Now what?

[millsey]

If we bid 25
Mill for Berahino on Sept 1st, why would we reknew the bid on 1st Jan? Poch has said he's the only player he wants. And his stick and value may well have fallen. Don't understand why we won't be right back in for him

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

If we bid 25
Mill for Berahino on Sept 1st, why would we reknew the bid on 1st Jan? Poch has said he's the only player he wants. And his stick and value may well have fallen. Don't understand why we won't be right back in for him

Been on the piss?

 

[Mr Pink]

We were already down on them, the reasoning for us not being title contenders atm, is that even though I think we will gain points on the top teams, I still think that Liverpool and Everton will also do well over the next month and have just as easy as a run in.

Atm we are closer to liverpool and West Ham than Man City and United, hence why I think we need to step it up.

So far we have been averaging 1.79 points a week, we need to average 2 a season to get top 4 and about 2.25 to be a title challenger or win it.

In theory we have some easy games, but we have a hectic schedule coming up and would need win nearly all our games in the month to be up there with a chance of top.

If we win 4 matches and draw against southampton in december we will be on 38 points after 19 games. That is averaging 2 points a season and has us finishing on 76 points and about 3rd or 4th historically.

To be in a chance with winning the title we have to win all those games. With the form we have shown especially since we are no longer travelling anymore, it is achievable but at the same time Im a spurs fan. I believe it when I see it.

My experience of being a spurs fan tells me WBA, Norwich and Watford aren't easy matches

We keep on saying 'historically' and how many points usually gets top four or wins the title...but isn't this a little redundant? I've never known a season like this and its already quite clear its going to take way less points than usual to win the league.

Looking at previous seasons isn't as relevant as you would think given the unpredictable nature of this season.

For me its simple - we've just come through a tough period in the league, and they were tough games as Derby's always are, and a ridiculous away fixture in the Europa League and we're only 4 points off the top with eleven winnable games to come - Europa League/travel free.

We'll know just how good this team is by the end of January/start of February.

What encourages me so much is that we're still growing as a team but we seem to be taking giant steps now instead of baby ones like last season when Poch's style was only coming out in patches.

We now look like a completely different team in that Poch's style is being implemented consistently, exciting times IMO.

 

[npearl4spurs]

Every year we talk about how we don't do well enough against the bottom teams even though, in most years, we hold our own against our neighbors in the table.

We have to change that narrative this year. We have to prove that our mentality has changed. We have to prove in this run of fixtures that we have the mentality of 'champions' deserving of Champions' League. Go out and beat the teams we are supposed to be beating. If we drop points on the road somewhere it won't be the end of the world, but picking up the majority of the points, and picking up nearly all of our points at home, are musts if we are going to be talked about in 2016.

 

[Lighty64]

up to the day we play Man C away, rightly or wrongly in my opinion i would expect us to pick up 6 wins a couple of draws. the other 3 bother me, WBA, S'ton, and Everton all away, especially the last of the 3.

if we can win the europa group, which with playing Newcastle the Sunday after, i think we should be able to win or draw v Monaco and manage to rest a few, or just have them on the bench if we do need them. if Anderletch can get a good half time lead, Monaco's heads will drop.

the 1st game of the EL KO's which we would be away for if we win falls just before the 5th round of the FA Cup. so shouldn't effect our League preformance, though if we get through our 1st 2 FA Cup games might have an effect, and would love us to get to the FA Cup final. the 2nd leg which we should be at home for falls just before we play Swansea at home, which on present form shouldn't be too hard a task.

if we get through the 1st KO of Europa the 1st leg for last 16 is either 3 days before an FA Cup 6th round match or Villa in the in the League. if Villa away hopefully they will still be on the downwards slope. 2nd leg is just before Bournemouth at home, so really think dates are pretty kind to us up to this stage.

get through to the Q/F's and the 1st leg falls before the FA Cup semi's or Man U (unless Man U get to the FA Cup semi's, and I'd quite like to play them on a night game, we always have a greater atmosphere for the bigger games especially night games, which makes the 12th man). now get through to both comps, we will be in fixture overload. The 2nd leg of the Q/F's would be just before a tough away game v Stoke, in what will be our on paper our next toughest month. The only thing is, by the start of the month of April, we will have a good idea which way our season is heading, and how our very young and promising squad are coping.

unfortunately the 1st leg EL semi's also part fall in the month of April, a very tough month, and heading very close to what could possibly a very long season. the 1st leg also falls just before we travel to Chelsea who will by then know there chances of a top4 finish. the 2nd leg also falls just short of another tough fixture even if at home to S'ton.

so hopefully we can get a couple of players in the transfer just to help with that possibility of a very heavy set of fixtures, and help if and when we need rotating, and prey for 2 things. 1 by time we play Chelsea away we have a top 4 place cemented, and 2 if still in EL and be in possition 1<, then hope we get to the EL final, or FA Cup

 

[eddiev14]

As with each of the past 6-7 years, if we're up there within touching distance by the end of March then I'll get excited about the possibility of Top Four.

The past has proven that even if we have an amazing December/January it is still well within us to burn out or slip up.

Right now I think we can do it but we'll need to get Kane some help. He's played 26 times for club and country this season and with the FA Cup and a potential string of Knockoout games in the Europa we need to be careful with him. Look what happened to Sanchez yesterday.

Anyway, I'm just delighted to see such progress from our young team.

 

[nicdic]

As with each of the past 6-7 years, if we're up there within touching distance by the end of March then I'll get excited about the possibility of Top Four.

The past has proven that even if we have an amazing December/January it is still well within us to burn out or slip up.

Right now I think we can do it but we'll need to get Kane some help. He's played 26 times for club and country this season and with the FA Cup and a potential string of Knockoout games in the Europa we need to be careful with him. Look what happened to Sanchez yesterday.

Anyway, I'm just delighted to see such progress from our young team.

Why wait til March to enjoy the good that's going on now. Regardless of where we may end up, this wait til March thing baffles me. Can people really not enjoy and get a bit excited about how we've been doing?

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

Why wait til March to enjoy the good that's going on now. Regardless of where we may end up, this wait til March thing baffles me. Can people really not enjoy and get a bit excited about how we've been doing?

Thought the point of this post was whether we can win the league not whether we'd be happy with a run of mid season form followed by us dicking it up.

 

[Lighty64]

We were already down on them, the reasoning for us not being title contenders atm, is that even though I think we will gain points on the top teams, I still think that Liverpool and Everton will also do well over the next month and have just as easy as a run in.

Atm we are closer to liverpool and West Ham than Man City and United, hence why I think we need to step it up.

So far we have been averaging 1.79 points a week, we need to average 2 a season to get top 4 and about 2.25 to be a title challenger or win it.

In theory we have some easy games, but we have a hectic schedule coming up and would need win nearly all our games in the month to be up there with a chance of top.

If we win 4 matches and draw against southampton in december we will be on 38 points after 19 games. That is averaging 2 points a season and has us finishing on 76 points and about 3rd or 4th historically.

To be in a chance with winning the title we have to win all those games. With the form we have shown especially since we are no longer travelling anymore, it is achievable but at the same time Im a spurs fan. I believe it when I see it.

My experience of being a spurs fan tells me WBA, Norwich and Watford aren't easy matches

All teams in the top 6 + Everton have tough fixtures come December and January

Man C = 6
Stoke (A)
Arsenal (A)
Leicester (A)
Watford (A) have included due to your post above
Everton (H)
West Ham (A)

Leicester = 6
Chelsea (H)
Everton (A)
Liverpool (A)
Man City (H)
Tottenham (A)
Stoke (H)

Man U = 6
WestHam (H)
Norwich (H) have included due to your post above
Stoke (A)
Chelsea (H) providing they play like they did against us
Liverpool (A)
Southampton (H)

Arsenal = 5
Man City (H)
Southampton (A)
Liverpool (A)
Stoke (A)
Chelsea (H)

Tottenham = 7
WBA (A) have included due to your post above (I do agree)
Southampton (A)
Norwich (H) have included due to your post above
Watford (A) have included due to your post above
Everton (A)
Leicester (H)
Palace (A)

Liverpool = 7
West Brom (H) have included due to your post above
Watford (A) have included due to your post above
Leicester (H)
West Ham (A)
Arsenal (H)
Man Utd (H)
Norwich (A) have included due to your post above

Everton = 6
Norwich (A) have included due to your post above
Leicester (H)
Stoke (H)
Tottenham (H)
Man City (A)
Chelsea (A)

in that list only Everton below us have 1 less trickier games to play.

at the moment
Man C have Kompany and Aguero struggling for fitness in the busy period coming up
Leicester have the toughest run on paper
Man U are grinding every result out
Arsenal have an injury list as long as your arm, and to key players too
Spurs on paper have the easier fixtures of those above
Liverpool have tougher fixtures than us
Everton slightly tougher

I know these are not all the fixtures each team plays by the end of January, just the tougher ones on paper out of them

 

[eddiev14]

Why wait til March to enjoy the good that's going on now. Regardless of where we may end up, this wait til March thing baffles me. Can people really not enjoy and get a bit excited about how we've been doing?

Mate, like I said I'm delighted with how we're doing!

Definitely enjoying our football right now but more just looking forward to each game than thinking about where we could end up.

I just refuse to get excited about our finishing position because there is a long way to go.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

word of caution. When pocky was at southampton they started very well. And then tailed off badly at the end of the season. Is this beacause he worked them too hard and it was unsustainable? maybe. so i would say we should not predict anything until the end of the season. If i had to give a prediction. I would say we have an outside chance of any place in the top 4. lets just enjoy the ride and stay behine the team regardless. 13 games unbeaten is pretty good.

If you don't predict until after it has ended, then I don't think it's much of a prediction. More just saying what has happened

 

[TH1239]

Let me preface what I'm about to say by noting that outside of Toby Alderweireld, I was not particularly satisfied with our transfer dealings this past summer, which made me think we'd likely finish 6th (or possibly worse with a long term injury to Kane) absent some players really stepping up and improving exponentially. What I didn't anticipate was Pochettino giving both Dembele and Lamela, two players I've always gone to bat for here, extended runs in the side. These two have been instrumental in implementing the high pressing, fast transition style Pochettino bases his footballing philosophy on. So massive credit to Poch for seeing the error of his ways from February of this year, and even early this season and giving these two players a chance to establish themselves when they could've easily be sold in August.

With that said, and as someone who is realist and has no problems being pessimistic on this message board, I actually think a title challenge is realistic if we can bolster the squad with at least a striker in January, and can win a number of our upcoming 11 matches (all of which we will have a talent advantage in). The core group of 13 players that Pochettino has relied on (the team that ended the game against Chelsea plus Alli and Chadli) is a very talented collection of players that actually has a lot of experience in its ranks (Eriksen/Son/Lamela are all 23, for instance, but were all prodigies and have years of top flight footballing experience at big clubs). We also have the best CB/GK combination in the league and arguably in all of Europe with Lloris/Aldeweireld/Vertonghen.

Frankly, earning CL football this coming season would be a total game-changer for us financially. We already will see 55 million more pounds in television revenue next season. You mix in 35 or so million pounds of CL revenue, and we are talking about turnover approaching 270 million pounds or nearly double our revenue in 2012. That's the kind of thing that allows for increases in wage bills and more signings like Son and Aldweireld to really cement our status as a top club. It's the type of brand and equity building event that helped Atletico build themselves into title contenders and one of the most desirable clubs to play for in world football. So even though I didn't think in a league with so much parity popping up that we'd have a chance at a top 4 finish, circumstances have presented themselves as such that we have the chance to even finish higher if some things go our way.

So, yes, I think supporters should feel free to dream big, especially if we really can rack up points in our next 11 matches.

 

[dickyid]

I've got each way money on spurs to win the league at 150/1.

I also have have an acca of 6 spurs players to make the England squad next summer, perming in all the fivefolds too. So pretty much all Spurs.

Spurs to win the league, Spurs to win the Euros.

(Optimistic buttons over there..)

 

[michaelden]

Everyone is saying we need to get another CF in and I agree.

Buuuuuuuuuut (lights blue touchpaper and runs away)

We've been here before and the evidence suggests shortstuff won't do what's required……So come the end of the season people will be saying "if only", moaning like fuck about him until next season when we'll win two consecutive games and he'll be the handsomest, baldest and most well hung little pixie in football again.

#we'reluckytohavehim
#thegrassisn'talwaysgreener
#becarefulwhatyouwishfor
#doyouwanttodoaleeds

I think its unlikely we'll strengthen in Jan but in reality that is what we need. I'd also like Poch to rotate a bit more, if not fir a full match then start to use all 3 subs before the 75 minute mark.

 

[DiscoD1882]

If you don't predict until after it has ended, then I don't think it's much of a prediction. More just saying what has happened

I thought you would say that.

 

[Monkey Bastard Hands]

At the start of the season I expected us to get top 6 and that is still in my view a good position for us given the squad changes in the summer, and the amount of youth players we've integrated; we have a young team and for us to get anything more than top 6 will be an exceptional season. For now i'm just enjoying watching us play some attractive fun football for the first time in a long time, of course I hope it continues but given that Poch seems to be rotating the squad fairly little, I wouldn't be surprised if we suffer from a bit of burn out in the second half of the season, especially if we have a good run in the Europa League and FA Cup.

December and the Christmas period will be as always a challenge but given our fixture list I reckon we'll be right up there by the near year. Some transfer activity in January will then be essential if we're to keep things going.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Agree that

Let me preface what I'm about to say by noting that outside of Toby Alderweireld, I was not particularly satisfied with our transfer dealings this past summer, which made me think we'd likely finish 6th (or possibly worse with a long term injury to Kane) absent some players really stepping up and improving exponentially. What I didn't anticipate was Pochettino giving both Dembele and Lamela, two players I've always gone to bat for here, extended runs in the side. These two have been instrumental in implementing the high pressing, fast transition style Pochettino bases his footballing philosophy on. So massive credit to Poch for seeing the error of his ways from February of this year, and even early this season and giving these two players a chance to establish themselves when they could've easily be sold in August.

With that said, and as someone who is realist and has no problems being pessimistic on this message board, I actually think a title challenge is realistic if we can bolster the squad with at least a striker in January, and can win a number of our upcoming 11 matches (all of which we will have a talent advantage in). The core group of 13 players that Pochettino has relied on (the team that ended the game against Chelsea plus Alli and Chadli) is a very talented collection of players that actually has a lot of experience in its ranks (Eriksen/Son/Lamela are all 23, for instance, but were all prodigies and have years of top flight footballing experience at big clubs). We also have the best CB/GK combination in the league and arguably in all of Europe with Lloris/Aldeweireld/Vertonghen.

Frankly, earning CL football this coming season would be a total game-changer for us financially. We already will see 55 million more pounds in television revenue next season. You mix in 35 or so million pounds of CL revenue, and we are talking about turnover approaching 270 million pounds or nearly double our revenue in 2012. That's the kind of thing that allows for increases in wage bills and more signings like Son and Aldweireld to really cement our status as a top club. It's the type of brand and equity building event that helped Atletico build themselves into title contenders and one of the most desirable clubs to play for in world football. So even though I didn't think in a league with so much parity popping up that we'd have a chance at a top 4 finish, circumstances have presented themselves as such that we have the chance to even finish higher if some things go our way.

So, yes, I think supporters should feel free to dream big, especially if we really can rack up points in our next 11 matches.

Dembele has been an absolute beast in recent weeks.. Add a few more goals to his repertoire and he will be top draw

 

[robbiedee]

The way I see it is that the quality of the PL is on the whole rubbish & any team worth there salt could have a run at the Title this year (very much like the year Liverpool finished 2nd). There's nothing to fear & there will never be a better chance to win the lg, so feck top 4 aim as high as possible. Could we win the lg..yes.. Do I think we wil.. No..

January there is an opportunity for Levy to really back Pochettino & show the likes of Lloris, Vertonghen, Eriksen & Kane that we mean business & that they can win trophies here. Finding a back up for Kane won't be easy & maybe we will have to settle for a loan however even as important is making a signing to add that killer instinct/killer pass because at the moment I think we rely on Eriksen a lot for that.. so a utility player who can play midfield/forward, I would have someone in mind that would really put out a statement of intent but if I said who I am sure use would all laugh at me.

Has anyone asked yet??? Who?

 

[SamR]

When the transfer window shut I thought we were in serious trouble. I couldn't even be arsed to watch spurs on the back of last season. Eating my words now.
I underestimated Poch's ability to motivate and integrate the youth. When you look across the team it's amazing to see the development of Harry, Dier, Alli and Dembele. The improvements in Walker, Rose and Lamela's game are noted too!

With the unbeaten streak behind us, Bentaleb and Chadli to come back and sure up the squad (who knows if they will also step up now too!) And with 1-2 smart buys in January we have a real chance of top 4. Too be spoken of as title contenders is a massive credit to the whole club...but let's not get too carried away. It's a long season and it wasn't long ago Rodgers nearly won the title and now he is looking for a new job!
Excited for the next game which I haven't felt for a long time!

 

[Kingellesar]

Take each game as it comes. West Brom is going to be tough, on a bit of a run at the minute, a win against Arsenal and a draw against West Ham, they like London teams!

If we win this one, I'd start to gain some confidence that we can have a good December but its going to be tough. But one game at a time.