Breaking into the top 4

[nickspurs]

People automatically assume that being in the champions league would mean all the worlds top players would suddenly flock to Spurs. Not true, otherwise they'd be flocking to Besiktas, Slavia Prague etc. These players want to WIN the champs league and that privilige is open only to an exclusive few. It would be great to get there but remember as one of our own greats said, 'the game is about glory'. Winning trophies is the be all and end all of football.

Don't fully agree on CL status. Players would of course love to win the CL but as long as they're playing in it with a half-decent club most are pretty happy. It's a combination of the status/potential of the club and CL football. Slavia Prague may have CL this year but not the potential of Spurs. If we have CL football we may not be in the short-list of potential winners and so not attract the best of the best. However with our spending power, great manager, the best league in the world and CL there would be few clubs ahead of us in terms of attractive destinations for top players.

As to glory: wholeheartedly agree!:clap: Getting in the CL is a necessary step these days to achieve and sustain glory.

 

[TheBigMatch]

The strength of the Premier League is showing through in the Champions League. How Spurs and Everton managed to mess things up in the UEFA Cup probably shows why we are not regularly competing for the top 4 spot. That 2 or 3 day blow out, staggering out of nightclubs etc..., after the League Cup glory did not help.

Having said that I would prefer to win another trophy (UEFA please) ahead of gaining 4th place in the Premier League. We currently have 25 trophies, the 4th most successful club in terms of the number of major trophies won ahead of Everton and Aston Villa (24) with those newcomers Chelsea nowhere in sight.

But looking back on 05/06 when Martin Jol's Blue and White Army sat comfortably in 4th place from was it November until the last few minutes of the season when those l'arse loving hammers beat a Spurs team that should have been tucked away in a sick bed......... I can't help feeling that Spurs could compete for 4th once again.

There has been very little between Spurs and the top four in the last few years. There have been many games we should have won and some we have won gloriously. Win those games and the maths works itself out and we'll find ourselves in 4th. Lose them and it's back to hoping for a UEFA spot.

Liverpool look more vulnerable.... beating them in the last game of this season at White Hart Lane is a must. It will set down a good marker for next season.

If we get a top class goal keeper, if King gets fit and stays fit, if we get a top class midfield general or Jenas matures into a top class player, and if we can hold onto the Keane/Berbatov partnership, then I see no reason why should not compete for 4th. Otherwise we'll be doing well to get back to 5th again.

Again at the end of next season I'll be most happy with a UEFA Cup trophy, and the fun of slagging off l'arse supporters that Spurs are twice as successful in Europe as ar5sena1.:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

 

[TheBigMatch]

...
I was always led to believe that Champions League = cash, and cash = winning trophies (broadly speaking).

The trophies that Spurs are most likely to win are the League Cup, FA Cup and the UEFA Cup. The Champions League and and Premier League a very long shots.

This over concentration on a Champions League spot for the sake of money is unhelpful. As it has already been stated, we've out spent ar5ena1 over the past few seasons without the same level of success. Spurs are already a very wealthy club. Spend wisely. Manage well. And let the players work hard for every League point and Cup victory.

Also finally with reference to an earlier exchange/post.....

how does it work that a poster with less than 150 posts can describe a poster with over 20,000 posts as "naive"? :shrug:

 

[spurs4europe]

i'm still a little worried to be honest. we've seen how ramos can be tactically brilliant, but he's never had so much freedom in the transfer market before.

in spain the coaches really do specialise in coaching and have very little input on the transfer side.

benitez is a similar case: also came with a similar reputation and it has taken him, what, 3/4 years to finally get to PL champions form (based on end of this season's form), and that was only after he bought torres. before this, liverpool hadn't even looked like they could compete.

all i'm saying is that i'll reserve judgement after i've seen the signings we've made come august/september.

 

[eddiebailey]

I don't think it's necessarily what players we or any of the present incumbants bring in, it's more like how the respective managers get the teams playing.

Yet our manager is clearly frustrated with the squad he has inherited and has said we need to spend to compete.

 

[Bulletspur]

I would love us to break into the top 4 but it isnt going to happen right now.

If and when we break it should be for keeps, not a one off finishing 4th, which is different as being a top 4 team IMO. When Everton came 4th and playing in the CL they were still not one of the "Top 4" clubs in the EPL.

To be honest as long as we make steady progress, building the squad, learning and gaining experience through tactics and thorough coaching, winning the odd trophy, we will get there and when we do it should be for keeps.

Break into the top four next season is quite possible, but it wont be us. I will still be satisfied with placing anywhere between say 5th and 8th, as long as we win another trophy which is very realistic. This would be an improvement on this season, anything better would be a bonus.

 

[hellava_tough]

how does it work that a poster with less than 150 posts can describe a poster with over 20,000 posts as "naive"? :shrug:

If you read my post above, it explains that SS57 and I got our lines crossed; we were arguing about two seperate points.

For the record, although I don't always agree with him, I do enjoy reading the comments of SS57.

And the number of posts really doesn't make any difference; it's the content that counts.

 

[drjimmy]

Don't think it's possible to say who will be the 'top 4' next season, not at this stage, anyway.

Most of it will depend on who stays/goes/signs at whichever club you care to name. :shrug:

For us, we have the bonus of already knowing we have Euro foottie next season, so I hope that means we can do our signings from a position of strength.

But than again, it also depends on who decides to stay and when we finally know what is happening......... :-?

 

[chinaman]

If we were to sign 3 first teamers in the close season and if they prove to be as successful as Berbatov has been, what would stop us from even challenging Manure for top spot?

 

[striebs]

Yet our manager is clearly frustrated with the squad he has inherited and has said we need to spend to compete.

Having walked over burning coals to get Ramos who has delivered silverware , Levy will surely be making all the money he can available .

I can only conclude this is still not enough or Ramos would not have let his comments slip .

Something has got to give and it's a bit worrying if Ramos is trying to use fans opinions to blackmail levy into going outside his comfort zone after less than 6 months .

 

[chinaman]

I take back what I said 2 posts earlier. it's now 3 games on the trot we've played very poorly, and the players seem reluctant to put in extra effort when the ball is not running for them.

On recent evidence, we may need to buy 5 or 6 players in order to challenge 4th place.

 

[PT]

Maybe the close season followed by an early return to the sand dunes might shift the lethargy. That and the Missing persons from within the lethargic ranks, replaced by some bods who give a toss.

 

[hodspurs]

next season we have to catch pompy everton and villa.never mind the top 4 it will be hard to finish top 7...

 

[fortworthspur]

yep, this team isnt ready for prime-time. take away the cup, and we have been remarkably consistent, and consistently mediocre, all season. if Berbatov goes, we could be in for a long season.

 

[double0]

yep, this team isnt ready for prime-time. take away the cup, and we have been remarkably consistent, and consistently mediocre, all season. if Berbatov goes, we could be in for a long season.

Your overrating Berbatov's contribution this sesaon, Robbie Keane again has been Spurs player of the season imo.

 

[DC_Boy]

well it's all about opinions but for me Berbs is our best player and player of the season (and the player of last season too) - he's different class to Keane - and if he leaves this summer the fee will be testament to that - PS I like Keane - and think he's a spurs legend BTW

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Your overrating Berbatov's contribution this sesaon, Robbie Keane again has been Spurs player of the season imo.

but how much of his confidence and talent has been encouraged, highlighted and improved by playing alongside Berbatov? :shrug:

I really, really don't think he would manage to develop the same kind of understanding with "D" Bent so there is no doubt at all, if we did end up losing him then we'll have to bring in another powerful playmaker, if possible someone with the same kind of technique, and the same expectations from his team mates - i might not like the way he shows it, but i love his passion and the fact that he get's annoyed when he makes the effort and the ball in sucks.

 

[double0]

Yes you can say that his made Keane a better player but the same can be said vice versa. Nobody really knew about him while playing in the Bundesliga, a strong and respected league world wide until he played with Robbie Keane.:grin:

Yes Berbatov has the silky skills the hair band looks etc but theirs also a side of him which is sloppy and lazy when things ain't going his way... I've been one of Keane's biggest critics and labeled him an enigma in the past but one things for sure, Robbie Keane has a passion in his play you just have to respect...apart from when his being subbed.

 

[fortworthspur]

look, Berbs or keene, it really doesnt matter. my point was that other than the cup, spurs performed as a mid-table team all season. I kept waiting for them to show me otherwise, but they havent. Under Jol, under Ramos, with a new defense and after the Carling Cup success which should have brought confidence, they've been consistently mediocre.

 

[mitch8the8spur]

i love camels