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Realistically Speaking...

Krule

Carpe Diem
Jun 4, 2017
4,534
8,686
Without allowing optimism or pessimism to take total control of your senses I would like to ask the following question and will be most interested to see your replies.

Taking into account our previous two seasons, the fact we are having to undergo a transitional year playing at Wembley and current developments in the transfer market regarding both ourselves and our title rivals...what would realistically be considered by yourself as an acceptable outcome for the 2017/18 season with anything above that being a much appreciated bonus ??

For myself I would be quite satisfied to see at least another top four finish, quarter finals of the CPL and for that elusive bit of silverware....an FA Cup win. I feel we are perfectly capable of producing yet another strong challenge for the title but that perhaps Wembley may be a stumbling block to our aspirations. I also think the squad capable of reaching at least the qtr final stages of Europe's top competition and that this may just be our year to lift the FA Cup.....

So what do you think / expect ??
 

FITZ

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2004
2,017
1,518
Another top four finish as a minimum. We need to keep the run going and CL at the new stadium.
 

Led's Zeppelin

Can't Re Member
May 28, 2013
7,333
20,178
1st would be acceptable.

But so would 2nd or 3rd. Or even 4th at a pinch.

Winning a cup would be acceptable, but so would not winning a cup if we do at least as well in the league as we did last season and finish above a good few of our serious competitors.

So, all depends really. Being realistic.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,512
I don't go by setting targets in that way. I am much more interested, and measure what we are doing, by what I see on the pitch during the season. There are some good standards that have been set over the last couple of years, that at the least I hope to see maintained and hopefully built upon.
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
I'm easy. I just want to be entertained. Give me a competitive squad, good work ethic and attitude, and I'll let the results fall where they may.
 

piedpiper

Well-Known Member
Aug 14, 2008
3,758
6,763
I don't go by setting targets in that way. I am much more interested, and measure what we are doing, by what I see on the pitch during the season. There are some good standards that have been set over the last couple of years, that at the least I hope to see maintained and hopefully built upon.

So basically you're on the fence.:D
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
Realistically, there are 6 teams duking it out for 4 places so there's a reasonable chance that unless we have another stupendous season we could miss out, and in the context of this league and our circumstances, including the added pain in the arse of Wembley, I don't think it has to be a catastrophe, it's going to happen every season to a couple of big teams.

Obviously it's important we continue to show what have become the hallmarks of Poch, a good level of performance, cohesion and application etc.

This time last year top of my wish list was for Poch to show some tactical diversity, and he certainly answered that plea with aplomb, there were games where we played more formations in that one game than in the whole 38 games of the previous season.

It's been a fucking pleasure for me to watch this team evolve, I always said the prospect of the third full season excited me the most, after the second (when we finished 3rd) I thought I may have been wrong, but last year was fucking phenomenal, my favourite season as a Spurs fan, even eclipsing 81 and 87. The most complete Spurs I have ever watched in terms of coaching, tactical intelligence and collective performance with and without the ball.

This year I want him to evolve our tactical approach from midfield. We've got to be braver and more dynamic. I don't ever want to see Dier trundling about playing from A to B again (the odd hopeful looper in Kane's direction maketh not an Alonso). I think Dembele's going to struggle more and more to steady games the way he has and for me, steady is not my preference any way. He's getting older, the injuries continue to be a factor. It took him 3 months to get up to match speed last year. Decline is inevitable. I also think he's not going to enjoy the expanse of Wembley so much. But then, who will.

I would love to see Winks or Onomah paired up with the rapacious energy of Wanyama or even better us try a 433 and have all three sometimes, it may be the way to cope with Wembley as well as being an answer to the now de rigueur 3CB system that all and sundry are using.

And that would be my second wish. That players like Winks, KWP, Onomah and Edwards get some meaningful game time. I'd happily accept finishing 5th, 6th or 7th if we integrated these players and they proved themselves good enough, because the next season we'd have some outstanding players bedded in who I think would take us forward for years to come.
 
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Neon_Knight_

Well-Known Member
Jul 20, 2011
3,975
6,607
I'd happily accept finishing 5th, 6th or 7th if we integrated these players and they proved themselves good enough, because the next season we'd have some outstanding players bedded in who I think would take us forward for years to come.

You made some very reasonable points, but how could you possibly be happy with finishing outside of the top 6? Everton (7th) finished on 61 points last season...a massive 25 behind us. We've clocked up more than 61 points every season since the Ramos blip, finishing inside the top 6 on all 8 occasions. Bournemouth, in 8th, only got 46 points, so I can't see anyone other than Everton having the slightest hope of breaking into the top 6.

Don't you think 6th is the absolute bare minimum we should expect, even if we have a bad transfer window and suffer even more injuries than last season? Anything less would be a huge step backwards and I would expect an exodus of players. We wouldn't even be in the Europa League!

Last time we were as low as 7th at the midway point in a season (let alone the end), our manager was sacked.
 

Monkey Bastard Hands

Large Member
Jul 18, 2010
1,411
1,121
Bearing in mind that our rivals will spend significantly more than us on upgrading their squad, I think we have to reset our expectations for the coming season. To repeat the achievements of last season will be really bloody difficult unless we too upgrade our squad, and considering the move to Wembley I think realistically Top 4 would be a good result next season. Throw a cup in there too and you've got the makings of a brilliant season. Top 6 i'd be disappointed with but given the competition for the top 4 now, someones got to lose out and we shouldn't consider ourselves too good to be one of those two teams.
 

Hoddlesrightboot

Active Member
Jun 17, 2012
124
188
I would like us to win something, preferably the league but if not a 2nd or 3rd place plus the FA Cup. Also a better run in the Champions League.
A treble would be great but perhaps next year.
 

Frozen_Waffles

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2005
3,760
9,505
Umm 1st and a good go at the cups.

We have improved every year under Poch and our players have got better and better, this season most players will have a full preseason to boot.

The only worry is not playing at WHL but we should adapt.

Chelsea have CL this year and won't be able to stick to their 1st 11 like they did last year.

I expect United and City to get stronger but.... I personally don't see any other teams in such a good position.

So I would be disappointed if we don't win it.

I tipped us to win it last season and now I can't see any team which have a better first 11 or a better team spirit.

Injurys could trouble us, but the same goes for the other challengers.

I don't see this as optimism, we have been the best team for two seasons running but have lost it due to surprise packages (Chelsea included).

Our players are better than they were at the start of last season and more importantly they have more experience.

So I expect a PL title and I honestly feel we will do it.
 

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
I'm expecting to finish 6th this year with Wembley and our rivals probably getting better, as long as we stay reasonably close to the pack I would be happy with that.
 

shelfmonkey

Weird is different, different is interesting.
Mar 21, 2007
6,690
8,040
A top 5 finish with an FA Cup win to get the trophy monkey off our back.

I do think that the Chelscum game is SO important though, because it could define our mental approach to home games for the rest of the season, a win could see us settle immediately whereas a defeat could sow the seeds of doubt and compound this 'Wembley factor' crap bandied around by the media.
 

Shanks

Kinda not anymore....
May 11, 2005
31,159
18,914
We've been saying the same for years, we don't spend as much on players or pay the wages... yet we've finished 3rd, then 2nd...

Wembley aside, we need to challenge for the title, we have the team (maybe not the squad), Wembley will be our home, Top of the league and a trophy.

We have Poch.
 

piedpiper

Well-Known Member
Aug 14, 2008
3,758
6,763
@spids and @shelfboy68 i gave you a disagree on finishing 6th and being happy with. I doubt any Liverpool or Arsenal supporter would be satisfied with 6th place.
We have to show more ambition than that. 6th is a huge backwards step in our trajectory.

Wembley cannot be a factor, sure in the 1st 3 games perhaps but i expect us to adapt quickly.

Besides the following year we will play in our new stadium with those field dimensions.
 

DEFchenkOE

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2006
10,527
8,052
Realistically speaking Id be happy with first in the league. That's what the club needs to be aiming for. Also would like to make the qf of the CL and go deep into one of the domestic cups.
 

vAs

Well-Known Member
Dec 1, 2014
238
663
Cup win at all cost. No more excuses!
If we again end up empty - handed it will be very very disappointing.
 
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