**Official Other Games Thread, Season 2012/13**

[Hotspur]

1-0 up in injury time at Goodison and contriving to lose the game. Yes, you can.

Then maybe we wouldnt have been as motivated in the next game, where if I remember correctly we bounced back, won and went on a good run. The outcome in one game has something to say in the following...

 

[Kingdawson]

me too

it's a shame though that many people will be focussing on the outcome of the Arsenal game on Sunday with regards to whether they deem OUR season a success or failure

Well yes, if people were of the opinion that we would have to at least match last seasons 4th placed finish for this to be considered a successful season, then that makes sense.

Personally speaking i think it's been a good season regardless but i do also think we have ourselves to blame for not securing 4th.

 

[Jurgen the German]

He'll leave at some point. It's inevitable, and to be honest as long as he doesn't kick up a Modric-esque fuss (which I think he's too inoffensive and amiable to do) I can't and won't hold it against him.

I'd like him to stay a bit longer, so we can win something and send him off with a Spurs medal tucked into his pocket, but I certainly don't expect him to do so.

What I am absolutely convinced about, however, is that both outcomes (him staying and him going) will probably turn out to be good for the club. If he stays, brilliant, we have a proven game-changer on our hands.

If he leaves, we'll get a humongous fee, and will probably be able to afford two top-class players to replace him and to put a bit more money towards the looming stadium build date.

And unlike during Redknapp's tenure here, for the first time in a while I feel confident that we'll buy well this summer, and that whatever players we buy will fit a certain profile and a certain style of play. This will enable us to improve on the effectiveness of AVB's playing system, and make us a bit easier on the eye and more effective than we were at times this season. If we follow this template, we'll eventually arrive at a point where the loss of one player won't overly affect our playing ability or style, which is what the entire point of a team-based playing system is supposed to be.

So I'm quite confident about our chances of progression this summer, regardless of what happens on the final day and if Bale stays or leaves. For the first time in a long while, I feel we've got a long-term plan worth following.

Well I'm resigned to losing him EVENTUALLY, but not this summer.

I too won't hold it against him if Real Madrid or Bayern come in for him. Can you really blame him for wanting to play alongside Muller, Gotze, Ronaldo, Schweinsteiger and Alonso rather than Defoe and Adebayor? Like you say, as long as he acts professionally unlike Modric and Berbs, then I won't hold it against him.

 

[Jurgen the German]

Well yes, if people were of the opinion that we would have to at least match last seasons 4th placed finish for this to be considered a successful season, then that makes sense.

Personally speaking i think it's been a good season regardless but i do also think we have ourselves to blame for not securing 4th.

+1

Very well put.

 

[braineclipse]

He'll leave at some point. It's inevitable, and to be honest as long as he doesn't kick up a Modric-esque fuss (which I think he's too inoffensive and amiable to do) I can't and won't hold it against him.

I'd like him to stay a bit longer, so we can win something and send him off with a Spurs medal tucked into his pocket, but I certainly don't expect him to do so.

What I am absolutely convinced about, however, is that both outcomes (him staying and him going) will probably turn out to be good for the club. If he stays, brilliant, we have a proven game-changer on our hands.

If he leaves, we'll get a humongous fee, and will probably be able to afford two top-class players to replace him and to put a bit more money towards the looming stadium build date.

And unlike during Redknapp's tenure here, for the first time in a while I feel confident that we'll buy well this summer, and that whatever players we buy will fit a certain profile and a certain style of play. This will enable us to improve on the effectiveness of AVB's playing system, and make us a bit easier on the eye and more effective than we were at times this season. If we follow this template, we'll eventually arrive at a point where the loss of one player won't overly affect our playing ability or style, which is what the entire point of a team-based playing system is supposed to be.

So I'm quite confident about our chances of progression this summer, regardless of what happens on the final day and if Bale stays or leaves. For the first time in a long while, I feel we've got a long-term plan worth following.

Very good post Dubai!

 

[billyiddo]

He'll leave at some point. It's inevitable, and to be honest as long as he doesn't kick up a Modric-esque fuss (which I think he's too inoffensive and amiable to do) I can't and won't hold it against him.

I'd like him to stay a bit longer, so we can win something and send him off with a Spurs medal tucked into his pocket, but I certainly don't expect him to do so.

What I am absolutely convinced about, however, is that both outcomes (him staying and him going) will probably turn out to be good for the club. If he stays, brilliant, we have a proven game-changer on our hands.

If he leaves, we'll get a humongous fee, and will probably be able to afford two top-class players to replace him and to put a bit more money towards the looming stadium build date.

And unlike during Redknapp's tenure here, for the first time in a while I feel confident that we'll buy well this summer, and that whatever players we buy will fit a certain profile and a certain style of play. This will enable us to improve on the effectiveness of AVB's playing system, and make us a bit easier on the eye and more effective than we were at times this season. If we follow this template, we'll eventually arrive at a point where the loss of one player won't overly affect our playing ability or style, which is what the entire point of a team-based playing system is supposed to be.

So I'm quite confident about our chances of progression this summer, regardless of what happens on the final day and if Bale stays or leaves. For the first time in a long while, I feel we've got a long-term plan worth following.

tbh if he left now i think it could damage us in the short term - atm he is an attraction to potential signings, we get him to sign a new contract/stay another season then other players are going to think more seriously about us. our squad at this moment is unbalanced and weak in cover in several positions - use this summer to even out the squad so that when he does leave - it won't be leaving such a gaping hole in our team.

 

[andybuk99]

the Geordies have been tonked their last two home games - i think they're gonna want to get a result as much as we could really want them to, they don't have anything but pride to play for, hopefully they have some left :lol:

This is the thing that gets me though, you would really think that the players with all the money they are on would want to win every game no matter what.

 

[skyfarer]

the Geordies have been tonked their last two home games - i think they're gonna want to get a result as much as we could really want them to, they don't have anything but pride to play for, hopefully they have some left :lol:

They *don't* have any pride though, Pardew's sapped it out of them. Even when they were supposed to be fighting to save their lives they still laid down and got reamed at home by their biggest rivals 3-0 and a Suarez-less Liverpool 6-0. It was like they were trying to get Pardew sacked.

 

[indianspur]

not getting in the CL is bad enough

but another season of Thurs night EL is horrific

can we refuse to enter???? the comp is only going to prevent us finishing 4th again

 

[Spur of the moment]

He'll leave at some point. It's inevitable, and to be honest as long as he doesn't kick up a Modric-esque fuss (which I think he's too inoffensive and amiable to do) I can't and won't hold it against him.

I'd like him to stay a bit longer, so we can win something and send him off with a Spurs medal tucked into his pocket, but I certainly don't expect him to do so.

What I am absolutely convinced about, however, is that both outcomes (him staying and him going) will probably turn out to be good for the club. If he stays, brilliant, we have a proven game-changer on our hands.

If he leaves, we'll get a humongous fee, and will probably be able to afford two top-class players to replace him and to put a bit more money towards the looming stadium build date.

And unlike during Redknapp's tenure here, for the first time in a while I feel confident that we'll buy well this summer, and that whatever players we buy will fit a certain profile and a certain style of play. This will enable us to improve on the effectiveness of AVB's playing system, and make us a bit easier on the eye and more effective than we were at times this season. If we follow this template, we'll eventually arrive at a point where the loss of one player won't overly affect our playing ability or style, which is what the entire point of a team-based playing system is supposed to be.

So I'm quite confident about our chances of progression this summer, regardless of what happens on the final day and if Bale stays or leaves. For the first time in a long while, I feel we've got a long-term plan worth following.

Wouldn't bet on that tbh. Can see a sizable chunk being squirrelled away towards the stadium if and when he goes with a much more modest investment in up-coming prospect

 

[thfcsteff]

Well yes, if people were of the opinion that we would have to at least match last seasons 4th placed finish for this to be considered a successful season, then that makes sense.

Personally speaking i think it's been a good season regardless but i do also think we have ourselves to blame for not securing 4th.

If we finish with our highest-ever points total, we will have BETTERED last season.
Of course, this will be lost in the flood...;-)

 

[Bullet]

And unlike during Redknapp's tenure here, for the first time in a while I feel confident that we'll buy well this summer, and that whatever players we buy will fit a certain profile and a certain style of play. This will enable us to improve on the effectiveness of AVB's playing system...

So I'm quite confident about our chances of progression this summer, regardless of what happens on the final day and if Bale stays or leaves. For the first time in a long while, I feel we've got a long-term plan worth following.

I would like to agree and felt sure that AVB would have (1) a defined system of play and (2) a strong list of good-value players to sign

I'm not convinced he has either, which surprises me.

To be honest I don't really want Spurs to spend big money on established stars, I really like and value the idea of unearthing the next big thing who is just about to make it big... that is far more sustainable for a club like us... I thought AVB would be the guy to do this with huge knowledge of world football and the Portuguese (i.e. Brazilian) league but... will it happen?!

When you look back 3 or 4 years and realise almost every key player has changed, you realise that players are really transitory and you can always replace them, so for me it is all about identifying them and purchasing well, as very few will be a mainstay for 5 years or whatever

 

[mudshark]

What about all those games we won in Fergie time (or thereabouts)? Swings and slides, whatever.

The question was about games that have cost us. Thumping the self-destruct button while leading at Anfield is another. Finishing up on the end of a 5-2 reverse at the Effeminates, after we'd led 2-0. Failing to hold on to a 0-0 at home to Fulham. How would those 10 points do us now?

 

[braineclipse]

They *don't* have any pride though, Pardew's sapped it out of them. Even when they were supposed to be fighting to save their lives they still laid down and got reamed at home by their biggest rivals 3-0 and a Suarez-less Liverpool 6-0. It was like they were trying to get Pardew sacked.

The only good news is that in those games they weren't just playing for their pride. Nerves can do strange things to people, fingers crossed that they will want to show that they're not as brick as they've seemed recently. Although I fear that if I keep my fingers crossed until Sunday I will get gangrene and Saudi Sportswashing Machine will still get beaten by the scum.

 

[Kingdawson]

If we finish with our highest-ever points total, we will have BETTERED last season.
Of course, this will be lost in the flood...;-)

It will be lost because we finished 4th last season and 5th this season. Your clutching at straws if you really think finishing with higher points but finishing in a lower league position is bettering the previous season.

 

[thfcsteff]

tbh if he left now i think it could damage us in the short term - atm he is an attraction to potential signings, we get him to sign a new contract/stay another season and other players are going to think more seriously about us. our squad at this moment is unbalanced and weak in cover in several positions - use this summer to even out the squad so that when he does leave - it won't be leaving such a gaping hole in our team.

i think he's here for one more season at least and i think we have already done a lot of work on our summer targets in jan (thus why no signings, a combo of not much money at all, knowing we will have money in the summer and wanting to spend it properly as we cannot spunk a few mil on average any more)...

As for newcash sunday...none of us know what's going to happen, but truth be told, so long as the goons don't get on the front foot they are vulnerable for sure...

 

[Spur of the moment]

The question was about games that have cost us. Thumping the self-destruct button while leading at Anfield is another. Finishing up on the end of a 5-2 reverse at the Effeminates, after we'd led 2-0. Failing to hold on to a 0-0 at home to Fulham. How would those 10 points do us now?

Why do you insist on seeing only one side of the coin?

 

[thfcsteff]

It will be lost because we finished 4th last season and 5th this season.

Right. But all this rubbish about having not 'bettered' last season will be revealed to be as lacking in context and supportive detail as it is. In my opinion. We should probably save this potential debate for post-Sunday (a) because we're off-topic and (b) because I rather deliriously still believe we have great hope of finishing 4th!!!!

 

[DubaiSpur]

Wouldn't bet on that tbh. Can see a sizable chunk being squirrelled away towards the stadium if and when he goes with a much more modest investment in up-coming prospect

If we do that, chances are AVB will want out, because that isn't backing him at all. I mean, look at it from his perspective: his chairman's just sold his best player and now tells him he won't get more than, say, a sixth of the fee to replace him.

Don't think Levy can afford to do that.

 

[paxtonwolf]

Bad result, but we've reversed that trend now. I'm betting we've scored more goals in the last 10 minutes than conceeded.

League games only since Xmas, IIRC

Late goals scored: United(h),Norwich(a),West Ham(a),Everton(h),Wigan(a),City(h),Soton(h),Chelsea (a),Stoke(a)

Conceded: Reading (h)? Liverpool(a)

Impressive,