What the pundits & media are saying about us

[StartingPrice]

If you don't understand why games like this and West Brom need to be won to be considered genuine contenders then no further explanation will help.

I'll tell you what I understand:
I understand from watching decades and decades of top flight football, that 99.9% of league leaders have gone through the season with a combination of wins, draws and losses. One, once, won the league (spits) by going through the season with a combination of wins and draws.
I watched Liverpool teams dominate the league with a string of poor performances to accompany their good ones. That that included a run of two or three defeats, otherwise known as mini-crises, often against teams they were expected to beat. I also watched United dominate the league with a string of poor performances to accompany their good ones. That that included a run of two or three defeats, otherwise known as mini-crises, often against teams they were expected to beat.
I understand that not once, ever, once, has a team won the league because the pundits thought they would. And not ever, once, has a team failed to win the league because the pundits wrote them off.
I understand that playing away is almost always considered a harder task than playing at home - especially when playing against good sides (Bournemouth) or teams who set up their style to negate footballing sides (any Tony Pulis team).
I understand that playing any time against any team after playing in the CL, especially away in the CL is considered a tough ask, often resulting in defeats. And not losing, especially not losing away from home against a good team, is usually considered to be a good result. The same applies to a degree to the Europa league.
I understand that at the end of the season, if we win the league, no-one will give a flying fahook which games we drew, except that when compared with other results they may appear to be better results than they do at the time (I stated at the time that the Everton draw will be considered to be a good result at the end of the season). But, at the same time, if we don't win the league, certain mouth-piece fans will jump about declaring they were right about any result that wasn't a win being a disaster (these fans seem to be happier having something negative to say about the club, the team or the result, even when it is incorrect).
I also understand when someone (in this case, you) gives a short, glib response, that doesn't actually answer anything because they would find it impossible to actually answer the original dissection of their statement.

Oh, and I also understand when every post that follows that original statement, when combined, makes an absolute mockery of that statement.

Yeah, and I also understand that some folk, when they might actually learn something by reading all of the comments that follow their original statement, because they make a mockery of that statement, but they never will because for some reason they believe that if an idea is conceived in their head (usually without any further analysis) is just inherently correct and so nothing that anyone else says after it has any relevance. We should all just sit and bask in the glow of your genius.

More importantly, I understand if you had intelligently raised the concept that drawing games like the one today, when we had a chance to go top, despite it being a tough away game against a good team, after an away CL game and with some injury issues (and Son looking ill or exhausted), might hinder us it might have made for an interesting debate. But you didn't do that, you just said something that is not only ridiculous but has been shown by several posts to be so

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

And Man Utd dropping points to Stoke and City dropping points last week against Everton at home etc..

Guess no-one's a contender for the title this season

Now we can drop Arsenal from contention.

 

[Francis Gibbs]

I'll tell you what I understand:
I understand from watching decades and decades of top flight football, that 99.9% of league leaders have gone through the season with a combination of wins, draws and losses. One, once, won the league (spits) by going through the season with a combination of wins and draws.
I watched Liverpool teams dominate the league with a string of poor performances to accompany their good ones. That that included a run of two or three defeats, otherwise known as mini-crises, often against teams they were expected to beat. I also watched United dominate the league with a string of poor performances to accompany their good ones. That that included a run of two or three defeats, otherwise known as mini-crises, often against teams they were expected to beat.
I understand that not once, ever, once, has a team won the league because the pundits thought they would. And not ever, once, has a team failed to win the league because the pundits wrote them off.
I understand that playing away is almost always considered a harder task than playing at home - especially when playing against good sides (Bournemouth) or teams who set up their style to negate footballing sides (any Tony Pulis team).
I understand that playing any time against any team after playing in the CL, especially away in the CL is considered a tough ask, often resulting in defeats. And not losing, especially not losing away from home against a good team, is usually considered to be a good result. The same applies to a degree to the Europa league.
I understand that at the end of the season, if we win the league, no-one will give a flying fahook which games we drew, except that when compared with other results they may appear to be better results than they do at the time (I stated at the time that the Everton draw will be considered to be a good result at the end of the season). But, at the same time, if we don't win the league, certain mouth-piece fans will jump about declaring they were right about any result that wasn't a win being a disaster (these fans seem to be happier having something negative to say about the club, the team or the result, even when it is incorrect).
I also understand when someone (in this case, you) gives a short, glib response, that doesn't actually answer anything because they would find it impossible to actually answer the original dissection of their statement.

Oh, and I also understand when every post that follows that original statement, when combined, makes an absolute mockery of that statement.

Yeah, and I also understand that some folk, when they might actually learn something by reading all of the comments that follow their original statement, because they make a mockery of that statement, but they never will because for some reason they believe that if an idea is conceived in their head (usually without any further analysis) is just inherently correct and so nothing that anyone else says after it has any relevance. We should all just sit and bask in the glow of your genius.

More importantly, I understand if you had intelligently raised the concept that drawing games like the one today, when we had a chance to go top, despite it being a tough away game against a good team, after an away CL game and with some injury issues (and Son looking ill or exhausted), might hinder us it might have made for an interesting debate. But you didn't do that, you just said something that is not only ridiculous but has been shown by several posts to be so

' ... it's true to be considered contenders we need to be winning games like today'

Mauricio Pochettino 22nd October 2016

 

[double0]

The most important thing is to be picking up points at this moment but to be title winners we're gonna have to convert tight drawing draws to 1-0 Spurs.

 

[Matrix]

The most important thing is to be picking up points at this moment but to be title winners we're gonna have to convert tight drawing draws to 1-0 Spurs.

I'm sure as the season progresses we will grind out the 1-0 wins. All teams go through a bad patch. Luckily we are still picking up points while not playing to our potential. That to me is a good sign.

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

I appreciate the points other folks have made on here, but two points out of six against moderate opposition is pretty disappointing if we are considering ourselves as contenders. Its great we are not conceding goals but unless we start scoring again soon we are going to be losing games, especially with the difficult run we have coming up. Also, we could easily have lost any of the last three games. Hopefully we will get back to scoring ways soon, but I am beginning to get a little concerned about Janssen now.

 

[StartingPrice]

' ... it's true to be considered contenders we need to be winning games like today'

Mauricio Pochettino 22nd October 2016

Oh, well done...another short, glib response that doesn't actually answer anything.

This is the pundits thread. You were defending the opinions of pundits - well, the opinion of one pundit, really.

There could be a million and one reasons why our manager said this.

Do you not remember, or did you never know...Alan Hansen glibly declared to all the World that United had zero chance of winning the league because you don't win anything with kids, in reference to United, at the start of the season that, you guessed it, United won the league with kids.

Personally, I don't a flying fahook what the pundits say. if they all say we are going to be relegated and we win the league my enjoyment of that victory won't be tarnished, debased or despoiled because of what the pundits said at the start of the season. It may even add to the enjoyment.

 

[EighteenEightyTwo]

Now we can drop Arsenal from contention.

Now everyone's out of contention will next season's winners get two titles, rollover style?

 

[StartingPrice]

I appreciate the points other folks have made on here, but two points out of six against moderate opposition is pretty disappointing if we are considering ourselves as contenders. Its great we are not conceding goals but unless we start scoring again soon we are going to be losing games, especially with the difficult run we have coming up. Also, we could easily have lost any of the last three games. Hopefully we will get back to scoring ways soon, but I am beginning to get a little concerned about Janssen now.

TBH, I don't think anyone is not disappointed that we didn't beat the Baggies and Bournemouth Well, maybe one or two who would prefer to be whinging and whining than celebrating the win

Pulis makes the Baggies a tough game. Under the circumstances, think folk are far too quick to bemoan dropping points at Bournemouth when maybe they should be considering it a point gained - and maybe will do come the end of the season.

Think it is a bit early to be concerned about Janssen, myself, but can understand why some might. Think it has been bought out into the headlights a bit by Kane's absence.

We are as good as anyone when we get the fluency going in attack. Sometimes it just takes something to click. Maybe Kane coming back, and actually having had a rest (even if unfortunate circumstances) might be that something. Who knows.

On the balance of play, we would have been unlucky to lose to either the Baggies or Bournemouth, and probably Leverkusen too. Liverpool could very easily have drawn with the Baggies tonight.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

By Miguel Delaney

Tottenham lack spark in attack as Musa punishes Pochettino's men


1. Janssen spot on but Musa makes a point

Leicester City claimed their first away point of the season, coming back from behind to subject Tottenham Hotspur to their third successive draw in the league.

Mauricio Pochettino's side still haven't won since the supposed statement victory over Manchester City on Oct. 2, emphasising the primary problem with this team. They draw too much. They again lacked a cutting edge without the injured Harry Kane, and that allowed Leicester to rediscover some of last season's resilience.

There was more to this, however, than Tottenham not being able to finish. Champions Leicester were good value for the draw. Spurs dominated the first half, but didn't have much to show for it other than Dele Alli smashing the crossbar on 40 minutes from a Kyle Walker cut-back, until Vincent Janssen got himself into a tangle with three Leicester defenders in the box four minutes later. Robert Huth was adjudged to have brought the striker down, and Janssen stepped up to drive it home for his first league goal.

If recent Leicester performances on the road were anything to go by, that should have been enough for Spurs, but Claudio Ranieri's side showed something more in keeping with last season. Jamie Vardy found a groove down the right from where he repeatedly tormented Tottenham and on 47 minutes, he raced down there after an awful Victor Wanyama error. The striker cut the ball back for the onrushing Ahmed Musa, who knocked it past Hugo Lloris.

From there, Leicester never wavered. Spurs, meanwhile, find themselves wavering at the wrong time.

They have the derby away to Arsenal next week -- but should have Kane back too. They need him.

2. Spurs seek a spark

At their best, Tottenham relentlessly overpower the opposition to exhaustion -- but don't always know how to finish them. It can be all power, little precision. There is a lack of incision to Pochettino's side, made clear by the fact they have drawn more games, 17, than any other Premier League side since the start of the 2015-16 season.

Spurs have only scored five goals in five games since Kane's late-September injury, and they could badly do with a better backup than Janssen -- or at least for the Dutch signing to adapt a little quicker than he has done.

There are fair questions about whether he can do that, because there have been a few occasions so far when it seems like the lumbering striker isn't fully suited to Pochettino's high-energy game.

It is not that his only goals so far for Spurs have been penalties. He looks a little out of step with Pochettino's strident running, not quite fast enough or energetic. Janssen was a goal machine in the Eredivisie, but that's an inferior league and AZ Alkmaar play a different system. He needs teams channelling their system toward him, and Pochettino's team are never going to do that.

It means Spurs get to a certain point on the pitch, often storming right over the opposition, but then try to force it rather than finish it. There's no poise to what they are doing.

Even one of their best chances, when Alli hit the bar in the first half, came from an instinctive break rather than an intelligently constructed move.

If Spurs want to build on what they achieved last season, pushing Leicester almost all the way to the title, they need more cutting edge.

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/english-pre...rk-in-attack-as-musa-punishes-pochettinos-men

 

[Bobbins]

They're shite mate

http://www.punditopinions.com

 

[stewartd]

By Miguel Delaney

Tottenham lack spark in attack as Musa punishes Pochettino's men


1. Janssen spot on but Musa makes a point

Leicester City claimed their first away point of the season, coming back from behind to subject Tottenham Hotspur to their third successive draw in the league.

Mauricio Pochettino's side still haven't won since the supposed statement victory over Manchester City on Oct. 2, emphasising the primary problem with this team. They draw too much. They again lacked a cutting edge without the injured Harry Kane, and that allowed Leicester to rediscover some of last season's resilience.

There was more to this, however, than Tottenham not being able to finish. Champions Leicester were good value for the draw. Spurs dominated the first half, but didn't have much to show for it other than Dele Alli smashing the crossbar on 40 minutes from a Kyle Walker cut-back, until Vincent Janssen got himself into a tangle with three Leicester defenders in the box four minutes later. Robert Huth was adjudged to have brought the striker down, and Janssen stepped up to drive it home for his first league goal.

If recent Leicester performances on the road were anything to go by, that should have been enough for Spurs, but Claudio Ranieri's side showed something more in keeping with last season. Jamie Vardy found a groove down the right from where he repeatedly tormented Tottenham and on 47 minutes, he raced down there after an awful Victor Wanyama error. The striker cut the ball back for the onrushing Ahmed Musa, who knocked it past Hugo Lloris.

From there, Leicester never wavered. Spurs, meanwhile, find themselves wavering at the wrong time.

They have the derby away to Arsenal next week -- but should have Kane back too. They need him.

2. Spurs seek a spark

At their best, Tottenham relentlessly overpower the opposition to exhaustion -- but don't always know how to finish them. It can be all power, little precision. There is a lack of incision to Pochettino's side, made clear by the fact they have drawn more games, 17, than any other Premier League side since the start of the 2015-16 season.

Spurs have only scored five goals in five games since Kane's late-September injury, and they could badly do with a better backup than Janssen -- or at least for the Dutch signing to adapt a little quicker than he has done.

There are fair questions about whether he can do that, because there have been a few occasions so far when it seems like the lumbering striker isn't fully suited to Pochettino's high-energy game.

It is not that his only goals so far for Spurs have been penalties. He looks a little out of step with Pochettino's strident running, not quite fast enough or energetic. Janssen was a goal machine in the Eredivisie, but that's an inferior league and AZ Alkmaar play a different system. He needs teams channelling their system toward him, and Pochettino's team are never going to do that.

It means Spurs get to a certain point on the pitch, often storming right over the opposition, but then try to force it rather than finish it. There's no poise to what they are doing.

Even one of their best chances, when Alli hit the bar in the first half, came from an instinctive break rather than an intelligently constructed move.

If Spurs want to build on what they achieved last season, pushing Leicester almost all the way to the title, they need more cutting edge.

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/english-pre...rk-in-attack-as-musa-punishes-pochettinos-men

Absolute bollocks, what they need is some who can find a pass. Neither Son or Dele passed once to Jannsen in the whole game. Yet this so called expert blames the lumbering Dutchman. Does this so called expert know that in speed tests he is our second fastest player. Hate uninformed wankers making easy to blame comments like this. He should be looking at the dreadful performances of our so called play maker Eriksen who has been awful in recent games , rather then blaming a young player in his first season here.lack of cutting edge is due to lack of decisive passing by our lack luster attacking mid fielders.

 

[eddiev14]

Teemu Tainio on Wanyama:

"In a number of recent games, we've played a system with only one holding midfielder and that means there is more responsibility on Victor. He has to be the guy who protects the central defenders, he can't leave space in there and he's done that well," Tainio said in Spurs' matchday programme for the Leicester City clash.


"He makes good interceptions and he's shown that when you win the ball, it's just as important that you don't give it away. Often, when you perform his role, you'll find the best attacking players from the opposition playing right up against you, looking for that space off the front so you have to be alert. One thing is for sure, it never gets boring in there!"

"Victor has such as a physical presence and he's a powerful guy. He's looks a big guy on TV and watching him the game from Finland, I'm afraid even from here!" said Tainio.

"What I like about him is that he's good with the ball as well. In the modern game, when you play as a holding midfielder it's not enough just to be a strong, physical player, you have to be able to play as well, especially at Spurs where the manager wants to keep possession. Victor fits very well into that role and he has been an excellent signing."

He added: "Also when you have a defensive player like Victor, if he can score goals from set-pieces or when he gets forward, that's a huge bonus. Victor has already done that against Crystal Palace. It's a vital position that he plays in."

http://m.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk...v-in-finland/story-29855749-detail/story.html

 

[eddiev14]

Rudi Völler on us (video):

http://sport.bt.com/voller-respects-unbelievably-good-tottenham-91364109552534

 

[eddiev14]

Ray Wilkins on our strikers:

“They are playing with the same vigour and energy as they did last year. But Harry Kane has been injured,” Wilkins said.

“Harry is going to come back as fresh as a daisy. Janssen has not really kicked off yet. His game does not seem to be geared towards Tottenham at this moment in time.”

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/10/3...incent-janssen-doesnt-fit-in-at-tottenham-ho/

 

[eddiev14]

Gary Neville on us and the title contenders:

“I think Tottenham are as good as Liverpool, I think Tottenham are as good as Chelsea, there’s no doubt, but because Spurs are in European competition I would put Chelsea and Liverpool ahead of them in the Premier League for that reason.

“I think Manchester City and Arsenal are the better teams, but can you trust either of them fully yet? I don’t think you can. That’s not to say they won’t go and deliver, but because they’re in Europe, and that they’ve shown glimpses of the old Arsenal and old City, they’ve got to give me more yet before I trust them.

“That’s without even mentioning United, who have fallen behind a little bit.”

http://www.footballinsider247.com/g...ttenham-liverpool-chooses-will-finish-higher/

 

[eddiev14]

Charlie Nicholas (shudder) on our match with Bayer:

Tottenham v Bayer Levekusen (Wednesday, 7.45pm)

"Well what's going on with Tottenham? You could dismiss the Harry Kane theory because Vincent Janssen has scored a few goals but, while scoring from the spot still deserves credit, he doesn't get in the same areas as Kane.

When's the last time you saw these diagonal balls for Dele Alli to run on to round the back of Janssen? It seems to be affecting the way Spurs are playing, while Toby Alderweireld's contribution at the back has also be important.

Another draw isn't much help for them. You want to be going into the last two games in a qualification position because they've got a tough trip to Monaco next.

They can't be worrying about the north London derby right now because this is a huge game, but I would be amazed if Mauricio Pochettino was to throw Kane straight in from the start. You can't rush players back after six weeks out.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him coming off the bench to save Spurs, who seem to being troubled by midfield runs at the moment, so I'm looking to Leverkusen's midfield for a first goalscorer."

Charlie predicts: 1-1 and Lars Bender to score first (95/1 with Sky Bet)

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...charlie-nicholas-champions-league-predictions

 

[eddiev14]

Tony Cascarino - rather surprisingly - not trying to stoke the fire, regarding tabloid speculation about Poch going to Madrid.

“It is a job that very few people, players included, can turn down,” said Cascarino on the Weekend Sports Breakfast show on talkSPORT on Sunday morning (broadcast from 7am, October 30, 2016). “Now, if that was true and they come after Pochettino, it would be a huge test on him.

“Tottenham as a football club is moving forward fast. New stadium on the horizon, a very young team, an exciting team, he has got his hands over that football club, and it is working and working very well.”

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

We're a top team now, If we're playing well, with confidence we'll beat most teams top or bottom, or get a draw when we're not, so the fixture list is a bit irrelevant unless we're playing away after champs league.

So many managers in the past have talked about changing the mindset of the club, i think that has happened under Poch and i believe the players expect they can win every game.

I can't remember the last time i thought we might get beat, that's a pretty good feeling to have.

This coming weekend for me.

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

Teemu Tainio on Wanyama:

"In a number of recent games, we've played a system with only one holding midfielder and that means there is more responsibility on Victor. He has to be the guy who protects the central defenders, he can't leave space in there and he's done that well," Tainio said in Spurs' matchday programme for the Leicester City clash.


"He makes good interceptions and he's shown that when you win the ball, it's just as important that you don't give it away. Often, when you perform his role, you'll find the best attacking players from the opposition playing right up against you, looking for that space off the front so you have to be alert. One thing is for sure, it never gets boring in there!"

"Victor has such as a physical presence and he's a powerful guy. He's looks a big guy on TV and watching him the game from Finland, I'm afraid even from here!" said Tainio.

"What I like about him is that he's good with the ball as well. In the modern game, when you play as a holding midfielder it's not enough just to be a strong, physical player, you have to be able to play as well, especially at Spurs where the manager wants to keep possession. Victor fits very well into that role and he has been an excellent signing."

He added: "Also when you have a defensive player like Victor, if he can score goals from set-pieces or when he gets forward, that's a huge bonus. Victor has already done that against Crystal Palace. It's a vital position that he plays in."

http://m.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk...v-in-finland/story-29855749-detail/story.html

'We'.

Love Teemu. Legend.