Top four finish?

[Mr Pink]

The only thing that's nagging away at me is that we should of beaten Liverpool. and definitely Everton, and instead we only picked up two points yet we have to go away to both these teams later in the season.

If we were to beat Chelsea though it would be huge. Our fixture list for December is more than favourable and we could build up a real cushion for later on in the season where April looks our toughest period.

 

[Misfit]

We could get top 3. Odds are rather long though tbf and this is still a very young squad. That can work for you if confidence reaches such a high point that it carries us all the way or work against you if it turns into cockiness which under Poch I doubt will happen. What does make me pause is how the lads will respond should we take a proper shellacking. You know, a play off the park humiliation. Might not be easy or quick back from.

One sign that you might point to as a weakness is our number of draws. Need to convert more of those into wins. I never really minded draws but that was because we often used to play badly enough to lose when we got them. Now they feel like missed opportunities.

As each week does continue I am more and more confident of a top 5 finish if I'm honest and we might have a really good run in Europa or the FA Cup.

It helps massively that we have a striker with enough natural ability to knock in 20 season at the club for the first time a long while. Need to get him some help this Jan though.

 

[tommo84]

I know it's said about pretty much every game we play, but the Chelsea game is massive. Win that and we not only keep the pressure the teams above us, but we also put another nail in Chelsea's chances of becoming a competitor for one of these places. Also, it's Chelsea, and however badly they're doing just now, beating them always sends out a message.

Agree - if we stretch the gap between us and Chelsea to 13 points I don't see them catching us. If they did still catch us it would mean that we had fallen away so badly that a top 4 finish is off the table anyway. They need to start closing the gap on us immediately and so I think a draw would be a worse result for them than us, even though we would no doubt be frustrated that we hadn't taken full advantage of their current struggles.

The way we are playing the only reason why I'm not totally confident is because of the trip to Azerbaijan on Thursday and the early kick off time on Sunday. I'd like to see some players rested/rotated in Europe this week, even though Qarabag won't be easy.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

The only thing that's holding back my optimism is the fact that we're Spurs. We were playing similarly good football under Redknapp, with players like Modric and Bale in the side, and suffered a collapse in the second half of the season. Let's take it one game at a time.

The difference is Redknapps team relied on individuals, so if those individuals were ever injured or lost form there was no plan to fall back on. With this side it's bulit on a philosophy, that is enhanced by quality players but the level of the team does not drop if those players are out the team, as their replacements slot in and know what job they have to do. It is real team ethic that is why I am more confident that we will last the distance.

 

[Darth Vega]

The difference is Redknapps team relied on individuals, so if those individuals were ever injured or lost form there was no plan to fall back on. With this side it's bulit on a philosophy, that is enhanced by quality players but the level of the team does not drop if those players are out the team, as their replacements slot in and know what job they have to do. It is real team ethic that is why I am more confident that we will last the distance.

I don't disagree, but at the same time, I'd be concerned if we lost Kane to an injury. Possibly Alderweireld, too.

 

[beats1]

Title shot?
Just for fun - let's look at the teams and make certain assumptions.

Leicester- remarkable so far. Won't be their in the end, but have enough points to be close to top 4 for a long time. Haven't played most of the top teams.

United: probably the worst team in the top 5 so far. Looks solid at the back, but created next to nothing. It should have been them with all the draws - not us. Still maybe the byggets favourite for the title as They have the defence sorten out. If They flick offensively They Could end up with around 80 points.

Arsenal: very high top level, and has been unfortunatenwith injuries. Always Capable of getting on a streak. I am quite sure they will be better pointwise for the rest of the season ending around 78 - 82 points.

City: no. You don't lose 4-1 to Spurs and liverpool and win the title. To many good players to not get top 4, but 75-80 would be my bet. If Aguero, de bruyne, Sterling, kompani and Silva gets a long injury-free period then maybe. But They look like They aren't hungry atm.

Chelsea: if They sort it out quickly the Could get around 70 points. That's over 2 points in average for the rest of the season.

Liverpool: the biggest question mark for me. They have looked bang- average, but with players like coutinho and benteke, and the addition of Klopp They have a lotof momentum at the moment. Probably 68-74 points.

So to be in the title race I would think around 80 would get us close. We are currently on our way to 72-73? So a slight improvement - that's a lot to Ask these young players. Still, I believe in them and if we can continue to score 2-3 goals a gamethen maybe.

4th:
Above 70 would be likely 4th and 75 would definately be enough. We will be close come may, but it Could be down to a point or goal difference.

I predict 74 and 3rd ahead of Pool with 70 and city 73.

Don't overlook Everton, they are only 4 points behind us at the moment and have a easier run in after getting their tough fixtures out of the way.

Everton next 6 games:
Bournemouth (A)
Palace (H)
Norwich (A)
Leicester (H)
Newcastle (A)
Stoke (H)

They are in great form and have no Europa this season

 

[Young Nasty Man]

We have to be patient. On one hand, we are young, still very raw, and have a lot of growth in our future. On the other hands, this is a very composed, mature, and hard working bunch. I think it is too early to really say where we will finish. IF, there were ever to be a season to take advantage, it's this one.

Since I've been watching Spurs, we seem to really struggle around February and March and lose a lot of steam around then. The comforting part of this season is that It really looks like April is going to be the month to buckle down. More than EVER, we will need to sign a striker in January, one that won't be cup tied, so that Harry isn't forced to burn out between Europa and PL.

Yesterday was the first match we were very complete and played them off the pitch. I think the part that bodes well for us (Preface: I live in the States and I don't know what exactly is said to the press all the time in the UK but I use as many outlets as I can) is that everyone is focused way more on Klopp and Liverpool than Spurs. I think Poch relishes that. This is a team that wants to come in and run over you because you don't expect them to do that. I love that we fight and that we stand out.

Biggest moment for me yesterday: Alli yellow card. This is not because he is banned for a match. This is because he is 19 and not afraid to tell Mark Noble (who is maybe the most East London, West Ham bleeding, Spurs hating bloke I've ever seen) to piss off. If him and Dier (who has done that to so many players and he is also 20) aren't afraid to make men feel like children, we are building a mental factor that can arguably shed the same light as Poch's fitness plans.

 

[hellava_tough]

It's the run after the Chelsea game, from December to mid-Feb which is make or break time.

10 or 11 'winnable' games (excluding Everton) and 33 pts up for grabs:

West Brom (A)
Newcastle (H)
Southampton (A)
Norwich (H)
Watford (A)
Everton (A)
Leicester (H)
Sunderland (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Norwich (A)
Watford (H)

If we're serious about a title challenge, we can only realistically drop 3pts from that lot.

Top 4 would mean only dropping 6 or 7pts.

I've said it before, but it all hinges on how our players develop. We have a team full of 'unknown quantities', who could turn out to be world-class stars (or at least very, very good PL stars).

If Alli, Dier, Kane, Lamela, Eriksen, Rose, Son, etc all continue to develop, years from now we might be saying "Yeah, 2015/16 was when Spurs brought together a team of youngsters, who happened to turn into one of the best teams in PL history".

It may sound optimistic, it might not pan out this way, but it definitely happens in sport from time to time; a group of youngsters, coming out of nowhere, who just 'click', and take their competition by storm.

 

[beats1]

It's the run after the Chelsea game, from December to mid-Feb which is make or break time.

10 or 11 'winnable' games (excluding Everton) and 33 pts up for grabs:

West Brom (A)
Newcastle (H)
Southampton (A)
Norwich (H)
Watford (A)
Everton (A)
Leicester (H)
Sunderland (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Norwich (A)
Watford (H)

If we're serious about a title challenge, we can only realistically drop 3pts from that lot.

Top 4 would mean only dropping 6 or 7pts.

I've said it before, but it all hinges on how our players develop. We have a team full of 'unknown quantities', who could turn out to be world-class stars (or at least very, very good PL stars).

If Alli, Dier, Kane, Lamela, Eriksen, Rose, Son, etc all continue to develop, years from now we might be saying "Yeah, 2015/16 was when Spurs brought together a team of youngsters, who happened to turn into one of the best teams in PL history".

It may sound optimistic, it might not pan out this way, but it definitely happens in sport from time to time; a group of youngsters, coming out of nowhere, who just 'click', and take their competition by storm.

Title challenge or win the title?

I think City, United and Arsenal will drop at least 10 points in that period each

Us being top by the end of mid-february

 

[Gladdy]

I'm more than happy for the media to be backing Liverpool to be top 4 ahead of us. I heard Danny Murphy and that twat Jamie Redknapp with their red hats on saying on talksport, that they felt that Liverpool had more depth in their squads than us.

If we get a back up striker in January and maybe central defensive cover, I think we will be fine.

Overall I am happy to be flying below the media radar regarding how well we can do this season.

 

[hellava_tough]

Title challenge or win the title?

I think City, United and Arsenal will drop at least 10 points in that period each

Us being top by the end of mid-february

Good point; not sure.

Title challenge I guess, because I think at least one other team will manage to do that also.

However, the teams you've mentioned have been far from consistent, so perhaps you're right.

 

[hellava_tough]

I'm more than happy for the media to be backing Liverpool to be top 4 ahead of us. I heard Danny Murphy and that twat Jamie Redknapp with their red hats on saying on talksport, that they felt that Liverpool had more depth in their squads than us.

If we get a back up striker in January and maybe central defensive cover, I think we will be fine.

Overall I am happy to be flying below the media radar regarding how well we can do this season.

We really need this.

Frustratingly, I can't see it happening though.

 

[Mr Pink]

I'm more than happy for the media to be backing Liverpool to be top 4 ahead of us. I heard Danny Murphy and that twat Jamie Redknapp with their red hats on saying on talksport, that they felt that Liverpool had more depth in their squads than us.

If we get a back up striker in January and maybe central defensive cover, I think we will be fine.

Overall I am happy to be flying below the media radar regarding how well we can do this season.

I'd agree they'd have more depth than us in terms of forwards - if they wern't sick notes, but they are.

So I don;t really agree with them.

We've better midfield options and defensive ones.

 

[greaves]

Feels very much like that Leeds team under O'Leary. Young and fearless and refreshingly so.

 

[DogsOfWar]

Based on the last ten years points averages:

Our PPG is the equivalent of 4th place.
Leicester's current PPG would 'only' be good enough for 2nd.

As it stands the title race is more open than it has been for a long time and we may never have a better chance of taking advantage of this.
I think we could be in for a very interesting season.

 

[npearl4spurs]

Another thing to look out for as we're whispering "why not go for the title?" is that every PL champion has had a run of 10 straight unbeaten at least once in the season.

We are the only ones with one right now. Keep your eye as the season goes on for other teams to string results together and emerge. We're the only ones to prove it with form right now.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

When we have too big a squad, they criticise. When we shift the deadwood and maintain a smaller squad, they criticise.

Twats.

 

[double0]

I think secretly we should aim for the league.... Laugh out loud yes, it's still early in the season but this squad has massive potential, we haven't seen the best yet.

Looking at clubs above us there's no stand out team, though ManC and Arsenal with a fully squad might change my mind.

It's a dangerous psychology to aim just for 4th....its better to aim for 1st

 

[Larryjanta]

Reasons to be optimistic - mainly, our goal difference. There is a near perfect correlation between goal difference and points total. See below, based on our current goals per game (which would be +38 over the season) we *should* finish with about 76 points - enough for top four in nine of the last ten seasons, 3rd five times and second once

 

[OneBaxter]

As much as I think we are the better team, I can't help worrying about Liverpool's easy finish to the season... We really need to pick up about 85 to 90% of the points available from our next run of fixtures. having said that, there's no reason why we can't do this, no team we've played have been 'better' so it#s really in our own hands whether we will make the CL or not... and I share the sentiment of aiming for the title too... why not?