Fourth - who are we going to beat to it?

[diego_maradona]

Do-able? Mathematically yes, but in reality? We threw it away last weekend.

exactly. Was our last shot really. Now not a chance.

 

[elyid]

exactly. Was our last shot really. Now not a chance.

IF (a very big if) we beat Liverpool and they lose to City, Chelsea and slip up somewhere else then we could possibly overtake them if we get close to 100% in our remaining 6 games.

So yeah, really we lost it last weekend, but there is still a very, very slim chance.

 

[chancer]

It's infuriating that we were good against both Arsenal and Chelsea and lost to a worldie in one and to Jan + the ref messing up in the other. That could be the difference in the end. Awful.

 

[Pirate55]

It's infuriating that we were good against both Arsenal and Chelsea and lost to a worldie in one and to Jan + the ref messing up in the other. That could be the difference in the end. Awful.

Yup - fine margins indeed. Chadlis open goal chance would have now put **** in range. Funny how some see it as all the coach's fault. Player for player, Chelsea and **** are much better than us. So, to even give them a half decent game, it could be argued that our coach had outplayed his opposite number. Same with the Liverscum. To get anything at all next week TS and the team will have to play a blinder.

 

[paxtonwolf]

Lets be realistic the battle is to finish 5th or 6th. Think we may just get pipped for 5th by Everton, but we now have a great chance to finish above United. Tuesdays game v City could make all the difference

 

[Lilywhite]

IF (a very big if) we beat Liverpool and they lose to City, Chelsea and slip up somewhere else then we could possibly overtake them if we get close to 100% in our remaining 6 games.

So yeah, really we lost it last weekend, but there is still a very, very slim chance.

We are not catching Liverpool FFS. They have been the best team in the league in 2014, without a loss, smashing everyone including their rivals, we have been **** and ground out a few wins, been smashed by rivals.

We aren't catching Arsenal either people, so don't get your hopes up. Their run in is every bit as good as ours on paper, yet we've got to make up 10 points on them in seven games providing they beat Swansea at home on Weds.

Thing is I've been realistic and said all season as we've gone along not to get your hopes up, I warned you all that it would only result in false hope but I thought last week's defeat would put an end to all the fake optimism... alas not.

We need to focus on finishing 5th. That would mean finishing above Man United and a very good Everton side who are far more likely to finish above l'**** than ourselves.

I think we'll finish 6th after today. Lose next week, draw at a couple of Stoke/West Ham/West Brom, hopefully win all our remaining games at the Lane.

 

[Lilywhite]

It's infuriating that we were good against both Arsenal and Chelsea and lost to a worldie in one and to Jan + the ref messing up in the other. That could be the difference in the end. Awful.

Yep, that is true, but all football fans can use ifs and buts.

Really, as much as some of our fanbase are against admitting it, we are actually lucky to be where we are, having somehow gained 56 points when a more accurate reflection of our performances would be about 44. Almost all of our wins have been narrow wins where we benefited from a debatable penalty or slice of luck to come out on top. Unfortunately our luck ran out at Chelsea with the penalty decision, and the Arsenal game last week which was like many of our games but not in our favour.

 

[GrimsbyYid]

Bloody hell. How dull? I don't think one person on this forum thinks we0're going to get 4th, but isn't it remotely fun to explore the possibility while it's still possible!.

 

[elyid]

Yeah I'm not saying we *will* finish 4th just there is still a very very small chance we could. While Arsenal and Liverpool will prob both get close to 80 points there is a very small chance one of them might f**k up.

I disagree that Arsenals fixtures are the same difficulty as ours, they have to play City, Everton away and West Ham just 48 hours after their semi final. They also play Saudi Sportswashing Machine who always seem up for it - and there's a chance their squad may want to avoid injuries to be fit for the final.

Also Liverpool have to play to play us, Chelsea and City. If (by some miracle) they are out of the title race quickly then who knows how will effect their motivation.

Again, I'm not saying this will happen, but run the end of season fixtures 100 times and at least 1 of them would prob have us up there.

 

[Lilywhite]

If you think it's dull to be realistic then fair enough, I just say it how I see it and from what I've seen this season to even finish 5th would be incredible given how we've played on the majority of occasions.

 

[THFC84]

What makes this season so frustrating is the fact that we have finally learnt how to beat the so called lesser teams yet come unstuck against the big sides and yet in past seasons like under Redknapp it was the other way round where we had a decent record against the big sides but often failed to beat teams we should be beating.

Here is our record in games between the top 5 over the last 5 seasons:
This season - 7 games 1 point
12/13 - 8 games 11 points
11/12 - 8 games 7 points
10/11 - 8 games 7 points
09/10 - 8 games 12 points

Here is our points tally without games between the Top 5:
This season - 24 games 55 points = On course for 30 games 69 points
12/13 - 30 games 61 points
11/12 - 30 games 62 points
10/11 - 30 games 55 points
09/10 - 30 games 58 points


This seasons table without games between the top 5:

1. Liverpool 25 games 59 Points
2. Tottenham 24 games 55 Points
3. Chelsea 24 games 52 Points
4. Arsenal 23 games 52 Points
5. Emirates Marketing Project 22 games 51 Points

It's amazing to think that without the games between the top 5 we would be 2nd and 3 points ahead of Chelsea, yet we're 13 points behind them. If we can sort out our performances against the big teams then i see no reason why we can't qualify for the top 4 next season especially as the new signings will have had a full pre-season together. Maybe the future isn't as bleak as we all think.

 

[Luda2013]

I think we'll finish fourth. We can scab our way there

It'll be tough though. Assuming we lose to Liverpool then Arsenal will need to win 4 from their remaining 8 games and we'll have to win the rest of ours if they only win three

 

[Cotswold]

I think we'll finish fourth. We can scab our way there

It'll be tough though. Assuming we lose to Liverpool then Arsenal will need to win 4 from their remaining 8 games and we'll have to win the rest of ours if they only win three

I reckon Arsenal's superior goal difference and game in hand mean that even if they lose a couple of their remaining 8 games, they are capable of racking up 15 points.
If we only drop 3 points (i.e. lose to Liverpool) and win all our remaining 6 games, we'd be on 74 points - **** only need 12 points to match that and they have 8 games to do it. Time to start looking down not up I'm afraid. Everton are only 2 points behind us with 2 games in hand.

 

[chancer]

This seasons table without games between the top 5:

1. Liverpool 25 games 59 Points
2. Tottenham 24 games 55 Points
3. Chelsea 24 games 52 Points
4. Arsenal 23 games 52 Points
5. Emirates Marketing Project 22 games 51 Points

That's incredible.

 

[VolSpur]

Got bored and did the predictor with my Spurs tinted lenses on...

City - 93
Chelsea - 86
Pool - 80
Spurs - 75 (6-0-1) (Wins Sunderland, West Brom, Fulham, Stoke, West Ham, Villa) (Draws Pool)
---------------
l'Ar*e - 74 (3-3-2) (Wins West Ham, West Brom, Norwich) (Draws Hull, Saudi Sportswashing Machine, Swansea) (Losses City, Everton)
Everton - 72 (5-3-1) (Wins Arsenal, Fulham, Palace, Sunderland, Hull) (Draws Saudi Sportswashing Machine, United, Southampton) (Losses City)
United - 64

At this point all i got is hope.

 

[Raziel]

Got bored and did the predictor with my Spurs tinted lenses on...

City - 93
Chelsea - 86
Pool - 80
Spurs - 75 (6-0-1) (Wins Sunderland, West Brom, Fulham, Stoke, West Ham, Villa) (Draws Pool)
---------------
l'Ar*e - 74 (3-3-2) (Wins West Ham, West Brom, Norwich) (Draws Hull, Saudi Sportswashing Machine, Swansea) (Losses City, Everton)
Everton - 72 (5-3-1) (Wins Arsenal, Fulham, Palace, Sunderland, Hull) (Draws Saudi Sportswashing Machine, United, Southampton) (Losses City)
United - 64

At this point all i got is hope.

Nice, but in end shows the futility, and the effect of last week-end

- to expect the Scum to draw 3 and lose 2 out of their last 8 is way too optimistic
- A win last week would have made the ask look a lot more realistic


As others have said, we need to play our asses off, have the aim of - draw with Pool, win the rest (realist says = Pool loss, a draw or two in the others) and hope we stay ahead of Everton and keep 5th.

In the end, if we get out of this disaster of a season with 5th, it gives us something to play for next season.

 

[Craig_J]

Got bored and did the predictor with my Spurs tinted lenses on...

City - 93
Chelsea - 86
Pool - 80
Spurs - 75 (6-0-1) (Wins Sunderland, West Brom, Fulham, Stoke, West Ham, Villa) (Draws Pool)
---------------
l'Ar*e - 74 (3-3-2) (Wins West Ham, West Brom, Norwich) (Draws Hull, Saudi Sportswashing Machine, Swansea) (Losses City, Everton)
Everton - 72 (5-3-1) (Wins Arsenal, Fulham, Palace, Sunderland, Hull) (Draws Saudi Sportswashing Machine, United, Southampton) (Losses City)
United - 64

At this point all i got is hope.

If we get fourth Sherwood deserves a 70m contract because it would be the equivalent of winning the lottery

 

[SteveAWOL]

...

It's amazing to think that without the games between the top 5 we would be 2nd and 3 points ahead of Chelsea, yet we're 13 points behind them. If we can sort out our performances against the big teams then i see no reason why we can't qualify for the top 4 next season especially as the new signings will have had a full pre-season together. Maybe the future isn't as bleak as we all think.

Typical Tottenham that just as we finally learn how to be flat track bullies we lose the ability to compete with the top teams #-o

We got away with those 2 gaffes by Naughton yesterday but against the top teams those clangers have cost us dear this season, hopefully the defence gets an overhaul over the summer (a quality LB has got to be a priority) and our new attackers show their true worth next season.

Twitter / WhoScored: Tottenham: Have made more errors that have led to a goal (15) than any other team in Europe's top 5 leagues this season

 

[Raziel]

Typical Tottenham that just as we finally learn how to be flat track bullies we lose the ability to compete with the top teams #-o

We got away with those 2 gaffes by Naughton yesterday but against the top teams those clangers have cost us dear this season, hopefully the defence gets an overhaul over the summer (a quality LB has got to be a priority) and our new attackers show their true worth next season.

Twitter / WhoScored: Tottenham: Have made more errors that have led to a goal (15) than any other team in Europe's top 5 leagues this season

Interesting, I actually don't find that table that damning (the big issue is the extent of errors beyond the 2nd worse team)

Spurs/Scum/Pool/City in top 6 would leave me to believe overcommitting to attack probably leaves defense more exposed and hence more liable to errors.

In fact Cheat$ki is the only top team really in bottom 10, and we know Jose is defense first.

 

[chancer]

That chart also says something about our luck this season: 5th in total errors, 1st in errors leading to goals. Our ratio of 22:15 is significantly more brutal than anyone else's.