'Arry Targets CL Next Seaon, here we go again......

[Archibald&Crooks]

True, we also need to learn how to bribe a ref better

That's Levy's fault for haggling on a price.

 

[Yid-ol]

That's Levy's fault for haggling on a price.

Levy must hae paid enough for the first half, fergie must have come to the room at half time to give a better offer... maybe a portugise handjob while being held down by an argentine :shrug:

 

[Partizan]

Good to hear.

We are more than capable and there's absolutely no point aiming for anything less.

The longer we leave it the bigger the gap to the top 4 will get.

It is better to fail aiming high than to succeed aiming low and all that.

We are capable at best, and it would be an incredible achievement if we did it or came very close like in 05-06. I hope the fans will appreciate it this time around if it were to happen.

We are still a long way from the strength of the top 4 so it is unrealistic to demand it but you do gotta have faith

 

[SpurSince57]

What "couple of additions" then?

Downing is supposedly in the bag.

A striker? Santa Cruz?

God, I hope not. Unless he and Bentley can recreate their Blackeye performances from last season.

 

[bryanabutler]

What "couple of additions" then?

Downing is supposedly in the bag.

A striker? Santa Cruz?

Please not those two additions

 

[SpurSince57]

I think Harry's been accused of lack of ambition because his initial brief was to get us out of the shit our previous 'world-class' incumbent had gotten us into. I was a bit pissed off that he put out a team of kids and second-stringers against Shakhtar at the Lane, but in the event they did us proud; they gave Shakhtar far more trouble than CSKA and Marseille in subsequent rounds. However, we were still deep in the league mire, we did have a CC final coming up, and hindsight's a wonderful thing. In the aftermath of Saturday, let's take a positive from the fact that an ad hoc line-up could give an extremely good side a serious run for their money. We can compete with all but the very best in Europe.

Of course, the problem is that four of the very best in Europe are right here in our own league. We have to take the attitude that we can break into this cosy little cartel. Realistically, I think most of us would be happy with fifth, sixth or seventh next season, but unless we aim a tad higher we might not get that.

 

[Mornstar]

i like Arry's honesty. he says things as he sees them.

 

[DC_Boy]

Harry called it exactly right over Shaktar - I backed him all the way - it was deffo a case of correct priorities

I hope we get 7th and Europe again, tho I think fulham will spare us the dilemmas that might ensue

(not that I expect Fulham to last long on their European 'tour')

but the early stages of Europa would require a mix of youth, fringe and first teamers

probably youth on the bench, but i'd like to see at least one of them get a start

the priority has to be the lge

and unless UEFA have started pumping serious money into the Europa (I've seen from other threads, they might be doing a lot better on this front) I still think the Carling is a better 'value for money' tournament than the Europa

it takes 6 games to win if you're in europe - 5 to a big money spinner glamour day at wembley

the Europa takes 19 to win from 7th place - half a season on top of already the most gruelling lge overall in the world in terms of intensity quality and physicality

and then UEFA have the gall to parachute CL drop outs in when the competition finally gets interesting

Europe is good, but it musn't derail our Prem campaign, which is much more lucrative and important

if we do qualify - I hope HR leaves quite a few/most of our 'first team' at home when we fly out for those killer Thursday nights before sunday games - especially if we're away on the sunday

 

[THOWIG]

It's a potential target, but not if we sign Downing and Jones, which I fear we will end up with.

 

[spur_souljah]

I think we are well equipped for fourth place next season and i think the experience of this season will help the players where they have had to scrap against the shitter teams in the league and when we were rooted to the bottom.. I really believe this experience will make us stronger..

 

[mil1lion]

He has to say that though doesn't he? What do you think Daniel Levy wants to hear? "We have no chance of making the top 4 and we should settle for a top 6 finish"? Martin Jol finished 5th in 2 seasons and still got sacked. Harry knows he has to aim high, because of the money thats been invested by the club. I'm sure he'd love to challenge the top 4 next season, but i'm sure that in his mind he will be happy with a top 6 finish.

 

[sidford]

if these sort of comments that lead to us getting hammered by fans of actual top 4 teams! i do wish that people are our club in the past 6/7 would've talked less about breaking into the top 4 to the media. did you hear moyes or oneill talking about it? they keep quiet about it in the public domain. no doubt they talk to their players about it but not to the media because it only adds pressure to the players and gives fans greater expectations.
why not say - yea we want to target top 6 next year and then straight into the dressing room and tell the players right lads its top 4 next year we're going for

 

[chewie]

i'd be happy with first.

why aim so low as 5th/6th/7th.

we should be aiming as high as we can, and can be a match for anyone as we showed for 45mins against united on their patch.

BELIEF!

 

[Dr Know]

I'm all for the positive drive and back Harry/Spurs 100% in trying but Harry seems to forget 1 difficult obstacle...................................................

THE REFEREES mg:

 

[Shanks]

To be fair, that interview, or article is a little bit of a mockery, because there is a single bit in, that says the target is a top four finish.

Just that he believes his squad is capable to push the top four teams, with a couple of additions. I don't think any of the top four would actually disagree and I reckon a few are already looking over their shoulder for next season.

Only Man Utd have beaten us from the top four this year.

He isn't saying anything of the sort, just that he believes his squad is good and can be better.

 

[lishiyo]

if these sort of comments that lead to us getting hammered by fans of actual top 4 teams! i do wish that people are our club in the past 6/7 would've talked less about breaking into the top 4 to the media. did you hear moyes or oneill talking about it? they keep quiet about it in the public domain. no doubt they talk to their players about it but not to the media because it only adds pressure to the players and gives fans greater expectations.
why not say - yea we want to target top 6 next year and then straight into the dressing room and tell the players right lads its top 4 next year we're going for

both MON and Moyes have spoken publicly this year about breaking into the top 4 several times, eg:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...ority-as-villa-send-out-reserves-1653684.html

"Chasing a top-four spot to get a Champions League place is everything," confirmed O'Neill.

"We have to prioritise. But I have no regrets whatsoever about entering the UEFA Cup because maybe this time next year all these experiences that we have had will stand us in good stead."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ll-finish-in-the-Premier-League-top-four.html

He said: "We will have to stop conceding daft goals, goals that are soul destroying. And we will have to create more. But we're capable. Regardless of this game, we will be battling to the end. I think we still have a strong chance of breaking into the top four."

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/footba...ng-arsenal-to-top-four-finish-86908-21270691/

Everton boss David Moyes agrees it is a must-win game for European hopes.
"For the Champions League, the answer is 'yes, it is a must-win'," he admitted.
"If we've any chance of qualifying, we need to hang in there and hope Arsenal slip up.
"Who knows? Let's hope we can pick up the points, that Arsenal do slip up and we can catch them.

Until just a few weeks both were saying that they were still in the hunt for 4th. Obviously they have been in much better positions than us to say so, but if we happen to be anywhere near 4th next season I'd expect Harry to say we're giving it our all for it. If the players can't handle the expectations now then they'll never be able to, even if they sneak into 4th one year they'll just collapse the next year.

 

[sidford]

fair point lishiyo but they were saying that while in the running for 4th spot so they were valid points, it is different when harry says it now after our league finish last season and we most likely wont qualify for europe this season so to go from 2 seasons where we wouldnt qualify through our position in the league to challenging top 4 is setting us up to be ridiculed by the press and other fans.
we should be striving for 4th but its time we stopped talking ahead of ourselves and concentrate on first getting back to a top 6 and then top 4. harry can say what he wants to the lads in the dressing room but saying this to the press just heaps pressure on us

 

[sendô]

Only at Tottenham can you go from struggling in the bottom half for most one one season to expecting to be right at the top the next.

A lot can happen over a summer transfer window, not just at Spurs but at other clubs aswell.

It always seems to be the expectation and pressure that makes Spurs buckle, and yet here Redknapp is piling it on before the previous season is even over.

 

[The Original Yiddster]

tbh rather have HR coming out saying this than Jol negatively saying we are unlikely to achieve it ....... HR knows as did Jol that is what Levy expects us to be aiming for

 

[DC_Boy]

hi send - wise words -

but don't forget we do have different levels of expectations and success here than at many other clubs

it's both a curse and a blessing

it drags us down at times but it also inspires us at times too

why would harry have joined us if it wasn't because of the chance of finally managing a 'big club' (I hate that word but it's a convenient shorthand

of course the money helps - but he is rich anyway - the chance of glory is what makes him get up and do that long commute day after day