What's new

Race for the Top 4 - 2017/18

archiewasking

archiewasking

Waiting for silverware..........
Jul 5, 2004
7,864
11,692
Teams don't want to get smashed so they have learnt how to play us. If the gap to City becomes 13 points I would be amazed if we could overhaul that. And with Eriksen now having struggled for the last 2 PL games we have no guile and no plan B.
 
S

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
archiewasking said:
Teams don't want to get smashed so they have learnt how to play us. If the gap to City becomes 13 points I would be amazed if we could overhaul that. And with Eriksen now having struggled for the last 2 PL games we have no guile and no plan B.
Click to expand...
We weren't overhauling the gap when we were five points behind it's finished now and yes were are superb when we are allowed to play but when we are not we have no idea.
 
C

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Real shame city are so good. Would have been a fascinating race otherwise. But as long as pep stays they will only get better. Fortunately his history suggests will prob only be couple more seasons. If they win PL and CL I think he will stroll off into sunset thinking reputation intact and job done.
 
S

SpursDave88

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
2,193
5,831
archiewasking said:
Teams don't want to get smashed so they have learnt how to play us. If the gap to City becomes 13 points I would be amazed if we could overhaul that. And with Eriksen now having struggled for the last 2 PL games we have no guile and no plan B.
Click to expand...

We've only smashed Liverpool this season...
 
lukespurs7

lukespurs7

Well-Known Member
Feb 21, 2006
4,833
4,259
coys200 said:
Real shame city are so good. Would have been a fascinating race otherwise. But as long as pep stays they will only get better. Fortunately his history suggests will prob only be couple more seasons. If they win PL and CL I think he will stroll off into sunset thinking reputation intact and job done.
Click to expand...
Hopefully this is true and we can just keep poch for as long as possible and we keep improving as there will be seasons in the next 2-5 years where a number of the top teams have a weaker season and that will then be our next good chance.
 
Gbspurs

Gbspurs

Gatekeeper for debates, King of the plonkers
Jan 27, 2011
26,970
61,859
If we don't finish top 4 I hope we finish out of the Europa places and go all in for the FA Cup and CL. We can write this season off with a cup and a Wembley excuse and going into next season without European football would be interesting to see what we do.
 
H

homer hotspur

Well-Known Member
Dec 7, 2014
2,895
4,670
I think it is unlikely we will finish out of Europa places, which ofeten extend to 7th or 8th. We are now in a group of 6 very strong teams and , currently, because of all the reasons previously mentioned we are realistically looking at a battle for 4th place with Arsenal and Liverpool. A look at their attacking options compared to us at the moment would give cause for concern at our prospects. A lot will depend, however, on how things pan out in the CL. If we go out early and Chelsea, Liverpool go further, we may be able to take advantage in the league with less pressure games and fixture congestion. Alternatively, we could have a fantastic CL experience and fall away in the league. The pundits have recently decided that we now have a ' strong squad' but it is unbalanced ,in that in the key creative and attacking positions we are clearly lacking. I doubt it will happen , but we need to add a couple in the January window as back up to Eriksen, Dembele, Kane etc.
 
P

philip

Well-Known Member
Jan 4, 2009
1,349
2,495
homer hotspur said:
I think it is unlikely we will finish out of Europa places, which ofeten extend to 7th or 8th. We are now in a group of 6 very strong teams and , currently, because of all the reasons previously mentioned we are realistically looking at a battle for 4th place with Arsenal and Liverpool. A look at their attacking options compared to us at the moment would give cause for concern at our prospects. A lot will depend, however, on how things pan out in the CL. If we go out early and Chelsea, Liverpool go further, we may be able to take advantage in the league with less pressure games and fixture congestion. Alternatively, we could have a fantastic CL experience and fall away in the league. The pundits have recently decided that we now have a ' strong squad' but it is unbalanced ,in that in the key creative and attacking positions we are clearly lacking. I doubt it will happen , but we need to add a couple in the January window as back up to Eriksen, Dembele, Kane etc.
Click to expand...
Zaha or Martial would transform our team imo. Both offer exactly the things we need to break down teams.

Pace
Trickery
Ability and readiness to take on players
Wing play
Goals
Option to act as backup for Kane.

I'd be delighted if we spent big to get one of them, and if Zaha isn't attainable, to sacrifice Rose to get Martial if need be.
 
P

philip

Well-Known Member
Jan 4, 2009
1,349
2,495
shelfboy68 said:
Yes without name dropping there was some on here who thought we had a chance and that there was not a lot between city and us.
Clearly there is and yes while city and Utd have an advantage over us financially that still doesn't excuse why a suitable replacement has not been found for Kane after poch has been in charge for 3 seasons, and still we struggle on with an unfit dembele who was having issues last season.
There can be no doubt that levy and poch have taken the club on only a fool would suggest otherwise but this year I can't help feeling we have stagnated a bit, add to that I'm not really enjoying watching us this season despite the odd game as I'm bored rigid with the endless ball retention and so little end product.
Click to expand...
I actually disagree with you. I think we can compete with them as although they have stronger squads, we have the best manager.
But mentality is key and not having a home ground is going to effect that.
 
worcestersauce

worcestersauce

"I'm no optimist I'm just a prisoner of hope
Jan 23, 2006
26,949
45,209
We have had two seasons where we have genuinely contested the title, at least we exceeded expectations, to be honest it was 50/50 whether we'd do that again anyway and it seems we aren't at our best add to that the neutral ground factor and a drop off was entirely foreseeable.
From an optimistic point of view I'll take a scrap for top four this year and a step up again next season when we get back home.
 
aussiespursguy

aussiespursguy

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,444
6,702
Gbspurs said:
If we don't finish top 4 I hope we finish out of the Europa places and go all in for the FA Cup and CL. We can write this season off with a cup and a Wembley excuse and going into next season without European football would be interesting to see what we do.
Click to expand...
We would have Ropey league then thanks to winning the FA cup!
 
olliec

olliec

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2012
3,584
11,784
Might aswell lock this thread as there isn't a race to the title anymore. City are miles ahead of everyone. Let's go for the CL, it's ours to lose!
 
Lighty64

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
SugarRay said:
Maybe. I’m not expecting much from Lamela this season, if ever. He’s been out a long time and seemingly his biggest issue regarding any return is his mental state. Shame, but anything from him from now on is a huge bonus to me.

Edwards? Big ask. The hype around him is silly from what I’ve seen. I’m not sure we are in a position to start trying anything and everything. Our issues can easily be resolved if we just buy another attacking player or two. It’s making sure we get the right type of player though. Poch has struggled with that so far
Click to expand...

you do realise that Poch isn't the 1 that pays the wages right. yes okay he hasn't unearthed a talent, or our scouting team haven't.

do agree think Edwards would be a risk at the moment, and might be a risk trying once we know what our fate is later on. unfortunately at the moment with the closeness of the 3rd-6th/7th spot if we are going for top 4 spot to take into the season of the New Stadium.

@StevePil for us to just settle for 7th, could see us lose players. we need to be patient until we can at least match what Arse and Liverpool pay, and keep fighting for top 4

@THFCSPURS19 we can't afford to go all out for the CL, we need to go all out for top 4, and if we get the breaks in the KO's of the CL then we need to take them.

anyway I've sussed the problem out playing at Wembley :whistle: (joking and I've always been superstitious), We always tried to play from right to left at WHL in the 1st half, and now we seem to do the opposite at Wembley, so either Hugo is losing the toss week in or week out, or it's that we have always tried to kick towards the away fans 1st, which are the opposite end (and will be in the New Stadium:cry:).

anyway close the thread due to too many superstitious nutters roaming it, or rename it to what it should start as "Chase for top 4" in your hands @am_yisrael_chai
 
S

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
philip said:
I actually disagree with you. I think we can compete with them as although they have stronger squads, we have the best manager.
But mentality is key and not having a home ground is going to effect that.
Click to expand...
That's your right to disagree of course but if he is a better manager how come he still hasn't found a way around team's who sit deep, that's not to say I don't rate him because I do but he needs to sort this out.
 
eddiev14

eddiev14

SC Supporter
Jan 18, 2005
7,173
19,679
Garbob said:
Let’s face it, we aren’t as good as we think we are. So far this season we haven’t been be able to back up a good result with a win even against weaker sides. Personally I think the players are getting very complacent.
Click to expand...

I agree with this.

Since Walker left (and Rose, who has all but left) Pochettino’s main threat (the pacey, athletic full backs) has been nullified. I think the players are a little bit stuck with what to do to remedy that when they are on the pitch, and look a bit lost out there.

So there’s that, combined with being effectively out of a title race that they thought they were in, so early in the season. As a result, worryingly, a few of them appear a bit disinterested in league matches now.

I really hope that our season doesn’t start to totally unravel as a result.

IMO Poch has a big job on his hands to get them motivated towards some sort of goal in the league now, but the constant ‘those players haven’t won a trophy’ stuff coming from all angles is only going to intensify from the usual talking heads and it will make that job harder - especially now that he has so publically pinned our ambitions on the league and Champions League.
 
W

Westmorland

Active Member
May 21, 2014
290
449
About 12 teams in the league are terrified of relegation and therefore will park the bus. It’s the way it is . The money is killing the quality of football. Could we not try Llorente up front with Kane just behind. It would give us an aerial threat earlier in the game. Don’t think Poch likes to fire the ball into the area regularly , never bothers Mourinho . Sometimes it’s the only way to win. I am starting to agree with the clamour for Edwards for these games. 20 minutes from Edwards might work as he could probably win a penalty in a crowded area
 
Lighty64

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
Garbob said:
Let’s face it, we aren’t as good as we think we are. So far this season we haven’t been be able to back up a good result with a win even against weaker sides. Personally I think the players are getting very complacent.
Click to expand...

personally I believe due to the injury list we haven't been able to rotate enough(y)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
Will FFP finally put spurs where they belong?
12 13 14
Replies
260
Views
35K
Gb160
Gb160
mawspurs
Special Edition Tottenham Hotspur Drill Top 2023-24
Replies
5
Views
827
Gassin's finest
Gassin's finest
floydiohead
The Front Three - Integration
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
SUIYHA
SUIYHA
Top