The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 10th December 2012

[Antilokhos]

I've stated that it might make more sense for this squad to get Sneijder. He can still pull the strings and dish out beautiful passes, but the goals he would provide are something that Moutinho necessarily would not. If we want to make one purchase to help solidify the squad on the whole, then it should be a player like Sneijder who will add goals and craft.

To me, Moutinho would solidify our midfield to absolutely dominate games home or away in the toughest of venues. But there would be added pressure to have goals coming from our front 3 positions because realistically, Moutinho/Dembele/Sandro might range anywhere from 10-12 goals a season (that actually might be a bit on the high side).

I would agree with that, Moutinho would be fantastic, but Sneijder is a more immediate need. If we just bring in Moutinho we will desperately need more goals from the front, which means upgrading on Lennon. Now having said that, a midfield trio of Dembele-Moutinho-Sandro would be absolutely sick to watch, they would physically dominate games.

 

[ButchCassidy]

Sneijder would slot in immediately to give us one of the most beautiful 4-5-1's in the league. Moutinho, on the other hand, is a perfect player for a 4-3-3 system, where we ask for more of our goals to come from the front three. AVB seems to like 4-3-3 better, but I don't see it as a great fit for Lennon, Defoe, or Ade in his current form. If we want Moutinho, Sandro, and Dembele to all play in the same midfield, I think we also need a winger like Willian or a striker like Llorente, and I would be very surprised to see us nab two world-class players in the same January window. Sneijder for me, and someone like Beñat as cover and to let us build towards a 4-3-3 in a couple seasons when we have had time to invest in the right players for it.

 

[carpediem1906]

Selective hearing at its best right now...

Lets say the ITKs are getting it right (either WS or JM, done early, they want to come, club wants to sell, no other preferred destination)....

And are getting it wrong regarding EA or BAE unhappy or leaving..

That's a championship (manager) winning team right there!

 

[paige09]

That new ITK piece looks like it has Sneijder as our winter Dempsey not too bad. While Sneijder is world class; it's going to take him time to get into the groove of our system and match fit. And I know it's not the same as Adebayor but let's say he gets here Jan 31st and he arrives on the 1 Feb. What if it takes him a month to get match fit and another month to start gelling. By then it's April.

It seems like the other guys would be here earlier than that and already be in form. A month to gel and it's mid Feb. While Sneijder brings a whole extra level of notoriety it's more of a next year move with anything we can get this year as icing.

With that said I can counter my own arguement with Dembele slotting in right away and giving our midfield an identity.

I'll take any of the 3 though Sneijder Mouts or Eriksen. Pjanic is nice but it just seems like a 3rd shot at the same position of Dempsey and Siggy.

 

[paige09]

does Adebayor even celebrate with the team anymore..? Didn't see him in the celebrations and Bale's 2nd goal he was just walking up the pitch. They also panned out when Ade was subbed off did he shake hands or anything with AVB? Really feels like he's isolated right now. Him out would not surprise me in the slightest.

 

[Sum Monsterism]

does Adebayor even celebrate with the team anymore..? Didn't see him in the celebrations and Bale's 2nd goal he was just walking up the pitch. They also panned out when Ade was subbed off did he shake hands or anything with AVB? Really feels like he's isolated right now. Him out would not surprise me in the slightest.

if it wasn't on motd it doesn't exist?

 

[wallyjakeman]

Am I the only one that would prefer sneijder to moutinho? I would expect both to be at the top of our wage structure but sneijder to be had for a lower transfer fee. Sneijder + a young winger for me, please

I'll be happy with any of them. However, I prefer Moutinho since he appears to be AVB's preferred choice. I want Levy to back our manager all the way. Sneijder is not a bad backup, though.