The ITK Discussion Thread - 15th January 2022

[Archibald&Crooks]

Can someone tell me if there's a Conte thread? I'd like to comment on this stuff and would rather do so there than risk @Rob banning me for taking the thread wildly off topic.

 

[YB123]

I don't know what 'giving up' on top 4 even means. With this squad, as it is, without any additions, Conte has got us into a tentative pole position for that place. And that's having to do so from Nuno's base and with regular injuries to key players. Even if we signed nobody, but maintained our current form under Conte with this same team we'd be looking really strong for it. 'Giving up' would require us to throw in the towel. Not metaphorically, but actually just give up.

We're going to be in that race right to the end of the season regardless (a Kane injury notwithstanding, which really would be a massive blow).

I am telling you now. If we don't strength this window, we will not get top 4.

 

[Typical Spurs]

It's great we are preparing for next season but we can get top four this season. I hope the club haven't given up on it

This is the point I think. Preparing for summer/next season is great. Not so great if we don't get Champions League football again and therefore can't attract the top talent.

 

[spurmin]

I am telling you now. If we don't strength this window, we will not get top 4.

Don’t think anyone can disagree with that.

 

[Scott Spur]

Love the positivity there about Vlahovic, but I still cannot for the life of me square this.

The guy has some of the world's top clubs after his signature and we can't seem to afford to replace players that we've previously sold, let alone add new elite ones. I get it that the funding situation may be different in the summer, but it would have to be huge. As I said, I can't square this in my mind and am with Ally G, I'd say we've missed the boat.

But.....what do I know, just my onions.

#COYS

 

[HotSprut]

The lack of links with creative players worries me, especially if Ndom, Lo Celso and Dele goes. Also, too bad the noise about that Charles De Kelt-guy died.

 

[Nayim60yards]

Thought he said he was going to have a fantastic birthday week

Somebody on a messageboard suggested that's because Traore and him have the same birthday. Adama's birthday is.....tomorrow!

Adama Traoré​

Spanish soccer player

Description​

Adama Traoré Diarra is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger or wing-back for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Spain national team. Traoré began his career with Barcelona, appearing mainly for the reserves. Wikipedia
Born: 25 January 1996 (age 25 years), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain

 

[Matthew]

can we ban this clown too? his strike rate is shocking.

 

[Matthew]

valenciayid:
on signings: 2-3
I know you’d like that but….will tomorrow be Traore Tuesday
If the opportunity exists, We MUST get rid of Ndom, GLC and Dele, they are raping our budget

you'd imagine its easily 400k p/w on just those 3? thats a lot tbf.

 

[WhiteStripe]

Last week of the window. I guess now we will see what is possible. Conte got let down by Bergwijn when he scored those goals against Leicester so he won’t be able to be sold now. Clever not taking the same risk with Dele and Lo Celso by leaving them out of the squad all together. Not sure how deliberately not trying to win a game goes down with others but I guess if you want to prove you need transfers in it’s a smart move.

Surely you are a WUM? Surely? Deliberately not trying to win a game? Deliberately? Absolute total and utter garbage of the highest order. Big difference between leaving players out who are surplus to requirements and deliberately trying to lose. Get a life.

 

[gazzeh]

100%. But JJ was incredible. I still can't believe the nuggets he use to slip me

you'd imagine its easily 400k p/w on just those 3? thats a lot tbf.

Tanguy is rumoured to be on 200k, Dele, on 180, GLC on 90 so, yeah

 

[rawhide]

The lack of links with creative players worries me, especially if Ndom, Lo Celso and Dele goes. Also, too bad the noise about that Charles De Kelt-guy died.

Why? Conte doesn’t really play with dedicated creative midfielders and those guys don’t play. So it’s just you wanting like for like swaps.

 

[Dundalk_Spur]

can we ban this clown too? his strike rate is shocking.

His strike rate is remarkable, he is wrong 90% of the time. Guy knows nothing and everything is North West centric.

 

[HotSprut]

Why? Conte doesn’t really play with dedicated creative midfielders and those guys don’t play. So it’s just you wanting like for like swaps.

I was not saying that we should bring in 3 new playmakers.

 

[PCozzie]

I am telling you now. If we don't strength this window, we will not get top 4.

Well Ok, that's an opinion, and you may prove to be right. There are other teams involved and we might not maintain our form. What I took issue with is the 'giving up on fourth' type comment. It's a nonsense. It implies that we wouldn't have a chance without additions, which is clearly not the case given what has happened since Conte came in. We'd merely need to maintain our current form, with our current players, and we'd still be right in the mix, if not slight favourites given positive results in our games in hand.

That's not an argument not to reinforce the team and clear out deadwood, we should be doing that. But if we can't, Conte's not going to rock up at HW on the 1st Feb and tell the team to take the rest of the season off.

 

[soflapaul]

Thanks to Trix, Herc and H88 once again. If i understand the ITKs correctly, the goal is to be set up for next season and not necessarily qualifying the CL. While qualifying for the CL is definitely a goal, it isn't the be all/end all because the more important outcome is A) start to bring in the players AC wants and B) shift out the players who have a high cost/value provided ratio. And that is to be done over the next 2-3 windows.

If we lose out on a great player such as DV, it isn't a catastrophe because Conte's system isn't dependent on individual performance. It would nice to have as he builds in tactical flexibility, but as long as we see 2 in and 2 out, that is a sign of progress towards what we have heard is the club's long term plan. And if we manage to make it to the CL, so much the better.

 

[yankspurs]

can we ban this clown too? his strike rate is shocking.

Except this time its kinda being backed up by others that our business is dependent on getting Dele, Ndombele & Gio out.

 

[Gbspurs]

At some point we need to get out of the cycle of "needing to sell to buy". If that means flogging in January but being unable to replace until the summer so be it. People say Levy doesn't change but letting these players go "on the cheap" is a big change and might sign better things to come.

 

[mark87]

Hate the use of the word "raping" in this context. Always makes me cringe a bit.

I despise it, it's absolutely unnecessary.

 

[Snarfalicious]

At some point we need to get out of the cycle of "needing to sell to buy". If that means flogging in January but being unable to replace until the summer so be it. People say Levy doesn't change but letting these players go "on the cheap" is a bit change and might sign better things to come.

100% agree. Feel like if we can take advantage of desperation in January and get rid of what feels like an unending amount of deadwood in our squad, that will be incredibly important come the summer. Only concern I have is everything we are hearing right now is about loans and maybe not even having options to buy. Kind of feels like kicking the can down the street but hoping these players who have been shit for awhile now can suddenly turn it around.