Under the Radar Nonsense

[kansaspur]

I rarely post on here but lurk regularly (and will probably immediately resume my lurking after this post), but something I've read a lot of on here in the past few days has me scratching my head. In several threads, people are bemoaning the fact that last weekend's win means we are no longer "flying under the radar." To me, this mentality that "under the radar" is a good thing doesn't make any sense from a Spurs perspective.

For all his positive qualities, one thing we know about Poch is that his style of play takes a toll on players' bodies and that his teams are often not performing at their peak late in the season. In 2014-15, Spurs took just 10 points from the last eight matches. Last year, we took 12 points from the last eight. This coupled with the fact that our beloved Spurs have a reputation for "bottling it" when the stakes are high suggests the very best thing we can do is come out of the gate quickly and take as many points (and plaudits) as possible in the early stage of the season. Why would we want to "fly under the radar" in fourth or fifth place when we could get our noses in front and aim to keep them there?

If the trend is for us to wane in the closing stages of the season, wouldn't we want as big of a cushion as possible by the time we get to the last few fixtures?

Just look at Leicester last season. Everyone kept writing them off as the season progressed, but with each passing week, they extended their lead. By the time other teams got their shit together, they were too far out in front to be caught by anyone save Spurs. Even with two draws in their last three matches, Leicester ran away with the league by 10 points.

This isn't a marathon where coming out fast means you'll inevitably fade at the end. Shouldn't we want to grab points, grab the lead and then stay there?

 

[Lilbaz]

I rarely post on here but lurk regularly (and will probably immediately resume my lurking after this post), but something I've read a lot of on here in the past few days has me scratching my head. In several threads, people are bemoaning the fact that last weekend's win means we are no longer "flying under the radar." To me, this mentality that "under the radar" is a good thing doesn't make any sense from a Spurs perspective.

For all his positive qualities, one thing we know about Poch is that his style of play takes a toll on players' bodies and that his teams are often not performing at their peak late in the season. In 2014-15, Spurs took just 10 points from the last eight matches. Last year, we took 12 points from the last eight. This coupled with the fact that our beloved Spurs have a reputation for "bottling it" when the stakes are high suggests the very best thing we can do is come out of the gate quickly and take as many points (and plaudits) as possible in the early stage of the season. Why would we want to "fly under the radar" in fourth or fifth place when we could get our noses in front and aim to keep them there?

If the trend is for us to wane in the closing stages of the season, wouldn't we want as big of a cushion as possible by the time we get to the last few fixtures?

Just look at Leicester last season. Everyone kept writing them off as the season progressed, but with each passing week, they extended their lead. By the time other teams got their shit together, they were too far out in front to be caught by anyone save Spurs. Even with two draws in their last three matches, Leicester ran away with the league by 10 points.

This isn't a marathon where coming out fast means you'll inevitably fade at the end. Shouldn't we want to grab points, grab the lead and then stay there?

We'd all love to be top now. I think that what people want is not for everyone to get carried away and start tipping us for the title. This is for two reasons, first it puts extra pressure and expectation on the team and secondly if we fail we will be slammed as chockers and be made a joke of which is an extra kick in the teeth after disappointment of failure.

 

[Dougal]

I think the comments are more to do with the limelight rather than the points. Despite us being up there already and strong last season everyone is talking more in favour of the clubs around. Of course paper talk doesn't get you points so I'm happy enough to be 'under the radar' while the lads are doing their job.

 

[kansaspur]

I think the comments are more to do with the limelight rather than the points. Despite us being up there already and strong last season everyone is talking more in favour of the clubs around. Of course paper talk doesn't get you points so I'm happy enough to be 'under the radar' while the lads are doing their job.

Sure. But aren't "under the radar" and "top of the table" mutually exclusive at around this point in the season? Why would we want to be "under the radar" if that position also means we're at a lower position in the table? I'll gladly take top (or near the top in our case) and in the limelight over fourth and under the radar. If we're going to choke anyway (as so many seem to be fearful of), we might as well fall from first to third rather than from fourth to sixth.

 

[Adam456]

The

Sure. But aren't "under the radar" and "top of the table" mutually exclusive at around this point in the season? Why would we want to be "under the radar" if that position also means we're at a lower position in the table? I'll gladly take top (or near the top in our case) and in the limelight over fourth and under the radar. If we're going to choke anyway (as so many seem to be fearful of), we might as well fall from first to third rather than from fourth to sixth.

The man has a perfectly good point.

The only obvious point is that opposing teams might and I say might underestimate you when you play them. But if any team underestimated us after last season they'd be fools and totally unprofessional

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

Not sure i understand the post.
We flew under the radar because we didn't spend a quarter of a billion quid on shit this summer.
We flew under the radar because we'd won 4 and drawn 2 without really getting out of 2nd gear.

When you beat the favourites for the title, when they've just won 6 in a row with consumate ease, you get picked up on the radar like a B52 bomber bearing down.

You can't stay under the radar and keep picking up points.
Last season I felt if Leicester could take their form from the end of the previous season they could win the league.
I so badly wish I was a gambling man.

The good thing about staying under the proverbial radar is that teams fancy their chances and we'll get more chances of winning.
Once you're on the radar it's parking the bus time!

 

[KaribYid]

Leicester weren't under the radar, and they did quite well. While I understand why people would rather the limelight not be on us, if we're ever going to become a true "big club" our players are going to need to learn to expect and deal with high expectations from both the fans and the media. It's all apart of having a winning mentality.

 

[Shadydan]

I thought under the radar meant that the media weren't talking us up?

 

[Lilbaz]

I thought under the radar meant that the media weren't talking us up?

This. It has nothing to do with league position.

 

[Adam456]

You can't stay under the radar and keep picking up points.
Last season I felt if Leicester could take their form from the end of the previous season they could win the league.

That's what the OP said

The good thing about staying under the proverbial radar is that teams fancy their chances and we'll get more chances of winning.
Once you're on the radar it's parking the bus time!

That's what I said

 

[walworthyid]

I rarely post on here but lurk regularly (and will probably immediately resume my lurking after this post), but something I've read a lot of on here in the past few days has me scratching my head. In several threads, people are bemoaning the fact that last weekend's win means we are no longer "flying under the radar." To me, this mentality that "under the radar" is a good thing doesn't make any sense from a Spurs perspective.

For all his positive qualities, one thing we know about Poch is that his style of play takes a toll on players' bodies and that his teams are often not performing at their peak late in the season. In 2014-15, Spurs took just 10 points from the last eight matches. Last year, we took 12 points from the last eight. This coupled with the fact that our beloved Spurs have a reputation for "bottling it" when the stakes are high suggests the very best thing we can do is come out of the gate quickly and take as many points (and plaudits) as possible in the early stage of the season. Why would we want to "fly under the radar" in fourth or fifth place when we could get our noses in front and aim to keep them there?

If the trend is for us to wane in the closing stages of the season, wouldn't we want as big of a cushion as possible by the time we get to the last few fixtures?

Just look at Leicester last season. Everyone kept writing them off as the season progressed, but with each passing week, they extended their lead. By the time other teams got their shit together, they were too far out in front to be caught by anyone save Spurs. Even with two draws in their last three matches, Leicester ran away with the league by 10 points.

This isn't a marathon where coming out fast means you'll inevitably fade at the end. Shouldn't we want to grab points, grab the lead and then stay there?

The one thing you haven't factored in is squad size. At Southampton he had a very small, fairly young squad playing at absolute maximum. For the last 2 seasons at spurs he has had a small and very young squad playing at absolute maximum.
This season we have addressed some squad issues meaning that we should perform far better in the latter stages. I also think that it was a mentalits thing last season. Once we had secured 3rd and couldn't win the league the players just lost the intensity that our play relies on.

I honestly believe we can do it. We have the best defense, we have the best balance and we have a squad that has been all the way in a title race.

 

[chinaman]

How sweet it would be to win it all against all those big spenders.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

A new phenone....erm, a new thing. People are now moaning when we win as well as when we dont pick up points.

SC, you're a beautiful thing.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

Fact is that we are rarely mentioned in dispatches unless we beat Rochdale in extra time in the Watney Cup (yes ye young fuckers there was a football Cup named after a beer that tasted similar to that of modern day paint stripper).

Over the past few weeks wankers in the press have been wanking about Von Klopp from his work at Liverpool in trying to create The Sound Of Music II, and about the fact that Brenda had softened Salt n' Peper up before his reserve side (No DeRuin) came to WHL and got rinsed.

See we get little praise or mention in the media hell bent on saying that we are more of a bubble waiting to burst than those tenants at the Athletic Track Stadium.

We shouldn't give a fuck what those in the media think or say because we are..

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

The reason why we are 'under the radar' is not because of the quality of our team or manager. It's due to a lack of drama.

Firstly other teams have new shiny managers who have been incredibly successful with their former teams. They are also give some good controversial quotes. Poch is not that famous (yet) and rarely says too controversial things.

The next is player controversy - Toure, Hart, Rooney, Costa, Pogba, Ibra etc.. We don't have any players who are causing a stir.

We have started slowly, in the way we have not smashed anyone or been involved in a surprise defeat. The City game was the first team we beat who we weren't expected to.

Sissoko has been our only 20m+ signing and he is not an exciting player. So no exciting signings, good - yes, exciting - no.

This is what the media pick up on. We in my humble opinion are title contenders. However from a position of someone who has not watched every Spurs game last season you cannot see the progress and the squad gap filling we have done so well.

The simple answer is we are not that exciting from a media standpoint. A rare few (who know what they are talking about) have mentioned us.

Even as a Spurs fan, I am excited to see how Pep does or how United play or how Klopp progresses. These teams also have a chance of imploding, which, touch wood, will probably not happen to us.

So in short we are stable, improving and all is well. In a word we are boring, not on the pitch but boring in our consistency and long may it continue.

Oh, and the other reason is most pundits and writers are idiots.

 

[Col_M]

I rarely post on here but lurk regularly (and will probably immediately resume my lurking after this post), but something I've read a lot of on here in the past few days has me scratching my head. In several threads, people are bemoaning the fact that last weekend's win means we are no longer "flying under the radar." To me, this mentality that "under the radar" is a good thing doesn't make any sense from a Spurs perspective.

For all his positive qualities, one thing we know about Poch is that his style of play takes a toll on players' bodies and that his teams are often not performing at their peak late in the season. In 2014-15, Spurs took just 10 points from the last eight matches. Last year, we took 12 points from the last eight. This coupled with the fact that our beloved Spurs have a reputation for "bottling it" when the stakes are high suggests the very best thing we can do is come out of the gate quickly and take as many points (and plaudits) as possible in the early stage of the season. Why would we want to "fly under the radar" in fourth or fifth place when we could get our noses in front and aim to keep them there?

If the trend is for us to wane in the closing stages of the season, wouldn't we want as big of a cushion as possible by the time we get to the last few fixtures?

Just look at Leicester last season. Everyone kept writing them off as the season progressed, but with each passing week, they extended their lead. By the time other teams got their shit together, they were too far out in front to be caught by anyone save Spurs. Even with two draws in their last three matches, Leicester ran away with the league by 10 points.

This isn't a marathon where coming out fast means you'll inevitably fade at the end. Shouldn't we want to grab points, grab the lead and then stay there?

I didn't see that coming. You've obviously been flying under the radar

 

[aliyid]

I'm my view the longer we can remain 'under the radar' the less chance I hear of us 'Spurs-ing' it up.

Last season we were always a fair distance behind Leicester yet somehow the press twisted it that we threw away the title and it was Spursy. Compare that to Arsenal who were ahead of Leicester, bottled it then 'bravely' pipped us for 2nd.

Two seasons ago we were "too dependant on Kane for goals" yet a quick look at the stats showed that Kane, Eriksen & Chadli all reached double figures and all three scored more than any Liverpool player...

A lot of the media are so fixed in their narrative of conforming to stereotypes that they peddle out the same rubbish all the time and there are only so many times players can be asked if we'll 'Spurs it up' before doubts start to sink in.

Staying under the radar allows us to set the tone rather than have it forced upon us by lazy journalism (City without KDB yet little mention of us without 3 keys players in Kane, Dembele or Dier)

TL: DR - the press don't know what they're talking about so I don't want them talking about us.

 

[chinaman]

One thing I'm sure of is that we can really fly, whether it is on the radar or under. By the end of November, we'd have blitzed most of the so-called top teams.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I don't really care.

 

[Shadydan]

I don't really care.

Cared enough to post, Einstein.