The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - RETRO Edition 14th September 2020

[wrd]

Not at the beginning of it all. Of all the parties involved - I would have thought Barnett would have been the biggest issue! Potentially now though; I do wonder if we won yesterday that would have changed his mind.

Yeah me too on Barnett, I think we only starting hearing some movement once Bale said make it happen though, which certainly for me is why I find a bit of frustration in the sense why bother if you're just going to back out when it all gets real. If anything I'd have thought seeing how flat the team were would encourage us to try and do something to ignite the team. Still, the window shouldn't be judged on Bale and we have 3 weeks to go. I'm not going to get annoyed just yet as I thought we had enough at our disposal yesterday to get a result and can't blame the result on the window.

 

[Stoof]

It's not the Bale deal that's frustrating, its the wasting time on it when other areas have been neglected and yet again we're in this position of being not ready before the season starts.

Every window, it's the same mantra of keep calm until the window closes and then it's the same old lines as to why we couldnt get what we need.

Most of us understand the complexities involved but this is a recurring pattern every window.

And why are we wasting time on pipe dreams like Bale? Surely that time and energy would be best served on realistic options.

Mr, P, would it be safe to say that your assumption here is that he's spending all his time on it and leaving emails/call unanswered on the other deals? Suspending them whilst he is permanently transfixed on the Bale stuff?

I can't imagine how that works in practice. Any high performing high level director I've ever worked with is never that blinkered and always has a million things going on at once - indeed, that's the only way they know how to function - which is why retirement is such a shock to them all!

 

[spursfan77]

I think we all should just remain a bit calm for a sec. We can all lose our rag at the end of the window should it be reasonable to do so.

The information isn't that deals are dead. The very opposite. In fact, you're all told there are five potential strikers - yet you, dear reader, latch on to the one you like the least and decide that one's going to happen. Is that the ITK's fault? Is that Jose's fault? Neither, it's your fault, dear reader.

You're also told that we're in a closer than we've ever been on a Bale Return (save when he was actually playing for us). Tell me again why you thought that deal would be easy. Each ITK has said "I don't think it will happen", but yet at each stage more information comes out that it's actually moving along - all the while claiming that they don't believe it will.

We lost yesterday = negative mood, and negative spin and assumption that a worse possible case scenario is the one that will definitely come true. That scenario only occurs for me if nothing happens - which would be unforgivable from Levy and the transfer committee.

So please can we be calm cherubs. Or Archie will banstick you in the face and bum. Not necessarily in that order.

Plus this window is going exactly like any other in the last decade. A couple of early buys and then we usually ramp things up in the last two weeks of the window where we do more business. It happens every year. It is annoying but it always happens.

 

[brendanb50]

Re: trixs 2nd post. If Levy doesn't push the boat out for Jose will he ever? Pivotal few weeks ahead.

Inclined to agree here. He made a fairly huge call to end the Poch era and bring in JM. He must see that not backing Poch resulted in a stale squad, much of where we are now is down to that.

For me, this is a chance to refresh. The MP era has gone, the style of play is changing and he needs to back his manager to make those changes, and not just this window. The next few.

A sad indication of Levy's work is the fact that a player like Doherty (who I actually think is a solid buy) is a desperately needed improvement to what we had (think back to when we sold Walker for example and the money we made on that sale). Players like PEH actually fill a role we haven't had a player for, for some time and we still don't have a back-up striker post-Llorente, who was generally a bit of a stand-in and didn't really suit our overall play.

 

[Mr Pink]

Mr, P, would it be safe to say that your assumption here is that he's spending all his time on it and leaving emails/call unanswered on the other deals? Suspending them whilst he is permanently transfixed on the Bale stuff?

I can't imagine how that works in practice. Any high performing high level director I've ever worked with is never that blinkered and always has a million things going on at once - indeed, that's the only way they know how to function - which is why retirement is such a shock to them all!

Not at all mate. I just feel Levy has a set style in terms of transfers, and we experience the highs and lows of said style.

None of us know the exact intricacies of course but we've all been around long enough to recognise his general MO.

I just don't think he adapts enough for the greater good.

It's his big limitation amongst all the good he's done for the Club and its extremely frustrating.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Mr, P, would it be safe to say that your assumption here is that he's spending all his time on it and leaving emails/call unanswered on the other deals? Suspending them whilst he is permanently transfixed on the Bale stuff?

I can't imagine how that works in practice. Any high performing high level director I've ever worked with is never that blinkered and always has a million things going on at once - indeed, that's the only way they know how to function - which is why retirement is such a shock to them all!

We don’t know what Levy is and isn’t doing behind the scenes. However, looking in from the outside the season has started and we were abysmal. Lots of reasons why but they also include once again failing to resolve the issues with our squad. Unlike past seasons where we’ve had slow starts and then picked up... the players mentality last season and yesterday has been pathetic and that’s extremely alarming and doesn’t fill anyone will confidence that we’ll suddenly go on a sustained run of good form.

This club is in crisis and most of it has been self inflicted. A club that charges Michelin star prices but serves up a happy meal.

ITK even as recent as last week had us in talks with 2 strikers (one advanced more than the other), there was ITK re an interest in Reguilon, then more on Kim Min-Jae. Foyth looked gone, Aurier was on his way out too. Since then Bale has popped up and we now no longer want a LB despite desperately needing one, we’re back to talking to half a million Jonny average strikers, Foyth still hasn’t left and Aurier doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. From a transfer perspective alone wtf are we doing? as everything is coming across as same old same old don’t have a clue what we’re doing.

 

[Scouseyid]

Plus this window is going exactly like any other in the last decade. A couple of early buys and then we usually ramp things up in the last two weeks of the window where we do more business. It happens every year. It is annoying but it always happens.

Do you know what's really annoying? That loads of Spurs fans think their club is the only one that does it, when statistically, most do!!!

 

[VegasII]

I’ll put my feet up and wait to see where we’re at by the end of the window.

It’s good advice. Try to relax.

 

[wrd]

I’ll put my feet up and wait to see where we’re at by the end of the window.

It’s good advice. Try to relax.

It always comes out much smoother with that display picture.

 

[CanadaSpurs]

Being a “tough” negotiator means fuck all if the deals never close. The impressive part of being a hard man to negotiate with is that you still get the deals done in the end.

Still optimistic that Levy will back Jose and the needle will move the next few weeks, but trying not to think about it too much.

 

[McArchibald]

Being a “tough” negotiator means fuck all if the deals never close. The impressive part of being a hard man to negotiate with is that you still get the deals done in the end.

Still optimistic that Levy will back Jose and the needle will move the next few weeks, but trying not to think about it too much.

This. The object of doing transfers is not to fleece other clubs but to optimize the squad and give ourselves the best chance of on-field success possible. Somehow, Levy entirely lost sight of this pearl of wisdom.

I wish I could share your optimism. Been here too many times before...

 

[sausage]

From a transfer perspective alone wtf are we doing? as everything is coming across as same old same old don’t have a clue what we’re doing.

It'll be like that for a lot of clubs - we have a unique situation where we have more ITK that a lot of other fan's clubs do. This gives a higher level of visibility (salt pinch added) for probably how a lot of 'normal' clubs seem to work.

The problem, as ever, will be making the assumption that the ITK you get is 100% accurate and up to date (rather than in-good-faith) and complete (e.g. there's nothing else happening if it's not in ITK).

 

[Flashp]

It really is a RETRO edition ITK-thread today. We've been here so many times before, that it hurts.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Been here too many times before...

Ain't we just........Pretty much every transfer window we get a spell where Levy gets pelters and a few people suggest we wait until the transfer window has closed before firing into him. Wait and see, which on the whole isn't the worst advice in the world.

Then the transfer window closes and the people who waited to see fire into him.

At which point the people (usually the same ones every time, I suspect Levy's eldest sons) that suggested they wait until the window closes before firing into him tell you that it's bang out of order and for reasons A, B and C he shouldn't be vilified and anyone slagging him off doesn't understand Jacques Merde about football/finances/egg & spoon racing.

This happens almost every transfer window. It's a most beautiful thing

 

[FibreOpticJesus]

It really is a RETRO edition ITK-thread today. We've been here so many times before, that it hurts.

I can only console myself that it could be worse. Just look at that crowd in East London

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Ain't we just........Pretty much every transfer window we get a spell where Levy gets pelters and a few people suggest we wait until the transfer window has closed before firing into him. Wait and see, which on the whole isn't the worst advice in the world.

Then the transfer window closes and the people who waited to see fire into him.

At which point the people (usually the same ones every time, I suspect Levy's eldest sons) that suggested they wait until the window closes before firing into him tell you that it's bang out of order and for reasons A, B and C he shouldn't be vilified and anyone slagging him off doesn't understand Jacques Merde about football/finances/egg & spoon racing.

This happens almost every transfer window. It's a most beautiful thing

Even you oh wise one must be miffed by the clubs continuing theme of going around in circles and burying their heads in the sand instead of actually rectifying the issues at hand. There was a toxic cloud over the club last season and it’s showing no signs of lifting.

 

[wrd]

Ain't we just........Pretty much every transfer window we get a spell where Levy gets pelters and a few people suggest we wait until the transfer window has closed before firing into him. Wait and see, which on the whole isn't the worst advice in the world.

Then the transfer window closes and the people who waited to see fire into him.

At which point the people (usually the same ones every time, I suspect Levy's eldest sons) that suggested they wait until the window closes before firing into him tell you that it's bang out of order and for reasons A, B and C he shouldn't be vilified and anyone slagging him off doesn't understand Jacques Merde about football/finances/egg & spoon racing.

This happens almost every transfer window. It's a most beautiful thing

Can I add fuel on the fire by bringing up the bumping of the ENIC thread after a couple of good deals or nah?

 

[McFlash]

Ain't we just........Pretty much every transfer window we get a spell where Levy gets pelters and a few people suggest we wait until the transfer window has closed before firing into him. Wait and see, which on the whole isn't the worst advice in the world.

Then the transfer window closes and the people who waited to see fire into him.

At which point the people (usually the same ones every time, I suspect Levy's eldest sons) that suggested they wait until the window closes before firing into him tell you that it's bang out of order and for reasons A, B and C he shouldn't be vilified and anyone slagging him off doesn't understand Jacques Merde about football/finances/egg & spoon racing.

This happens almost every transfer window. It's a most beautiful thing

I don't know, I think this time is different.
I'm usually one of his biggest defenders but if he doesn't deliver this window, he deserves all the flack he gets.
I know there's Covid etc but after the past couple of years, even including the good signings we've made recently, now really is the time he needs to pull his finger out and back his man.
Plenty of other clubs appear to be spending and if he's as ambitious as he says he is, it's now or never for me.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Even you oh wise one must be miffed by the clubs continuing theme of going around in circles and burying their heads in the sand instead of actually rectifying the issues at hand. There was a toxic cloud over the club last season and it’s showing no signs of lifting.

Have you not read anything i've posted over the past couple of days?

Make the effort, it's a real eye opener, a white knuckle ride of daring condemnations and risqué comments about our dear leader and his methods.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

Today has left me feeling like too little butter spread over too much bread.

Honestly, the fact we are where we are with today's ITK (thanks Trix appreciate all the work you and other ITK's offer us through the window) I didn't think we'd still be waiting to get a few more over the line.

Fingers crossed for better news at some point this week.