It doesn't matter who we sign...

[eddiebailey]

This a million times. It's no coincidence that we first nearly broke into the top 4 with Edgar David's and then actually did it with Scott Parker. 2 heart on sleeve natural leaders. This is the type of player we should be looking for to make all the other "exciting" components knit together, young squad huge potential.

It is no coincidence that we signed Davids and Parker under old school managers who believed in the importance of having leaders on the pitch, as opposed to tactical geniuses who think all they need to do is set the team up and leave them to follow instructions.

 

[Flashspur]

The fact is that as a club we are mentally too weak and fragile. How often do we crumble at the slightest hint of pressure? Its happened for years and is why there is the word "spursy". Its even laughed off after we piss away another lead or lose to the bottom club. Said with a knowing nod and a raise of the eyebrows "just spursy eh?"

Manager after manager, we see the same end product. We are experts of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

We have this excuse every week that may satisfy some by saying "we played well for X number of mins" or "we might have lost but we were the better team" and lastly the worst of all "yeah but against last years results we are a point up!". Bullshit.

All that matters are results and only winners recognise this. The old cliche about good teams playing badly and winning? Its true. But to delude ourselves and say its OK not to win as long as we play well doesn't sit well with me.

I don't doubt poch and he still has my backing, as do ENIC and Levy but the most important signing we could make is someone to make these talented players we have, believe and have some bollocks and fight about them. There's something about the club that turns clearly talented players into an absolute wreck.

The club needs a real kick up the arse and to rid ourselves of this inferiority complex we have. Maybe the quicker Lennon and his massive length leave, the quicker our lads can start being more confident?

I am not as negative about our prospects Steve but I understand the sentiment. I think our league positions over the last 5 years have been excellent considering we are consistently outspent.

I also think Poch has done a great job in making us harder to beat. We are not seeing the 5-0 or 6-0 type of bollocking we saw with AVB and Sherwood. We are more disciplined but at the same time, the team formation takes away our attacking flair. Perhaps that is something Poch is deliberately building as a platform and maybe as fans we are too impatient?

My great frustration is really about the next move upward, the leap forward from 5th to challenge for top 4. We are so close every time but for some reason as a club THFC just fails to grasp the mettle. If its not finding players to fill critical gaps, its leaving transfers right to the last minute or useless pre season games that leave us under prepared and knackered for the real thing.

Plus the youthfulness of the squad worries me a little. We are lacking an experienced head or two which can be critical to bringing the young lads along the journey.

Aside from this, I see real progress with Poch even though the slow pace frustrates me.

 

[coyspurs18]

We lucked into that position thanks to Kane having a one in a million season and Eriksen getting a good few last minute winners, the likes of West Ham and Villa were undeserved wins the way we played last season, and our 5th place was in spite of Poch and because of Kane not because Poch is some genius

Ah, I'm starting to get it. It's luck when Spurs get a late equalizer or winner but poor execution when Spurs concede a late winner or equalizer....makes sense.

 

[Xeeleeyid]

It is no coincidence that we signed Davids and Parker under old school managers who believed in the importance of having leaders on the pitch, as opposed to tactical geniuses who think all they need to do is set the team up and leave them to follow instructions.

I'm not sure you can attribute too much to the leadership qualities of those players over and above anything else. Of course it helps to have players with those qualities and Pochettino supposedly signed Fazio as much for his dressing room presence and experience of winning trophies as for his on pitch contribution.

HOWEVER, David was part of a very good all round team with a Defoe and Mido, Carrick, King and Lennon all in their prime.

Parker did have a good influence but ultimately that team with Parker in it let a huge points cushion to 3rd place disappear in one of the worst collapses of form I can ever remember and whatever leadership qualities he had, it clearly had fuck all influence over and above the wider off field distractions of the time.

Also, the comfortable 3rd place achieved before the collapse IMO is again down to the world class players we had throughout that team rather than any leadership qualities added by Parker.