That's sort of my goal difference point put a different way. At the end of last season we were losing heavily so turning losses into wins was a pipedream. This year we could easily have won 3 or 4 more games.
I can’t speak on CK’s behalf but perhaps he’s done the same as me in terms of excluding the first ten games when mentioning a point because that series of opening games feels like an anomaly. It’s looking highly likely those games were very much in line with a new manager bounce we see so often. I mentioned it last night but we’ve essentially played a full season’s worth of games since that Chelsea defeat with a record of 17 wins, 17 losses and 4 draws. As of right now we’re continuing our form post-Chelsea and that won’t be good enough for a top six finish.
How is losing 5 games by a single goal "bizarre" in the PL? I'd imagine most games lost by all teams are by a single goal.
We haven't rotated enough, at the right times or in certain positions, in my opinion. A number of our players came into the season either injured or nowhere near 100%. Failing to sort out our fullback cover meant that Gray had to play in both positions and can't act as depth for his own. We started the campaign with 3 strikers, dropped immediately to none and now have 1 and a half. Despite having a ton of left-wingers, we only have one on the right and almost all of the left are crocked. How could we have sold most of this both cheaply and without juggling the numbers? Keep and play Tanganga, re-sign Walker-Peters and Edwards, register Spence for Europe. Our squad balance is awful.
I said it would be bizarre if it continued. To be clear I don't want us to lose more heavily but to win and draw more of the close games.
We've seen more than enough from Bentancur to know that he isn't the answer at 6. He wasn't perfect, but Hojbjerg was definitely the best we had in the role. I was expecting us to focus on upgrading him in the summer, but we didn't.
Of course and we are in agreement on that. The difference is that you seem to believe this change will happen on its own. I believe that improvements need to happen for the change to happen. Both in personnel and in the manager's approach.
It depends. I am happy with the goals for versus goals against ratio and if it continues to be nearly two, I stand by my prediction that we will come third. But if actual results continue as they are then we will be in trouble.
@You’ve been Tanguyed, hope you are feeling better mate, now that the dust has settled. Being a spurs fan is not good for your mental health at the best of times and I hope you are feeling better
With the rate of as many defeats as wins for the last year, how do you foresee Spurs finishing 3rd this season?
Do you see that star?The fifth one left of the moon?We all go out at midnight and pray to it.We may finish second.......then again we may all get locked up!
Because a goal difference of 35 over the season can't possibly lead to an equal number of wins and losses.
As others and myself have said though. You can win 1 game 4-0 and then lose the next 2 1-0 and you’re still scoring twice as many as you concede but only winning 1 out of 3. If it can happen then believe Spurs will find a way
In 1992/93, Norwich finished 3rd in the PL with a GD of -4. And I know it was a different era, but in 1937/38, Man City were relegated to the Second Division despite scoring more goals than anyone else (80).
Doesn't this technically count as a damning indictment about Pedro Porro? please log in to view this image
That whole area is an issue. Porro, Romero and Johnson aren't doing enough. We've conceded a bunch of goals from virtually the same place just ahead of that in the box.
Neither Johnson or Kulusevski track back much if at all. Porro is far weaker defensively than Udogie. When Sarr plays as LM he gives a decent amount of cover down that flank.
There are always outliers but I don't think you will find many cases of a goal difference of 35 not being a top three finish.
