The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - THE BIG POST MORTEM

[bigfrooj]

Fantastic window. As someone that spent fortunes desperately ringing clubcall and teamtalk off the Teletext back in the day it must be one of the best ever. Now Conte has the challenge to deliver.

 

[muppetman]

The best thing about this window is that we look like all parts of the football club are now pushing in the same direction. It seems clear to me that Conte wanted certain targets in and in early which we did. We also backed him by getting those not in his plans out of the club (even if only on loan). It's clear that we couldn't do a full Nottingham Forest and buy a whole new squad as the upgrades either aren't there or aren't affordable.

I also can't really think of a "Levy deal" that we bought and will then look to regret in coming years. All of which suggests that Conte (and Paratici) are here for the long(er) term which can only be great news.

8/10

 

[Chris Flynn]

indeed, stupid rules only put in to give UEFA more money. ban them from the competition then, let us see UEFA do that and shoot themselves in the foot. Yeah right
FFP have really only hurt smaller clubs. The big ones find ways to sneak past

well for a lot of owners of the big offenders the fines are so small they dont really need to do any sneeking. Its the equivilant of fining you or I 5p. I agree, its just money for uefa, which they will definatly spend on grass roots football or something, it wont end up members swiss bank accounts

 

[DenverSpur]

I feel it’s been a very good window. We have strengthened in important areas. The fact that we got the main targets in early and didn’t do any business in the later weeks has clouded many people’s opinion of how good it’s been.
If I’ve got one complaint it is that Contewanted them in early but he has been very slow to make use of them.
Going by Conte’s recent comments about how hard Spenser has been training I think he may well cement the RWB spot as his own in the second half of the season.
I’m not going to score the window yet because the proof is in the pudding and it ain’t half baked yet . I am optimistic though.
Will bung $50.00 in the pot when I get my act together - busy weekend.
Once again hats off to all the mods and ITK guys for a stellar performance- the real ⭐️ ⭐️ of the window.

 

[jay2040]

Great window overall and seems that making signings early left some gasping for more. Had we not signed Richarlson that early and made it a deadline day special then I feel it would have appeased many!

 

[bceej]

It’s worth taking into account that because we didn’t spend everything available to us in the summer, we’ll have an advantage in January.

In a way I missed the brinkmanship drama, but objectively strong window and simply better organised and planned.

Onwards and upwards.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

In usual circumstances, this would have been a very good window, but given the context (the first big chance to back Conte, a chance to use our CL status to pull away from Arsenal/United, and heavy spending by our rivals), I think it's been fine but a little disappointing tbh.

Going into it, the priorities were:

- Get rid of all the deadwood.
- Sign a top CB who can help with our ball progression issues.
- Sort out our wingbacks.
- Bring in an upgrade on Winks/sort our creativity issues in midfield
- Bring in top competition for the forwards
- Kane back-up

We didn't achieve many of these.

We got rid of our deadwood but failed to sell, or even loan with an obligation, any of them, meaning we'll be back here next summer with Ndombele/GLC/Winks/Reguilon/Rodon etc.

We didn't sign a top CB, we signed a Barcelona back-up who, whilst displaying the traits we need from the position, will be competing with Davies for the LCB spot, rather than displacing him. What's more, even if he does do well, we didn't get an option on the loan for some reason. If we don't manage to get Bastoni or someone of similar quality next year then we're going to look very foolish because there were plenty of options. Look at Chelsea - they needed a revamp so they signed one of the best defenders in the world in Koulibaly and one of the best young defenders in Fofana. The failure to sell and replace Tanganga was also a shame as he's not CL quality but is now serving as a back-up to Dier, who has had his problems with long-term injuries in the past.

We sorted out one side of our wingbacks. Perisic is a fantastic signing which was done early and shows our backing to Conte. No complaints at all. At RWB, though, despite a lack of top-end options on the market, we've still ended up with a rotation between Emerson and Doherty, two of the most criticised players in the squad and two players most of this forum just assumed wouldn't be here right now at the end of last season. The weakness of the right-hand side was exploited by West Ham on Wednesday as they targeted that area with the press, and it'll be targetted by other teams too.

In midfield, Bissouma is a good signing. Prem proven, good age, fits into Conte's system, for a good price. He's isn't, however, a particularly different profile to any of the current group, he doesn't give us an opportunity to switch to 3-5-2 in certain games, and he doesn't help solve our creativity issues. Now, many will argue Conte clearly doesn't want to try the 352, but I don't see how adding more tactical flexibility could be a bad thing, especially given the obvious limitations of the 3-4-3 which have been evident once again this season. Eriksen was there on a free, Paqueta went to West Ham, Maddison was likely attainable - there were plenty of options, and I would have liked to see one more added in this area.

On the front line, Richarlison is an overpay but I can see why we went for him and he'll be a good signing, with the ability to cover Kane and Son whilst providing top shithousing. It's a shame we didn't go for Jesus imo but Richarlison probably fits us better at this moment. On the right-hand side, I think we all would have liked competition for Kulu brought in because, whilst our four main forwards are an excellent group (one of the best in the league if not the best), as soon as we get injuries we're back in a position of starting Lucas and Gil, who are huge downgrades and not close to CL quality. Again, there were plenty of options and I'm disappointed we didn't get anything over the line.

Overall

7/10 for me. An excellent start, with a clear plan, solved some of our main issues (LWB, competition for forwards, replacing Winks). Failure to get rid of our deadwood, however, seemed to stunt our ambition a bit in the second half of the window and we're now left with many of the same issues we had last season (poor RWBs, no top LCB, lack of creativity from midfield). Started bright but ebbed out and, given the equally good business done by our rivals, I suspect it's going to be another tight battle for 4th this season. The apparent willingness of Conte to sort these issues over multiple windows is, though, a MASSIVE positive, so fingers crossed.

I agree with pretty much everything here, but it's going a bit far to say a player who has scored a hat-trick in a CL semi-final is "not close to CL quality".

 

[dovahkiin]

hm is this thread open and operative?
some itk here

 

[Hakkz]

hm is this thread open and operative?
some itk here

Who knows anymore

 

[Rob]

hm is this thread open and operative?
some itk here

I need to get around to sorting it ready for January!

 

[dovahkiin]

rock solid from cabinessence on ftl
Don't expect any big money signings in Jan. DL knows he's got to get some more signings in, but despite the £150m (of which I thought only £100m had been drawn down?), there's not a lot of money sloshing around. Money has been used not just for the new signings but also to pay for Romero and Kulu (earmarked) which was why they were loans in the first place, till he could arrange the £150m from some Yanks. Apparently that money is exposed a bit to money rates which have gone against him. Was hoping to get some in for Lo Celso but he's injured apparently? Still paying for NDombele with no sign of recouping anything at present. Might get some bits and bobs from the other loan players. Every cup is important to us because of game receipts, so not happy we're out of the League Cup. Current form is being put down to injuries to Kulu and Rich (and now Son). Conte only interested in winning, so don't expect him to play youngsters unless he has to or change his method much. Helmet and shin pads on and gumshield in

 

[Jamturk]

rock solid from cabinessence on ftl
Don't expect any big money signings in Jan. DL knows he's got to get some more signings in, but despite the £150m (of which I thought only £100m had been drawn down?), there's not a lot of money sloshing around. Money has been used not just for the new signings but also to pay for Romero and Kulu (earmarked) which was why they were loans in the first place, till he could arrange the £150m from some Yanks. Apparently that money is exposed a bit to money rates which have gone against him. Was hoping to get some in for Lo Celso but he's injured apparently? Still paying for NDombele with no sign of recouping anything at present. Might get some bits and bobs from the other loan players. Every cup is important to us because of game receipts, so not happy we're out of the League Cup. Current form is being put down to injuries to Kulu and Rich (and now Son). Conte only interested in winning, so don't expect him to play youngsters unless he has to or change his method much. Helmet and shin pads on and gumshield in

If this is the case Conte and Kane are out of here, so will come to pass the "What's the point of Conte if you can't back him" concerns of his appointment.

 

[SpringHeeledJim]

This is where Fabio has to earn his money.

We don't need to spend big money, it just needs to spent wisely (eg Kulu and Bentancour)

 

[Led Revolver]

Erm.. the big problem is we’ll never recoup anything for Ndombele etc, and if we want to compete we need to correct our errors in the transfer market. That will cost money.

We lucked out on Kulu and Bentancur last January, plus with a bit of help as Fabio knew their contract situations. Picking up players who are good but not currently performing is the ideal for every club as it’s a more cost effective way of revamping the squad, but a penny wise pound foolish approach will see us collect more players who aren’t quite up to the task, unfortunately.

The reality is success costs money.

*sigh*

 

[Wick3d]

Part of the problem in the last couple of years, when we have spent big, we have spent it poorly. It will take time to sort that mess out

 

[Timberwolf]

Wonder what 'big money' even means these days? 30+ million? 50+? Or are we going for opportunistic loans for good players and pushing back the payment like we did with Romero and Kulu?

Also does make you wonder why we dropped 15m on Spence if we're now tight for cash and looking for another RWB. Were the club simply gambling on Conte using him?

I think Spence has very big talent and potential, but since he's not being used surely that money would've been better used on a deal for a RWB Conte actually wants now?

The way we've handled that position strikes me as very messy and incoherent.

 

[GioW]

Appreciate the itk but let's be calm. Fantastic January last year and need the same again.

 

[felmani26]

Nothing stopping us in looking at similar loan with obligation signings though ala Kulusevski and Romero.

Don't think that ITK has materially changed the outlook at all personally.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Wonder what 'big money' even means these days? 30+ million? 50+? Or are we going for opportunistic loans for good players and pushing back the payment like we did with Romero and Kulu?

Also does make you wonder why we dropped 15m on Spence if we're now tight for cash and looking for another RWB. Were the club gambling on Conte using him?

I think Spence has very big talent and potential, but since he's not being used surely that money would've been better used on a deal for a RWB Conte actually wants now?

The way we've handled that position strikes me as very messy and incoherent.

My guess on Spence - gamble by Paratici.

We needed a HG player, and Spence, while not ideal for Conte, did show the requisite skills. Paratici probably thought some time in training with Conte could raise Spence to the required level. I still think that is possible - but I originally thought he would become a factor after the WC. Now, it looks like it might be next season before Conte trusts him - unless forced by injury.

 

[Finchyid]

This is where Fabio has to earn his money.

We don't need to spend big money, it just needs to spent wisely (eg Kulu and Bentancour)

Totally if we did 5 bents it deals we would all be happy