I didn't day win the title, I said mount a credible challenge for it! - there a difference! Having said that, no I don't believe he'll be first out unless Utd have a truly disastrous start.
No, I'm rather attached to my love-nuts. Top 4 is the goal for you, us, and 'Pool, and it's a contest that you have been winning, in recent seasons. I can't see 'Pool making a serious challenge, yet; but I think we can.
No, it isn't, PISKIE. As much as you might try to wum around the subject, our battle is, and always has been, with Arsenal, for a top 4 slot. Saints had a good season, but were always likely to fade away, which exactly what they did. This coming season is going to be the real test for Koeman, as it was for Laudrup. As for 'Pool, everyone knew that the season they finished in the top 4 was a fluke and was unlikely to be repeated. Our eye is on that top 4 spot; and looking at the herd, the side that looks most likely to fall lame and be sniped at, is Arsenal. That's just the way it is; don't get wound up by it.
Blah Blah... come back when you do actually finish above us. After 20 years of hearing same deluded claptrap, forgive me for brushing your nonsense aside
So, PISKIE, is it your position that Arsenal will always finish above Spurs, for the foreseeable future?
Unless Spurs vastly improve and Arsenal go backwards then yes. In reality the opposite is happening though. There was a period where a weakened Arsenal side gave you a chance to catch up, but even then you failed. We have started to increase the gap on you again back towards the usual gulf
I think everyone who has eyes in the head and a brain to think about what they see know that Spurs have had no right to challenge for anything. We lost Bale, have struggled to find decent strikers, and have gone through managers like a dose of salts. It's not the fact that Arsenal increased the (very close) gap between the two sides that surprises me, but that they didn't increase it enough! Already, we're a better side than last season, because (1) we've kept the same manager for two seasons in a row, (2) Kane, a top young striker, has been fully blooded in the Prem and is looking forward to his second season, and (3) we've strengthen in defence, where we were at our Keystone Kops weakest.
We've heard it all before though HIAG, that's the problem for you lot. Talk is cheap, proof is in the pudding my friend
I can't speak for Piskie but I would be absolutely flabbergasted if Spurs finish above Arsenal this decade.
It's the most accurate adjective for my feelings on the matter. I'm no lover of Arsenal and have a soft spot for Spurs for family reasons but Arsenal come across as a club on the up while Spurs seem to be going sideways at best.
Even during our lean spell they couldn't catch us, it was the best opportunity they'd had in two decades. As you correctly observe, the gap is now widening once again.
Anyway, back on topic. I think Rodgers is under the most pressure this season. But I also think Pooch at Spurs will come under some fire if he can't lift Spurs out of the mediocre and begin to challenge, even if it's for one of the minor trophies like the Capital one cup or the Europey pot. That said, if Levy sacks yet another manager, then people will begin to wake up to the fact that he could be to blame for Spurs' perennial failures, rather than the fall guy in the managers seat.
