Personally top 4 would be a success. However, there are some big changes to our starting XI and they will need time to gel. I would find 5th place acceptable with a top 3 finish the following season. City spent big but it took them a couple of seasons to break in to top 4.
AVB was brought in to lift Spurs to higher realms. I was prepared to see us struggle a little last year as he came to terms with the Prem. However he is paid to make us better adn finishing 5th and winning no cups is not that - so cannot be judged success. It is no use talking about new players and leavers - that will always happen and a succesful team must plan for both. Success for me means a step forward at least -not as some define it standing still. We have bought some good players and we need them to carry us to the CL as a minimum and do better in the cup competitions. 4th and a Cup I would be OK with, 3rd and The Europa would be great. We should aim for at least second though. The 20 point gap flattered Man U but David Moyes is not SAF
I asked the same question last year when personally I felt we would finish outside the top four due to being in transition. This year I believe we have to finish in the top four in order to be judged successful. ======================================= we're more in transition this year than last year aren't we ?
4th and a Cup I would be OK with ===================== 4th and a cup would be our best season for quarter of a century. with regards to aiming for second, i think you've got to aim to get as many points as you can haven't you, and see where that gets you ? I would have thought that all of the top clubs (including Spurs) have to start the season trying to win the league, and re-adjust any targets as necessary. I agree with you that as things stand we've got a decent chance of third, but I would be delighted with 4th. If we were to get a cup as well then it would be an amazing season to remember for years to come
The greatest success would be spray painting the letters C, O, Y and S in ten foot high letters on Marca's offices come September 3rd.
"The greatest success would be spray painting the letters C, O, Y and S in ten foot high letters on Marca's offices come September 3rd." Will have to wait for that huge pile of manure somebody dumped there to be cleared away first. Are there paints like the old "invisible ink" that are heat/light sensitive ?? You could get someone to do it at night. And then as the midday sun warms up, watch the letters appear from nowhere.
Good post RS. Indeed it would be our best season since 1982, IMHO. You have to go back all the way there to find the last time we managed top 4 and a trophy. Given that record, it will be a monumental effort to repeat or beat that. ATM, I don't think we will, but the window of opportunity is still open
I can see this coming back to haunt me in May but with the squad we've got now I honestly think that we will finish in the top 2. Last season we dropped 7 points in the first 3 games due to the loss of Modric & VDV (VDV was poor against Newcastle and gave away their winning penalty). This time we've got players in to replace the potential exits. This season the transfer business is being done in good time and the 3 signings so far look classy. Add Kaboul & Sandro into the mix and that's 5 classy players to enhance our 1st XI. The one weak spot is left back, I don't see Rose making it there. Hopefully he'll prove us wrong though. We still need to strengthen the squad (CB, Striker) but the starting XI is the best I've since since the early 80's. C.O.Y.S.
Robspur, I'd agree to an extent, however 87 had Mitchell Thomas & 91 had Pat Van Den Hawe!! Those 2 would weaken any team! Seriously, the 87 team was breaking up after the cup final. Hod was off to France, Gough wanted to return to Scotland whilst Clemence & Ossie were at the wrong end of their careers. The 91 side were shocking from Christmas onwards in the league, carried by Gazza to the cup final and as we all know were all playing under the cloud of the debts etc.
You probably remember the 87 side better than me mate; we were top of the league at christmas though (i think). I agree with you anyway that we are really moving into the big time now again. As long as we can keep players off the injury list well enough, then Spurs are going to be a very serious proposition for anyone.
Hi j8 - It wasn't just to the loss of VDV & Modric IMO. It was also down to a massive mistake by AVB in ditching Daws, and also a joint error by AVB/the club in not getting Lloris in sooner, and having him playing from day one up at Toon.
I'd rate both Mitchell Thomas and Van Der Hawe as better full backs than Danny Rose, so that's one down for the current XI I'd say What really hurt the 87 side was losing Danny Thomas to a horror tackle, and not getting Steve Hodge in to play in the Lge cup side, and selling Graham Roberts. But it was still a wonderful side, and it'll take a lot to match them in the current era. If we got 3rd, FA Cup Final and Lge cup semi-final as they did, that would be a success for me.
Personally I didnt think the keeper situation made much difference. People were quick to point out any imperfection in brad's game because they wanted to see Lloris playing. Brad was still doing a good job though (in fact many people were rating him as our best player in some of those earlier season games). From what I remember of the newcastle game, we were unlucky not to come away with the points, having dominated most of the first half and been unlucky not to be 2 or 3 up. For me the huge transfer mistake was not getting the moutinho deal done. There can be very little doubt imo that that cost us a top 4 place, and even now the team would be much much stronger with him in it.
I don't think we are. Last year the transition was about a new manager and style and getting to know the players etc - and we did lose two key players in Modric and VDV. This year AVB should have been working towards the squad he wants/needs and apart from Bale has no surprises. We havae players in early and it is a "Managed" transition If we don't believe we can do it then who would? The best season in a quarter of a century seems grand until you realise how we have underperformed in that time. Time was we were a top club - surely the whole of the last few years has been about getting us back there. We have achieved 4th a couple of years back and 5th almost regularly so asking for 3rd or 2nd is inevitable. Agreed - technically aim for as many points as you can and 1st spot and see where you get - I just felt that saying we would aim for 1st would open the troll gates. Success is not marking time and standing still I would be disappointed with 5th this year and regards 4th as no great aim - Arsenal are not that good, Chelsea and Man City were not far ahead of us - especially once you take out our poor start - Man U - who knows but I have a feeling that David Moyes is nowhere near the manager SAF was and that could working our favour. Cup and 4th good; 3rd excellent.
I don't think any Spurs fan should be ashamed to say we are aiming to win the league. That's what it's all about.
