Rival Watch

[Treble]

It's been tough, I won't lie.

Although not as tough as it would be to get used to not having won anything for almost a decade. When does the statue of Ramos go up outside the new stadium?

They're just carving the P45 he's holding.

 

[Hoddle is a god]

It's been tough, I won't lie.

Although not as tough as it would be to get used to not having won anything for almost a decade. When does the statue of Ramos go up outside the new stadium?

Ah, see. There's no need for that, Swarbs.

The way you're reacting, it's as though I stopped by your board simply to get my knob out.

I haven't, mate.

 

[Swarbs]

Ah, see. There's no need for that, Swarbs.

The way you're reacting, it's as though I stopped by your board simply to get my knob out.

I haven't, mate.

No need for what?

Every genuine (i.e. non Arsenal) football fan knows that football is about winning trophies, and the top four trophy isn't a real trophy.

I answered your question in good faith, now can you answer mine: do you regret failing to convert your good form over the past two years into any actual trophies?

 

[Chief]

No actual trophies?

They are going to win the finished above Arsenal trophy this year for **** sake, the big one.

 

[Swarbs]

No actual trophies?

They are going to win the finished above Arsenal trophy this year for **** sake, the big one.

Come on now Chief, there's no need for that. Spurs' continual failure to open their trophy cabinet could be a real sore point for HIAG.

It's been hard enough for us to adapt to spending two of the past three seasons outside the CL, imagine if instead of having won nine major trophies in the last nine years we'd won none. That would really take some getting used to.

In fact, I bet your post was so mean it has driven HIAG into hiding...

 

[Hoddle is a god]

...do you regret failing to convert your good form over the past two years into any actual trophies?

That's a loaded question.

It assumes that Spurs under Poch have been a failure.

I don't see it that way. Sure, I wish we had won a trophy by now, and I wish that we had given a better account of ourselves in Europe. But, then, that applies to so many teams, since there can only be one winner.

Finishing top 4 two seasons on the bounce will be a massive achievement for us, and a massive step in the right direction. Finishing 2nd, having finished 3rd last season, will be yet another indication of our tremendous progress.

Would I rather a one-off title like Leicester achieved, at the sacrifice of steady progress and a regular finish in the top 4?

Absolutely not.

 

[Swarbs]

That's a loaded question.

It assumes that Spurs under Poch have been a failure.

I don't think it does. Not every team can judge their success by the number of trophies they win. As you say, there aren't enough trophies to go around, and with the exception of overachievers like Leicester and Wigan the trophies have been dominated by the big clubs for the past few years.

Some just have to settle for their league placing as a measure of how successful they are, no shame there. You can regret winning trophies whilst still being proud of how you've grown, same way Utd fans can be proud of the trophies we have won whilst still regretting our underachievement in the league.

Although personally I'd have to say if I was the fan of a team which didn't regularly compete for trophies, like Leicester, I would be much happier with carving our names into history as a PL title winner than being like Wenger and just settling for stability over silverware.

 

[Hoddle is a god]

Although personally I'd have to say if I was the fan of a team which didn't regularly compete for trophies, like Leicester, I would be much happier with carving our names into history as a PL title winner than being like Wenger and just settling for stability over silverware.

I'd probably agree with you on that.

However, I don't see us as falling into that category of club.

It's early days, still, with Poch. He's improved us, steadily in every successive season, and taken us higher than we have ever been in the Prem. The titles and trophies will come, if we can keep this team together, under Poch.

Rome wasn't built in a day.

I do not see Spurs under Poch as having failed, in any shape, manner or form. Any question that starts out on that premises is, in my view, flawed, and any question arising from such a premise is not one that deserves an answer, at this point in time.

 

[glazerfodder]

Poch to Atletico Madrid/Barca - form drops like a stone next season playing at Wembley - stadium still with no name becomes even more of a financial burden on the club forcing Levi to sell top talent and replace them with cast-offs from Belgium ................. it goes on. Go for it, because next year your collapse will be as spectacular as Leicester's.

 

[Hoddle is a god]

Poch to Atletico Madrid/Barca - form drops like a stone next season playing at Wembley - stadium still with no name becomes even more of a financial burden on the club forcing Levi to sell top talent and replace them with cast-offs from Belgium ................. it goes on. Go for it, because next year your collapse will be as spectacular as Leicester's.

If that doesn't happen next season, will you be the first to apologise, come the start of the new season?

Are you man enough for that?

 

[Swarbs]

I do not see Spurs under Poch as having failed, in any shape, manner or form. Any question that starts out on that premises is, in my view, flawed, and any question arising from such a premise is not one that deserves an answer, at this point in time.

You seem obsessed with people claiming Poch has failed. Why is that?

Any objective person would see my question as the opposite - given how well Poch has done compared to many of your recent managers, and many other contemporary managers in general, does that not make it even more surprising, and regrettable, that he hasn't been able to deliver tangible trophies?

After all, football is a very fickle game, better to make hay whilst the sun shines rather than risk falling back in the future if players or the manager leave.

 

[CFC: Champs £launderx17]

If that doesn't happen next season, will you be the first to apologise, come the start of the new season?

Are you man enough for that?

That's a loaded question.

It assumes that Spurs under Poch have been a failure.

I don't see it that way. Sure, I wish we had won a trophy by now, and I wish that we had given a better account of ourselves in Europe. But, then, that applies to so many teams, since there can only be one winner.

Finishing top 4 two seasons on the bounce will be a massive achievement for us, and a massive step in the right direction. Finishing 2nd, having finished 3rd last season, will be yet another indication of our tremendous progress.

Would I rather a one-off title like Leicester achieved, at the sacrifice of steady progress and a regular finish in the top 4?

Absolutely not.

Would you rather win the league like Lesta or have five top 4 finishes, say, and no trophies?

 

[Hoddle is a god]

You seem obsessed with people claiming Poch has failed. Why is that?

I'm not obsessed. Who said I was obsessed? Why are you calling me obsessed? Why, Swarbs? Why?

Any objective person would see my question as the opposite - given how well Poch has done compared to many of your recent managers, and many other contemporary managers in general, does that not make it even more surprising, and regrettable, that he hasn't been able to deliver tangible trophies?

After all, football is a very fickle game, better to make hay whilst the sun shines rather than risk falling back in the future if players or the manager leave.

No one realistically expected that he would!


How long did it take Fergie to deliver anything tangible?

For a club like Spurs, to be where we currently are - and where we were last season - above both United and 'Pool, is a fantastic achievement, and something that we hope Poch will build on. I hope trophies will follow. If we carry on like this, I have little doubt that trophies will follow.

How many managers will you get through, do you think, before United see another trophy or title?

 

[Hoddle is a god]

Would you rather win the league like Lesta or have five top 4 finishes, say, and no trophies?

It depends on what you envisage happening to us after we win that title.

If Spurs was on the same trajectory as Leicester, of course, I'd want the title, because that is all we'll likely see over the next two or three decades.

If that is all you are offering, then - no - I wouldn't want the title, only thereafter to live a life of (at best) mid table obscurity or (at worst) a constant battle against relegation.

 

[CFC: Champs £launderx17]

It depends on what you envisage happening to us after we win that title.

If Spurs was on the same trajectory as Leicester, of course, I'd want the title, because that is all we'll likely see over the next two or three decades.

If that is all you are offering, then - no - I wouldn't want the title, only thereafter to live a life of (at best) mid table obscurity or (at worst) a constant battle against relegation.

How about 1 title.... vs 12 consecutive top four finishes but no title like Arsenal...

 

[Chief]

I'm not obsessed. Who said I was obsessed? Why are you calling me obsessed? Why, Swarbs? Why?




No one realistically expected that he would!


How long did it take Fergie to deliver anything tangible?

For a club like Spurs, to be where we currently are - and where we were last season - above both United and 'Pool, is a fantastic achievement, and something that we hope Poch will build on. I hope trophies will follow. If we carry on like this, I have little doubt that trophies will follow.

How many managers will you get through, do you think, before United see another trophy or title?

Try none, considering we won the league cup this season. This seems to be conveniently being airbrushed from the records to suit people's arguments.

It is a trophy Spurs fans have happily, gratefully, won before and would in reality give a testicle to win again. Similarly I've never seen a Chelsea supporters turn their nose up at it.

The fact is, Pochettino failed to win anything when he had good opportunities in four cup competitions, not even including the league, which you are also unlikely to win.

 

[glazerfodder]

If that doesn't happen next season, will you be the first to apologise, come the start of the new season?

Are you man enough for that?

Too right I will. Any real Spurs fan has to accept that Poch is going to be a victim of his own success. I am in Spain at the moment where he is highly regarded and is being talked up as the next boss at either AM or Barca and should either come calling he surely cannot resist the lure of la Liga - it's where his roots are. My second point about the stadium is another genuine concern for Spurs. Your form there in Europe was dreadful, and to imagine that you will mirrors this season's home form while effectively playing all your games next season away, at Wembley is bound to cost you something in the region of 12 - 15 points - that puts you back in the Europa League if you are lucky. As for your new stadium - to have failed to secure a naming rights deal at this late stage is way behind Levi's financial plan and will set transfers back a year and might possibly mean losing one or two top players to cover the costs - not to mention those who leave of their own accord because the team's form has slipped. Put all that together - and using history to evidence many of the points I make (Gooners long-term poverty pre Emirates etc) and there is real cause for concern. Of course it could all work out for you - all three elements could miraculously dovetail together - but that is a very big ask.

 

[Treble]

Spurs have to be the unluckiest club in the world. 60 years of obscurity in the league and then the two best seasons they have to win the title, 2 mid table clubs beat them to it!

 

[Hoddle is a god]

The facts are very simple, as far as I am concerned.

If we can keep Poch, and the heart of this current side together, we will win things; if we cannot, then we won't.

That is the way the cookie crumbles.

By the same token, however, United will win nothing of any note under The Almost Redundant One.

 

[Treble]

How can you say that when two midtable teams have pipped you to the title in two consecutive seasons? With you playing at your ABSOLUTE best.