You really do think highly of our current team! I'm telling you mate, not a single current player gets within a country mile of Poch's best sides. Pav played in some incredible teams most of whom I'd take over the current bunch in a heartbeat. Same for Defoe. He played in a team containing Bale, VDV and Modric but only scored 4 PL goals in 22 appearances.
I'm suddenly very nervous about the trip to Ibrox. Not sure our lot will cope with the pressure or atmosphere.
Living in Glasgow and working with a lot of Rangers fans, I’ve been worried about it since the draw. Rangers are rotten domestically where teams sit back against them. In Europe where teams generally attack them, it suits them and they’ve had some decent results. Forster and Ange know all about the intensity and atmosphere but it’s definitely a potential banana skin. I’ve already told my boss that I’ll be off work for a while if Spurs lose
I never compared it with Poch’s team. I’ve even said to you before none of these get in Poch’s team though. This is better than Jol’s team though and a lot of what followed until Harry’s 09/10 team. In Harry’s team, Crouch and then Adebayor were often the favoured partnership with van der Vaart behind them so Defoe and Pav often came from the bench.
Absolutely loved BMJ's 06/07 team. Robbo, Benny, Daws, King, Hudd, Lennon, Berba, Keano, Steeeeed, Teemu. WHAT'S THAT COMING OVER THE HILL IS IT CHIMBONDA? IS IT CHIMBONDAAAAA? Legends. Packed with players who just loved playing for us. The streets will never forget.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/europa-league/table Spurs could win all their remaining games, and (depending on there being other "6 pointers" between the current top 10) still finish in the play-off pool.
Loved it too, at the time it was the best Spurs side I'd seen in my life time. I'd say this current team just beats it though, albeit Son aside, I don't have anywhere near the level of love for these players as I did with Jol's lot.
AFAIK ... 1-8 : straight into last 16 (draw pot 1) 9-24 : 8x2 play-offs. winners go into last 16 (draw pot 2)
Correct. Finishing top 8 is the aim. Finishing 9th-24th would feel like failure after winning the first three games
A frustrating and disappointing result from a mixed performance. We had plenty of chances to win it and so did they. Both sides can point to fine margins for why they didn't. Some close offside calls on their part and repeatedly hitting the woodwork and missing sitters on ours. The decision making for our final ball was often the wrong one, as well. Often shot when others were open with easy finishes. We were missing 3 of our first choice defenders, plus the goalkeeper, but I feel that they were let down by our other players. Failed to stamp our authority on the game during important phases and didn't kill them off when they were struggling. Our game management has to be questioned again too, as we should've run the clock down at the end instead of trying to score. Not sure why our stadium clocks didn't show the injury time numbers, either. Not the first time this season. I think it probably says something that we've had two penalties this season and they've both come in this competition. I genuinely can't remember our last one in the Premier League.
After match comment. Postecoglou asked if it's about the result in the next three Europa League games rather than entertainment: "No (smiles). Why can’t it just be entertaining? Isn’t it why we all come? Would you really prefer us to sketch out a couple of 0-0 draws and a 1-0 win and we get through. I don’t know. I would much rather we’re exciting to watch and maybe it is edge of the seat stuff and sometimes we don’t get the reward, like we could have tonight, but no, if you want those kind of games, there are plenty in world football you can watch every weekend. I’d like to think when you tune into us you’ll be entertained." Thoughts? Personally, at this stage of things, I'd have preferred a resolute (professional ?) 1-0 win. It is the lack of consistency and the repeated basic errors that are so frustrating. And I think most fans would prefer a few ground out 1-0 wins to help get some silverware this season. Then take that confidence into next year. Roma are a decent side and they played positively, more than deserving the point. Yes, you could look at a couple of missed chances, but for me overall, the 90 minutes just showed a gulf in game management between Ange and a coach like Ranieri.
I posted the same quote yesterday on the Postecoglou/Lange watch thread and apparently you like me have misunderstood his quote.
6 of those would be in a starting 11 for me right now. (Well, clearly not RIGHT now, cos they're all in their mid-40's!! )
Game management? Roma conceded more shots on goal than us and we hit the woodwork three times. It wasn't game management that got them a point it was our poor finishing. Over the whole season we've scored more than two goals a game and conceded about one. The win loss record doesn't match that yet but that's nothing to do with game management....which I doubt even exists. I can see no way that any coach or team can control the distribution of goals between matches.
That team would be mid-table at best in the current PL...it only got 60 points in a much weaker PL. The only certain starter now would be Berbatov plus King if fit. Robinson about as good as Vicario. Most of the rest wouldn't make the squad.
I’d make it 5. Ekotto was better than Udogie right now but the latter has a higher ceiling. King easily over either CB. Lennon over Johnson. Berbatov and Keane are far better than Solanke, Maddison on recent form would drop out for one of them too.