Class of 2010-12

[spurs9]

don't think it's very fair to blame cerny for fulop being useless ...

as for the main point, yes they might have underachieved but it's still the best group of players we'd had in decades, we got to a champions league quarter final and played against real madrid for god's sake! i doubt we'll see us competing at that level again for a long time.

Yes, but to be fair, the preseason before we finished 4th, it looked like a long time before we would ever get there.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

don't think it's very fair to blame cerny for fulop being useless ...

as for the main point, yes they might have underachieved but it's still the best group of players we'd had in decades, we got to a champions league quarter final and played against real madrid for god's sake! i doubt we'll see us competing at that level again for a long time.

That's kind of the point isn't it ? That best group of players should have been playing Real Madrid three years running, which may have cemented another three years etc.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

If I'm perfectly honest, I think it's pointless debating these seasons now. People still debate about Redknapp (admittedly I will get involved occasionally) and it's just annoying IMO. So may things have changed and while there are certain moments I will never forget, I just don't see the point in discussing it.

Of course, I still reminisce about VDV ( ), Modric ( ) and Bale ( ) and when we were in the CL, plus the great football we saw in 10-11 and 11-12, but I don't think the subject of the season(s) itself needs to be discussed that much. We're always seeing stuff about what went wrong in those seasons, but let it go, dudes.


Apart from the match at the Etihad in 2011-12, that game will forever haunt me.

 

[TwanYid]

That was the season of that Foy performance. We were ten wins and a draw in our previous eleven games going into that match and the referee did literally everything to make sure we lost.

I will never as long as I live on earth forget that Foy/Stoke game. I don't have the words to describe my feelings regarding both him and that match.

I'll say this: the amount of things that had to happen in that 11-12 season for us not to make the Champions League- some of which have been mentioned in this thread, though there's a lot more- is mind-boggling.

Foy, Fulop, Messi, Robben--- so many things went so horribly wrong, so many things went against us- and yet still there we were simply needing Bayern to hold on for a few minutes--- at their home. I am sick about that campaign- the worst season in a decade of pain.

How many fucking times have we lost out on the CL by a game- and yet that season stands out because even when we made it we didn't make it.

I'm sorry but that level of bad luck is impossible. We are fucking cursed.

 

[SpursManChris]

Unlike others I look back at that period with regret knowing we really should have cemented our CL status

What do you mean "cemented?"

 

[SpursManChris]

Apart from the match at the Etihad in 2011-12, that game will forever haunt me.

Which one?

 

[SpursManChris]

In recent weeks/months I have seen a growing number of people going on about our team from 2010-12. I'm sure we have all seen that screen shot pic of our midfield from then via twitter or on here., then go and hear fellow fans reminisce about the good old days. I'm sorry but I just don't buy it.

Our team of 2010-12 did indeed at times play some very easy on the eye football and pull off a few big wins, but for me I see that team/era as one of massive underachievement. That team should have secured CL football in each of the 2 seasons they were together, yet on both occasions a spectacular end of season collapse saw us miss out both times.

A weeks after beating Milan away we faced a Blackpool side who were in a shocking run of form in late Feb, yet we somehow managed to lose that game. I can remember being at that game and fuming at our failure to win it on my long journey home. Because of our euphoria of the away win against Milan the result was excused by most and with that we went on to win only 1 of our next 10 PL games. In other words we threw away a CL spot when it was there for the taking.

The following season after beating Newcastle 4-0 at home we faced Arsenal next in late Feb, we took a early 2-0 lead yet managed to get hammered 5-2. We were 10 points clear of AFC going into that game. we went on to win only 1 of our next 9 PL games after Newcastle, yet again throwing away a CL spot. It wasn't because Fulop threw 3 into his net or our failure to beat Villa when we was given a unexpected second bite of the cherry, but because of our collapse preceding that.

Back then a few of us, BC/Sloth/Arnoldlayne/etc, could clearly see the team we had should be doing so much better but our arguments were falling on deaf ears. Make no mistake about it that team underachieved in both League and domestic cups, it could/should have done so much better. Unlike others I look back at that period with regret knowing we really should have cemented our CL status and maybe reached a cup final between 2010-12....

You just sound like the typical ungrateful fan who focuses on the negatives. Regardless of the failings, that team achieved 2 4th place finishes and a CL qualification and a second if it wasn't for unfortunate circumstances. Full stop. Yes that was a great team which if they were to do it all over again could definitely have achieved more. But this is fucking football, it doesn't always follow the dream script. So we didn't qualify for the Champions League, so what? What difference would it have made, really? There's a very good fucking chance that we'd be sitting here today, in the 2014/15 season, in 8th place, on 11 points, having just lost to City 4-1. Even the fans who are 100% positive about that team, what is the point in even thinking about them? ALL of that is in the past and for the life of me, I CANNOT understand why fans like yourself dwell on the past like this, ESPECIALLY negatively, because WHAT, on God's earth, does it even achieve?

 

[jezz]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14606056
At home as well.

 

[sunnydelight786]

You just sound like the typical ungrateful fan who focuses on the negatives. Regardless of the failings, that team achieved 2 4th place finishes and a CL qualification and a second if it wasn't for unfortunate circumstances. Full stop. Yes that was a great team which if they were to do it all over again could definitely have achieved more. But this is fucking football, it doesn't always follow the dream script. So we didn't qualify for the Champions League, so what? What difference would it have made, really? There's a very good fucking chance that we'd be sitting here today, in the 2014/15 season, in 8th place, on 11 points, having just lost to City 4-1. Even the fans who are 100% positive about that team, what is the point in even thinking about them? ALL of that is in the past and for the life of me, I CANNOT understand why fans like yourself dwell on the past like this, ESPECIALLY negatively, because WHAT, on God's earth, does it even achieve?

Ungrateful, give over mate. Been a season ticket holder for almost 20 years now and sat through the shit of the 90's and early new millennium.

I'm pointing out the fact that the ones who harp on about how great that side were and bring them up in debates are not actually correct. That team underachieved and to blame it on other circumstances is churlish as that team has only got itself to blame.

Nothing ungrateful about that, just pointing out the facts. But no doubt fans like you were/are in the camp 'We never had it so good'

 

[Mister Jez]

And some people still question why we got rid of 'Arry........

 

[bomberH]

I disagree with the OP. We had a great team but Man U, Chelsea and arguably City and Arsenal had better or just as good squads. And lots more money. If everyone had played their best that season, we'd still have been fighting for 4th. If we underachieved in parts then we overachieved winning 10 in a row or whatever it was.

People blame Harry for this and that's up to them but I prefer to remember that team actually gave us the best football we've seen for nearly 25 years at the Lane. Yes of course there were periods of rubbish within this tenure but that's no different to any tenure for any team unless you were Utd or Chelsea etc. The 'best football in 25 years' comment is undeniable fact whereas 'not cementing our place in CL for years to come because of our bad end to the season' is just guesswork. As hugely disappointing as the ending to those seasons were, I still look back fondly on the time as a whole because it was the last set of times I really enjoyed going to the Lane.

 

[Shadydan]

I do agree we did throw it away but I think the biggest failing is not strengthening. Players got tired and the squad wasn't strong enough to cope.

Our squad was excellent in 2012, best squad we've ever had if you ask me and it didn't need strengthening.

 

[SpursManChris]

I'm pointing out the fact that the ones who harp on about how great that side were and bring them up in debates are not actually correct. That team underachieved and to blame it on other circumstances is churlish as that team has only got itself to blame.

Fair enough, and I may have misunderstood what you point in the thread was, in that you're really correcting fans who blame it on other circumstances and I agree with you on that because I can't see how it can be anything other than the players simply underachieving. But I hope you haven't forgotten what they HAVE achieved and that you think of that to be of more significance, not the failures.

But no doubt fans like you were/are in the camp 'We never had it so good'

Never had it so good as what? Champions League, or the 2010-2012 seasons?

 

[shelfboy68]

Our squad was excellent in 2012, best squad we've ever had if you ask me and it didn't need strengthening.

Come on mate thats rubbish all the best teams strengthen even when they are in a position of strength.
Take Utd they stayed at the top for years because of their structure which was longevity of the manager and great youth system which supplemented their first team and the fact they would buy one or two quality additions even after winning the title.
Look at Madrid won the champions League and
Still went out and spent big to try and stay ahead of the pack it has to be done.
Our failing was not buying a top class striker when we qualified for the champions League and even now we still Havent addressed the issues.
We have had three managers since Harry left so it cant be them so who is making these wrong decisions over and over again, i feel for poch a bit as he is not working with the full quota of Tools and i doubt he will get who he really wants so to that End he can only do his best surely.

 

[Shadydan]

Come on mate thats rubbish all the best teams strengthen even when they are in a position of strength.
Take Utd they stayed at the top for years because of their structure which was longevity of the manager and great youth system which supplemented their first team and the fact they would buy one or two quality additions even after winning the title.
Look at Madrid won the champions League and
Still went out and spent big to try and stay ahead of the pack it has to be done.
Our failing was not buying a top class striker when we qualified for the champions League and even now we still Havent addressed the issues.
We have had three managers since Harry left so it cant be them so who is making these wrong decisions over and over again, i feel for poch a bit as he is not working with the full quota of Tools and i doubt he will get who he really wants so to that End he can only do his best surely.

The fact that you're even mentioning Real and Utd shows you're a bit deluded I'm afraid, Real And Utd have bagfuls of cash, CL football and the history to actively strengthen their team with quality players, what makes you think we could have done that? Also if I recall at the time mid season of the 2011-12 season in Jan we tried to get Remy (got rejected) and Vertonghten (didn't want to move mid season) who do you propse we'd buy in Jan

That wasn't our failure at all, the failure was the manager being unable to utilise the squad properly and our first teamers being burned out physically and mentally, the team was more than good enough to secure CL football but we blew it on many occasions.

Do you know how much 'top class' strikers cost?

 

[Coyboy]

If I'm perfectly honest, I think it's pointless debating these seasons now. People still debate about Redknapp (admittedly I will get involved occasionally) and it's just annoying IMO. So may things have changed and while there are certain moments I will never forget, I just don't see the point in discussing it.

Of course, I still reminisce about VDV ( ), Modric ( ) and Bale ( ) and when we were in the CL, plus the great football we saw in 10-11 and 11-12, but I don't think the subject of the season(s) itself needs to be discussed that much. We're always seeing stuff about what went wrong in those seasons, but let it go, dudes.


Apart from the match at the Etihad in 2011-12, that game will forever haunt me.

Agreed. That game was agony. We actually played pretty poorly for a lot of the game, scored two very good goals to get back into it and then Defoe was inches away from winning it. Balotelli then shouldn’t have been on the pitch to, I think, win and score the penalty.

What ifs are a bit pointless though. We should remember that King would still have run out of steam by early 2012, VDV may not have lasted much longer and while things may have been different if Bayern had even beaten Chelsea Modric and Bale would have eventually left even if we had gotten into the CL. I do believe that Bale would have left for Madrid whatever the outcome of our 12/13 season- even if we had won the league.

The only ‘superstar’ we have now is Lloris but that’s no biggie. Modric and Bale weren’t world class players when they came to us and Eriksen and Lamela may well prove to be every bit as good.

 

[SpursManChris]

That's kind of the point isn't it ? That best group of players should have been playing Real Madrid three years running, which may have cemented another three years etc.

Sorry, I'm not getting this cementing stuff. How the hell would playing Real madrid have cemented us?

 

[Kendall]

Looking back on the team that got us 4th in 2010, you can really appreciate what Harry achieved.

We lost BAE and a raw Bale came in. We'd lost Modric to a broken leg and Kranjcar played out of his skin, Palacios and Huddlestone were the mainstays in centre mid, Bentley even played great when Lennon "done a groin".

People look back fondly at the Bale/Modric/VDV trio and rightly so, but the team that got us to the promised land was far from mouth watering in terms of personnel on paper.

 

[dagraham]

Come on mate thats rubbish all the best teams strengthen even when they are in a position of strength.
Take Utd they stayed at the top for years because of their structure which was longevity of the manager and great youth system which supplemented their first team and the fact they would buy one or two quality additions even after winning the title.
Look at Madrid won the champions League and
Still went out and spent big to try and stay ahead of the pack it has to be done.
Our failing was not buying a top class striker when we qualified for the champions League and even now we still Havent addressed the issues.
We have had three managers since Harry left so it cant be them so who is making these wrong decisions over and over again, i feel for poch a bit as he is not working with the full quota of Tools and i doubt he will get who he really wants so to that End he can only do his best surely.

Absolutely agree. I've always said the best time to invest is from a position of strength. That's how you consolidate your position. We did it after winning the double by signing Greaves and all the successful teams don't just sit there collectively sucking each others dicks, but constantly strive for improvement.

Of course we haven't had the resources of a CL team, but we could have still invested more to keep the team competitive.

The relative underachievement of the team of 2010-12 has to go down as 50/50 between Harry and the board for me. Yes, Harry should have achieved more with the players we had (we lost some ridiculous games at crucial times), but the Nelson/Saha window was a joke and the refusal to pay market value for players and always going for the cheap option (despite being willing to piss away millions and millions on compensation for various managers, staff, DOf etc) was a complete false economy imo.

Massive opportunity missed by the whole club from board to manager and players and one of the main reasons imo for the understandable disillusionment of our fans.

Even so, that was a great time to be Spurs fan, with several genuine world class players, great football and a genuine feel good factor about Spurs (even if most of us knew it could unravel at any moment). We were also the darlings of the media and even had rival teams slightly shitting themselves about us.

Now they are most likely going to laugh patronisingly at us.

Sad but true.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Sorry, I'm not getting this cementing stuff. How the hell would playing Real madrid have cemented us?

It was shorthand. If we'd have qualified the next two years, as we should have, that would have given us another two years CL revenue, that would have denied Arsenal CL revenue. That's 80m in our coffers (2 seasons) , that money and the allure of CL football means you can attract and pay for better quality footballers who choose you over a club who can't offers that and must now also budget differently themselves. That hopefully - which is how it's worked for others and against us for the last umpteen years - helps you maintain strong CL qualification prospects.

In other words, the longer you can stay in it, the better your chances of maintaining that qualification. Because each season you do, you're effecting 80m (+40 us -40 them) swing in finances and also having the kudos that of CL carrot when negotiating. It's where players want to be.