The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 20th July 2015

[dudu]

It does seem like everyone here is always overjoyed whenever a new signing seems likely, no matter who it is, and always bash anyone who dissents.

That said, I am sure 100% of the fans would be over the moon if we went through a window having only brought in 2 players, both of whom actual quality that would without a doubt improve the first team. We dont do that though and would seemingly rather buy 4-5 squad players at a time spending £30-£40m, with potential to be good players that we can sell for big pay offs, some of whom seemingly block the paths of our most ready youths. That is just our transfer policy. Build for profits in the future. While some are perfectly content with that right now, I am sure most fans would rather buy just 2 players for that same amount of money who would genuinely improve the first team and give squad places to our most ready youth.

Interested - how many of our previous big players that we have bought thinking they would improve the team have been a success?

heres the top 10

soldado
Lamela
Paulinho
Bent
Defoe
Modric
Dembele
Keane(from L'pool)
Bentley
Pav

Would you not say that Soldado and Paulie in retrospect took a place of a youngster who could have progressed? Did we not drop them both in favour of young talent?

How many games did we play last year? Im sorry but we didnt have the depth of professionally adept and experienced players to convincingly make our way with success through each tournament we were in then, and we have less players now available to us to do so with.

We are selling a portion of our senior squad and you dont want to replace any of them with any experienced players at all?

You do realise that 30-40 mill bought us Lloris, Verts, Eriksen and Bale combined (not at the same time i might add)

I just do not think we are at a level where we can afford the type of player you are talking about, and as is proven by US most players we do sign in that bracket dont go on to be anything.

 

[Cornpattbuck]

Fellani nearly always played as a target player for long balls during his most successful times at United and Everton. Our new Peter Crouch? Can't see it appealing to Poch or United being willing to offer a cut price deal...

Moses into Fellani... Nah.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I have a feeling that we have someone really exciting waiting in the wings.

Smattering of knowledge or bushel of optimism ?

Embolo's been ruled out by several ITKs (including Jasper IIRC)

This summer that's not necessarily a bad omen.

 

[Studsy23]

We need a DM, is Felliani a DM? No, we don't need Felliani, we need a DM

Is Ryan Mason a DM? He still gets a gig....

 

[Xeeleeyid]

We need a DM, is Felliani a DM? No, we don't need Felliani, we need a DM

Prepare to be disappointed then, as I don't believe Poch favours playing with an out-and-out DM, i.e. someone like Sandro/Capoue who just sits there. Southampton & Espanyol the midfield 2 or 3 were very mobile and interchanged positionally.

 

[youngyids]

Bet I can find a fairly epic video made by a genius that would get us all excited about him

Go on then

Great post. Really agree with the sentiment.

One problem however is that (inexplicably) he just can't do it in competitive matches for Spurs. I remember how the players used to rally around Helder Postiga and say that he was brilliant in training. He turned out to be average, whereas Soldado has proven himself elsewhere.

I think - for reasons I don't understand- that sometimes players just need to leave a club and go to another, and then it suddenly 'clicks' (or vice versa as we saw with Fernando Torres for instance).

That was because he played through nearly every injury at Pool, and the collapse was just a matter of time.

In regards to Fellaini.

Big wages

Can't see how he fits into our team

Never buy a player on the way down.

There are like a gazillion examples that speak against that!

If the answer to our transfer plans are Fellaini, Moses and Hernandez then I'd hate to think what the question is?!

Who are the three players with the biggest footballing names in England, that we are being linked with, but we're not really sure whether we want them or not?

 

[talkshowhost86]

Prepare to be disappointed then, as I don't believe Poch favours playing with an out-and-out DM, i.e. someone like Sandro/Capoue who just sits there. Southampton & Espanyol the midfield 2 or 3 were very mobile and interchanged positionally.

But Fellaini isn't anything like Schneiderlin or Wanyama or Cork or any of the other midfielders he used at Southampton.

 

[Xeeleeyid]

are you seriously taking about fellaini?? whilst a decent option off the bench, i dont think for one minute he is suited to poch's system and your opinion of him getting round the pitch would have the two utd fans i work with (season ticket holders) laughing their tits off, he isnt mobile in the slightest, nearest thing i can describe him to is thudd.

He is a great and intelligent presser. He does move around the pitch, mostly without the ball.

 

[Lilbaz]

Prepare to be disappointed then, as I don't believe Poch favours playing with an out-and-out DM, i.e. someone like Sandro/Capoue who just sits there. Southampton & Espanyol the midfield 2 or 3 were very mobile and interchanged positionally.

Both CM's will have to be able to defend and attack. I can see Alli and Bentaleb being the cm pairing.

 

[Xeeleeyid]

But Fellaini isn't anything like Schneiderlin or Wanyama or Cork or any of the other midfielders he used at Southampton.

Well the only player he didn't inherit was Wanyama. Pochettino is good at maximising and using what he has. Unsure he's a slave to a certain style of midfielder, but what he's never played with, is an out and out DM. Fellaini is hard to compare to any midfielder as he's a bit unique.

 

[Lo Amo Speroni]

We'll improve because 'the youngest squad in Europe'(TM) will be a year more experienced and will have a full pre-season working on Poch's methods.

It's called organic growth, and it's how teams properly improve.

This all day long.

 

[tony_parkes]

Fellaini is a smokescreen for our real Midfield target.

 

[Qualsonic]

But Fellaini isn't anything like Schneiderlin or Wanyama or Cork or any of the other midfielders he used at Southampton.

Fellaini is one of those one-offs, difficult to pigeon hole.
He'd be great to have in the squad, capable of playing a variety of rôles - a clumsy Toure, a badass Crouch, a lanky Roy Keane, an afroed Schneiderlin, a cuddly Cattermole.

 

[samsonlevi]

Would be VERY happy with fellaini!

When we play those teams that sit deep with 10 men behind the ball that we struggle to break down, or when we play the real physical teams like Chelsea, what a unique player to have available either to start or to come on in the No 10 role.

Kane staying close to him and eriksen drifting to the left.....perfect!!

Sign him up if available and wants to come here!

 

[talkshowhost86]

Fellaini is one of those one-offs, difficult to pigeon hole.
He'd be great to have in the squad, capable of playing a variety of rôles - a clumsy Toure, a badass Crouch, a lanky Roy Keane, an afroed Schneiderlin, a cuddly Cattermole.

I prefer the idea of an afroed Roy Keane.

An afro may have calmed him down.

 

[McFlash]

LVG spoke very highly of Afroman, stating that he made it hard to leave him out. I can't reminder his exact words but Fellaini's training, hard work and determination turned him into one of the first players on the team sheet.
I'll see if I can find a quote - but don't expect too much from me!

I'd be interested to see Fellaini at Spurs but I'm not sure that curiosity is a good reason to sign a player!

 

[jedimonkey]

Seems like a lot of people on here would like to see the window closed asap if Fellaini is the choice.

Would be a case of saved by the bell when it ends.

 

[gilzeantheking]

Jasper on SO


I love Tim Sherwood

 

[youngyids]

Jasper on SO


I love Tim Sherwood

That's because you never had to work under him.

 

[robertgoulet]

Would be VERY happy with fellaini!

When we play those teams that sit deep with 10 men behind the ball that we struggle to break down, or when we play the real physical teams like Chelsea, what a unique player to have available either to start or to come on in the No 10 role.

Kane staying close to him and eriksen drifting to the left.....perfect!!

Sign him up if available and wants to come here!

Agreed. Never hurts to have a swiss-army knife type who can do multiple things. Some games require a tactical change, having a guy like Fallaini allows for a different look. A tall, hairy, fro-y look.