The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - The Aquarius Edition 22nd July 2013

[Gedson100]

Even so MrP this is looking like a total 40m deal (4yr ?), do you really think Levy is the type that thinks "fuck the business, if scores goals we're all good"

It would be the most blasé scenario ever in the history of Levy.

Do you also not find it a bit odd that Levy is about to throw down 26m euro on a 28yo (no matter that he's better than Benteke) but baulked at paying similar for a 22yo Benteke ?

I think this could come down to how much Villa wanted up front compared to how much Valencia want up front.
That could still kill the deal really but if Villa were '£25m cash or fuck off' and Valencia are more half now half later, it could fit in with our financial planning.

 

[Gedson100]

I think people have overlooked this!! This is massive!!
I did say this alot lot earlyier tonite in the soldado thread! I said it wasnt just baldini there in spain hint hint
And as LLM says u need both to sign the player and we dont send over baldini AND Levys minion if we are just negotiating! The minion is there to cross the T's and Dot the i's!!

I'm listening WPD.
Each and every time you've said it

This might help:
'We dont send over Baldini AND Levys minion [to Valencia] if we are just negotiating! The minion is there to cross the T's and Dot the i's [for signing Soldado]'

 

[arunspurs]

This is getting better - Higuain to Napoli - all I now want is Suarez to reject Arsenal move and us to finalise Soldado deal.

 

[marvel]

stay away for 7/8 hours and there seems to have loads going on since!

Where is this Sigurdsson wanting to go out on loan coming from???

LLM mentioned it could be a possibility earlier

 

[JerryGarcia]

Even so MrP this is looking like a total 40m deal (4yr ?), do you really think Levy is the type that thinks "fuck the business, if scores goals we're all good"

It would be the most blasé scenario ever in the history of Levy.

Do you also not find it a bit odd that Levy is about to throw down 26m euro on a 28yo (no matter that he's better than Benteke) but baulked at paying similar for a 22yo Benteke ?

I know Baldini is out there and ITK's are saying it's close, but it will be the most out of normal MO transfer we have made under Levy by fucking miles.

I'm not saying it's not going to happen, what the fuck do I know, but if it does, it's either for much less than broadcast or there has genuinely been a massive diversion from our transfer policy of the last 8 years.

I do agree that this not typical Levy but maybe when Villa told him it was seriously £25m for Benteke he said 'fuck that, I can get Soldado for that price', got in the Levycopter and flew straight to Spain? It's what I would have done anyway.

 

[Vwbottom]

I'm listening WPD.
Each and every time you've said it

This might help:
'We dont send over Baldini AND Levys minion [to Valencia] if we are just negotiating! The minion is there to cross the T's and Dot the i's [for signing Soldado]'

I just imagine Levy minion to be the little guy from Austin Powers.

 

[Mouse!]

With all the good news, and the heat, I feel like i'm in that Frankie Boyle sketch where the guy sells his pinkie fingers to the devil for a better life.

I think we're signing Soldado and enjoying a warm British summer, but in reality i'm just dreaming about Soldado while some youths douse me in petrol and set me on fire.

 

[kcmei]

for the amount of money to buy soldado i think we should have gone for benteke

 

[mpickard2087]

Even so MrP this is looking like a total 40m deal (4yr ?), do you really think Levy is the type that thinks "fuck the business, if scores goals we're all good"

It would be the most blasé scenario ever in the history of Levy.

Do you also not find it a bit odd that Levy is about to throw down 26m euro on a 28yo (no matter that he's better than Benteke) but baulked at paying similar for a 22yo Benteke ?

I know Baldini is out there and ITK's are saying it's close, but it will be the most out of normal MO transfer we have made under Levy by fucking miles.

I'm not saying it's not going to happen, what the fuck do I know, but if it does, it's either for much less than broadcast or there has genuinely been a massive diversion from our transfer policy of the last 8 years.

Yep, said earlier this would be the most un-Levy-like of deals, and whats even more surprising is that he has let Baldini go and handle the negotiations. You would think that putting in this reported fee he would want to be negotiating this himself.

Would be a massive change in how we have operated.

 

[USAYID]

I do agree that this not typical Levy but maybe when Villa told him it was seriously £25m for Benteke he said 'fuck that, I can get Soldado for that price', got in the Lavycopter and flew straight to Spain? It's what I would have done anyway.

It could more likely be that Levy wasn't willing to pay that much for Benteke, but thought at a lower price he represented a better deal. With at no longer a possibility, he's ok with paying close to full value for Soldado, who at 28 is in his prime, and will hopefully contribute more this year.

 

[Mr Pink]

Even so MrP this is looking like a total 40m deal (4yr ?), do you really think Levy is the type that thinks "fuck the business, if scores goals we're all good"

It would be the most blasé scenario ever in the history of Levy.

Do you also not find it a bit odd that Levy is about to throw down 26m euro on a 28yo (no matter that he's better than Benteke) but baulked at paying similar for a 22yo Benteke ?

I know Baldini is out there and ITK's are saying it's close, but it will be the most out of normal MO transfer we have made under Levy by fucking miles.

I'm not saying it's not going to happen, what the fuck do I know, but if it does, it's either for much less than broadcast or there has genuinely been a massive diversion from our transfer policy of the last 8 years.

I agree in that it goes well against the grain of our model for transfers. Yes Benteke is a lot younger and represented a securer option from the point of view of resale. But then again he's only had one season in this League. It was a massive price in fairness, as much as many of us wanted the deal to happen.

Soldado is an exceptional forward, he's proven, not in this League granted but nevertheless as somebody else pointed out Spanish players seems to adapt very well to the Premiership in the main.

I don't think its a massive gamble in all honesty. This is about signing a top level forward, proven quality bang in his prime and expecting him to perform from the off. Its big money but that's the nature of the beast if you want proven quality.

Its a statement of ambition. Said earlier we have to walk the walk. If we are keeping Bale we need to demonstrate some ambition and have a go this season otherwise what's the point, why not just sell him this summer for a record fee?

We have more money this summer over the lucrative TV deals. AVB needs to be backed. So many factors that are telling me that we have to exercise a little more bravery this window, and Levy won't be cavalier to the point of compromising the Club - we all know that.

Makes sense to me, and I'm relieved as much as I am excited. We simply need this sort of signing which isn't exactly the norm for us. It won't go unnoticed either, as I think many people are judging us and where we go from here....having one of the best players in the world currently at the club and we've been knocking on the door for a while in terms of competing with the big boys.

IMO, our time is now. We have to go for this.

 

[wpd659]

I'm listening WPD.
Each and every time you've said it

This might help:
'We dont send over Baldini AND Levys minion [to Valencia] if we are just negotiating! The minion is there to cross the T's and Dot the i's [for signing Soldado]'

Lol thanks at least someone is!

The last time he was in spain was when we sold modric! He doesnt normaly travel unless its going to be done and big money.

 

[Lilbaz]

Do you think that in years to come the royal baby will look back and realise what a special day this was?

(Not getting carried away at all)

 

[Bus-Conductor]

From LLM on JA606:

Nobody is in for Huddlestone anymore. I get the feeling he just does not want to move, he has been so close to moving for a few years Fulham, Stoke, Sunderland. He has even toured their training grounds but has just never signed. He is not a mercenary like Bentley though.

Oh there is more to come than just a striker.

Christ on a bike.

 

[JerryGarcia]

Is the general feeling that 28 is too old now? I thought the peak years were about 27-32 depending how fit the player is and how much they rely on pace? I think Soldado could be a top striker for us for 4+ years (if he adapts etc) while if Benteke turned out to be top class, he might have wanted to leave after two or three. Who knows but I think Soldado could easily score more than Benteke next season if we do get him.

 

[Mr Pink]

I think people have overlooked this!! This is massive!!
I did say this alot lot earlyier tonite in the soldado thread! I said it wasnt just baldini there in spain hint hint
And as LLM says u need both to sign the player and we dont send over baldini AND Levys minion if we are just negotiating! The minion is there to cross the T's and Dot the i's!!

You did mate. I can certainly confirm that!!

Good stuff.

 

[Mr Pink]

Christ on a bike.

I hope he stays - just so me and you can spam the life out of certain threads.

 

[Berglad]

I agree in that it goes well against the grain of our model for transfers. Yes Benteke is a lot younger and represented a securer option from the point of view of resale. But then again he's only had one season in this League. It was a massive price in fairness, as much as many of us wanted the deal to happen.

Soldada is an exceptional forward, he's proven, not in this League granted but nevertheless as somebody else pointed out Spanish players seems to adapt very well to the Premiership in the main.

I don't think its a massive gamble in all honesty. This is about signing a top level forward, proven quality bang in his prime and expecting him to perform from the off. Its big money but that's the nature of the beast if you want proven quality.

Its a statement of ambition. Said earlier we have to walk the walk. If we are keeping Bale we need to demonstrate some ambition and have a go this season Otherwise what's the point, why not just sell him this summer for a record fee?

We have more this summer over the lucrative TV deals. AVB needs to be backed. So many factors that are telling me that we have to exercise a little more bravery this window, and Levy won't be cavalier to the point of compromising the Club - we all know that.

Makes sense to me, and I'm relieved as much as I am excited. We simply need this sort of signing which isn't the norm. It won't go unnoticed either, as I think many people are judging us and where we go from here....having one of the best players in the world currently at the club and we've been knocking on the door for a while in terms of competing with the big boys.

IMO, our time is now. We have to go for this.

Soldado's CL record is excellent too: 16 goals and 4 assists in 23 CL appearances. Admittedly more of them are against the weaker teams (all 4 goals last season were against Borisov), but still pretty impressive. Higuain has 9 goals and 6 assists in 48 CL appearances.

 

[Mr Pink]

Is the general feeling that 28 is too old now? I thought the peak years were about 27-32 depending how fit the player is and how much they rely on pace? I think Soldado could be a top striker for us for 4+ years (if he adapts etc) while if Benteke turned out to be top class, he might have wanted to leave after two or three. Who knows but I think Soldado could easily score more than Benteke next season if do get him.

I always thought a players peak was about 26 - 29/30

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I think this could come down to how much Villa wanted up front compared to how much Valencia want up front.
That could still kill the deal really but if Villa were '£25m cash or fuck off' and Valencia are more half now half later, it could fit in with our financial planning.

It's definitely a consideration I suppose, find it hard to believe Villa could realistically expect that though. It's like saying we'll only sell to 4 clubs in the world.