After last weeks loss the nature of debates on the Spurs board changed. Spurs had been cruising along looking very secure if still a little wasteful in front of goal but of course oppositions tend to not want you to score so will fling everything at you as you get closer to their posts. Lose a game and our pessimists are quick to tell us all about our shortcomings. We know that some Spurs fans are just not comfortable praising their team and in many ways that's very understandable given our history and lack of silverware in recent times. You can tell there's a 'but' coming can't you! BUT, I'd like to say that I am NOT expecting great things THIS season despite predicting 4th for Spurs on the 'Seasons Predictions' thread. That was more hope than expectation. I am more pleased with this squad and our current manager than I expected to be at the start of this season and that leads to me wanting to keep this young squad and manager together to see the flowering. I hate the aspect of professional football that sees the richer clubs rape the poorer (relative term) clubs of their best players thus maintaining the status quo. All clubs do it, of course, their only limit being their financial clout and their managers charm, or lack of it. Spurs of course are one of the world's richer clubs but we still get pillaged as we know only too well. So my major concern for Spurs becomes hanging on to what we have until the new stadium raises our level further and enables us to properly compete with the top 4. Coming to the present situation, yes we are in a strong position to go for top 4 but whatever happens I would prefer consolidation to pressure to achieve THIS season. Yes I know we need to achieve to hang on to our best players but by virtue of their young age I think we have one more season before the acquisitive pressure from the bigger sharks begins to mount. The Levy factor means we have a better chance than most to hang on. For all those reasons I have low expectations for this season, but next season? Different ball game, next season I expect to be make or break for this squad and this manager, so let's give them a comfort zone until then and not apply the expectation game too hard.
On the one hand this season we've had a good unbeaten run, but apparently we've lost 11 points from winning positions this season (more than anyone else in the league too apparently?), so the unbeaten run with lots of draws has probably masked some of the old frailties that were there as we at least weren't losing games. Those 11 points would put us 2 points clear at the top with (probably) the best GD in the league, just for reference. We're currently where we deserve to be IMO but the form of many of the other clubs the season makes the league very open and there is a lot of opportunity there if we can kick on. In my opinion if last season was to be a year of transition, assessment and weeding out the bad 'uns, then this year was to be a year of consolidation and building on the foundations. So far it seems to be that way. And I would expect another step up next year. I would imagine that Poch came in with a plan over a few years and 3 years would seem to be a logical point for a review of the situation considering where we were when he took over. I expect us to qualify for a European competition this year and to progress reasonably far in the EL, even if Fiorentina is not the easiest draw. As far as domestic cups go I think the LC is an opportunity missed but it would be fantastic to really hit the FA Cup hard this year because for me it is always the competition that really resonates with Spurs the most. I expected us to place top 6 this season and do well in the other competitions, so far we are on course for that IMO.
Pretty sure I predicted 5th initially with a good cup run, though I think I mentioned about not ruling 4th out and that still is what I say, with perhaps a little more expectancy than hope on the finishing 4th part. We've been really good to watch for 90% of the season so far, Poch is getting us to play a good brand of football and the unbeaten run was really enjoyable. Dele Alli looks a world star in the making, Dier's move to DM was a master class decision, Jan and Toby are arguably the best partnership in the league at the moment while everyone else has been putting in good performances. We hoped/ knew that Levy's hiring of Poch was going to be for a long term project, something I think many thought we'd need about 2-3 seasons before seeing results yet I've seen immense improvement already this season and the age of our squad and manager gives reason to be very hopeful of a good future under this regime. I haven't been this happy as a fan since seeing Bale, Modric and Rafa tearing teams a new one and so if I was able too, I'd personally thank Poch for bringing the enjoyment back in watching Tottenham after a turbulent couple of years.
I reckon we'll finish 5th. It could and possibly should be 4th but our lack of strikers doesn't fill me with absolute faith for that. In August I'd have been delighted with that. As this season is panning out that may be a slight disappointment but we might just sign someone in January and turn some of the draws into wins. Go on Daniel, shock us and give this team and manager what they need (and deserve) to land us a CL spot! Wherever we finish I'm really pleased with how the team has played and how well Pochettino has managed such a young team and forged such a strong spirit in the squad. The improvement in Dembele, Vertonghen and Walker suggest this manager has something more than the ability to blood young talent. His belief that we will start winning things might not be misplaced and I am coming round to the view that, regarding Spurs, hope is a good thing again.
We're doing OK, I just can't understand Leicester. Someone tell me they aren't gonna win the league or even finish top 4. To come 5th with fricking Leicester above us would take the piss
I keep telling myself that Leicester have to drop off eventually. They must have a big injury or bad patch coming right? They've done so well though so far and surely have guaranteed themselves a high position up the table. Leicester, Palace, Watford and West Ham are all up in the top 8 and you'd expect at least Liverpool, Chelsea and maybe Everton too who are all out of those places to go on a run at some point and get up there. The presence of those 4 teams in the top 8 right now has blown it all open because consensus seems to be that some if not all of them are going to drop out and somebody is going to be able to take significant advantage of this situation in the second half of the season.
The presence of Leicester, Palace, Watford and West Ham in the top 8 is very good for the PL and very irritating for sports writers and pundits. The PL from the the punditry/sports writer point of view has always been about Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool, joined be the newly enriched Man City. Spurs and Everton have slightly annoyed them on the odd occasion by having the 'luck' albeit temporary to break into the top 4. Other than that they have not needed a knowledge or understanding of football to make their pronouncements and predictions. This season is rocking their little boats a bit and they are actually having to consider the merits of football teams and not just the size of their bank balances. You can almost here the annoyance in their voices when they talk about teams like Leicester and Palace having the front to win games above their station. Of course it may not last and it may all return to normal service by the end of the season but I seriously hope not and in any case the unnerving of the punditry/writer class is very enjoyable, long may it continue.
Normal for the last couple of decades but not normal before that. I think we are returning to the days of old - had to happen - when there is more equality between teams. Most premier ( and plenty of league teams ) have the finances to buy quality players. It is and I believe will continue to be a league where literally all teams will have a chance. Man Utd and Liverpool spent millions and how has it helped them this year?
If Leicester can keep Vardy and Mahrez fit then a position in the top four is very achievable as these are two players who are obliterating everything in their path. I kept on saying they'll drop off but I'm coming round to the idea now that they may just do something very special, do I think they can win the league? I'm not sure but I'm definitely starting to believe a top 4 place is waiting for them in May. BUT... A substantial injury to either one of them and I think they'll drop a few places, not trying to discredit the work of the rest of the Leicester players but you'd be mad to think they could cope without either one of them for a prolonged period.
It’s hard to say what to expect at this point. We’re in fourth, albeit in the most marginal possible way. We’ve played well, surprisingly well overall, to me. We may have had the steadiest string of good efforts of any team in the league. On the other hand, our tendency to draw and drop points may relate both to a lack of killer instinct and simple fatigue from the high energy system. Pochettino’s teams have a history of a second half dip in form, apparently fatigue-related, and Spurs are already showing signs of wear. I’d really like to see at the very least Son and Mason, along with Carroll and anyone else who shows he can play Pochettino’s system effectively, used to give some of our obviously tired players, like Dier and Erikson, sufficient rest I think there’s just enough quality in the squad to rotate enough to keep everyone fresh. A solid DM and right footed CM would be nice in January. I’m actually not in favor of getting another striker, since I’m more concerned with Son getting minutes. He’s been very good at creating goals in his limited minutes, his movement bothers defenders, and he ought to be playing regularly.
