The Race for the Title, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or even 6th Thread.

[Goobers]

Actually, I don't know. Mourinho is an experienced coach. There must be a reason why he is not mixing it up in terms of playing counter attacking football with possession football. He surely must have looked at the fitness of our MF and decided we are just not there yet....

But under Poch we would totally dominate the ball and not kill games off especially in the two title challenge seasons which cost us. I am not saying they are in direct comparison but they are different ways of playing. Also I don't believe we lost the games against Leicester and Liverpool because we were not playing possession football. For all the posession Liverpool had against us I thought we played well and created chances and that is the key. We do create chances against everyone and that is the bonus for me.

 

[homer hotspur]

Actually, I don't know. Mourinho is an experienced coach. There must be a reason why he is not mixing it up in terms of playing counter attacking football with possession football. He surely must have looked at the fitness of our MF and decided we are just not there yet....

It's so open this season and several teams, including ourselves, have every chance of top 4 and/or a trophy. If we had Bruno F instead of GLC, I think that would have made a huge difference to our expectations . I do like GLC but it is crystal clear how much more BF contributes. It is this type of player we need to target in January to put us near the top of the teams chasing honours but I'm not sure there is anyone similar out there apart perhaps from Grealish, another missed chance unlikely to be available to us again.

 

[werty]

I read it different, it reads to me like we are in an artificial position and our performances deserve less points.

It suggests we're playing worse than previous season except for 14/15, and going into the weekend we have the 7th most Expected Points. At the half way stage it might be a better comparison to previous season because we'll have played everyone once and we could have had tougher opponents so far compared to other seasons (4 of the next 5 are against bottom half teams, for example). I might do a more comprehensive break down at that stage if people are interested.

But the better teams often get more points than expected, as Marty says. If you gave Kane and Chris Wood the same 10 chances, Kane is going to score more because he's a better player, but the chances are still weighted the same. Of course, you'd expect better teams to create more and concede less chances, but only 3 of the top 13 going into the weekend have less points than expected.

It's not a perfect system and it has flaws, but it's much better than just looking at shots and other outdated stats. I find it useful in assuring me that my eyes are seeing what's actually happening. If there's difference in what I'm seeing and what the stats suggest at the end of games, then it'll make me question what I saw and maybe evaluate a performance differently.

 

[Lawrence]

But under Poch we would totally dominate the ball and not kill games off especially in the two title challenge seasons which cost us. I am not saying they are in direct comparison but they are different ways of playing. Also I don't believe we lost the games against Leicester and Liverpool because we were not playing possession football. For all the posession Liverpool had against us I thought we played well and created chances and that is the key. We do create chances against everyone and that is the bonus for me.

Under Poch we had Eriksen and Dembele. They controlled MF. Yes, I agree we did well against Liverpool without possession. But my point is, the reason why we we are not being aggressive for matches we can afford to is because Mourinho thinks our MF cannot control the game.

 

[Goobers]

Under Poch we had Eriksen and Dembele. They controlled MF. Yes, I agree we did well against Liverpool without possession. But my point is, the reason why we we are not being aggressive for matches we can afford to is because Mourinho thinks our MF cannot control the game.

I see your point absolutely. But there are examples of us dominating in the centre of the pakr this season - Utd away and a few of earlier home games especially although we were conceding more goals then. But yes I take your point.

 

[NickHSpurs]

Get in Big Sam. Now time for us to fuck up the advantage we could have gained ?

 

[KikoSpurs]

We aren't getting top 4.

 

[13VanDerBale13]

Fight for playing good football & winning a game

 

[EireYid]

Should change the title to race for the League cup/Fa cup/Europa League

 

[Thewobbler]

2 crucial games at home coming up. Fulham and leeds.

 

[Gareth88]

Last couple of months has seen my prediction yoyo from 6th to 1st to 2nd to 3rd to 4th. What a season

 

[Danfunkel]

I think a lot of people drank the title winning cool aid in the last couple months.

Im all for being positive, but we also need to be realistic. Top 4, and a cup (EL at the very, very most) is probably what we should be aiming for. We aren’t good enough for the title.

 

[nedley]

I think a lot of people drank the title winning cool aid in the last couple months.

Im all for being positive, but we also need to be realistic. Top 4, and a cup (EL at the very, very most) is probably what we should be aiming for. We aren’t good enough for the title.

That should be the minimum aim. And for good reason with the squad, recent investments and stadium we have.

And we'd all probably take that in exchange for hideous football.

Fall below that target and it should be goodnight.

 

[SUIYHA]

That should be the minimum aim. And for good reason with the squad, recent investments and stadium we have.

And we'd all probably take that in exchange for hideous football.

Fall below that target and it should be goodnight.

This 100%. We finished in the top four six times in the 2010s whilst playing exciting, attacking football. If we do that again, or fall just short, well at least we played exciting attacking football along the way. If we're going to bore everyone to death then we better make damn sure that we have something extra to show for it.

 

[13VanDerBale13]

This thread is always a jinx lol

 

[Danfunkel]

This 100%. We finished in the top four six times in the 2010s whilst playing exciting, attacking football. If we do that again, or fall just short, well at least we played exciting attacking football along the way. If we're going to bore everyone to death then we better make damn sure that we have something extra to show for it.

as much as I loved Poch, and how we played, it still didn’t equate to winning anything.

The jury is still out on our new style of play, but we’re still in all comps, and into a semi final of one. We must wait and see.

 

[nedley]

as much as I loved Poch, and how we played, it still didn’t equate to winning anything.

The jury is still out on our new style of play, but we’re still in all comps, and into a semi final of one. We must wait and see.

Totally agree.

But if people want to express how bored they are as the season goes along that's fine as well.

Because fuck me its boring.

 

[spud]

That should be the minimum aim. And for good reason with the squad, recent investments and stadium we have.

And we'd all probably take that in exchange for hideous football.

Fall below that target and it should be goodnight.

Part of me says yes, and part of me says no.

I want us to win trophies as much as the next Spurs fan and if we have to play this shit football to do it then I suppose it's acceptable. On the other hand, if we win trophies playing this way then there is every reason to assume that we will continue to do so. Why change the style if you're winning?

I just don't think I can take watching what you correctly call hideous football for more than a short time; trophies or no trophies.

 

[Danfunkel]

Yeah it’s dull as fuck.

I love red wine and blow job football as much as anyone, but it’s still not won us anything either.

we just need to find a balance.

 

[philip]

We're a teletext team. Not worth watching MOTD even when we win