googbye top 4

[Danishfurniturelover]

Beer and lots of it. Tomorrow I'm going to enjoy Saudi Sportswashing Machine - Sunderland. Now there's a mess or two, just like we were 9 years ago. Then I'm going to ignore the other semi final as I did Wigan - Millwall today and will with the final later as well. Not bothered in the slightest about what happens there.

Always had the relatives over for a barbecue cup final day, barely anyone watches the actual game anymore.

 

[Johnny Ray]

Some of you sound so pathetic.

 

[Baleforce]

I'd rather we were 5th all season and chasing Arsenal and Chelsea rather than being ahead of one of them for most of the season and ahead of both of them at times only to fall at the final hurdle yet again. Doesn't seem to matter who the manager is or who the players are, we still have a weak mentality, hence the poor record in penalty shootouts and 6 recent FA cup semi final defeats in the last 20 years!

I'm not waving the white flag, I just can't see us finishing in the top 4. Call it pessimism/waving the white flag all you want, I really don't care. I can't make myself think that we will finish in the top 4 if I don't believe it. I'm going to the Southampton game in a few weeks, doesn't mean I won't get behind the team. All these eternal optimists on the board, it doesn't make you better fans just because you want to ignore our recent history of falling short at the end of the season.

Why do those ****s ALWAYS come good at the end of the season? Doesn't matter how brick they've become recently. The fact that they could get 3rd again shows just how weak the premier league has become since Ronaldo left. I predict we will go into the last game of the season a point behind Arsenal again, they will get some outrageous luck that grants them victory. But it's unforgivable to think that we could potentially throw another lead over them away.

agree, it would be much easier to swallow if we chased and fell short rather than throwing it all away again

 

[Armchair Expert]

Is anyone else seeing the inevitable Arsenal third, Chelsea 4th plus 2 trophies us 5th maybe 6th behind Everton. I certainly am.

Wherever we finish now this season has to be viewed as a success: our team isn't as good as Arsenal's or Chelsea's, and despite what tacos like Harry Redknapp might say we are miles off from having the quality in depth in a squad required to fight on various fronts and get CL football.

There's gaping deficiencies in our starting 11, let alone the squad.

The boys have done good this season, no doubt about it.

Last season our team was better than Arsenal's, this season it isn't.

 

[demotw]

league position is always false in feb/march as teams still have games to play. Arse had got most of their hard ones out of the way, we hadn't so was always going to be tough. I want to know where all the people before the season started who said "this is a transitional season as new manager and 5th would be good" have gone. Get sucked up into the hype and now the world is going to end because we are in 5th, still in with a fighting chance of 3rd. Sometimes I do miss the old spurs fans, who rain or shine supported the team, grumbled a bit after a big loss to them lot, but still cheered on the likes of davies, keller, fox etc... Just enjoy we are a good team, in the top 5-6 in the league and not fighting in the bottom half as we were for the early 00's late 90's.

 

[paxtonwolf]

league position is always false in feb/march as teams still have games to play. Arse had got most of their hard ones out of the way, we hadn't so was always going to be tough. I want to know where all the people before the season started who said "this is a transitional season as new manager and 5th would be good" have gone. Get sucked up into the hype and now the world is going to end because we are in 5th, still in with a fighting chance of 3rd. Sometimes I do miss the old spurs fans, who rain or shine supported the team, grumbled a bit after a big loss to them lot, but still cheered on the likes of davies, keller, fox etc... Just enjoy we are a good team, in the top 5-6 in the league and not fighting in the bottom half as we were for the early 00's late 90's.

Totally agree.

Same as last season, yes, we were 10pts ahead, but with the fixtures had to come, we were never really 10pts better off, if you catch my drift.

As far as today goes, anything but a win would have been a bonus. A few days back I did a comparison of our remaining 7 fixtures compared to Arsenal as I felt they were quite similar, team and league postion-wise.
Norwich at home for Arsenal = Southampton at home for me in my analogy

I still think we are in with a shout, if Arsenal win on Tuesday night, then thats massive for them as they will have definitely gained the initiative in my eyes, and obviously it also means we have to beat Southampton to match todays result.

What I would say is, the downside to my exercise was that our result at Cheslea has to match Arsenal's at Fulham.

I havent given up the ghost just yet. COYS

 

[BrainOfLevy]

Is anyone else seeing the inevitable Arsenal third, Chelsea 4th plus 2 trophies us 5th maybe 6th behind Everton. I certainly am.

Wherever we finish now this season has to be viewed as a success: our team isn't as good as Arsenal's or Chelsea's, and despite what tacos like Harry Redknapp might say we are miles off from having the quality in depth in a squad required to fight on various fronts and get CL football.

There's gaping deficiencies in our starting 11, let alone the squad.

The boys have done good this season, no doubt about it.

Last season our team was better than Arsenal's, this season it isn't.

Agreed. We've done extremely well to be in this position as it is, considering we are much weaker than last year. That was the major fudge up, because to have the likes of Modric, etc etc etc in our squad and balls it up completely, I think it was mis-managed badly.

But this year, I think every last ounce of points have been rung out of the squad, it isn't as good, it's transitional because it isn't really suited to the style that's trying to be implemented, and yet we are still up there and we still have a chance. Personally now I don't think we will do it, but there is no shame in that. This summer and next season were always going to define AVB's era IMO, and if we get that right we can do well. I genuinely think we have a title challenge in us next year if we strengthen well, because we aren't that far behind and there's only so many players the Manchester's can sign.

We can improve with or without CL football, I don't think it is as critical as is being made out. Galling to miss it sure, but this year was always going to be transitional. I would have been happy with 6th, to be fighting for 3rd still is fantastic. It just sucks more because we were out in front, but we hadn't had the games like Chelsea away and City at home, while Arsenal have had a kind run of Reading, Norwich at home etc.

Our club will be fine. We are on the right track whatever happens.

 

[charlietheyid]

Well done Levy!

We will look like idiots yet again.

I bet he cant wait to sell Bale to get more cash in and get more players who cant play football.

 

[Modric THFC]

Bunch of bottle jobs that have given up before the fight is anyway over. And for once I'm not talking about the players.

 

[billyiddo]

Agreed. We've done extremely well to be in this position as it is, considering we are much weaker than last year. That was the major fudge up, because to have the likes of Modric, etc etc etc in our squad and balls it up completely, I think it was mis-managed badly.

But this year, I think every last ounce of points have been rung out of the squad, it isn't as good, it's transitional because it isn't really suited to the style that's trying to be implemented, and yet we are still up there and we still have a chance. Personally now I don't think we will do it, but there is no shame in that. This summer and next season were always going to define AVB's era IMO, and if we get that right we can do well. I genuinely think we have a title challenge in us next year if we strengthen well, because we aren't that far behind and there's only so many players the Manchester's can sign.

We can improve with or without CL football, I don't think it is as critical as is being made out. Galling to miss it sure, but this year was always going to be transitional. I would have been happy with 6th, to be fighting for 3rd still is fantastic. It just sucks more because we were out in front, but we hadn't had the games like Chelsea away and City at home, while Arsenal have had a kind run of Reading, Norwich at home etc.

Our club will be fine. We are on the right track whatever happens.

Agreed

We have bought in quality like Vertonghen, Dembele and Lloris without CL football so there's no reason in my mind to think we can't carry that on this summer regardless of where we finish.

Losing key players last summer meant the task to get the team to the same level for this season was a big one - we can see the side is missing players in certain roles and a bit light in some areas - this isn't a full and balanced squad which is throwing it all away...

another summer aquiring players of the same quality we have been snapping up recently will see us start next season with a squad better equipped for the season ahead.

 

[charlietheyid]

Bunch of bottle jobs that have given up before the fight is anyway over. And for once I'm not talking about the players.

Its good to believe, i'll never stop believing inside me but we all know that we're going to finish 5th.

 

[ArcspacE]

We will finish 4th

Chelsea - 5th, while winning the EL

UEFA would then consider ammending the rules and grant them a CL place

You know it

 

[charlietheyid]

Agreed

We have bought in quality like Vertonghen, Dembele and Lloris without CL football so there's no reason in my mind to think we can't carry that on this summer regardless of where we finish.

Losing key players last summer meant the task to get the team to the same level for this season was a big one - we can see the side is missing players in certain roles and a bit light in some areas - this isn't a full and balanced squad which is throwing it all away...

another summer aquiring players of the same quality we have been snapping up recently will see us start next season with a squad better equipped for the season ahead.

So we've bought good players, but we are not playing them in a European quarter final? Have you seen our keeper on both goals.

I find unbelieveble that some keep defending the direction/management with the same mistakes being made over and over again.

We can improve with or without CL football? But LLoris,vertonghen, bale and all that lot will go mate, they're not going to wait 15 years for us to get CL.

All we were asking for is a striker and possibly a midfielder, to make sure we have CL football, not asking for Falcao and Van Persie, just someone who can cover for our injury prone forwards.

Levy would have had the money back if we had been in the CL, if thats hes worried about.

Every season we start the season later than everyone, make our transfers late and lose the first games. Why? Whats the direction thinking?

These points have cost CL football 2or 3 times the last 5 years, yet we keep doing it again and we'll do it again next summer.

We're saving pennys & end up losing big at the end of the year...

 

[spurs' magna carter]

Tbh, it really hasn't surprised me that Arsenal have over taken us, I saw it coming during the near complacency that appeared with spurs after the 2-1 win over them 6 weeks ago as well as the haunting 7 point gap after a NDL....

As for Levy, yes its very frustrating that we didn't get Moutinho and a striker but to be fair the former wasn't his fault after the third party bull that scuppered the deal and we have a very new and impressive spine in Lloris (still see that has the coup of the summer), Vertonghen and the ever present Dembele.

Overal I don't think its over, sounds a bit deluded but its just been such a yo-yo season that this recent one win in six isn't a surprise to me despite the 12 game unbeaten run, which you must remember saw a cup shock at the hands of Championship Leeds in the middle of it. I still remember the run which saw four defeats in five between the mid of October and mid November as well as the poor start collecting 2 points from the available 9. Also whilst our first team is definitely good enough for a top four finish there are doubts over the depth of the squad as has been noted with the absence of Defoe, Bale and Lennon. Our home form has been average at best this season, some eight wins out of sixteen games.

The thing is though our away form has been a massive improvement this season as we have nine wins, more than anyone else in the league apart from Man Utd (11), whilst also being joint top scorers away from home with Man Utd. I think it's important to remember that whilst our own form is quite unpredictable and below par so is Arsenal's, Chelsea's and Everton's.

 

[ArcspacE]

So we've bought good players, but we are not playing them in a European quarter final? Have you seen our keeper on both goals.

AVB made some bizarre decisions in the first Basel leg - playing Gallas instead of Caulker / Dawson, while on top of that deploying him in a high-line against their quick attackers. He should be nowhere near the team, better yet the starting 11! For fudges sake - didn't we learn that already earlier in the season when he cost us massive goals/points/games? He is finished and we need to accept that.

The ussue of Brad - done to death - absolutely baffling and downright shocking. There is fudge all point in playing your best outfield players but compromising your goal-line due to some sentimental flimflam, etc. In that case - might as well blood some youngsters and save Bale, Lennon and Verts for the PL/4th push. Similar to buying an expensive car and using cooking oil to run the engine - utter waste.

I have no problem with prioritising the one or the other (EL vs 4th) and as much as I'd be disappointed to see a European trophy tinkled away like Arry did - at least a clear stance would have been taken and players would have been spared. But please, Andre, don't come out speaking about winning and then start with Gallas and Friedel

 

[Modric THFC]

Its good to believe, i'll never stop believing inside me but we all know that we're going to finish 5th.

I cant see us finishing below that mess of a club in Fulham. They play their 6th game in 16 days tomorrow and have at least another 10 games to play in the next month (including trips to Old Trafford and Anfield).

I'd long given up on us finishing above Arsenal (which this thread is a knee jerk to).

 

[charlietheyid]

I cant see us finishing below that mess of a club in Fulham. They play their 6th game in 16 days tomorrow and have at least another 10 games to play in the next month (including trips to Old Trafford and Anfield).

I'd long given up on us finishing above Arsenal (which this thread is a knee jerk to).

I'll be totally honest, when i say finishing in the top 4, I mean finishing above Arsenal. We have to finish above our rivals. Its been too long mate.

 

[billyiddo]

So we've bought good players, but we are not playing them in a European quarter final? Have you seen our keeper on both goals.

I find unbelieveble that some keep defending the direction/management with the same mistakes being made over and over again.

We can improve with or without CL football? But LLoris,vertonghen, bale and all that lot will go mate, they're not going to wait 15 years for us to get CL.

All we were asking for is a striker and possibly a midfielder, to make sure we have CL football, not asking for Falcao and Van Persie, just someone who can cover for our injury prone forwards.

Levy would have had the money back if we had been in the CL, if thats hes worried about.

Every season we start the season later than everyone, make our transfers late and lose the first games. Why? Whats the direction thinking?

These points have cost CL football 2or 3 times the last 5 years, yet we keep doing it again and we'll do it again next summer.

We're saving pennys & end up losing big at the end of the year...

it's like you didn't even read my post or chose to ignore what i said :~

we lost the two most integral players to the style with which we played the previous couple of seasons last summer as well as changing manager - a transition of sorts was started, we brought in some good players and one or two to patch up the areas in which we failed to bring in our primary targets - a job half completed but with this mish mash of a team we have managed to slug our way to being involved in the top 4 race and the QF's of the EL, it hasn't been pretty by any means but we have shown some fight and spirit over the season so far to rack up a decent points haul.

everything you say as a negative is purely you dreaming up worst case scenarios and running off with them as though they have happened. Lloris and Vertonghen have only just signed and you're talking about them leaving already :ross:

 

[charlietheyid]

AVB made some bizarre decisions in the first Basel leg - playing Gallas instead of Caulker / Dawson, while on top of that deploying him in a high-line against their quick attackers. He should be nowhere near the team, better yet the starting 11! For fudges sake - didn't we learn that already earlier in the season when he cost us massive goals/points/games? He is finished and we need to accept that.

The ussue of Brad - done to death - absolutely baffling and downright shocking. There is fudge all point in playing your best outfield players but compromising your goal-line due to some sentimental flimflam, etc. In that case - might as well blood some youngsters and save Bale, Lennon and Verts for the PL/4th push. Similar to buying an expensive car and using cooking oil to run the engine - utter waste.

I have no problem with prioritising the one or the other (EL vs 4th) and as much as I'd be disappointed to see a European trophy tinkled away like Arry did - at least a clear stance would have been taken and players would have been spared. But please, Andre, don't come out speaking about winning and then start with Gallas and Friedel

Friedel can hardly bend down to pick the ball up. Its a complete joke with one of the best keepers in the world on the bench.

In the pub i was in, everyone was taking the tinkle out of Friedel, and spurs fans couldnt believe how brick he was.

Did you see the penalties? Never stood a chance.

 

[Modric THFC]

We will finish 4th

Chelsea - 5th, while winning the EL

UEFA would then consider ammending the rules and grant them a CL place

You know it

Atletico Madrid won the Europa League in 09-10 and 11-12 and didnt qualify for the Champion's League the following season.
Why would UEFA change the rules for Chelsea? Chelsea are exactly the type of club Platini hates.