame DL. Squad needs a rebuild and that can't be done in one window.

We do need another CB though so hopefully 2 out will be enough to get one.

Bottom line is he wants too much money for bang average players

 

[andyp8080]

Let the tide of negativity begin. It's so so boring

to be fair its hard to take too many positives from that update

 

[KingNick]

Why can't people see that selling unwanted players is not easy. The players would rather wait to find as good an offer as possible and not care how that affects Spurs rebuild.
We can't always blame DL. Squad needs a rebuild and that can't be done in one window.

We do need another CB though so hopefully 2 out will be enough to get one.

And I think Ange will have fully understood and bought into this. He understands the difficulties more than those on here who think outgoings can simply be lined and completed at will.

 

[Wils]

And so it begins… the sorry we tried

Yep literally groundhog Day

 

[VoteMe4Prez]

to be fair its hard to take too many positives from that update

I know mate but we are all in the same boat. I can still see us pulling in 1 or 2 before the end of the window. Maybe I'm clutching at straws but I can see it. Otherwise yes it ain't great

 

[leemason2302]

So we've gone from "the window hasn't shut yet" to "don't be negative, it's not the clubs fault they can't sell players" intresting.

 

[yido_number1]

Let the tide of negativity begin. It's so so boring

You pleased with that news?

 

[KingNick]

Bottom line is he wants too much money for bang average players

It’s a case of who you believe I guess. We don’t really have any verifiable evidence of demanding too much

The fact we let Rodon go on loan rather than being stubborn and trying to find a permanent deal, plus the releasing of Aurier and Doherty does go against this narrative.

even with Lloris, we had people believing Dan Kilpatrick that we are demanding a fee from Lazio, whereas Di Marzio was reporting from the Italian end that we would release for free and it was just Hugo potentially not wanting to go as second choice.

 

[philll]

We're filthy stinking rich, put the players in reserves for a season. Absorb the cost, and push FORWARD.

Exactly what a "big" club would do but we're more interested in cosplaying it rather than actually doing it. I get that getting shot of these players is difficult and Levy hates the very idea of "losing" a transfer but a club actually determined to set out on a new path would just get the ins done and then deal with the outs afterwards, in whatever form that may take.

They've finally brought in a manager we've all fallen in love with and they're kneecapping him before the season is even up and running. It's infuriatingly shortsighted, which is why the ITK is even more depressing because it finally felt like we were at the "rip it up and start again" stage.

 

[chas vs dave]

You pleased with that news?

It's no news. It's the same as we have been hearing for the last week.

 

[Cavehillspur]

Seems like we're at a bit of a stalemate at the moment then with the ins and outs. Hopefully it will make deadline day interesting anyway.

Same shit different window.

 

[kd2000]

Bottom line is he wants too much money for bang average players

Whilst I agree that we should be ruthless and just sell for what we can get, its not my company.
If for instance you were the manager of a bike company and needed space for new bikes would you sell below what they're worth just to create the space?
And, what if the shop on the other side of town was selling bikes of less quality for much more, would you still think its best to sell them at a sale price?

It is possible that Levy is seeing rumours that Newcastle are all in for a Chelsea full back with next to no experience for 30mil and hes thinking Atletico think they can have PEH, a prem and internationally proven midfielder for less?

 

[13VanDerBale13]

Let the tide of negativity begin. It's so so boring

As is the way this club handles its transfer business

Can’t blame people for reacting badly, when we’ve just sold our best player & are struggling to shift players out, with no DOF…

 

[kd2000]

Bottom line is he wants too much money for bang average players

Or, another way of looking at it, he wants market rates, for average players. I dont actually think the rumoured prices we want are especially unreasonable.
Do i think we should cut our losses and be more ruthless, yes
Are the prices (rumoured) we want unreasonable? not for me.
I can see both sides of the argument, and as much as I want us to get rid of the deadwood I can kinda see why Levy wants more.

 

[CarrickSpurgus]

We'll muddle throught till January and then spend that window pissing about with low ball offers for Toney.

 

[mil1lion]

It's frustrating after the window started well. I was really pleased with signings without sales early on. Now seems we've stopped until we shift more. I do think we should just sign some u21s at least as they don't need to be registered. I guess the main issue is Levy doesn't want to be paying wages for players who aren't registered. If we at least register them then they can be involved with training and some u23 games at worst. Get some u21s and although the squad is big we secure our future. Particularly since a few will be out of contract next year anyway. I think we'll see a few loans as well.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Why can't people see that selling unwanted players is not easy. The players would rather wait to find as good an offer as possible and not care how that affects Spurs rebuild.
We can't always blame DL. Squad needs a rebuild and that can't be done in one window.

We do need another CB though so hopefully 2 out will be enough to get one.

Because fans are talking about money that isn’t theirs and situations they little or nothing about.

Facts is anything that stops fans getting to wank off about the new signing they want is a problem to them.

 

[funkycoldmedina]

Prof said

From a rushed conversation with Gawain.

We are pushing hard to get 5 or 6 out, but as expected it isn’t easy. There is solid interest in 2 and medium interest in 2. A couple more we would like to leave but no tangible interest yet. Would like to bring in 2 or 3 before the window closes, but not completely confident we’ll get them over the line in time. One CB, one winger and ….. I don’t remember the position of the other one. Sorry.

This won't be a popular opinion but I think the success of these last 2 weeks would be better judged on who we permanently shift out of the club. The loan system has only led to us kicking the can down the road and apart from GLC has made all our players harder to sell. If we could get the 4 of the 6 Prof highlights out and make way for future windows I'd be happy.

 

[ReadieSpur]

Doesn’t sound like he’s even tried this time.

I took this update as a positive. we're still trying to bring in 3. Happy days!

Plus, interest in 4 players we want out is more than i thought. Lets not get all negative over this ITK- its actually good news.