This is the START

[Maltese Falcon]

While I would love to share in the optimism. I realistically cannot see our level beyond 5th/6th for the foreseeable future.

Chelsea and City will continue to dominate; Utd have played cr*p yet are sitting in CL places, any predictions of the scum's demise have been sorely exaggerated as has that of Liverpool whose creativity we cannot even dream of at the moment.

Yes - the sum of the whole is most important than the individuals but, hell, those individuals are massively vital!

As everyone seems to agree in the "top 4 consistent quality" thread, we only have Lloris and Eriksen who can get into the average top 4 team, and even those two would struggle to get into the team that beat us today. At best we can hope that Bentaleb and Kane's promise translates into consistent quality. That means we need to find up between 5 to 8 top class recruits, including a whole back 4 which will continues to fail us time and time again.

Other than in a drunken stupor, I cannot see that happening anytime soon....

 

[Baleforce]

it's not gonna happen until we get more money, you finish where you spend, whilst we sort that off the pitch we have to be ready to step in on it when a wealthier side fudges up

 

[DubaiSpur]

I don't think this will happen at all. I think all the key players see the direction and end point and will want to be part of the journey. Lloris is definitely onboard, Verts has had a massive turnaround since Poch has come in, Eriksen is too inconsistent to have bigger suitors and it's too early for any of Kane, Bentaleb or Mason

I'm not worried about losing anyone till Madrid come in for Bentaleb in summer 2017.

Didn't Verts turn down a new contract earlier this season? all the turnarounds in the world can't compensate for that fact, imo. I don't know about Lloris, but I can't see why he'd want to stay long-term, either - he's nearing 30, prime age for a goalkeeper, and while the most of the top teams may be settled, goalkeeper wise (Bayern - Neuer, Barca - Bravo/Ter Stegen, etcetera), Madrid don't seem too convinced by either Casillas or Navas, and there's the 'Zidane' connection to consider in terms of his and Lloris' shared Frenchness and experiences of captaining Les Bleus. If Madrid come in for him, I don't see why he'd stay to pooter around a youth-based squad rebuild. And Eriksen seems perfectly suited for the likes of Atletico and Dortmund - teams slightly below the top but still formidable (and bigger than us) in their own right.

I agree, Kane, Bentaleb and Mason are probably too young, raw and low-profile to attract real attention, but there's a danger hovering about the rest imo.

 

[Mr_B]

our young english and academy players acquitted themselves as best they could against a chelsea team of hardened pros that really showed up today.

But this isn't the start of anything really, if the OP means challenging for the top 4, we don't eat at football's top table, the moment kane becomes a superstar, he''ll be sold onto madrid like the others were. We had our one season in the big time and that unfortunately was probably that. sad but true

 

[the dza]

Maybe we can keep some of the academy lads around. But I fear the likes of Eriksen and Lloris will get picked off by the bigger fish whilst we try and build, meaning we are continually building, hitting the level of competing for 4th and maybe getting it every now and then. But no more than that. This is our place in the pecking order, there are too many clubs ahead of us financially for it to be otherwise.

So I am f**king gutted about today, because we don't/won't get many chances to win trophies and stick it up our rivals.

 

[Baleforce]

gutting as it is it would only have been in isolation, whatever happened tomorrow's headline was never going to be "Spurs are unquestionably better than Chelsea"

long term progression is more important than individual minor trophies, it's league titles and European cups that count

we are better than we were a year ago

 

[Modric THFC]

our young english and academy players acquitted themselves as best they could against a chelsea team of hardened pros that really showed up today.

But this isn't the start of anything really, if the OP means challenging for the top 4, we don't eat at football's top table, the moment kane becomes a superstar, he''ll be sold onto madrid like the others were. We had our one season in the big time and that unfortunately was probably that. sad but true

At what point do people read too much ITKs that they start using the weird phrases from them.
I'd rather brick on that table than eat at it tbh.

 

[camspur]

Didn't Verts turn down a new contract earlier this season? all the turnarounds in the world can't compensate for that fact, imo. I don't know about Lloris, but I can't see why he'd want to stay long-term, either - he's nearing 30, prime age for a goalkeeper, and while the most of the top teams may be settled, goalkeeper wise (Bayern - Neuer, Barca - Bravo/Ter Stegen, etcetera), Madrid don't seem too convinced by either Casillas or Navas, and there's the 'Zidane' connection to consider in terms of his and Lloris' shared Frenchness and experiences of captaining Les Bleus. If Madrid come in for him, I don't see why he'd stay to pooter around a youth-based squad rebuild. And Eriksen seems perfectly suited for the likes of Atletico and Dortmund - teams slightly below the top but still formidable (and bigger than us) in their own right.

I agree, Kane, Bentaleb and Mason are probably too young, raw and low-profile to attract real attention, but there's a danger hovering about the rest imo.

You are kidding, Dortmund, oh dear. They qualify for Europe by being the second best team in a country whose league is of the level of the Scottish Premier outside of 3 teams (and before anyone comments yes I do watch the league every week as we have German TV on satellite)

 

[superspurs]

We only achieve things when Gutterboy is negative (SRF), this thread will spell disaster for Tottenham Hotspur.

... but hope you're right.

 

[Modric THFC]

You are kidding, Dortmund, oh dear. They qualify for Europe by being the second best team in a country whose league is of the level of the Scottish Premier outside of 3 teams (and before anyone comments yes I do watch the league every week as we have German TV on satellite)

You don't watch the Scottish Premiership though, you'd at least know whats its called.

 

[Danishfurniturelover]

I think I would happily sell Lamela and Chadli and play Pritchard and Alli next season. I dont think there would be much of a drop off.

certainly not from Lamela, Chadli can score goals but he is another Siggy(a player I liked) does not work hard enough and does not excel at anything which you really need to do if you want to be part of a top 4 team.

 

[Danishfurniturelover]

At what point do people read too much ITKs that they start using the weird phrases from them.
I'd rather crud on that table than eat at it tbh.

I like your style

but you never brick where you eat

 

[the dza]

You are kidding, Dortmund, oh dear. They qualify for Europe by being the second best team in a country whose league is of the level of the Scottish Premier outside of 3 teams (and before anyone comments yes I do watch the league every week as we have German TV on satellite)

They have also won the Champions League and reached another final a couple of seasons ago. That's two more European Cup finals than we have reached in our entire history. No mugs, even if they are having a bad season this time around.

 

[glorygloryeze]

This thread started waaaayyy too soon.

We have two league matches in a week to Spurs-up to make this thread seem so Spurs-sy in its own right....

 

[camspur]

They have also won the Champions League and reached another final a couple of seasons ago. That's two more European Cup finals than we have reached in our entire history. No mugs, even if they are having a bad season this time around.

Porto, Red Star Belgrade, Marseille and Monaco have been in CL Finals as well do we worry about Eriksen or Lloris joining them as well???

I'm sorry nobody is going to leave Spurs to go to Dortmund as a good career move.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I think I would happily sell Lamela and Chadli and play Pritchard and Alli next season. I dont think there would be much of a drop off.

Chaldi is fine and has a role to play on the left... I hate it though when we shift him and eriksen a dn Lamella along during they game as another one comes in

Alli will be cover and possibly an upgrade on Mason IMO
Caroll will cover Bentelab
Stambouli will cover them all

We need Berahino and at least one more pacey wide player

I fully expect a Pritchard to take Lamellas place next season as he actually looks a better player

Id love Depay in too but he may have bigger fish to deal with

Either way... I was sceptical but I've seen massive progress on Poch and the lack of dog brick european game snow (not the Fiorentina game) will really help. The guy goes about his business in such a calm manner with a vision that is clearly starting to pay dividends. Yes he makes mistakes, hell he has made plenty but he has also hot more right.

We may sell some players but I think it will be out of choice (even if the fee isnt) and We will be stronger for the sales

 

[NWND]

We got to the Final playing & beating sides worse than us. We played lower league teams for every round bar the Saudi Sportswashing Machine game. Saudi Sportswashing Machine had a poor keeper for our game & it showed.

We struggle to look like we're going to score. We huff & puff & nothing happens.

Come on mate you CANNOT be disappointed by that performance against a ridiculously good Chelsea team. We did not struggle to look like we would score we created chances but as some have said naivety and wrong decisions cost us.

 

[nayenezgani]

Mourinho and his tactics are capable of blunting Bayern Munich and Barcelona. There's no shame in this. It's a huge learning experience for those boys.

Not to mention for Pochettino too.. He's still young and perfecting his approach.

I was tinkled off after the result today but I agree with GB, this is the beginning.. No pain, no gain. We will see success with this bunch if we allow them time and reinforce the squad in an effective fashion.

 

[the dza]

Porto, Red Star Belgrade, Marseille and Monaco have been in CL Finals as well do we worry about Eriksen or Lloris joining them as well???

I'm sorry nobody is going to leave Spurs to go to Dortmund as a good career move.

I don't think they'd leave here to go to Dortmund, the money on offer in the Premier League is way more than in Germany (except for Bayern). But Dortmund are a bigger and better club than us, we just happen to play in a league awash with more money. Career wise, it's only a step down in terms of the money on offer.

 

[BucurestiSpur]

Today wasn't the culmination of anything, it was the start of something.

We are a new young team on the rise. Our peak will be 3-4 years in the future. Chelsea are an established streetwise team, but we are the coming force.

Remember today we played with 5 academy players, 6 English players, and with an average age of 4-5 years younger than Chelsea.

Lets make sure we get top 6 this season, and it will be in the next 2-4 years that the silverware will flow.

I get what you are saying, but in 2-4yrs we will probably be looking for a new keeper as good as Lloris is now as he will be gone, we will be looking for the new Eriksen because he will be gone. By the time we find them we will be possibly looking for the new Bentaleb and possibly new Kane who will be going/gone and so on until the stadium is built.

That has probably been said, i forgot to read through the thread before i posted so apologies if i am repeating another poster.
Anyway COYS.