After our pre-season games, Vital Spurs posters commented on their expectations for the new season. The consensus seemed to be that we would hope to finish in the top six of the Premier League, have a decent run in the domestic cups, and reach the Group Stage in Europe. We also hoped to strengthen the squad in certain positions. The expectations were not too inspiring given our recent PL results and Cup exploits.
Success in the PL can never be guaranteed simply because there are so many highly competitive clubs. All any club can do is build a squad of players, managed effectively, that will be competitive on the pitch. And then the football gods take over.
After a handful of PL games, things appear to have changed. We are in the top six of the PL; we are still in the League Cup, still in the FA Cup (great performance there!), and still on track to qualify through the Group Stage in Europe.
But, more than that, we have completed the Transfer Window with virtually everything we wanted. And that, I believe, has changed everything. The players that Daniel Levy and Jose Mourinho have brought into the squad have been carefully chosen (for a change) and appear to be the integral, and final, pieces of the Tottenham puzzle. Time, of course, will tell.
I don’t think too many fans expected Christmas to come so early. The question now is …. how does this alter our expectations for this season?
Personally, I no longer want to finish in the top six of the PL …. I believe we can finish somewhere (anywhere) in the top four. I no longer desire a decent run in the domestic cups …. I believe we can win one. I no longer want to reach the group stage of the EL …. I believe we can win it! Should none of these outcomes materialise I will be disappointed.
Given the above, is it unrealistic to reassess our expectations, or am I being too optimistic. Bite the bullet VS. What do you expect?
I know still long way to go but I really would like to know if all those spurs fans that didn’t stop talk against mourinho and cry so much for pochetino what they are thinking now ? Or just because they hate so much to be wrong that will prefer to nothing win with mourinho just to be able to keep saying how levy was wrong in send Poch away and get Jose?? But I really believe and been saying that since last season when I said to give time to Jose and he will do something special for Tottenham and really looks like it will be even more than any of we dare to dream
Geoff
Once again a well written thread which I think precisely analyses what most of us as supporters think about Spurs at present. There will be some detractors (of course the Jose out brigade) and whilst I don’t agree with their sentiments I can see where they are coming from Though that view point is narrowing by the week.
I think we have had a successful transfer window maybe not exactly our first choices but in many case a good second fiddle. We have had a marquis signing with Bale and for me a show of intent from the management.
We have at least 2+players for each position, and, some good utility players to boot.
Our manager has more than one tactic in game strategy, we are prepared to scrap it out, high press, or hit em on the break if need be.
We have settled into our new “home” ground and our new manager is reaping rewards one way or another.
Our squad is settled, competitive, yet friends.And most importantly we could possibly field two premiership teams at present
Things are looking positive.
We Havnt lost since the Everton game and (for me) our draws have been down to bad luck.
My only concern at present is to get a settled CDM duo a La Tobs and Verts.
All great teams have had em, Pallister/Bruce, Terry/Cahil, etc
We need to get this sorted when we do, and with a fair wind, the league is ours.
Feels like you wrote this a little while ago Geof?
It’s a shame it has been quickly followed by the new match thread as it means it probably wont generate the level of debate it deserves.
I’ll quickly apologise there, I thought I was the only one around tonight so didn’t check before timering the match thread or I’d have waited until tomorrow. I’ll stick it on the forum and facebook as penance lol
TQ …. You’re very perceptive, mate. I did write this about two weeks ago. I was waiting until I could see a break between games (and threads) but then realised it would not happen for a while so I submitted it anyway. But its all good.
ND …. I agree with all you said but will have to be brutally honest and admit that I was very much against JM coming to Spurs, mainly for all the usual reasons. But now I am slightly on his side of the fence. Things can change quickly in football.
I concur with that sentiment Geof.
Yes Geoff
I’ll not say I was in the same boat. I was dubious around his appointment initially and particularly in the way the much loved Poch was sacked and replaced by him.
I will say that his credentials and back catalogue swayed my reasoning somewhat.
I’m still on the fence but I have a foot on the grass in JM’s side now.
Like T Q
I agree I think this thread may have been a cracker debate.
Don’t worry too much Danny you need to put something relati g to the upcoming game.
And us lot can argue about anything.
Geof… good points you mentioned.
Certain VS posters had opinions about Jose over the years. Mainly from when he was at Chelsea twice, and their success of PL & Cups win. Yes he was / can be arrogant and say things which are controversial. These were / are to elicit a reaction from players, media. Time has shown he is the most successful manager football has seen.. in that he has won trophies at clubs in different European leagues.
At spurs we have seen a tough manager… Billy Nic. who won major european / uk trophies, and not so tough (keith B )who also won european silverware…..then the touchy feely managers who won domestic cups and no european trophies, and poch who was the ultimate example, decent person / manager who won nothing.
So now Jose… (remember he started at Barcelona with bobby robson along with pep guardiola) at spurs he has started to show what his management methods can do, and critics have been forced to accept the players are doing better than expected, and we have different tactical shapes for each opponent. Wining silverware / CL qualification will prove Jose’s management methods are still working. COYS
B108 …. I think the whole ‘JM thing’ is a huge concept for most of us Spurs fans to get our heads around for many reasons. But attitudes change over a period of time and it will be interesting to see how this all works out. Whatever happens we are all aboard for the ride.
Well Geof I have to say again, a very well argumentative, that is debate, article, well done again.
When Poch was sacked, to be honest I like others saw it might happen, for one reason or another, then Levy hired JM and to be perfectly honest I was against it, usual reasons I suppose, maybe the lemming in me lol! but it didn’t take long to fence sit, and at the same time back him as our new coach, then there were quite visible improvements and now I am firmly on his side, thanks again. COYS
Lastly the missus is home safe n sound, and I know it is her, because she moaned about have 3 items of clothing cut off her body, in particular in her words my new bra, it was then I knew I had my beautiful wife back, thanks to all who sent their best wishes. COYMrsPY
Glad to here you’re both back home together, PY.
Here we go again a mere handful of games played out and people are already talking about titles and trophies. Hate to pee on the campfire here, but its way to early to predict any notion of a realistic pattern of the final outcome conclusively at this premature stage. Granted some of the main protagonists have wavered early on and there’s no real or significant pattern worth relying upon just yet, you just have to look at the table to realise that. I mean honestly other than un-objective and highly blinkered fans of with far fetched beliefs does anyone truly expect Everton let alone Aston Villa to either be challenging for the title or even sitting inside the Champions league placing’s come seasons end? I in all seriousness do not. For me the rotating position of the top six alone will still effectively revolve largely around the usual suspects and although a notable summer of transfer activity alongside a notable lift in recent form along side a notorious hardball but serial trophy winning manager in Jose Mourinho arguably elevates Tottenham’s opportunities for success specifically, the season is still gestating slowly with many twists and turns surely waiting ahead. It ‘s great that there field is so open of course but I do believe a real pattern of form displays itself till the hectic activity of the post xmas period has itself past, only an inkling of likely outcomes can only be looked at with greater credibility and even then there will be surprises in store. I would like nothing more than to seriously offer the notion that Spurs will not only finish inside the top four this season but in addition be up there challenging for the title itself, but lets not get ahead of ourselves here, first there is a somewhat unreliable and shaky defensive line to be addressed, a consistent and creative goal threat to be maintained and that ruthless nature Mourinho’s currently working to instil in a Spurs side that has ultimately lacked that overriding killer quality in the main and the reason the trophy cabinet has been so barren over the years. I think there is definitely an evolving philosophy since Jose arrived and Levy seems very much on board with this, but there is clearly ongoing development needed that suggests there is more evolving to come if success is to be fully realised. So I had to say where still it the suck it and see stage and I’m prepared to wait on somewhat before really assessing any significant notions…. that said its hotting up to be a very interesting season for all concerned!
Hi Pez
Whilst there is a lot of good reasoning in your post here, quite a lot of suggestive evidence to back it up.
I agree that whilst Everton, Villa et Al are currently riding high. I feel they lack the depth of squad to achieve anything this year.
However given the current positions of former top six clubs who historically were around the trophies and league titles they really aren’t where they should be or in the league position they want to be in this season.
For a change this season there appears to be (so far) no out and out leader, and whilst some perhaps most will get their act together I feel some of these teams will be found wanting. . I think there is an opening for someone to burst through the big 6 this year.
And given our depth of squad, the fact that we have a manager now with a winning mentality and pedigree (historically), I also think the newness of our stadium and the want/need for other teams to ruin our party has somewhat diminished. We have now settled well at home. The tiredness about our team seems to have gone and has been replaced with a new competitiveness. Owners and management have shown willing to invest in decent signings.
For me whilst it is as you say early to be “predicting” title wins it is not too early to say given the current unpredictability of the premiership this season, that we are at least contenders.
As regards other competitions we arent out of any yet and we are the masters of our own destiny.
I agree we need a settled pairing at CB as I alluded to earlier, and indeed perhaps a meaner streak.
But this is an interesting season and with no pattern as yet we do have a decent shout to go for top 3 if not the league itself we are in the mix.
Who can blame us for a bit of positivity
Supporters constantly reassess the situation in regard to their club. It’s what we do. It happens after every five or six games, or sometimes after just one game. The reality is that a lot has changed for Spurs since the start of the season especially in terms of the transfer Window outcome. Therefore most Spurs supporters will have a different thought now on how the season could pan out. Hence the question.
Danny …. Just wondering why the last sentence of the article is stuck beneath an advert. It was probably the operative sentence and could easily get missed by some less diligent readers. I missed it, and I wrote it!! lol
Sorry Geof, no idea. I guess word count for the next ad maybe? I’ll have a play so I can watch out for it and fix in future if needed.
No worries, Danny.