The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - THE POST MORTEM EDITION

[dricha1]

Go and stand in the corner for not putting Sandro in the league team. How quickly people forget, well he's back now to remind you.

To be honest you could perm 3 from any 6 midfielders and I don't think we would be weakend in any way, that's the depth we have.
You could also argue why should Lennon miss out to Chadli or Townsend and Defoe miss out to Ade...my point still stands that we've assembled a top notch squad. Glad AVB picks the team not me.

 

[Kendall]

Well now that the window is finally over I can get my life back. My pregnant Mrs is chuffed too. In fact, I expect she's going to
throw a f****** street party.

Mixed feelings for me this window. I'm not sure how anyone can say its been an amazing window and unqualified success when we've lost the best player in the PL and our talismen. Hand on heart I would have preferred if we'd put our foot down and resisted all advances for Bale and maybe added just Soldado and Eriksen but I can undestand why we didn't on this occasion. I do think that those that say we won't miss Bale are indulging in a sever case of wishful thinking though.

In saying that, what we have done is make the best of a big shit sandwich we've been dealt. In the words of POTL Levy and Baldini deserve credit for this and for getting the job done. There's no doubt that our squad is more rounded now and with much greater depth.

I know we haven't actually made any net investment but we've managed to improve the squad whilst saving more money towards the stadium (something which has been going on for ages even if some are too blind to see it).

Unfortunately, I can't see this changing until we've not only built the stadium but finished paying for it, which will be quite a few years. Whilst I think we have missed an opportunity in the last few windows not to make a net investment in players while we were strong and Arsenal were weak, the money we have saved whilst remaining competetive should see us coming out the other side post stadium in a shorter turnaround time.

I do hope though that the pipe dreams of "this is the year" and "Uncle Joe is going for it" are finally put to bed. I'm not bashing ITK's and believe all the info is passed on in good faith but it just didn't make sense that two risk averse businessman would change their MO and start spending Abramovich style, particuarly when we have a stadium to finance.

As for the squad :

We have a world class keeper a relaible back up.

We have Kaboul coming back, which is massive and we've added a very highly rated defender. I do think Chriches is an alternative to Verts and not a partner as they seem too similar in style, so I hope Kaboul can stay injury free as Dawson is out of step to how AVB wants to play.

Full backs are a problem imo. Its not a disaster but they were the biggest weakness (apart from upfront) last season and we really should have strengthen which I don't think we have. Nobody can convince me that they are in keeping with a top four team.

Midfield is where we really are strong. Capoue means we have perfect competion and cover for Sandro and Paulihno will become a very good player in time. In Lemala and Eriksen we have solved our creative problems ( at least on paper, depends how AVB deploys them). That's not forgetting the likes of Dembele and Holtby.

Out wide, I think we need to give Lemela time to settle and I'm very glad we haven't sold Lennon. We need his pace to stratch teams. Chadli I'll reserve judgement on.

Up front, I am so pleased that we have 3 genuine strikers as i think that's the minumum needed in a long season. I do worry about Ade as it seems we were hawking him around which is not going to do his motivation any good imo. AVB will have his work cut out to get his head right but that is what he's paid for and its vital imo as his link up play could prove key for us.

Its a bummer about Willain and Contreou as that wuld have completed us but we have to get real. We're not in the CL and until we are we will always struggle to attract certain players.

Finally, AVB. I'm sure I'll get slated for this but the jury is still out for me. Before everone starts frothing at the mouth, I like AVB. I like the way he handles himself and he is definately a talented coach. All I mean is that this season is the real acid test for me. I said last season that we couldn't really judge him as Bale masked everything with his extraordinary perfrmances.

AVB has the players for his system now and we're going to find out just what he's got. It's going to be an interesting ride. COYS.

The thing is, Joe Lewis isn't a risk-averse businessman, he is a speculator, a contrarian and a bit of a maverick.

 

[sebcole]

We have bought talented youth with potential

Yes, I could be another transitional season because of this, we have a young side - one that surely would do well in the future especially if they are to stick together.
We are certainly not guaranteed top 4 this season, even though most of us concede proudly that we have upgraded in every area bar Bale. Liverpool have much to be optimistic about, and I admire the way they are playing. Everton have had a good window, perhaps Man Utd might slip a little, with a some clouds hanging over the supporters after the transfer window debacle in their eyes.
An example might be, Willian - who might have expected to have a bigger impact than Eriksen, who is 4 years younger. We will surely see, and I really hope that we win by MORE than one goal on Saturday (any win would be an improvement on last season remember). COYS.

 

[Quiffco]

It's a waste to keep him here against his will, he'd never put in 100% for us and could be a disruptive influence on the squad.

You mean 'against his agent's will'?

Can't help the feeling that the primary motivator for the move was Barnett, especially when in that SSN interview he said the transfer had taken 110 days to pull off, suggesting he'd been working on moving Bale from very early on in the transfer window, and I think his public 'We'd be open to talking to RM' proclemation was his first move to securing his own financial future, regardless of whether Bale was willing to give us another year or not.

 

[JamieSpursCommunityUser]

Pointless naming anyone as whoever named it will be - ' wouldn't come no CL' 'wouldn't come too expensive' 'wouldn't come x club won't sell to us' blah blah yet we signed Lamela supposed to be one of the greatest prospects in world football (although unproven in PL) that's why we have Baldini to do the difficult deals which would become less difficult if ENIC were prepared to invest rather than re circulate funds received

Until we have more than 36,000 seats to sell - we will never be a club to force a sellers hands.

The one exception was Lamela - and we were in a unique position to make an offer they couldn't refuse - to replace Bale.

Every other transfer in recent years, there has been a reason the seller would sell, and sell to us.

I'll say it again - not NET spending is no evidence that we're not prepared to. Especially with £200m of player traffic in and out.

We saw on Sunday how disjointed were were with so many new players.

Ade wouldn't move on - he's on £120k a week, so would be plain daft to to spend £25m and another £100k on wages for a back up striker.

Usually there's a player a rival would get who we should have had - I can't think of one this window.

 

[SlunkSoma]

Rubbish!!!

Care to elaborate on why my post was rubbish?

 

[Conchurr]

Honestly the only thing from my perspective that completely perplexed me was Tom Carroll not jumping the gun to join Ajax on loan. Could have done absolute wonders for his development if any of their other youth prospects are anything to go by. And yes I know the draw of Harry and staying in London etc etc. but champions league football for a massive club playing against Milan barca ? Confused.

 

[sebcole]

Only gripe wish Erikson was signed in time for the goon game, we'd won that if he played lol

Yes I wonder why Vlad wasn't either, they all looked to have had their pics taken at about the same stage in the day with the Spurs shirts. A lot of reports claiming all 3 were available before the game.

 

[tiger666]

Honestly the only thing from my perspective that completely perplexed me was Tom Carroll not jumping the gun to join Ajax on loan. Could have done absolute wonders for his development if any of their other youth prospects are anything to go by. And yes I know the draw of Harry and staying in London etc etc. but champions league football for a massive club playing against Milan barca ? Confused.

He'll get more play time at QPR.
It's still the English game/style, even though it's a league below.
He doesn't have to move.

 

[SonicSarr]

Honestly the only thing from my perspective that completely perplexed me was Tom Carroll not jumping the gun to join Ajax on loan. Could have done absolute wonders for his development if any of their other youth prospects are anything to go by. And yes I know the draw of Harry and staying in London etc etc. but champions league football for a massive club playing against Milan barca ? Confused.

I don't think that was ever an option was it? It was discussed in here but there was never any info on Ajax asking for Carroll on loan as far as I can remember. Ajax have their own young talent to bring through and someone mentioned 3 such players they have in Carroll's position.

 

[Jospur]

What an exciting transfer window!

The team is looking good and I'm looking forward to the season going forward.

But I think we've all been had!!!

It could have been a GREAT window - but the net spend of zero should be a lesson for us all.

The 50 million 'gift' of "uncle Joe" was a bridging loan to allow the Club to bring in players before Bale was sold. That's all it was.

I wonder whether the ITKs feel used? Or were they part of the great smoke and mirrors campaign.

A lot of money was spent but in the end it more or less equaled what was brought in. Our competitors invested more than Spurs during the summer. That's the bottom line.

We have a terrific team - but so do each of the clubs challenging for Champions League spots.

Time will tell whether we should have been more aggressive in bringing in even more quality.

 

[robbiedee]

He'll get more play time at QPR.
It's still the English game/style, even though it's a league below.
He doesn't have to move.

Agree, while the Championship might not be as fast, it will certainly be tough. It'll make a man of the boy. He'll come back a much stronger player after this loan. I think it's win win.

 

[dondo]

Until we have more than 36,000 seats to sell - we will never be a club to force a sellers hands.

The one exception was Lamela - and we were in a unique position to make an offer they couldn't refuse - to replace Bale.

Every other transfer in recent years, there has been a reason the seller would sell, and sell to us.

I'll say it again - not NET spending is no evidence that we're not prepared to. Especially with £200m of player traffic in and out.

We saw on Sunday how disjointed were were with so many new players.

Ade wouldn't move on - he's on £120k a week, so would be plain daft to to spend £25m and another £100k on wages for a back up striker.

Usually there's a player a rival would get who we should have had - I can't think of one this window.

Is ade really on 120k a week surley that not correct

 

[Gedson100]

My only concern in the squad as it stands is we haven't got adequate cover for Lloris.

 

[Aero]

My only concern in the squad as it stands is we haven't got adequate cover for Lloris.

Agree with that, could you see Friedel coming off his line and make that tackle that Lloris made on Sunday?? He's not the type of keeper/sweeper that AVB likes to play.

 

[robbiedee]

My only concern in the squad as it stands is we haven't got adequate cover for Lloris.

maybe... although I think we'd be hard pushed to get someone much better than Friedel who is prepared to sit on the bench for the majority of the season. You either go for someone near the end of their career or a young inexperienced keeper...we've gone for the pensioner but he's reliable(ish).

 

[dagraham]

The thing is, Joe Lewis isn't a risk-averse businessman, he is a speculator, a contrarian and a bit of a maverick.

Yeah, I know he made his fortune speculating on currency trading. I meant risk averse as far as Lewis and Levy's involvement with Spurs has been so far.

They were never going to go mad with the spending without knowing the Bale money was coming. At the end of the day, if it walks like a duck, looks like a duck and quacks like a duck.......its a fucking duck.

 

[Gb160]

My only concern in the squad as it stands is we haven't got adequate cover for Lloris.

I agree with this,but tbh nearly all teams have this problem,apart from the chavs.

 

[Tiffers]

My only concern in the squad as it stands is we haven't got adequate cover for Lloris.

We do actually still gave Friedel and Gomes so i believe we are more than adequately covered in this position

 

[jezz]

What an exciting transfer window!

The team is looking good and I'm looking forward to the season going forward.

But I think we've all been had!!!

It could have been a GREAT window - but the net spend of zero should be a lesson for us all.

The 50 million 'gift' of "uncle Joe" was a bridging loan to allow the Club to bring in players before Bale was sold. That's all it was.

I wonder whether the ITKs feel used? Or were they part of the great smoke and mirrors campaign.

A lot of money was spent but in the end it more or less equaled what was brought in. Our competitors invested more than Spurs during the summer. That's the bottom line.

We have a terrific team - but so do each of the clubs challenging for Champions League spots.

Time will tell whether we should have been more aggressive in bringing in even more quality.

Sorry, RM have been had. to the tune of 40 million quid and we were the beneficiaries.
Jesus how many more times we spent £100 million.
Sorry the DL is fantastic Chairman who knows how con other teams.
You need to stop looking for conspiracy theories.
When was the last time spurs spent £100 million on the squad?