This season, transfers, and next season.

[Ironskullll]

What a wonderful season. Yes, in some respects we've been unlucky these past two seasons. On the other hand, last season's total would have had us a distant sixth this season, and this season's total (if what I've read is correct) would only have won about a third of premiership titles. I do believe that things in both seasons would have been different if the eventual winners had had European football, but again, look at it the other way - we've had that advantage in the past and not taken advantage of it.

Third and then second is just about right, and really we shouldn't look any further than our own shortcomings to know why; and then in a positive way, seeing them as opportunities to improve. It's been a wonderful two seasons, and, just as others on here are saying, it can surely get better.

At the start of this season, most pundits were of the opinion that our chance had gone, that the customarily superior teams would strengthen and that we would be lucky to finish near the top four. The rest is history. Our maturing team got better, as many of us expected them to, the rich teams' investments largely bombed, and yes, but for Chelsea's unexpected absence from European football and their great injury record, things might have been different. If my auntie had whiskers she'd be my uncle.

Now we're being told we'll have our best players picked off, that the teams around us will strengthen and that we'll struggle with Wembley. Well, we've sold some of our best players over the past 10 or 12 years, granted, but look where we were then and where we are now. When we sell players, we get better. And we only sell one top player every three years or so anyway. I reckon that Spurs have been cute with the Walker situation. I actually like him - he's been here a long time and really deserves a trophy. That's life. I think the club wants to sell him in order to top up the transfer fund and bolster other players' existing contracts, and they've made sure they have cover before forcing the issue. They don't like being taken by surprise.

Wembley? Pah. It's up to us to scare the living daylights out of the opposition - if anything, it'll make our away form better.

I've no idea who we'll sign or sell, but I do have faith that Poch and our board won't be taken by surprise regarding outgoings and won't be deflected. I reckon they anticipated the Walker situation weeks ago, and have been busy behind the scenes for ages looking at who might want to leave and what's needed to keep the ones we want to keep. I reckon contingency plans are in place like never before. Next season we'll have a stronger team, and will do better. We've seen some great tactical developments in the last few games - Alli dropping deep and getting on the ball in the heart of midfield more; his runs into space getting even subtler and more rapier-like; Eriksen getting into the box; chances coming the way of central defenders and central mids; a much greater variety of corner play; ever swifter and more complex movement from the top three, bringing with it greater incision, penetration and promise against packed, tight defences. Yes, we'll be a better team next season.

We gained 71 points from teams outside the top six this season, more than we got against the whole league for the whole of last season. Those teams won't get better, but we will. I can see us getting a few more this coming season. I can't see the rest of the top six faring as well. Not with Liverpool and Chelsea having Europe to cope with; Arsenal being Arsenal, and United having to integrate a whole load more stupid-money-misfits along with some seriously difficult CL ties. City might come good I suppose but look at their defence. Then it comes to the matchups among the top six. Man Utd will probably draw all theirs so that's only be ten points for them. Regardless of how good the rest are, we'll cancel each other out to a great extent. I think in the top-six mini-league we'll be closer to the top than the bottom and that we'll get the most points against the rest.

That makes it a close run thing, closer than this year. I predict top two at least, and if pushed, I'd say we'll win it with around 90 points.

 

[ljinko888]

Our league performances over the last two seasons has been excellent. We have been unfortunate to lose out to two clubs not in any European competition meaning they've had far more time to work on a single focus. They've been able to play a settled eleven as fatigue doesn't become a problem with one game a week. And they've led for most of the way which means we had the additional pressure of hunting down knowing our best efforts may not be enough. We won twelve of our last thirteen games, picked up a ridiculous amount of points in the second half of the season which made something of a title race after Chelsea were running away with it a few months back. We are in great stead for the league. It's the league that's the barometer of how good a team is - everyone plays each other twice and it's a marathon not a sprint. Last season we petered out, this season we hit a sticky patch in October/November but came out of it superbly. But that run of draws and defeat to Chelsea meant we were always playing catch-up. Next season we need to be accumulating wins the whole way through. Start the season how we ended this one.

As for the cups, it is true that we need to start putting pots in the cabinet. Not to stick it up to the outsiders who constantly snide at our progress with 'but you haven't won anything' - an incredibly simplistic and narrow-minded view. Trophies we win will be a testament to ourselves, our clubs' vision, the hard work and quality we have shown. The league is the bread and butter and I no one should moan if we get knocked out of all the cups but win the league. However cups are an important part of our history. We've historically been a cup team and if we can combine our stamina for a long league campaign, with the good distraction a cup run brings we can become a dominant force.

Hence why I want us to push for the League Cup next season. Nothing glamorous about it, however it's the first trophy of the season and the easiest to win. It can be a catalyst for a great end to the season and that winning feeling becomes a habit. We're great at accumulating points and the next step is to accumulate trophies - so in a few years winning the League Cup legitimately becomes a 'meh' achievement as opposed to the current attitude after we get knocked out that it was never our priority in the first place.

 

[The Scarecrow]

Our finish to this season has been incredible. The big question for me is whether we can take that into the beginning of the next season, and get rid of our poor starts once and for all. My worry is that we will take some time to get used to playing at Wembley, and that it will cost us a few points in the beginning. But we'll also benefit a lot from having a whole pre season.

 

[Ironskullll]

Our league performances over the last two seasons has been excellent. We have been unfortunate to lose out to two clubs not in any European competition meaning they've had far more time to work on a single focus. They've been able to play a settled eleven as fatigue doesn't become a problem with one game a week. And they've led for most of the way which means we had the additional pressure of hunting down knowing our best efforts may not be enough. We won twelve of our last thirteen games, picked up a ridiculous amount of points in the second half of the season which made something of a title race after Chelsea were running away with it a few months back. We are in great stead for the league. It's the league that's the barometer of how good a team is - everyone plays each other twice and it's a marathon not a sprint. Last season we petered out, this season we hit a sticky patch in October/November but came out of it superbly. But that run of draws and defeat to Chelsea meant we were always playing catch-up. Next season we need to be accumulating wins the whole way through. Start the season how we ended this one.

As for the cups, it is true that we need to start putting pots in the cabinet. Not to stick it up to the outsiders who constantly snide at our progress with 'but you haven't won anything' - an incredibly simplistic and narrow-minded view. Trophies we win will be a testament to ourselves, our clubs' vision, the hard work and quality we have shown. The league is the bread and butter and I no one should moan if we get knocked out of all the cups but win the league. However cups are an important part of our history. We've historically been a cup team and if we can combine our stamina for a long league campaign, with the good distraction a cup run brings we can become a dominant force.

Hence why I want us to push for the League Cup next season. Nothing glamorous about it, however it's the first trophy of the season and the easiest to win. It can be a catalyst for a great end to the season and that winning feeling becomes a habit. We're great at accumulating points and the next step is to accumulate trophies - so in a few years winning the League Cup legitimately becomes a 'meh' achievement as opposed to the current attitude after we get knocked out that it was never our priority in the first place.

I agree that the League Cup is a good one to set our hats at. Most of the games are before new year; even the final is quite early, and it can set the tone for what comes after without clogging up the fixture list.