I never said we didn't have a lot to be positive about but there seems to be a view that we dont miss Modric & VDV on the basis we're 4th. Just like Araenal fans try and convince themselves they dont miss RVP. If you add Modric and VDV to this team, would we be better? have we replaced Modrics passing/vision and VDV's creativity/goal threat? ....I would say no,(yes to the 1st question) so imo we do miss what they bring. However this is a different team and the results have been good, yet we have a real tough run of games coming up and we rely on bale to perform. Last year we had Modric, Bale, Lennon VDV &Ade as our main attacking unit which made us more of an attacking team. So while i understand it will take time to see if holtby and dembele can offer (in their own style) , i feel we're relying too much on Bales individual brillance and the rest of our attack isn't working as a unit.
I think comparisons with last year are a bit pointless to be honest mainly cos I don't think that we'll have a run of just 1 win in 11 matches as we did last year
Neither do I, but we could ALMOST afford to have such an abysmal run last year, such was the initial gap in points. This year the margins a much tighter.
After the newcastle game (5-0), the most we went without a win in the league was 5 games, winning 4 games, drawing 4 of the last 13. Although facing arsenal, man utd, everton, stoke and chelsea back-to-back when our form dropped was unfortunate and the rest is history. I dont see comparisons as pointless as its intresting to see how the teams compare at the various stages of each season, especially when we have a tough run of games coming up and a hard cup tie ( like last year).
After Newcastle our next 10 matches were; Arsenal L 2 – 5 Manchester United L 1 - 3 Everton L 0 – 1 – Stoke City D 1 - 1 Chelsea D 0–0 Swansea City W 3–1 Sunderland D 0–0 – Norwich City L 1–2 Queens Park Rangers L 1–0 That was 5 Losses...3 Draws...1 win.... 6 pts from a possible 27 It was only the next 4 matches that stopped us dropping out of contention for the top 4. Blackburn Rovers W 2–0 Bolton Wanderers W 4-1 Aston Villa D 1–1 Fulham W 2–0 We only picked up a total of 16 pts from the final 13 matches...just under 1.2pts per match...we ended up on 69 points which means we had 53 points from the previous 25 matches just over 2.1 pts per match...in other words we had a complete collapse in the final 3rd of the season. The only lesson I can learn from that is that Redknapp did not keep his eye on the ball...he was too busy showing off his special managerial skills to get the England Job. I just can not see us doing the same thing this season...**** knows if we'll come in the top 4 but at least this time whoever ends up above us will have to earn it!
Cheers for posting the games, i wasn't aware of them results I know how the run of games went yet too much focus was put on the england job, as we changed formation for certain games, king lost form and a drop of form was always likely overall. As for this year, I never said we would go on a similar run but the end goal is the same, to get 3rd, finish top four so this stage of the season is just as crucial as last year.
sorry boss ... didn't mean to drag up bad memories or teach you to suck eggs didn't mean to come across as argumentative either...I am nervous about our run in too...but think that's more my cynical spurs experience as an old git fan! I think the reason Harry changed formations was cos he refused to use the squad properly and tried to show how clever he was (and ultimately wasn't!) by playing bizarre formations and players out of position. But my semi optimism could be crushed by next sunday night depending on how these 2 london derbies go!
Chelsea seem to be trying their best to emulate our collapse last year, which will hopefully make our task considerably easier. Two consecutive finishes outside the top 4 would be an embarrassment considering the money they've spent. Competing with the Mousers in the fall-from-grace stakes.
Not an arguement mate! just we view things slightly different Also good point about Arry getting too big for his boots, although i remember from his interviews him mentioning his assistants pushed for a change in formation so who knows what the full reason was. I'll exit this thread now and leave you to be optimistic!
This season we have a stable manager with no tax trials and national team manager rumours to deflect us from the football. Last season was a big worry because of that. Now I'm one of the first to say that a team will follow its traditions but this season we have a double winning manager and as yet as previously stated an unknown quantity in the PL. Spurs with a top name traditionally do well and if our blasted strikers just get their act together last season will not be repeated. We have come farther in the EL this season too so there is an improvement there which will reflect an improvement on last season in the EPL. I think we'll be ok.
I'd make Spurs favourites to finish above Chelsea and Arsensl for two reasons: 1. Spurs are in form and have momentum this season. Look at the unbeaten run in the PL since Everton on 9th Dec- 10 games during which only 5 goals have been conceded. Being able to grind out narrow victories is a trait Spurs have shown in the last few months (2-1 v Newcastle, 1-0 v WBA, 1-0 v Swansea, 2-1 v Sunderland in this unbeaten run). Add to that the match winning ability Bale has shown recently too. 2. Chelsea and Arsenal have underachieved wherever they finish this season. They are continually portrayed as failures and the teams and their managers are under pressure. They don't look like united teams willing to fight together for a common cause. Chelsea's performance was insipid today; we've seen similar performances from Arsenal throughout this season, more often than the high scoring victories. Chelsea have 27 points from their last 19 PL games, which is mid table form. Arsenal only made top 4 with a late run last season; Chelsea came 6th! These teams do not hold any fear for other PL teams these days.
What concerns me a little is that our unbeaten run may have come too early in the season and a defeat might spark a little blip until we set sail again. But I can only agree with you Luke. I just wish we'd have a few more two and three goal wins rather than the ground out wins by one goal. A lot depends on the next two derbies. If we can get maximum points the run will continue afterwards.
Apart from our propensity to not just shoot ourselves in both feet when it matters, but blow them clean off, I'd probably agree with you.
