Stick or twist?

[leffe186]

(Warning: I know some guys on here hate "hypothetical" threads so if you do, then move on, nothing to see here.)

Well done lads for giving us two weeks of happy recuperation rather than angst-ridden recrimination (stand up Liverpool). Only thing is, we've got to fill that with something and, much as I love VDV, there are far too many VDV threads on here.

So....

I was looking at the table yesterday and thinking that actually doesn't look too bad - would I take it at the end? Sure, we're not in the Top 4 but with our erratic start, vast quantity of injuries and tough schedule (not played any of the Sky 4 yet) that may not be a bad season. In addition, Villa look like they will push us all the way, but most tempting would be the relegation of Liverpool and West Ham, and a real struggle for Everton.

So given the choice right now would you take the current placings at the end of the season or let it pan out?

 

[tooey]

Trust me i would love to think we would make top 4 again. Its just that man city look like they've finally got their act together, chelsea look strong, man united are traditionally slow starters but still have more points on the board than us and i cant see us gathering more points over 38 games than arsenal. 5th wouldnt be a great season but i wouldn't burn my shirt because of it and the added bonus of liverpool and spamers going down would be fantastic!

 

[Raxscallion]

I'm an eternal optimist. I want 2nd spot, with Liverpool, West Ham and the g**ner scum relegated.

(Oh, and the CL & FA Cup too please) :up:

 

[StartingPrice]

I'm an eternal optimist. I want 2nd spot, with Liverpool, West Ham and the g**ner scum relegated.

(Oh, and the CL & FA Cup too please):up:

:up:

Seriously, though, despite our slightly misfiring start, I still think top 4 is a distinct possibility. I maintain we have a better squad than Citeh, and either of both of the Goons and United could implode from here.

 

[guate]

Call me a prisoner of hope but I firmly believe 3rd place this season is within our possibilities. We've not had the best of runs since the start of the season and been affected by several injuries, particularly to our defense, but with VDV gelling quicker than expected and some of our injured starting to come back I see no reason why we can't displace Arse anal for the 3rd spot with Citeh coming in 4th.

 

[Lilbaz]

For too many years we have settled with...... We should now have belief in ourselves and go for it. Aim to win the league and be gutted if we don't.
Saying that though, we will go through another bad patch during the season, but I hope that the supporters don't start wallowing in gloom and self pity when we do. We have a good manager and squad and are capable of finishing top 4, but the league is 38 games and there are going to be ups and downs all the way through. That's what makes us Tottenham.

 

[brett.spurs]

What good does 5th do?

 

[sloth]

What good does 5th do?

My thoughts exactly!

 

[ravo]

I would LOVE to see the Spam (and Liverpoooool to a lesser extent) get relegated - but fuck 'em, 4th for us is more important.

 

[Chimbo1]

I would LOVE to see the Spam (and Liverpoooool to a lesser extent) get relegated - but fuck 'em, 4th for us is more important.

Couldnt give a f*ck who gets relegated, we have to finish in top 4!!

 

[Chimbo1]

Sorry rav wasnt aimed at you mate

 

[dvdhopeful]

5th might as well be 7th or even 10th. After last season we need another 4th place finish more than anything. I think 4th is possible but think it will be arse or utd dropping as think city will be in there.

 

[EastLondonYid]

Trust me i would love to think we would make top 4 again. Its just that man city look like they've finally got their act together, chelsea look strong, man united are traditionally slow starters but still have more points on the board than us and i cant see us gathering more points over 38 games than arsenal. 5th wouldnt be a great season but i wouldn't burn my shirt because of it and the added bonus of liverpool and spamers going down would be fantastic!

I wouldn't be to sure of that.

The only result/performance that stands out was the chavs one.
and even then, chelsea had chances to have at least drawn that game.

they beat an ordinary liverpool, got well lucky against the geordies and we spanked them footballing wise, only luck and hart kept them from a defeat.

I agree they are a major rival,and have improved....
but if we worry about ourselves,we are good enough to take 4th again.

We have had gomes,king,defoe,kaboul,dawson,gallas,modric, etc ..all injured this season, and we are still 5th and flying in the CL....
We will get better once some of those return,i think we have a great chance to finish 4th, and it might not be at city's expense, the scum and utd aren't firing on all cylinders,
it will be a battle between us, the scum/city/utd........with chelsea winning the title quite comfortably..IMO.

 

[AngerManagement]

I think a lot will depend on what happens when Defoe returns (and the Jan window)

He provides us a distinct goal threat upfront but we would lose the hold up/knock down play of Crouch which VDV has been profiting from of late.

The problem will be do we continue with a system that best suits vdv or revert to playing 2 strikers (which Harry openly admits leaves us very vunerable)

We need to find the best system and players to fit that system and wheter that be play both Defoe and Crouch or pick one or the other I am not sure, we may well have to bite the bullet and bring in a striker who can offer elements of boths game in order to pair him with VDV in the hole behind him as a lone striker.

If we cann get our system right we have more than enough talent to come fourth or even third this season.

 

[Mr Pink]

The bottam line is 5th wont keep our best players. The likes of Bale, VDV and Modric will be attracting interest in the summer - particluarly Bale.

I dont think Villa will be pushing us all the way either, I think our sqaud is vastly superior and we had a hell of a makeshift CB pairing against them on Saturday.

When the team really settles with VDV we will see more consistent results, and I am confident that will happen. We have a great squad with real depth in it now....Saturday being a good example.

When Gallas hits proper match fitness and Dawson and Kaboul return (who is looking great now) we have an embarrassement of riches in a department we have always been worried about. King, Gallas, Dawson, Kaboul and Bassong is great strength and depth and is more than enough to fight on two fronts. We have been incredibly unlucky with injuries so far.

After the International break these guys will be starting to return. With Lennon showing signs of a return to form and the VDV effect becoming more familiar to the rest of the team I only see us getting stronger - and its very exciting.

I know United are traditionally slow starters but there is something about them this year - I think they are there for the taking as incredibile as that sounds. With Scholes, Giggs and VDS are all really getting on now and the former two cant really be used to the same extent to have the same effect. Valenica being out for the most of the season is a blow to them, Rooney's problems are well documented and Ferdinand has a recurring back problem which doesn't look likely to ever sort itself out - Evans is a weak replacement.

One more bad injury to the likes of Nani and they have very little pace in that side. Yes Berbatov is stepping up now, but is it enough - I am not so sure. If Rooney continues to struggle so will United.

Yes they still have an excellent sqaud and are still Man United but if we could just get that real belief we would take them under current cicumstances. VDV has that sort of belief...and Old Trafford at the end of the month will be very interesting.

I think top 4 again is still a definite possibility, but not at City's expense this time.

In reality it would have to be Arsenal but United could come into the mix for the fight fourth - its possible.

 

[THFC6061]

Fifth place would be a step backwards for Spurs this season, I feel.

With the addition of players like Rafael Van der Vaart, Sandro, William Gallas and Stipe Pletikosa to our squad from last season, I think we're in a far stronger position than we were 12 months ago.

We should regard consolidating our fourth place finish from last season as a minimum and hopefully try to improve on it.

 

[ajspurs]

I wouldn't want 5th. Our players getting tired from midweek games seems acceptable when it's the CL but just annoying when it's Europa.

I just think it's in our hands, which is an easy thing to say but for instance, I don't think it's in our hands to finish above Chelsea, because I think they will race away. City have been winning but only just, take either Tevez or Johnson out and I think they're pretty average for a team that's spent as much as them.

Top 4 is definitely what we should be aiming for again. Not that 5th isn't good but I will be disappointed for sure if we didn't finish in the top 4.

 

[WhiteStripe]

Don't give a shit about West Ham or Liverpool. I want us to consolidate the top four position again. Thats more important. A follow up season in the CL would be mahoosive for us and cement us in Europes elite rather than being just a one hit wonder AKA Leeds/Newcastle/Everton.

 

[EastLondonYid]

I wouldn't want 5th. Our players getting tired from midweek games seems acceptable when it's the CL but just annoying when it's Europa.

I just think it's in our hands, which is an easy thing to say but for instance, I don't think it's in our hands to finish above Chelsea, because I think they will race away. City have been winning but only just, take either Tevez or Johnson out and I think they're pretty average for a team that's spent as much as them.

Top 4 is definitely what we should be aiming for again. Not that 5th isn't good but I will be disappointed for sure if we didn't finish in the top 4.

:clap: agree......

 

[Winchy85]

Stick.

Can't see us getting fourth spot again.