The stadium myth..

[hellava_tough]

West Ham nearly got relegated?

It's kind of a comparison, but not quite; no one really cares that much about playing at the Olympic Stadium

I think we actually have it tougher, because playing at Wembley is something 'mid-table' players can tell their grandkids about

That said, we have better players than Wham so looking at the table come the end of the season it won't look quite so bad

 

['O Zio]

Okay, I'm going to say it; I think we've completely screwed ourselves by choosing to play at Wembley. The stakes are so high at the top of the league, whether it be fighting for a title or 'just' a fourth place spot, any advantage/disadvantage is acutely felt

Playing our 'home' games at Wembley isn't a slight disadvantage; it's a whopping great handicap

Nobody wanted to play at Wembley but it was the only realistic option. It was obvious that we weren't going to be able to play at WHL while the new one was being built so what do you want them to do? Nobody likes it but it was as necessary evil.

Personally I think it's a cheap excuse to blame playing at Wembley. The whole thing about the pitch being bigger is nonsense because half the pitches in the league are basically the same size as Wembley is and the whole "but the other team are well up for it" argument infuriates me because that's exactly the problem - we just don't seem up for it at the moment. That has nothing to do with Wembley that's just a poor attitude being shown by our players. They're competing in the best league in world football, so why the hell do they need something like a stadium to be "up for it"? The fans are up for it week in week out and the players should be too. They're got the best job in the world as far as we're all concerned but they've been playing recently like having a game of football is just a massive inconvenience in their busy social calendar. Poch needs to start banging some heads together and sorting them out. Alli needs dropping for a start.

 

[hellava_tough]

1) Nobody wanted to play at Wembley but it was the only realistic option. It was obvious that we weren't going to be able to play at WHL while the new one was being built so what do you want them to do? Nobody likes it but it was as necessary evil.

Personally I think it's a cheap excuse to blame playing at Wembley. The whole thing about the pitch being bigger is nonsense because half the pitches in the league are basically the same size as Wembley is and the whole 2) "but the other team are well up for it" argument infuriates me because that's exactly the problem - we just don't seem up for it at the moment. That has nothing to do with Wembley that's just a 3) poor attitude being shown by our players. They're competing in the best league in world football, so why the hell do they need something like a stadium to be "up for it"? The fans are up for it week in week out and the players should be too. They're got the best job in the world as far as we're all concerned but they've been playing recently like having a game of football is just a massive inconvenience in their busy social calendar. Poch needs to start banging some heads together and sorting them out. Alli needs dropping for a start.

So a few points:

1) Weren't a few lower-league clubs suggested for our 'home games'. Milton Keynes, for instance? I know it's not ideal, but it's only for 1 season.

2) Well that's come from Poch himself:

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/fo...it-far-easier-away-from-wembley-a3703846.html

3) Completely agree with you here. Our players have been really poor in most of the first-halves of league football that we've played in. There's a real lack of intensity and desire; attributes that have been our hallmark over the last few years. No matter the result, you knew that you'd get a game playing Spurs. Opposition teams were genuinely scared to face us.

And I agree with you that Poch needs to lay down the law!

 

[Colonel_Klinck]

I don't think it would matter where we played this season, it wouldn't have been WHL. WHL was a fortress last season. We were so dominant that confidence was always high. Even if we had a poor away fixture we'd gain any lost confidence back at when we played again at WHL. This season was always going to be tough. It hasn't been helped by injuries and several key players being nowhere near the standard they were last year. We just have to somehow scrape top 4 and hope the new studium is fucking awesome and a fortress. Also that the obvious gaping holes in our squad are sorted by Levy and Poch.

 

[spursfan77]

I don't think it would matter where we played this season, it wouldn't have been WHL. WHL was a fortress last season. We were so dominant that confidence was always high. Even if we had a poor away fixture we'd gain any lost confidence back at when we played again at WHL. This season was always going to be tough. It hasn't been helped by injuries and several key players being nowhere near the standard they were last year. We just have to somehow scrape top 4 and hope the new studium is fucking awesome and a fortress. Also that the obvious gaping holes in our squad are sorted by Levy and Poch.

People seem to forget this. That last season at WHL was a massive freak season. We won 16 games and drew 2. We were never going to replicate those results this season even if we were still at WHL. I don't doubt Wembley is a massive hinderance but also I don't believe we will struggle at the new WHL, in fact I think it will be the complete opposite. Everyone involved at the club has waited so long to p[lay in the new stadium that I can't see it being anything else but a success from minute one. I for one know as a fan I'm so excited about going there and I think after Wembley everyone will be so relived to be back home in Tottenham that they will make the place a fortress mainly because we will be so grateful to be back!

 

[hellava_tough]

People seem to forget this. That last season at WHL was a massive freak season. We won 16 games and drew 2. We were never going to replicate those results this season even if we were still at WHL. I don't doubt Wembley is a massive hinderance but also I don't believe we will struggle at the new WHL, in fact I think it will be the complete opposite. Everyone involved at the club has waited so long to p[lay in the new stadium that I can't see it being anything else but a success from minute one. I for one know as a fan I'm so excited about going there and I think after Wembley everyone will be so relived to be back home in Tottenham that they will make the place a fortress mainly because we will be so grateful to be back!

Missing a game there

It was always going to be difficult this season, but if we had had the option (and perhaps we did) not to play at Wembley, I'm starting to think that perhaps we should have taken it

 

['O Zio]

So a few points:

1) Weren't a few lower-league clubs suggested for our 'home games'. Milton Keynes, for instance? I know it's not ideal, but it's only for 1 season.

2) Well that's come from Poch himself:

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/fo...it-far-easier-away-from-wembley-a3703846.html

3) Completely agree with you here. Our players have been really poor in most of the first-halves of league football that we've played in. There's a real lack of intensity and desire; attributes that have been our hallmark over the last few years. No matter the result, you knew that you'd get a game playing Spurs. Opposition teams were genuinely scared to face us.

And I agree with you that Poch needs to lay down the law!

The fans were pretty much unanimously furious about the suggestion that we would play games outside of London, especially at Milton Keynes. The backlash at that even being suggested was enough to put the club off I assume. Also, we would've presumably lost tonnes of money playing at such a small ground. And anyway, you say there "I know it's not ideal, but it's only 1 season" well surely that's the exact same argument you could make for Wembley is it not?

I know Poch said that, I'm not denying it, and it's probably true, but that doesn't mean it isn't a shit excuse. Like I said before, so what if other teams are motivated to play at Wembley? Why the fuck are we not motivated? We don't look like we give a shit in half our games recently whether it's at Wembley or away and that needs to change

 

[hellava_tough]

The fans were pretty much unanimously furious about the suggestion that we would play games outside of London, especially at Milton Keynes. The backlash at that even being suggested was enough to put the club off I assume. Also, we would've presumably lost tonnes of money playing at such a small ground. And anyway, you say there "I know it's not ideal, but it's only 1 season" well surely that's the exact same argument you could make for Wembley is it not?

I know Poch said that, I'm not denying it, and it's probably true, but that doesn't mean it isn't a shit excuse. Like I said before, so what if other teams are motivated to play at Wembley? Why the fuck are we not motivated? We don't look like we give a shit in half our games recently whether it's at Wembley or away and that needs to change

Not quite, because if playing in a stadium other than Wembley for a season gives us an advantage in finishing in the top four, then we should take it

But anyway, hindsight is 20x20 - we are where we are

 

['O Zio]

Not quite, because if playing in a stadium other than Wembley for a season gives us an advantage in finishing in the top four, then we should take it

But anyway, hindsight is 20x20 - we are where we are

Not quite sure what your point is, sorry mate. Surely the fact that we're seen as having a disadvantage due to playing at Wembley has more to do with the fact that we're not really "at home" than it does with Wembley specifically. Therefore we'd be in the same situation regardless of whether we were in Milton Keynes or wherever. Your argument only makes sense if you really believe there is a Wembley "curse" but I think that's more than been put to bed by the fact that we've had some great performances and huge results there and our poor performances aren't limited to games at Wembley, as we proved yesterday at the King Power

 

[hellava_tough]

Not quite sure what your point is, sorry mate. Surely the fact that we're seen as having a disadvantage due to playing at Wembley has more to do with the fact that we're not really "at home" than it does with Wembley specifically. Therefore we'd be in the same situation regardless of whether we were in Milton Keynes or wherever. Your argument only makes sense if you really believe there is a Wembley "curse" but I think that's more than been put to bed by the fact that we've had some great performances and huge results there and our poor performances aren't limited to games at Wembley, as we proved yesterday at the King Power

No it's more a case of every middling team that comes to Wembley to play us raises their game because it's Wembley

Now, regardless of whether or not our players should be better motivated, a whole season going against teams who have upped their game is going to effect any team

Plus, none of our rivals have to deal with that

I hope I've explained it better this time - and of course I could be wrong. We'll see at the end of the season

 

[SugarRay]

Nobody wanted to play at Wembley but it was the only realistic option. It was obvious that we weren't going to be able to play at WHL while the new one was being built so what do you want them to do? Nobody likes it but it was as necessary evil.

Personally I think it's a cheap excuse to blame playing at Wembley. The whole thing about the pitch being bigger is nonsense because half the pitches in the league are basically the same size as Wembley is and the whole "but the other team are well up for it" argument infuriates me because that's exactly the problem - we just don't seem up for it at the moment. That has nothing to do with Wembley that's just a poor attitude being shown by our players. They're competing in the best league in world football, so why the hell do they need something like a stadium to be "up for it"? The fans are up for it week in week out and the players should be too. They're got the best job in the world as far as we're all concerned but they've been playing recently like having a game of football is just a massive inconvenience in their busy social calendar. Poch needs to start banging some heads together and sorting them out. Alli needs dropping for a start.

It’s not a bad point at all here.

Maybe this season will show Poch exactly how has it and who doesn’t? There’s a few who are letting him down this season and simply not performing. Big players should absolutely thrive playing at Wembley every other week. It’s still a big thing for players, and the challenge of teams raising their game will always be met head on and usually returned with interest from players with the mindset of a winner.

There could be a high profile casualty or two come the summer imo. As opposed to us losing players it might be that Poch realises that a couple just aren’t cut out for a big role in a successful team?

 

['O Zio]

No it's more a case of every middling team that comes to Wembley to play us raises their game because it's Wembley

Now, regardless of whether or not our players should be better motivated, a whole season going against teams who have upped their game is going to effect any team

Plus, none of our rivals have to deal with that

I hope I've explained it better this time - and of course I could be wrong. We'll see at the end of the season

Yeah I guess it just depends whether you feel like that's a valid excuse or not. If teams raise their game because they get to play at Wembley then that should affect us too. So far from what I've seen it hasn't been a case of us being outplayed due to the other team being "raised", more that the other team play normally and we've looked sloppy and half-arsed, but like I say, that's also been the case in some of our games away from Wembley so it's clearly an issue with the players rather than the stadium for me.

It’s not a bad point at all here.

Maybe this season will show Poch exactly how has it and who doesn’t? There’s a few who are letting him down this season and simply not performing. Big players should absolutely thrive playing at Wembley every other week. It’s still a big thing for players, and the challenge of teams raising their game will always be met head on and usually returned with interest from players with the mindset of a winner.

There could be a high profile casualty or two come the summer imo. As opposed to us losing players it might be that Poch realises that a couple just aren’t cut out for a big role in a successful team?

An interesting point. We've certainly had a few games where some of our big names have let us down. It's funny because some of them presumably see themselves one day playing for Barca/Real etc. but if they're unable to cope with shit teams "raising their game" when they come to Wembley, they'll be in the exact same situation, if not worse, when they're playing their home games at the Bernabeu, Camp Nou etc.

Personally I don't think that is the issue, as I said above, but we've definitely got problems with a few of our players that need sorting out. It's far too easy to just say "oh but it's Wembley"

 

[E17yid]

I think I was being a tad optimistic when I said we'd get 7-8 league wins at Wembley this year. I'd take 5 now if you offered it. We can't even beat Swansea or Burnley so I don't hold much hope for anyone in the top half.

I shat the bed big time here. I was weak.

Must’ve got 11 or 12 league wins at Wembley this year (with Arsenal Liverpool and UTD) not to mention Dortmund and Madrid.

Fair play to Poch and the players for adapting so well. As the boss has said himself we don’t get enough credit for the whole Wembley thing.

 

[BigVic]

The fact you would of taken 5 is actually quite embarrassing.

 

[Dr Benson]

Maybe totally wrong to post this question in this thread, but I`m just wondering about all the pubs around WHL like Bricklayers and Bill Nic . Have they all survived this season?

 

[Shadydan]

The fact you would of taken 5 is actually quite embarrassing.

Seeing as we were 7th at the time and bang out of form I don't think that's unreasonable tbh.

 

[C0YS]

I shat the bed big time here. I was weak.

Must’ve got 11 or 12 league wins at Wembley this year (with Arsenal Liverpool and UTD) not to mention Dortmund and Madrid.

Fair play to Poch and the players for adapting so well. As the boss has said himself we don’t get enough credit for the whole Wembley thing.

Fair play for bumping it up. Its nice when posters admit when they were wrong.

 

[C0YS]

Maybe totally wrong to post this question in this thread, but I`m just wondering about all the pubs around WHL like Bricklayers and Bill Nic . Have they all survived this season?

I walked round the other day, most seemed to be running just fine. Think all the main ones at least seemed to have survived.

 

[Dr Benson]

I walked round the other day, most seemed to be running just fine. Think all the main ones at least seemed to have survived.

Nice to hear. But It must have been a hard season for them. It can`t have been many pints they have sold lately?

 

[alexis]

I don’t really get the 38 away games bit. Don’t get why it’s so difficult for a group of professionals to play on a different piece of grass for one season. For opposing teams I’m sure it also became just another ground. Bit weak this wembley pat on the back/excuse of ours