Summer 2018 transfer thread

[BrainOfLevy]

Wasn't much of a disadvantage. We lost 2 games. Don't think we'll improve much at all on the home form.

The early draws against Swansea, Burnley and WBA plus the loss to Chelsea were all part of the same settling in period. Once we settled we were fine, and it wasn’t so much losses, just those dropped points in drawing games we really should be winning. That Swansea 0-0 was brutal.

 

[Moby]

Can we lock these threads now please!!!

Let’s get back to the football itself, and weaned off the ITK and Sky Sports infused Championship Manager transfer b0llocks!

Jim White dies. Today!

The season starts on Saturday and the squad is in place. One World Cup winner, 9 semi finalists, and the golden boot winner!!

Come on you M***** F***ing Spuuuuurs!!!!!!

 

[Baleforce]

The early draws against Swansea, Burnley and WBA plus the loss to Chelsea were all part of the same settling in period. Once we settled we were fine, and it wasn’t so much losses, just those dropped points in drawing games we really should be winning. That Swansea 0-0 was brutal.

We battered Chelsea in the first game, they only had two chances, it was just one of those games.

 

[Baleforce]

I’m amazed at the negativity, we are entrenched in a position of strength which appeared beyond us forever in the 90’s.

If you can’t enjoy this, what can you enjoy?

In modern football, for a club on a sustainable plan, this is winning.

Throw money around and gamble that you can take advantage of a strong squad in the short term or keep improving the 360 so that improvement becomes perpetual, it’s an easy choice for me.

 

[Olle73]

No disrespect, but this is what I mean. Give anyone the option of signing absolutely anyone that’s realistic and can definitely improve us, and we land on Pascal Gross.

I’m sure he’s a good player. He’s done great things for Brighton. But should ENIC really be hounded out of the club because they didn’t move for him? Is he really that great for a title challenge? Does he want to leave Brighton where he’s first choice and loved to sit on our bench? Do we want him to sit on our bench when we haven’t sold Dembele and want Winks to come through?

I’m not really interested in signing players because of injuries. They’re still our players. If Wanyama is knackered and we need to move him on then I’m sure we will, and I’m sure we’ll make a big play for a DM. But we treat our players with the long term in mind. And I think we’ll give them every chance to prove they can get back to their best with us. Because it shows that if you work hard and buy into our standards, you get the loyalty in return.

I’ve seen so many ‘Winks is injured so we need a CM’. Ok, so what about when he’s back? And Dembele is fit? And we’re playing 3 at the back because we still have Toby and only playing 2 in central midfield? And Onomah’s been tearing it up in training and begging for a shot? And Wanyama’s also back?

We just need patience. Injuries on their own aren’t a reason to go out and replace people. We signed Lamela for 30M once, when he wasn’t suited to the league. Now he’s settled, and has just come back from a long injury, having had a pre-season. It was an exciting signing at the time, but because he’s been here 4 years he’s no longer a player? We spent 30M on him once, then went 16 months without being able to use him? Why aren’t we wetting ourselves with excitement that we have Lamela back in this squad? And Moura with a pre season? And Dele with WC semi experience? And and and?

Agree with you completly. Its human beings we are talkning about and those can't just been thrown around, in and out. Why do fans having a soo hard time to understand that you cannot treat people like you can treat TV sets.

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

It’s how you word the message IMO and they just always end up negative

That never endears yourself to the people you targeting unless they only want to get more unhappy fans paying their tenners

Its self important flimflam, same as always with them. The point of the whole piece is this:

And to ask for a full and believable explanation of how this transfer window has played out.

They want the club to explain themselves. They want the board of the club, to come out and make apologies for not satisfying their transfer desires.

Its not balanced, at all. Its "lets say something positive....BUT" all the way through. Every line tee's up a complaint, a whinge.

And for what? Not even that apology really - more the ability to get it.

If Levy says anything to them, it should be a short, sharp, "Go fudge yourself".

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Its self important flimflam, same as always with them. The point of the whole piece is this:

And to ask for a full and believable explanation of how this transfer window has played out.

They want the club to explain themselves. They want the board of the club, to come out and make apologies for not satisfying their transfer desires.

Its not balanced, at all. Its "lets say something positive....BUT" all the way through. Every line tee's up a complaint, a whinge.

And for what? Not even that apology really - more the ability to get it.

If Levy says anything to them, it should be a short, sharp, "Go fudge yourself".

That’s pretty much how I see it

THST divide spurs fans as much as lamella it seems

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

That’s pretty much how I see it

THST divide spurs fans as much as lamella it seems

Its not that I have issue with the idea of a trust etc, its just this lot.

They seem to want to, at every stage, find a way to get their way. Make the chairman come out and comment on something or other. They do this by thinly veiled bitching letters, its all so pathetic - and yet so self important too.

I think they are a bunch of sad tossers missing the point of what a trust should be doing.

 

[harr1984]

I’m amazed at the negativity, we are entrenched in a position of strength which appeared beyond us forever in the 90’s.

If you can’t enjoy this, what can you enjoy?

In modern football, for a club on a sustainable plan, this is winning.

Throw money around and gamble that you can take advantage of a strong squad in the short term or keep improving the 360 so that improvement becomes perpetual, it’s an easy choice for me.

There are areas that need improving, regardless of having kept our players or not. When everyone was making predictions for transfer window why didnt anyone say just keep what weve got and that will improve us? Because it wouldnt. Its not a disaster that we havent signed anyone, but lets not try and oversell the situation....

 

[Gutter Boy]

He actually got a lot of minutes last season, rarely seems to be injured and has a good level of fitness and is fairly versatile. As a 5th choice squad option you could do a lot worse, I expect he'll start at least 20 premiership games including this weekend as well.

We've Onomah, Amos and Skipp now who can all do much more capable jobs than Sissoko. They need to get those minutes this season

 

[harr1984]

We've Onomah, Amos and Skipp now who can all do much more capable jobs than Sissoko. They need to get those minutes this season

If thats how Poch sees it Sissoko could be maybe the only guy still to be sold in European window....

 

[Baleforce]

There are areas that need improving, regardless of having kept our players or not. When everyone was making predictions for transfer window why didnt anyone say just keep what weve got and that will improve us? Because it wouldnt. Its not a disaster that we havent signed anyone, but lets not try and oversell the situation....

It’s a bell curve, over spending is as bad as not spending enough, if players are not available at the right cost better to do nothing, it’s fluid, values fluctuate constantly based on many factors.

 

[Olle73]

And to ask for a full and believable explanation of how this transfer window has played out.

And the procedure will always be the same as when someone is upset about something and want an answer; Regardless of which and how many answers he/she get, he/she will always as a subsequent question and in the end he/she will always walk away dissapointed and saying "They didn't answer my questions" and "They didn't listened to me".

In other words, it is just a waste of time to put yourself in such situations.

 

[Gutter Boy]

Can we lock these threads now please!!!

We've got 3 more weeks to sell Janssen, Nkoudou and hopefully Sissoko. Plus foreign sales or lower league loans for Edwards, Harrison, Ogilvie etc. to be arranged

 

[Baleforce]

If thats how Poch sees it Sissoko could be maybe the only guy still to be sold in European window....

I think Llorente will

 

[Glenda's Legs]

I think the trust has summarized it pretty well:

THFC’s inability to make any improvements during the summer transfer window to a squad that is so close to achieving great things has dismayed many fans.

As a Supporters’ Trust, it is not our job to involve ourselves in on-field matters. But we have a responsibility to voice the concerns of our fans about the Club’s ambition and strategy on the pitch. And to ask for a full and believable explanation of how this transfer window has played out.

We do not believe in spending money or signing players for the sake of it. We recognise the achievement in keeping our squad together, for now at least, and in getting key players to agree new contracts. And we commend manager Mauricio Pochettino’s professionalism in his deadline day press conference. He has shown once again his ability to make the most of what he is given.

We have much to be proud of at Spurs. Nine of our players featured in the World Cup semi-finals. Over the last few years, a manager we revere has forged an exciting team that has challenged for top honours. And more fans than the Club cares to acknowledge recognise the challenges and achievements of running a sustainable business and building a top class stadium.

But fans come to watch the team. A team that will start the season with many of its key members still tired after the World Cup. And a squad that most rational observers would agree could benefit from more depth. It is not unreasonable to question if it was really the case that, alone among Europe’s top clubs, Spurs could find no player who would improve their squad while our rivals strengthened theirs.

Earlier this year, the Club objected to THST’s criticism of steep ticket price rises. It told us we could not expect players to be signed or wages to be competitive while we opposed those ticket price rises. Fans have paid the prices asked. And yet no signings have been made.

We know that gate receipts are no longer as fundamental as they once were for financing transfer fees or wages. But ticketing income at Spurs is now higher than it has ever been. We are curious as to what that money has been used for. We have been told the stadium build will not affect transfer spending.

We are told that we don’t have to sign players because we develop our youth. Yet four of our most promising prospects left the Club this summer. Of the current first team squad, just two regulars have come up through the ranks.

We love what has been developed, but for all the great football we’ve seen over the last few seasons, there are no trophies to show.

We have the highest paid Chairman in the Premier League. Our fans pay some of the highest prices in world football. Our support for our team and our admiration for what has been achieved remains strong. However, we believe fans are entitled to a full and credible explanation of what has happened this summer.

THST Board
9 August 2018

I think this part :
. And we commend manager Mauricio Pochettino’s professionalism in his deadline day press conference. He has shown once again his ability to make the most of what he is given...

is actually being disrespectful towards Poch. He said himself this week that he had explained to Levy that there is a different way of doing things : not buying for the sake of it, keeping a team together, developing youth. Yet the Trust talk as if he is a mere bystander, with no involvement in transfers at all, taking what is given to him and putting on a brave face. Poor Poch.

I think the Trust generally do a decent job of liaising with the club and providing information to their members/anyone else who wants to read it, but I agree with @Bedfordspurs that the tone of their communications is often abrasive and will only raise hackles.

 

[Baleforce]

And the procedure will always be the same as when someone is upset about something and want an answer; Regardless of which and how many answers he/she get, he/she will always as a subsequent question and in the end he/she will always walk away dissapointed and saying "They didn't answer my questions" and "They didn't listened to me".

In other words, it is just a waste of time to put yourself in such situations.

They ask questions they have no right to.

 

[harr1984]

I think Llorente will

Not sure, this is his first full pre season with us and it sounds like hes been doing ok? Poch might give it another season with him.....

 

[Gutter Boy]

There are areas that need improving, regardless of having kept our players or not. When everyone was making predictions for transfer window why didnt anyone say just keep what weve got and that will improve us? Because it wouldnt. Its not a disaster that we havent signed anyone, but lets not try and oversell the situation....

At the start of the summer I think we only had 2 priorities

1) Upgrade Llorente with a more versatile WF/CF option. Something we've struggled with for years because of the curse of Kane's deputy

2) Replace any of Dembele, Alder and Rose who leave or are perma-crooked

If at least one of Kane and Son stays fit, and we get 20-25 games each out of Dembele, Alder and Rose, everything will be sweet

 

[ShipOfTheseus]

the tone of their communications is often abrasive and will only raise hackles.

Asking for a "believable" and "credible" explanation really is impressively rude. The club invites the trust apparatchiks round for tea and biscuits every so often and briefs them in a fair amount of detail. It's not normal to suggest publicly and overtly that people with whom you have that sort of relationship are habitual liars.