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Race for the Top 4 - 2018/19

Where will we finish in the league ?


  • Total voters
    423
  • Poll closed .

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
As usual, it is our lack of quality back up that is the potential and likely problem. Already looking like Eriksen and Kane will be given little chance to rest or rotate, they are, once again, our only reliable source of creativity and goals. That isn't good enough for a top 4 team, 2 years running. Already, we are looking at our central midfield options and people are talking about' Josh' as some kind of saviour rather than a player who has never shown anything for us and did not impress at Villa. As for Winks, he needs to be properly fit before he can be really considered and there are worrying signs about that along with Wanyama and Lamela.
Really, it is our past mistakes that are costing us now - Aurier, N'Koudou, LLorente, Sissoko, Janssen not really up to the standard but we have found ourselves stuck with them now and having to make the best of it.
We might get away with it - top 4 - if Arsenal, Chelsea( and possibly 1 or 2 others) don't improve but I think it will be touch and go and key injuries will kill us.

the thing is who do you sign that's good enough to be able to rotate Kane or Eriksen? that would be willing to sit on the bench.

don't think it will be our lack of signings that will cost us, it will be the fact so many went to the later rounds of the WC. though surely it will effect other teams too, we wasn't the only team to have so many players at it. the 1 team that I think will benefit will unfortunately be Liverpool.

the injuries can happen to any team, and past mistakes Aurier I will hold my judgement till the end of this season, N'Koudou was a risk, sometimes those risks pay off. Llorente never had a pre season, and never really had enough starts or mins, and when he did start we never played to his strengths. Sissoko definitely a mistake, but funny thing is I don't think he has ever been to blame for an error that has been costly. Janssen was a risk, as would Batshuayi. never easy for a striker to be a back up, and had he had the breaks early on and settled and not had personal issues then who knows what would of happened. who would of thought Saldado would of been a flop
 

RichieS

Well-Known Member
Dec 23, 2004
11,916
16,436
the thing is who do you sign that's good enough to be able to rotate Kane or Eriksen? that would be willing to sit on the bench.

don't think it will be our lack of signings that will cost us, it will be the fact so many went to the later rounds of the WC. though surely it will effect other teams too, we wasn't the only team to have so many players at it. the 1 team that I think will benefit will unfortunately be Liverpool.

the injuries can happen to any team, and past mistakes Aurier I will hold my judgement till the end of this season, N'Koudou was a risk, sometimes those risks pay off. Llorente never had a pre season, and never really had enough starts or mins, and when he did start we never played to his strengths. Sissoko definitely a mistake, but funny thing is I don't think he has ever been to blame for an error that has been costly. Janssen was a risk, as would Batshuayi. never easy for a striker to be a back up, and had he had the breaks early on and settled and not had personal issues then who knows what would of happened. who would of thought Saldado would of been a flop
What some people seem to want is for us to maintain a second eleven where every individual is of equal quality to the first choice they replace. Ain't no squad in the world that has that.

A front 3 or 4 chosen from Alli, Lamela, Llorente, Lucas, Son would have plenty to see off any bottom half PL team imo. I think @homer hotspur does Alli and Son a massive disservice with the comment about relying on Eriksen and Kane for goals.

What's caused apparent problems in CM is the severity of the original injuries suffered by Wanyama and Winks. It was always going to be a long road back for both of them but thankfully they are almost there. We were hardly going to buy someone to cover what should now be a short term situation.
 

Colonel_Klinck

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2004
12,637
23,218
Well Liverpool still look a proper handful going forward. They might push Citeh all the way. I wish we had that kind of pace and skill up front. It’s bloody hard to defend against although Spammers defending was a joke.

Citeh, Liverpool, us and then probably ManU.
 

Chris Flynn

Well-Known Member
Aug 3, 2012
1,459
3,988
in some ways the lack of signings and having to use some academy players could work in our favour in future seasons.
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
Well Liverpool still look a proper handful going forward. They might push Citeh all the way. I wish we had that kind of pace and skill up front. It’s bloody hard to defend against although Spammers defending was a joke.

Citeh, Liverpool, us and then probably ManU.

was waiting for someone to post Liverpool looked good, and I know I said due to lack of players being involved in the WC or not going far into the comp could benefit them, but because it was v Wet Spam at home lets hold the panic button just yet
 

Colonel_Klinck

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2004
12,637
23,218
was waiting for someone to post Liverpool looked good, and I know I said due to lack of players being involved in the WC or not going far into the comp could benefit them, but because it was v Wet Spam at home lets hold the panic button just yet


They just look like they’ve carried on from where they left off last season. I still think they aren’t brilliant at the back but going forward they are lethal.
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
They just look like they’ve carried on from where they left off last season. I still think they aren’t brilliant at the back but going forward they are lethal.

depends on how they cope when teams visit and sit 11 behind the ball
 

homer hotspur

Well-Known Member
Dec 7, 2014
2,868
4,637
the thing is who do you sign that's good enough to be able to rotate Kane or Eriksen? that would be willing to sit on the bench.

don't think it will be our lack of signings that will cost us, it will be the fact so many went to the later rounds of the WC. though surely it will effect other teams too, we wasn't the only team to have so many players at it. the 1 team that I think will benefit will unfortunately be Liverpool.

the injuries can happen to any team, and past mistakes Aurier I will hold my judgement till the end of this season, N'Koudou was a risk, sometimes those risks pay off. Llorente never had a pre season, and never really had enough starts or mins, and when he did start we never played to his strengths. Sissoko definitely a mistake, but funny thing is I don't think he has ever been to blame for an error that has been costly. Janssen was a risk, as would Batshuayi. never easy for a striker to be a back up, and had he had the breaks early on and settled and not had personal issues then who knows what would of happened. who would of thought Saldado would of been a flop

This is the excuse several pundits come out with ie - how would Jack Grealish possibly get in the Spurs first 11, he should go elsewhere/ stay at Villa etc etc but that isn't reality. Nobody is expecting players x and y to come in and a) be as good as Kane, Eriksen etc or b) play instead of them in important matches. It is a long season , especially with CL, and players understand that there will be many opportunities with cups, suspensions, loss of form , rotation/injuries, as sub, different formations etc etc. It hasn't stopped our rivals strengthening. Personally I think it will be the likes of Eriksen and Kane who will feel most let down by the lack of a couple of new faces, especially Kane who must have been sold the prospect of re-inforcements when he signed his contract. I seriously doubt we will fare any better in January and I do think it is probably gong to cost us this season.
 

homer hotspur

Well-Known Member
Dec 7, 2014
2,868
4,637
What some people seem to want is for us to maintain a second eleven where every individual is of equal quality to the first choice they replace. Ain't no squad in the world that has that.

A front 3 or 4 chosen from Alli, Lamela, Llorente, Lucas, Son would have plenty to see off any bottom half PL team imo. I think @homer hotspur does Alli and Son a massive disservice with the comment about relying on Eriksen and Kane for goals.

What's caused apparent problems in CM is the severity of the original injuries suffered by Wanyama and Winks. It was always going to be a long road back for both of them but thankfully they are almost there. We were hardly going to buy someone to cover what should now be a short term situation.

Probably fair point about Alli and Son for goals but Eriksen is really the only truly creative player
 

DCSPUR

Well-Known Member
Apr 15, 2005
3,918
5,415
If only KDB had been targeted by and managed to leave for Barca.
Citeh would probably still win the league but they are nowhere close to the same team without him.
Can't believe he didn't get POTY last season!
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Can’t judge Liverpool on today. That was the most ridiculous defending I’ve ever seen from a PL team. West Ham literally refused to defend if the ball went in their box. Let’s see how they get on at palace.
 

nicdic

Official SC Padre
Admin
May 8, 2005
41,857
25,919
was waiting for someone to post Liverpool looked good, and I know I said due to lack of players being involved in the WC or not going far into the comp could benefit them, but because it was v Wet Spam at home lets hold the panic button just yet
Judging Liverpool against West Ham who they've scored four against in each of their last four meetings is like solely judging us by our form against Stoke.
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
Can’t judge Liverpool on today. That was the most ridiculous defending I’ve ever seen from a PL team. West Ham literally refused to defend if the ball went in their box. Let’s see how they get on at palace.

Well, to be fair, part of the reason West Ham looked so poor defending is that Liverpool were so aggressive in attacking. West Ham will not be the last team to look poor defensively against Liverpool.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
Well, to be fair, part of the reason West Ham looked so poor defending is that Liverpool were so aggressive in attacking. West Ham will not be the last team to look poor defensively against Liverpool.

Why would we ever be fair to west ham?
 

adamsky

Well-Known Member
Dec 8, 2006
1,683
4,455
We knew Liverpool were gonna be good. The team that is worrying me is Chelsea. They look very strong. Conte lost the players last season but if they all buy into Sarri they will be tough to come ahead of. The one advantage we have is that they don’t have a top proven no.9. Let’s hope that Morata continues to struggle
 

Indacupfortottenham

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2013
1,110
1,955
Proof is in the pudding for me - this relatively young squad and coaching staff up until city’s win yesterday had earned more points than any other team in 2018, and I’m confident they will only get better.
Barring injuries we are definitely in the title race in my opinion.
 
Last edited:

ralvy

AVB my love
Jun 26, 2012
2,505
4,603
Obviously got an agenda but I thought sensible comments from Klopp:

“Tottenham were a fantastic team and they also finished ahead of us. They didn’t bring in anybody but they are still a fantastic team who will develop. I said a few years ago about the Dortmund team of 2011 or 2012 that if somebody said to me then: ‘You can keep that team together for the next four years or you can get this and that player but you have to sell him and him …’ I would have said: ‘No, I’ll keep that team together.’ If it’s good, it’s good. Tottenham are not weaker than last year, they are just more experienced.”

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/aug/10/jurgen-klopp-liverpool-rocky-balboa-not-ivan-drago

I love Klopp!

Fuck, I'm such a slut.
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
This is the excuse several pundits come out with ie - how would Jack Grealish possibly get in the Spurs first 11, he should go elsewhere/ stay at Villa etc etc but that isn't reality. Nobody is expecting players x and y to come in and a) be as good as Kane, Eriksen etc or b) play instead of them in important matches. It is a long season , especially with CL, and players understand that there will be many opportunities with cups, suspensions, loss of form , rotation/injuries, as sub, different formations etc etc. It hasn't stopped our rivals strengthening. Personally I think it will be the likes of Eriksen and Kane who will feel most let down by the lack of a couple of new faces, especially Kane who must have been sold the prospect of re-inforcements when he signed his contract. I seriously doubt we will fare any better in January and I do think it is probably gong to cost us this season.

But Grealish wasn’t cover for Eriksen, the only real signings we could of made to really improve the team would of been a replacement for Dembele, and to find someone better than him isn’t that easy. His strengths would be very hard to match, though his weaknesses would of meant finding a very special player, not many of them about that’s available.

The only other position would be if Wanyama is totally crooked, and until we see how bad he really is then no point in buying when Dier can play there.

Your not going to find a guaranteed top notch cover for Kane, that’s going to sit on the bench, note I said guaranteed
 
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