The Weekend ITK Discussion Thread - The Men of Harlech Edition 13/14 July 2013

[Spurger King]

The blitzkrieg was one dimensional, but also very effective.
We will simply go out and demolish teams. Remember these players are also technically good and will also be able to keep the ball.

I keep hearing this 'we'll blitz them" or ”there's more than one way to make goals” argument, but the truth is simply that when a team only has muscle up their sleeves but no tricks, they'll be much easier to play against.

We had all the imagination of a foosball team last season, and that doesn't look like changing any time soon.

 

[mattyspurs]

I keep hearing this 'we'll blitz them" or ”there's more than one way to make goals” argument, but the truth is simply that when a team only has muscle up their sleeves but no tricks, they'll be much easier to play against.

We had all the imagination of a foosball team last season, and that doesn't look like changing any time soon.

Which was my concern about buying Pauline!! We currently have no creativity, this is what was lacking last season. Unlocking the defence.

 

[danielneeds]

Which was my concern about buying Pauline!! We currently have no creativity, this is what was lacking last season. Unlocking the defence.

Personally I don't think lack of a little play maker was the main problem last season. Our pattern of play was too methodical and slow, allowing teams to get back into their defensive lines. This went right throughout the team.

We simply need to move the ball quicker this year and AVB needs to work on the off the ball movement, give it and go. Simple stuff but still the most effective way to break a defence down.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Personally I don't think lack of a little play maker was the main problem last season. Our pattern of play was too methodical and slow, allowing teams to get back into their defensive lines. This went right throughout the team.

We simply need to move the ball quicker this year and AVB needs to work on the off the ball movement, give it and go. Simple stuff but still the most effective way to break a defence down.

I think you're right, and hopefully the exclusion of Parker will help stop this.

 

[Parkie]

So, if we are to believe the £50m war chest idea - coupled with the idea that AVB has been promised the resources he asks for and the fact that we would have to prune the squad a bit, then the following is not impossible:
Paulinho in - £16-£17m
Benteke £20m
Bernard £20m
Shift on:
Hudd £5m
Parker £3m
That equals £49m net spend (disregarding wages etc but if we consider that the three incoming players would hopefully not exceed the wages previously paid to Gallas, Bentley and Parker then we should be about evens there).
I don't think that is unreasonable and would give us a hell of a squad (with Holtby, Siggy, Dempsey etc to shake things up a bit).

The key thing would be ensuring that the team get time to gel - Bernard is playing the Copa Libertadores for a few more days, then - as with the Paulinho deal - I would expect him to move (either to Porto or to us - hey, I can dream!). The Benteke deal is being pushed by his agent (see the secret footballer column on agents for more on this. Www.thesecretfootballer.com ) and should be wrapped up sooner rather than later if we are only a few million apart on fees and if neither side gets silly.

 

[mill]

So, if we are to believe the £50m war chest idea - coupled with the idea that AVB has been promised the resources he asks for and the fact that we would have to prune the squad a bit, then the following is not impossible:
Paulinho in - £16-£17m
Benteke £20m
Bernard £20m
Shift on:
Hudd £5m
Parker £3m
That equals £49m net spend (disregarding wages etc but if we consider that the three incoming players would hopefully not exceed the wages previously paid to Gallas, Bentley and Parker then we should be about evens there).
I don't think that is unreasonable and would give us a hell of a squad (with Holtby, Siggy, Dempsey etc to shake things up a bit).

The key thing would be ensuring that the team get time to gel - Bernard is playing the Copa Libertadores for a few more days, then - as with the Paulinho deal - I would expect him to move (either to Porto or to us - hey, I can dream!). The Benteke deal is being pushed by his agent (see the secret footballer column on agents for more on this. Www.thesecretfootballer.com ) and should be wrapped up sooner rather than later if we are only a few million apart on fees if neither side gets silly.

To get them 3 players in I'd happily shift naughton and promote Smith and one of if not both of sigs and dempsey if the sales would raise the cash we'd need

 

[Spurger King]

Personally I don't think lack of a little play maker was the main problem last season. Our pattern of play was too methodical and slow, allowing teams to get back into their defensive lines. This went right throughout the team.

We simply need to move the ball quicker this year and AVB needs to work on the off the ball movement, give it and go. Simple stuff but still the most effective way to break a defence down.

I think it was a bit of both. Maybe our movement would have been better if we had somebody moving the ball around and forcing the opposition to break formation.

Hudd could do it for the odd 20 minutes before having a dinner break, and little Tommy Carroll was doing this too.

 

[sammy j]

Benteke for £20m + is crazy talk.Levy would never pay that sort of money

Disagree

 

[strader]

Are people not a bit concerned about a possible frontline of Chadli-Benteke-Bale? Their average height is about 6'3" and all of them are incredibly direct.

I'm just worried we'd be very one dimensional, and have nothing to counter teams who just defend deep.

For me Benteke instead of Villa means our LF absolutely has to be a Mata/Carzola style lockpicker like Bernard, which Chadli isn't.

these mata/carzola type players have not won the title yet, all i can remember is direct fast strong players doing it.

Jose first term at chelsea; 443, direct fast RF and LF / wingers, with drog upfront. United are always direct.

so we need to stop drooling of mata/carzola players and believing its the only way forward.

Don't get me wrong i would love to have those type ay spurs bit its not the only winning formula

 

[Lilbaz]

Benteke for £20m + is crazy talk.Levy would never pay that sort of money

Why not?

He's 22, if he does next season what he dis this his value will go up. If he does better his value will go up
if he doesn't do that well, gets only 10-12 goals he'd still be worth the same as carroll £15m.

He's also on low wages, if we can offer him £50k with performance bonuses then it's a good deal.

 

[wiggo24]

I'd say 16m max.Thats if we are even in for him.

Not to say I disagree with the first part but I don't think there's any way we're not in for him, considering the fact we obvs know who he is, and what a good player he is....and I can't imagine why benteke would suddenly hand in a transfer req if nobody was in for him, and arsenal are focusing on Higuain, and Chelsea are probs not that interested, you get the feeling they'd try to get a more high profile player first.....also a few itk' have said we are so.....

That's not saying I think we'll get him tho....

 

[KenilworthSpur]

If Levy can pay 16m for Bent all those seasons ago, he can pay 20m now.

Would make a change to have some presence in the box.....

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

That'll do for today, I'm off to enjoy my birthday evening with my wife (special things happen on birthday nights ). Hopefully there'll be some nice news to wake up to. COYS

 

[Indisguise]

That'll do for today, I'm off to enjoy my birthday evening with my wife (special things happen on birthday nights ). Hopefully there'll be some nice news to wake up to. COYS

Happy Birthday! Have a good one mate.

 

[Harry_Snatch]

Why not?

He's 22, if he does next season what he dis this his value will go up. If he does better his value will go up
if he doesn't do that well, gets only 10-12 goals he'd still be worth the same as carroll £15m.

He's also on low wages, if we can offer him £50k with performance bonuses then it's a good deal.

I disagree.

Bent has scored 20 plus more than once but will never be a 20m player and was never 17m, we overpaid massively then and would be overpaying massively for Benteke at 20m now.

A 20m player has more than goals, they have a top class first touch and extra abilities on and off the ball. I don't see that Benteke has that yet. He can certainly finish though, left foot, right foot or with his head. His real value is in the 12-15 range. Lukaku on other hand will be a 20m player next season and his value will get closer to 30m at his peak.

 

[Bobbins]

So, if we are to believe the £50m war chest idea

Which you shouldn't.

 

[Lilbaz]

I disagree.

Bent has scored 20 plus more than once but will never be a 20m player and was never 17m, we overpaid massively then and would be overpaying massively for Benteke at 20m now.

A 20m player has more than goals, they have a top class first touch and extra abilities on and off the ball. I don't see that Benteke has that yet. He can certainly finish though, left foot, right foot or with his head. His real value is in the 12-15 range. Lukaku on other hand will be a 20m player next season and his value will get closer to 30m at his peak.

But bent only cost us his wages. His transfer fee was £0 as we got our money back. Villa soldado etc... will work out more expansive as there is no resale. Benteke we might even make a profit on.

 

[Rogmeister]

That'll do for today, I'm off to enjoy my birthday evening with my wife (special things happen on birthday nights ). Hopefully there'll be some nice news to wake up to. COYS

Enjoy the strap-on I saw you buying the other day. Haha

 

[Lilbaz]

Enjoy the strap-on I saw you buying the other day. Haha

Poor bastard has to buy his own presents?

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Benteke for £20m + is crazy talk.Levy would never pay that sort of money

Our past 20m bids for Moutinho, Remy and Kenwyne Jones *shudder* prove otherwise

http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/index.php?threads/quinn-sunderland-rejected-£20m-jones-bid.46989/