Has it been a good season?

[Bobbins]

It has been entertaining and that is the most important thing.
Beat Newcastle, and we'll have our record prem point total, CL qualification and finish above that other lot - that has to be considered good. All to play for.

 

[TheHood]

It's been a good season, I don't see how anyone could claim otherwise but there are still many traits that continue to hold us back and will continue to do if we do not address them .

Our one front policy which is a carryover from the Redknapp era continues to damage us, the club simply has to rid itself of this if it stands any hope of securing silverware in the future.

That strategy has been a compete disaster for us and yet we still persist with it and squander opportunities for silverware, a Dortmund situation cannot and should not be allowed to happen again. That was the absolute low point of this season.

It also demonstrates the issues with the character and mentality of the side, it is quite clear to me that there is qualification culture at the club as opposed to a winning one where silverware is the centre piece.

The club has become defined by that, it openly states that CL qualification is its primary target each season and that is reflected in a near decade of no silverware.

When finishing 4th becomes your primary objective then you will create a culture whereby you have you longest serving player worrying about finishing 4th on he eve of the City game when we were two points off the top.

I've heard that is a different Spurs but the reality is that this is very much a continuation of the Redknapp era, it has adopted the same approach and has all of the same traits of that side.

Poch came out today and said we need to act as a big club and if he really means that there will be no more talk about finishing 4th or throwing tournaments next season because we convinced ourselves that we cannot compete without even trying.

The potential of this Spurs side is massive but it is vital that we learn from our mistakes this season and actually address these for once. If we don't the we will have another team go to waste.

 

[Lamelad]

We need to finish above Arsenal. This club needs it. End the curse.

 

[Spurger King]

We've gained automatic qualification for the CL for the first time in Prem history, have a first eleven that, when it clicks, is the best team in the land, and got over all of the last hurdles between us and the new stadium.

It's been a great season.

Finishing above Arsenal is in our own hands, and we don't even have to beat Newcastle. Of course it would be horrible to finish below them, but despite the history I'd like to think that we're not small-time enough to dismiss all of the great strides we have made this season if that does happen (which it won't).

 

[Spursidol]

Going into this season, I doubt if more than 5% of the most optimistic fans would have expected a top 4 position - more likely fans would have wished for top 4 but been half expecting another 5th place.

So whether finishing 2nd or 3rd this season would be to out perform pre-season expectations by quite some way - and whilst we started slowly (first 4 games were a loss and 3 draws) and we've finished more quietly (March for example saw 2 wins, but 3 losses and a draw), the middle few months have shown a team and squad which looks very good indeed, and one that looks as if it will continue to develop over the next few seasons. I really cannot get over how young yet how well we play attractive effective football, and that we seem to have a conveyor belt of young talent coming through our youth system and an ability to buy good talent too.

And off the pitch, the stadium is now all guns blazing going forward.

So a perfect season - no, unrealistic to expect it. But a very good one none the less.......and even a promise of more and better to come in the next few seasons.

 

[matthew.absurdum]

I know Spurs always surprise me. But to end the season in this way is purely spursy
I would be over the moon if we can reach the group of of CL/Top3 EPL few month before
But now I feel I bit disappointed

 

[Shadydan]

Regardless of how we end up, it's been a fantastic season.

 

[DaSpurs]

We've gained automatic qualification for the CL for the first time in Prem history, have a first eleven that, when it clicks, is the best team in the land, and got over all of the last hurdles between us and the new stadium.

It's been a great season.

Finishing above Arsenal is in our own hands, and we don't even have to beat Newcastle. Of course it would be horrible to finish below them, but despite the history I'd like to think that we're not small-time enough to dismiss all of the great strides we have made this season if that does happen (which it won't).

You're so right, you really are. However, should it come to pass that we blow it, it will be very difficult for me to look back on this season fondly. Maybe I'm simply caught in the emotion of the immediate time frame, but I just cannot fathom viewing this season with much positivity if we are once again pipped at the death because of persistent mental weakness.

 

[Hazardousman]

It's been a good season, I don't see how anyone could claim otherwise but there are still many traits that continue to hold us back and will continue to do if we do not address them .

Our one front policy which is a carryover from the Redknapp era continues to damage us, the club simply has to rid itself of this if it stands any hope of securing silverware in the future.

That strategy has been a compete disaster for us and yet we still persist with it and squander opportunities for silverware, a Dortmund situation cannot and should not be allowed to happen again. That was the absolute low point of this season.

It also demonstrates the issues with the character and mentality of the side, it is quite clear to me that there is qualification culture at the club as opposed to a winning one where silverware is the centre piece.

The club has become defined by that, it openly states that CL qualification is its primary target each season and that is reflected in a near decade of no silverware.

When finishing 4th becomes your primary objective then you will create a culture whereby you have you longest serving player worrying about finishing 4th on he eve of the City game when we were two points off the top.

I've heard that is a different Spurs but the reality is that this is very much a continuation of the Redknapp era, it has adopted the same approach and has all of the same traits of that side.

Poch came out today and said we need to act as a big club and if he really means that there will be no more talk about finishing 4th or throwing tournaments next season because we convinced ourselves that we cannot compete without even trying.

The potential of this Spurs side is massive but it is vital that we learn from our mistakes this season and actually address these for once. If we don't the we will have another team go to waste.

Nail on the head, the era of accepting an celebrating mediocrity has to stop, finishing 4th or 3rd or even 2nd shouldn't be a cause for celebration, yes we should be happy we are improving and moving in the right direction but celebrating not winning trophies?

Like you say, if we want to be winners or a "big team" then we have to think like one and act like one, qualification culture VS Win at any cost and attain silverware, I know which one I would rather have.

However Poch does seem to be trying to do this at the club, evidenced by the fact none of our players have celebrated CL or even really spoken about it, under Redknapp we celebrated at City like we won the league, this year our players are just disappointed we didn't win the league, I think that speaks volumes and in hindsight I think that's why our last 3 games have seen us become deflated.

We need to build on this and learn from it now, add better quality depth and start next season with the players knowing what the goal is, win silverware at any cost, even another top four finish and a cup would represent a success next season, ideally I want the league and I think we have the quality (in our starting eleven) to achieve that but if we really want the PL title we have to make sure we have better quality depth, that all our business is done WAY before the first game and that we hit the ground running.

I think I read on here someone say that Poch needs to write on a chalkboard in the dressing room "Premier league champions 16/17 Tottenham Hotspur" and remind them every single game what we are aiming for and I couldn't agree more, if Poch wants to emulate Fergie at this club then that is the main thing that has to change, the mentality.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Fair play to the OP for pointing out the positives. The fact of the matter is, if it was any other regular top four team winning the league there wouldn't even be an iota of doubt in anyone's mind. The fact it was Leicester that won it will inevatably make some ask question. Personally I'm extatic with our season as a whole.

I only have one negative this season, and that's the Europa league. I just wish we had gone for it his year. saying that, I completely get why many would be very happy we put all our eggs in the PL basket.

I just hope we manage to bring in some special players that will elevate us into a team that contend for both the PL and the CL.

 

[Hazardousman]

We need to go out against Newcastle and put on our best performance of the season to let everyone know this isn't some sort of fluke and we aren't the spurs of old, after the game earlier Dier said the lads were a little bit low after recent games and that is somewhat understandable given we could have won the league but use that feeling to ignite the fire in your belly, use the sadness as a way to get better.

Basically, don't sulk about it, maybe that's the immaturity coming through from them but I think they will learn from this, that's the only way you mature as a person, the experience of pain and heartache can be a great motivator for future success.

 

[thelak]

Been a great season but the last few weeks have definitely taken the edge off it. Forget coming first but when we got to the last 7-8 games or so it was pointed out that off all the teams in the run in we had collected the lowest points in the equivalent fixtures and given how we had kicked on in the middle part of the season thought we might have a very different outcome but have ended up dropping a fair few points against the same teams. I also thought our form would lift when we didn't have EL but hasn't really been the case.

So been a great season and very proud to be a spurs fan but hopefully some lessons being learned too and we def can sit on our laurels this summer and not improve / strengthen

 

[thinktank]

CL - great season.

Look to improve in a few areas next season and take things up another level, again.

 

[TropicalYid]

It has been, it is still, a great season. No doubt.

One thing that bothers me, with the last couple of games(and results) in mind. From both Poch,players and other official spurs media they have been talking like season is over for the last 7-10 days. One wonder if that has had an effect on the recent results, not being able to hold leads against both chelsea and southampton.

Need to get that second place. No excuse.

 

[Jimmypearce7]

Disappointing today. With that and Chelsea the last week has been hell.
I sai earlier in the thread finish above Arsenal in 2nd then we have had a very good season. If we fail to do that we haven't.
Most people disagreed. Among the arguments are we have exceeded expectations from the start of the season. I don't agree that that should mean we are happy.
Say Leicester had lost their last four games and come second. They would have been gutted and rightly so despite vastly exceeding their pre season expectations.
Never finishing above Arsenal in twenty or so years is a blight on our club. Finish above them and we have achieved a successful season but not otherwise.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

This finshing above The scum stuff is bollox. Whether or not we finish 2nd or 3rd this season it's been a fantastic season. To finish in your highest position in the league for either 26 years or maybe even 53 years is brilliant

What the scum do or where they finish has absolutely no relevance. Worry about ourselves. Fuck them and the horses they rode in on. ****s

What will make it an even more amazing season is if we can learn from the experiences this season, build on them and push on again

 

[dynamoSpurs]

This could turn out to be one of the most disappointing seasons I can remember.. On a par perhaps with chavs nicking our CL spot a few seasons ago.

If we finish behind arsenal which is looking increasingly likely, then despite finishing 3rd, I will honestly be devastated and consider it a disappointing campaign.

Sure, finishing above arsenal isn't everything, but it's a lot. And naturally I'm sure we've all been guilty of jibing arsenal fans... We'll have egg on our face like never before seen. We truly will be a laughing stock.

CL is good, but finishing above arsenal is surely the better measure of how far we've come. Or not.

 

[JohanTheYid]

Its about us, I want us to finish 2nd because its 2nd, not because its above them.

 

[tooey]

This could turn out to be one of the most disappointing seasons I can remember.. On a par perhaps with chavs nicking our CL spot a few seasons ago.

If we finish behind arsenal which is looking increasingly likely, then despite finishing 3rd, I will honestly be devastated and consider it a disappointing campaign.

Sure, finishing above arsenal isn't everything, but it's a lot. And naturally I'm sure we've all been guilty of jibing arsenal fans... We'll have egg on our face like never before seen. We truly will be a laughing stock.

CL is good, but finishing above arsenal is surely the better measure of how far we've come. Or not.

If you consider 3rd a disappointing season then perhaps you need to support somebody else. I couldn't honestly give two fucks about where Arsenal finish. We've had a great year in the toughest and most unpredictable premier league ever. We have CL football next year and a side that boasts players Alli, Dier and Kane who aren't even anywhere near their peak yet, Lemela, Rose, Toby and Dembele have all come on leaps and bounds and we have a manager with a clear ethos and playing style. What the fuck is there to be unhappy about, seriously?

 

[E17yid]

If you had to put your balls on it you'd say we'd get 2nd.

This could turn out to be one of the most disappointing seasons I can remember.. On a par perhaps with chavs nicking our CL spot a few seasons ago.

If we finish behind arsenal which is looking increasingly likely, then despite finishing 3rd, I will honestly be devastated and consider it a disappointing campaign.

Sure, finishing above arsenal isn't everything, but it's a lot. And naturally I'm sure we've all been guilty of jibing arsenal fans... We'll have egg on our face like never before seen. We truly will be a laughing stock.

CL is good, but finishing above arsenal is surely the better measure of how far we've come. Or not.

No fucking way is this season even close to being on a par with that year Chelsea won the CL. Not even close. That was gut wrenching, sickining shit. If arsenal pip us to 2nd it'll be annoying, granted, but I'm sorry it's absolutely ridiculous to compare it to missing out on CL especially when, you know, we've secured CL