How close are we to challenging City & Liverpool ?

[spurs mental]

1 - make home a fortress. City and liverpool rarely lose at home

Couldn't agree more. The atmosphere at the last 2 home games was incredible, especially the NLD, for obvious reasons but we need to create that at every game. It's part of the reason Liverpool haven't lost at home for 4 seasons.

We know Arsenal players shat themselves during that game, we need every team to come and shit themselves.

Similar to the last season at WHL, we must have won 7 or 8 games by 3 or 4 goals to nil. Teams used to just come and we'd be 1 up within 10 minutes, suffocate them and the 2nd and 3rd would follow.

If we can make New WHL a fortress and aim to go unbeaten there for 19 games it'll be a huge step towards closing that gap quicker.

 

[mattspur1986]

They are levels above us incredible teams

agreed, we'd need at least 5/6 QUALITY players in IMO, and we simply wont have the funds for it. we finished 20 pts behind them this season, if we can halve that & go strong in the cups, id be happy.

 

[danielneeds]

Recrutment has to be perfect this summer to even get close to them.

Sell the right players quickly and without fuss.

Spend big on a few players who strengthen the starting XI.

Pick up some canny free transfers to bolster the squad.

 

[ultimateloner]

I think OP Is getting ahead of himself here.

We are not a CL-level team yet. The squad as it is, is unlikely to get through the group stage level let alone compete with the top 2.

Only Kane nad Son would make it into the Man City/Liverpool starting 11. None of our sqaud members would even make it to their bench.

If we were to truly compete, we are looking at a squad overhaul IMO and that's going to take years, not a single transfer window.

By that time we don't know if Kane and Son would still have the same legs.

 

[fortworthspur]

not very close, IMO. our starting XI might be but we have no depth. City could probably build two teams that would challenge for top 4.

 

[werty]

Pretty far but Conte took Chelsea from 10th to 1st, so really this job is several times easier.

Liverpool themselves are a better comparison. They made the kind of leap we need next season in the 18/19 season, going from 75 points in the previous season to 97 points. They fixed the glaring holes in their team with VDV and Allison, turning a weakness unto a strength. Whether we can do that remains to be seen.

 

[mattdefoe]

Liverpool themselves are a better comparison. They made the kind of leap we need next season in the 18/19 season, going from 75 points in the previous season to 97 points. They fixed the glaring holes in their team with VDV and Allison, turning a weakness unto a strength. Whether we can do that remains to be seen.

Great points . VVD and Allison were cherry picked and identified . Big signings , it should have been us with ndomble and possibly lo celso , we need to get it right this time

 

[mattdefoe]

We need quality squad depth , up front .man’s defensively. We need another Romero like rock who is strong in the air and can defend and attack set pieces .

We need to get better at attacking set plays , as it’s a great avenue to scoring . Eg Ward prowess free kicks . This alone can give us 5-1

strong forward lines another 10+ pts
EG- diaz , mane , Salah , Jota firmino can all play in a 3 that’s 5 options

- mahrez , Sterling , grealish , Bernado, Jesus , foden

 

[mattdefoe]

Spurs conceded just 7 goals & scored 36 goals in last 14 PL games with 8 cleansheets.

Extrapolate over a 38 game season, that will be 19 goals conceded and 98 goals scored. City & Liverpool conceded 26 each this season , to give some perspective.

This is title winning form or if not close. But to replicate this form over a season or get close, squad needs atleast 4 new signings that improves first XI

City & Liverpool are incredible. I am not saying we will be title challengers next season but we are not as far away as most think.

Two things have to happen,

a) Conte commits & extends his deal
b) Levy & Paratici help bring 4 good first XI signings who are ready to go.

We are the only team to do a double over City this season + not to lose to Liverpool as well. So, its not like we are light years behind. Extra CL will affect us - thats where we will be impacted. Our squad needs to be strengthened. But we have the basics already. Squad knows what Conte wants - In Lloris, Romero , Dier, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Son, Kane we have the core ready. If we improve the squad with 4 quality signings, IMO, we will beat Chelsea for 3rd and would go close to City & Liverpool....with some luck in WC break season, we could give them a run for their money

We also need ENIC to want to have the ambition of a league title . Like the city group and the Liverpool owners have had

not just plod along and look pretty like we have done many a time

 

[punkisback]

What we need are good players under 25

I think OP Is getting ahead of himself here.

We are not a CL-level team yet. The squad as it is, is unlikely to get through the group stage level let alone compete with the top 2.

Only Kane nad Son would make it into the Man City/Liverpool starting 11. None of our sqaud members would even make it to their bench.

If we were to truly compete, we are looking at a squad overhaul IMO and that's going to take years, not a single transfer window.

By that time we don't know if Kane and Son would still have the same legs.

agree. I mean we can by experienced ready made players to give it a shot of winning something in he next two seasons but then we’d have players like Perisic, Eriksen and Bale in their mid to late 30s which is a gamble . What we need to do is continue with the signings such as Kulu which provide continuity to be able to challenge for the next five seasons.

 

[Fergus]

Levy needs to go into unfamiliar territory and be prepared to pay for high quality players who will only ever start 4 or 5 times in a season. Squad depth is the key to success.

 

[ultimateloner]

What we need are good players under 25

agree. I mean we can by experienced ready made players to give it a shot of winning something in he next two seasons but then we’d have players like Perisic, Eriksen and Bale in their mid to late 30s which is a gamble . What we need to do is continue with the signings such as Kulu which provide continuity to be able to challenge for the next five seasons.

I just hope that the fans on this forum don't get too carried away and stay grounded.

We punched above our weight to finish 4th. We were clutch to have beaten Arsenal at home, but also dont forget the poor results against Brentford and Brighton.

We were also 'lucky' that Man Utd had a melt-down that no one could have predicted, which opended up the 4th spot. Man Utd still has a better squad than ours.

Next season Newcastle is going to be competitive at the top end of the table, Man Utd is going to improve (because they couldn't have done worst this season) and Arsenal's kids would improve.

Realistically, unless we have a window of all windows this summer, even finishing 4th again next season would be a hell of an achievement.

In terms of recruitment, my view is that we need more goals first and foremost. Kulu has done well (better than I expected) and we need more of the same.

Everywhere else we just need to get better; because the way I see it, none of everything else (aside from Kane and Son) is genuine CL- level.

 

[dirtyh]

think we're not that far away tbh.

what city and liverpool do better than anyone is beat the teams they should and consistently take points from their rivals.

this season we took all 6pts from city and 2pts from the scousers. If we can do this regularly (also lost twice to a poor united and twice to the chavs for example) then we can close the gap and/or at least be part of the conversation.

we finished 22pts behind city but with 11 defeats. cut that to 6 with wins in games we could easily have won.....

wolves (H)
brighton (H)
southampton (H)
palace (A)
burnley (A)

....and all of a sudden we're in range.

I know it's simplistic to say that and every team will have the same 'outlook' but consistency has to be the key. No point beating city for example if you then go and lose to burnley in the next game. we score enough with the front 3 (admittedly need more goals from elsewhere in the side) but struggle to create against the 'bus parkers'. change that (better wing backs and cm) then we're really going to see something.

everyone raves about pep and klopp but i think conte is even better. am really excited at where we can go.

 

[JCRD]

I did forget to say in my earlier post - it will be very interestign what Liverpool do this summer with their strikeforce. All three mains tayers - Firminho, Mane and Salah are in their last year of contracts and I genuinely wouldnt be surprised if two of the three leave. I know they have Jota and Diaz but theyre not Salah and Mane.

Theyre a great team but do think they will have a bit of upheavel up front

 

[THE SPURSBOY]

City will get stronger with Haaland and pool with the midfielder they’re buying

 

[Delboy75]

16/17 Chelsea Conte got 93 points which obviously would get you very close in any season. I don’t even think he had a spectacular squad. Hazard really carried that team. So basically Conte given the resources has proved he can produce a 90 + season.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

We need 4 top quality starters at LCB, RWB, LWB and CM, plus good quality squad players at GK, CB, CAM and FWD.

Give Conte that and he will get us close.

 

[fridgemagnet]

Probably been said but fighting consistently on all 4 fronts with them, still a way to go (although I would caveat by saying that as ever in the cups you'll always need some luck of the draw but we can make our own luck by being going deeper in them consistently)

If just talking league I don't think we're that far off, the biggest things will be the number of derbies London clubs play compared with them & more teams taking points off them not to mention the shite officiating playing its part. It's Turning 11 of those losses this season into 6 or 7 wins, that's not massive IMHO, the two UTD games at least one of those was mostly Ronaldo, we need to be better away at Chelsea, both 'Pool games were there for us (considering our poor rub of the green at Anfield for years) the Brighton, Wolves, Southampton matches there's no excuse for losing or drawing some of those.

That's 12 points without even getting into deep analysis right there, that's very simplistic I know but there's draws that should've been wins, loses that should've been at least a draw etc I'm sure you could deep dive and find close to twelve points that should've been.

The new ground needs more games where the atmos' is like the Arsenal game and City/'pool games even in the "lesser" fixtures; time to become a real fortress.

Let's not forget we were in the conversations for shiny stuff under both Redknapp and Poch just various reasons we couldn't fall over the line, hell even under José with a worse squad we made a final.

Just my opinions you're allowed yours.

 

[davros]

I think we're pretty far off the top 2 teams, but that's mostly down to squad depth and those managers having had several years and decent resources to build the teams and squads they want.

But our first team is strong. We took 6 points off City, and we perhaps deserved more than two points against Liverpool.

If we get an effective attacking RWB and a CM with creativity and a few goals in him, we'll have a better chance of getting points off the stubborn teams who caused us so much trouble this season. We obviously need more than that to compete for the whole season, but it would immediately improve our first team.

 

[arunspurs]

City will get stronger with Haaland and pool with the midfielder they’re buying

Its not going to be plain sailing for new players - Look at Sancho. Inspite of playing for a avg United, everyone still expected him to shine.

Haaland is going to face a whole new level of defenders , players who will put body on line more. Bundesliga defense is nothing compared to what PL can bring.
Playing for City is also boon & bane - he will get plenty of chances, but at same time, most teams will park the bus, frustrate City. He will have no space to run behind in those games.

There is lot of adaptation Haaland has to go through as a 21 year old. I am not saying he will flop - just saying, unless he adapts, things wont be easy for him.