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General feeling moving in the right direction or way off?

lukespurs7

Well-Known Member
Feb 21, 2006
4,833
4,259
Just got back from the game today, obviously pretty disappointed with the result but strangely not as upset or downhearted as I usually am after we lose an important game like that or lose to the racist scum Chavski. I suppose I used to absolutely despise them and while beating them like earlier in the season provides a truly fantastic feeling, for me I've lost so much respect for their club due to their fans,players and Mouriniho and them being a plastic club for me losing to them doesn't hurt as much as it used to as they are just a nothing club.

It was refreshing chatting to other Spurs fans on the tube home who were actually still quite optimistic and agreed that whilst the ref had a bit of a shocker we were beaten by a better team BUT that we have a very promising young team and manager who are generally pulling in the right direction.

The Chelseas and City's of this world have bought the cream of the crop over the last 5-10 years and are way ahead of most of the rest in terms of quality and strength in depth, not many other PL squads have players of the quality of: Fabregas, Hazard,Costa and players like Remy and Oscar sitting on their bench.

This season for me has exceeded expectations, it has had its ups and downs but Potch has gradually figured out the players who are: a) Up for putting the effort in and b) Have the quality to take us forward. He is having to persist with players like Soldado as we have no other options because Ade doesn't have the right attitude and fair play to Potch for doing that but it has meant we've lost games where our 2nd choice players have let us down(Not Potch's fault).

We have a great young spine and need to offload some dead wood and players who don't pull their weight, bring in some pacey attacking options and maybe a defender either CB or LB and well be looking like a very good team.

Remember we've not won much for the last 25 years and have barely been in the top4 and have been getting regularly spanked by the 'bigger teams' in the last few years so to get us to a cup final and beating and outplaying the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea in the league this season for me is a huge step forward.

So my question is does everyone else still feel quite positive after today or are we being too optimistic and today was a bit of a wake-up call, i'd like to think we're moving in the right direction and lets see how we do until the end of the season, no-one expected or expects us to get top4 but if we can give it a good go from now until then, then great.

COYS.
 

Larryjanta

Well-Known Member
Apr 22, 2014
1,953
5,040
You've articulated my thoughts very well. What Poch has done with a new side, to get them playing so well when it is clear only 8/9 are up to it, is remarkable. He doesn't rrust our squad, neither do I but I'm hopeful we can shift a few, promote from within and, with a couple of signing, next year Poch could have a squad, rather than a side, he can work with.

Exciting time, our average outfield age was 23. Truly remarkable, keep this squad together (please, Baldy, please) and we could be in for an exciting 5-10 years.
 

dricha1

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2005
1,311
2,579
I do! And I also feel this season isn't lost. Get past this week and we have a week to prepare for every game with only City, Utd and Southampton to play. That weeks preparation should suit our high intensity game.

As for next season, let Poch pick his players and get a backup/someone to play alongside Kane. Creative deep lying midfielder (schniderlin) and some wide forward players and next season should be bright.
 

worcestersauce

"I'm no optimist I'm just a prisoner of hope
Jan 23, 2006
26,891
45,039
Couldn't agree more, just got back rom Wembley and can't shake the feeling that this was a dress rehearsal for future success.
 

Nocando

Well-Known Member
Mar 11, 2012
2,945
4,385
Yes we are moving in the right direction but the fans need to embrace this though and keep up the positivity. More Chelsea, and Arsenal and less West Ham type atmospheres.
 

Spursidol

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2007
12,636
15,834
Just got back from the game today, obviously pretty disappointed with the result but strangely not as upset or downhearted as I usually am after we lose an important game like that or lose to the racist scum Chavski. I suppose I used to absolutely despise them and while beating them like earlier in the season provides a truly fantastic feeling, for me I've lost so much respect for their club due to their fans,players and Mouriniho and them being a plastic club for me losing to them doesn't hurt as much as it used to as they are just a nothing club.

It was refreshing chatting to other Spurs fans on the tube home who were actually still quite optimistic and agreed that whilst the ref had a bit of a shocker we were beaten by a better team BUT that we have a very promising young team and manager who are generally pulling in the right direction.

The Chelseas and City's of this world have bought the cream of the crop over the last 5-10 years and are way ahead of most of the rest in terms of quality and strength in depth, not many other PL squads have players of the quality of: Fabregas, Hazard,Costa and players like Remy and Oscar sitting on their bench.

This season for me has exceeded expectations, it has had its ups and downs but Potch has gradually figured out the players who are: a) Up for putting the effort in and b) Have the quality to take us forward. He is having to persist with players like Soldado as we have no other options because Ade doesn't have the right attitude and fair play to Potch for doing that but it has meant we've lost games where our 2nd choice players have let us down(Not Potch's fault).

We have a great young spine and need to offload some dead wood and players who don't pull their weight, bring in some pacey attacking options and maybe a defender either CB or LB and well be looking like a very good team.

Remember we've not won much for the last 25 years and have barely been in the top4 and have been getting regularly spanked by the 'bigger teams' in the last few years so to get us to a cup final and beating and outplaying the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea in the league this season for me is a huge step forward.

So my question is does everyone else still feel quite positive after today or are we being too optimistic and today was a bit of a wake-up call, i'd like to think we're moving in the right direction and lets see how we do until the end of the season, no-one expected or expects us to get top4 but if we can give it a good go from now until then, then great.

COYS.

Generally agree.

We've got the basis of a good young squad, but it just depends whether we can sell the 6 or 8 players who have not contributed much this season in the next summer TW, or at least the majority, and get in maybe 4 good new players (plus bring in the likes of Pritchard, Alli, Carroll and other Academy youngsters). If we can do that, we can really move forward with confidence
 

Kilkenny Cat

Well-Known Member
Nov 28, 2006
201
480
Glad to see so much positivity here. Today was a disappointment but no disaster. Let's face it, how many teams in Europe would have come back from 0-1 at half-time against this particular Chelsea XI (and the way they were set up)? Five? Three? Two?

We didn't collapse. We didn't end up losing by four, which appeared a possibility after 55 minutes. We have a core of young players who appear to want to play for the club as opposed to receiving a wage packet. Clearly we lack many, many things, pace up front being the first and foremost - but these things can be remedied over time.

"We're punching above our weight and will finish the season badly," I said to a friend six weeks ago. Maybe I was hasty. As Dricha1 points out above, not playing twice a week will help us.

Bottom line for me is that this season we finally have an identity, largely due to Pochettino (and Kane). Three productive transfer windows and we could be anything by March 1st 2017. I for one am keeping the faith.
 

JohannTHFC

Active Member
Aug 2, 2014
795
1,293
Have 100% faith in Poch and I think he has a clear vision of where he wants the club to be in a few years. He's got us playing good football with limited resources and has taken our young players to the next level. If we want to get somewhere we need to invest this Summer though and can't be selling our best players no matter what club comes in for them. I don't think missing out on Europa for a season would do us any harm either. Feel like he needs a season where he has 6 or 7 days between games to really get his philosophy across.
 

JimmyG2

SC Supporter
Dec 7, 2006
15,014
20,779
I think we have appointed a good man in charge
who will get the most out of the players we have.
A couple out and a couple of talented key players in,
nothing wholesale and we are better to go next season
than we have been for a while.
The spirit is better and the football too.
Young squad playing genuinely for the badge.
Lovin' it more and more this season.
 

Larryjanta

Well-Known Member
Apr 22, 2014
1,953
5,040
I think we have appointed a good man in charge
who will get the most out of the players we have.
A couple out and a couple of talented key players in,
nothing wholesale and we are better to go next season
than we have been for a while.
The spirit is better and the football too.
Young squad playing genuinely for the badge.
Lovin' it more and more this season.

Agree with everything bar the couple out. We have Capoue, Kaboul and Ade who are nowhere near the squad as well as Chiriches, Paulinho and Soldado who are only there in the squad because of lack of options and I'm sure Townsend and Lamela will either both be sold or squad players next season. Plus Holtby and Lennon already in their way out. I think we'll see minimum 5 out but, possibly, as many as 10. With promoting youngsters between 3 and 5 in I would say. I would, however, call this wholesale changes. If we get champs league, we massiv,e need an overhaul of the squad as it is mot good enough.
 

dricha1

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2005
1,311
2,579
Agree with everything bar the couple out. We have Capoue, Kaboul and Ade who are nowhere near the squad as well as Chiriches, Paulinho and Soldado who are only there in the squad because of lack of options and I'm sure Townsend and Lamela will either both be sold or squad players next season. Plus Holtby and Lennon already in their way out. I think we'll see minimum 5 out but, possibly, as many as 10. With promoting youngsters between 3 and 5 in I would say. I would, however, call this wholesale changes. If we get champs league, we massiv,e need an overhaul of the squad as it is mot good enough.

Are we likely to see any of these youngsters promoted this season or are they all out on loan? Would be good to use the remaining 12 weeks to plan for next season.
 

Blake Griffin

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
14,133
38,225
Are we likely to see any of these youngsters promoted this season or are they all out on loan? Would be good to use the remaining 12 weeks to plan for next season.

probably not. most likely are onomah and winks but with the squad so big it's unlikely we'll see them.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,512
There have been some positive signs in the way we have played in occasional games, but I think in this last part of the season I want to see 'our game' with high work rate, pressing game, high tempo attacking game applied on a much more consistent basis now to show that the foundations have been laid with this current squad before we then tweak things in the summer to enhance it.

For me, its still very much early days.
 

markiespurs

SC Supporter
Jul 9, 2008
11,899
15,576
just back from the game and although disappointed with the result, I'm very optimistic for next season and beyond.

This result should hurt the players, but I've little doubt that they will become better players for the experience. Look at the two squads today and that Chelsea squad had a lot of big game experience, where for a lot of our lads, this was a new experiance.
 

gp13tot

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2011
1,759
1,278
So much depends on the summer

If we have the opportunity to get rid of all the detritus at the club and bring in a couple of players poch actually wants and needs, and supplant this with an injection of at least 3 or 4 youth players, then i think we can get an identity in playing style, as well as the identity of academy products, pressing team,late goals from talisman. Moving forward

But if we continue to be have the squad hamstrung by negative influences because we split hairs over a torn 500k in the selling fee, to continue to top up the squad with bland bargain signings rather than bringing in genuine quality or signing yoof players before they become the next big thing, then this is about as good as it will get

Would love a squad overhaul to get us going forward but with an injection of yoof rather than dozens of incomings, and then grow together like leeds in 2000. Even though it might be some time before we would gel and compete, id feel a lot more positive of long term competitiveness than i do now
 

NEVILLEB

Well-Known Member
Nov 6, 2006
6,733
6,335
We're not going to get back to where we were with Modric, VDV and Bale but we have improved from the last few years.

The spine is strong and the emergence of our youth players will pay dividends in years to come.

I have no confidence in Baldini but hope we can now start adding real quality in select positions.
 

thinktank

Hmmm...
Sep 28, 2004
45,893
68,893
There have been some positive signs in the way we have played in occasional games, but I think in this last part of the season I want to see 'our game' with high work rate, pressing game, high tempo attacking game applied on a much more consistent basis now to show that the foundations have been laid with this current squad before we then tweak things in the summer to enhance it.

For me, its still very much early days.

We needed this whole season to instil those attributes anyway. I don't think we're 'behind schedule' so to speak.

Definitely early days though. One of the most important things for me is that you can see poch's ethos running through the age groups in the youth and dev. teams. Now that is exciting stuff.

Levy has finally seen the light. Cohesion.

We could build something very special here for years to come.
 

TH1239

Well-Known Member
Jan 28, 2011
3,691
8,964
It's too early to tell how things will shake out. We need to see how we do in these last 12 games, many of which we should win. It seems many people forgot that we actually finished with 69 points last season, which I believe was our third biggest haul in the PL era. Finishing 5-10 points worse off from that would not represent a good season in my opinion. Not when we spent so much money on shoring up our defense and had a stunningly injury free season from most of the key squad members.

There's also the unforeseeable in regards to how the transfer window will shake out. NO ONE thought we'd sell Modric, Bale, Sandro, and Van der Vaart within a two year span at this same point in 2012. 2.5 years later, they were all gone.

This game against Swansea is pretty important for us. Lose to them and things could go to shit really quickly, as we'd be only one point ahead of them in 7th, and the race for top 4 would be finished, as we'd possibly be sitting 9-10 points out of 4th. Who knows how this squad would react with nothing to play for.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,512
1 We needed this whole season to instil those attributes anyway. I don't think we're 'behind schedule' so to speak.

2 Definitely early days though. One of the most important things for me is that you can see poch's ethos running through the age groups in the youth and dev. teams. Now that is exciting stuff.

Levy has finally seen the light. Cohesion.

We could build something very special here for years to come.

1. I think towards the end of the first season though that, whilst you may not see it every single game, there should be clear signs/hallmarks of how the team will play. Currently what do we have... We know they will work pretty hard and battle away and have belief, but the team pressing game has only been shown on the odd occasion and I think our play with the ball at tempo has also been hit and miss. Whilst I'm not expecting perfection, I don't think its unreasonable to expect that we string a few clear and defined performances together between now and the end of the season to set us up well for next year, especially when its one game a week and we will have more time on the training pitch etc.

2. What sort of things have you noticed?
 

HW61

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
680
3,620
Plenty of grounds to be positive. As stated above we are finding a new identity with a youthful and vibrant team.

Most fans are fairly united on the players that need to be exited. So is Poch as they weren't in the team or on the bench today. Ironically for the first time I can remember I don't yearn for the big name signings but to use some of the academy gems who can make the same impact as Kane and Bentaleb. I completely trust Poch in that.

It's not like Levy will give Poch proper money to invest so we might as well get our heads focused on the youth we have and can find.
 
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