Race for 4th (or higher) 4.0

[ItsBoris]

@OptaJoe: 3 - Based on a form table covering the last six PL games, Arsenal, Chelsea & Spurs are 1st, 2nd and 4th respectively. Race.

At the business end of the season, despite all the doom and gloom, don't think we can be accused of bottling it.

Not like last year at all, that's for sure. I am a little concerned that we've not been playing to our full potential these last few games, but we've been picking up results anyway. Generally 11 points in 5 games, especially when you play City and Everton in those games, is a good return. But we haven't looked good since the Arsenal and Inter home games, and first half of Liverpool away.

 

[shaqTHFC]

@OptaJoe: 3 - Based on a form table covering the last six PL games, Arsenal, Chelsea & Spurs are 1st, 2nd and 4th respectively. Race.

At the business end of the season, despite all the doom and gloom, don't think we can be accused of bottling it.

We've only lost 2 of our last 19 league games and we have shown a lot of character in terms of late goals recently. These two factors make be believe that we will can win at Stamford Bridge and that even if we're behind at some stage we won't capitulate or crumble. Also, we have Bale who changes games more consistently than anyone else Chelsea have in their squad despite their obvious talent.

 

[stormfly]

At best I was hoping that we could sneak a draw with Chelsea and we would be level on points (after they lose to Utd) with them with two games to go. Hopefully, the pressure will be off Chelsea now and we can get a win and still be in the same situation. They'll be waving their d**** around after winning a OT and we'll come out the traps flying and win. Believe!

 

[Shea]

We need a crazy period where we turn Chelsea over like we did Man City on wed

I suspect they'll control the bulk of the game - we'll need our 3 best players to all have blinders (Lloris, Vertonghen and Bale) and we'll need the rest of the midfield to step up and battle against a superior team in better form

We can do it - it will be hard and with home advantage they'll be very difficult to beat but I felt the same in the 2008 Carling cup final and I pretty much felt the same when we went up to Manchester and beat City in 2010

I don't think we can afford a draw - even though Arsenal are capable of dropping points from either of their last two games because I think they will scrape wins as they have been doing and Chelsea, well even if we beat they'll have the advantage on goal difference but they could easily slip up against Villa or Everton

Personally I think we'll end up fifth this year and I am expecting a loss at the Bridge - I won't be too disappointed at this stage because I been expected us to miss out ever since we threw the game away at Anfield and especially when we lost to Fulham, so anything above 5th will be a major bonus to my expectations

Plus nothing can be as bad as last year

I can't wait for Wed's - it's the biggest game since the Man City game in 2010. If we win it will be an exciting end to the season

 

[Dundalk_Spur]

Thing is we owe Chelsea one, in fact, more than one. Mido being sent off for winning a header, two goals given when not over the line, not to mention last years CL robbery.

I hope we take all this and turn it into a positive result, I believe.

 

[camaj]

We're still (very realistically) in the hunt for 3rd/4th place. Considering we're only a few points behind Chelsea (who won the lottery), a few more away from City (who won the lottery but weren't lumbered with the mental Russian as a result), close to Arsenal (who have started to get out of the long process we'll have to undergo once we start building White Hart Lane 2) and above Liverpool (who have spent far more than us in recent years), I think we're punching above our weight.

Forget the other clubs. I always ask myself whether we did the best we could and honestly I don't think we have. If we hadn't had such a bad season injury wise we would be comfortably 2nd now, Levy would be a genius and people would be asking if Portugese people can get knighted.

If you want to talk about punching above our weight, it was probably the season when we had to beat West Ham on the last day. We had a very decent team but Jol managed to wring everything he could out of them and came close to pulling it off. The squad has come on leaps and bound since then but we made it look hard under Redknapp. Next season I'm expecting an improvement as long as we're not as unlucky with injuries again

 

[Matt_Spurs]

We are on course for our best Premier League points haul, best second half of the season in terms of points and more points than last season without Modric, VDV, King, Kaboul and Sandro for most of the season. If someone had offered us 65 pts after 35 games we would all have taken it. People complain about dropped points v Wigan and Fulham etc. But all teams can say that. We gained points at Utd, City at home etc.

Think we need to be taking a long term view with the club. If we miss out of Champions League this season it will feel like a disappointment only because we came so close. Expectations have been raised to that extent and Levy must take some credit for this. We are the sixth highest spenders in the league on wages so to have finished 4,5,4th last three years is a good achievement.

There are lots of reasons to be positive. Yes we should have strengthened the squad more. Despite this AVB has done very well with the players at his disposal. We are more resolute than previous seasons and will have money to spend in the summer again. We are well run and hopefully have a new stadium in the next four years. The club is going in the right direction - you only have to listen to players past and present to realise this.

If missing out on Champions league is make or break for a football club then it can't be very well run. Not the case with us - 4th or not we will be around there or thereabouts next season. Keep the faith.

 

[Lilbaz]

We've not missed out on anything yet!

You all can go on your summer holidays if you want. I'll be watching the game Wednesday.

 

[King of Otters]

We are on course for our best Premier League points haul, best second half of the season in terms of points and more points than last season without Modric, VDV, King, Kaboul and Sandro for most of the season. If someone had offered us 65 pts after 35 games we would all have taken it. People complain about dropped points v Wigan and Fulham etc. But all teams can say that. We gained points at Utd, City at home etc.

Think we need to be taking a long term view with the club. If we miss out of Champions League this season it will feel like a disappointment only because we came so close. Expectations have been raised to that extent and Levy must take some credit for this. We are the sixth highest spenders in the league on wages so to have finished 4,5,4th last three years is a good achievement.

There are lots of reasons to be positive. Yes we should have strengthened the squad more. Despite this AVB has done very well with the players at his disposal. We are more resolute than previous seasons and will have money to spend in the summer again. We are well run and hopefully have a new stadium in the next four years. The club is going in the right direction - you only have to listen to players past and present to realise this.

If missing out on Champions league is make or break for a football club then it can't be very well run. Not the case with us - 4th or not we will be around there or thereabouts next season. Keep the faith.

Very good post.

The biggest thing for me in terms of top four is not the money, the big nights, or the players we may be able to attract, but Bale and his future at WHL.

It hardly needs stressing that we have a remarkable talent on our hands, regardless of rivalry fans (RAWK notwithstanding) and players alike salute Bale for the genius he so obviously is. But I think we, as Spurs fans, are still in the eye of the storm in terms of truly appreciating how rare it is to find a player of his 'dimension' actually playing for our club. Bale is a once in a generation talent, the kind of player who will win titles for teams. His record this year of scoring unbelievable individual goals, at the most critical stages, is beyond all credibility and is unprecedented in the 20 odd years I've been following English football.

Bale will win trophies for teams, there's no doubt about that. There's also no doubt in my mind that he could do that at Spurs as, with a bit of investment in the squad this summer, we could be as strong as anyone going in to next season.

This is why I find this entire top 4 business so exasperating. To think that my dream of Bale leading us into a richly deserved era of success all rests on the fickle hope of us finishing top 4 this season is too depressing to even contemplate. Especially if you have the mentality of a seasoned Spurs fan, where you know, deep down, that at some point everything is going to turn to shit.

I think, having said all that, that I could quite easily come to terms with no CL football next season if we were 100% certain that Bale is going to stay. All our hopes rest on him, if he stays we will be a force to be reckoned with (providing Levy backs AVB) next season. If he leaves then I honestly feel that our hopes of seriously competing for trophies will go with him.

 

[Misfit]

Gimme a cream cheese and salami bagel with a pot of egg mayo from the Ridley Road Bagel bakery anytime!
*Remembers the good old days. Ahhhhhhhhhh

 

[Misfit]

We are on course for our best Premier League points haul, best second half of the season in terms of points and more points than last season without Modric, VDV, King, Kaboul and Sandro for most of the season. If someone had offered us 65 pts after 35 games we would all have taken it. People complain about dropped points v Wigan and Fulham etc. But all teams can say that. We gained points at Utd, City at home etc.

Think we need to be taking a long term view with the club. If we miss out of Champions League this season it will feel like a disappointment only because we came so close. Expectations have been raised to that extent and Levy must take some credit for this. We are the sixth highest spenders in the league on wages so to have finished 4,5,4th last three years is a good achievement.

There are lots of reasons to be positive. Yes we should have strengthened the squad more. Despite this AVB has done very well with the players at his disposal. We are more resolute than previous seasons and will have money to spend in the summer again. We are well run and hopefully have a new stadium in the next four years. The club is going in the right direction - you only have to listen to players past and present to realise this.

If missing out on Champions league is make or break for a football club then it can't be very well run. Not the case with us - 4th or not we will be around there or thereabouts next season. Keep the faith.

Yep, it's pretty fucking remarkable really. We've lost a bit of style (well OK, quite a lot at times) but we've already gained, a season earlier than I could have anticipated, substance. We're not longer so up and down, even if uninspiring we don't suddenly fall intp a rut of half a dozen games which we have to haul ourselves out of.

Whatever happens this season, I am already excited at what we can achieve over the next few yrs if the coaching staff and players can be kept in place.

Maybe they're just making it look a bit too easy? You know, losing the spine of the team, having to integrate over half a first XI's worth of new signings into the squad, dealing with ridiculous injuries and an already unbalanced squad, whilst still new to the club themselves. I get the frustration but fuck me, all things considered, they're getting at least a B+ from me. Likely an A, even if we don't quite snatch a top 4 spot.

 

[Misfit]

Very good post.

The biggest thing for me in terms of top four is not the money, the big nights, or the players we may be able to attract, but Bale and his future at WHL.

It hardly needs stressing that we have a remarkable talent on our hands, regardless of rivalry fans (RAWK notwithstanding) and players alike salute Bale for the genius he so obviously is. But I think we, as Spurs fans, are still in the eye of the storm in terms of truly appreciating how rare it is to find a player of his 'dimension' actually playing for your club. Bale is a once in a generation talent, the kind of player who will win titles for teams. His record this year of scoring unbelievable individual goals, at the most critical stages, is beyond all credibility and is unprecedented in the 20 odd years I've been following English football.

Bale will win trophies for teams, there's no doubt about that. There's also no doubt in my mind that he could do that at Spurs as, with a bit of investment in the squad this summer, we could be as strong as anyone going in to next season.

This is why I find this entire top 4 business so exasperating. To think that my dream of Bale leading us into a richly deserved era of success all rests on the fickle hope of us finishing top 4 this season is too depressing to even contemplate. Especially if you have the mentality of seasoned Spurs fan, where you know, deep down, that at some point everything is going to turn to shit.

I think, having said all that, that I could quite easily come to terms with no CL football next season if we were 100% certain that Bale is going to stay. All our hopes rest on him, if he stays we will be a force to be reckoned with (providing Levy backs AVB) next season. If he leaves then I honestly feel that our hopes of seriously competing for trophies will go with him.

We're unlucky really. In time we've shown that we can claw ourselves closer to a Billionaire's plaything. To have two of them in the league is just not cricket, as it were.

****s.

 

[daehanmingook]

The points we dropped at the beginning of the season are the key culprits for me. Levy thinking the season doesn't start until the transfer window closes... Can't blame the team for individual errors when we have a dumb club policy that guarantees for some points to be dropped. If we miss out on CL football, I won't blame Liverpool or Fulham but rather our start of season transfer policy.

 

[ItsBoris]

Kudos to King of Otters and Misfit, among others, really enjoyed reading the recent posts in this thread.

The biggest thing for me in terms of top four is not the money, the big nights, or the players we may be able to attract, but Bale and his future at WHL.

It hardly needs stressing that we have a remarkable talent on our hands, regardless of rivalry fans (RAWK notwithstanding) and players alike salute Bale for the genius he so obviously is. But I think we, as Spurs fans, are still in the eye of the storm in terms of truly appreciating how rare it is to find a player of his 'dimension' actually playing for our club. Bale is a once in a generation talent, the kind of player who will win titles for teams. His record this year of scoring unbelievable individual goals, at the most critical stages, is beyond all credibility and is unprecedented in the 20 odd years I've been following English football.

Bale will win trophies for teams, there's no doubt about that. There's also no doubt in my mind that he could do that at Spurs as, with a bit of investment in the squad this summer, we could be as strong as anyone going in to next season.

This is why I find this entire top 4 business so exasperating. To think that my dream of Bale leading us into a richly deserved era of success all rests on the fickle hope of us finishing top 4 this season is too depressing to even contemplate. Especially if you have the mentality of a seasoned Spurs fan, where you know, deep down, that at some point everything is going to turn to shit.

I think, having said all that, that I could quite easily come to terms with no CL football next season if we were 100% certain that Bale is going to stay. All our hopes rest on him, if he stays we will be a force to be reckoned with (providing Levy backs AVB) next season. If he leaves then I honestly feel that our hopes of seriously competing for trophies will go with him.

Exactly true, but I feel like we haven't even seen the best of Bale, because he's not surrounded by quality attacking players, he's literally doing it all on his own. Only 4 assists says it all - not his fault, if we had even decent strikers and creative players he would have double figures in assists too and probably many more goals. That's why it's so frustrating that Levy (or whoever is making these decisions) doesn't buy the players needed to take the extra step. A striker capable of scoring could have won us at least an extra 10 points this season, and we wouldn't even be worried about 4th.

It wouldn't take much to turn this squad into Champions imo, we have the advantage over every other team in that we have unquestionably imo the greatest player in the league. Surround him with quality and we could be incredibly good. It's not dependent on CL imo, we have the money I know that for sure. If we had 5 attacking players who could move, create spaces, and drag the other team's defense around we would be unthinkably good. If Levy doesn't back AVB this summer, CL or not, I'll be extremely pissed - they know what our team is capable of under AVB with a little bit of investment in the team.

Yep, it's pretty fucking remarkable really. We've lost a bit of style (well OK, quite a lot at times) but we've already gained, a season earlier than I could have anticipated, substance. We're not longer so up and down, even if uninspiring we don't suddenly fall intp a rut of half a dozen games which we have to haul ourselves out of.

Whatever happens this season, I am already excited at what we can achieve over the next few yrs if the coaching staff and players can be kept in place.

Maybe they're just making it look a bit too easy? You know, losing the spine of the team, having to integrate over half a first XI's worth of new signings into the squad, dealing with ridiculous injuries and an already unbalanced squad, whilst still new to the club themselves. I get the frustration but fuck me, all things considered, they're getting at least a B+ from me. Likely an A, even if we don't quite snatch a top 4 spot.

I am too, but that won't happen if we don't start investing. No top class player or manager is going to want to stay in a team that is stagnating. AVB is easily good enough to manage the top clubs in Europe I think, he won't stay around here if he's not backed and we would be losing a great asset if he decided to leave.

Some of the criticism though is pretty ridiculous. I think AVB has done an amazing job, sometimes people get tempted to blame him for the squad's weaknesses but that's not his fault. Done the best job he could with what he's been given I'd say.

 

[Locotoro]

Has anyone considered that AVB and Bale comments about staying regardless of CL football may be because we may have already wrapped up a significant transfer?

 

[Sandro30]

I'm pretty sure we will win at the bridge. Just got this gut feeling that we will come out like men possessed and win 1-3.

 

[scat1620]

Has anyone considered that AVB and Bale comments about staying regardless of CL football may be because we may have already wrapped up a significant transfer?

Loco, this post needs an Optimistic rating so big it could be seen from space. If we miss out on top 4 and Bale does stay then obviously we'll all be delighted that he did, but I think it's an unfathomably big leap of wishful thinking to even speculate that it's because we've already agreed a head-turning signing in advance for the summer that no one (press/ITKs) has had the faintest wind of so far.

 

[davros]

Has anyone considered that AVB and Bale comments about staying regardless of CL football may be because we may have already wrapped up a significant transfer?

I spend the months in between transfer windows considering precisely that. It starts out as an embryonic hunch, no more than a zygote of an inkling. Now the window is poised to engulf us in its wretched gape, I'm absolutely convinced Levy is about to announce a Roman-esque crop of world class signings.

 

[ryantegan]

Has anyone considered that AVB and Bale comments about staying regardless of CL football may be because we may have already wrapped up a significant transfer?

Leandro Damioa maybe?

 

[Locotoro]

Leandro Damioa maybe?

Or possibly Leandro Damiao?