Race for the Top 4 - 2018/19

[E17yid]

Shame Kompany didn’t ruin Salah with that tackle. Funny that you could see him calling Salah a pussy as he stood over him though.

 

[midoNdefoe]

I agree with a few others on here in that we are great when we are chasing the pack, but the moment it comes to the real crunch, we just lack that extra winning mentality to push us over the line. It’s all good denying it, but it has happened season after season and is the reason why we just don’t seem to win stuff.


The club needs to get the monkey off it’s back and produce a trophy this season simple as. Winning breeds success and even if it’s just the league cup, it will give us a platform to build on next season and the players will go into the season with a different mindset knowing full well this team have what it takes to win trophies.

If we Go another season plotless and it’s just the same us, always the bridesmaids, but never the bride. We have made huge strides under Pochettino and our mentality is obviously nowhere near “spursy” like before, but despite all this greatness, we still have nothing to show for it.

I would be incredibly disappointed if this Spurs side broke up and we won nothing. I just personally don’t think we have the bottle to win the league. Can we win it? Of course we can, we are more than capable, but answer me this question..... say in 2 months time we claw back all the points on City and Liverpool, we have a weekday game in hand to go top above them both, would you trust Spurs to get the 3 points to go top ? Be honest now. I certainly wouldn’t and I think the vast majority of Spurs fans have that doubt to still.

I think we are ever closer to that level of consistency. You would have said that going to Barca, having to match Inter's result was a standard no-hoper... but we got what we needed and played a weakened team off the park in the second half.
There is no reason, in my mind, to be nervous going into that situation anymore.

 

[rossdapep]

They really upped it last night, to be fair!

They did. I was thinking that in the opening moments, fair play to them.

Having said that once Liverpool equalised they dropped the decibels considerably, I dread to think what would have happened if Liverpool scored again. Maybe they were nervous but I hate this habit of fans going quiet when their team need them to drive them on in these moments.

 

[Sevens]

That's the spirit, half way through and "no way we're in the title race." Why not say it like it is, Liverpool bottled it last night, lucky to get away with a 2-1.

I don’t agree that Liverpool bottled it. If it had been at Anfield, then maybe. But City are favourites against any other Prem team at home. You can only bottle it when you are favourites to win.

As for us, we are 6 points behind. That’s a massive amount this time of the season. The chances are Liverpool may lose two or three more games this season but I think we are just as likely too as well. For us to win the title now I’d say we have to go through the rest of the season unbeaten and win 15 of our remaining fixtures.

 

[Hotspur88]

@scat1620 @beats1

No idea how you can disagree with a fact.

That is exactly what happened.

It's clear to the majority the lack of respect we receive from Sky.

 

[rossdapep]

I hope our boys, Poch and in particular Levy have been watching the likes of Neville and co scoff at our title chances. Even last night when suggesting this was a huge opportunity for Liverpool, he stated that the likes of United, Chelsea and City will be back in the title hunt sooner with no mention of us at all.

Whilst I can see why some don't believe we have what it takes, it would be pure bliss to see us defy all the odds and naysayers and go on to win a title.

If Liverpool had have had our injury problems and players late to preseason then I am certain they wouldn't be in this position, which goes to highlight how well we have done. Funny how Neville doesn't take that into consideration.

 

[worcestersauce]

I don’t agree that Liverpool bottled it. If it had been at Anfield, then maybe. But City are favourites against any other Prem team at home. You can only bottle it when you are favourites to win.

As for us, we are 6 points behind. That’s a massive amount this time of the season. The chances are Liverpool may lose two or three more games this season but I think we are just as likely too as well. For us to win the title now I’d say we have to go through the rest of the season unbeaten and win 15 of our remaining fixtures.

They bottled it, if that had been us people would say we bottled it so I'm just applying the same standards and six points does not equate to "no way we are in the title race" in my opinion.

 

[King of Otters]

Shame Kompany didn’t ruin Salah with that tackle. Funny that you could see him calling Salah a pussy as he stood over him though.

It was good, but I’m still waiting for someone to steamroll Salah with a running shoulder barge to finish the work Ramos started in the CL final.

 

[rossdapep]

I don’t agree that Liverpool bottled it. If it had been at Anfield, then maybe. But City are favourites against any other Prem team at home. You can only bottle it when you are favourites to win.

As for us, we are 6 points behind. That’s a massive amount this time of the season. The chances are Liverpool may lose two or three more games this season but I think we are just as likely too as well. For us to win the title now I’d say we have to go through the rest of the season unbeaten and win 15 of our remaining fixtures.

I don't think 6 points is a massive amount on face value, after all plenty of teams have overturned that amount in seasons gone by. What is probably the more challenging aspect is that Liverpool haven't dropped that many points, whereas we have lost 5, their form has been extremely consistent, therefore it's hard to see them drop points in another four or five games. Plenty of teams have done in the past though.

One thing I will state is that teams who generally build up a huge gap do have a couple of consecutive games in which they drop points but because they have such an outstanding gap it doesn't effect them. Liverpool cannot afford that kind of wobble now and they will be fully aware of that. That kind of pressure can break teams.

The second half of the season is much different to the first because now teams competing know that any trip up can prove decisive. In the first half of the season Liverpool will have been playing with more freedom and relaxation, enjoying the ride, that won't be the case anymore, the expectancy, the pressure, the memories of title failures in recent memory will start to come into play now. Let's hope that gets in their heads.

 

[King of Otters]

That's the spirit, half way through and "no way we're in the title race." Why not say it like it is, Liverpool bottled it last night, lucky to get away with a 2-1.

They forced City to play like Allardyce era Bolton at the end, desperately hoofing the ball into the stands in a blind panic.

I really hate this obsession with clubs ‘bottling it’ (particularly as it’s often aimed unfairly at Spurs). Sometimes you just get beat, or come up short in a title race to a better team. Not everything is a ‘bottle job’.

 

[worcestersauce]

I don't think 6 points is a massive amount on face value, after all plenty of teams have overturned that amount in seasons gone by. What is probably the more challenging aspect is that Liverpool haven't dropped that many points, whereas we have lost 5, their form has been extremely consistent, therefore it's hard to see them drop points in another four or five games. Plenty of teams have done in the past though.

One thing I will state is that teams who generally build up a huge gap do have a couple of consecutive games in which they drop points but because they have such an outstanding gap it doesn't effect them. Liverpool cannot afford that kind of wobble now and they will be fully aware of that. That kind of pressure can break teams.

The second half of the season is much different to the first because now teams competing know that any trip up can prove decisive. In the first half of the season Liverpool will have been playing with more freedom and relaxation, enjoying the ride, that won't be the case anymore, the expectancy, the pressure, the memories of title failures in recent memory will start to come into play now. Let's hope that gets in their heads.

Exactly, it's when the legends bottle.

 

[rossdapep]

They bottled it, if that had been us people would say we bottled it so I'm just applying the same standards and six points does not equate to "no way we are in the title race" in my opinion.

I'm not sure losing one game (to their biggest title challenger) in 21 is bottling it. Fergie used to lose these games, yet rarely bottled it. I understand what you are saying, as we'd certainly be getting that term thrown at us if it was the other way around.

Agree with your second sentence.

 

[worcestersauce]

They forced City to play like Allardyce era Bolton at the end, desperately hoofing the ball into the stands in a blind panic.

I really hate this obsession with clubs ‘bottling it’ (particularly as it’s often aimed unfairly at Spurs). Sometimes you just get beat, or come up short in a title race to a better team. Not everything is a ‘bottle job’.

I agree I hate it but people do aim it at us so I'm going to redress the balance come what may, why do people never use it about Liverpool after their implosion at the end of last season but use it about us every time we don't win, even when we win but not by enough?
City were the better more assured side yesterday and ought to have been further ahead well before the end.

 

[maltahotspur]

This from Sky, makes interesting reading.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...n-liverpool-man-city-and-spurs?basketId=11095

 

[eddiev14]

IMHO when people are constantly saying you can't do something, and you don't for few years you, start to believe in it. Media do not believe in us because we haven't won anything in years. Our players can start to think similar about themselves. We have to win something, even stupid Carabao Cup to give our team/club taste of glory so they believe they are winners.

I think that's true for the fans, but less so the players.

For me, the times we've fallen short have been more to do with inexperience (the Leicester-winning season where we had the youngest team in the league) or simply not having the squad to be consistent enough and cope with injuries, fatigue etc. while maintaining the same level of quality.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

I hope our boys, Poch and in particular Levy have been watching the likes of Neville and co scoff at our title chances. Even last night when suggesting this was a huge opportunity for Liverpool, he stated that the likes of United, Chelsea and City will be back in the title hunt sooner with no mention of us at all.

Whilst I can see why some don't believe we have what it takes, it would be pure bliss to see us defy all the odds and naysayers and go on to win a title.

If Liverpool had have had our injury problems and players late to preseason then I am certain they wouldn't be in this position, which goes to highlight how well we have done. Funny how Neville doesn't take that into consideration.

They will continue to scoff at our chances, until we match the others in terms of transfer investment. These so called experts believe that you will only be successful if you spend and continue to spend millions on transfers. They fail to realise that you can become successful through other routes, but these are too difficult for these guys to understand and articulate. They are far too lazy to understand our model and far too quick to dismiss it.

 

[Styopa]

In the (admittedly highly unlikely) event we did win the league, the narrative would quickly revert from what a fantastic achievement to can we keep our best players, will Poch stay, will we back our manager in the transfer market etc, etc, ad infinitum

 

[vegassd]

They will continue to scoff at our chances, until we match the others in terms of transfer investment. These so called experts believe that you will only be successful if you spend and continue to spend millions on transfers. They fail to realise that you can become successful through other routes, but these are too difficult for these guys to understand and articulate. They are far too lazy to understand our model and far too quick to dismiss it.

I agree, but think it goes a bit deeper than that with the mainstream media. Their job is to sell papers/web visits/air time but I think we are so heavily bombarded by it all these days that nothing is around long enough to be scrutinised. So you don't have to be making a point or even be truthful half the time... you just need to fill a bit of column space or air time with any old bollocks then it's all forgotten within a couple of days anyway.

I think it was Kelly Cates on Sky recently who actually called out one of the pundits after they said Spurs don't have the squad depth. She mentioned the number of injuries we had suffered and the relatively small number that Liverpool did as a point that there isn't that big of a depth problem, but the panel quickly swept past that and back onto the standard cliches so they can fill the air time, pick up their money and get home.

The easy things to talk about this season are Spurs not spending and having no squad depth, Liverpool spending big on VVD and Allison, Fernandinho being injured and City facing more pressure than last season. As a pundit, if you can wheel those points out to fill a 30 minute programme and still get booked for the following week it's much easier than doing any actual research or analysis.

 

[SE Spurs]

They will continue to scoff at our chances, until we match the others in terms of transfer investment. These so called experts believe that you will only be successful if you spend and continue to spend millions on transfers. They fail to realise that you can become successful through other routes, but these are too difficult for these guys to understand and articulate. They are far too lazy to understand our model and far too quick to dismiss it.

They will continue to Scoff at our chances, until we win when it matters most. Cup semis, CL knockouts, win at City, Anfield when it really matters, win when 3pts takes you top of the league. Show you can win the huge game, the biggest games. When you're even being mentioned as a title contender, don't lose to Wolves after leading at half time.
No matter how much we spent, until we do that, we wont be seen as truly serious contenders.

 

[dannythomas]

They will continue to Scoff at our chances, until we win when it matters most. Cup semis, CL knockouts, win at City, Anfield when it really matters, win when 3pts takes you top of the league. Show you can win the huge game, the biggest games. When you're even being mentioned as a title contender, don't lose to Wolves after leading at half time.
No matter how much we spent, until we do that, we wont be seen as truly serious contenders.

But it’s ok for City to lose at home to Palace from a goal up ?