So, here we are then. Even after the torrid times up to now, and Nemesis redressing the penalty count early season, we find Spurs ... exactly where they have been on points for the past 4 seasons. The issues now are sorting out the GD and the slow/sloppy/sideways MF play. There is enough depth in the squad to push on for the remaining half. And to at least get to the Europa QFs. If we need to ditch then we would have clocked up another decent UEFA ranking points tally. Next month will be crucial in terms of morale, with the NLD FA Cup tie and both Mancs in the PL. So the post-AVB rebuild has to happen then.
We have a squad full of talent that unlocked will only improve as the season goes on. There is no reason we cannot have a better second half to the season and challenge for the top 4. That half went quick!
"We have a squad full of talent that unlocked will only improve as the season goes on. There is no reason we cannot have a better second half to the season and challenge for the top 4." The reason is the "gelling" . It still really hasn't happened, even though some of us were looking at the end of the Europa group stage as being a reasonable end date of that to happen.
Capoue slotted in straight away (making his exile for the Southampton and Stoke games doubly stupid), Eriksen seems to be slotting in (then again, we said that for the Norwich and Tromso games, then he cooled off before getting injured), whilst Paulinho and Chiriches seem to have a run where they appear to have settled for a few games before having a game where it looks like they're in their first training session. On the other hand, Lamela and Chadli need games while Soldado needs to bang a few in because his confidence is returning.
Soldado has done all but score these past few games. Just the usual confidence thing (needs one to hit his backside and go in etc) . Lamela I still consider a work in progress. At best I would hope for him being fully PL attuned by the Easter fixture batch. Chadli I am disappointed with. For someone built like a beast he often makes Lamela look like Dembele in the tussle. Opposition players should be bouncing off him all over the place as he surges down the flank.
It was nice to see Lamela actually pushing a few players off yesterday. He seems to finally get it, though he needs more minutes on the pitch.
It's also amazing how quickly things change. A few games ago Liverpool were top, saints were right up there and united looked like they were struggling a bit. All of a sudden, Liverpool are 6 points behind the leaders, United are desperately pushing like us, and saints are 7 points behind us. I'm optimistic about our play for the second half of the season. It looks like the players are more comfortable already and the positive signs are there. However, we've got to start winning some of these "top of the table" battles. So Far: Arsenal (A) - defeat City (A) - defeat Everton (A) - draw Chelsea (H) - draw United (H) - draw Newcastle (H) - defeat Liverpool (H) - defeat Saints (A) - Win 6 points out of a possible 24, with an equal balance of Home to away games. That must improve, drastically.
"It's also amazing how quickly things change." But correspondingly how fine the margins for error are. Last season twas only the results in 3 consecutive games last Springtime that effectively cost Spurs the CL slot.
Seeing as how the team still need time to gel, let's all buy the team some of this - late Xmas present and all that: please log in to view this image
