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Top four finish?

Mustard

Well-Known Member
Nov 14, 2012
10,781
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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!


I couldn't disagree more

Fazio is not even championship level. Wimmer we will see. Dier can only play one position. Make your mind up mate.

CM. I don't really see any of those as cover for Dier. Mason is better deployed going forward. Bentaleb is not mature enough. Alli looks a hot prospect but again he isn't a holding mf. Though he does seem combative. Carroll? Sorry mate can't see it. Dembele isn't fit and I can't really remember him playing well as cover for the back 4 before.

AM. Definitely have a bit more scope there I agree.

Str. Son looks decent after a couple of games but he doesn't strike me as an out an out forward.

I think we will have a very up and down season. Some good games some poor. And that will reflect our league position. The problem will come due to us lacking depth in the squad and inexperience.

As I said though. I hope I am wrong. be great to see the likes of Scum and Chelsea struggle but with their depth I think they will get over the line. Quality usually outs. The manchesters will be fine even if they do have a run in Europe. Funnily enough with Yanited it's the lack of Carrick that could hurt them. But when you can bring in Schweinsteiger you see what squad depth really means for a top 4 side.
 

spursram

Well-Known Member
Aug 3, 2013
1,910
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If we beat pool at home, by a good score, I would feel quite confident about our chances.
Its a bit early season for "ifs" and "buts", but if we beat Swans and Everton beat Liverpool this weekend, then a win for us against Liverpool would certainly open a points gap. But, as i said....lets just take 1 game at a time.
 

talkshowhost86

Mod-Moose
Staff
Oct 2, 2004
48,105
47,061
We are. That's why you see a 'Top 4' thread just after we beat City. Three games into the season some people were predicting a relegation battle :D

Exactly.

We are taking it one over-reaction at a time.

By Sunday evening we'll be out of the Europa League and doomed to League 2, so let's just enjoy the next couple of days of certain Premiership victory.
 

Larryjanta

Well-Known Member
Apr 22, 2014
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I couldn't disagree more

Fazio is not even championship level. Wimmer we will see. Dier can only play one position. Make your mind up mate.

Firstly, is there really any need for the attitude?

Fazio is a EL winning captain, if you really think he is Championship quality then I don't think there is anything I can say to change your mind. Dier should be playing DM but, if we had injuries to *both* Verts and Toby, then I would play him as a CB


CM. I don't really see any of those as cover for Dier. Mason is better deployed going forward. Bentaleb is not mature enough. Alli looks a hot prospect but again he isn't a holding mf. Though he does seem combative. Carroll? Sorry mate can't see it. Dembele isn't fit and I can't really remember him playing well as cover for the back 4 before.

I don't disagree on none of them being like for like replacements for Dier. i also worry that, if Dier is out, then we would have to change the way we play which is a problem but my point was that we do have CMs who can come in and do a job, just a different job and they are good players. however, as I say, it is the one position where we need to change the way we play whilst, everywhere else on the pitch, we have players who play the game in the same way as the players who they're replacing

AM. Definitely have a bit more scope there I agree.

Str. Son looks decent after a couple of games but he doesn't strike me as an out an out forward.

Well, then, we do agree on some things!

I think we will have a very up and down season. Some good games some poor. And that will reflect our league position. The problem will come due to us lacking depth in the squad and inexperience.

As I said though. I hope I am wrong. be great to see the likes of Scum and Chelsea struggle but with their depth I think they will get over the line. Quality usually outs. The manchesters will be fine even if they do have a run in Europe. Funnily enough with Yanited it's the lack of Carrick that could hurt them. But when you can bring in Schweinsteiger you see what squad depth really means for a top 4 side.

I think you're probably right but nobody looking at our squad could say it had *less* depth than last season. Also, all the top four teams have at least one position, like us with Dier, where they do not have a like for like replacement. City, for example, don't have a replacement for Silva, Arsenal for Alexis, United for Mephis, Chelsea for Fabregas - it's not just us. Taking the squad as a whole, across most of the XI positions, we have back ups who can come in and, whilst not as good as the first XI, can do a good job and not damage the way we play.

Finally, apologies that this is all disjointed as posts go but I'm writing it whilst I should be working :)
 

Mustard

Well-Known Member
Nov 14, 2012
10,781
20,141
Firstly, is there really any need for the attitude?

Fazio is a EL winning captain, if you really think he is Championship quality then I don't think there is anything I can say to change your mind. Dier should be playing DM but, if we had injuries to *both* Verts and Toby, then I would play him as a CB




I don't disagree on none of them being like for like replacements for Dier. i also worry that, if Dier is out, then we would have to change the way we play which is a problem but my point was that we do have CMs who can come in and do a job, just a different job and they are good players. however, as I say, it is the one position where we need to change the way we play whilst, everywhere else on the pitch, we have players who play the game in the same way as the players who they're replacing



Well, then, we do agree on some things!



I think you're probably right but nobody looking at our squad could say it had *less* depth than last season. Also, all the top four teams have at least one position, like us with Dier, where they do not have a like for like replacement. City, for example, don't have a replacement for Silva, Arsenal for Alexis, United for Mephis, Chelsea for Fabregas - it's not just us. Taking the squad as a whole, across most of the XI positions, we have back ups who can come in and, whilst not as good as the first XI, can do a good job and not damage the way we play.

Finally, apologies that this is all disjointed as posts go but I'm writing it whilst I should be working :)


No attitude was intended mate. My point was you can't have Dier as cover for two positions when each is in scant supply.

Fair play to Faz. I respect his achievements. But he has been utter dog turd in a Spurs shirt. I doubt we will get out money back and I hope to never see him playing again. I would rather see Gary Docherty back. I see him as a liabilty.

without going back into it. I just feel we are weaker than last season squad wise. Just my onion.

Time will tell etc.
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,957
I'd rather we just took the old boring line of "taking each game at a time". If we are up there with 10 games to go then yeah let's think about it. Until then I'd rather just go week to week. It's just too much pressure for this young team at the moment if you ask me.
 

spike472

Active Member
Feb 10, 2006
472
557
Can't believe some people on here. One week we are going to finish mid-table and the next we are favourites for top four.
 

Larryjanta

Well-Known Member
Apr 22, 2014
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5,040
No attitude was intended mate. My point was you can't have Dier as cover for two positions when each is in scant supply.

Fair play to Faz. I respect his achievements. But he has been utter dog turd in a Spurs shirt. I doubt we will get out money back and I hope to never see him playing again. I would rather see Gary Docherty back. I see him as a liabilty.

without going back into it. I just feel we are weaker than last season squad wise. Just my onion.

Time will tell etc.

(y)

I think we can have Dier as cover for two positions - the hope is we never have to play him as a CB as we don't get an injury crisis there (most clubs have two CBs who play every game) - I also don't rate Fazio that highly and would only play him if three of the others were injured but, as a fifth choice, I'd say he is probably the best 5th choice CB in the league

Fair enough though!
 

nicdic

Official SC Padre
Admin
May 8, 2005
41,857
25,919
I've always thought we'd be 5th at worst this season, with an outside chance of a push for top four depending on how the bigger teams do.

The "over-reaction" isn't in realising we actually could do this, but responding to the opening games of the season and the transfer window in the way that many did. There have been very positive signs in all of our Premier League games, and some just can't help themselves to get a moan in.
 

arunspurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
8,807
35,543
Can't believe some people on here. One week we are going to finish mid-table and the next we are favourites for top four.

Whats wrong in that ? We have won 3 games on the bounce in PL & defeated City and haven't lost since opening day. If people can't be optimistic or heads turned after this week, then when ?
 

arunspurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
8,807
35,543
Another reason for showing optimism with PL, is first time in long time we are hearing right noises from players and focus on PL from manager.

We weren't happy with the team Vs Arsenal but end of day, Pochettino prioritized league.

After City game Dier said - " I hear people saying stuff about Tottenham Hotspur and I don't like it. I don't think the other boys like it either." This doesn't seem one player opinion alone & rather a collective feeling among the group - this says to me that our boys are up for the challenge.

Other teams may have improved in buying classy players - but it looks like we are showing signs of a better team on/off the park. When push comes to shove, may be this player attitude will help us across the line.
 

Flashspur

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2012
6,882
9,068
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.

I dont think they are playing that badly - the rest are catching up. Its a more level playing field.
 

Lo Amo Speroni

Only been in match thread once.
Aug 9, 2010
1,992
5,603
I like how the future looks. I like how the defence is looking solid. I love how Dier Mason and Alli are looking good in the two MF positions. I like the look of our attacking four with it's interchangeable movement. I like our head coach.

I don't know where we will finish this season but there is optimism for a good crack at top four.

I intend to enjoy the ride.
 

Ironskullll

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2010
1,378
1,894
Isn't it possible to believe that 5th/6th/7th is most likely but that 13/2 represents good odds for 4th? You'd think not, from one or two responses!
 

JUSTINSIGNAL

Well-Known Member
Jul 10, 2008
15,980
48,500
I love the optimism in here but lose the next game and I'm sure I'll be reading 'we'll be lucky to finish top 10' again, like I was after the first couple of games this season.

I'm happy to strap in and enjoy the ride. There will be lots of ups and downs as we have such a young squad that consistency is always going to be an issue. Rather than get too carried away with positive or negative results I hope fans can just take each result in their stride and judge our progression at the end of the season.
 
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