The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - THE POST MORTEM EDITION

[SandroClegane]

This place seems like a ghost town now. Has everyone left the ship?

I'm still very curious to know from the ITKs as to what happened in the last few days of the Window.

What happened to the 'jaw-dropping' player that was mentioned?

What happened to the 'two, maybe three' that more than one of the ITKs (I think) said that we should expect.

We did well to bring in so much new talent over the summer but the last few days was a bit of a come-down for me.

I feel that this Forum was used by the Club to perpetuate a possible myth that 'Uncle Joe' was stumping up extra cash for a real charge up the table when it was probably only a bridging loan until the Bale money from RM was sorted out. Do others feel the same?

In the end it was a net-spend summer, while our competitors actually spent considerably more than they took in from player sales. Good as our team looks, does this reality concern others in this Forum or is everyone perfectly happy?

If we fail to make it into the Champions League spots this season does it mean we can look forward to any of Vertonghen, Sandro and who knows leaving next summer?

Lots to think about...

Would love to hear updates from the ITKs!

Why would this concern us? We sold a player for close to double what he's actually worth and brought in 7 full internationals that gave us a much more balanced squad. We didn't have to use any extra money and can invest in the stadium/pay off anything we owe on the training ground. We linked to new markets in Spain, Romania, Argentina, and Denmark, while strengthening our markets in Brazil, France, and Belgium.

Not sure how that is construed as a negative, especially with our model of self-sustainability.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Just so everyone is aware, i'll be turning out the lights shortly so this part of the site will no longer be visible.

After some cleaning up, decorating and maybe one or two parties, we'll be back at some point in December.

 

[tiger666]

Just so everyone is aware, i'll be turning out the lights shortly so this part of the site will no longer be visible.

After some cleaning up, decorating and maybe one or two parties, we'll be back at some point in December.

Better scrape TSH off the kitchen floor before you go.

 

[Berglad]

Just so everyone is aware, i'll be turning out the lights shortly so this part of the site will no longer be visible.

After some cleaning up, decorating and maybe one or two parties, we'll be back at some point in December.

was there anything to the quotes/lyrics you were posting?

 

[thfcsteff]

The earliest I can find anything about Anzhi's fire sale was on August 7th. Bernard signed for Shakhtar on the 8th. I think by the 7th we had given up as we hadn't even agreed with his club. We would probably have known by then that he was going to sign for Shakhtar before it was official.

I think the main question would have to be why no-one else other than a Russian club ended up in the front-running for Bernard? I think there's some pretty ugly third-party ownership stuff in Brazil which prevents a lot more deals being done. I don't know if Bernard is one of those but it strikes me that this is increasingly becoming a treacherous place to do business. Damiao, Bernard, both incredibly tough, I think we were lucky to get Paulinho as easily as we did (and that took some time!)...

 

[Barry Mead]

Were we ever linked with Iker Muniain? I'm not sure who I'd want between him and Griezmann.

Mumblings but I'm unaware of any definite offer, but you would imagine we have looked at him a number of times. His buy out is 37.5 mill though I believe and they are one of those clubs you feel would want that in full, although losing out on millions for Llorente might just have changed their view
I love both of them so choosing would be a dilemma, but Griezmann's buy out is 30 mill euros and last year he showed a continuation of his development whereas Iker had a poor year. I think there are lots of reasonable reasons why Iker struggled but one of the biggest is that he wants to do everything which in one way is great but at the top you have to focus on doing your own job as a priority and trust your team mates to do theirs and only cover or help when you can without impacting your own role
For me apart from the cost difference I would say Griezmann is the better offensive player, far better in a pure wing role but still a very good orchestrator and second striker. I think Muniain is a great mix of skill and work rate and never say die attitude but he doesn't score many goals, his best in La Liga in one season was 5, laast season Griezmann hit 10
On the other hand Muniain has it in him to play cm and is a tough and fearless little sod even if he isn't very big and if we find that we are lacking character, desire and win mentality more than goals then I think Iker is your man
Lets be honest I think we'd be over the moon with either

 

[andyp8080]

we are still waiting for Grey Fox to come back with is post window comments that he promised

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

He needs to hurry up then

 

[Parkie]

we are still waiting for Grey Fox to come back with is post window comments that he promised

Mystery also said he would write something up (said he would on twitter anyway - assume it would make its way here as I don't think a twitter message could cover this window!)

 

[Jospur]

Why would this concern us? We sold a player for close to double what he's actually worth and brought in 7 full internationals that gave us a much more balanced squad. We didn't have to use any extra money and can invest in the stadium/pay off anything we owe on the training ground. We linked to new markets in Spain, Romania, Argentina, and Denmark, while strengthening our markets in Brazil, France, and Belgium.

Not sure how that is construed as a negative, especially with our model of self-sustainability.

Excellent! It's great to see such positivity. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season and seeing how the team progresses.

From the sound of it you'll be maintaining that positive approach through thick & thin, and whatever happens this season. The Club depends on supporters like you. I look forward to seeing such continued positivity from you as the season unfolds. COYS.

 

[AUSpur]

Excellent! It's great to see such positivity. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season and seeing how the team progresses.

From the sound of it you'll be maintaining that positive approach through thick & thin, and whatever happens this season. The Club depends on supporters like you. I look forward to seeing such continued positivity from you as the season unfolds. COYS.

As a wise man (with long hair and makeup) once said:

"Girl, don't go away mad. Girl, just go away."

 

[rawhide]

As a wise man (with long hair and makeup) once said:

"Girl, don't go away mad. Girl, just go away."

There is no way you can EVER call Vince Neil wise. Just ask Razzle form Hanoi Rocks

 

[Jospur]

Here's another thought to consider while await news from the ITKs on what happened in the final days of the Transfer Window.

Essentially we had a net spend of zero this summer. So here's the question: if the outgoings remained the same (about £22 million) - and Gareth Bale had stayed - which players would Spurs have brought in to enhance the squad? Net spend should continue at zero.

 

[tiger666]

Here's another thought to consider while await news from the ITKs on what happened in the final days of the Transfer Window.

You keep on about this as though you're somehow entitled to some sort of explanation.

 

[Mikegold]

You keep on about this as though you're somehow entitled to some sort of explanation.

Think it's more to do with Grey Fox and Mystery explicitly said they would.

 

[Jospur]

You keep on about this as though you're somehow entitled to some sort of explanation.

I keep on about this because the ITKs said that we could expect certain things to happen. They didn't. I think it only right, and appropriate, that they let those that follow their pronouncements know what transpired. This is only fair in my opinion.

Now who do you think Spurs would have brought in with the 'net spend zero' scenario if Bale had remained a Spurs player? You've got about £22m to do it from outgoing sales...

 

[tiger666]

I keep on about this because the ITKs said that we could expect certain things to happen. They didn't. I think it only right, and appropriate, that they let those that follow their pronouncements know what transpired. This is only fair in my opinion.

They pass on certain thing's they've heard. Nothing more. What you do with that is up to you, but they don't owe you anything.

Now who do you think Spurs would have brought in with the 'net spend zero' scenario if Bale had remained a Spurs player? You've got about £22m to do it from outgoing sales...

I've no idea and not really sure what you're getting at.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

I keep on about this because the ITKs said that we could expect certain things to happen. They didn't. I think it only right, and appropriate, that they let those that follow their pronouncements know what transpired. This is only fair in my opinion..

You're going to be here a long time if you expect explanations for every piece of ITK that doesn't transpire. It isn't something that every ITK does and it isn't something they have to do either.

 

[absolute bobbins]

Thanks to all for the enlightening and batshit crazy world of the ITK discussion, see y'all in January x

 

[Jospur]

They pass on certain thing's they've heard. Nothing more. What you do with that is up to you, but they don't owe you anything.



I've no idea and not really sure what you're getting at.

I know that the ITKs pass on thing's that they've heard. That's what being an ITK is all about. But this year there were two camps: Bale is staying and Bale is going. In this case, I'm curious as to whether the ITKs who said Bale was staying were duped by their contacts or whether it was a well-thought-out campaign by the Club to cause disarray in the Real Madrid camp and/or the camps of our competitors before negotiations were concluded. I certainly believe that 'spies' from other clubs visit this Forum to find snippets of news to help in their own plans.

In addition, in the last few days there were strong pronouncements by a number of ITKs that we could expect certain things to happen. Nothing did. I'm curious to know what transpired? Aren't you?

As for the 'net spend zero' situation (with Bale staying) - why don't you have a go at seeing who might have come in with Bale staying? Draw your own conclusions.