Thought they were in danger of being relegated pre season so this has been an amazing season by them especially after losing 3 players who went to win the league with liverpool
Given the potential positions we could've finished in today, I'm glad we'll finish 5th - better to enter Europa at the group stages.
I wouldn't have thought so this morning, but after that mauling? Possibly. 1-0, FT. Great result, good performance. Far better in the first half, but we saw it out. 5th. Not bad. Need to improve all over the park, though.
Highlight of today's performance for me was Bentaleb at left-back. Looked very assured there, got up and down really well all day and did an unfamiliar job very well.
If we purely look at the end result of this season, I think we'd all have taken 5th and a cup final at the start. There is improvement needed yes of course, but I'm feeling OK going into next season provided we have a decent Summer.
not sure how we managed to finish 5th after that season but I guess the league table doesn't lie, finished with less points that last year though I believe so have we really improved?
Thanks for the links, BTW. Well Liverpool really do make a convincing argument that Spurs are the fifth-best team in the country. I think that league finish officially, going by pure headline stats, makes this a pretty good season. At the start of it many would have said that just outside the top four (having had a challenge for it) and a cup final would have been a decent season. We all know that finishing in the top four is difficult and many things have to align to get it to happen. Overall I still think the squad is lacking all over the place but that's part of the reason I'm happy with Poch this season overall - I think he's got us 5th with possibly the weakest squad we've had in years. Having said that, though, there really are promising signs for the future I think. Bentaleb shows us again how assured and mature he is, Dier shows us again that he might be the best crosser at the club, certainly our most dangerous RB as well as being a very able PL CB and of course Harry Kane scores again. Mason's been a revelation too. Now let's see if the Paul Mitchell-era of player purchases can improve on the previous two year's attempts. No reason to think that things won't improve on that front. We need more competition for Eriksen, who we can't rely on next season like we have this and we really need to explore options other than waiting for Lamela to finally metamorphosise into whatever his agents being telling people he's gonna be some day. And we need to sort out the defence - though just selling Chiriches will go a long way in that direction. I know he's OK at RB but I just don't even want the risk of him playing CB ever again. I'll even be able to believe that Fazio might adapt to the PL more next season if I can just stop having to worry about Cheery Cheese ever being near the team. Hopefully the Wimmer situation looks to be enabling that outcome.
That first half was up there with the best we've played this season. Dembele bossed the middle. Bentaleb owned the left side. Mason played better than usual. The future looks bright. I wonder if Poch will use that formation again without being forced to.
I've changed my mind on this and I'm glad we have Europa League. Our squad isn't quite strong enough to challenge successfully for the top four. Meaning if we didn't have Europa, would next season see us really challenge with the current squad? I don't think so. I think we're a bit short. Hopefully, the EL will give our manager more time to try out players on the fringes of the squad. Kind of how Kane got his chance this season. Also get the players in that he needs and make sure they fit well. I think Europa League gives us a slightly better chance of building a more consistent, well oiled and strong squad.
At least by finishing in fifth we go straight to the group stages, rather than having to play a two-legged playoff in the arse end of Eastern Europe that also inflicts a couple of Sunday kick-offs on us for our troubles.
Yes...am really struggling to afford to go to league games with my kids... went to hull last week and it cost £36 for me and my 17 yr old and £18 for my 12 yr old... £90 in total plus a booking fee...the EL games are £20 and £5...so we will get to go to at least 3 matches last season. So we are very happy
Liverpool basically couldn't avoid it in the last game, barring other results going completely against them and having multiple players sent off. They needed both us and Southampton to win, though a draw would've done us in the end because of their **** result. On top of that, they also needed Villa to win the cup and either West Ham or Everton to overtake them in the Fair Play League. I'm glad to be back in Europe again, even if it is the Europa League. After all, what sort of crappy little club doesn't qualify for anything at all?
