Cann we make the top 4 or 5?

[ricky2tricky4city]

For me, the main concern is our forward play. Kane and Son were such clinical finishers. Atm we have several players who show nerves and inexperience in attack. We need to get into coldly slotting the ball into the corner of the net. Losing a goal against Palace is not an issue, failing to score 2-3 is.

Transitioning from 2 strikers that regularly outperformed their expected goals xg was always going to be telling.

They were around for a long time (Sonny still is), so long we just got used to expert finishing being the norm.

What we don't know is the impact that two generational forwards (and not many clubs can claim they've had 1, let alone 2) had on our performance and league finishes. For all we know they might have gained us 2,3,4 places in the table every year? Alternatively, we may have wasted them, wasted the luck of having two at the same time?

 

[Kandi1977]

Exactly! I'm hoping the fact we aren't in the top 7 this time means we will be the team to magically appear in the upper reaches come the end of the season ......

It's still early. My local team were 11 points off top with 13 games left. They won all 13 and won the league by 3 points. There's still 81 points to play for.

 

[SpurMeUp]

Transitioning from 2 strikers that regularly outperformed their expected goals xg was always going to be telling.

They were around for a long time (Sonny still is), so long we just got used to expert finishing being the norm.

What we don't know is the impact that two generational forwards (and not many clubs can claim they've had 1, let alone 2) had on our performance and league finishes. For all we know they might have gained us 2,3,4 places in the table every year? Alternatively, we may have wasted them, wasted the luck of having two at the same time?

But to get to where we want to be, we have to develop in the last third. It isn't just the XG of how clinical we are with shots. Its the build up too. Richi didn't even swing his leg to a cross where he should have been ready and primed against Palace. Then some of the hesitation, where forwards like Kane just pile through because they have focus, conviction and physical power.

We'll always concede goals, but we have to ensure we score. Against Palace that was the greatest issue. To state the obvious having assuredness in front of goal chances a game. Shuts up the crowd, takes away momentum from the opposition. The greatest issue for us is making more of promising attacks. Yes teams like to sit back against us, but we need to make more of our final third possession too, and take more from promising openings. Maybe we need a couple more attacking players as well. Werner is a stop gap. Players like Moore, Kulu, Johnson, Oderbert all pretty young with hopefully high celings.

The most frustrating thing to watch though is a lack of confidence. Werner's movement, approach play tends to be on point. But to give up those prime openings becuase he head isn't right...that is frustrating. If there is a criticism of Ange it is maybe that he isn't pychologist enough to prep our forward effectively. Idk if anyone can... But you get the impression the likes of Wenger would a. practice finishing into the corners and b. get players to park the emotion and the pressure, and just focus on passing the ball into the net. With Werner he can rifle a perfect accurate cross, but put him 1-1 with a keeper with X thousand watching and the cameras rolling, and he wilts. There should be low hanging fruit if Ange can get Werner set properly. The other thing he probably needs to do is play him. Johnson showed that with games players will often come good.

 

[IulianSteaua]

I still have faith în Ange, mostly because he changed the way we play and it is more enjoyable. I think Antonio Conte was not a bad coach for us, got us into the top 4 în the first year and left us around 6th, but we where not very spectacular. Ange has kept us în contention while playing spectacular football, he did well. So building on that 5th place with some great transfers and a year experience with the new tactics was what some fans expected. Unfortunately I think we made mistakes with our transfers this summer, mostly because Paratici is gone. He was the one that got us most of these great players for good prices these last few years. That being said, I am still hopeful we can turn this around. Apart from that last game at Palace, we have showed real glimpses even in defeat and have been spectacular in some wins.
Negatives: Corners haven't been really addressed, both in attack and in defence. Udogie has been lazy coming back, as he was at the end of last season. I think it is at a point that he should be benched for PL games. Maddison is not really în form atm. Werner is not at a level we want.
Positives: Johnson of course. He has found his feet and has been decisive for us. Bringing Kulusevski în the central midfield area, brought our game to life and if Maddison comes back to form, we will look good.

 

[afsoc4life]

My thoughts
Strengths: Better squad depth than last season. Certain players are international class and play for their countries.

Weaknesses: Young squad thus expect inconsistency, Not enough high level goal threats. Very few players can do something out of nothing offensively. Not sure where overall squad ranks against top 6. Overall mentality when faced with adversity on the pitch.

Can we finish top 6? Perhaps. Depends on if the squad achieves their potential. I think we still overrate our squad capability in certain positions. I don't see a forward line of Richarlison, Johnson, and Werner scoring enough goals.

 

[afsoc4life]

We’re comfortably the strongest side in that cup
But it’s cup football of course
And there are away games

I disagree about us being the strongest side. We might be one of the most popular but the strongest, hmmm.

 

[greatwhitenorf]

My thoughts
Strengths: Better squad depth than last season. Certain players are international class and play for their countries.

Weaknesses: Young squad thus expect inconsistency, Not enough high level goal threats. Very few players can do something out of nothing offensively. Not sure where overall squad ranks against top 6. Overall mentality when faced with adversity on the pitch.

Can we finish top 6? Perhaps. Depends on if the squad achieves their potential. I think we still overrate our squad capability in certain positions. I don't see a forward line of Richarlison, Johnson, and Werner scoring enough goals.

Agreed here. Johnson has nicely displayed his capability to score and assist on an adequate number of goals from his position. When fit, Richarlison can also be a strong contributor. But that's a big if because fitness runs to both physical and mental aspects and at the moment we can't be sure he's fully capable on both counts.

They say GHod loves a trier so Werner has his place in heaven well secured. Love all the work he does to advance the ball, hold up play, make good crosses and harass productively on the press. When he eventually does score - and he will - it'll either be a fluke off his ass or an absolute worldie.

Spurs need Son to get sorted and Solanke to start clicking regularly. No reason to doubt either can't.

Postecoglou says he wins trophies in his second season with a club. He might not with Spurs though there's three Cup competitions that offer a decent chance. But he has shown that he can build and develop the squad and the talent within and provide the level of entertaining football Spurs fans appreciate. Very much like Pochettino did.

Big question is; Can he develop himself to incorporate different tactics when necessary. And in the Premier League, tactical adaptability is absolutely essential to achieve greater success.