Match Day Thread Spurs v Leeds

[The RDBD]

Division 1 and 2 compared to PL and Championship is a case of apples and oranges. Both are infinitely stronger than they were back then.

And in 77/78 we came within a point of not getting back up. Who knows what the effect of another year would have had back then? We wouldn't have got the Argentinians for sure and I doubt whether Keith B would have been given another chance.

If we do go down, the financial pressure alone to come straight back up is immense when you factor in the loss of parachute payments and the ever-increasing loss of commercial and attendance revenues.

I don't think anyone should underestimate the potential damage to the club that relegation will bring.

As 1977-78 was my first full season at WHL,
I have far greater feeling for what it is to support Spurs
(or any football club) than any season after that.

Whatever the on-pitch fortunes, the club was
there long before my time, and I hope it will
be there long after.

 

[KingHotspur]

You're saying we can't beat a group of tourists? A lot depends on who we buy/keep. A team of Kinsky/Danso/Phillips/Gray/Bergval/Odobert/ Maddison/Lankshear should be too good for most

I think you’re overestimating most of those players tbh

I don’t mean away fans, I mean opponents too. They all like playing at the stadium, it’s shiny and comfortable.

If Spurs go down, I’m not convinced they come back up straight away.

 

[Left on the Shelf]

the club was there long before my time, and I hope it will be there long after.

So do I - and the club will continue to retain a level of support that will likely be larger than the 'competition' in the Championship. But the point being that the failure to regain PL status may lead to the club having to accept a longer-term future in a lower league, rather than a single season.

 

[SarrMan]

The fans don't kick the ball. The players have no knowledge of Chelsea Spurs rivalry. We'll give Chelsea a good game, just need to take more chances.

I don’t think you can blame any spurs teams for losing at Chelsea. They could be in league two and us flying at the top of the prem and they’d still find a way to beat us.

2 wins in 35 years (15 of which were pre Roman so not like they were much better than us)! It’s ridiculous the hoodoo they seem to hold over us.

No better time to get one of the rare ones next week though although if Newcastle do us a favour, a point should be good enough due to our goal difference.

 

[SpursDisciple]

Not saying coming back up will be easy (although year one is easier than subsequent years). However there is always a gap between promoted teams and the rest of the Premier League and we will be the first team in a while to go down with 40 odd points (probably). We are Premier League quality (lower end) and if we persuade a core to stay, I'd fancy our chances.

I think you’re overestimating most of those players tbh

I don’t mean away fans, I mean opponents too. They all like playing at the stadium, it’s shiny and comfortable.

If Spurs go down, I’m not convinced they come back up straight away.

I meant opponents too. Starry eyed over the stadium is not best mindset. How many teams freeze at Wembley, Tottenham Hotspur stadium may have the same effect.

 

[Citizen Kane.]

Not saying coming back up will be easy (although year one is easier than subsequent years). However there is always a gap between promoted teams and the rest of the Premier League and we will be the first team in a while to go down with 40 odd points (probably). We are Premier League quality (lower end) and if we persuade a core to stay, I'd fancy our chances.


I meant opponents too. Starry eyed over the stadium is not best mindset. How many teams freeze at Wembley, Tottenham Hotspur stadium may have the same effect.

Not sure about persuading a core to stay.

Most of our players see themselves as far better than they are in reality, which is at once the reason we are in the mess we are in, and the reason most of them will refuse to play in the Championship.

Plus we'll be triggering 50% reductions in most if not all salaries, can you see them being happy to stick around for that?

It's more likely to be a practical problem than anything. It's almost impossible to sell that many players in one window. Chelsea hold the current record which is iirc 14 departures in one window, which leaves double figures still employed.

 

[KingHotspur]

Not sure about persuading a core to stay.

Most of our players see themselves as far better than they are in reality, which is at once the reason we are in the mess we are in, and the reason most of them will refuse to play in the Championship.

Plus we'll be triggering 50% reductions in most if not all salaries, can you see them being happy to stick around for that?

It's more likely to be a practical problem than anything. It's almost impossible to sell that many players in one window. Chelsea hold the current record which is iirc 14 departures in one window, which leaves double figures still employed.

There isn’t one player I’d be sad to see leave tbh

There’s a few I’d keep but even if they want to go then I would be far from bothered as everyone is responsible in different ways for the clubs current predicament

My biggest worry is the financial issues that relegations bring and what sort of budget Spurs will have to sign new players for the championship. I also don’t trust the club to get the right sort of signings (last 6 years recruitment has been awful)

 

[remembercolinlee]

While I have been sure we are going to be relegated for a few months, we still have it in our hands. A point v leeds is not to be sniffed at tbh...they deservedly beat united away 2 weeks ago.
We are 4 games unbeaten ... need the players to believe that they can get a draw v Chelsea then its onto the last game of the season.
West ham face equally tough games Leeds are decent and honest, they turned up yesterday and will do on the final day against the hammers. Toon desperately do not wanna finish behind sunderland...
Its all to fight for and in our hands....something we'd never have thought possible 5 games ago as we trudged off after the forest debacle.

The winter window and the arrogance of our board has put us in this position and whatever happens they aint gonna sack themselves so strap in as this could continue for a few seasons...relegated or not!

 

[KingHotspur]

Don't worry guys, I want to lose to West Ham, which means the Toon will have their best performance of the entire season and win basically.

You don’t want to win and hopefully finish above Sunderland?

 

[KingHotspur]

So do I - and the club will continue to retain a level of support that will likely be larger than the 'competition' in the Championship. But the point being that the failure to regain PL status may lead to the club having to accept a longer-term future in a lower league, rather than a single season.

Even if Spurs recruit well and storm the championship, it will likely take a few seasons to establish themselves again in the Prem.

By recent history, one thing Spurs don’t do well is recruit well. And it looks like they’re gonna need to do that a couple of years on the bounce.

 

[Munson.]

You don’t want to win and hopefully finish above Sunderland?

We can deal with them next.

 

[KingHotspur]

We can deal with them next.

Bit weird to want toon to lose when you can still finish above them

 

[Left on the Shelf]

There isn’t one player I’d be sad to see leave tbh

There are only a couple of the current squad I'd be sorry to see go, particularly if we do go down: that's Palhinha and Danso. I'd probably add Kinsky into that list, because he's shown not only that he's a bloody good keeper, but has shown a strength of character missing in so many current professionals.
They're not World-beaters and never will be, but I just rate them as individuals. For me, attitude makes a helluva difference.
Ben Davies is another lad who will be missed when he leaves/retires. Great servant and knows the club inside out. If we do drop, his level of commitment and experience could be significant.
Young lads, the likes of Gray and Bergvall I'd like to see stay around and progress, but sadly can see both moving on if we go down.

As for the rest, they are already planning their own departures or are of no use to man nor beast!

 

[humanbeingincroydon]

While I have been sure we are going to be relegated for a few months, we still have it in our hands. A point v leeds is not to be sniffed at tbh...they deservedly beat united away 2 weeks ago.
We are 4 games unbeaten ... need the players to believe that they can get a draw v Chelsea then its onto the last game of the season.
West ham face equally tough games Leeds are decent and honest, they turned up yesterday and will do on the final day against the hammers. Toon desperately do not wanna finish behind sunderland...
Its all to fight for and in our hands....something we'd never have thought possible 5 games ago as we trudged off after the forest debacle.

The winter window and the arrogance of our board has put us in this position and whatever happens they aint gonna sack themselves so strap in as this could continue for a few seasons...relegated or not!

I wouldn’t even call the January window arrogance on the board's part. I'd say callous

They obviously decided Frank wouldn’t be here come July 1st, so went into the window looking to sign players for any manager other than Frank, hence the moves for Gallagher and Semenyo

The issue they failed to see is they were advertising that we'd be in a limbo state for half a season, which actively hurt our negotiations far more than if we ripped off the band aid and replaced Frank earlier

 

[Munson.]

Bit weird to want toon to lose when you can still finish above them

We lost to them twice so it's immaterial imo this season. It's just a better long term business opportunity.

 

[Citizen Kane.]

Even if Spurs recruit well and storm the championship, it will likely take a few seasons to establish themselves again in the Prem.

By recent history, one thing Spurs don’t do well is recruit well. And it looks like they’re gonna need to do that a couple of years on the bounce.

I have a faint hope a few of our loanees could really shine in the Championship. Moore, Vuskovic and Shankland in particular, and Phillips has shown himself to be more than comfortable at that level.

 

[Munson.]

The championship is easy.... Once you start playing games you soon realise you're going to be promoted.

The games come thick and fast too so it's really not that bad once you get going.

 

[Dier Hard]

I have a faint hope a few of our loanees could really shine in the Championship. Moore, Vuskovic and Shankland in particular, and Phillips has shown himself to be more than comfortable at that level.

Whilst we hold the power, I’d imagine Vuskovic wouldn’t want to return to a club in the second tier after having had a blinding personal season in the German top flight. Already rumours Barca want him and no doubt many others will.

Do you also mean Lankshear by the way? Shankland’s a new one for me, lol.

 

[remembercolinlee]

I wouldn’t even call the January window arrogance on the board's part. I'd say callous

They obviously decided Frank wouldn’t be here come July 1st, so went into the window looking to sign players for any manager other than Frank, hence the moves for Gallagher and Semenyo

The issue they failed to see is they were advertising that we'd be in a limbo state for half a season, which actively hurt our negotiations far more than if we ripped off the band aid and replaced Frank earlier

The reason I think they were arrogant was that they acted like they could "get by" until the summer when they'd have a wst chest for pochettino returning...I don,t think they had a clue just how poor a squad we had with all the injuries taken into account. That was shown with the club email to members and season ticket holders saying that was a ticket price freeze for next season and that the toon match was being downgraded to a cat B game.

 

[Dier Hard]

Arrogance, idiocy, ineptitude, naivety, callousness… whatever we name it, people in those positions failed miserably and shouldn’t be in such powerful positions.

**** them all. Honestly hope they lose their jobs and never get rehired in such pivotal positions.