Transfer thread for 2016-17 season

When is this N'Koudou chap joining us then?

 

Levy in his first meeting with the NFL people:

"You Americans, you're all the same. Always overdressing for the wrong occasions."

 

Levy calling the Porno prawns just after FT today :

 

Not for the first time in the past week the media are us being linked to one player meaning another player is obviously headed for the exit, in this case Bild linking us (among other clubs) to Hoffenheim centre back Niklas Sule meaning that Wimmer is headed for the exit, because the media have decided that Wimmer's not long for the club because of reasons.

Here's the thing: Sule is also being linked with Atletico, Inter, Valencia, Arsenal and Everton - so are they speculating that one of their centre backs is headed for the door because they've decided that one of their centre backs is headed for the door? Are they bumhole.

 

I put this on the Bill Nick thread, but CCV has signed a new 3 yr deal...

 

Now all we have to worry about is The FA trying to convince him to switch allegiances...

 

I miss Poch in his suit.

 

I was starting to think there was a subtle code in what Poch was wearing in the photos, with players getting paid £40k p/w and up getting the suit and anyone below that getting a track suit

...then he wore the track suit in Walker's pic.

 

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“Even if Tottenham were leading I would not regret my move. At Schalke they believe in me. I’ve decided, and nothing changes just because we lost a few games."

SportBild asked Bentaleb if he knows what the word ‘malochen’ means yet. After explaining that his German teacher hasn’t yet covered that one, Bentaleb was told it means to work hard, and was asked if Schalke’s players have been working hard enough: “We work hard enough! In the game and in training. However, we have unfortunately made mistakes that we must correct.

“But we fight, and I think that’s the reason the fans are behind us. I know it’s not so in England. When you lose there, you’re not supported in the stadium.”

Nabil Bentaleb has been speaking to the German media. Unfortunately, the lad's no diplomat. For everyone's sake I hope that things turn around for him there. He's burned his bridges with us and if it doesn't happen at Schalke then his value will drop further than the value of the Pound post-Brexit. Just keep your mouth shut and play football, son.

 

If he's actually said those comments, that's ****ing poor from him and strengthens the statement on how his attitude stinks. We always get behind the team when in losing situations and providing the team has worked hard and done all they can in the face of defeat, WHL rarely boos, if anything a lot of boos from our recent games last season were for referees more so than player performances. We have one of the best set of supporters in the country, to say players aren't supported in the stadium is an ugly sentence from a player who quite frankly would've been **** all without this club. He was released by 3 or 4 clubs prior to joining us, he got his big break here by Tim and then flourished under Poch, got international recognition, a bumper new contract (which was probably partly down to social media pressure from fans!) but then lost his place through a combination of injury and the form of Dier and Dembele. The fact the club sanctioned a loan move for him instead of keeping him as back up should also be commended, he was a player who many fans would've rather kept around for squad depth but the club done what was essentially best for him by giving the opportunity to flourish at a big club in a different league.

Quite frankly, **** him. Couldn't care less now if he does well for Schalke and gets his big money move or under performs for them, comes back here and plays reserve team football or is sold to a side in the Championship. Don't have time for anyone with a bad attitude who shows disrespect to our club.

 

Compare his comments with those of his midfield partner, Ryan Mason.
Chalk and cheese.
Townsend fell out with the coaches, yet he blamed himself for his sale to Newcastle.

Both players have done well at their new clubs, yet Bentaleb is facing criticism for his attitude.
Why always you, Nabil?

 

I personally don't have such a problem with what he has said. I'm always willing to give young players the benefit of the doubt, especially when they have been at a club for years. His comments were probably said out of frustration and hurt more than trying to have a dig at the club, and I have a lot of sympathy for how his career with us panned out. As long as a player is doing the talking on the pitch, I am willing to cut them some slack with the talking done in front of a camera. Unlike Mason and Townsend, Nabil's level of performance never dropped to a point where he was visibly incapable of keeping up with the rest of the team. He had one poor performance against United and that was basically the last we saw of him last year. I'm not doubting the rumours that off-pitch attitude problems were what prevented him being given another chance, but as a young player with your whole career ahead of you, that has got to hurt, and badly.

When you compare the two cases of academy products who reportedly had fallings out with the coaching staff (Nabil and Andros), they are worlds apart. Townsend's falling out came after 3 years of consistently underperforming whenever given the chance to impress. If you think he was sold because of the clash, think again. That was just a pretext to finally break the camel's back and move him on while we could still make decent money off him.

Nabil's falling out came after 2 years of impressive performances that caught the eye of pundits, fans and journalists across the globe, earning him an automatic spot in his national side and a long-term contract with Spurs. Then he forgets his place, and seemingly isn't given a chance to redeem himself. The two cases are completely different and I can understand his frustration. Unless he said or did something really out of line, the whole thing still makes Poch look like a bit of a hyper-sensitive control-freak, which is the same thing I said in the summer.

 

. Well said, especially the bit about Poch being a control freak.

 

I think that he's trying to create a new culture at the club and removing anyone who undermines it.
You have to work hard, act respectfully and accept that the manager is the one in charge, from what I can see.
I think that Ferguson had a similar outlook and it worked well for him. Others have had less effective attempts at it.

When this sort of thing works, then you look like the boss. When it doesn't, then you look like a lunatic.
Pochettino's currently on the right side of the line, from my perspective.

 

This is one of the most obvious difference between AVB and Poch.

When Poch froze out thew Kaboul Cabal he had the support of both the squad and the supporters, as those involved could be accused of being lazy, unprofessional, and sowing disharmony in the squad, and when Poch acted he was quick and decisive. On the other hand when AVB froze out BAE, he didn't have support from the squad or the supporters as Benny was a popular member of the squad while the way AVB went about it seemed borderline childish - and it has to be said it didn't help Rose particularly, as he wasn't ready to be our first choice left back at the time yet was thrown into the starting lineup while also making Rose a lightning rod for supporters' frustrations.