Tottenham resistance replaces romanticism

[jolsnogross]

It's become fashionable to talk down just how good that 11-12 team were. Adebayor and Parker were playing at a high Prem level, Ledley was great for the first half of the season, Assou-Ekotto was a better player before injury, and Daws, Kaboul, Walker, Sandro and Lennon were no mugs. I still think the big thing was Ledley finally being done in the second half of the season.

Couldn't agree more. I'm not sure what the point of saying "there were 3 world-class players in that side" is supposed to mean...that it was easy for the 11/12 team to have that run? a dig at Harry? a lowering of current expectations?

I reckon Poch has really turned us around since the post-Harry mini-decline and this run is outstanding. I said at the start of the season that he'll shove any doubts aside if he can win 5 on the trot, like Jol did when he turned us around and like Harry did with that amazing run of results. But Poch is basically proving that capacity now i think. It hasn't happened yet, but it could well happen, and 21 pts from a possible 33 (without defeat) is more than most would have expected from us.

Poch and Kane said we don't set limits, and the top 4 is realistic. But I'm starting to think (maybe getting carried away) we could have a Liverpool of 2-yrs ago situation emerging. We might not quite take the title, but with a third of the season nearly gone, we're as good as any side to push the eventual winner all the way.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

It's become fashionable to talk down just how good that 11-12 team were. Adebayor and Parker were playing at a high Prem level, Ledley was great for the first half of the season, Assou-Ekotto was a better player before injury, and Daws, Kaboul, Walker, Sandro and Lennon were no mugs. I still think the big thing was Ledley finally being done in the second half of the season.

It was hard to watch that 5-2 at arsenal seeing him struggling so badly.

 

[UbeAstard]

But then I've never really cracked what 'world class' means

Too easily bandied about for Tom, Dick n Harry.

 

[thinktank]

Poch's way is the Tottenham Way. The Tottenham Way of old - with steel running through it.

 

[davidmatzdorf]

I don't think anyone would argue that our best players right now are as good as our best players were in 2011/12. What this season's squad have in common with that side is that they are a proper team. We haven't had one of those since Redknapp left.

It's also arguable that the average quality of our squad is as good as it was in 2011/12. And what we don't have is also important, in the longer term. We don't have any players on the decline. Those players who are doing well right now, unless we get bullied into selling them, will be doing better in 2 years and will have a better understanding with their teammates.

I have thought for 10+ years that we should keep the manager, keep the players and gradually form them into a team. The only time I thought we should have sacked the manager was in Autumn 2008. The resilient, "resistant" quality of a squad is directly related to its stability.

The difference now is that we have a squad that could realistically be kept together for the next 5-6 years, with minimal changes, and could aim for continuous improvement despite minimal transfer activity.

We need a second no. 9 in January, but only if we can sign one whom Pochettino wants to work with. Otherwise, the less we fuck around with the personnel, the better.

 

[slartibartfast]

A major factor commonly missed when talking about selling our best players is that we normally make our competitors stronger.
We're weaker, they're stronger.
Thats not good no matter who you have coming through to replace them, not if you're serious about competing against them.
We should make it clear to players, if you want away then you're going AWAY. Far far away.
Agree this is the best it's been and the most optimistic I've been since Harry went.
Just need to make sure when the window opens and the vultures start to circle we tell them in no uncertain terms to fk off otherwise this 'building for the future' is futile.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

A major factor commonly missed when talking about selling our best players is that we normally make our competitors stronger.

I can't remember us selling anyone to Arsenal, City or Chelsea, leaving Carrick and Berbatov to United and Keane to Liverpool.

If I missed one i'm sure someone will let me know, but i'm not entirely sure how the above qualifies as 'normally', Bale and Modric (who Levy refused to sell to Chelsea) went 'far far away'.

Our problem has been (IMO) that we've not spent the money accquired very well, not to whom we've flogged the family jewels. Oh and in changing managers waaaaay too often.

 

[zinzanzee]

Since a long long time ago, queue star wars music....no

I have not seen such universal optimisim about our prospects for a season in regards to the EPL. Only last year at one point I think we were simultaneously alive in L Cup, FA Cup and Euro Cup. That was about the best of it with a glass half full attitude.

In the last 3 weeks I cannot believe the turnaround in the optimisim of what we can (could) achieve this year in the opinion of SPURS fans from what I read in various blogs.

Yes, there are a few things falling into place in terms of the form of our major competitors, there is no doubt about this - they are the one replacing their managers .

It is the way we are playing as a unit that really does it for me. MP reinforces this with a "no wankers" policy - he moved on the players he was not going to play and he has been ruthless with those that think they deserve to be ahead of others in the current team.

For mine we are way ahead of schedule at this point in time. COYS.

Prove all the doubters wrong.

 

[Jenko]

A major factor commonly missed when talking about selling our best players is that we normally make our competitors stronger.
We're weaker, they're stronger.
Thats not good no matter who you have coming through to replace them, not if you're serious about competing against them.
We should make it clear to players, if you want away then you're going AWAY. Far far away.
Agree this is the best it's been and the most optimistic I've been since Harry went.
Just need to make sure when the window opens and the vultures start to circle we tell them in no uncertain terms to fk off otherwise this 'building for the future' is futile.

It's all well and good saying that we should sell them only abroad but it's a lot easier said than done. You're totally ignoring player power and the possibility of a Bosman. Arsenal got hit with that many times and higher wages and cl football couldn't prevent it.

 

[HotspurFC1950]

considering how much taller we are than them I really don't know why we don't whip the ball in, maybe against Chelsea we will and they wont be expecting it

Success from whipping the ball in is minimal and same boring sh*t. Variations surprise the opposition so when we do whip it in we see chances like the one Toby was unlucky with.

 

[HotspurFC1950]

Great responses. Although we all know happens historically when we start doing well, we sell our best players/our manager leaves and we drop back 3 years.

All down to you Mr Levy....

Week that's the same Mr Levy who has overseen all what we are achieving so we should trust in him.

 

[Misfit]

Week that's the same Mr Levy who has overseen all what we are achieving so we should trust in him.

Yep. I'm sure DL was desperate to get Barbatov et al out of here. No way he'd have like to see us establish ourselves as a top 4 club with Berbs in front of Modric and Bale. Nup. He'd prefer we keep treading water.

The sigh of relief he took when we got rid of that 20 goal a season man Bale was palpable.