The January Transfer Window

[Boss]

The people that create these twitter accounts and blogs or forums, to provide ITK, are doing it for attention or to drive visitors to their sites, for the twitters, it becomes an obsession and they must get some sort of satisfaction knowing thousands of people think they are ITK, yet there isn't a single person on twitter, or the internet with a blog, or on a forum that has ITK, as if they did, they wouldn't be craving attention from strangers.

However there is a demand for people with ITK, fans love the gossip, or the idea that someone has information about transfers, so if there is a demand then certain people will provide that demand with lies! and creating a false persona.

As you can tell I cant stand these people that claim to be ITK -i know its mostly abit of fun but when you take the fun aspect out of it, don't think for a second anyone is ITK.

 

[Roo]

the ITK accounts, yes, i agree boss. But I do genuinely believe that some of those who don't hide behind a spurs logo as an avatar and a username such as @tottenhamhotspur_ITK, do have inside knowledge. someone must know someone who sits in that office dealing with emails and fax's, or something similar.

Notso, I think Boss' second paragraph has answered you there. it's literally the impatience and the demand. it's the passion from the fans for their club and wanting to know. I certainly fall into that category, if you hadn't noticed!

 

[Boss]

ha ha Roo, i know you love all the gossip and it doesn't matter what i say, it won't curb your enthusiasm! but i'm pretty sure these people "ITK" (on transfers) are just sweaty morons sat in a greasy cafe with their daily fry up, with a newspaper, smart phone and spell checker to make sure they come across as legit!

 

[notsosmartspur]

someone must know someone who sits in that office dealing with emails and fax's, or something similar.

Notso, I think Boss' second paragraph has answered you there. it's literally the impatience and the demand. it's the passion from the fans for their club and wanting to know. I certainly fall into that category, if you hadn't noticed!

...bound by confidentiality, do you really think clubs are powerless to stop office minions blabbing the clubs business...no.

 

[Roo]

...bound by confidentiality, do you really think clubs are powerless to stop office minions blabbing the clubs business...no.

exactly, which is why they pass the info on to someone else they know, and those people post it instead!

 

[Boss]

Notso, take SC for example, he works at the club as a scout so clearly will occasionally hear info but he doesn't crave any attention, he just gives interesting info on the club, yet if we ask him to give us all the details on potential transfers, what would he say? **** off!

However these people on twitter and blogs are giving the impression they have a constant stream of confidential information about transfers which isn't feasible. If any of us decided to create an account on twitter, spend an hour a day, we could pass ourselves off as someone who has ITK, just by browsing google and claiming a deal is about to be done (just like the papers do) and then claim it fell through!

 

[Dier Hard]

There's times where you can spot a fake easily, like Roo also covered, those that actually aren't afraid to show themselves, don't hide behind an avatar and don't have "ITK" in their name (biggest give away they're NOT ITK" are easy to spot as fakes.

Though as I've mentioned quite a bit already, someone like Gards, where I actually know who he gets his info from, is believable for the very reason his contact is an actual player for us.

There are some genuine ITK's I believe and most of them don't brag about it either - another indication they're not a fake - the fakes always try taking credit for when they've luckily guessed a rumour or nicked it off a genuine person who already posted the gossip.

It's a weird subject and it could be wiped away as like some has suggested, just ignore the speculation and just wait for the OS to announce it, but then lets be honest, the "ITK's" do make transfer windows more enjoyable, even if 90% of them are full of ****.

 

[notsosmartspur]

Notso, take SC for example, he works at the club as a scout so clearly will occasionally hear info but he doesn't crave any attention, he just gives interesting info on the club, yet if we ask him to give us all the details on potential transfers, what would he say? **** off!

However these people on twitter and blogs are giving the impression they have a constant stream of confidential information about transfers which isn't feasible. If any of us decided to create an account on twitter, spend an hour a day, we could pass ourselves off as someone who has ITK, just by browsing google and claiming a deal is about to be done (just like the papers do) and then claim it fell through!

I can't speak for SC, and I've never asked how privvy he is to such info, nor would I, as its a little unfair to do so. No doubt he'll have an idea who's on our radar, but as to how advanced negotiations are, dunno. An outright ask does run the risk of a sunshining though!

As for Twit-ter, I think the name is wholly appropriate!

 

[No Kane No Gain]

I'm not going to claim that it was true, but the story was that Holtby was there, the Spurs fan asked him whether he was joining, the player went a bit quiet and Huntelaar jumped in and spilled the beans.
The deal had already been concluded, but it was yet to be announced, so it's possible that it happened.

The only reason that I give it any real credit is that the bloke's not claiming to be an ITK.
He had a similar story years ago when one of his relatives bumped into Zokora or something, but I don't think that he makes any claims regularly.

I'm not saying he's not telling the truth but it looks unlikely for the reasons I outlined at the time. If Spurcat came on here and said that Schalke had let him come and watch the Spurs - West Ham game then I'll have to eat humble pie.

All fair assessments YV but I think it has to come to a point of when do/ should we actually believe them?

The story itself is claiming that the club is looking at financial avenues of exchange rates and getting the best for the £ etc but he's not actually saying it's a done deal or anything for any of the players. To me it just seems viable, if he was saying he's seen statements of the transactions and what not then I'd call bullshit but surely he's put too much info and time into writing it for it to be lies?

Holtby story, I was like you I just felt he put too much detail for it to be truthful but then Holtby signed not long after... So it's hard to say whether it was a lucky guess from a fake story or he did indeed meet the guy.

Yeah there was a guy that pretended to be an agent, I think most with a decent head on their shoulders knew he was bullshitting but he managed to get something like 20,000+ followers. When he posted that blog saying how he was full of **** and enjoyed showing just how gullible people are, I thought it was hilarious.
That's why the only person who I truly believe on Twitter in regards to ITK is Gards as like I've already mentioned, I have a good idea as to who is "source" is.

When do we believe them? Never Don't get me wrong I understand the appeal of wanting to know what deals we are going for in the January window and I'm not trying to tell you whether or not to believe them but I do think it's best to treat the ITK stuff as a bit of fun and not too serious.

I don't think you have to say things are a done deal and talk in certainties to be seen as trying to be ITK, that's probably something that reflects more on the age of the user. Surely if they're not claiming deals are wrapped up they are playing it safe so they can backtrck and are still attempting to show greater knowledge of the situation than other people.

Anyway I feel like I'm pissing on your fun a bit now so I'll stop. Like you I do actually quite enjoy reading about ITK rumours.

 

[Boss]

YV, don't worry about pissing on their fun, as Roo & SOS just have us down as miserable tossers who are being cynical we can't curb their enthusiasm for ITK gossip!

 

[No Kane No Gain]

YV, don't worry about pissing on their fun, as Roo & SOS just have us down as miserable tossers who are being cynical we can't curb their enthusiasm for ITK gossip!

They're not wrong, to be fair

 

[Roo]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11675/8384958?

Togo claim Emmanuel Adebayor will play for them at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Tottenham striker Adebayor said last year that he would not play at the tournament - which runs from January 19 to February 10 in South Africa - because of a row over team security and unpaid bonuses.

But Togo now claim that the 28-year-old striker has already flown out to Ghana for a pre-tournament training camp.

"Of course we're in the African Nations Cup with Adebayor, we will be together in South Africa," head of the Togo Football Federation, Ameyi Gabriel, is reported to have told Radio Algeria International.

"It is very important to have him there because he is our player and captain of the team."

Adebayor's absence would leave Spurs with just one recognised striker in Jermain Defoe.
Manager Andre Villas-Boas has regularly claimed he does not need to add another striker to his squad in the January transfer window, but he has been linked with another bid for Internacional and Brazil forward Leandro Damiao in recent days.

It is not known whether Adebayor will return to London for Saturday's home game against QPR or remain with the Hawks.

Should Togo make the final of the competition, Adebayor will miss four Tottenham matches, but the Hawks are in a tough group with Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Algeria.

let's be realistic here. if he's buggering off, we're up **** creek in terms of strikers.

We've switched back to 442 as it's been the preferred formation with the players we have. However, currently we have Ade and Defoe + Dempsey as back up if needs be. (who I actually think deserves a start now. yes i know, i know, I'm not criticising him any more.)

But if Defoe or Dempsey get injured (presuming they line up together as part of a 442), we're buggered. Defoe's played a lot of games and been lucky not to get a knock yet, IMO.
But if we lose either to injury, what then?
Do sig/townsend/falque come onto the left wing and Bale play up front with 1 other?
Do we switch to a 4231 for the entire period and hope for the best?
If Defoe is the injured man, Does Dempsey play the lone role? or if Dempsey is injured, do we just keep playing defoe with no way of switching anything up when the going gets tough, or when we need some inspiration?

After it looked like he wouldn't go to the ACONS, he now is. is this because things are changing at spurs and he is being phased out and he knows it?

I have a feeling that he's coming to the end of his time with us. There is absolutely no way we can possibly take the risk of having such limited options up front, if we are serious about a top 4 challenge. it's total suicide IMO. There must be a new striker or 2 lined up. If we were in this situation this time last year, I also think Ade would have declined it. something's not adding up for me right now.

 

[notsosmartspur]

I enjoy reading it too, it can brighten a dull day, not very often though!

 

[Roo]

YV, don't worry about pissing on their fun, as Roo & SOS just have us down as miserable tossers who are being cynical we can't curb their enthusiasm for ITK gossip!

yeah.. don't be so negative! be optimistic, only to be let down at the death!!

 

[notsosmartspur]

But Togo now claim that the 28-year-old striker has already flown out to Ghana for a pre-tournament training camp.

Surely some baggage handler would be plastering it all over Twatter!

Ade has missed a chunk of the season anyway, plus I don't think Togo will progress, so I'm not overly concerned. Even if he goes he'll be back to miss sitters for us soon enough!

 

[Dier Hard]

YV, don't worry about pissing on their fun, as Roo & SOS just have us down as miserable tossers who are being cynical we can't curb their enthusiasm for ITK gossip!

Tossers would be putting it nicely

Nah in all seriousness, it's only this window where I've really believed quite a bit of ITK info, usually I'm like everyone else and discard it but some of the info this window has seemed too informative not to be true, in my opinion.

 

[Roo]

Tossers would be putting it nicely

Nah in all seriousness, it's only this window where I've really believed quite a bit of ITK info, usually I'm like everyone else and discard it but some of the info this window has seemed too informative not to be true, in my opinion.

I'm sticking with my partner in crime on this one! it's us two versus the lot o'ya!! let's 'ave it!!!

 

[Spurlock]

i dont see the big deal in Ade going..Dempsey and/or Sig can do a job. If that was Defoe going id be worried.

 

[notsosmartspur]

Oh well, Spurcats been in and said nowt!...thats that then...all bollox!

 

[redwhiteandermblue]

i dont see the big deal in Ade going..Dempsey and/or Sig can do a job. If that was Defoe going id be worried.

While it's usually summed up at 4-4-2, I would say because two strikers start, it's more a case of Ade splitting the difference between a hold-up striker and a CAM (IMO).

Both Dempsey and Gylfi have made good cases for themselves to start regularly. Since I'm guessing AVB doesn't want to upset any apple carts, I think he'd start Dempsey there, as he was there before. I'd rather have Gylfi, since I think he's a better passer, and more consistently productive.

We'd have a huge problem if Defoe gets hurt, though. I guess the best hope is Bale as lone striker, and Gylfi on the left.

All things considered, it's enough to make a move for striker in this window look pretty urgent.