Race for the Top 4 - 2017/18

[Gb160]

Not with us though mate I'm not saying this is the root cause of our lack of success there are many factors to consider, I just think it may help our manager's cause a bit but then hey what do I know I'm no football manager.

But surely anyone we bring in won't have won anything with us either?
I think the problem lies in the fact to really push on and seriously challenge the clubs above us and actually win trophies, would require us to bring in players who would automatically be amongst our very top earners, £150 kpw and upwards type players, which doesn't seem like something we're likely to do imo.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

But surely anyone we bring in won't have won anything with us either?
I think the problem lies in the fact to really push on and seriously challenge the clubs above us and actually win trophies, would require us to bring in players who would automatically be amongst our very top earners, £150 kpw and upwards type players, which doesn't seem like something we're likely to do imo.

Thank fuck it wasn't just me!

 

[Lilbaz]

Not with us though mate I'm not saying this is the root cause of our lack of success there are many factors to consider, I just think it may help our manager's cause a bit but then hey what do I know I'm no football manager.

So we should bring in a few players that have won things with us?

 

[Gb160]

Thank fuck it wasn't just me!

Maybe @shelfboy68 wants us to sign Robbie Keane and Berbatov

 

[WexfordTownSpur]

Bringing in a couple of players who have previously experienced winning something would help the manager's cause.

Yes good point but who? I assume having someone who has won something in the premier league is what we need rather than a cup winner in Spain where winning the CL is all they care about or the Dutch league where the league cup is worthless. I can’t believe I’m saying this but even a Rooney type figure in the dressing room might help?

 

[WexfordTownSpur]

But surely anyone we bring in won't have won anything with us either?
I think the problem lies in the fact to really push on and seriously challenge the clubs above us and actually win trophies, would require us to bring in players who would automatically be amongst our very top earners, £150 kpw and upwards type players, which doesn't seem like something we're likely to do imo.

Or maybe we just need players who play with real blood and guts, with heart. I think of players like Milner, even Ashley Young. The last player we had like that was Parker? I guess you could say Verts, but not to many others. Rose had it at one point but seems to have lost it. Alli just gets pissed off. Some games Lamela has it but most he doesn’t. I guess Harry used to have it, just played his heart out and ran and ran, but maybe he is just knackered? Dier certainly has the makings of what we need but again some games just doesn’t show up at all.
Anyway I don’t know just feels like we need more, and especially at this time of the season.

 

[shelfboy68]

Yes good point but who? I assume having someone who has won something in the premier league is what we need rather than a cup winner in Spain where winning the CL is all they care about or the Dutch league where the league cup is worthless. I can’t believe I’m saying this but even a Rooney type figure in the dressing room might help?

I tried that earlier but some others started getting pedantic about so I left it but yes bringing in one or two with past experience would help our fantastic manager he just needs to get something across the line and I firmly believe that the rest will come or I hope at least.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

Pedantic over someone not making any fucking sense.

This place sometimes.

 

[shelfboy68]

Pedantic over someone not making any fucking sense.

This place sometimes.

Really what a silly little man you are and strange.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

Really what a silly little man you are and strange.

You never answered either of the two posters above who asked you the same thing I am on about.

Clarity when making statements is only fair, no?

You want to bring in experience, someone who has won something but not from abroad. So Jonny Evans?

 

[djee]

The 9-day rest between the Cup defeat and Watford may well prove incredibly significant for us now. Following the massive performance at the Bridge, we started showing signs of fatigue. We got rather lucky at Stoke and punished for an uncharacteristically sluggish start against an enormously talented City side that were hurting and looking to take out on the next team they faced. A hangover seemed to extend a few days and manifested itself in a dreadful performance at the AMEX where, in honesty, we were fortunate to get away with a point. Utd were better than us and we paid once again for a sub-standard effort. In essence, the past 3 weeks have been dire. Kane has perhaps rushed himself back and several otherwise reliable stars have simply not been anywhere the level they were reaching prior to the CFC game.

The players are clearly down and the manager seemingly brooding about recent events. The atmosphere can't be great at the moment with the squad morale mirroring perhaps that of the fans. That said, I genuinely believe that time is a healer. We needed this break. I am sure that when they look at the table and realize what has been achieved so far - the lead we have over CFC (that btw, was 2 points at around the 43-minute mark at the Bridge) along with the fixtures left, they will be pumped to finish strongly. I have a strong sense that Watford may be on the wrong side of an absolute hammering.

Just as awesome performances against Utd, Liverpool, Madrid, Dortmund, Arsenal, CFC, Juve have not made us the greatest side in Europe, our recent slump has not turned us into a rubbish one. We should be confident of a strong finish - 3 home games and an away trip to WBA isn't always as straightforward as it looks on paper but this team is bloody good. If we can wrest momentum back on a charged Monday night at Wembley, it would be a brave person to bet against us ending up 4th or even 3rd.

CFC seem to have hit some form but still need 2 victories at least - games against Swansea and Liverpool are not the dead certs some are making out. Regardless, I am confident order will be restored and by 6 pm Saturday week, we will feel a great deal better about our club!

 

[lukespurs7]

So we should bring in a few players that have won things with us?

Get Jenas,
Berbatov and Dobbie Keane back

 

[lukespurs7]

Time to be optimistic. While I'm frustrated at the lack of progress on transfers I'm hopeful that by the end of the window we will have a quality replacement for Walker, Barkley and hopefully a wing forward like Keita Balde. If we managed that and the other teams don't add much else I'd be quietly confident about challenging again, with Wembley of course being the wild card.

Once again I think the so called experts / pundits confuse money spent, not even net spend, with automatic improvement in results. I'm not that convinced by the transfer activity at our competitors so far. I also don't think they account for the abilities of the manager. I think we have the best manager with the least ego who can both improve individuals and make the sum greater than the parts. Last year his challenge was to figure out tactically how to defeat teams who defended deep and he did this by moving to a very fluid formation that interchanged seamlessly between 3 and 4 at the back. This year he needs to figure out how to overcome the high press employed by Klopp and Guardiola, I have no doubt he will do this.

Chelsea - have replaced Zouma with Ruddiger, might be an upgrade but unclear, replaced Matic with Bakoyoko, unclear this is much of an upgrade, and Costa with Morata, I actually think this is a backward step as Costa has been so important to Chelsea. However, I very much doubt they are done and if they add then I expect them to be the main challengers for the title.

City - can't argue with the quality of their acquisitions but they still have a weak spine, particularly if Kompany gets injured. Their problem last year was defending and while they have improved their FBs I still think they will be suspect defensively.

Liverpool - I don't get their business, they so need a GK, at least one CB and a quality LB and all they've done is sign an average LB and yet another speedy winger. I think their season will be very similar to last year, they will look exhilarating at times but ultimately be undone by their defence and CMs.

Goons - no doubt Lacazette is quality but the Sanchez saga will hang over them, if he goes it hurts them badly and if he stays it will be talked about all season. Like Liverpool their weaknesses in central defence and midfield haven't been addressed, the final aspect is the poisonous fan split on Wenger, a few bad results and that will rear its head. Famous last words but I don't see them getting back in the top 4.

United - totally over hyped in my opinion. Replaced Ibra with Lukaku which I don't see as an upgrade, bought a fairly average CH in Lindeloff and added another water carrier in Matic. Their issue last year was turning draws into wins at home and they haven't done anything yet to address this.

Everton - spent a lot of money to buy over half a new team, very rarely does this work out. Add to this that they've sold their top scorer and are definitely losing their top creator and again I'm sceptical Koeman can move them forward as much as the media think.

So come on Mr Levy get us the final pieces to our squad jigsaw and let's complete the series:
2015/16 3rd
2016/17 2nd
2017/18 1st

COYS !!!

This post is looking pretty bloody funny now mate especially Liverpool
Signing just ‘another speedy winger’ oh you mean 43 goal season Mo Salah ???
And city’s spine has looked pretty week this season as they’ve demolished everyone.

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

This post is looking pretty bloody funny now mate especially Liverpool
Signing just ‘another speedy winger’ oh you mean 43 goal season Mo Salah ???
And city’s spine has looked pretty week this season as they’ve demolished everyone.

Really ? Look at how much was right. Very easy to snipe when you don’t put your own neck on the line and then come back with the benefit of hindsight.

 

[coys200]

That Roma come back May do us a favour. At 5-0 Klopp could have gone strong against stoke and played weakened in Rome. Now will have to go weak against Stoke. They are thread bare in midfield Milner Henderson wjnal only fit. Ings and solanke the front 3 rotation. Klavan and Moreno at back could be an awful team for stoke. If they draw it’s then really on with Chelsea could be level points going into last game. If they didn’t win CL and missed top 4 would be hysterical after all this.

 

[spursfan77]

That Roma come back May do us a favour. At 5-0 Klopp could have gone strong against stoke and played weakened in Rome. Now will have to go weak against Stoke. They are thread bare in midfield Milner Henderson wjnal only fit. Ings and solanke the front 3 rotation. Klavan and Moreno at back could be an awful team for stoke. If they draw it’s then really on with Chelsea could be level points going into last game. If they didn’t win CL and missed top 4 would be hysterical after all this.

I agree with what you’re saying but unfortunately stoke are terrible and seem to be bereft of ideas in front of goal or have bad finishers. If they were playing a better team then I would wholeheartedly agree.

 

[WexfordTownSpur]

I agree with what you’re saying but unfortunately stoke are terrible and seem to be bereft of ideas in front of goal or have bad finishers. If they were playing a better team then I would wholeheartedly agree.

Agree I can’t see Liverpool losing this. I know it’s possible but I don’t see Roma coming back and winning 3-0 at home the way they played last night. I know they beat Barca but this is a totally different team so much pace and like most teams ( including stoke) they won’t be able to handle it. Moe will play sat he wants golden boot and they took him of early. They can put Moe on the bench if they need to and rest him after he scores he’s second v stoke?.
Yes 5-2 is better than 5-0 but can’t see Liverpool not scoring to be honest

 

[Graysonti]

That Roma come back May do us a favour. At 5-0 Klopp could have gone strong against stoke and played weakened in Rome. Now will have to go weak against Stoke. They are thread bare in midfield Milner Henderson wjnal only fit. Ings and solanke the front 3 rotation. Klavan and Moreno at back could be an awful team for stoke. If they draw it’s then really on with Chelsea could be level points going into last game. If they didn’t win CL and missed top 4 would be hysterical after all this.

I would laugh for days and smile for weeks

 

[nasescoba1985]

Can't even get myself up for this game or the rest of the season. That cup exit has proper knocked the wind out of me. I have been let down far to many times by this club and last Saturday almost seemed like the last straw. It wasn't just the defeat, but the manner of it. They love to talk the talk this Spurs team, but barely do they walk the walk when it truely matters. If they can't get themselves up for a Cup semi final, then you need to question Are this lot really as good as we think ? Look at Liverpool last night, they might of conceded 2 sloppy goals, but in a huge game that mattered, they delivered. Spurs unfortunately don't and never do, sick and tired of it.

 

[Cavehillspur]

If we fail to beat Watford on Monday I really fear for our top 4 hopes, hopefully the team can show some fight for the remaining games and get us over the line but its not looking as straightforward as it was 2 weeks ago.