Race for the Top 4 - 2018/19

[St José Dominguez]

'Race for the top 4' is so 3 weeks ago, I think the title of this thread should be changed. All the players were talking about trying to win the league after todays game, that's our clubs aim and if we can't it then becomes a top 4 aim.

 

[Woland]

'Race for the top 4' is so 3 weeks ago, I think the title of this thread should be changed. All the players were talking about trying to win the league after todays game, that's our clubs aim and if we can't it then becomes a top 4 aim.

"So 3 weeks ago" is what they're probably posting on KUMB in their pinned thread "The race for the Title, CL, and WC 2022"

 

[Pellshek]

Fergie's secret sauce, especially in his early seasons of domination, was squad stability and familiarity season to season. He was more active in the transfer market as the years wore on, but it was amazing in those early seasons how he never really seemed to do much with his squad, but it still crushed, playing fantastic football.

Fergie's spine was Schmeicel-Bruce-Keane-Scholes-Giggs-Cole. His other solid, multi-year regs: Beckham, the Nevilles, Solskjaer, Yorke and Butt. He added reinforcements as needed: Cantona, Sheringham, and latterly van Persie.

Not hard to replace those names with our current crop and see a similar pattern (although we're still not nearly as good as those great United teams). This seems to be the approach Poch is taking.

 

[tttcowan]

I don't think we should change it. As a reminder of how pessimistic people were. Think for yourselves, don't drink the sky coolade. We hadn't lost anyone, we had a young team anyway. And we'd come 3rd, 2nd and 3rd.... Why people expected us to come 5th, 6th or below is beyond me.

More people thought we'd come 5th or 6th than 1st or 2nd.(And I imagine some of those 1st votes weren't serious). Shame. Shame. Shane.

 

[Kspur]

Funny, I was also going to propose a renaming of the thread

“Tottenham’s title charge”

?

 

[TH1239]

This is the deepest talent pool the Premier League has ever had. This also is the best squad Spurs have had in the Premier League era. The strain of four competitions will be a heavy burden, so I wouldn't begrudge Poch focusing on CL/EPL. We should have enough in the squad to get us through the early stages of the domestic cups before re-assessing our position.

If Dembele stays healthy and starts most weeks (really crucial), Lucas continues to look immense, and we can get key squad members like Wanyama, Rose, and Lamela back fully integrated and regularly rotating in, then there's more than a puncher's chance that this squad can win the title. Chelsea, Liverpool, and City are all excellent sides, too, but our squad's dominance against non-top 6 sides of late, coupled with strong performances at home, give us a chance to get to that 90-95 point plateau that will probably win it this season.

 

[dontcallme]

At this early stage ourselves, Liverpool and City are looking very good.

Arsenal look in pieces.

I thought Utd would be a solid, unspectacular side but they look poor.

Haven’t really paid attention to Chelsea.

So top three is looking good at this very early stage.

If Alderweireld performs to his best for the rest of the season then we have the best centre back pairing in the league again.

Could be a great year for us.

 

[Marty]

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.

I totally agree about Liverpool, but totally disagree with this. We are a lot better than you give us credit for and I think last night was a huge statement in that regard.

And who would've thunk that our first actual top four clash of the season would be away at Watford.

 

[aussie spur]

...
Haven’t really paid attention to Chelsea.

So top three is looking good at this very early stage.

Not having a go mate, but this little bit of "logic" made me smile. At least you said "at this stage", so I take it that we are looking good for top FOUR once you have had time to consider Chelsea? If so, I agree!

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I'm not sure I would say we're looking 'very good'. I don't feel we've been near our best in any way, though the second half yesterday was great.

What's encouraging is that we've played poorly for a large portion of the season and yet have managed to get 9 points.

But so have Chelsea and Liverpool, and you have to think City will be similar to last season. It's an encouraging start, but there's a long, long way to go, and I still feel like I'm taking a deep breath in until things get more settled with the stadium and central midfield. Would love Winks and Wanyama to come back fit and firing

But the doom and gloom of the close season has passed thanks to some encouraging results and that's crucial, otherwise at this point the narrative would be about Poch and the players leaving because of a lack of 'transfer ambition'

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

I totally agree about Liverpool, but totally disagree with this. We are a lot better than you give us credit for and I think last night was a huge statement in that regard.

And who would've thunk that our first actual top four clash of the season would be away at Watford.

We’ll see. As impressively we’ve started, I really don’t think we’re equipped to go all the way.

 

[dontcallme]

Not having a go mate, but this little bit of "logic" made me smile. At least you said "at this stage", so I take it that we are looking good for top FOUR once you have had time to consider Chelsea? If so, I agree!

I am still largely judging teams by last season.

I believe ourselves, City and Liverpool are very strong regardless of summer transfer activity.

Utd are hard to judge. On one hand I expect a Jose team to be solid but then there is that part thinking there is something wrong there, his time might even be coming to an end.

I believe we are stronger than Chelsea and they are a mess. That is regardless of how well they start. Guess I just don’t see them as much of a threat.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

Fergie's secret sauce, especially in his early seasons of domination, was squad stability and familiarity season to season. He was more active in the transfer market as the years wore on, but it was amazing in those early seasons how he never really seemed to do much with his squad, but it still crushed, playing fantastic football.

Fergie's spine was Schmeicel-Bruce-Keane-Scholes-Giggs-Cole. His other solid, multi-year regs: Beckham, the Nevilles, Solskjaer, Yorke and Butt. He added reinforcements as needed: Cantona, Sheringham, and latterly van Persie.

Not hard to replace those names with our current crop and see a similar pattern (although we're still not nearly as good as those great United teams). This seems to be the approach Poch is taking.

Totally agree about how United used that formula for their success back then and how it's helping us now.
The only flaw is that United barely had a challenger in those days. Blackburn blew them away one season with money. Newcastle tried it in the following few seasons but failed miserably. Then along came Arsene to rock the boat. By the time Chelsea won the lotto and City won the Euro Millions there was no way United, or anyone really, could rest on that formula.

I think we'll do better than predicted this season, but I'd still put my money on a City/Liverpool 1-2

 

[Lighty64]

I don't think we should change it. As a reminder of how pessimistic people were. Think for yourselves, don't drink the sky coolade. We hadn't lost anyone, we had a young team anyway. And we'd come 3rd, 2nd and 3rd.... Why people expected us to come 5th, 6th or below is beyond me.

More people thought we'd come 5th or 6th than 1st or 2nd.(And I imagine some of those 1st votes weren't serious). Shame. Shame. Shane.

But my names not Shane, it’s Alan

We are 3 games in, and with the possibility of burnout and new stadium cyndrome and not strengthening the CM, or taking possible injuries into account means I chose 5th, with the bonus of if we finish higher then I’ll be happier. If we finish outside the top 4 I’ll be gutted but it will be due to the 3 things I’ve mentioned.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I am still largely judging teams by last season.

I believe ourselves, City and Liverpool are very strong regardless of summer transfer activity.

Utd are hard to judge. On one hand I expect a Jose team to be solid but then there is that part thinking there is something wrong there, his time might even be coming to an end.

I believe we are stronger than Chelsea and they are a mess. That is regardless of how well they start. Guess I just don’t see them as much of a threat.

A squad like Chelsea's just cannot be written off IMO. The likes of Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic and Hazard would get in our first XI I'd say, and it's likely that Willian and Alonso would have a shout.

Don't get wrong, I think we're better placed, but they've got some great players (as you'd expect them to with the money they've spent) and I'm not ruling them out at all

 

[JCRD]

I think there is an edge about us this season and by that what I mean is we are talking like we are aiming high and being proactive about it. We haven't yet hit our heights and don't mind that but started off this season like we mean business and Poch has come out all guns blazing.

It feels like, us not signing anyone, with the media having a go at us has not only galvanised us but our players have said fuck you, we are good enough without anyone else.

I think Liverscum and Watford are big games and if we can come out of that with at least four points we a solid foundation for the four or five games after that - which are all winnable and would need to win to really make a charge.

WE ARE GONNA WIN THE LEAGUE BABY!!!

 

[dontcallme]

A squad like Chelsea's just cannot be written off IMO. The likes of Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic and Hazard would get in our first XI I'd say, and it's likely that Willian and Alonso would have a shout.

Don't get wrong, I think we're better placed, but they've got some great players (as you'd expect them to with the money they've spent) and I'm not ruling them out at all

Sure but I judge the team over the individuals.

I believe they have deep problems that go deeper than personnel.

I don’t think a shiny new signing will change their consistency.

 

[coys200]

I think winks and wanyama fitness could be key and if one of Amos or Onomah really stepped up. It feels like the area we all doubted is the obvious weakness CM. In all 3 games we’ve looked vulnerable in there. Not so much creativity wise, we’ve scored 8 and missed a hatful of chances. I’m more worried how badly our CM are protecting our back 4. We’ve given up way to many chances that could have been costly. Definitely feels like we need more control and energy in there and winks could be key to that.

 

[SpartanSpur]

I feel like pundits are being a bit harsh on our depth. City-aside I'd put ours up there against the rest of the top 6. Although a lot of that hinges on the return to fitness of Winks (sounds promising after his op), Lamela and Wanyama but we do have quality in our second string.

Yes a Kane or Eriksen injury would hurt us, but so would Chelsea losing Hazard or Kante or Liverpool missing Salah, Van Dijk or Mane. Harder to pinpoint ones for Arsenal and Utd but that's because no one consistently delivers for them anyway!

We have top class cover at CB with Sanchez, Vorm is a good backup GK, Wanyama is a top DM backup, we often rotate full backs, Lamela and Winks would start in most non top-6 teams and Son would probably be the best player in those teams too.

CM needs to be looked at going forward, and possibly full back areas could be upgraded, but aside from that I like our squad, I think we have good options for Kane cover in Son, Lucas and even possibly Dele and Lamela.

We certainly have enough for a top 4 finish and some good cup runs at least this season IMHO.

 

[coys200]

Actually starting to think that mentality wise Wembley may do us a favour long term. It’s taken away the dependence of a home stadium you can use as a crutch. I think it’s made us tougher. Is it a coincidence in the space of 6 months we’ve had our best 2 results at the bridge and Old Trafford in recent memory. The Home and away thing is 80% psychological. Maybe Wembley has lessened that percentage.