Tottenham Vs Wycombe Wanderers: Match Thread

[davidmatzdorf]

100% agree.

Also, your reply was to mattbrakeuk who says the top teams don't take the FA Cup seriously. Really? Since Everton won the FA Cup the following is the breakdown of the winners in the top six:

Chelsea - 6
Arsenal - 6
Man United - 4
Liverpool - 2
Man City - 1
Tottenham - 0

19 of the last 21 FA Cup Finals have been won by five of the current top six. Arsenal twice, Liverpool and Man United won the three cups after we last won in 1991.

I would hazard a guess that one of Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United or Man City will win this year's FA Cup, but lets continue to push the myth that the big clubs don't take it seriously.

The only big club that seems not to have taken the FA Cup seriously is Tottenham Hotspur.

You have to look at those 21 years in terms of what the clubs were trying to achieve at the time. Four of those clubs were perennial fixtures in the Champions League; they scarcely had to worry about qualifying because their financial resources permitted them to compete confidently on multiple fronts. Manchester City eventually joined them. But we didn't and still haven't.

During those 21 years, or rather since 2003, when Levy decided to change the club's overall approach toward the achievement of long-term success, our paramount priority was qualifying for the CL, because of the prestige, but mainly because of the money. We didn't have the depth of squad to compete effectively in two cups (three after 2005/06) and the league, so we concentrated on the long-term plan.

It's really only been in the past 2-3 seasons that the maturation of our youth system and the strong views of our manager have provided our squad with the stability of personnel and style to attack multiple competitions.That's why we're getting comments from Pochettino like the one he made on Saturday: that he hadn't taken the FA Cup seriously in his early years in England, but now he does. Because he can. He has the squad for it. And it explains his sharp-tongued comment afterwards, which is that all his players have to be able to cope with matches like this.

We are still not an established top-4 club, competing perennially in the Champions League. In two years we might be able to say otherwise, if the squad continues to improve and we retain the manager. But it has to be an incremental approach to taking multiple competitions seriously: we won't just switch our priorities overnight, because a long-term plan is just that. And each cup competition will feature stronger and stronger sides as we get through the rounds.

The desire of all fans for trophies is so obvious and self-justifying that I don't need to defend it. But the long-term development of the club comes first. At present people are complaining that nothing is changing, when it plainly already is.

 

[archiewasking]

Can I just say I had a brilliant time on my first visit for several years. An absolutely thrilling match, almost on the wrong end of a giant killing, seven goals, Vinny scoring - which I really was hoping for, as I love the guy, despite his limitations - and the chance, which I took to bellow and support my beloved team and first real love. Can still only speak in a low, faint croak, but so so worth it.

 

[archiewasking]

Just out of interest, did we bust out the 'you're f*cking sh*t chant' when we went 4-3 up?

There wasn't time.

 

[hughy]

Can I just say I had a brilliant time on my first visit for several years. An absolutely thrilling match, almost on the wrong end of a giant killing, seven goals, Vinny scoring - which I really was hoping for, as I love the guy, despite his limitations - and the chance, which I took to bellow and support my beloved team and first real love. Can still only speak in a low, faint croak, but so so worth it.

Where were you sat just out of interest?

Managed to take my missus to only her second game this season and she loved it. Shame I can't take her to more league games, she was well in to it!

 

[archiewasking]

Where were you sat just out of interest?

Managed to take my missus to only her second game this season and she loved it. Shame I can't take her to more league games, she was well in to it!

North stand upper, wife, eldest and youngest sons. Have to get lower next time, my wife felt sick most of the game being up too high.

 

[spursbhoy67]

You have to look at those 21 years in terms of what the clubs were trying to achieve at the time. Four of those clubs were perennial fixtures in the Champions League; they scarcely had to worry about qualifying because their financial resources permitted them to compete confidently on multiple fronts. Manchester City eventually joined them. But we didn't and still haven't.

During those 21 years, or rather since 2003, when Levy decided to change the club's overall approach toward the achievement of long-term success, our paramount priority was qualifying for the CL, because of the prestige, but mainly because of the money. We didn't have the depth of squad to compete effectively in two cups (three after 2005/06) and the league, so we concentrated on the long-term plan.

It's really only been in the past 2-3 seasons that the maturation of our youth system and the strong views of our manager have provided our squad with the stability of personnel and style to attack multiple competitions.That's why we're getting comments from Pochettino like the one he made on Saturday: that he hadn't taken the FA Cup seriously in his early years in England, but now he does. Because he can. He has the squad for it. And it explains his sharp-tongued comment afterwards, which is that all his players have to be able to cope with matches like this.

We are still not an established top-4 club, competing perennially in the Champions League. In two years we might be able to say otherwise, if the squad continues to improve and we retain the manager. But it has to be an incremental approach to taking multiple competitions seriously: we won't just switch our priorities overnight, because a long-term plan is just that. And each cup competition will feature stronger and stronger sides as we get through the rounds.

The desire of all fans for trophies is so obvious and self-justifying that I don't need to defend it. But the long-term development of the club comes first. At present people are complaining that nothing is changing, when it plainly already is.

David, you are the sage of SC and I always respect your viewpoint. I also agree with the majority of your comments above.

I think we could have won at least one FA Cup since 1991 and still managed to progress with our top four goals. However, I am getting frustrated as a fan with the focus on the top four and not winning trophies. I do support what the club has done behind the scenes - signing policy, training ground, stadium, etc - but football has to be about more than the top four. I should say the balance sheet too, but those days are long gone. Football is a billion pound industry and the balance sheet matters to the main shareholders.

I am a pragmatic fan - I understand the business side and the progress we have made and need to make - but I am still conflicted about the lack of trophies and allowing League Cups and FA Cups to slip away. I would prefer the manager to say he will use the LC for young players like CCV, the FA Cup for players who have not played a lot or are coming back to fitness and the Europa as a learning tool for playing against European opposition. As long as ticket prices reflect these objectives then I and most fans would support those goals.

I would like to win the FA Cup this year, but if we draw Chelsea or Man City away then I think our odds will be decreased. A good home draw would be very beneficial and if we draw Arsenal I think there is a lot to be said about stopping them winning another trophy.

The Europa Cup would be my goal this season. It is a major piece of silverware, a win would put us back into the Champions League and would be seen as a marker around the game. Managing Thursday-Sunday is no different from managing Wednesday-Saturday games. It is a mindset. If MP sets the tone we can still finish in the top four and win the EC.

A trophy and a return to the Champions League. That would be Glory!

 

[FreddieYid]

If we finished top 4 and won the EL, would our league place qualification go to the 5th placed PL team?

 

[JayB]

If we finished top 4 and won the EL, would our league place qualification go to the 5th placed PL team?

No, England would only get 5 places in the CL if a team that finished outside of the top four won the Europa League.

 

[Ionman34]

You have to look at those 21 years in terms of what the clubs were trying to achieve at the time. Four of those clubs were perennial fixtures in the Champions League; they scarcely had to worry about qualifying because their financial resources permitted them to compete confidently on multiple fronts. Manchester City eventually joined them. But we didn't and still haven't.

During those 21 years, or rather since 2003, when Levy decided to change the club's overall approach toward the achievement of long-term success, our paramount priority was qualifying for the CL, because of the prestige, but mainly because of the money. We didn't have the depth of squad to compete effectively in two cups (three after 2005/06) and the league, so we concentrated on the long-term plan.

It's really only been in the past 2-3 seasons that the maturation of our youth system and the strong views of our manager have provided our squad with the stability of personnel and style to attack multiple competitions.That's why we're getting comments from Pochettino like the one he made on Saturday: that he hadn't taken the FA Cup seriously in his early years in England, but now he does. Because he can. He has the squad for it. And it explains his sharp-tongued comment afterwards, which is that all his players have to be able to cope with matches like this.

We are still not an established top-4 club, competing perennially in the Champions League. In two years we might be able to say otherwise, if the squad continues to improve and we retain the manager. But it has to be an incremental approach to taking multiple competitions seriously: we won't just switch our priorities overnight, because a long-term plan is just that. And each cup competition will feature stronger and stronger sides as we get through the rounds.

The desire of all fans for trophies is so obvious and self-justifying that I don't need to defend it. But the long-term development of the club comes first. At present people are complaining that nothing is changing, when it plainly already is.

Cracking post.

 

[Saoirse]

No, England would only get 5 places in the CL if a team that finished outside of the top four won the Europa League.

Or the Champions League - so Leicester could play in the Champions League and the Championship next season.

 

[Tiberius Gracchus]

North stand upper, wife, eldest and youngest sons. Have to get lower next time, my wife felt sick most of the game being up too high.

The liveliest area is south stand, and the corner to the right of that - but in that whole area they stand for the entire game, so if you think you'll need to sit at some point, don't get tickets there!

 

[Jenko]

I'm not as fussed with the europa this season cos i have no confidence we'll win it playing our home games at Wembley.

So the FA cup takes on greater importance this year for me cos it's very winnable.

But the league is the sacred competition. We need back to back top 4 seasons and back to back title challenges would be just so awesome for someone who's supported the team 40 years. We also have a big squad that needs rotating so i fully support everything Poch has done. We should never be critical of this man, he is God right now.

...and no player has ever joined our club because we occasionally do well in the FA cup. It's not the competition it was despite the nostalgia.