Will we make top4?? + when + how?

[lukespurs7]

Would like to know reasons as to why we will or won't make the top4 next season. And when people think we may make the top4, and what we need to do in order to do so.

Personally i think 100% we WON'T make the top4 next season. We did very well to win a trophy this year but have taken a massive step back on the league front and on the consistency front.

I think we still let in far too many goals and the balance and quality of the team isn't quite there.

I'm unfortunately sceptical about the investments we may make in the summer and am unsure as to weather we will invest in the correct areas i.e GK,CB,CM,LM etc and also if we do weather we can bring in a player of the required quality.

I think the management team we now have in place are potentiolly top4 quality and they are winners. However we lack the consistency and strength in depth to be serious challengers and to step from form which will eventually see us finish about 11th into form needed to get into the top4 is far too big an ask.

Also, we need a regular captain/leader and i'm unsure as to weather we will get that.

I think if we can keep Poyet and Ramos, invest stongly and wisely, improve the stadium, keep investing and imrproving the team and squad but with players who will actually take us to the next level then eventually i.e 2-3 seasons we can mabye do it but it is now a bigger ask than it previously was. Perhaps getting rid of Jol is good for the long term but short-term we have once again lost consistency that was built up. Ramos and Poyet do seem to be more tactically astute however lately they aren't getting the results.

views?

 

[Houdini]

No i don't think we will make the big 4 or top 4 next season, simply because we are not good enough, but to improve on this season will be easy enough.....all we have to do is win another cup and finish 9th, or better.
I am, however, looking forward to our summer signings, whoever they may be, and very interested, (more than usual,) to see who goes, i think there will be some major comings and goings during the summer!
Maybe 'The Perfect One' has some surprises for us all!

 

[chinaman]

If the story coming from Bulgaria is true, that one about Berb's mother saying he'll be staying 80%, and that Ramos has promised to upgrade the midfield, there's no reason why we can't make it next season.

 

[Beni]

I think its achievable next season IF Levy backs Ramos and Comolli and purchases big in the Summer in the positions we need to improve.

I know Levy said we had a squad to challenge the top 4 at the beginning of this season, but obviously that has not been the case.

We are currently in a good finacial state, so I think this summer with a top manager in charge, its time to stop thinking about profit increases for a second, and spend big on real quality signings.

We then need to keep the quality players we currently have - Berbatov, Keane, Woodgate etc

 

[Houdini]

If the story coming from Bulgaria is true, that one about Berb's mother saying he'll be staying 80%, and that Ramos has promised to upgrade the midfield, there's no reason why we can't make it next season.

So there is a 20% chance for him to move eh?
That is the percentage to worry over. (If it were true, of course).

 

[lily_lane]

This current squad has proven they haven't the ability or mental strength to make the top 4. Whether we will next season depends entirely on who we sign.

I truly had hoped our mixture of young and experienced players would, as I love most of 'em, but alas, it's been a disappointment they haven't made that step up yet on a consistent basis.

 

[pagevee]

Would like to know reasons as to why we will or won't make the top4 next season. And when people think we may make the top4, and what we need to do in order to do so.

Yes + next year + in STYLE

seriously though, it is too early for this thread. We need to know who goes, who stays, and what new blood come in before making a judgment.

 

[Legend10]

I think that we will challenge for a top 4 place next season based on the following reasons....

1) Over the past 5 full seasons the average points tally for 4th place has been 64.5, Ramos & poyet pro-rata have averaged 54.5. This is despite inheriting a team in total turmoil, devoid of confidence and with just 8 points from 11 games.

2) Their immediate priority was to earn a European place for next season, qualification via the league was already near impossible therefore our main focus under Ramos & Poyet has been cup football with the target of european qualification. next season they start on an even footing rather than being countless points adrift.

3) our form has dipped since we achieved our target of European football, I don't believe that this would have happened if we had been fighting higher up the league. In fact prior to the carling Cup final and european qualification Ramos & Poyet had gained 25 points from 15 games, which pro-rata is 63.3 which will challenge the top 4 places in most seasons and will earn top 4 in some.

4) Do Ramos & Poyet know more about the team and players than when they arrived? Yes they do.

5) I have no doubt that this summer will once again see significant investment in the playing staff and I am confident that we will invest in our problem areas.

6) personally I believe that the team will be much better prepared for next season and we won't see the very poor start that we have witnessed in the last 2 seasons. Momentum in football is very important and with a good start we have every chance.

7) I think most people would agree thatb Spurs have a songer squad and first choice X1 than Everton and they have made a good fist of challenging the top 4 this season.

8) Liverpool could face a summer of turmoil and disruption and who knows what position they will be in politically during the summer.

9) Arsenal have significantly overachieved this season and their recent form is no better than ours, will they get as many points again next season? Who knows.

In summary I feel that next seasons league performance will be significantly better than this and at this stage I believe we can mount a realistic challenge for CL qualification.

 

[DC_Boy]

ATM we're way off top 4

 

[Lucky22]

This is a tough one. On the one hand we have a core squad that reached fifth place two seasons in a row, so by building on that you'd have to say yes. But then, just look at this year in the league and you have to be careful.
A lot depends on whether or not we keep Berbs. Not because we will suddenly crumble if he leaves but because of the sheer number of goals he and Keane score and create. That wouldn't be easy to replicate.
I really don't see another player (maybe Keane, but he's not going anywhere) who would be so hard to replace, even with the loads of dosh we'd get for him.
Ramos has had time to create his own structure at the club and implement his methods, so that will help and if he gets the type of players he wants then you never know. No one club has dominated this season to the extent they are leap years ahead of everyone else, so there is always a chance, but I think that top six is more realistic.

 

[Dougal]

ATM we're way off top 4

Yep, 11th

 

[Shanks]

Can't see it next year to be honest.
We ar bound to have a shake up in the squad over the summer, and the team will need a good season together to work better as a team. Expect a slow start and a stronger finish, myabe a good couple of cup runs, but hopefully a top 6 finish and a cup win and I'll be very happy.

Consistency is key for me, another cup would keep the trophy hunters happy, whislt a strong league finish will do us better for attracting players to improve our squad.

Not top 4 for at least a couple fo seasons and even then its going to be tough, as all teams around us are going to improve.

 

[PLTuck]

Can't see it next year to be honest.
We ar bound to have a shake up in the squad over the summer, and the team will need a good season together to work better as a team. Expect a slow start and a stronger finish, myabe a good couple of cup runs, but hopefully a top 6 finish and a cup win and I'll be very happy.

Consistency is key for me, another cup would keep the trophy hunters happy, whislt a strong league finish will do us better for attracting players to improve our squad.

Not top 4 for at least a couple fo seasons and even then its going to be tough, as all teams around us are going to improve.

Pretty much agree with all that. I don't think we can underestimate the effect the whole Jol saga earlier in the season had. This season has been mentally knackering for fans, never mind the players, coaches and physios. My work is undergoing a 'structure review' right now, and, even if you have been told your job is safe, it's still very unsettling, and performance levels do drop, even if it's only by 5%.
Bit of a crap analogy but I know what I mean :razz:

I think as fans we shouldnt over expect next season. I feel that part of the reason it all went tits up this season was the summer full of hype (from media & fans alike) about how we were going to gatecrash the top 4 party.

I just hope that if it doesnt go according to plan in the first few games, we don't start seeing the same sort of scenes as earlier this season (booing at half time becuase we are not 3-0 up, full time, when names are read out etc etc), which to be honest made me ashamed to be associated with those 'fans'.

Top 4 2009/10 at the very earliest I think, perhaps a challenge next season, but don't think we'll break it.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Really it's too early to say at this stage. Lots of things can happen and will happen between now and the start of the season. For me top 4 is built on consistency. Consistency comes from a top class midfield. If we add that to our squad who knows what can happen. If the new season started tomorrow, I would take a top 6 place and that wouldn't be easy.

 

[GilzeansGrandad]

We're behind the top 4 in quality and consistancy by a country mile, so no, can't see us getting there next season. Wish I could.

 

[PT]

I reckon that the gypo in Ramos will see his head turned by a big Spanish Club.

We will then see Poyet take up the slack at least temporarily which will keep Spurs perenially looking up at our peers.

 

[PLTuck]

I reckon that the gypo in Ramos will see his head turned by a big Spanish Club.

We will then see Poyet take up the slack at least temporarily which will keep Spurs perenially looking up at our peers.

I would be surprised if that happened so soon. Maybe in another 1 or 2 years, but can't see it for next season.

But then I thought Robbie Keane would be at spurs for 2 or 3 years max because of his past record.....

 

[DC_Boy]

Yep, 11th

you got it Dougal (mutters behind back about sarcastic mods

 

[van_Pommel]

No we're a long way off. It all depends on our tranfer dealings, which is partly down to luck. However if our scouting network comes up trumps and finds us a few hidden gems in positions where we are lacking then who knows. We have so many square pegs in round holes at the moment its frustrating.

 

[tRiKS]

I think any sort of success in the league will see Ramos taken from us anyway. Personnally i think the heady hieghts of 5th nearly 4th, under Jol are not going to be repeated any time soon. We'll be great to watch, we'll be significanlty more competetive and consistent than last year but too short of 4th.
Don't forget other teams will also build next year. We don't only have to add quality to what we have, we also have to add more quality than the rest of the league are going to do. i think people forget that other teams are allowed to buy players too... if only they were banned from buying.