Rival watch

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O.Spurcat said:
If we prioritised the EL, got knocked out and then finished 4th, then that would have been pointless.
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Ultimately this is it. All the EL gives us over the FA Cup is CL qualification into the playoff rounds, and we've probably got a better chance of getting that (if not into a better qualification situation) and possibly a trophy too - whisper it - in the league. League is a priority as it could give us a trophy and CL qualification. FA Cup is second priority as it is probably our best chance of silverware, and will impact less on our league form than the EL, which is therefore 3rd priority.

Going back to my original point at the start, I'm glad that the situation with our squad means that at present we can play all 3 of these competitions with strong teams as long as we're careful and realistic with squad rotation and travel.
 
I'm not sure it is realistic to prioritise anything. The whole squad seems devoid of egos and is working well with each other. the psychological effect of leaving a few players behind for the Fiorentina match could wreck the whole project. Just change 3-5 players every game and try to win them all.
 
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I say we should go for everything. How many times are we likely to be in the position we are in, now? Let's not count our chickens. We've got a young, fit squad, that is working well together and seemingly enjoying playing football and winning. As others have said, let's keep that momentum going.

My only word of caution would be with regards to Kane. Perhaps we should save him for the Prem, and use Chadli/Lamela/Son to cover him, for the EL and FA Cup?
 
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I'm old. 1981-82 broke my heart. At this time in that season, it looked like we'd win the lot. We dissolved after losing the League Cup Final. We only just beat QPR in the FA Cup Final to stop the season being a complete bust. Also, we looked 'done-in' the next season too. There's nothing to suggest M.Pochettino will contemplate anything but going 'all-in' on all fronts. I'd rather we held back in the EL.. I don't think foreign refs are ready for our physicality as yet (I think that will come) and we'd be better off prioritising the other 2 competitions.
 
Hoddle Is A God said:
My only word of caution would be with regards to Kane. Perhaps we should save him for the Prem, and use Chadli/Lamela/Son to cover him, for the EL and FA Cup?
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Thats all I'm saying really. Kane and a few others need to be saved for domestic competition as we have no adequate replacements for them. Kane, Alli, Lloris, Toby, Dier. Everyone else can be rotated. If those 5 start a game we could beat anyone in the league this year, given the strength of our squad. We can put out a competitive team in the EL without those 5 and we should look to do so, making use of the rest of our squad in those circumstances.

Again as we all keep saying, momentum is key. Just keep finding a way to get over the line and anything is possible, especially in the FA Cup and the League.
 
David Silva to miss Sunday's game. No De Bruyne, Kompany or Silva. Toure looks like he wants some chinese to me. Pellegrini's a lame duck since Pep's been promised his job. It's us v Hart and Aguero . If Leicester can do it, then we can do this!
 
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The odds are looking rather favourable, especially if we can put all off our danger men up against them. Don't fancy £ity's chances against Alli, Dembele, Eriksen, Dier, Davis, and Kane!
 
O.Spurcat said:
If we prioritised the EL, got knocked out and then finished 4th, then that would have been pointless.
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The same could be said for the FA Cup though OS. Granted, there is more chance of us winning it but no guarantee. And again, if the question was 'out of the two, which would you prefer to proceed to the latter stages of'? I would say EL every day of the week, as I believe that playing the likes of Fiorentina, Dortmund and Porto will be more of an eye-opener and an experience for our young squad than facing Palace in the cup will be. Playing regularly in Europe, even in the EL, exposes you to different styles and cultures of football that you can learn from with time. I love the 'magic of the FA cup' but the reality is that it sometimes teaches you nothing more than how to run on a water-logged pitch recently used in a country fair.
 
IMHO to win the PL then the EL is going to now have to be written off.
The Citeh result + their likely focus on the CL (the missing piece for the sheikh) +
no cup games of any kind for Leicester suggest little else.

I would like the boys to treat this month as the last of the season, and then
re-evaluate come March. However I still believe that Pochettino will have to do
the above, and I for one will not damn him for doing so (I can just about live with
Spurs doing the Double instead) .
 
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Not a Spurs fan but greatly admire what you have done so far this season. It will be excellent if your team (or Leicester) win the title. Hope you reach the final of the EL against Athletic Bilbao (a team I love) and may the best team win. Some of you have ignored some very good La Liga teams in the EL, and believe me to win it you will have to beat Villareal or the serial winners Sevilla who have found their form again and will not surrender EL trophy too easily. Good luck for the rest of the season, chase down that title and try and get the EL. FA Cup??? It is just a little better than the League Cup IMO so you may want to shed crococile teams should Palace get a freaky win.
 
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vimhawk said:
There's a photo on the BBC from the Chelski match showing Costa "confronting" a linesman. How the hell doesn't he get booked for this sort of thing? Far from picking on Chelski as the great one claimed, I think the officials have always been far too lenient with them. I bet Costa's got a "Respect" badge on his shirt somewhere!

Edit: just worked out how to post the image:
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He is one ugly player. Hope Del Bosque comes to his senses and leaves him out of the Spanish squad and chooses a player with class. Aduriz and Inaki Williams (both Athletic) come to mind and let's hope you Spurs fans see these players in a future round of this season's EL competition.
 
Imho we will not win the league. But it would be utter madness to prioritise any other competition over it. If we put out our strongest team in the league matches and weaker teams in the cups then I would completely understand why.
I hate the argument of " prioritising the league rather than a trophy" cos usually that's about coming 4th, but in this instance prioritising the league is about winning it.
That may well change but right here and now the prem takes precedent.
 
Latest rumours about Gary "I'll be back soon, Carra!" Neville suggest that he's about to be replaced by an experienced Spanish manager.
One Juande Ramos. Ouch.
 
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PleaseNotPoll said:
Latest rumours about Gary "I'll be back soon, Carra!" Neville suggest that he's about to be replaced by an experienced Spanish manager.
One Juande Ramos. Ouch.
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Ouch indeed. It will be interesting to see if he slips back into punditry or if he feels wounded and looks for another challenge to prove himself. It was always going to be an ask taking on such a big club in a foreign country. If he does go back to Sky we can surely expect a more humble, less know-it-all approach when other managers don't perform.
 
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Wandering Yid said:
Ouch indeed. It will be interesting to see if he slips back into punditry or if he feels wounded and looks for another challenge to prove himself. It was always going to be an ask taking on such a big club in a foreign country. If he does go back to Sky we can surely expect a more humble, less know-it-all approach when other managers don't perform.
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I wouldn't count on it!..
 
remembercolinlee said:
Imho we will not win the league. But it would be utter madness to prioritise any other competition over it. If we put out our strongest team in the league matches and weaker teams in the cups then I would completely understand why.
I hate the argument of " prioritising the league rather than a trophy" cos usually that's about coming 4th, but in this instance prioritising the league is about winning it.
That may well change but right here and now the prem takes precedent.
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Totally agree. Mind you, as one who remembers and was there the last time we did it, I've been hoping and praying ever since that I would see us do it again before I pop me clogs!...

So, I'm a bit biased! But, yes, THFC premier league champions has a nice ring to it. :biggrin:
 
NowsufferinginSpain said:
I wouldn't count on it!..
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Surely you're not saying our Gary is a hypocrite...?! :emoticon-0126-nerd:

Wander what happens to Phil too, surely he has to get the chop too? Maybe someone can put in a good word with Roman, would do anything to see the dynamic Neville duo plunge the Chavs further into the ditch.
 
Wandering Yid said:
Ouch indeed. It will be interesting to see if he slips back into punditry or if he feels wounded and looks for another challenge to prove himself. It was always going to be an ask taking on such a big club in a foreign country. If he does go back to Sky we can surely expect a more humble, less know-it-all approach when other managers don't perform.
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If he does pursue a career in management, I would still back him to be a success. Not quite sure how soon in the future, but definitely one day.
 
O.Spurcat said:
If he does pursue a career in management, I would still back him to be a success. Not quite sure how soon in the future, but definitely one day.
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Partly agreed. He's arrogant, but clearly no idiot. His arrogance has convinced him to bite of far more than he can chew at Valencia. But, nevertheless, if he can 'lower himself' to learn, he will more than likely be successful somewhere else in time.

I'd like to think he'll come back slightly more humble, but I won't hold my breath!
 
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