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

[Gedson100]

There's been a lot of chat about Bernard recently.

I sadly can't see how we're gonna sign him, it looked like we were sniffing around but that's died a death recently, & I get the feeling we've finished our Brazilian business; other targets are European based now.

Plus obvious budgetary considerations. If we're buying a striker, another £15-20m purchase is unlikely and even then, they'd probably want more than that for him and it's just too much of a risk from our end and at a fee we'll not pay.

So yeah, this doesn't bring me any joy but that's where we're at IMO.

 

[GetSpurredOn]

I think a few people are thinking along the same lines as me. Benteke and Chadli.
Benteke - powerful handful of a centre forward, still young but improving and with potential. Already coming off the back of a good debut PL season.
Chadli - winger/wide forward. Right footed coming in off the left, decent goals record, and at 6ft2 offers a presence if required. Like a younger and more technical Dempsey. If Clint is sold, recouping around what we paid, that will cover most of the Chadli fee.
Potentially Benteke would come in as a starter, and I don't see room for both Ade and Defoe as experienced bench options, so one to leave and be replaced with an up and coming option like Oliviera or Rebic. But short term, getting in a third striker puts us in a strong squad shape, allows us to take our time shuffling Ade/Defoe out.

Beyond that, maybe a young CD and CM to replace Gallas, Parker, Hudd and possibly Livermore. Again, lesser urgency.

 

[Sum Monsterism]

Having Defoe up front / back up til January is no bad thing. He'll be absolutely at it to get in the team and have to produce the goods to keep out whomever else - then if he's not happy/playing by January we can flog him to a team in the mire for the cash we want (tv money makes this do-able for a club fighting to stay in the league) and he'll be, presumably, played as first choice at that club as they seek goals.

No-one on here would mind too much if JD had an 18 goal season

 

[eddiev14]

I'm liking what I'm hearing from the bearded one.

We need a wing forward and £20m should get us a very decent striker.

 

[Sum Monsterism]

t'goat said: "The next poster that harps on about Dempsey will regret it."

and you still banging on about him. leave him alone!

 

[Mullers]

Look for yourself, Mullers, mate http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/122289/lewis-holtby?cc=5739

4 goals for Schalke, then that would be a no.

 

[Mullers]

They can and have all played the central AM role. I think Sigurdsson was a better option than Dempsey last season. He has better technique, better brain and works harder off the ball. he wasn't played in the hole position (his best) very often (Dempsey was many times) yet still provided more clear cut chances and chances per minute and despite being used in fits and starts unlike Dempsey who had a lot of continual games and also scored/assisted at a slightly quicker rate (174min per goal/assist to Dempsey's 181).

I think so, I like Sig, Dempsey seems to be in the right place, at the right time, the areas that really you'd expect Defoe to be, that's why Dempsey continues to get picked. I'm not against the idea of Sig playing that role though as I thought he was one of our best players in the 2nd half of the season.

 

[mill]

If we can't afford Bernard or someone of his quality I'd rather we went with what we've got than getting chadli for the sake of it. No wonder we can't afford Bernard when we make signings like that, average players eating up the budget and wages. Rather give falque a chance and wait til we can afford a quality players

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

Dempsey is free to go I would say. Siggy is more than capable if filling the gap left by him. I vaguely remember rumours of Dempsey being on 80k or something which could be another reason to get rid. He was never a forward really.

On another point there is a lot of talk about how expensive Benteke is but when I think of strikers i often think of Man Utd. Say what you want about Fergie but he knew how important a striker was and was never afraid to spend top money on one. Yorke, Cole, Berba, Rooney, Tevez, RVP all went for large fees and of course they narrowly missed out on Shearer. At the time a lot of these weren't world class (except RVP) but were scoring for lower teams.

I think Man Ure have just paid 15 million for the PL unproven Willam Zaha. Now i know that they have that kind of money to invest in players whereas we pay that for a "proven" player but in all fairness aren't they taking more of a risk than us at the price being quoted for Benteke? Is twenty or twenty five million supposed to buy us and upgrade on Defoe? We all know that Benteke can score at this level, has pace and a good pass on him. If we are going to bugger about looking for a twelve to fifteen million pound striker then we might as well keep what we have (including Dempsey) and put Kane on the bench for an odd game or three.

It's easy i guess to be an armchair fan and spend Levy's money, but there comes a time when a leap of faith is required. If AVB thinks this could be the player to get us those extra goals then Levy should barter a little then pay. After all he paid fifteen big ones for Bentley so whats the big deal over another ten?...............even bald headed Chairman get lucky once in a while.

 

[Mullers]

t'goat said: "The next poster that harps on about Dempsey will regret it."

and you still banging on about him. leave him alone!

But it's to do with the ITK posted about a wing forward, the debate is do we need to buy one or can the existing players which includes Dempsey do that job.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

t'goat said: "The next poster that harps on about Dempsey will regret it."

and you still banging on about him. leave him alone!

We have had ITK today and previously saying Dempsey is being touted out ?

 

[Bus-Conductor]

t'goat said: "The next poster that harps on about Dempsey will regret it."

and you still banging on about him. leave him alone!

From coys. It's the guy who got the early sponsorship news. Re Benteke

Billy White, on 13 Jul 2013 - 04:20 AM, said:
There's firm interest. Have heard we're looking to offload Dempsey to (partially) fund the move. Haven't heard anything re Parker, Hudd, Livermore etc. Also heard Bale nailed on to stay with us this season, not that that's particularly new or unique info.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

Having Defoe up front / back up til January is no bad thing. He'll be absolutely at it to get in the team and have to produce the goods to keep out whomever else - then if he's not happy/playing by January we can flog him to a team in the mire for the cash we want (tv money makes this do-able for a club fighting to stay in the league) and he'll be, presumably, played as first choice at that club as they seek goals.

No-one on here would mind too much if JD had an 18 goal season

Agree, JD seems to get more goals off the bench than when he starts, where as I cant see Ade having much of an impact from the bench, all pretty much irrelevant until we sign a decent striker though.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

Clint Dempsey myth-busters 101;

Clint Dempsey works hard - he really doesn't and has resulted in an increased burden on our midfield to do the donkey work from such apathetic displays in tracking back and harrying oppenents. Bale wasn't much better but obviously his upside compensates this much more so than 'Deuce'.

Clint Dempsey is great at long range shooting - I couldn't think of a worse person, save Lennon, for such God-awful pop-shots from 20-25 yards out and has only served to waste good attacking positions when others could be played in.

He has chipped in with goals yes, but at what cost for conducive and cohesive attacking play in the final third, the lack of vision and, inexcusably for me, lack of work ethos which should be a pre-requisite for more 'limited' footballers.

I dare say his major upside is the increased exposure in the US of A but I certainly wouldn't shed a tear to see his departure from the Lane.

So during last season pray tell just what other player waiting in the wings would have added his goal return? Huddlestone, Carroll, go on fill us all in on the little gem?

You might as well name any other player in our squad that has cost us a "conductive and cohesive attacking play in the final third", that line is just throw away bullshit. Whether Dempsey features in the future or not (and i don't really think he will) he has been a good player for us in what was a transitional season under a new manager. One who was selected more often than not by AVB. Oh and do you seriously think that Dempsey was brought to the club to do the fucking "donkey work".

 

[Sum Monsterism]

But it's to do with the ITK posted about a wing forward, the debate is do we need to buy one or can the existing players which includes Dempsey do that job.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

OK, to clarify on Dempsey. Talking about who might replace him is one thing. Talking about how he did last season and trawling through the same bollocks as has been argued to death almost every week since we signed him is another. There's a difference.

It's an argument that makes my eyes bleed and goes nowhere. So, talk about the transfer. Please.

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

Regarding the potential news of Ferdinand leaving; I wouldn't care too much. He's a striker coach and look how that's panned out...

 

[Mullers]

Regarding the potential news of Ferdinand leaving; I wouldn't care too much. He's a striker coach and look how that's panned out...

Where did you read that?

 

[Lilbaz]

Have we been given till wednesday for benteke? Hope so as i don't want this to stretch out too long like ade.

 

[Lilbaz]

Regarding the potential news of Ferdinand leaving; I wouldn't care too much. He's a striker coach and look how that's panned out...

Teddy as replacement please.