Where do we go from here..?

[guy]

I just want us to smash United next week quite frankly

 

[StartingPrice]

I watched that clip someone posted yesterday with Thierry Henry interviewing HK and towards the end HK actually did say something along the lines of 'I really want to be winning a trophy in the next 3 years' which also sounded like a personal marker for when he might re-evaluate his situation. So yes, I agree with you, it is a subtle warning sign. And hopefully we do win something within the next 3 years otherwise I would not be surprised at all if he gets itchy feet and does a Bale too.

I don't think anyone should be surprised by this.
He's a Spurs boy and wants to at the Lane (call it what you will, the new stadium will still be The Lane afaiac) for his whole career.
At the same time, he has also been very upfront that he wants a career defined by medals.
Three years from the interview will be approximately two years after the new stadium opens.
It seems reasonable to me. Indeed, when he first broke through and we had the debate about whether and/or when he would be poached, I said that I thought he would want to be with us for a while and give us a chance to win things. Indeed, I said then, he would probably give until a couple of years after the stadium opened. If we are a major force, he will probably be happy to stay - see his statements about being his whole career here and being a legend of the Lane. Alternatively, if it looks like we are going nowhere he would still only just hitting his peak years and could pick a club that had an excellent chance of trophies. I could understand that and believe most others would, too - just so long as we got a whopping fee for him.
On the plus side, I personally believe that within three years we will be serious challengers with a few trophies under our belts. And I do believe he is serious and so that would mean him staying at the Lane indefinitely.

 

[StartingPrice]

This season no, but next season they will be stronger and better, particularly man ure and Citeh.

No-one knows how much or, indeed, how little they will improve.
We heard the same last summer.
I said then what I will say again now: We will improve by the mere fact of our young team being a year older. We will benefit from our young team being a year more experienced. We will have a year more continuity. A year more cohesion. Our manager will be a year more experienced, too - and has said, already, that the team is ahead of schedule. If, and it is a big if, Janssen and Enkidu [sic.] are kept then hopefully they will have benefitted from the year (as I do, truly, believe that young overseas players, in particular, really do benefit from getting that first year in England - it is a step up in every way. We are also expecting more youth players to step up. Add to that some smart purchases. In other words, I believe we will improve again.

On top of which, our rivals (apart from the Chavs...but who have had it lightly this year), need to catch up with us - that's just a fact, as evidenced by the table. So the big question isn't whether they can catch us up, or whether they will strengthen, but whether they can bridge the gap between us and them, and, at the same time improve over and above that more than we will. No-one knows that they will, but there is a fair chance that at least one, and maybe all, of them don't.

 

[scat1620]

I insist that you all go back to the post below and rate it as befits the best post made in this thread to date:

The words are coming out all weird
Where are you now?
When I need you

 

[slartibartfast]

For me we'll be a bigger force next season if Poch learns to stop trying to fix things that aren't broken in critical matchs for no reason.
Not slagging him. He's done a fantastic job and we're lucky as fk to have him but its bloody frustrating to have been knocked out of fa cup and have blown any chance of a title not because we were outplayed but because we shot ourselves in the foot on both occasions.
I dont think a spurs fan alive would have called the line up for either game and there was no obvious need for it on either occasion.
If it aint broke dont fix it.

 

[StartingPrice]

We hope so but difference is they can buy the top level players that make a difference in games of fine margins.
We on the other hand cannot and so target a player that is good but not top level good, I think with change of playing venue next year realistically I can see us 5th/6th at best.
Might be a while before we are back amongst it again hopefully keeping our squad together whilst waiting for another chance will be a challenge I feel.

I don't think this is bit is quite right. I think they can target top level players in their peak years. We, on the other hand, don't necessarily target players who are good but not top level, think it is more that we target players who have the potential to be top level but haven't reached their peak years yet (and I think we've been quite successful in that, too). Is that what you meant?

Anyway, not just you, but lots of posters have been saying that playing at Wembley will affect us. It might affect us, but, by the same token it may have little affect. We just won't know until we have the benefit of hindsight, I'm afraid. It could be a disaster as plenty have been keen to predict (see The Whinger getting in at every opportunity, from the earliest suggesting it will happen). We might just need a few games in succession there, without the players knowing it to be a one off and then back to the real home stadium, maybe a gimme against a really weak side, and then we could be away. And then the alleged hoodoo is gone. We don't know. I mean, really, who knows?

Anything else is just meeting trouble each way.

 

[shelfboy68]

I don't think this is bit is quite right. I think they can target top level players in their peak years. We, on the other hand, don't necessarily target players who are good but not top level, think it is more that we target players who have the potential to be top level but haven't reached their peak years yet (and I think we've been quite successful in that, too). Is that what you meant?

Anyway, not just you, but lots of posters have been saying that playing at Wembley will affect us. It might affect us, but, by the same token it may have little affect. We just won't know until we have the benefit of hindsight, I'm afraid. It could be a disaster as plenty have been keen to predict (see The Whinger getting in at every opportunity, from the earliest suggesting it will happen). We might just need a few games in succession there, without the players knowing it to be a one off and then back to the real home stadium, maybe a gimme against a really weak side, and then we could be away. And then the alleged hoodoo is gone. We don't know. I mean, really, who knows?

Anything else is just meeting trouble each way.

Yes exactly that players like Kane, alli etc we can't buy them once they hit their peak but instead purchase when showing promise of ability.
As for Wembley none of us know for sure yet but it's fair assumption that it maybe harder there based on our very poor record there to date, yes a sustained period of playing there may improve that but also it may not.

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

Such a myth that our squad is worse than others at the top. Vorm, Davies, Trippier, Winks, Lamela and Son are as good as PL backup gets.

Compare with Terry, Zouma, Fabregas, Willian, Batshuayi at Chelsea.

Liverpool have Klavan, Lucas, Can, Origi, Sturridge.

Arsenal have Gabriel, Holding, Ox, Elneny, Iwobi, Welbeck.

The Manchesters haven't had settled enough lineups to state who is backup and who is first choice. I'd say United have the best depth in the league and seem to be just as average whoever is injured, but there are clearly massive massive holes in City's squad.

People talk about the difference between us and Chelsea being their 'game-changing' options off the bench. I'm sorry, but if we'd had Lamela and Son coming off the bench every week our options off the bench would look pretty damn good too. Chelsea just haven't had injuries.

Our depth at full back is by far the best in the league as well.

 

[SugarRay]

For me we'll be a bigger force next season if Poch learns to stop trying to fix things that aren't broken in critical matchs for no reason.
Not slagging him. He's done a fantastic job and we're lucky as fk to have him but its bloody frustrating to have been knocked out of fa cup and have blown any chance of a title not because we were outplayed but because we shot ourselves in the foot on both occasions.
I dont think a spurs fan alive would have called the line up for either game and there was no obvious need for it on either occasion.
If it aint broke dont fix it.

He's still learning and tinkering. He's almost there. The improvement from last season is considerable. I fully expect it to continue.

I'm worryingly confident about our chances of success over the next 3/4 years!

People talking about this team being dismantled. Why on earth would Levy get them all on long term deals, why would the players not want to play at Wembley every other week ( players will love it no matter if we fans don't ) and the biggest one of all, does anyone really expect Levy to allow us to enter our new stadium with a patched up mess of a side? We won't lose anyone we don't want to or who we can't replace until we've had at least one season at the new gaff

 

[StartingPrice]

Yes exactly that players like Kane, alli etc we can't buy them once they hit their peak but instead purchase when showing promise of ability.
As for Wembley none of us know for sure yet but it's fair assumption that it maybe harder there based on our very poor record there to date, yes a sustained period of playing there may improve that but also it may not.

None of us do know. The only thing is that certain is that it is done now. We are playing there next season. So we'd best all get the prayer mats out in sync.

Another thing I know, though, is it is more than less likely to hinder the team if everyone goes there filled with apprehension - that shiiite can transmit itself to the players,. It is imperative that everyone that goes does so with the intention of making it like a temporary version of the Lane - don't want to make it like the so called London Stadium, just turning up for one game (their Cup final), and bitching, moaning and fighting one another, the rest of the time.

COYS

 

[shelfboy68]

None of us do know. The only thing is that certain is that it is done now. We are playing there next season. So we'd best all get the prayer mats out in sync.

Another thing I know, though, is it is more than less likely to hinder the team if everyone goes there filled with apprehension - that shiiite can transmit itself to the players,. It is imperative that everyone that goes does so with the intention of making it like a temporary version of the Lane - don't want to make it like the so called London Stadium, just turning up for one game (their Cup final), and bitching, moaning and fighting one another, the rest of the time.

COYS

I don't think it will the disaster that the Olympic stadium is/Was I'm sure we will get behind the team I know I will when I go.

 

[Lighty64]

Yes exactly that players like Kane, alli etc we can't buy them once they hit their peak but instead purchase when showing promise of ability.
As for Wembley none of us know for sure yet but it's fair assumption that it maybe harder there based on our very poor record there to date, yes a sustained period of playing there may improve that but also it may not.

to be honest with the Wembley thing, being away from WHL will be hard and very strange at whatever ground we play at, and so will the new stadium in it's 1st season

 

[shelfboy68]

to be honest with the Wembley thing, being away from WHL will be hard and very strange at whatever ground we play at, and so will the new stadium in it's 1st season

I think we will be alright once the new stadium is done I certainly don't foresee issues like west ham have had with their settling in period.

 

[RickyVilla]

I think I will go to the pub, as I need a drink after reading that drivel.

 

[Trix]

I'm surprised we haven't seen a thread yet with the title "Is this as good as it gets"

Give it a chance Arry had been a bit busy making the old blue noses 'run about a bit'.

 

[Lighty64]

I think we will be alright once the new stadium is done I certainly don't foresee issues like west ham have had with their settling in period.

the 1st season at the new home will be similar to Wembley, playing on a similar size pitch, in a lot bigger stadium, with every visiting team wanting to win at their 1st attempt. it might take some time for it to become intimidating

 

[shelfboy68]

the 1st season at the new home will be similar to Wembley, playing on a similar size pitch, in a lot bigger stadium, with every visiting team wanting to win at their 1st attempt. it might take some time for it to become intimidating

Time will tell I guess.

 

[The Doc]

I insist that you all go back to the post below and rate it as befits the best post made in this thread to date:

Will do, but alone on an aeroplane, falling asleep against the windowpane currently.

 

[alexis]

Will do, but alone on an aeroplane, falling asleep against the windowpane currently.

As long as your not the pilot it's all good