The team has some promise. But, only some, IMO. It lacks balance and leadership. Some players still seem to lack the required mentality. There is nobody to galvanise the side when the **** has hit the fan, like Sunday. At the back we are still far too vulnerable, our goals against column doesn't lie. Up front, if Kane doesn't score or Eriksen doesn't pot one of his free kick specials, you wonder where a goal will ever come from. We also lack a creative spark. If Eriksen isn't able to pull the strings, we look completely devoid of ideas. I like the potential and promise of Kane, Mason, Bentaleb. But this is a long way from a side able to compete effectively in Europe
Are you confident of getting 6th place ahead of Southampton? This can result in a place in the Europa League next season! But Southampton played well at Stamford bridge and have easier fixtures
This assumes Liverpool are guaranteed top 5. That assumption wouldn't be merited on results or performances in the first half of the season. A good run since doesn't ensure a good finish. There is a long way to go. There are often 10+ point swings between teams over nine games. One team has a great run - say 23 points in this period, one stalls and does moderately- say 13 points and they finish a long way apart. We've seen it so many times. I wouldn't be making predictions about unpredictable teams in March when the season ends on 24th May!
Why so negative? A bit of realism please. We never had a grip on the top 4. Utd last season dropped out, what did they do? Threw £150 million at it and still nothing guaranteed. Who are we competing with? Chelsea, who will throw millions at it and steal players and get whoever they want. Can almost say the same about City, as for their money. (and break ffp rules and play tricks as they did with Lampard) Utd. As I said, spend £150m and will spend more this summer. 'Pool and Arsenal at present are ahead of us with financial power and players. We are 6th in pecking order. That in my book is above average and gave me some good moments this season and I am looking forward to the future. I don't call that a failure.
Booooooom! Nail on the head B & W, I like your style. With the squad we have and the financial powers we're up against, we're still having a decent season and aren't out of the top 4 race. Utd on Sunday was a massive kick in the bollocks but we have a run of games where I'd like to think we can pick up some points. 9 games remain, 27 points up for grabs and we only find ourselves 8 points behind 2nd. I'm not expecting a 3 game swing in our favour against all of our rivals but this is football and anything can happen.
If you place us at 6th in a pecking order, that pecking order allows you to suggest we shouldn't be finishing any higher, so it allows optimistic fans to accept an average season while hoping for more. Although being realistic, us "negative" fans said at the start of the season we would finish 6th/7th as thats our level, so no one can suggest we're aren't being realistic as we're very much aware of our level and what we're capable of. Which actually means both sides agree, we're all very aware of our level, just the difference is we disagree on how we have ended up at this level, which is average, and for that I look to the decisions the club have made and I don't see us getting back into the top four while Levy is our chairman and we continue with the current system of management and transfers, a view I have had since we decided to hire AVB. .................But even us "negative" fans enjoy moments of the season. last year many of you where slating Sherwood for picking Bentaleb yet back then I said sticking by him would be important to his development so seeing such players grow is great to see and I'm looking forward to seeing our youngsters get better. We have had some great results this year, such as the london derbies, yet there is no getting away from the fact we haven't shown that ability as a team outside of these games so from my view they where just rare performances, rather then what we can come to expect. Still, I'm not looking forward to our next batch of flop signings, nor the same flawed tactics from our average manager who has been lucky to have us as high as 7th and I hope once Pochettino is fired (as it will happen) that we revert back to the old fashioned system, and just hope we're lucky enough to have an opportunity to hire a manager who is a great fit.
Welcome back Boss - I see you're still obsessed with Harry. How has he done since he left us I wonder. One of our major problems is that there is no experienced spine to the team because Redknapp didn't make any medium term signings. therefore too much reliance on youth currently. This might well turn out to be a blessing in disguise as if our players come good we will punch above our weight again. The last time this happened when the likes of Bale, Modric, Huddlestone, King, Gomes, and Lennon all came good together we came fourth.
Hi Power - Nice to see you're still around and obsessed with Redknapp! Still, be fair, Arry is an old man needing parts of his body fixed (and coming to the end of his career) and that club QPR appear to have real issues, you only need to look at Hughes and how he is performing at Stoke (compared to QPR), when at a club that is set up correctly, how much easier it is for the manager, although Hughes did benefit from the setup left to him by the previous Stoke manager. But regarding the blend, it will be down to Pochettino to want such players (experienced players) Does he want to sign experienced premier league players? or does he want to sign experienced foreign players who are a bigger gamble as they may not be able to cope with the premier league. Or doesn't he have much say? The foreign market on paper always looks to offer more value yet as we're seeing recently it also increases the chances of being left with flop signings, players we appear to be stuck with unless we sell at a big loss.
"If you place us at 6th in a pecking order, that pecking order allows you to suggest we shouldn't be finishing any higher, so it allows optimistic fans to accept an average season while hoping for more." No, it allows realistic supporters to set a lower bound for what is (un)acceptable. So in the PL that is a top 6 place and a final points total of at least 69.
Out of the final 9 games last year, Sherwood managed to get 16 points (after an away thumping at Chelsea). So Pochettino has to beat that total (after a similar thumping at Utd) while having two spicy games for different reasons. Villa (home), Saints (away). Although unless something drastic happens he will still be here next year and the progression of youth has allowed him to be given more time by the fans.
"Out of the final 9 games last year, Sherwood managed to get 16 points" Pochettino has to get 19 as far as I am concerned.
I was slating Sherwood for the lack of a holding midfielder, as it exposed our defence in his attacking outlook and I think it's still an issue. We're using two inexperienced central players who both prefer to attack and it leaves us exposed at times and looking naive in others. The whole midfield and attacking unit against Man Utd had an average age of 22½ and Mason's missed loads of football in his short career. Our defence has been pretty crap this season overall, but they don't get enough protection. The system's a hard one to play well and slight mistakes can be severely punished. Youngsters are bound to make a few. That said, I'm thoroughly enjoying seeing them come through and I hope to see more brought into the squad.
I do like the energy of Mason but I agree we are left exposed and I guess it is tough finding that DM who offers protection but also has a football brain and can pass, that is where we suffer as Bentaleb does have great qualities yet is lacking in other areas. I know we have been discussing the lack of experience in a few threads yet the DM position, someone to compliment Bentaleb (at the expense of Mason) for me, would be the ideal signing,
"Do you want a United or LFC win?" Obviously draws in any "six pointer" games between all rivals to Spurs for a CL slot.
There have been times this season when Mason and Bentaleb have worked together seamlessly to both help the attack and screen the back 4 but we can all see that this hasn't happened often enough, especially in recent weeks. Its a developing partnership but one that we can't afford too many off days from, so it probably does need a little alteration. I think Bentaleb-Stambouli might be a better balanced partnership for the time being, although the latter probably isn't a long term solution because although I like him we could do better in that position. Bentaleb has a serious future ahead of him though. Fair play to those calling that last season when lots of us were questioning Sherwood's judgement on that particular issue.
I remember when Sherwood subbed Bentaleb on for Dembele against Southampton when we were desperately chasing a win and thinking WTF?! It worked. I wonder how much of an impression it made on their manager at the time?
Sandro would have been perfect if he wasn't a sicknote. Maybe Stambouli could be that guy or even Capoue although seems Pochettino doesn't really rate either and seems they were chosen by Baldini.
