Top four finish?

[Good Doctor M]

January is gonna be key once again, I'm sure our rivals will strengthen and we have to for once in this window!

Now is the time to capitalise! We wont have a better opportunity to finish in the top 4.

Where do we strengthen though? We still really need a striker to support Kane, but in all honesty, we're not going to buy anyone who is going to make us a better team. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't buy anybody and I'd be mostly okay with that. I can't look at any area of the pitch at the moment and say confidently that there is someone who could improve us in place of any of the current playing staff. The reason the teams works is because they've played together and trained together long enough to finally get Poch's "philosophy". There's no player out there anyway that is going to be able to come in and "get it" immediately as far as playing within this team is concerned.

A top-quality striker who is happy to sit on the bench and play second string to Kane - that's what we need, but who the hell has the quality to be that guy, who is also happy to play a bit-part role but is also hungry to embrace Poch's ideas.

Berhanio obviously would come if it were up to him. But if we don't get him, for whatever reason... who's left? I can't think of anybody personally.

If the alternative is to have Clinton playing up front when Kane needs a rest, I'd say that's as good a solution to anything realistically available in the transfer marker - bar Berhanio obviously.

 

[dontcallme]

It's more the bi polar reactions of some of our fans that get me. We are either shit or great there never seems to be middle ground. This leads to over hypeing our players/manager when things are going good and slagging them off when not so good.

This is dangerous when we have young impressionable players. People make their mind up without giving them a chance and it takes a while for thrm to change their mind. This can lead to a loss of confidence to a player.

There are loads of middle ground views.

People are going to have views and sometimes it is premature and negative. Lots of young players like Rose, Kane and Lamela have changed fans opinions. The ones who make it often have strong characters, it is needed.

 

[Lilbaz]

There are loads of middle ground views.

People are going to have views and sometimes it is premature and negative. Lots of young players like Rose, Kane and Lamela have changed fans opinions. The ones who make it often have strong characters, it is needed.

I'd just like some of our fans to be a bit more patient. Poch and levy are trying to build something here under difficult circumstances. I can just see some very negative comments if we go through a bad patch (which we will do at some point).

We have been looking good for the last few games and i really hope we can push on and do something this season. But there is a long way to go and other teams are very capable of stepping it up a gear.

 

[kitchen]

It's more the bi polar reactions of some of our fans that get me. We are either shit or great there never seems to be middle ground. This leads to over hypeing our players/manager when things are going good and slagging them off when not so good.

This is dangerous when we have young impressionable players. People make their mind up without giving them a chance and it takes a while for thrm to change their mind. This can lead to a loss of confidence to a player.

Indeed. Wait until we lose to Chelsea next game. It will be back to 'xxxx is shit' and 'Poch out!'

 

[dontcallme]

I'd just like some of our fans to be a bit more patient. Poch and levy are trying to build something here under difficult circumstances. I can just see some very negative comments if we go through a bad patch (which we will do at some point).

We have been looking good for the last few games and i really hope we can push on and do something this season. But there is a long way to go and other teams are very capable of stepping it up a gear.

I think what goes on in the stadium is more important.

I'll always feel comfortable sharing my views on the forum, some of them premature, some positive, some negative, some just wrong.

 

[Lilbaz]

I think what goes on in the stadium is more important.

I'll always feel comfortable sharing my views on the forum, some of them premature, some positive, some negative, some just wrong.

And i'm sure we've all heard some idiot slagging off a player at a game.

Then you have twitter.

The players aren't idiots they know what fans are saying about them.

 

[Cornpattbuck]

Just keeping my feet and banter firmly grounded at the mo, but quietly optimistic.

 

[tdk101]

Berhanio obviously would come if it were up to him. But if we don't get him, for whatever reason... who's left? I can't think of anybody personally.

We are linked with loads of CFs - Depoitre, Slimani, Pato, Zaza, Negredo, Dembele, Babacar, etc and all of them are gettable.

 

[davidmatzdorf]

We are linked with loads of CFs - Depoitre, Slimani, Pato, Zaza, Negredo, Dembele, Babacar, etc and all of them are gettable.

I think a lot of people are in for a period of frustration, if they want to use criteria such as "gettable" as a recommendation .

It's reasonably plain from his own statements that Pochettino has impressed upon Levy and his recruitment colleagues that he either wants us to sign a player he wants or he wants us to sign no one. Managers, as a rule, take a longer-term view of player trading than fans. The latter want to see transfers in Janary that are related to the current season's weaknesses and eventual finishing position. A good manager focuses on building a squad over a period of years.

I think Pochettino is on one extreme of this tendency. He doesn't want players in the squad unless he is convinced that he can get them to play in his preferred style. He'd rather persevere with the people he has. I'm not speculating, I heard him say it about a couple of months ago.

If/when we don't get a suitably exciting and high-profile "no. 9" to back up Kane this January, there will be some explosions around here and people will blame Levy for "not backing the manager". I don't think that will be the case. We'll either get someone Pochettino actually wants or we'll get no one.

 

[Lighty64]

Over the next 12 games we could pick up a fair few points
November
Sun 29 Chelsea White Hart Lane

December 2015

Sat 05 West Brom The Hawthorns

Sun 13 Newcastle White Hart Lane

Sat 19 So'ton St. Mary's Stadium

Sat 26 Norwich White Hart Lane

Mon 28 Watford Vicarage Road


January 2016

Sun 03 Everton Goodison Park

Wed 13 Leicester White Hart Lane

Sat 16 Sunderland White Hart Lane

Sat 23 Palace Selhurst Park

February 2016

Tue 02 Norwich Carrow Road

Sat 06 Watford White Hart Lane

the games in bold are the tougher ones out of that set

November
Sun 29 Chelsea White Hart Lane going to be tougher with Alli missing, but it's a London Derby that will kicking off not much more than 48hrs after the players get back home from the game. the good thing being Chelsea need to win this more than we do for them to have any chance of CL the season after, so they won't be sitting back, so it will definitely be an open game, just hope we can have more than a 2 goal lead going into the last 15mins.

December 2015

Sat 05 West Brom The Hawthorns never easy to play against a Pulis team that will be on a high after their previous home win, though it's a game we should hope to win

Sat 19 So'ton St. Mary's Stadium with their fans so hyped for this fixture with their hatred for us this is going to be a tough one with the crowd giving them a lift

January 2016

Sun 03 Everton Goodison Park Goodison never an easy fixture for any visiting team, the tougher the game on paper the more the crowd gets behind them.

Wed 13 Leicester White Hart Lane I think we will be ahead of them by this fixture, but a lot depends on how much their heads drop if they do have a bad December

Sat 23 Palace Selhurst Park It's a London derby that I expect to win, but always 1 that ends up being a tough one, I think they actually have a good head to head in Premiership matches with us, even though they used to yoyo with Battered Spam (new nik for Wet Spam sorry I hate them) (just checked We have won 5 - Drawn 5 - and L3)

At the moment I'm just enjoying the ride and prey that I don't fall off, if I have 1 or 2 bumps I won't be too unhappy but 3 out of those 12 fixtures and top 4 (4th poss 3rd) i think will be our only hope

 

[tdk101]

I think a lot of people are in for a period of frustration, if they want to use criteria such as "gettable" as a recommendation .

It's reasonably plain from his own statements that Pochettino has impressed upon Levy and his recruitment colleagues that he either wants us to sign a player he wants or he wants us to sign no one. Managers, as a rule, take a longer-term view of player trading than fans. The latter want to see transfers in Janary that are related to the current season's weaknesses and eventual finishing position. A good manager focuses on building a squad over a period of years.

I think Pochettino is on one extreme of this tendency. He doesn't want players in the squad unless he is convinced that he can get them to play in his preferred style. He'd rather persevere with the people he has. I'm not speculating, I heard him say it about a couple of months ago.

If/when we don't get a suitably exciting and high-profile "no. 9" to back up Kane this January, there will be some explosions around here and people will blame Levy for "not backing the manager". I don't think that will be the case. We'll either get someone Pochettino actually wants or we'll get no one.

Getting no one is absolutely not an option. Both Pochettino and Levy know this. Even if it's a journey man stop gap, we are getting someone in. That I am quite sure of.
(Negredo certainly qualifies as stopgap option)

 

[Lilbaz]

Getting no one is absolutely not an option. Both Pochettino and Levy know this. Even if it's a journey man stop gap, we are getting someone in. That I am quite sure of.

Why get a journeyman in? I'd rather play son or njie upfront.

If we are going to get someone get quality that can play in poch's system.

 

[KILLA_SIN]

the games in bold are the tougher ones out of that set

November
Sun 29 Chelsea White Hart Lane going to be tougher with Alli missing, but it's a London Derby that will kicking off not much more than 48hrs after the players get back home from the game. the good thing being Chelsea need to win this more than we do for them to have any chance of CL the season after, so they won't be sitting back, so it will definitely be an open game, just hope we can have more than a 2 goal lead going into the last 15mins.

December 2015

Sat 05 West Brom The Hawthorns never easy to play against a Pulis team that will be on a high after their previous home win, though it's a game we should hope to win

Sat 19 So'ton St. Mary's Stadium with their fans so hyped for this fixture with their hatred for us this is going to be a tough one with the crowd giving them a lift

January 2016

Sun 03 Everton Goodison Park Goodison never an easy fixture for any visiting team, the tougher the game on paper the more the crowd gets behind them.

Wed 13 Leicester White Hart Lane I think we will be ahead of them by this fixture, but a lot depends on how much their heads drop if they do have a bad December

Sat 23 Palace Selhurst Park It's a London derby that I expect to win, but always 1 that ends up being a tough one, I think they actually have a good head to head in Premiership matches with us, even though they used to yoyo with Battered Spam (new nik for Wet Spam sorry I hate them) (just checked We have won 5 - Drawn 5 - and L3)

At the moment I'm just enjoying the ride and prey that I don't fall off, if I have 1 or 2 bumps I won't be too unhappy but 3 out of those 12 fixtures and top 4 (4th poss 3rd) i think will be our only hope

There is no easy games but after Chelsea there will no more current top six sides to play other than Leicester who will also be starting their toughest run of games with UtD, Chelsea, City, Liverpool,and ourselves in their next eight and like you I agree they will drop out of that top four. From our own perspective it's as nice a run as we could have hoped for over xmas and Jan to pick up points. Oh and Norwich have been a bit of a bogey team for us in the past and were playing them twice. But this is the most optimistic I have felt going into a run of fixtures that this could set us up nicely for top four.

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

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.

This is a huuuge exaggeration. It takes under two points a game to get 4th. So 10-12 points dropped would be fine, but obviously from such a run of games wouldn't be ideal.

 

[Lighty64]

There is no easy games but after Chelsea there will no more current top six sides to play other than Leicester who will also be starting their toughest run of games with UtD, Chelsea, City, Liverpool,and ourselves in their next eight and like you I agree they will drop out of that top four. From our own perspective it's as nice a run as we could have hoped for over xmas and Jan to pick up points.

I agree, but that's why I said "tougher" I'd be gutted to lose any of the other 7, and the way we are playing I'd hope we will win those 7. out of the other 5 I'd not be surprised with points dropped (hope we don't) and definitely wouldn't be shocked if 1 of those 5 where the 1's to end our unbeaten run.

 

[KILLA_SIN]

I agree, but that's why I said "tougher" I'd be gutted to lose any of the other 7, and the way we are playing I'd hope we will win those 7. out of the other 5 I'd not be surprised with points dropped (hope we don't) and definitely wouldn't be shocked if 1 of those 5 where the 1's to end our unbeaten run.

If we remain unbeaten against Chelsea, or if we win, I think that would set us up for an excellent chance to get a great run going. I know we will drop points but all those fixtures to me look very winnable. Feeling a good buzz at the moment about our chances for top four maybe that even more elusive third we should have under HR.,

 

[Firsttouch]

Berhanio obviously would come if it were up to him. But if we don't get him, for whatever reason... who's left? I can't think of anybody personally.

.......Mahrez+Vardy

 

[dontcallme]

And i'm sure we've all heard some idiot slagging off a player at a game.

Then you have twitter.

The players aren't idiots they know what fans are saying about them.

Well if you want to live in a world where you're afraid to share your opinion online on the basis that someone might not like it then go ahead. Fortunately most don't think that way which is why we have discussions.

 

[ebzrascal]

Berhanio obviously would come if it were up to him. But if we don't get him, for whatever reason... who's left? I can't think of anybody personally.

.......Mahrez+Vardy

There should be players available from teams who are out of the champions league or who believe they are safe in their league and want to cash in..

 

[mightyspur]

Getting no one is absolutely not an option. Both Pochettino and Levy know this. Even if it's a journey man stop gap, we are getting someone in. That I am quite sure of.

I honestly can't see us getting anyone in. We may ship a couple out, Townsend, Fazio etc. but unless something comes out of left field I reckon we'll get no one in.

Berhanio obviously would come if it were up to him. But if we don't get him, for whatever reason... who's left? I can't think of anybody personally.

.......Mahrez+Vardy

No way Levy would buy Vardy. He's having a good season, but he's 29 and this is the first time he's done it. He'll stay with Leicester and be top dog, not leave to come to us. Not sure Mahrez is a Poch type of player is he?