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Race for the Top 4 - 2018/19

Where will we finish in the league ?


  • Total voters
    423
  • Poll closed .

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
I have been critical of Liverpool in the past but the last 18 months they have made some really good signings and are functioning very well as a team.

Disaster for them aside I can't see anyone but them challenging for the title. City are just so strong. Would be mightily impressed if we got 2nd.
Totally agree Liverpool have invested well and have improved as a team to the point where they have gone past us albeit by a little bit.
They are city's only challenger for me and that is not meant disparaging towards poch and his efforts but Liverpool have shown that good coaching can get you so far but taking the next step requires investment in quality of the highest level you can attain to be the best.
 

Mr Pink

SC Supporter
Aug 25, 2010
54,770
99,327
Totally agree Liverpool have invested well and have improved as a team to the point where they have gone past us albeit by a little bit.
They are city's only challenger for me and that is not meant disparaging towards poch and his efforts but Liverpool have shown that good coaching can get you so far but taking the next step requires investment in quality of the highest level you can attain to be the best.

I don't think that's entirely accurate to say Liverpool have gone past us as a team.

I think it's pretty close, but you have to factor in the away games we've played and the fact we don't benefit from true home advantage.

I think the NLD has swayed some people's opinions a touch, which is misguided imo.

Facing Chelsea and Inter in the immediate build up, coupled with Arsenals clear week to prepare, and it wasn't that surprising that they completely out worked us.

Second place will be close between us and Liverpool, once we get into our new stadium and the lift that comes with that.
 

hellava_tough

Well-Known Member
Apr 21, 2005
9,429
12,382
I don't think that's entirely accurate to say Liverpool have gone past us as a team.

I think it's pretty close, but you have to factor in the away games we've played and the fact we don't benefit from true home advantage.

I think the NLD has swayed some people's opinions a touch, which is misguided imo.

Facing Chelsea and Inter in the immediate build up, coupled with Arsenals clear week to prepare, and it wasn't that surprising that they completely out worked us.

Second place will be close between us and Liverpool, once we get into our new stadium and the lift that comes with that.

I think a lot of fans (including opposition fans) have forgotten about this

Wouldn't be surprised if we roar into life once we're back in Tottenham

And I think it'll positively effect our away form as well (which is already good!)
 

slartibartfast

Grunge baby forever
Oct 21, 2012
18,320
33,955
I think that says a lot about him too - he's stepping up and feels he needs to play to do so, for me that's the right call.

Back when City (and Chelski for that matter) were snapping up these types of youngster (before moving beyond that and/or producing their own) a lot of players went for the deal over the actual game time - i don't think it generally worked out well at all for the players who made those choices.
I don't think you can compare a young player joining the chelsea shit show where Maureen just bought every fker and they never got a chance, or even joining most of the other top 6 teams now, to us. We give players a chance and Poch has a fantastic record of doing so.
Anyway if we're now in the position where we cant get a player in over fkin Norwich or Leicester then we really are gonna be scrapping the bottom of the barrel for future transfers.
I dont believe that for a second.
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,679
104,956
I’d still rather finish above them by playing better football than by having fewer injuries. I think our players are better, but their Coach seems to be better at getting the best out of his players. Can’t have it all I ‘spose...

No chance we will have fewer injuries over the course of the season. I suspect they won’t even have as many going forward we’ve had until now. Our injuries have been crazy this season so far.
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,679
104,956
I think a lot of fans (including opposition fans) have forgotten about this

Wouldn't be surprised if we roar into life once we're back in Tottenham

And I think it'll positively effect our away form as well (which is already good!)

I’ve been banging this drum for a couple of months. Danny Rose’s words today have done nothing to change my mind.
 

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
I don't think that's entirely accurate to say Liverpool have gone past us as a team.

I think it's pretty close, but you have to factor in the away games we've played and the fact we don't benefit from true home advantage.

I think the NLD has swayed some people's opinions a touch, which is misguided imo.

Facing Chelsea and Inter in the immediate build up, coupled with Arsenals clear week to prepare, and it wasn't that surprising that they completely out worked us.

Second place will be close between us and Liverpool, once we get into our new stadium and the lift that comes with that.
I have no doubt that what your saying about the reaction that the new stadium will give us at least we hope it gives us a lift, but I do think right now Liverpool are just that bit better not a great deal but a small margin.
They have invested well VVD was an immense signing who has brought composure and stability to the back line plus the rest are all looking good as well, we on the other hand have had to place our trust in the hands of foyth who I'm sure you would agree is going to be some player in time but at the moment has quite a few mistakes in him which can spread uncertainty across the team.
Whether we was building a stadium or not spurs would never had gone out and spent the type of money they have to get them in the position they need to be.
This isn't a moan off rather a realistic and appreciative view of what they can and are doing compared to what we cannot do, this is no reflection on poch and his efforts just that Liverpool have yet to lose a game and only 1 all season in the CL compared to the 4 defeats in the league and 2 suffered in the CL by us.
 
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hellava_tough

Well-Known Member
Apr 21, 2005
9,429
12,382
It's obviously going to be close, but I think we'll finish 2nd because of Kane.

The league is a war of attrition and having a top-quality goal scorer in the side means you can grind out 5 or 6 extra results, over the course of 38 games, which you couldn't do if you didn't have a striker like Harry.

It may sound odd, but I think Liverpool actually lack a goal-scoring threat relative to their rivals. Salah's doing alright on 7 league goals currently and then Firmino has 5, but that's not good enough when compared to Aguero, Kane or PEA.

It's certainly not good enough to challenge City for the league title and perhaps not good enough for 2nd place either.

Obviously injuries to the abovementioned strikers can change things, but it's important to note that Harry has performed for so many seasons in a row now that we take the impact of his goals for granted.
 

worcestersauce

"I'm no optimist I'm just a prisoner of hope
Jan 23, 2006
26,891
45,039
No chance we will have fewer injuries over the course of the season. I suspect they won’t even have as many going forward we’ve had until now. Our injuries have been crazy this season so far.
Spot on, by my reckoning Kane, Moura, Davies, Sissoko and Llorente are the only players who have not had an injury, Foyth who we didn't see as a senior squad member at the start of the season has played through his injury. Hopefully the time out will actually benefit them as the season goes on. By the way Liverpool announced this morning that Gomez has a broken leg and Klopp wants tackling banned.
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,679
104,956
Spot on, by my reckoning Kane, Moura, Davies, Sissoko and Llorente are the only players who have not had an injury, Foyth who we didn't see as a senior squad member at the start of the season has played through his injury. Hopefully the time out will actually benefit them as the season goes on. By the way Liverpool announced this morning that Gomez has a broken leg and Klopp wants tackling banned.

Yeah it’s amazing/lucky Kane hasn’t been injured yet, but he’s playing 90 minutes in every game, it will happen soon.

Leicester is going to be a tough game, and our record there is poor off the top of my head, but I’d be tempted to rest him for it because we need him on it for Barcelona and we’ve loads of games coming up.

I don’t want to as I think he’s coming into form and I don’t think Poch will, but the player is going to be pushed to the limit.
 

hellava_tough

Well-Known Member
Apr 21, 2005
9,429
12,382
Yeah it’s amazing/lucky Kane hasn’t been injured yet, but he’s playing 90 minutes in every game, it will happen soon.

Leicester is going to be a tough game, and our record there is poor off the top of my head, but I’d be tempted to rest him for it because we need him on it for Barcelona and we’ve loads of games coming up.

I don’t want to as I think he’s coming into form and I don’t think Poch will, but the player is going to be pushed to the limit.

Yeah, we have a Kane injury crisis every season.

I think we usually manage to 'roll with the punches' and get through it though.
 

luRRka

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2008
3,500
15,155
I have no doubt that what your saying about the reaction that the new stadium will give us at least we hope it gives us a lift, but I do think right now Liverpool are just that bit better not a great deal but a small margin.
They have invested well VVD was an immense signing who has brought composure and stability to the back line plus the rest are all looking good as well, we on the other hand have had to place our trust in the hands of foyth who I'm sure you would agree is going to be some player in time but at the moment has quite a few mistakes in him which can spread uncertainty across the team.
Whether we was building a stadium or not spurs would never had gone out and spent the type of money they have to get them in the position they need to be.
This isn't a moan off rather a realistic and appreciative view of what they can and are doing compared to what we cannot do, this is no reflection on poch and his efforts just that Liverpool have yet to lose a game and only 1 all season in the CL compared to the 4 defeats in the league and 2 suffered in the CL by us.
Liverpool have lost all their away ties in the cl. That's 3 defeats not 1. They are just as likely if not more likely to go out than we are
 

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
Liverpool have lost all their away ties in the cl. That's 3 defeats not 1. They are just as likely if not more likely to go out than we are
Apologies there on that but still think they will finish above us I said before the season started that I didn't expect top four but if we get it then great but city and Liverpool are on their own at the moment.
 

luRRka

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2008
3,500
15,155
Apologies there on that but still think they will finish above us I said before the season started that I didn't expect top four but if we get it then great but city and Liverpool are on their own at the moment.
I was only being pedantic. I personally think we will finish 3rd.
 

vegassd

The ghost of Johnny Cash
Aug 5, 2006
3,356
3,330
As always with the PL, the run to December is the "settling in" period when teams are feeling each other out and now we enter the winter slog that really starts to separate the men from the boys. Going on previous years we might expect Arsenal to tail off but so far Emery has shown he is willing to throw out the Wenger approach so who knows.

Hopefully this period will be where us not making any signings might pay dividends. The players have been good through past winters together and maybe there is an extra sense of comradery there. If we are still in the top 4 mix come February, and if the stadium opens around then as well, it would look good for a top 4 finish imo.

I can see the biggest challenge being keeping spirits high if we do go out of the CL next week. I think it's far more important to have CL football next season in the new stadium than any progression in the CL this year, so whilst progressing would be great but I don't think it's a bad thing if we do go out already.
 

Monkey boy

Well-Known Member
Jun 18, 2011
6,380
17,039
People are seriously under estimating just how many away games we’ve played in comparison to the other teams. After tomorrow we will have played 10 of the 16 games away from home which in my mind means that arsenal will have played 10 of their 16 at home. Apart from Man City I don’t think any of the other top 6 would have the points that we do now if they were in the same position.

Being away from home consistently is a real burden.
 
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