Top four finish?

[philip]

People are missing the point here, we have got ourselves into the top four, not by a fluke and not by luck but by a steady consistent climb up the table, that climb has been unspectacular but relentless.
Palace are right up there with us but they have been before as have West Ham and Liverpool yet we have crept beyond them and we now have the opportunity to do the same with Utd, will we do that? Well based on how we have reached this point we may well do, we have not been up and down this year, this year the trajectory has been continuously upward.

True. The issue is that the reason we're not higher, as we arguably deserve to be considering the rest of the league, is because we're not scoring enough goals.
Ali has started scoring but eriksen and Lamela aren't anymore. It's always Kane + 1 other.

We really need another striker in the a Kane mold.

Mitrovic or Gestede would fit the bill. Gestede in particular might be available if we offer them some incentives such as loans or Adebayor subsidised (we're paying his wages so still have a say as most clubs still want us to subsidise)

 

[dontcallme]

If they were to finish top 4 at the end of the season then I'm sure they would be fine with it

Unfortunately for your argument the league table is accumulated over 38 games. So the amount of points a team has after 17 games does have some bearing on where they will finish.

If we were 8th now but playing well and very close to top four I wouldn't be too worried but to be on Chelsea's points would be very worrying, genuinely strange that you don't see that.

 

[Shadydan]

True. The issue is that the reason we're not higher, as we arguably deserve to be considering the rest of the league, is because we're not scoring enough goals.
Ali has started scoring but eriksen and Lamela aren't anymore. It's always Kane + 1 other.

We really need another striker in the a Kane mold.

Mitrovic or Gestede would fit the bill. Gestede in particular might be available if we offer them some incentives such as loans or Adebayor subsidised (we're paying his wages so still have a say as most clubs still want us to subsidise)

1. 5th highest scorers in the league? I don't think scoring goals is a problem, the most common denominator as to why we aren't higher is lack of concentration letting other teams back into the game.

I'd rather be in our position now then say Everton who have scored more goals than us.

2. Gestede is garbage, one dimensional, immobile and slow, He is absolutely nothing like Harry Kane and besides I don't think we need a like for like replacement more an alternative... couldn't think of a worse example of a player who we need tbh.

 

[Hazardousman]

Im a little worried tbh, about Leicester still holding on to that 1st spot - we're 9 points behind them. If Leicester somehow still manage to win games they should be considered a top4 contender more than anyone, really the title aswell. That means that Spurs not only have to keep Chelsea out of the top4 but also the likes of Liverpool, Everton and now Manchester United to just finish 4th because of Leicester.

United aren't good enough for top four in my opinion, I have said since the start of the season they will finish 5th and I still think they will, if they get a new manager however it might change their fortunes but I doubt it to be completely honest.

Leicester need to be taken serious but the question is can they remain where they are? I still have doubts, if we get to the end of feb and they are still in the top 3 then I can almost guarantee they will finish in the top four so that will be one spot gone.

I doubt City will drop out and I have a dirty feeling in my gut that the scum are going to win it this year, so like you say that leaves one spot open.

Personally I would prefer it to be Leicester other than anyone else getting into the top four over us (rather than Liverpool for example) but the truth is I would also be extremely annoyed for the simple fact that the only reason I think Leicester are where they are right now is because teams aren't taking them serious.

I watched the Everton game yesterday after ours and Everton were shambolic to say the least, everytime I have seen Leicester play they are afforded so much space and the fact that they always have such low possession stats should tell you something, teams aren't preparing for a fight against them and are allowing them to play to their strengths, which is counterattacking football.

I am all for a struggling team doing well but to come from bottom to top in one season only tells me one of three things 1.Their manager has improved them and with such a huge turn around he would have to be considered possibly the best manager in this league quite frankly. 2.This leagues standard has dropped remarkably (I personally think it has) 3.Teams aren't taking them serious and they are having an easy time of it.

I think it's a mixture of all 3. (Not trying to shit on Leicester's achievements so far, they deserve to be where they are and fair play to them they have played some nice football)

But I just feel like this would only be a bad thing for our league them getting into the top four, I know a lot of people will say it shows how "competitive" our league is but what I would say is it shows how unremarkable the quality of our league is for a team to come from the position they were in last season to where they are now with little or no investment, of course sky don't care about the quality of our league, all they want is drama week in week out.

I suppose it would be petty of me to be angered by our lack of ability and to blame Leicester for us missing out if that were the case, after all, we are in charge of our own destiny so we can't really say "The one year we have a shot and Leicester take it" because let's face it, if we are good enough we will end up in the top four, it's that simple really.

It's no fluke if a team finishes in there at the end of a season, you finish where you deserve to finish and our destiny is in our own hands now, we have to be up for it and take control of the situation, I don't care who it is we need to finish above, Leicester themselves are proving that big names and big budgets mean nothing in this league apparently.

Our players need to remember only one thing, whoever wants it more on the day will more often than not get their reward and if we approach every game with that mentality we will finish comfortably in that top four in my opinion.

 

[King of Otters]

True. The issue is that the reason we're not higher, as we arguably deserve to be considering the rest of the league, is because we're not scoring enough goals.
Ali has started scoring but eriksen and Lamela aren't anymore. It's always Kane + 1 other.

We really need another striker in the a Kane mold.

Mitrovic or Gestede would fit the bill. Gestede in particular might be available if we offer them some incentives such as loans or Adebayor subsidised (we're paying his wages so still have a say as most clubs still want us to subsidise)

Gestede is one of the worst strikers in the league, playing for the worst side in the league, to suggest him as a backup for Kane is off the scale insane.

I'm disappointed in you, phillip.

 

[Deleted member 29446]

@Hazardousman

Good post. While i agree with you on some points i still think United will be in the top4. They have a better squad than us and used way more ££££ than us. It will be a complete disaster if they dont make top4. I think LVG will leave the club soon and things will change at United and thereby start winning games again. However if it's not happening we at Spurs will have an advantage for the rest of the season. Bear in mind United have like 14 injuries (random number) or something crazy.

My point is - while I think THIS season is the best opportunity for Spurs to finish top4 because of Chelsea, im starting to worry because of Leicester - an equation we didn't expect to happen what so ever.

 

[Ironskullll]

My point is that everyone is obsessed with being in the top 4 today / tomorrow : next week etc.......why would it matter ? We have been there before and then finished the season in 5th place and everyone is then gutted.

We are only half way through the season so let's not get carried away.

Point taken, that's just me being awkward

 

[arunspurs]

Watford 2-0 up against the scousers & doing a brilliant job. Hope they win it.

 

[luka loopy]

I know we are quickly approaching the point where Leicester have to be taken seriously as top 4 or even title contenders but I just can't bring myself to do it.

They are conceding far too many goals. Fair play to them they play exciting attacking football but I get the feeling if the goals dry up for vardy and mahrez even for just a few games they don't have enough defensively to grind out a few results.

 

[dontcallme]

1. 5th highest scorers in the league? I don't think scoring goals is a problem, the most common denominator as to why we aren't higher is lack of concentration letting other teams back into the game.

I'd rather be in our position now then say Everton who have scored more goals than us.

2. Gestede is garbage, one dimensional, immobile and slow, He is absolutely nothing like Harry Kane and besides I don't think we need a like for like replacement more an alternative... couldn't think of a worse example of a player who we need tbh.

I think Son was brought in as an alternative but naturally it will take him time to fit in, adapt and put in consistent high quality performances for us.

So if we're going for an alternative who is ready to step in then optinos are thin.

Can't see Leicester selling Vardy midseason and the other performing players are unlikely to want out.

Berahino stands out as the option who we are interested in and with him not playing regularly and his contract running down I see him as one of the very few realist options. Could go for Austin I guess but neither option in this paragraph really interest me that much.

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

So is the Klopp honeymoon over ?

 

[Chattaben]

While finishing 4th would be considered positive progress, it still does not guarantee UCL football. The goal should be 3rd or better. If we finish 4th, have a tough playoff draw and miss out on group stages, then we find ourselves still playing on Thursdays. 5th place, we maintain status quo, 4th place gives us an opportunity for progress, and 3rd place shows real progress.

 

[Lilbaz]

While finishing 4th would be considered positive progress, it still does not guarantee UCL football. The goal should be 3rd or better. If we finish 4th, have a tough playoff draw and miss out on group stages, then we find ourselves still playing on Thursdays. 5th place, we maintain status quo, 4th place gives us an opportunity for progress, and 3rd place shows real progress.

But 1st place will give you the biggest share of the tv money. Maybe we should aim for that?

 

[kmk]

While finishing 4th would be considered positive progress, it still does not guarantee UCL football. The goal should be 3rd or better. If we finish 4th, have a tough playoff draw and miss out on group stages, then we find ourselves still playing on Thursdays. 5th place, we maintain status quo, 4th place gives us an opportunity for progress, and 3rd place shows real progress.

Why does finishing 4th this season not guarantee a UCL place next season? I thought it does since UEFA changed the rules recently to award an extra place in the UCL if the champions did not qualify via the league.

If you are referring to English clubs coefficient compared to Italy, any loss of UCL places will not take effect until the 2017-2018 season.

 

[Shadydan]

Why does finishing 4th this season not guarantee a UCL place next season? I thought it does since UEFA changed the rules recently to award an extra place in the UCL if the champions did not qualify via the league.

If you are referring to English clubs coefficient compared to Italy, any loss of UCL places will not take effect until the 2017-2018 season.

He mentioned because of the CL play off before the group stages, the only rules they changed is if you win the EL then you go straight into the CL proper without entering the play off round.

 

[Sweech]

I know we are quickly approaching the point where Leicester have to be taken seriously as top 4 or even title contenders but I just can't bring myself to do it.

They are conceding far too many goals. Fair play to them they play exciting attacking football but I get the feeling if the goals dry up for vardy and mahrez even for just a few games they don't have enough defensively to grind out a few results.

While I agree that they'll dip, I think they've banked enough points now to secure a top 4 finish.

 

[stonecolddeanaustin]

Why does finishing 4th this season not guarantee a UCL place next season? I thought it does since UEFA changed the rules recently to award an extra place in the UCL if the champions did not qualify via the league.

If you are referring to English clubs coefficient compared to Italy, any loss of UCL places will not take effect until the 2017-2018 season.

Although as has already been mentioned he was talking about having to go via the playoffs, technically 4th doesn't even guarantee you a spot in the playoffs. If an English team wins the Champions League and another wins the Europa League without finishing top 4 then 4th won't be enough for the Champions League. It's so ridiculous to think of it might just happen! (Chelsea winning one, Liverpool/Man U the other)

 

[Lilbaz]

While I agree that they'll dip, I think they've banked enough points now to secure a top 4 finish.

I'd be suprised if 38 points will be enough for a top 4 finish

Think top 4 will require around 68-70 points this year. They have a great shout but we are not even halfway through tge season yet. It's the xmas period that kills teams although the effects aren't seen until jan feb.
West ham were 4th this time last season and were lucky to finish 12th. They are doing fantastic but there are many games to go.

 

[Shadydan]

Yeah not convinced myself that Leicester are guaranteed top four, I think they're a genuine threat though.

 

[Sweech]

I'd be suprised if 38 points will be enough for a top 4 finish

Think top 4 will require around 68-70 points this year. They have a great shout but we are not even halfway through tge season yet. It's the xmas period that kills teams although the effects aren't seen until jan feb.
West ham were 4th this time last season and were lucky to finish 12th. They are doing fantastic but there are many games to go.

Sure, but it's not like any other teams are showing any conviction for those places either.

While holding onto a 4th place spot and being 5 points clear of top (although the 2nd and 3rd place teams have a game in hand) aren't exactly analogous comparisons.