The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 19/20th January

[fatpiranha]

Despite all the previous ITK positivity I never really expected any major signings this window. Let's be honest we've all been here before and while we might not agree with it Levy just doesn't get the chequebook out when there's still a chance of snow.

On this occasion it seems like we were at least trying but while we were prepared to be mildly shafted we baulked at the prospect of buying our own lube. As a fan i'm not thrilled but I am prepared to wait.

The one thing I do not want to see is a last minute panic buy a la Sissoko. If our main targets aren't available i'm happy to see us take a chance on prospects like Jann-Fiete Arp but will be gutted if we buy mediocre filler like Andre Gomes and Lucas Moura who will eat up wages, block the career paths of our young prospects, and quite probably kill me in a 'shouting insanely at the TV moment' as my heart gives out during a fit of apoplectic rage .

Don't kill me Levy .

 

[rossdapep]

The agent power especially has escalated to a ridiculous proportion recently me thinks.. Is there a cap or something of a ruling that restrict some of their participation or commission? If not this sport is gonna become an entertainment industry very soon!

It's certainly putting me off the game. But that's worthy of an entirely different thread. Hopefully we can do what we did with the Modric deal, have it an agreement with clubs and players in place before season end. Don't fancy us scrambling around for players in between the WC end and new season start.

 

[TheAmerican]

This is always going to be the case in my view. It's so incredibly hard to sign players in January unless you are willing to pay massively over the odds in an already inflated market, like Liverpool did with Van Dijk and like Utd have done with Sanchez (in terms of agents fees and wages) or ironically unless you're a smaller club looking at much cheaper options. We're effectively a victim of our position in that, on the field we're competing above our financial capability due to our brilliant rise under Poch but off the field we can't yet compete for the kinds of players that we would need to maintain that position.

To my mind it's why the January window should be abolished. All it really does right now is give an unfair advantage to the super rich clubs. The move has been made to bring the summer deadline forward to before the season begins, which was the right thing to do. Next they need to drop the winter window and maybe have some sort of emergency loan window instead.

I disagree. It's no different than the summer market, players are simply evaluated higher due to squad problems/needs being identified by the season being half played. I believe you are viewing it with tinted glasses because our club seems to fail to complete transfers during this window. Do you really consider Bournemouth, Burnley, Huddersfield, Hull City, Leicester, Palace, Southampton, Sunderland, Swansea, Stoke, Watford, West Ham and West Brom all super rich clubs? Because they're all Premier League clubs (at the time) who've added players during the last two January Windows.

If we don't address our needs now, it will be massively underwhelming for me. I will be extremely disappointed to be watching Thursday night games at the new stadium instead of Tuesday/Wednesday night games. I am entirely not confident with the current squad finishing in the top 4, with as competitive as the league currently is.

 

[Parkie]

Some players just aren't available in January for the very reason you give for us to strengthen now. In most cases we are talking about a clubs best player, of course clubs are not willing to let their best players go half way through the season with stuff to play for, because they can't be replaced.

Sure I saw something in the press saying Poyet said he would only take the job if Malcom wasn’t sold in January. Fits.

 

[dtxspurs]

Sure I saw something in the press saying Poyet said he would only take the job if Malcom wasn’t sold in January. Fits.

To me, this seems like a win-win for Bordeaux and Poyet if the deal is done now. Maybe I have on Spurs colored glasses, but if they're the team wanting all the cash up front then Poyet gets money to spend now to strengthen the team to avoid relegation and Malcom is going in the summer regardless it seems. Get your money now, keep him til the summer and we all win.

 

[Hoopspur]

Things are clearly out of control. I think we need a steady head as I reckon there will likely be casualties. In the meantime I’ll just stump up my ST money which in reality will be worthless.

Maybe the best thing now is to retain and develop players. Invest our money in wages.

 

[brownhead]

Malcom, Sessegnon and Kluivert to be done now with a loan back till summer is what we should do.
Carrasco now.

Then summer, sell the deadwood

Job done.

 

[ClonedFromSandrosBeard]

To me, this seems like a win-win for Bordeaux and Poyet if the deal is done now. Maybe I have on Spurs colored glasses, but if they're the team wanting all the cash up front then Poyet gets money to spend now to strengthen the team to avoid relegation and Malcom is going in the summer regardless it seems. Get your money now, keep him til the summer and we all win.

Pretty sure 50 million out of the budget immediately is a massive amount but I could be wrong.

Prices are ridiculously high but wasn't it only a few months ago all the noise was we were focusing on the academy to avoid this? Was that just spin?

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Malcom, Sessegnon and Kluivert to be done now with a loan back till summer is what we should do.
Carrasco now.

Then summer, sell the deadwood

Job done.

Carrasco?

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Malcom, Sessegnon and Kluivert to be done now with a loan back till summer is what we should do.
Carrasco now.

Then summer, sell the deadwood

Job done.

As per Hercs update, if the Sessegnon fee deemed high to ridiculous is circa say £60m+ plus then we need to walk away. Yes the kid has bundles of talent but at the moment he’s just that, a talented kid. Granted he’s got a bright future and appears to be ahead of other talented youngsters but at that sort of money we should be telling Fulham to jog on. Especially when you look at how many ‘kids’ have gone on to make it big, who was the last one? Bale? Last years apparently highly talented youngster was Burke... things haven’t exactly worked out well for him have they, and he went for a pittance in comparison to Sessesgnon. I’d love it if we did sign him but it needs to be on good terms and not a case of us being taken for a ride by Fulham.

 

[Hazelton]

Shame about the setbacks but it matters very little in the context of this transfer window. Since it's regarding a Summer move, I'd suggest that we're just as likely to agree a deal in April as we are in the next few days.

It sounds like there's still plenty of hope and even if it does fall apart, we move on to other options. Thanks again to the ITKs who are keeping us updated every step of the way, it's always much appreciated.

 

[WalkerboyUK]

Can't help but feel we do need a new face in the squad this month, just to freshen things up a little.

 

[nailsy]

Can't help but feel we do need a new face in the squad this month, just to freshen things up a little.

I vote for sending Trippier for plastic surgery.

 

[Col_M]

Malcom, Sessegnon and Kluivert to be done now with a loan back till summer is what we should do.
Carrasco now.

Then summer, sell the deadwood

Job done.

Brownhead for Chairman.

 

[King of the Lane]

Carrasco?

I think he believes that is the big La Liga player...that is who popped into my head too instantly

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I think he believes that is the big La Liga player...that is who popped into my head too instantly

I would think, and I'm no expert, but I'd guess that the aim was ever so slightly higher. However, he would probably be obtainable.

 

[Cravenspurs]

I think he believes that is the big La Liga player...that is who popped into my head too instantly

He isn't that big though is he? If big headed is the play on words. Either way, we are not in here to guess names.

 

[Gbspurs]

He isn't that big though is he? If big headed is the play on words. Either way, we are not in here to guess names.

I'd say he is pretty big.

 

[rossdapep]

I think he believes that is the big La Liga player...that is who popped into my head too instantly

Reading between the lines I think it's a cm not an attacking player.

 

[ilikeost]

Thank god Sess isn't dead.