The Weekend ITK Discussion Thread 2/3 August 2014

[SpurSince57]

Got a feeling poch will wanna try and work with him and take a proper look.

Sandro's been on the cards for a sale and paul could well be a square peg. Both would bring in more cash and help balance the books this window. Levy likes, poch gets his transfers, everyone's happy (well, obviously some fans will be pissed off....).

If we could get the Sandro of the first 20-odd games of 2012-13 back it would be a no-brainer. Is that going to happen?

The only role for Paulinho would appear to be the one he plays for Brazil. Again, is that going to happen, or at least happen on a regular enough basis to keep him happy?

 

[thinktank]

If we could get the Sandro of the first 20-odd games of 2012-13 back it would be a no-brainer. Is that going to happen?

The only role for Paulinho would appear to be the one he plays for Brazil. Again, is that going to happen, or at least happen on a regular enough basis to keep him happy?

Pretty sure you're agreeing with me there, grandad. You feeling ok?

 

[SpurSince57]

Seems we've got a balloon debate going. I'm sure I could make a case for flogging Dembélé.

Of course, we could offload all three.

 

[dagraham]

Seems we've got a balloon debate going. I'm sure I could make a case for flogging Dembélé.

Of course, we could offload all three.

The fact that most of us could make a case for flogging all of our current CM is not a great advert for our transfr policy over the last few years.

 

[Sweech]

The way I see it, it has to be either Dembele or Paulinho to go.

Sandro may be limited on the ball, but he has a set role and when fit performs it exceptionally well.

Paulinho has a role too, but from what I've seen actually performs it quite averagely.

As for Dembele, I'm not even sure what his role is anymore? Yes his dribbling out of tight areas is superb but that's about it.

In an ideal world I'd happily sell both Paulinho and Dembele but on balance we don't have anyone else in midfield who runs beyond the ball so I think Dembele should be the one to make way.

Sandro's fitness is still a huge concern though. The two CM's in the system tend to cover A LOT of ground (I believe Schneiderlin personally had the highest distance traveled in the league last year), so not only do we worry if Sandro can even get back to previous fitness and form, but can he hold up in a system which is that demanding fitness wise?

If Poch decides to let him go, I'm fine with the decision.

I also think Paulinho's skillset is better suited to being one of the 3 AMs in Poch's system. Rather than one of the two CMs.

 

[Cornpattbuck]

The fact that most of us could make a case for flogging all of our current CM is not a great advert for our transfr policy over the last few years.

You could do - and fans do - with every single team in every league! Every player has shortcomings, we just need to find the best blend of some very talented players and give them the right game plan.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Not a bad football decision either to have more than one left back

But we could have kept rose without offering a new contract. I think it was more about preserving his value if we decide to move him next summer.

 

[ohwhenthespurs]

I find this sudden universal received wisdom that Sandro is now a crock, or can't hack the pace, a bit troubling. He had a serious knee injury that ruled him out for a year, then clashed heads with a coach who was - let's be fair - an arsehole, and thus couldn't get back in the team. But the guy's 25 years old! A bit early to be calling time, don't you think?

 

[Saul]

Paulinho is a bottle job , Ihave no desire to watch players pulling out of tackles like he did against the Toon.

 

[Beni]

Paulinho is a bottle job , Ihave no desire to watch players pulling out of tackles like he did against the Toon.

Bale pulled out of tackles all the time, he even dived on occasions, did you like watching him?

 

[Sandros Shiny Head]

Bale pulled out of tackles all the time, he even dived on occasions, did you like watching him?

but bales quality was a bit more forthcoming no?

 

[dondo]

But we could have kept rose without offering a new contract. I think it was more about preserving his value if we decide to move him next summer.

Maybe but always good to reassure a player after we have brought someone else to play in his position. Like it or not rose will play 20+ games for us in all comps next year barring injuries. Who is going to play them if he is not there?

 

[Gedson100]

I find this sudden universal received wisdom that Sandro is now a crock, or can't hack the pace, a bit troubling. He had a serious knee injury that ruled him out for a year, then clashed heads with a coach who was - let's be fair - an arsehole, and thus couldn't get back in the team. But the guy's 25 years old! A bit early to be calling time, don't you think?

He has been injury prone but there is one factor that is affecting Sandro's status within the club & his future:

Contract until: 30.06.2016

And that is most likely it. Chief Dan does not let you get beyond the 2 year point especially if, as has been suggested, your agent wants a lot more money than he's prepared to give for a new contract, primarily because due to injuries, the return on investment has been variable.

 

[Beni]

but bales quality was a bit more forthcoming no?

That wasn't the statement though, it was about bottling tackles.
But because Bale was amazing, and great to watch, it's acceptable for him to be a bottler or a cheat? Seems a bit double standard.

Plus we haven't even given Paulinho enough time in this team to know what quality he could offer us.

 

[samsonlevi]

but bales quality was a bit more forthcoming no?

Agreed, it was

How about in bales first few seasons at the club???

 

[Waiwonder]

I would be pleased but the window won't be a complete success imo unless we buy a striker.

I know very few agree with me but we are relying on Soldado completely turning it around and becoming a decent No. 9 in the PL. I think everyone knows my opinion on that so I won't bore everyone again with it.

However, even if he proves me wrong, Ade is off to the ANC in Jan, so if Soldado gets injured we are left with only Kane. It's very difficult to sign players in Jan and I think not buying a striker this window will
be a big mistake. With the EL and other cup competitions Kane will still get plenty of game time.

I

I disagree. We can easily revert to a false 9 if we're short in strikers. Look at our strikers' heat maps and ball touches so far in all out pre season games and they pop up left right and centre. We can easily stick someone like lamela up there due to the fluidity of our front 4.

Very excited about musacchio possibly joining. I know it's not real life etc but he's always good on fm.

 

[Mister Jez]

Third party ownership apparently holding up the Musacchio deal. In this case you've got three parties (agent, river plate and villarreal) all owning one third each but with Villarreal holding the decisive stake. If the Mangala to City deal is anything to go by, this could take some time to resolve with each party possibly arguing over their share. A 15m move leaves them all with 5m each which I assume, Villarreal will not be happy about (given they'd struggle to replace him for that price) but the other two would be delighted. At least this time, Levy has started the process early and thus learned from the Damiao and Moutinho affairs.

I was under the impression that River Plate were entitled to 35% of the fee, nothing to do with 3rd party ownership. Or maybe you know something I don't..

 

[dagraham]

I disagree. We can easily revert to a false 9 if we're short in strikers. Look at our strikers' heat maps and ball touches so far in all out pre season games and they pop up left right and centre. We can easily stick someone like lamela up there due to the fluidity of our front 4.

Very excited about musacchio possibly joining. I know it's not real life etc but he's always good on fm.

Pre season is mostly about fitness. In the heat of battle in the PL it won't be enough just have players just "doing a job" imo.

 

[Waiwonder]

Pre season is mostly about fitness. In the heat of battle in the PL it won't be enough just have players just "doing a job" imo.

That is true but under poch we won't be so reliant on our strikers scoring. Goals will come from all four attacking players as Southampton proved last season.

 

[Snarfalicious]

That is true but under poch we won't be so reliant on our strikers scoring. Goals will come from all four attacking players as Southampton proved last season.

The difference being that we can offer much better players at just about every position. There should be plenty of goal opportunities if the attacking front can implement Poch's tactics effectively.