Fan Forum

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Maybe im reading too much into it but off the back of the Fulham game I felt it was a subtle way of saying come on guys, we need to aim higher than just the cups. Our ambitions are more than that. Aka if you see me putting out a stronger team in the league than in the milk cup, that’s why.

I take the point that he’s probably just saying we want a squad that can compete on all levels.

I hope this season he puts the FA cup as priority.

You can't say "we have to play our strongest team" at the 2nd round of the League Cup. That is not improving your chances of winning, and taking a great risk with key players. Had we won, we would still be long shots to win the Cup, and realistically, the chances of winning would not be much higher than they are right now.

Same thing with the FA Cup. We can't play our top team in the 3rd round. The risk far outweighs the reward - at that stage in the competition.

If we advance, then the rewards become more in-line with the risks.

If we sent out the U21s - then sure, you can say we are not taking the Cups seriously. But, everything we have learned about Ange is that he plays to win - everything. It was early days, and several players let us down against Fulham. But a lot of the "starters" also had time to win the game and failed. It happens. Its not an indication that Ange or the Club are not taking Cups seriously.

 

[SSC]

Not to derail this thread any further but I think the cup 'loss' to Fulham is also being taken out of proportion, we drew the game away at a PL team (which if we did in the league would be dissapointing but not overly terrible) and then lost a coin flip penalty shoot out.

 

[riggi]

You can't say "we have to play our strongest team" at the 2nd round of the League Cup. That is not improving your chances of winning, and taking a great risk with key players. Had we won, we would still be long shots to win the Cup, and realistically, the chances of winning would not be much higher than they are right now.

Same thing with the FA Cup. We can't play our top team in the 3rd round. The risk far outweighs the reward - at that stage in the competition.

If we advance, then the rewards become more in-line with the risks.

If we sent out the U21s - then sure, you can say we are not taking the Cups seriously. But, everything we have learned about Ange is that he plays to win - everything. It was early days, and several players let us down against Fulham. But a lot of the "starters" also had time to win the game and failed. It happens. It’s not an indication that Ange or the Club are not taking Cups seriously.

I would still put out a full strength team and bring them off throughout the game. In the past we have had to bring Kane and co on late into the second half. Never understood that.

I get your rationale though.

 

[PLTuck]

Another thing that struck me was DL saying that Ange is a straight talker and doesn't tell him one thing and something else to another person and he likes that about him.

Jives with Ryan Mason's interview late last season when he said DL had been let down by some people.

 

[SirHarryHotspur]

Playing weakened sides in FA cup and League is nothing new it's been going on for years , fact domestic cups do not offer the FINANCIAL rewards that clubs want.


From 2008 it's behind a pay wall but the headline gives you the general idea.

Reading to field weakended side at Tottenham Hotpsur

Steve Coppell, the Reading manager, has confirmed he will play an under-strength side in the FA Cup third round tie at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday - even though his first team conceded six at White

www.thetimes.co.uk

 

[easley91]

Why did we field a weakened team for the Fulham game?

If we are taking the cups seriously then I don’t see why we can’t field our strongest team and then take them off when we are comfortable in the game?

Because Ange said we had 3 away games in a week and had a lacklustre pre-season due to games being cancelled/changed. It really isn't that hard to grasp? We are also at the start of Ange's journey and so he needed to give players minutes and to know if the rest are up to scratch. We found out the answer and unfortunately went out on penalties. Not like we lost badly or anything.

Does it suck to go out in game one? Sure, but it won't define our season or the long term project.

 

[Hoopspur]

Absolute drivel. We are all enjoying what is happening right now but that doesn't mean we just sweep everything that has happened, and is still happening under the carpet. Like forgiving your missus for cheating on you because she gave you a blowy to make up for it. On the pitch there has been significant improvement and yes he's put his head above the parapet and shouldered some of the blame, but there are still things the club are getting very wrong like the ticket pricing for instance. He still has to be held accountable for his mistakes regardless of the football on display. He's done a lot right lately but he's a long way to go before he is absolved of criticism.

I bought my nephew a ticket for the match on Saturday against Sheffield that cost me £23.50 plus that crappy booking fee. I personally think that was pretty good value tbh and I was happy enough with that. I keep on hearing about the raising of the ticket prices but the ST's (circa 40k) stayed the same, the 3k away fans remained the same and the corporate tickets were priced as a demand allowed as in most sports. The actual amount that were subject to this so called increase was in actual fact pretty low. At some stage the negative press generated v the actual benefit will need to be calculated. I probably reckon its more bother than its worth tbh. The continual negative comments are grinding. Is this ITK or is it opinion? At the moment I want to enjoy watching Spurs for the first time again for a large number of years.

 

[SirHarryHotspur]

Because Ange said we had 3 away games in a week and had a lacklustre pre-season due to games being cancelled/changed. It really isn't that hard to grasp?

Also said he needed to look at the fringe players in a competitive match to get an idea of squad strength.

 

[funkycoldmedina]

Rotate in the other games and play our best team in the knockout competition midweek.

Hopefully we are in this for the long term with Ange. My gut tells me things will carry on going in the right direction. I just want to make sure we don’t revert to type and pass up good opportunities for domestic cups while chasing the league.

Not wanting to divert this too much more but my guess is he wanted to see the fringe players under the microscope of a competitive game before the end of the transfer window. That defeat and the culling of the squad should pay benefit further down the line. Ange has built numerous squads before, you have to trust his process.

 

[Hoopspur]

Ahhh, a certain well known poster has disagreed with my post #107. I really have to laugh out loud.

I just cannot believe what can be argued about within it, possibly this "The continual negative comments are grinding".

Anyway, enjoy your Wednesday.

 

[Trix]

I bought my nephew a ticket for the match on Saturday against Sheffield that cost me £23.50 plus that crappy booking fee. I personally think that was pretty good value tbh and I was happy enough with that. I keep on hearing about the raising of the ticket prices but the ST's (circa 40k) stayed the same, the 3k away fans remained the same and the corporate tickets were priced as a demand allowed as in most sports. The actual amount that were subject to this so called increase was in actual fact pretty low. At some stage the negative press generated v the actual benefit will need to be calculated. I probably reckon its more bother than its worth tbh. The continual negative comments are grinding. Is this ITK or is it opinion? At the moment I want to enjoy watching Spurs for the first time again for a large number of years.

Because you went to one of the three games that were least effected.

And tbh if you don't want to hear the continual negative comments from the same posters, put those posters on ignore. It's a simple answer to a simple problem. Fact is I'm fed up of the continual moaning about the continual negative comments and I'm doing just that. Personally I hate the moaning in the match threads so unless we are doing well I simply ignore them until after the game.

 

[Hoopspur]

Because you went to one of the three games that were least effected.

And tbh if you don't want to hear the continual negative comments from the same posters, put those posters on ignore. It's a simple answer to a simple problem. Fact is I'm fed up of the continual moaning about the continual negative comments and I'm doing just that. Personally I hate the moaning in the match threads so unless we are doing well I simply ignore them until after the game.

What? I first attended Spurs (home games) in 1980 and have missed 5 since then. I have many, many things to be disillusioned with that have affected me and my family/friends over these many many seasons but your point about the 20% is like the ticket prices either inflated or out of kilter. Proportion v outrage perhaps?

Edit - and you will never, ever find me in the match threads. Its a sensible thing to do.

 

[Trix]

What? I first attended Spurs (home games) in 1980 and have missed 5 since then. I have many, many things to be disillusioned with that have affected me and my family/friends over these many many seasons but your point about the 20% is like the ticket prices either inflated or out of kilter. Proportion v outrage perhaps?

I'm referring to the price you paid for you nephew for Sheffield utd. Nothing more than that.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Some fair points. On others I guess we agree to disagree.

My frustration isn’t at anyone/everyone who criticises it’s at the posters who don’t show balance and twist every little thing the club or more specifically Levy does into a negative.

Bingo.

 

[easley91]

Some fair points. On others I guess we agree to disagree.

My frustration isn’t at anyone/everyone who criticises it’s at the posters who don’t show balance and twist every little thing the club or more specifically Levy does into a negative.

THIS

 

[rebrab]

This is what it’s all about

 

[SirHarryHotspur]

Great little bit in the fan forum which I have nearly finished watching , said with a smile by Levy , Maddison has been warned about coming to the training ground in a red car.

 

[philll]

The lad who asked the question about squad depth going into the Champions League (hopefully) next season said "we'll be playing bigger clubs than Burnley, United, whoever", totally deadpan.

 

[Dillspur]

My frustration isn’t at anyone/everyone who criticises it’s at the posters who don’t show balance and twist every little thing the club or more specifically Levy does into a positive.

 

[SirHarryHotspur]

Thought the forum went well, don't know if other clubs do anything similar.
Nothing controversial in the answers just the things you would expect to hear , we want to win games & compete, we had transfer targets but they didn't happen, thought it was a good transfer window, etc.
Thought Levy did sort of admit his errors in previous appointments but no one is going to throw him out of the club and he is not going to resign , so unless there is a massive takeover offer he is here for the foreseeable.