With Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte falling to three straight Premier League defeats with poor showings against Chelsea, Southampton and most recently Wolverhampton Wanderers, fans will be asking if there’s a worst time to face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side.
We make the trip up to the Etihad Stadium for Saturday’s late kick off to face a side in good form, sitting pretty at the top of the table and looking to register their third win on the spin, whereas we all know where we are on form and performance levels.
The frustrating thing is we were well placed to capitalise on our games in hand before the wheels fell off recently, and we look like we have completely blown that opportunity by not being at least six points better off – and we can’t kid ourselves that the games haven’t been there to pick up those extra two wins as a minimum, we just didn’t turn up.
It’s difficult not to think it really doesn’t matter what we do this weekend, we could be back to our classic best and I still don’t see us getting a result.
Maybe we are due a surprise?
Stranger things have happened. I am not holding my breath but who knows?
We are losing games we should be winning, and winning a game we should be losing is the most Tottenham thing ever.
That is so true BS, it is the “most Tottenham thing ever!”
This game could be one of them “Again!” Lol! COYS
Preparing for the worst, hoping for the best, with any luck City will have a hangover from tonite game in Portugal, whilst we have a week to prepare, but their squad is so good.
On the back of BS’s comments in the last thread.
Many of the past Ajax players haven’t broken much Delf, anywhere, players in their very good team of 2018 havent really progressed as they should, Van Der Beek, Jensen, De leight, Ziyech.
Whilst some have been good, they haven’t really gone up that level. (Ziyech is still in the balance)
The team did look good in Europe but was that because they could up their games for these matches, as their own league wasn’t a challange. So every Euro game was a cup final, (I dunno).
What I can see is that any we have signed from there havnt been fantastic.
So it’s back to picking out the diamond in the rough, or the seasoned 29 Yr old with (hopefully) another 6 years in him.
There are changes needed and as I watch I’m getting more towards WW’s thoughts, that wholesale changes are needed.
Confidence is a massive thing in football and a lack of confidence in his defenders may have led to Lloris’smistakes, I was listening to a podcast which stated that with Dier and Skipp in the side we went through a period without conceding and it was the 9 in a row without defeat.
With Sanchez in the team, we have conceded in every game and lost 3.
Again TS stated that this confidence issue is currently running thru ManU like a disease so if there is, a Lack of confidence at Man U, I also think there is the same problems with us.
And if we instill that bit of confidence, it can turn an average player into a good one, as I think currently many in our team are afraid to be brave, afraid to make “the mistake” take the shot.
Someone said about playing 353 that actually could be our strongest line up.
Here, I’m rambling.
Hoping for a decent result on Sunday. COYS.
It is a fact, that every time we have had Dier and Kangaroo boy, Skippy for the nippers, in the team together, we have conceded 0 gls.
Niall, confidence what’s that lol!
Brave lol! what turn em into heroes haha, COYS
On the back of my last comments of those improving when they leave Spurs, I note Europa Cup winner Froyth is sparking interest from Real Madrid, remember him.
Well, that is always going to be the thing with Levy’s recruitment strategy.
Lots of gambles, some pay off big time, others backfire.
I have always felt the odds were against us and that it was better to buy quality over quantity, but the club’s model under Levy has always been to consider resale value first. Take 10 gambles, and if 3 pay off, it pays back the initial investment for all 10 and then some.
Of course, that doesn’t take into account the disruption caused in the dressing room.
Foyth is probably one of those “missed opportunities”, although he will still qualify as good business since we sold him on for more than we bought him. From a business point of view, Levy will feel it was worthwhile. That is the great irony and obvious downside to the model. The same could be said about the likes of Kevin Wimmer (bought for 4 million, sold to Stoke for 23 despite barely playing) or Benjamin Stambouli (bought for 4, sold for 9 to PSG).
None of those players made our squad really better, but they represented good business. And if turning a profit was the priority, those deals made sense.
I still think that in Foyth’s specific case, there may have also been a question that he wasn’t built for the PL and the physicality of English games. His time at Spurs was littered with injuries yet he has managed to stay fit enough in Spain.
I haven’t looked at Lamela’s fitness lately but it wouldn’t surprise me that he would be able to play more often in a more technical, but less physical league.
Call me crazy but I have a funny feeling we are going to get soundly beaten in this one.
The only thing we know is…there will be a result W, L or D, that’s a definate. lol!
Will we Win?….mmmm possible! highly unlikely!
Will we pull off a Draw?….good possibility! that’s a maybe!
Will we Lose?….biggest possibility! most likely! but there is still hope!
We can all forecast W, L or D, but anything can happen, this football. COYS
I suppose that’s the crux of the problem BS.
It’s looking at players who fantastic in their own leagues or step it up for one or to Euro games.
But it’s having the build, fitness, athleticism and speed for the Premiership, as there truly are no “gimmes” in our league.
So targeted recruitment is what is needed and a slight change of our mindset in the type of player we require.
But PY is right there will be a result on Saturday, as always hoping for a win.
Are we all feeling down? at the mo, think so, very quiet on the VS front, or are we all to busy battening down the hatches cos of this bitch “Eunice” attacking our country lol!
PompeyYid – not feeling down at all. Looking forward to tomorrows game – we will most certainly lose but it is hard to give a damn anymore – it is clear that our owners don’t.
I see Conte is already playing the “It’s not my fault” game. How long before he starts looking for a way out. I would suggest that he would like to leave before the summer window rather than waiting for the inevitable disappointment of another failed window.
Afternoon DH, how are keeping, kin n all.
I see no change from you then, I will not condem you, after all that it is your opinion.
You say another failed summer window, how do you know? you don’t! same as me! none of us know, just going by past scenario’s.
I read between the lines of Conte’s pc, yes he threw a shot across the boards midrift, but I think, which is different to yours, that he was saying this problem isn’t going to be solved overnight.
What do we know of plans that are being got ready now for the Summer TW, we know nout!
We also have got to admit we are not going to get the stand out players without CL football, so its a build with the so called up n coming players.
Oh sorry, we did try that with N’Dombele, next best thing since sliced bread, that didn’t work, Lo-Celso yes yes initially again didn’t work, the Prem was way to tough and fast for them both, do not forget these were Poch choices.
Signing new players is a risk, some do some do not, probably down to our scouts.
So some thinking is probably now in operation.
My other thing with him, Conte that is, he is old school, no problem with that, but he sticks to this system of his, which just does not suit our squad, whether you think them good or average, he plays 2 in the middle 3 up front, 2 in the middle always gets overrun, so 3 at the expense of 1 of the 3 up front.
Say for example Skippy, Bentacur with Hoj infront of them, Kulu on the right to make it 4.
So a choice of Son, Harry, Bergs or Lucas for the 2.
Go for a back 4 of Dier, Romero, Rodon n Reggie.
Just my thoughts mate. COYS
Lots of media comments saying that Conte will be gone soon as he cannot see a way through the mediocre players we have and Levy is not willing to get out the cheque book. This of,course, is media speculation. Levy is lining up a return for Poch before Man Utd get him in the summer. Media speculation again.
Maybe if we put in a shift against City, Conte will hang in there. Just hope we don’t get torn apart by Foden, De Bruyne etc. On paper we stand no chance but hey this is football and one can never write the script.
Well in answer to all this negativity brought about by that interview with the Italian media, Conte is not going anywhere, said so himself, he has actually said he will not do chats/interviews with the Italian media again because they have misconstrued, manipulated the translation to suit there own agenda.
Am with WW there we can never write a script for us v MC. COYS
PY – As much as we none of us can predict the future, I also feel that some questioning is warranted given how the club have operated in years past. If we can’t necessarily go by past scenarios, we also can’t be certain that Leopard Levy is going to change his spots. The reasoning can go both ways.
We just have to hope that change is under way.
I don’t think Conte is ready to jump ship yet, but he is clearly trying to make some points in a very public way – it’s a way to pressure Levy into backing him. Who knows if it’ll work, but clearly public opinion amongst Spurs fans is majoritarily going to be in AC’s favour. AC knows what he is doing.
Personally, as I have said before, I see no point in going back to a 4231. It’ll suit certain players better, but others like Dier will go backwards again. If 4231 only means marginal gains, I’d rather let Conte work towards a long term vision. Changing systems every week is only going to lead to more stagnation.
Hi Folks trust you’re all keeping well, I see the light breeze hit the news for you today, trust you all stayed safe, I lost 6 fence posts at storm “Barra” and was rebuilding them as the next storm came and took away the dove cot. This one didn’t hit us so bad.
PY I think you hit the nail on the head, I did read that a “negative slant” was put on the translation and a few, “mays and maybes” were left out.
I do believe that Conte is here for the rebuild, between he and Paratici, they have to a degree taken control of the football side of things, given our, exits we are a bit down to the bones squad wise, but if we can get Hoj and Bente playing together, with Dier back, we could come away with something from City š.
Our signings over the summer will depend really on our league position this season, are we on the up and improving, stagnant, or playing in CL or Europa leagues
If we can become “canny” not in a Levey way, we could nab a couple of good players, near the end of their contracts for decent money, for me we let Paratici and Conte, work their magic, and see where we are next season, I do think big changes are afoot in our personnel.
PompeyYid, I hope all is well with you. 45 years of supporting Spurs and a history of failed transfer windows leads me to believe that nothing will change. Negotiating all window to sell Nādombele and Lo Celso, ending up keeping them, stories of a marquee signing only for that player ( I wonder who it will be this time) to either sign a new contract or go elsewhere and us ending up with players who may be good value but in positions we donāt need.
I have to say that I donāt think Conte will be around for the rebuild. Nor fortunately will Paratici be.
DH, thanks for that mate, all is good as good can be expected with us, not me but Mrs PY and all her vulnerability.
45 years a fan, well I beat ya there, been a fan since 60/61, yep Double season, Grandad took me for the first time to WHL as a birthday gift, been or was going ever since.
I am with you as to why you have the opinion you have, BS ditto and his Leopard won’t change his spots, or might not.
My thing about marquee signings, fair enough, but most of it was from the poxy media, not sure these days what can/will be seen as a marquee signing, even though we can pay good wages now but the main thing is we are not in CL anymore.
Who do we look for now? ready made, usually older for us, or nearly there but not quite, who we can work on, basically I have no bloody idea anymore.
Do we need a younger less exp coach who will work for the 5 years or so of rebuilding? basically as Klopp has done at the Scousers.
Will Spurs fans ever be happy lol! COYS
The thought of the likes of Davinson Sanchez, Hoijberg, Royale and Davies up against the likes of Foden, Sterling, KDB, Jesus and Mahrez is enough to make any Spurs fan give up before the game has started, a point is a massive bonus if we somehow achieve it.
Was just thinking the same thing, most of those players wouldn’t make the city Bench, seriously not looking forward to the game…
Hi Spurfect one, well we done it before, so don’t write us off just yet, though we are on the back foot we have had a week to prepare, this is the Premier League anything can happen..
Live in hope š
The best we can hope for today is that they don’t turn up and we get awarded the game by default. Seriously, all I hope for is composure in possession and holding shape off it. Seeing so called professionals booting the ball anywhere is so unedifying.
Niall, kudos, you was right, i written us off and in the most Spursy manner we somehow achieved the impossible. No Winks and Sanchez had a major positive effect in my opinion.
Fortunately I have a rehearsal and concert this afternoon and evening so won’t be watching the match
I just can’t see how we can get a result but I hope that when I turn my phone on during the interval I will see a good result .
The inclusion of Dier will give us a better defensive edge but midfield ??
I haven’t time to comment on the comments made by BS but they simply echo mine and unless levy buys quality and invests in good players we will always be playing catch up . Levy and ENIC have been poor player recruiters and apart from the real estate profits they have been dreadful employers .
For me this evening is turn up lads, give em a fright! win or lose as long as I can see battling, that also means you HK turning up for a big game which you normally do not, I will be perfectly happy.
I will and still believe we can get a result! win or draw.
The hurt animal is at its most dangerous!
Am I dreaming? well we will see wont we lol! COYS
All good points Pompey. Personally I would have gone for Graham Potter but he is far to smart to come and work for Daniel Levy. With Jose failing at Spurs, Conte already looking fed up we are becoming a bit of a poisoned challis.
Iām still looking forward to the game later. It will be interesting to see the mentality. Will they go into the game already beaten as when they play Chelsea or will we actually see a bit of spirit and fight.