2023/24 - The Race For..................

[chas vs dave]

Just for once I would like us to turn up at their place like we own them with our bollox hanging out rather than as scared little pussy cats.

So come on Tottenham, I want to see anger, arrogance, belligerence, contempt, hatred and disdain for the opposition.

I just want to see us go there and play our game, not the occasion.

Win, or lose just play our game, and see where it takes us

 

[spurs9]

Best start to a season since 1965 - but also annoyingly it's the first time that I can think of when we've had five different teams win at least four of their opening five games which means it's unusually tight at the top - normally we'd either be in first or at least have built a bit of daylight between the teams below us with the start we've had.

Next two games will really set the mood and show where this team is. If we're still in and amongst the pack at the top after those two then we've got to start believing that this team is capable of some exciting things, but likewise if we lose both (which based on recent form in these two fixtures is the overwhelmingly likely outcome) we could find ourselves in upper mid-table with question marks about how our squad is too young, too raw, too thin, Ange's tactics are too open/naive for these kinds of fixtures etc.

Worse case scenario, we will be 8th after those 2 games and they are arguably (historically at least) our toughest home game (Liverpool) and toughest away game (Arsenal).

As Gary Neville says, its pointless looking at the table until after 20 odd games, so I'm not even thinking about where we will finish after the Chelsea away game, as that will be match day 26 and we will have come through the period of AFCON and the Aisia cup and will have played a couple of games after they finish, so should have an idea if they have had a negative effect on Son, Bissouma and Sarr.

 

[Montalbano]

*In before the Arsenal game.*

Based on what I’ve seen thus far, barring injuries, I think our first XI can compete with everyone in the league. Sunday will be a huge test.

 

[Teemu]

Fucking hell!

New-cattle!!

Those bloody Geordies with their gleaming new oxen.

Talk about hitting them where it hurts, blimey.

 

[spurs9]

Europe starts this week so the real test for the likes of Arsenal, Brighton and West Ham start now. Arsenal won't rotate for a UCL game surely? Not even before the NLD? Can't be seen to do that. Brighton and West Ham will have to deal with the Thursday Sunday routine now, Brighton especially with this being their first European season.

You wouldn't have thought so, but they are playing PSV at home and they played and beat them at home with a rotated team last season and PSV have lost their two best (by a long way too) players since then. They also have a pretty easy group in the CL with Lens, bottom of Ligue 1 and Sevilla 17th in La Liga. Their toughest opponent could end up being the same team as their toughest last season minus their two best players.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Europe starts this week so the real test for the likes of Arsenal, Brighton and West Ham start now. Arsenal won't rotate for a UCL game surely? Not even before the NLD? Can't be seen to do that. Brighton and West Ham will have to deal with the Thursday Sunday routine now, Brighton especially with this being their first European season.

And Newcastle & Man.U, it’ll effect them too.

I think City will win it and then it’ll be out of us, Arsenal and Liverpool for the 2-4 spots, only thing which could effect us would be if VDV &/or Romero are out long-term, Bissouma would be the next biggest loss, otherwise with our 1 game a week I think this team and style of play could finish anything from 2nd-6th but most likely top4 on the showings so far.

After City, Arsenal and Liverpool I’d say that Brighton, Newcastle and Man.U will be up there as the season wears on. I think Villa might be just behind that group and possibly West Ham, beyond that it’ll be a load of mid table teams and then the 3 promoted plus Everton & Chelsea battling it out for relegation.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

You wouldn't have thought so, but they are playing PSV at home and they played and beat them at home with a rotated team last season and PSV have lost their two best (by a long way too) players since then. They also have a pretty easy group in the CL with Lens, bottom of Ligue 1 and Sevilla 17th in La Liga. Their toughest opponent could end up being the same team as their toughest last season minus their two best players.

Hopefully they at least pick up sole
Injuries and fatigue during those games then if nothing else.

 

[easley91]

And Newcastle & Man.U, it’ll effect them too.

I think City will win it and then it’ll be out of us, Arsenal and Liverpool for the 2-4 spots, only thing which could effect us would be if VDV &/or Romero are out long-term, Bissouma would be the next biggest loss, otherwise with our 1 game a week I think this team and style of play could finish anything from 2nd-6th but most likely top4 on the showings so far.

After City, Arsenal and Liverpool I’d say that Brighton, Newcastle and Man.U will be up there as the season wears on. I think Villa might be just behind that group and possibly West Ham, beyond that it’ll be a load of mid table teams and then the 3 promoted plus Everton & Chelsea battling it out for relegation.

I didn't mention either of the Uniteds because they're not exactly in great form as it is and I don't really see that changing. Newcastle will have their eyes on the UCL games, who could blame them?

As for Arsenal rotating, it would be a big risk. This isn't the Europa League even if they have an "easy" group. They'll want to take it seriously and they should do. I'd rather win game one than have to fight until the end like we did last season and even the year we got to the final. And they're not exactly performing at the levels they were at the start of last season, even if they have picked up the points.

I'd be surprised if Arteta did heavy rotation. Ramsdale and Jesus, possibly Havertz at most.

 

[Mate]

We'll be 2nd, until a 20 point deduction hits City on the penultimate game of the season end putting us top.

Then we'll be back in 2nd on the final day after losing to an already relegated Sheffield Utd, with two late goals after time wasting a 1-nil lead.

 

[RuskyM]

Think the positions are reversed from where they were last season, where we were stumbling unimpressively through games but were still seen as competitors whilst they were the young fun upstarts.

I think we’ll win and it’ll be class.

 

[Col_M]

Is this true?

Curious stat: Tottenham have the same number of points (14) as they did at this point last season. And GD this time around is only one better. Lies, damn lies and statistics...

 

[Yantino]

Is this true?

Curious stat: Tottenham have the same number of points (14) as they did at this point last season. And GD this time around is only one better. Lies, damn lies and statistics...

That actually wouldn't surprise me, we started pretty well last season too IIRC.

The difference is the way we are playing, the approach of the whole squad to a game and the commitment by everyone to what we are trying to do.

 

[djhotspur]

Is this true?

Curious stat: Tottenham have the same number of points (14) as they did at this point last season. And GD this time around is only one better. Lies, damn lies and statistics...

Yeah we were undefeated 6 games in last season. Big draw at Chelsea was same as arsenal but we looked poor in every single game whereas this year we look good

 

[Col_M]

That actually wouldn't surprise me, we started pretty well last season too IIRC.

The difference is the way we are playing, the approach of the whole squad to a game and the commitment by everyone to what we are trying to do.

Yeah we were undefeated 6 games in last season. Big draw at Chelsea was same as arsenal but we looked poor in every single game whereas this year we look good

It staggers me that you guys remember things to this details. Chapeau!

I barely remember what I had for dinner yesterday.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

....but we looked poor in every single game whereas this year we look good

This is the difference for me. At this point, we were saying:

Performances have been poor, so judging the team is tricky, will we:
1. Have performances catch up with results, and so end up stuffing people; or
2. Results will catch up with performances, and so start dropping points

I think we can say that, sadly, it was (2).

This year feels very different, in every respect.

 

[Shanks]

Can’t remember the fixtures but we did have a really good start last season, just shit boring football, which I would have been okay with had we actually kept winning.

 

[Cochraam]

Last year was our best ever points total after 10 games in the PL era, so I'm not surprised we have "only" equaled last year's total this year. As others have said, the style of play and the level of performances looks miles better this year; last year we were getting points despite our performances and it didn't feel sustainable (and ultimately was not sustainable). Some info on last year's start compared to previous seasons: https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/ne...s fine win against Everton,2011/12 by a point.

 

[dirtyh]

3rd is definitely on. Think it'll be city/scousers 1/2 and between us and the scum for 3/4. Too early for us to be 1/2 as think we're still short of depth in one or two areas but brighton/newcastle/villa won't handle europe and united/chavs are just shit.

willing to revise my 3/4 into a 1/2 based on the scouse game.

 

[nicdic]

I know we can't, but... could we?

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Best start to a season since 1965 - but also annoyingly it's the first time that I can think of when we've had five different teams win at least four of their opening five games which means it's unusually tight at the top - normally we'd either be in first or at least have built a bit of daylight between the teams below us with the start we've had.

Next two games will really set the mood and show where this team is. If we're still in and amongst the pack at the top after those two then we've got to start believing that this team is capable of some exciting things, but likewise if we lose both (which based on recent form in these two fixtures is the overwhelmingly likely outcome) we could find ourselves in upper mid-table with question marks about how our squad is too young, too raw, too thin, Ange's tactics are too open/naive for these kinds of fixtures etc.

The league is just like that now you have to near on win 80-90% of your games to win the league, yawn, if we were playing like this in Fergie era for example we'd probably walk the league this year.