- Nov 15, 2010
- 1,378
- 1,894
What a wonderful season. Yes, in some respects we've been unlucky these past two seasons. On the other hand, last season's total would have had us a distant sixth this season, and this season's total (if what I've read is correct) would only have won about a third of premiership titles. I do believe that things in both seasons would have been different if the eventual winners had had European football, but again, look at it the other way - we've had that advantage in the past and not taken advantage of it.
Third and then second is just about right, and really we shouldn't look any further than our own shortcomings to know why; and then in a positive way, seeing them as opportunities to improve. It's been a wonderful two seasons, and, just as others on here are saying, it can surely get better.
At the start of this season, most pundits were of the opinion that our chance had gone, that the customarily superior teams would strengthen and that we would be lucky to finish near the top four. The rest is history. Our maturing team got better, as many of us expected them to, the rich teams' investments largely bombed, and yes, but for Chelsea's unexpected absence from European football and their great injury record, things might have been different. If my auntie had whiskers she'd be my uncle.
Now we're being told we'll have our best players picked off, that the teams around us will strengthen and that we'll struggle with Wembley. Well, we've sold some of our best players over the past 10 or 12 years, granted, but look where we were then and where we are now. When we sell players, we get better. And we only sell one top player every three years or so anyway. I reckon that Spurs have been cute with the Walker situation. I actually like him - he's been here a long time and really deserves a trophy. That's life. I think the club wants to sell him in order to top up the transfer fund and bolster other players' existing contracts, and they've made sure they have cover before forcing the issue. They don't like being taken by surprise.
Wembley? Pah. It's up to us to scare the living daylights out of the opposition - if anything, it'll make our away form better.
I've no idea who we'll sign or sell, but I do have faith that Poch and our board won't be taken by surprise regarding outgoings and won't be deflected. I reckon they anticipated the Walker situation weeks ago, and have been busy behind the scenes for ages looking at who might want to leave and what's needed to keep the ones we want to keep. I reckon contingency plans are in place like never before. Next season we'll have a stronger team, and will do better. We've seen some great tactical developments in the last few games - Alli dropping deep and getting on the ball in the heart of midfield more; his runs into space getting even subtler and more rapier-like; Eriksen getting into the box; chances coming the way of central defenders and central mids; a much greater variety of corner play; ever swifter and more complex movement from the top three, bringing with it greater incision, penetration and promise against packed, tight defences. Yes, we'll be a better team next season.
We gained 71 points from teams outside the top six this season, more than we got against the whole league for the whole of last season. Those teams won't get better, but we will. I can see us getting a few more this coming season. I can't see the rest of the top six faring as well. Not with Liverpool and Chelsea having Europe to cope with; Arsenal being Arsenal, and United having to integrate a whole load more stupid-money-misfits along with some seriously difficult CL ties. City might come good I suppose but look at their defence. Then it comes to the matchups among the top six. Man Utd will probably draw all theirs so that's only be ten points for them. Regardless of how good the rest are, we'll cancel each other out to a great extent. I think in the top-six mini-league we'll be closer to the top than the bottom and that we'll get the most points against the rest.
That makes it a close run thing, closer than this year. I predict top two at least, and if pushed, I'd say we'll win it with around 90 points.
Third and then second is just about right, and really we shouldn't look any further than our own shortcomings to know why; and then in a positive way, seeing them as opportunities to improve. It's been a wonderful two seasons, and, just as others on here are saying, it can surely get better.
At the start of this season, most pundits were of the opinion that our chance had gone, that the customarily superior teams would strengthen and that we would be lucky to finish near the top four. The rest is history. Our maturing team got better, as many of us expected them to, the rich teams' investments largely bombed, and yes, but for Chelsea's unexpected absence from European football and their great injury record, things might have been different. If my auntie had whiskers she'd be my uncle.
Now we're being told we'll have our best players picked off, that the teams around us will strengthen and that we'll struggle with Wembley. Well, we've sold some of our best players over the past 10 or 12 years, granted, but look where we were then and where we are now. When we sell players, we get better. And we only sell one top player every three years or so anyway. I reckon that Spurs have been cute with the Walker situation. I actually like him - he's been here a long time and really deserves a trophy. That's life. I think the club wants to sell him in order to top up the transfer fund and bolster other players' existing contracts, and they've made sure they have cover before forcing the issue. They don't like being taken by surprise.
Wembley? Pah. It's up to us to scare the living daylights out of the opposition - if anything, it'll make our away form better.
I've no idea who we'll sign or sell, but I do have faith that Poch and our board won't be taken by surprise regarding outgoings and won't be deflected. I reckon they anticipated the Walker situation weeks ago, and have been busy behind the scenes for ages looking at who might want to leave and what's needed to keep the ones we want to keep. I reckon contingency plans are in place like never before. Next season we'll have a stronger team, and will do better. We've seen some great tactical developments in the last few games - Alli dropping deep and getting on the ball in the heart of midfield more; his runs into space getting even subtler and more rapier-like; Eriksen getting into the box; chances coming the way of central defenders and central mids; a much greater variety of corner play; ever swifter and more complex movement from the top three, bringing with it greater incision, penetration and promise against packed, tight defences. Yes, we'll be a better team next season.
We gained 71 points from teams outside the top six this season, more than we got against the whole league for the whole of last season. Those teams won't get better, but we will. I can see us getting a few more this coming season. I can't see the rest of the top six faring as well. Not with Liverpool and Chelsea having Europe to cope with; Arsenal being Arsenal, and United having to integrate a whole load more stupid-money-misfits along with some seriously difficult CL ties. City might come good I suppose but look at their defence. Then it comes to the matchups among the top six. Man Utd will probably draw all theirs so that's only be ten points for them. Regardless of how good the rest are, we'll cancel each other out to a great extent. I think in the top-six mini-league we'll be closer to the top than the bottom and that we'll get the most points against the rest.
That makes it a close run thing, closer than this year. I predict top two at least, and if pushed, I'd say we'll win it with around 90 points.
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