After a couple of weeks off, Tottenham Hotspur are back in action this coming Saturday and everyone will be hoping we can put the poor result and performance against Chelsea firmly behind us as we welcome Brighton and Hove Albion to White Hart Lane for our FA Cup fourth round clash.
It was a mixed transfer window for the club, with us seemingly missing out on our speculated higher profile targets, but manager Antonio Conte presumably got most of what he wanted with numerous departures, and a few arrivals to freshen the group up and potentially more directly fit Conte’s preferred tactics and style of play.
What this means for performances moving forward remains to be seen, much as it does for Conte’s more long term future with us but given plenty of disappointments this season, it can’t be forgotten we are well placed in the Premier League table to finish on a high and a possible Wembley trip remains on the horizon – it just all comes down to how much more Conte can get out of this group before getting a proper window to improve in.
Hi Danny thanks for the thread, Re the last thread, if BS is right about Hitchen, I’m glad, he has overseen and is largely responsible for probably our worst period of recruitment, of players and indeed managers, whether it was a poison chalice or not, many of us, as punters could see that money was being spent in the wrong areas.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and there appear to be progressive changes happening at Spur, at last.
Re Saturdays game, Brighton are fairly comfortable in their league position and in fact are unlucky in some games not to be a bit higher.
Can they focus on a cup run, you bet, so it won’t be an easy game against a good footballing side.
But I do think we’ll take it 2-0 COYS.
Time to win this glorious cup again.
They gave Chelsea a better game then we did
Potter has done well to extract the most out of an average squad. I know he has his supporters and was even mentioned for the Spurs job at one point.
Is he a top manager or another manager who looks good in a smaller club but doesn’t have what it takes to be at the top of the game? Hard to say.
What I do know is that he can obviously get his players to play well for him, and on their day Brighton can give anyone a game. However, on other days they can also get turned over.
As Niall said, we ought to not underestimate BHA, but let’s be honest: I’d rather them than Chelsea or City.
A winnable tie, which is all we can hope for at this stage of the FA Cup.
In the PL, Brighton have lost just 4 times. But, they have only won 6 of their 22 league matches. They are the draw specialists of the PL; W6 L4 Drawn 12!
But just like Spurs, they have had a hard time scoring goals this season. Just 23 goals in the PL, to Spurs’ 26.
Of course, the Seagulls can’t draw this match, as there are no replays in this seasons FA Cup…
I suppose that in a knock-out match, none of the above stats stand for too much. But our overall record against them is a good one. Hopefully it will continue to be.
Spurs 4-0 Seagulls!
Dele 2, Ndombele 1 Lo Celso 1. Oh no! They’ve gone!
Kane hat trick. Bergwijn 1….
Probably be just 1-0. With Spurs winning in the 97th minute, via an own-goal! 😉
This will be a tough match v the “Shitehawks” on Saturday, but I believe there is an excitement about the camp with all the ins and outs, so am going for a 3-0 win Spurs. COYS
Danny, you are certainly correct in pointing out that we are well placed on the PL table. We are nicely in the mix for a top four finish (probably fourth). It does seem strange given that most of us consider our football had been average at best so far. Maybe we’re not so bad after all.
Geof, your last line is probably correct, we fans want what we want, moan n gripe about it, but its what is happening on the field of play for the club and players, at this time we are sitting in a very good place, to claim 4th spot, the players n club will know that so will just be thinking of for the now.
Ok preparations will be being got ready for the next TW, regards next season. COYS
The table is somewhat misleading because a lot is going to depend on how we perform in those games in hand. The outcome of those games will decide whether we are indeed 3rd (best case) or 7th (worst case).
Our games in hand are Burnley away, Brighton away, Arsenal at home and Southampton at home.
Getting a full 12 points from those 4 games (what would be needed to go 3rd) seems a tough ask. Equally, getting nothing from those 4 games seems unlikely.
We’d need as little as 2 points, and as much as 9 points from those 4 games to guarantee our place in the top 4 (depending on other teams’ results).
Having said that, even if we were to go 3rd or 4th after those games in hand, we’re still virtually only 24 games in and a lot can happen over the remaining 14 games.
After those games in hand, we still have to go away to City, United, and Liverpool, and host West Ham. Of course, our rivals still have tough games ahead of them too. A lot can happen and getting in the top 4 now means nothing if we collapse in the last 14 games.
As far as the quality of our football is concerned, I will say this: we might still be able to get results despite playing average football, and we may yet drop points even if we play better. Results and quality of football aren’t necessarily related. We could be unconvincing and lucky, or boring but efficient.
As I have said many times before, I am happy with pragmatic football as long as it delivers results. Currently it’s hard to argue with results under Conte, certainly in the league.
BS …. I think we all know that. lol
Not sure if the 2 signings will make a huge difference but at least having them offers a small amount of rotation and seemingly an improvement in what we have . Also with Son and Romeo back it will give us a better chance of achieving at least 4th spot after the games in hand hopefully 3rd although that is a tough ask .
Not sure about Brighton as Potter seems to get them to play well against us . A quick start is important which would allow us to apply pressure and hopefully score a couple of goals . It is a cup match and we are playing at home so I would expect a home win .
Best thing about January signings is that they should be match fit if not injured. Looks like ours are although Bentancur is a late joiner due to international duty. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Kulusevski get some minutes later in the game and even score the winner!
Personally I feel we’re better off than before the TW, and certainly better off than this time last year. Can we get the elusive 12 points, possibly, that’s the draw of the Premier league every match is winnable or Can be lost, not just for us, even City or Liverpool could go on a poor run of form.
But both together perhaps not, for me we’re in discussion for top four, we’re a bit stronger we have no European distractions, so yeah I’m hopeful of a decent run of results.
What’s, wrong with that. 😉
ND …. Nothing wrong with that at all, mate.
We’ve talked a lot in recent past about styles of play and the so called Spurs way in particular. Well chaps, I think that we have to accept that we are where we are and a rebuild is in progress. I certainly don’t mind a bit of pragmatic football for a bit, so long as it is done well. We must get control of the games against lower ranked teams and not rely on winning by the odd counter attacking goal. We haven’t got flair but we must have energy, organisation and ball retention to give the strikers a chance to tip the scales. The Brighton game would be a good place to start. If they had our strikers they would be a real force to reckon with.
Geof – you say we all know that, but that’s really not the impression I get when I ead comments on VS.
Plenty of Spurs fans are already counting chickens before they hatch, assuming 3rd is basically already ours.
In order to go third we’re going to have to get results with a consistency we haven’t seen not only since AC took over, but for years. It’s an unreasonably high ask, in my opinion.
Despite what many Spurs fans seem to think, at least on VS, top 4 is still going to be an uphill battle.
Nothing wrong with optimism, but a bit of context is useful.
Spurs fans, we’re an impulsive bunch.
A couple of good results and the title is on.
An average player scores two goals late in a game and suddely he’s one of our best players, despite what 18 months of evidence beforehand says.
How about being realistic for once?
BS …. We’re all different and we chose our own context …. we all know that, too!
Agreed.
But the only thing I’ll add is this: flat earthers have their own context too. Anti-axxers, serial killers etc. This way of thinking has limits too.
What’s unrealistic about believing that Spurs can finish in the top 4 this season, when looking at our current position, our recent form and our games in hand? It’s a perfectly realistic opinion to have.
BS, just because you believe what you believe, it doesn’t make others that have a different opinion wrong or unrealistic.
Optimisism is not a definition of being unreal. Not unless it is based on the impossible or is most definitely unlikely.
Conte, his coaching staff and the players will, I imagine, be doing their utmost to finish in the top 4. This will be their main aim. And they will have to believe in this.And not see it as unrealistic in any way. Does this make them fools? Does this make them deluded? Or, does it see them as professional sportsmen?Competitors? Fighters? Winners?
Or should they concede defeat right now? And say to themselves; “Let’s be sensible chaps, top 4 is quite unrealistic.”
Who would want to join us in this? Who would want to play for a club that has the mentality of losers? Who would want to support them in this?
And, as supporters, it is our positivity made vocal, that can help the team be winners, not losers. Much more so than anything negative that we choose to express out loud…….
I haven’t read anyone on here say that Spurs reaching the top 4 this season will, in any way, be easy… But it being a tough ask. A tough task. Doesn’t make it an unrealistic one. Not at this moment in time.
Up the Spurs!
HT, all so true. COYS
It’s the manager Tottenham appointed against the manager they should have appointed.
Potter was employed. Conte wasn’t.
HT – there has been plenty of mention on VS of top 4, even top 3, as a possibility.
In order to do that, we will need to get max points from multiple games in a row, most likely on 3 days’ rest.
Show me a single passage in time, either this season or in recent years past, when we have gone a full month on max points.
The reality is that we haven’t been able to do that since the prime MP years circa 2016.
Expecting us do suddenly do something we just haven’t shown we can do, not in several years, seems… unrealistic to me. If you don’t like that word, feel free to suggest another, but the general point remains valid.
If we haven’t shown we can do something, is it not… unlikely that we can suddenly go on and do it?
I’m not saying my opinion is more valid than anyone else’s – I’m just looking at facts here.
I am all for being ambitious, and I trust that Conte is the man to eventually get us back into the conversation for top 4.
But even he has said that turning Spurs around is a long term job. In fact, he seems more than aware of the difficulties ahead of him. I don’t think Conte has mentioned once that top 4 was his aim this year. I think the most he’s said is that if could happen if lots of things go our way – which is very different to what fans are already saying/expecting.
BS, I respect all that. But it’s not just about what Spurs do is it? Other teams will also have a say in the matter. And as Niall mentioned, other clubs may possibly have a bad run, just as we have had a pretty good run under Conte.
I don’t expect Spurs to be getting maximum points for a long extended run this season. But I also don’t see this as being necessary.It all depends on other clubs results as well. Of course it does. And, I also don’t expect those around us to gain maximum points for long runs either. Look at Chelsea’s recent form for example. (Until they beat us!) But tell me how often Spurs get a win at Stamford Bridge. It’s a rarrity, regardless of how we have faired in any PL season overall.
I suppose our views have a lot to do with how we view the squad at the moment and the coaches abilities etc. I firmly beleive that we are good enough to finish above the likes of Arsenal, Man U and WHU. Just as many of their supporters will feel the same about finishing above us and the others.
Just because a few of us see a top 4 finish as being a perfectly reasonable ask. It doesn’t mean that we are thinking it to be nailed on. Just that we think it is perfectly possible. Which it surely is.
And if Contes aim is not for a top 4 finish this season, then why not? After all, it’s not impossible. And it’s not at all beyond us given our current standing. Last season, or any season before that, will have no bearing on how this one will pan out.
Beleiving that we can do it, doesn’t mean that we will. But thinking us unlikely to do it, doesn’t mean that we won’t.
You used the word unrealistic as though your opinions on the as yet unknown, are facts. But their not, are they?
They are not!
Some things are opinion and others are fact, see my post below.
BS / HT You both make valid points with realism perhaps being a major factor in determining where we finish this year .
Basing our possible finish on history however is not necessarily a valid point at this moment in time .
The reason I say this is that hopefully we will be able to maintain mostly a full squad with the 2 new guys creating a little rotation , Son and Romeo returning and finally the most important thing I think is the Conte factor .
Finishing 4th is a distinct possibility however and with less than half the season left winning most of our games while hopefully others drop points could see us get 4th .
Let’s hope history is a thing of the past !!
For me its simple, we will finish 4th, there I have said it, I cannot be bothered to go into all breakdowns of what others will do! what we will do!
To take it further others on here have different ideas/opinions regards 4th place finishing, so be it, its permitted lol! I really cannot be bothered to argue/debate with them, after all its is all only our opinions. lol!
But for all who want to debate…keep up the good posting.
So again I say we will finish 4th this season. COYS
Hi folks, my sentiments exactly.
Reaching top 4/5 is within our reach (mathematically) even top 3 if we’re really lucky.
My point was that given our current “flux” if that’s the right word and the fact that we aren’t at our strongest, to even be in that discussion for me is excellent.
As some of us have said, our squad isn’t as bad as many people think, and bringing one or two players with a different thought process and mentality just could see us progress, as I said it’s all about tiny margins at this level(IMO).
Not forgetting those in our current squad who have shown improvement under Conte.
I am quite aware that there are other teams, with stronger squads above us, but as I said one of em could get a bad run, Liverpool could lose Van Dyk (1 man) and start dropping points like last season.
With that said I feel we are as good, if not better than “the chasing pack” that is sort of my point and the reason for my (unrealistic) optimism.
Equally we could crash and burn, but given our manager, the recent business completed, more about outs than ins and not just players, I feel we are on the right path.
We don’t in reality have other “distractions” so don’t need two squads.
It’s a big ask but possible? realistic? For me certainly.
The fact is that mathematically we can finish 3rd. So what. It’s more about probability and a neutral would not bet on us finishing above Chelsea or MU. So what. Qué Sera. It’s football. Keep supporting, keep hoping. All things are possible. COYS.