The Daily ITK Discussion Thread 6th June

[absolute bobbins]

Anyone else prefer Shakira to Shaqiri?
She's an upgrade on the "meh".

Those hips don’t lie!

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

Mahmoud Dahoud is a 22 year old German/Syrian central midfielder playing for Dortmund. Prodigiously talented all rounder, who suffered for form this season just gone. Two years ago, Pochettino was apparently targeting him for us for a reported fee of around 35m Euros. This seems to tally up with quite a few of the snippets we've had in cryptics and Herc comments. The longstanding interest is something to note.

Looks as though him and Grealish go to the same barber.

 

[buttons]

Fuck, man. If you're losing your shit this early in the window you'll be a basket case by the end of it.

Here's a positive slant to cheer you up.
1. Poch says that we have to be brave and drops vague hints that he might not be here for much longer
2. Poch signs a new five-year deal (seeming to indicate that we're going to be brave) in spite of interest from Madrid
3. All the ITK says that DL understands the value of Poch and is going to back him and his judgement with funds
4. ITK says that not only are we thinking of offering mega-contracts to star players, but that three have already signed them - thereby departing from our usual pay structure.

It might also be helpful to remember that the only players that a club has any degree of control over are the ones who already play for it. So Manu hold the cards with Martial, Ajax with De Ligt etc. Not to mention agents / interest from other clubs etc. So if we don't necessarily get the players that we want - or that you think we should get - it may not be for want of trying.

If this doesn't help, I suggest Valium or weed. Or significant amounts of alcohol.

You're welcome.

I mean I’m not at the losing my shit stage yet but you can understand some frustration when we’ve gone from Bale / Martial / De Ligt to Grealish / Shaquri / Rondon !

Hope as Herc says it’s a case of juggling finances to get the overall mix of signings right!

 

[Lighty64]

Agree it's as if when we miss out on Plan A we skip to Plan D initially! Vast gulf in quality between these signings, surely our scouting system can identify someone better for the same price in Europe?

you also have to take in the HG ruling, for both PL and CL.

Grealish is a young and up and coming talent, that has quick feet, good balance, and a good shot on him.

 

[THFCjosh]

Grealish is not good enough for our bench and would rather see one of the youngsters promoted up than waste 20million on Grealish.

Have you seen him play? When they were in the prem doesn't count, he has matured both on and off the pitch since then.

 

[Primativ]

I find Grealish really underwhelming. It's not that he's a bad player, he has potential, but we were under the impression this summer we were going to be brave and push the boat out finally.

But it seems we are still shopping in Lidl when we were led to believe it was now Waitrose.

At the end of the day, we need to improve our first 11, or sign players that will really fight with our first choice players to create competition.

Grealish isn't going to fight Eriksen for a starting place. Sure, good squad player but that's it. We badly need someone to come in at CM and be a ready made replacement for Dembele. This is an urgent requirement.

I guess what I'm saying is, if Grealish is the most underwhelming signing of the Window, and we sign two or three other first teamers, I'll have no complaints. But as its Grealish who looks like being our first signing, I can understand why people are a bit meh about it.

I also don't get why we seem to identify a player we really want like Pulisic, yet always bulk at the asking price, and then seem to drop by 30 million and end up signing cheap french wingers who are useless.

 

[Joshua]

I find Grealish really underwhelming. It's not that he's a bad player, he has potential, but we were under the impression this summer we were going to be brave and push the boat out finally.

But it seems we are still shopping in Lidl when we were led to believe it was now Waitrose.

At the end of the day, we need to improve our first 11, or sign players that will really fight with our first choice players to create competition.

Grealish isn't going to fight Eriksen for a starting place. Sure, good squad player but that's it. We badly need someone to come in at CM and be a ready made replacement for Dembele. This is an urgent requirement.

I guess what I'm saying is, if Grealish is the most underwhelming signing of the Window, and we sign two or three other first teamers, I'll have no complaints. But as its Grealish who looks like being our first signing, I can understand why people are a bit meh about it.

I also don't get why we seem to identify a player we really want like Pulisic, yet always bulk at the asking price, and then seem to drop by 30 million and end up signing cheap french wingers who are useless.

There's always going to be compromises to be made. We blow £60mil on Pulisic and then that drastically reduces the budget we have to bring in other players of quality. If Poch considers Grealish adequate for a more modest fee it must mean we'll be going bigger on another position. (I hope).

 

[BPR_U16]

I find Grealish really underwhelming. It's not that he's a bad player, he has potential, but we were under the impression this summer we were going to be brave and push the boat out finally.

But it seems we are still shopping in Lidl when we were led to believe it was now Waitrose.

At the end of the day, we need to improve our first 11, or sign players that will really fight with our first choice players to create competition.

Grealish isn't going to fight Eriksen for a starting place. Sure, good squad player but that's it. We badly need someone to come in at CM and be a ready made replacement for Dembele. This is an urgent requirement.

I guess what I'm saying is, if Grealish is the most underwhelming signing of the Window, and we sign two or three other first teamers, I'll have no complaints. But as its Grealish who looks like being our first signing, I can understand why people are a bit meh about it.

I also don't get why we seem to identify a player we really want like Pulisic, yet always bulk at the asking price, and then seem to drop by 30 million and end up signing cheap french wingers who are useless.

But a player like Grealish wouldn't be a bad start. If Poch wants, then who are we to argue.
Keep your powder dry for moaning about the level of player we have bought to the end of the window when you can assess in full - not now.

 

[EJWTartanSpur]

Whatever happened to the ITK called 'TheJournalist' ? All his connections came from Villa, this Grealish stuff would be right in his wheelhouse. No longer appears to be an SC member

 

[Dillspur]

The ITK suggests that Grealish is what Poch wants, while he may seem underwhelming if Poch is happy, then so am I.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Whatever happened to the ITK called 'TheJournalist' ? All his connections came from Villa, this Grealish stuff would be right in his wheelhouse. No longer appears to be an SC member

He's still a member he just hasn't logged on for just over a year. In fact one of his last posts was three years ago in 2015 he said.....

Conversation not fact, but we fear losing Grealish. A number of clubs including Tottenham are taking a look and have watched him before.

 

[tony0379]

He's still a member he just hasn't logged on for just over a year. In fact one of his last posts was three years ago in 2015 he said.....

Conversation not fact, but we fear losing Grealish. A number of clubs including Tottenham are taking a look and have watched him before.

A man with 3 years in advance ITK

 

[klacey]

Dear Daniel

Eddie says, he'll accept Grealish as long as you buy a top player to replace Dembele.
You don't want to upset Eddie. Seriously. He once cut his mum over a slice of Victoria sponge and he doesn't like short people much to begin with.

Anyway, just a heads up, your choice. Top player or a tooled up Eddie out for blood.

Haha I dont know what i enjoy more. The ITK info or your responses. Its like Jimmy Carr against a heckler. Anyway funny stuff. Ive learnt its best to be patient and just wait and see. Hercules and the others do an awesome job, so thank you guys.

 

[hutchiniho]

The ITK suggests that Grealish is what Poch wants, while he may seem underwhelming if Poch is happy, then so am I.

Poch would be happier if we put that £20m towards a real top talent surely.

get Savic and Martial with De Ligt. Quality, quality and quality.
Bypass Grealish. He’s not top 3 quality.
Sell Dembele, Toby, Sissoko and the riff raff and that should result in the £100m investment and leaving us looking like serious strutters.

I suspect we won’t see the three players mentioned in a Spurs shirt tho and ITK seems pretty tuned in to Grealish. So I’m way off I know!

But as always we’ll have to wait and see. Herc seems very positive still so many we’ll be surprised.

 

[Indisguise]

Well, I'm still holding out for a little surprise or two. You can find some fantastic bargains in Lidl and even Waitrose condescends to BOGOFFs.

 

[EJWTartanSpur]

He's still a member he just hasn't logged on for just over a year. In fact one of his last posts was three years ago in 2015 he said.....

Conversation not fact, but we fear losing Grealish. A number of clubs including Tottenham are taking a look and have watched him before.

Ah okay, I did search for him but must've somehow arsed it up. Send out the bat signal

 

[Lighty64]

I mean I’m not at the losing my shit stage yet but you can understand some frustration when we’ve gone from Bale / Martial / De Ligt to Grealish / Shaquri / Rondon !

Hope as Herc says it’s a case of juggling finances to get the overall mix of signings right!

but we haven't had ITK about Shaquri or Rondon, that's paper talk

 

[Lighty64]

I find Grealish really underwhelming. It's not that he's a bad player, he has potential, but we were under the impression this summer we were going to be brave and push the boat out finally.

But it seems we are still shopping in Lidl when we were led to believe it was now Waitrose.

At the end of the day, we need to improve our first 11, or sign players that will really fight with our first choice players to create competition.

Grealish isn't going to fight Eriksen for a starting place. Sure, good squad player but that's it. We badly need someone to come in at CM and be a ready made replacement for Dembele. This is an urgent requirement.

I guess what I'm saying is, if Grealish is the most underwhelming signing of the Window, and we sign two or three other first teamers, I'll have no complaints. But as its Grealish who looks like being our first signing, I can understand why people are a bit meh about it.

I also don't get why we seem to identify a player we really want like Pulisic, yet always bulk at the asking price, and then seem to drop by 30 million and end up signing cheap french wingers who are useless.

sometimes you can't get everything from Waitrose, and the same quality is in your local Lidl's

 

[Danny B]

but we haven't had ITK about Shaquri or Rondon, that's paper talk

No, it isn't. Rondon, that is.

 

[ravo]

Nice to read the Josh ITK. I would like him to have a role in the squad this year and can potentially see him as a Dembele replacement, in that "dominate the central midfield and move the ball up the pitch" style... Don't really see him as an AM type.