At the halfway point of this season, we might have actually improved on last.

[npearl4spurs]

we're at the beginning of a surge up the table right now. enjoy the ride. going on a run because I genuinely believe we won't lose to Chelsea (H) and City (A) and may win either or both while picking up max points from Watford, West Brom, Sunderland, and Boro.

Chelsea, City, then Pool in February will be huge matches for our season.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

An odd point or two up on last season indicates that we are what we are, the top fourth, fifth or sixth side in the PL.

Liverpool Man Ure and Chel$ea have benefited in having new managers, copious amounts of cash being spent on new players and aside from Man Ure zero European football.

On our upside we have had a good start to the season, given a young squad another half a seasons playing experience in the toughest league in the World and blooded those same players in CL football. A league where several English clubs failed to progress beyond the group stages in their first venture under new management.

The only downside i see is a very poor return (aside from Wanyama) on our transfer dealings in the Summer. I expected more for the money spent and still feel we are short in the final third.

Aside from that 1 would say we are about where i expected us to be, and think that his is where we will end up come seasons end.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

Judging by the match day threads I think the only reason there's a feeling we've been anything other thab decent is because most of SC are spoilt brats that demand 5-0 every week and a goal after 10 seconds.

 

[shelfboy68]

An odd point or two up on last season indicates that we are what we are, the top fourth, fifth or sixth side in the PL.

Liverpool Man Ure and Chel$ea have benefited in having new managers, copious amounts of cash being spent on new players and aside from Man Ure zero European football.

On our upside we have had a good start to the season, given a young squad another half a seasons playing experience in the toughest league in the World and blooded those same players in CL football. A league where several English clubs failed to progress beyond the group stages in their first venture under new management.

The only downside i see is a very poor return (aside from Wanyama) on our transfer dealings in the Summer. I expected more for the money spent and still feel we are short in the final third.

Aside from that 1 would say we are about where i expected us to be, and think that his is where we will end up come seasons end.

Agree we are where we should be 5th/6th and on a good day 4th so it shows our consistency it maintaining that level.
Whilst some may point to injuries etc the only downside so far was the run from early October through to the victory over West ham, where we couldn't win for shit.
Those draws held us back imo but when all things are considered we are ok and say again are where we should be no more no less.

 

[shelfboy68]

we're at the beginning of a surge up the table right now. enjoy the ride. going on a run because I genuinely believe we won't lose to Chelsea (H) and City (A) and may win either or both while picking up max points from Watford, West Brom, Sunderland, and Boro.

Chelsea, City, then Pool in February will be huge matches for our season.

I think that would represent an outstanding achievement to play Chelsea and city and not see at least one defeat.
We certainly owe it to them for putting an end to our challenge last year but can see them getting that record at our place which we would piss me off, as for city you just don't know what city will turn up.

 

[newbie]

Have we improved more than Arsenal ? I think yes, have improved more than city? It might be closer than we think.

Liverpool and Chelsea do not have European football plus have both improved a lot.

United are getting stronger

 

[dickieven]

I know year on year comparison vs the same teams is +1 and by number of games is +4, if you look at our remaining games I think we should be looking at well beating last years points total.

Out of our remaining games (post the Watford one) we only have 2 games away at teams currently in the top half (Liverpool and Man City).

 

[stevespurs]

I have not checked if this is true, but I read we have scored more and conceded less goals, than at the same point last season.

The bitter taste of CL performances has scarred my view of our improvement.

I doubt that all our rivals will all maintain their injury luck and good form through to the last game. We didn't last season.

Most teams go through at least one crappy stage of form.

 

[davidmatzdorf]

I have not checked if this is true, but I read we have scored more and conceded less goals, than at the same point last season.

The bitter taste of CL performances has scarred my view of our improvement.

I doubt that all our rivals will all maintain their injury luck and good form through to the last game. We didn't last season.

Most teams go through at least one crappy stage of form.

In the league, this season we have scored 33 goals and conceded 13 (+20) in 18 matches. Last season after 18 matches, we had scored 31 and conceded 14 (+17).

This season, in all competitions (and we have been in a more difficult European competition this season), we have scored 47 goals and conceded 21 (+26). Last season, on 30 Dec, we had scored 46 and conceded 23 (+23).

That's more goals scored and fewer goals conceded by every measure.

I agree that the disappointing CL results have distorted perceptions, but also the recollection of our great run from Dec 2015 to Apr 2016 has caused people to forget how slowly we started last season.

 

[alexis]

Nonsense.

One of very few disparaging remarks that's come from you
Why nonsense, all of it or specifics

 

[thinktank]

One of very few disparaging remarks that's come from you
Why nonsense, all of it or specifics

In general.

We pressed much more consistently last year and was much more fluid and cohesive because of it.

We performed better as a team. Much more harmonised, overall.

A good few times we were knock-yer-socks off; this year we have only really done that once when we battered City.

I enjoyed the way we played last season; this season has been a bit meh for me tbh. Still time to properly pick things up though.

When we improve our final third play, then I'll be more inclined to say we've improved on last season. It's still a massive bugbear for me, I want it fixed and it should have been sorted by now.

It pisses me the fuck off.

 

[dk-yid]

Need to remember we've just come through a very difficult November, I expect us to be in top four by the end of January.

and we have a great run from late Feb to April.

 

[dk-yid]

Have we improved more than Arsenal ? I think yes, have improved more than city? It might be closer than we think.

Liverpool and Chelsea do not have European football plus have both improved a lot.

United are getting stronger

Lets also wait and see whether some of the others don't have a drop in form. Fully expecting it from at least a few

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

In the league, this season we have scored 33 goals and conceded 13 (+20) in 18 matches. Last season after 18 matches, we had scored 31 and conceded 14 (+17).

This season, in all competitions (and we have been in a more difficult European competition this season), we have scored 47 goals and conceded 21 (+26). Last season, on 30 Dec, we had scored 46 and conceded 23 (+23).

That's more goals scored and fewer goals conceded by every measure.

I agree that the disappointing CL results have distorted perceptions, but also the recollection of our great run from Dec 2015 to Apr 2016 has caused people to forget how slowly we started last season.

Thanks to the "on this day" function on facebook, I'll never forget lol.

 

[Roynie]

Comparing the same games last season with this, we have scored 7 fewer goals and conceeded the same, hence a 7 goal difference worse than last season. The remaining games we didn't score more than 3 last year and I think we will do better this season. We have struggled with injuries more this season than last and I think we are finally starting to hit form. The crucial game, I think, will be the Chelsea game. If we can get a result on Wednesday it will be a real boost to the confidence and set us up for the run in.

 

[nicdic]

In general.

We pressed much more consistently last year and was much more fluid and cohesive because of it.

We performed better as a team. Much more harmonised, overall.

A good few times we were knock-yer-socks off; this year we have only really done that once when we battered City.

I enjoyed the way we played last season; this season has been a bit meh for me tbh. Still time to properly pick things up though.

When we improve our final third play, then I'll be more inclined to say we've improved on last season. It's still a massive bugbear for me, I want it fixed and it should have been sorted by now.

It pisses me the fuck off.

We were the same the first half of last season. You're just comparing to the second half.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

Comparing the same games last season with this, we have scored 7 fewer goals and conceeded the same, hence a 7 goal difference worse than last season. The remaining games we didn't score more than 3 last year and I think we will do better this season. We have struggled with injuries more this season than last and I think we are finally starting to hit form. The crucial game, I think, will be the Chelsea game. If we can get a result on Wednesday it will be a real boost to the confidence and set us up for the run in.

Where have you got that from?

 

[$hoguN]

We were the same the first half of last season. You're just comparing to the second half.

It was our poor start to last season cost us a real chance to win the title though and we look even less consistent and dangerous in attack than we did at the start of last season where we were generally unlucky not to pick up more points

 

[alexis]

In general.

We pressed much more consistently last year and was much more fluid and cohesive because of it.

We performed better as a team. Much more harmonised, overall.

A good few times we were knock-yer-socks off; this year we have only really done that once when we battered City.

I enjoyed the way we played last season; this season has been a bit meh for me tbh. Still time to properly pick things up though.

When we improve our final third play, then I'll be more inclined to say we've improved on last season. It's still a massive bugbear for me, I want it fixed and it should have been sorted by now.

It pisses me the fuck off.

Agreed am curious how much injuries have impacted though.

 

[Nerine]

Statistically I guess we have.

I just have been a bit underwhelmed by the performances at times.

Like we've almost flattered to deceive but almost exactly the opposite.

Results are starting to go our way, we seem to be scoring more fluidly, and are still solid at the back.

I think there is a more long term plan for this season. I predict a stronger second half to the season. I think we'll start to see the tempo upped a bit more.

It's plain to see that we've got another couple of gears to go up.

I think the conservative nature of the performances has actually been encouraged up to now so as to not burn out over the run in.