Race for the Top 4 - 2018/19

[dontcallme]

If last season we finished top four, got to the CL final then spent big we would be getting bigged up too.

Yes not to Liverpool levels but the media and fans are so obsessed with the transfer market that any big purchase gets seen as immediate improvement.

 

[pablo73]

What exactly have Liverpool done to be crowned the best / second best team in the country? It's bizarre, Spurs and United both finished above them last season, but this season the pundits are acting like we are a irrelevance and Liverpool have already been crowned champions.

Because it was very close last season between the three of us and they have proactively addressed the main weaknesses in their squad, whereas we (nor United to a lesser extent) have not done that. Time will tell on their purchases but Keita and Alisson are already looking like major upgrades for them. I'm quite happy for us to go under the radar anyway and for them to get all the hype and pressure.

 

[WiganSpur]

Because it was very close last season between the three of us and they have proactively addressed the main weaknesses in their squad, whereas we (nor United to a lesser extent) have not done that. Time will tell on their purchases but Keita and Alisson are already looking like major upgrades for them. I'm quite happy for us to go under the radar anyway and for them to get all the hype and pressure.

That's what i'm hoping for with the Scousers. If they keep doing this well then all the hype and expectation could get to them and there's potential for a bottle job later on in the season if they're a few points in the lead. They're a bit like us in that they haven't won the league (or even a trophy for that matter) for years and the expectations are much higher at Liverpool than they are here at Spurs.

I definitely think they'll be top 3 though, we will have to do very well to finish above them again.

 

[spursfan77]

Because it was very close last season between the three of us and they have proactively addressed the main weaknesses in their squad, whereas we (nor United to a lesser extent) have not done that. Time will tell on their purchases but Keita and Alisson are already looking like major upgrades for them. I'm quite happy for us to go under the radar anyway and for them to get all the hype and pressure.

I definitely wanted us to buy players in the summer but they had bigger problem areas to address than we did. Their squad looks stronger than last season for it too.

 

[piedpiper]

What exactly have Liverpool done to be crowned the best / second best team in the country? It's bizarre, Spurs and United both finished above them last season, but this season the pundits are acting like we are a irrelevance and Liverpool have already been crowned champions.

I'd say their form last season, them beating City in the PL at Anfield and then doing it again over 2 legs in the CL. as well as getting to the Final of the CL... Id also say their attacking style of play is closest to the way city play. Then topping it off was that they spent big in the transfer window strengthening key areas. They perceived by pundits as ambitious... We i suspect are perceived as making up the numbers by the same pundits.

 

[Giovanni]

I really really hope that all those coming out and saying liverpool are no good and cant win the league are correct........but i fear not.
They bought well, score goals, strengthened there weaknesses and have momentum. Imo last season they would have finished above us if they had been knocked out of the cl at the same stage as us.

 

[shelfboy68]

I really really hope that all those coming out and saying liverpool are no good and cant win the league are correct........but i fear not.
They bought well, score goals, strengthened there weaknesses and have momentum. Imo last season they would have finished above us if they had been knocked out of the cl at the same stage as us.

We are a good team ourselves but I think Liverpool have more variation and pace within their squad than we have imo, the only thing in our favour is that the squad has been together for a while so everyone understands their roles but yes I fully expect them to finish above us and will be surprised if they don't.

 

[ShaunL84]

Tomorrow will tell us a lot about this side, have we pushed on a level from last year?

If not, we're in a battle for Top 4 with Chelsea, United & Arsenal.

 

[spids]

Hats off to Liverpool, they had a very decent season last year, got better as the season went on, and have significantly strengthened their squad this summer.

Allison in goal is a major upgrade.
Keita in CM also looks like an upgrade and significantly means Scousers can tactically foul a lot more as they have much more strength in depth in CM and can carry suspensions. Don’t forget they also signed Fabinho from Monaco.
Shaqiri gives them a plan B against teams who park the bus.
In Salah, Mane and Firmino they have serious fire power.

They are an upwardly mobile club and I expect them to be the only team who can challenge Man City this year.

 

[wrd]

Tomorrow will tell us a lot about this side, have we pushed on a level from last year?

If not, we're in a battle for Top 4 with Chelsea, United & Arsenal.

Don't agree with this, it's one game, Wolves drew with city, Brighton beat United. I see tomorrow as a free swing having won our first 2 games, it won't define our season.

 

[ShaunL84]

Don't agree with this, it's one game, Wolves drew with city, Brighton beat United. I see tomorrow as a free swing having won our first 2 games, it won't define our season.

It's time to lay down a marker. Sides who win titles go to rivals and win.

 

[Sandros Shiny Head]

It's time to lay down a marker. Sides who win titles go to rivals and win.

No they don't

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

What exactly have Liverpool done to be crowned the best / second best team in the country? It's bizarre, Spurs and United both finished above them last season, but this season the pundits are acting like we are a irrelevance and Liverpool have already been crowned champions.

there's nothing in the slightest bit bizarre about it if you put aside your irrational bias and take notice of what's actually happening. we finished a whole TWO points ahead of them last season, which suggests there really wasn't anything between the two teams. and whether you want to accept it or not, they have gotten A LOT better, and have a team/squad capable of not just challenging for the title but winning it also. we do not. it's really that simple.

 

[ShaunL84]

No they don't

City won at Old Trafford last year. Played them off the park.

We can do the same, we're that good.

 

[danielneeds]

Got to admit - I never saw a perfect 9 points from these first three games, going into the season.

That we’ve done it is testament to Poch’s quality, and a little slice of luck here and there.

Long may it continue!

 

[Mr Pink]

Where's that mug who was arguing with me at the start of this thread.

Oh yeah, he's on ignore lol

 

[Lilbaz]

there's nothing in the slightest bit bizarre about it if you put aside your irrational bias and take notice of what's actually happening. we finished a whole TWO points ahead of them last season, which suggests there really wasn't anything between the two teams. and whether you want to accept it or not, they have gotten A LOT better, and have a team/squad capable of not just challenging for the title but winning it also. we do not. it's really that simple.

Maybe. They have bought good players, but we are only 3 games in. They have a great team but don't underestimate ours. We have a lot of players back from injury that we didn't have last season. We just need to keep picking up 3 points.

 

[popstar7]

Irritated the f**k out of me tonight the 5Live presenter asking (I think) Chris Sutton if we had what it takes to challenge City and Liverpool for the title. We have a better squad than Liverpool and their first XI is no better than ours. I still expect City to win by 5-10 points. Next best is between us and Liverpool - the idea they're on a par with City and we're playing catch up is a joke.

 

[Lighty64]

the next 2 games are biggies, at the moment against last seasons ops we are +5pts and 5pts better off than we were last season after 3 games. a win away to Watford (which would of been at home had we known about the stadium) means another plus 2 on the game for game, and still 5pts after 4. Liverpool will be the bigger of course a real 6pointer. important not to lose but a win would be a dream, hope Loveren is back for that 1

 

[philip]

Jamie Chhharragher was really getting on my nerves tonight with his analysis after the match. As well as bigging up Liverpool on every opportunity, he said that Spurs haven't got a squad of 24/25 players, just a first team (obviously means top class players).

Obviously Kane is irreplaceable, but so is Salah! Our top class squad is.

Lloris, Vorm,
Trippier, Aurier, Walker-Peters
Davies, Rose
Alderweireld, Sanchez
Vertonghen, Foyth
Dier, Wanyama,
Dembele, Winks,
Alli, Sissoko, Onomah
Moura, Lamela
Eriksen, Son
Kane, Llorente

That's 24 (excluding Gazzaniga, Amos, NKoudou & Janssen) and apart from Foyth & Llorente, I'm struggling to find a weak second choice option.


Now let's compare that with Liverpool's 24

Alisson, Mignolet
Alexander-Arnold, Clyne
Robertson, Moreno
Van Dijk, Lovren
Gomez, Matip
Keita, Fabinho,
Milner, Lallana, Wijnaldum
Henderson, Shaqiri
Mane, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Solanke
Firminho, Sturridge
Salah, Origi

That's also 24 (having left out a third keeper, Markovic, and a couple of youngsters)


Frankly, and I really really don't think I'm bring biased, but I'd take all of our second choices ahead of theirs except obviously Shaqiri ahead of Sissoko, Origi ahead of Llorente and Matip ahead of Foyth!