Top four finish?

[KILLA_SIN]

No. I think we'll finish 6th or 7th.

I'm really positive about the work Poch has done but this squad is really young, and will be really inconsistent IMO.

We also know we've not got enough cover in certain positions, which will put more pressure on us to keep fielding key players even when they start tiring in March/April.

If we can hold onto our players and work out how to get a bit more top quality into the squad next summer then I think we could get 4th next season.

Problem is, with the way the English clubs are going in Europe that probably won't secure us CL qualification then!

Whatever the case, I think we should prioritise the Europa if we get to the latter rounds. This club desperately needs a trophy, for the fans and for the players.

I think we can do better than sixth or seventh considering we have finished fifth with less quality last season.

 

[Flashspur]

Relax Ironskull, I've already predicted Top 4 in another post when everyone was writing us off on here. I've got this dude. We are certs this season. Just watch us go.

 

[eddiev14]

I think we can do better than sixth or seventh considering we have finished fifth with less quality last season.

You're right but I think we'll have a bit more competition this season for 5th/6th/7th place.

We also rode our luck a lot last season and Kane had a phenomenal season that only properly started in November.

I may well be wrong, it's how I see things though.

Still, I'm looking forward to seeing us progress this season, hopefully play some more exciting football and get a few more big wins against our rivals.

The ingredients are definitely there. Need a bit more time to marinade in the fridge IMO

 

[Lighty64]

No. I think we'll finish 6th or 7th.

I'm really positive about the work Poch has done but this squad is really young, and will be really inconsistent IMO.

We also know we've not got enough cover in certain positions, which will put more pressure on us to keep fielding key players even when they start tiring in March/April.

If we can hold onto our players and work out how to get a bit more top quality into the squad next summer then I think we could get 4th next season.

Problem is, with the way the English clubs are going in Europe that probably won't secure us CL qualification then!

Whatever the case, I think we should prioritise the Europa if we get to the latter rounds. This club desperately needs a trophy, for the fans and for the players.

I did post about this in this thread already, even though English clubs are not setting the world alight in the CL, our closest rivals Italy aren't either, and we won't know enough until all groups in both comps finish.

 

[BobbyB]

I might be slightly optimistic.

I honestly don´t see any other team with a better defense this season. Lloris best GK in the league, excellent competition on the fullbacks, Vert and Toby best buddies and will just get better. Dier already one of the best defensive midfielders in the league, and is still learning his trade.

As we have the best defense in the league our roaming midfielder have a lot more freedom and security to roam forward this season to support a forward line of Eriksen, a top playmaker, and Lamela/Son, a deadly mix of skill, speed and grit. Upfront you might want Aguero for the few games he´s fit, but over a whole season you would go for Harry Kane any day.

I think we will do so well this season that a 4th place will feel like a failure, but still have in it an echo of glory.

 

[BaFa94]

We'll finish 4th the first season after we lose our 4th champions league place. I guarantee it.

 

[spurs9]

I like the optimism in here but we were often at this point (Chelsea January / Arsenal February), and failed massively after that. I think personally the Swansea away game is now a key game. Can the young players keep their head cool? Can we deal with their pacey players`? Can we perform on a regular basis? Let's see..

I think the thing that is key to the Swansea game, is showing we can win after a EL game, as our record is not great.

 

[spurs9]

I think this season is going to be tougher than people think, especially later on in the season. We really need to do well in the EL to help get England Coef rating up, as well as it' being an avenue to the CL league.

If we did manage the awesome achievement of making the Semi finals, then April is going to be 1 hell of a month with Liverpool (a), Man Utd (h), Stoke (a), Wet Brom (h) & Chelsea (h) on top of both legs of the EL quarter final and the first leg of the semi final, what a month that would be.

 

[Singayid]

There is fuck all in this league for us to be scared of. We'll be in the mix and there or thereabouts.

As soon as we start obsessing over top 4, is when we will probably implode again.

Lets take each game as it comes, keep working our bollocks off, hopefully get lucky be it with injuries etc and top 4 will take care of itself, i am just happy with the way we are starting to play.....

Cow, yes absolutely spot on - but Spurs have been inconsistent to date as well which leads perfectly into ELY statment - let's take it one game at a time, work hard & don't over-hype this team (SOME CHANCE!! Ha)

 

[cliff jones]

If we want to finish in top4, going by previous years, we need 70 points & a goal difference of 20+

We now have 12 points from 7 games & a GD of 4. If we project this, we would be 65 points & a goal difference of 21.
Had we got 13 points from 7 games, we would be getting 71 points
Had we got 14 points from 7 games, we would be getting 76 points , both with a minimum GD of +27

So, statistically, we are not far IMO. Unlike last couple of seasons, we are already in positive GD. I firmly believe, Goal difference is a great pointer to how we are doing at any point in season.

But in simple terms, we got to finish ahead of Liverpool & Everton and hope one of the top4 has a poor season.

Statistically we are on track.
Squad wise, we have improved from last season. There are more options from bench than what we had last season.
Game play & tactics - if recent games are anything to go by, we have improved our game play. We are scoring from open field goals unlike previous seasons.
We have one of the fittest squad.

So, why not top4 ?

Because last years top four are all still comfortably better than us. And we are on the same level as Liverpool, who will score many more if they can somehow keep sturridge fit.

 

[cliff jones]

I think this season is going to be tougher than people think, especially later on in the season. We really need to do well in the EL to help get England Coef rating up, as well as it' being an avenue to the CL league.

If we did manage the awesome achievement of making the Semi finals, then April is going to be 1 hell of a month with Liverpool (a), Man Utd (h), Stoke (a), Wet Brom (h) & Chelsea (h) on top of both legs of the EL quarter final and the first leg of the semi final, what a month that would be.

Especially for young Harry, if he hasnt exploded by then.

 

[arunspurs]

Because last years top four are all still comfortably better than us. And we are on the same level as Liverpool, who will score many more if they can somehow keep sturridge fit.

Really ? Are they ?

Chelsea have given away 14 goals this season - Its not like they are scoring freely as well. Of the 7 games played, Chelsea & Spurs faced 3 same opponents - City, Palace & Everton. Chelsea lost all 3 games, while we beat City & Palace & drew with Everton. If Chelsea's current form anything to go by that's the team we need to target. Even though they won the league last time, fact is spine of the same team finished 6th couple of seasons ago. If Hazard, Costa, Ivanovic, Matic & Terry don't get back to their best, they are in big trouble....

United & City have improved. Arsenal have same squad literally. Liverpool have lost their last season best players Gerrard & Sterling and they are solely dependent on Sturidge.

IMO, Everton are more of a threat than Liverpool.

On our side, we have improved not only the squad but also the XI. Dier & Lamela looks like a new signing this season -almost transferred their squad role to XI role.

 

[Spursmad321]

We'll finish 4th the first season after we lose our 4th champions league place. I guarantee it.

It can't happen this season the EPL already know that the top 4 will get CL spot next season, if we were to lose a spot it will be the following season 16/17.

 

[arunspurs]

It can't happen this season the EPL already know that the top 4 will get CL spot next season, if we were to lose a spot it will be the following season 16/17.

English clubs are fine till 2017/18 season

 

[Mustard]

I don't think we have the depth in the squad for 4th. I still think we will be lucky to get 6th.

Would love to be proved wrong though.

 

[spurs9]

English clubs are fine till 2017/18 season

Where did you read that?

 

[Larryjanta]

I don't think we have the depth in the squad for 4th. I still think we will be lucky to get 6th.

Would love to be proved wrong though.

I think we have depth in most positions - losing Lloris would be horrific, as would Kane &, given we have no one like him, Dier (however, whilst I think we'd lose some defensive solidity, there are other players we can bring in for him) but, elsewhere, I don't really see that:

CB: We could lose one of the CBs for a stretch and we would be fine - Wimmer looks a good prospect and Fazio is not utterly terrible - we could also play Dier back there as well
FB: Most people had Rose and Trippier in their first XI
CM: Dier aside, we have Mason, Bentaleb, Alli, Carrol, Dembele - huge depth
AM: Son, Eriksen, Lamela, Chadli, Townsend, Pritchard, N'Jie - we can also play Dembele, All, Mason & Carroll there - huge depth
Str: Problem area but Son &/or N'Jie could surprise us

Depth is nowhere near as much of an issue as last season given 1) the personnel is much more like for like than last season (Paulinho as a 10 anyone?!?) and 2) the quality is improved (both in terms of new players and players improving on last season).

I think Poch will also rotate more sensibly this season - he doesn't seem like he's playing a First XI and a second XI, more of a first XI and then a mix of First XI and fringe players. We also have the fittest and youngest squad, means we don't need to rest so many players - Chelsea, United etc. manage to do this every year in the champions league (where they don't play two different sides, one for league and one for the CL) - players CAN play 45 games a season and not burn out.

We're fine on depth, it's quality where I think we *could* fall short but I'm not even certain that is true - if this side start to believe & play with confidence well, then, they sky really could be the limit - the season Liverpool nearly won the league, people would have laughed if you said they had a chance in September!

 

[HotspurFC1950]

Well with Chelscum and the Bindippers off the pace it could be a very open season re top 4.

 

[Mr Pink]

In one sense I believe you are correct - but still think some are expecting too much. Top 4 based on events so far is asking a bit much - it would exceed my expectations for this season. The horrible Europa positions where i would place us.

We are still only 7 games in, having gone 6 games unbeaten,

Game vs Man U was a non-event decided by an unfortunate own goal with both sides looking short of match fitness.

This was followed by 3 draws basically during transfer window period where people were moaning about lack of cover for Kane and unhappy with Dier as DM. Even though Clinton and Son were bought there was and still is concern that perhaps 1 more was needed (and watching some of Berahino's movement the other night can understand why Poch wanted). Also no DM was bought though the unease re Dier playing in that position has lessened as he has shown what a good footballer he is but where is the alternative?

The performances in these draws varied considerably - throwing away 2 goal lead vs Stoke. playing poorly vs Leicester to dominating game against Everton. As I said previously this is indicative of a young side, as cannot guarantee how things go from one game to next.

Before the Sunderland match there was quite a bit of disquiet, but a win in a poor game was start of 3 match winning run - but it was really only against City that we really showed what we are capable of, and what the future holds as the squad gels together.

The Europa cup and it's vagries will I believe affect the squad and results (a bit like last season where poor results often followed Thursday night matches). Think Poch needs to take Europa seriously and his management of the squad, which fortunately is more balanced than last season, is important.

As per previous post, we are heading in the right direction but do not think we are the stage yet to expect Top 4.

I wouldn't rule anything out. I don't think anyone expects top four, but we shouldn't rule it out as a possibility given the nature of this League now, which has changed enormously.

I guess I feel differently to you because our defensive improvements are considerable IMO. Yes we havn't looked that impressive going forward up until the last week or so, but I'm confident that will improve as the new players continue to settle in and help improve the attacking dynamic - which they've already started doing, and consequently we're seeing improvements from certain individuals, no more so than Lamela.

The next month should tell us quite a bit. Swansea. Liverpool and Bournemouth - a good points return from those three and we're well and truly up and running in the league. If we can beat Liverpool that could have a really big psychological advantage over them for this season as well.

 

[walton]

All the 'top' teams are playing as badly, collectively, as they have done in years.

It is therefore written into the ongoing history of THFC's tragic failures that we'll fail to take advantage and finish with exactly the same points and goal tallies as all of the top 4, only to lose out because the Chairmen opt to decide final placings on a game of rock, paper, scissors which Levy will lose when he tries to offer up his rock in instalments over 15 years.