ITK Thread

[Legohamster]

What a load of gonads! I wonder if he actually believes he has a senior club official talking back to him as he talks to himself in the bathroom mirror?

I love his little meltdowns when people call him out

 

[billyiddo]

Yeah seems entirely unlikely that we went into the summer without several potential targets for each role we wanted to fill.

What I could see happening is us thinking that a Maddison understudy could be signed if we didn't get MGW. The Maddison injury then changing the situation enough and us not having a plan in place for that.

All of that just speculation, without looking to express any belief in what a "ITK" is saying is going on.

Yes agreed - I think that's an entirely plausible situation.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Xavi Simons is available and a very good player. Suspect we don't want to pay the big wages these types of players demand however.

Oihan Sancet at Bilbao is a fine player and moving to us would be a step up.

De Kettelaere is top class and players can always be prized away from Atalanta.

Rodrigo Mora at Porto is an incredible young talent. Only 18 years old but already good enough. Would take a very large bid though. I expect him to be at Chelsea in a year's time.

The Ukranian player, Georgiy Sudakov, is a very good footballer and I think he would be gettable for a not too ridiculous fee.

Bilal El Khannouss, who we have been tentatively linked to, is a really good young player and would be a good signing for us.

Paz we've been linked with and is a very good player. Milot we missed out on (crazy that we were never in for him at that release clause).

Also, as mentioned in last post, Asensio from PSG. 1 year left and surplus to requirements there. Will clearly want a big wage but should be available for a lowish fee.

That is 8 players I have called out there. All of which could be signed today for the same or less (and in some cases much less) than we were apparently going to pay for Gibbs-White.

I think 4 of the above are already better attacking midfield players than we have at the club so would be great signings just on that basis. 3 of those 4 are young and still improving. None of the other 4 are any worse than what we have at the club already and all are young and still have a lot of growth left in them.

If we haven't signed an attacking midfield player (I'd argue a left sided defender as well) by this time next week then that is serious neglect from our transfer team and we're clearly not serious about challenging near the top of the table.

 

[K.D.D.D.D.Soc]

Given our current situation shouldn't this be masochist thread?

 

[glasgowspur]

Xavi Simons is available and a very good player. Suspect we don't want to pay the big wages these types of players demand however.

Oihan Sancet at Bilbao is a fine player and moving to us would be a step up.

De Kettelaere is top class and players can always be prized away from Atalanta.

Rodrigo Mora at Porto is an incredible young talent. Only 18 years old but already good enough. Would take a very large bid though. I expect him to be at Chelsea in a year's time.

The Ukranian player, Georgiy Sudakov, is a very good footballer and I think he would be gettable for a not too ridiculous fee.

Bilal El Khannouss, who we have been tentatively linked to, is a really good young player and would be a good signing for us.

Paz we've been linked with and is a very good player. Milot we missed out on (crazy that we were never in for him at that release clause).

Also, as mentioned in last post, Asensio from PSG. 1 year left and surplus to requirements there. Will clearly want a big wage but should be available for a lowish fee.

I suspect the two we have been "linked" with are best distractions while we iron out the real deal.

An announcement on a signing will come out of nowhere.

 

[braineclipse]

That is 8 players I have called out there. All of which could be signed today for the same or less (and in some cases much less) than we were apparently going to pay for Gibbs-White.

I think 4 of the above are already better attacking midfield players than we have at the club so would be great signings just on that basis. 3 of those 4 are young and still improving. None of the other 4 are any worse than what we have at the club already and all are young and still have a lot of growth left in them.

If we haven't signed an attacking midfield player (I'd argue a left sided defender as well) by this time next week then that is serious neglect from our transfer team and we're clearly not serious about challenging near the top of the table.

I don't know enough about most of those players to really know. Simons seems to be Chelsea bound, like what I've seen from him.

I fully agree that an attacking midfielder seems absolutely necessary now. And the sooner the better. As always though I'd rather have the right/best possible player in the door on deadline day than another player on earlier so wouldn't describe it as neglect if it's not done this time next week.

Not signing a creative attacking midfielder this window though... Yeah, I'd really struggle with that.

 

[Gutter Boy]

That is 8 players I have called out there. All of which could be signed today for the same or less (and in some cases much less) than we were apparently going to pay for Gibbs-White.

I think 4 of the above are already better attacking midfield players than we have at the club so would be great signings just on that basis. 3 of those 4 are young and still improving. None of the other 4 are any worse than what we have at the club already and all are young and still have a lot of growth left in them.

If we haven't signed an attacking midfield player (I'd argue a left sided defender as well) by this time next week then that is serious neglect from our transfer team and we're clearly not serious about challenging near the top of the table.

We were linked with all kinds of ropey CBs and LWs all through January, then bowled in late with Danso and Tel, who were better than anyone we'd previously been linked with.

I don't think we'll manage to do that in all 3 positions, but I think there's a decent chance it'll happen in 2 of them.

 

[Legohamster]

That is 8 players I have called out there. All of which could be signed today for the same or less (and in some cases much less) than we were apparently going to pay for Gibbs-White.

I think 4 of the above are already better attacking midfield players than we have at the club so would be great signings just on that basis. 3 of those 4 are young and still improving. None of the other 4 are any worse than what we have at the club already and all are young and still have a lot of growth left in them.

If we haven't signed an attacking midfield player (I'd argue a left sided defender as well) by this time next week then that is serious neglect from our transfer team and we're clearly not serious about challenging near the top of the table.

You would think this window would be perfect conditions for us, it seems only a select few clubs can spend big money for FFP reasons

Not being in the CL eliminates some of those clubs, being in London/New stadium will be a decent pull as well over say Brighton (better examples escape me currently ) so the options for top top players is smaller than it's ever been PLUS some clubs have to sell.

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

That is 8 players I have called out there. All of which could be signed today for the same or less (and in some cases much less) than we were apparently going to pay for Gibbs-White.

I think 4 of the above are already better attacking midfield players than we have at the club so would be great signings just on that basis. 3 of those 4 are young and still improving. None of the other 4 are any worse than what we have at the club already and all are young and still have a lot of growth left in them.

If we haven't signed an attacking midfield player (I'd argue a left sided defender as well) by this time next week then that is serious neglect from our transfer team and we're clearly not serious about challenging near the top of the table.

Sancet has done his knee. Not as bad as first thought but still out for 2-3 months.

Shame as a v good option

 

[Finney Is Back]

We were linked with all kinds of ropey CBs and LWs all through January, then bowled in late with Danso and Tel, who were better than anyone we'd previously been linked with.

I don't think we'll manage to do that in all 3 positions, but I think there's a decent chance it'll happen in 2 of them.

IIRC Tel was linked quite a while before we ended up signing him.

 

[thfcsteff]

We are also paying for a poor squad shape in terms of numbers and balance for Europe. You'd have thought we'd have had two lists back in March or so...there again ducks have always quacked and had beaks with little flipper feel getting them around on land (sigh)..:

 

[Bedfordspurs]

That is 8 players I have called out there. All of which could be signed today for the same or less (and in some cases much less) than we were apparently going to pay for Gibbs-White.

I think 4 of the above are already better attacking midfield players than we have at the club so would be great signings just on that basis. 3 of those 4 are young and still improving. None of the other 4 are any worse than what we have at the club already and all are young and still have a lot of growth left in them.

If we haven't signed an attacking midfield player (I'd argue a left sided defender as well) by this time next week then that is serious neglect from our transfer team and we're clearly not serious about challenging near the top of the table.

De Ketellare failed when he last went to a big club but before and since then he has been great. Physically so strong too
Always likes Simon’s and wouldn’t have thought he would command big wages. Chelsea have agreed terms with him and they are very publicly saying they ain’t paying big basics anymore. We could double his money easily
sudakov was linked in January IIRC

 

[Bedfordspurs]

We are also paying for a poor squad shape in terms of numbers and balance for Europe. You'd have thought we'd have had two lists back in March or so...there again ducks have always quacked and had beaks with little flipper feel getting them around on land (sigh)..:

The club trained issue is a biggy for all clubs this summer it think

 

[Bishop]

Yeah seems entirely unlikely that we went into the summer without several potential targets for each role we wanted to fill.

What I could see happening is us thinking that a Maddison understudy could be signed if we didn't get MGW. The Maddison injury then changing the situation enough and us not having a plan in place for that.

All of that just speculation, without looking to express any belief in what a "ITK" is saying is going on.

We dont even need a Madison understudy. We need a replacement. Madison is not that good that he deserves a cast iron place in the squad.

 

[Bishop]

That is 8 players I have called out there. All of which could be signed today for the same or less (and in some cases much less) than we were apparently going to pay for Gibbs-White.

I think 4 of the above are already better attacking midfield players than we have at the club so would be great signings just on that basis. 3 of those 4 are young and still improving. None of the other 4 are any worse than what we have at the club already and all are young and still have a lot of growth left in them.

If we haven't signed an attacking midfield player (I'd argue a left sided defender as well) by this time next week then that is serious neglect from our transfer team and we're clearly not serious about challenging near the top of the table.

We are never serious. Maybe in our own heads we think we are but our actions always show differently.

 

[thfcsteff]

De Ketellare failed when he last went to a big club but before and since then he has been great. Physically so strong too
Always likes Simon’s and wouldn’t have thought he would command big wages. Chelsea have agreed terms with him and they are very publicly saying they ain’t paying big basics anymore. We could double his money easily
sudakov was linked in January IIRC

This is a statement I would not usualy attribute to you mate. We could easily double his money? What are you basing that on? I don't think we would personally...

 

[thfcsteff]

The club trained issue is a biggy for all clubs this summer it think

I think Liverpool are showing everyone the way. A few years ago I felt we were in an excellent position to make the most of a talented crop of young players and be able to buy top top players to augment. Our over-estimation/failure to either bring through or trust the likes of Devine, Dorrington, Scarlett, Soonsup-Bell, Nile John, and currently Donely, seems to speak loudly. Many of these players won youth trophies with us a couple of seasons ago.
I am not including Mikey Moore, Lankshear, or Abbott as I think all are players well worth developing for one more season.
I am even surprised at how we've dealt with Keeley. Don't get me wrong, I think Kinsky is a fine keeper, but Keeley looks to have the same potential plus even better passing skills.
I am likely missing something in this puzzle, but it is this puzzle which partially has us where we are.
BTW, one of the most bizarre deals I remember in recent times was the Lamela/Gil deal; that needs some explaining, because it is up there and above the Lo Celso 'we've got a first-refusal purchase option on another player' shenanigans...

 

[Mosquito_Coasting]

You would think this window would be perfect conditions for us, it seems only a select few clubs can spend big money for FFP reasons

Not being in the CL eliminates some of those clubs, being in London/New stadium will be a decent pull as well over say Brighton (better examples escape me currently ) so the options for top top players is smaller than it's ever been PLUS some clubs have to sell.

Most of our rivals are spending their arses off. Think Man U like Chelsea dont need to give a brick about FFP.

 

[braineclipse]

We dont even need a Madison understudy. We need a replacement. Madison is not that good that he deserves a cast iron place in the squad.

I wouldn't disagree if a player like that was available and not too expensive before his injury. But an understudy (young, big potential, already good enough to start some games) would have been very useful too. Now that's changed a bit.