The Tottenham Thread 12/13

[BlueHammer85]

And they've scored 18 more goals than you. United's defensive record this season is not a benchmark of excellence. Their game plan has been to outgun the opposition and they've only just stabilised their defence to a respectable standard.

Last 9 Premier League matches...

That is a staggeringly stupid post, even by the standards of a Spurs fan. What does a nine game run prove? Sweet fuck all. At a guess (can't be bothered checking; I'll leave that to our resident anorak-clad Spur), I would guess that Reading would be comfortably in the top half of a ''last nine games'' form table. Does that then make them a top half team? Does it fuck. Sweet jesus. Lord knows I've posted some shite on here (and no doubt will again), but I don't think I've ever posted such nonsense as that post. THFC6061, you'll really excelled yourself this time.

Proves how much we've missed Andy Carrol

 

[THFC6061]

Another fine win from Spurs today (with an all-English back four) and a brace from that man Bale.

Just five points behind City now with 12 matches to play.

 

[Lucky13]

Another fine win from Spurs today (with an all-English back four) and a brace from that man Bale.

Just five points behind City now with 12 matches to play.

Well done, have did that work out last season?

 

[fkw]

Sure Tottenham got excited about catching us last season.

 

[jimharri]

Sure Tottenham got excited about catching us last season.

IIRC, people were bigging up Spurs as genuine title contenders last season, right up to the game at the Etihad in late January (?). Even Twitchflap himself was happy to go along with the media wankfest over Spurs. In the end, they finished fourth. Now they're playing well again this season; only a fuckwit or an Arsenal fan (same thing?) would argue about that. AVB is doing a good job there. But let's see if they can maintain this form up until may. And also it'll be interesting to see if they can keep hold of Bale for next season. He seems to be doing the same job for them as RVP is doing for the vermin. Lose him to Madrid or AN Other club (Khaldoon; open that cheque book!) and they will struggle to make the top 4 next season.

 

[GHoddle]

Sure Tottenham got excited about catching us last season.

Last season Redknapp was in charge. And you aren't as good as last season.

In the last 14 games (incidentally about the time when Lloris started becoming first choice and Dembele returned from injury), we've picked up 31 points and City, Arsenal, and Chelsea have picked up 25 and we've had the best defense in the league. So if that continues I would start looking out behind you especially when we turn you over at WHL in April ;)

In all seriousness though we've haven't been playing that well but our defense has been pretty darn solid so if our other attacking players besides Bale start playing to their potential I'm confident that we can finish very well.

 

[sergiokun]

Spurs are doing well again this season they will do well to keep hold of Bale but think they will get top 4 and Arsenal will finish 5th

 

[bluemiester]

Sure Tottenham got excited about catching us last season.

Last season Redknapp was in charge. And you aren't as good as last season.

In the last 14 games (incidentally about the time when Lloris started becoming first choice and Dembele returned from injury), we've picked up 31 points and City, Arsenal, and Chelsea have picked up 25 and we've had the best defense in the league. So if that continues I would start looking out behind you especially when we turn you over at WHL in April ;)

In all seriousness though we've haven't been playing that well but our defense has been pretty darn solid so if our other attacking players besides Bale start playing to their potential I'm confident that we can finish very well.

Doesn't that put you at a disadvantage this season? Last season I remember you throwing away a big gap to finish 4th. This season most Spurs fans would be happy to finish 4th. I don't understand why some of your fans are trying to make out AVB has been a big success. He's done well, but lets be honest, the only reason you are still in the running is purely down to the brilliance of Bale, it has nothing to do with AVB.

Totally objectively, isn't it fair to say the only reason you got a point at Norwich was down to a sensational Bale solo effort? Other than that, you didn't look like getting anything from the game. At WBA, again your team offered very little and had it not been for Bale brilliance it would surely have been a draw. Yesterday there is again no doubt Bale's brilliance earned you 2 or even 3 extra points. The team in general was poor.

It's not even controversial to suggest Bale has won you 5 points in the last 3 games alone. As a team you seem like a solid unit, but very predictable and easy to defend against. I think AVB is step backwards from Harry and don't see why Spurs fans want to think otherwise. Any fool can see Bale is carrying the team. He's not simply finishing off team moves, he's actually winning valuable points by solo brilliance. In terms of how your coach has you playing, you are nothing more than a top 8 team.

 

[THFC6061]

Sure Tottenham got excited about catching us last season.

Last season Redknapp was in charge. And you aren't as good as last season.

In the last 14 games (incidentally about the time when Lloris started becoming first choice and Dembele returned from injury), we've picked up 31 points and City, Arsenal, and Chelsea have picked up 25 and we've had the best defense in the league. So if that continues I would start looking out behind you especially when we turn you over at WHL in April ;)

In all seriousness though we've haven't been playing that well but our defense has been pretty darn solid so if our other attacking players besides Bale start playing to their potential I'm confident that we can finish very well.

Doesn't that put you at a disadvantage this season? Last season I remember you throwing away a big gap to finish 4th. This season most Spurs fans would be happy to finish 4th. I don't understand why some of your fans are trying to make out AVB has been a big success. He's done well, but lets be honest, the only reason you are still in the running is purely down to the brilliance of Bale, it has nothing to do with AVB.

Totally objectively, isn't it fair to say the only reason you got a point at Norwich was down to a sensational Bale solo effort? Other than that, you didn't look like getting anything from the game. At WBA, again your team offered very little and had it not been for Bale brilliance it would surely have been a draw. Yesterday there is again no doubt Bale's brilliance earned you 2 or even 3 extra points. The team in general was poor.

It's not even controversial to suggest Bale has won you 5 points in the last 3 games alone. As a team you seem like a solid unit, but very predictable and easy to defend against. I think AVB is step backwards from Harry and don't see why Spurs fans want to think otherwise. Any fool can see Bale is carrying the team. He's not simply finishing off team moves, he's actually winning valuable points by solo brilliance. In terms of how your coach has you playing, you are nothing more than a top 8 team.

As it happens, André Villas-Boas has the best record, statistically speaking, of any Tottenham Hotspur manager since the club joined the Football League in 1908...

http://www.myfootballfacts.com/TottenhamHotspurManagersRecords1898-2009.html

...I happen to think Harry did an excellent job with Spurs, but the simple fact is that AVB is the better manager with the better record.

 

[bapi]

I think AVB is a fantastic young manager but I think next 6 weeks will make or break their season - Europa League + West Ham A, Arsenal H, Liverpool A, Fulham H, Swansea A and then Everton H, Chelsea A, Man. City H, Wigan A. It's clear they'll need Bale at his best to make Top4.

 

[Manc in London]

In the last 14 games (incidentally about the time when Lloris started becoming first choice and Dembele returned from injury), we've picked up 31 points and City, Arsenal, and Chelsea have picked up 25 and we've had the best defense in the league.

It's a shame you have had lots of injuries (many, many more than anyone else), otherwise you would be winning the league by a mile.

Let's face it, you have had it easy this year with no top European competition to play in, knocked out of the cups early, and Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and ourselves have not performed strongly. It's difficult to imagine you having a better chance to qualify for the CL.

I think we will know a lot more about Spurs in about 4 or 5 weeks time.

 

[THFCJames]

Vertonghen is shockingly bad. Possibly the worst buy of the summer in the Prem.

Hi, I'm a Tottenham fan, I do come in peace.

OT: I find that honestly slightly strange. Vertonghen has been one of our most consistent players all season, he's suffered from a few concentration blips (He was awful against Leeds tbh), but apart from that he's been incredibly reliable. Decent going forward too.

As for BAE, I can understand fully why some people do dislike him. I've said for a long time that, as much as I like him as a person (really good sportsman-ship guy, always working hard etc.), he's mad. One time he'll put through some insane through ball from behind the halfway line, next he'll muck up a 2 yard pass or have some crazy shot from the halfway line that goes about 100 miles wide. He's incredibly talented but not so reliable, although tbh against Toon and WBA he was superb.

I've been pleased with our fully fit back four (bar Kaboul who's still out), except from Walker and when Caulker occasionally pitches in. They were both the main victims as to why we were conceding so many late goals, like against Everton, Norwich/WBA and you lot. Both are young and have a lot to learn, especially Walker who's been nowhere near as prolific as he was last season. They're both physically strong, very fit and very quick and in a couple of years they could be big stars at Spurs. And even though I would've liked to see a new striker (Dempsey is a good, hard worker but a squad player), Holtby looks a player and hopefully next season Andros Townsend and young Tom Caroll could get in to our midfield, they're both top prospects.

I hope you lot close the gap. For the record, it doesn't really bother me which Manc grabs the title (I just hope whichever one wins it plays the best football and deserves it), but it makes it a bit more exciting when a new team gets the title (as long as it's not Chelsea), like you did last year.

 

[M18CTID]

I think AVB is a fantastic young manager but I think next 6 weeks will make or break their season - Europa League + West Ham A, Arsenal H, Liverpool A, Fulham H, Swansea A and then Everton H, Chelsea A, Man. City H, Wigan A. It's clear they'll need Bale at his best to make Top4.

That's a challenging run-in. I feel a bit more confident now that they won't finish above us lol.

That said, I'd still like to see them get top 4 ahead of Arsenal because I'd be intrigued to see how Arsenal get on without a season of Champions League football and the money it brings in. While I don't think one season out of the CL will cause them too many financial problems, it'd be interesting to see how they'd react to it - would they finally open the purse strings to stengthen significantly? Would Wenger stay on, etc?

That said, the nightmare scenario facing Spurs would be to finish 4th but for the second season in a row seeing someone finishing outside the top 4 and winning the CL. How unlucky would that be?

 

[moomba]

If we don't pull our finger out i can see the spuds finishing 2nd and us having a battle on are hands to be 4th or better. We don't want to finish 4th and then have to qualify, because our history in this comp aint good.

Oh come on.

8 points ahead, our form is better than theirs (14 points from our last 6 against their 12 points).

Just like last year, not going to happen.

Some tricky games coming up and where not really setting the world on fire with our football atm.

They're not setting the world on fire and have tricky games coming up as well.

 

[THFCJames]

I think AVB is a fantastic young manager but I think next 6 weeks will make or break their season - Europa League + West Ham A, Arsenal H, Liverpool A, Fulham H, Swansea A and then Everton H, Chelsea A, Man. City H, Wigan A. It's clear they'll need Bale at his best to make Top4.

That's a challenging run-in. I feel a bit more confident now that they won't finish above us lol.

That said, I'd still like to see them get top 4 ahead of Arsenal because I'd be intrigued to see how Arsenal get on without a season of Champions League football and the money it brings in. While I don't think one season out of the CL will cause them too many financial problems, it'd be interesting to see how they'd react to it - would they finally open the purse strings to stengthen significantly? Would Wenger stay on, etc?

That said, the nightmare scenario facing Spurs would be to finish 4th but for the second season in a row seeing someone finishing outside the top 4 and winning the CL. How unlucky would that be?

That would be the biggest sucker punch of the season, but realistically I can't see Arsenal beating Bayern let alone getting to the final and winning it. Chelsea may have been poor league-wise but when Di Matteo came in they were suddenly a more confident side, that 5-1 FA Cup thrashing last year proved that, even when we were in top, top form (before we started crashing).

 

[King-Kun]

I can't stand Spurs..
Watching their annual implosion will be almost as fun as watching Madrid wreak havoc on the Rags.

Missing out on top four could see them wave bye bye to Bale.
We'll make a bid, and if we don't land him Madrid will.

As long as he doesn't join the rags, he can do what he wants.

 

[THFCJames]

I can't stand Spurs..
Watching their annual implosion will be almost as fun as watching Madrid wreak havoc on the Rags.

Missing out on top four could see them wave bye bye to Bale.
We'll make a bid, and if we don't land him Madrid will.

As long as he doesn't join the rags, he can do what he wants.

If you really think he's going to go anywhere in the UK, especially to either City or United, then you clearly a) know nothing about us as a club and b) know nothing about our chairman.

 

[King-Kun]

I can't stand Spurs..
Watching their annual implosion will be almost as fun as watching Madrid wreak havoc on the Rags.

Missing out on top four could see them wave bye bye to Bale.
We'll make a bid, and if we don't land him Madrid will.

As long as he doesn't join the rags, he can do what he wants.

If you really think he's going to go anywhere in the UK, especially to either City or United, then you clearly a) know nothing about us as a club and b) know nothing about our chairman.

Most likely he'll be joining madrid.
But it sure wouldn't hurt us to atleast make a substantial bid.

Levy plays hardball though, so yes he'll likely be sold to madrid - even at a lower price than we might bid.

 

[sergiokun]

I can't stand Spurs..
Watching their annual implosion will be almost as fun as watching Madrid wreak havoc on the Rags.

Missing out on top four could see them wave bye bye to Bale.
We'll make a bid, and if we don't land him Madrid will.

As long as he doesn't join the rags, he can do what he wants.

Think Madrid we buy him if not us

 

[CityFan94]

I think AVB deserves a lot of credit.

He inherited some good players from Redknapp, but he has improved Tottenham a lot. Lloris, Dembele and Holtby have all been good, cheap signings aswell as bringing through players like Caulker and Naughton.

He's also improved Gareth Bale massively. He doesn't get a lot of credit regarding Bale, but it's obvous Bale has gone up a level this season and AVB definitely plays a part in that. Under Redknapp, Bale was too often a kick-and-rush player. Bale's positioning, movement and vision in the attacking third are a lot better this season.

I think Tottenham will finish third, Chelsea still have a few bad results to come with Benitez in charge. I'd be stunned if Tottenham didn't finish in the top four.

If AVB buys well, which he has done so far at Tottenham, they are realistic title challengers in the next few years.