We blew it!

[Little Luka]

Totally agree mate. And if anyone gives it the 'we lost modric and vdv' line then they should ask who sold em and why when we genuinely had bo reason to. Our chairman has no ambition other than champions league football on the cheap.

Luka sold himself and VdV doesn't fit in our style of play. Blame Levy.
Do you also watch games with your eyes shut and fingers in your ears?

 

[Jurgen the German]

Can I put this question to the forum?

Do people not think that goals/expectations change as the season goes on? I remember when we drew at Highbury in 2006. A story emerged that the players were told in the dressing room that we had qualified for Europe, no one celebrated as the players were desperate to get the 4th spot. Now I don't think many people would have tipped us for 4th at the beginning of that season either.

We had a 7 point lead in March and a psychological advantage over Arsenal as we had just beaten them. I seem to remember cautious optimism from most Spurs fans that AVB wouldn't allow the team/himself to make the same mistakes that cost us so dearly under Arry, we now had a manager who was far better tactically than Arry, and most importantly, a manager who was 100% focused on the job unlike Arry.

They still made up a 7 point lead on us at a late stage in the season, and this is an Arsenal team with not even 1 world class player.

 

[Libero]

Obviously its a disappointing end to the season but really it has to be seen as a successful one overall. We had a complete change in management and backroom staff as well as numerous playing staff changes which meant that we took a while to get going.

We didn't do very well in the domestic cup competitions which was a shame but were quite unfortunate to go out against Basle in the Quarter Finals of the Europa League when a Semi against Chelsea would have awaited. I think that the points total isn't to be sniffed either, it should be 3-4 points higher imo but then every team can say that over 38 games. All in all, a pretty good first year for the new set up and hopefully we can take that forward into 2013/14 with 3 key signings.

I would love us to get one of Cabaye, Isco or Moutinho to complete the midfield look and I don't think that is unrealistic if we really want to push our case for being top 4. Signing two of the likes of David Villa, Leandro, Benteke, Dzeko, Bony, Heung-Min, Negredo et al will be a big statement to the rest of the league. I would then try and buy a player who is young, progressive and can play in either wide position and for me either of the two players I would want us to be buying are Mohamed Salah or Scott Sinclair.

I really feel that with getting some big wages of our bill such as Gallas, Gomes and Bentley and making those signings I have mentioed would give us a massive chance of challenging for the title next season.......all with Gareth Bale at the club of course.

 

[Jurgen the German]

We'd held onto Modric (against his will) as long as we could and I'm not convinced that VdV would have prospered under AVB

I could have accepted that if we had sold him in January, but we didn't even give VDV a chance to prove himself in AVB's system. No idea how people can say with such certainty that he wouldn't have done well for us this season.

 

[milo]

Can I put this question to the forum?

Do people not think that goals/expectations change as the season goes on? I remember when we drew at Highbury in 2006. A story emerged that the players were told in the dressing room that we had qualified for Europe, no one celebrated as the players were desperate to get the 4th spot. Now I don't think many people would have tipped us for 4th at the beginning of that season either.

We had a 7 point lead in March and a psychological advantage over Arsenal as we had just beaten them. I seem to remember cautious optimism from most Spurs fans that AVB wouldn't allow the team/himself to make the same mistakes that cost us so dearly under Arry, we now had a manager who was far better tactically than Arry, and most importantly, a manager who was 100% focused on the job unlike Arry.

They still made up a 7 point lead on us at a late stage in the season, and this is an Arsenal team with not even 1 world class player.

I'm not sure that is true. They had experience, a track record of finishing in the top four and an easier run of games in their favour

 

[braineclipse]

Trying to achieve as much as possible should not involve selling arguably your two beat players surely? I totally agree with this within our means stuff that's basic
Maths but we sold and replaced with inferior players last summer please don't tell me levy is doing what's beat for the club.

If the within our means stuff is basic and you agree why so critical of Levy wanting to do things on the cheap when we're spending the money available to us?

 

[milo]

I could have accepted that if we had sold him in January, but we didn't even give VDV a chance to prove himself in AVB's system. No idea how people can say with such certainty that he wouldn't have done well for us this season.

Maybe his marriage problems also played a part. It'd be pretty harsh to force him to stay if this was a factor.

 

[thfcsteff]

"I think it was a good season for sure but certainly not magnificent. Performance wise it was average but in terms of resilience and fighting spirit i would say it was excellent...ok i'll rate everything out of 10:

Results = 7/10

Home performances = 4/10

Away performances = 8/10

Signings = 7.5/10

Tactics = 7/10

substitutions/team selection = 9/10

Manager interaction with media = 9/10 "



I think that's a lot of positives. Sorry if i also see some negatives too or that i don't buy the crap about wages playing a major factor in Gooners finishing above us but that's my belief.

Great. Enjoy your belief. But please stop with your incessant hammering of certain postees who's 'belief' you don't agree with.

 

[paxtonwolf]

Dumbest comment!! at what was it 28 games in we were 7 ahead, but HADNT played the same teams, we still had city, Chelsea etc etc to come, arsenal didn't. When will people learn! On the positive, record points total should say it all, in a season no-one at the started expected us to get close with the new manager, no modric etc etc. Great effort, and proud of all the lads!!

Absolutely spot on.

 

[Neymar]

We'd held onto Modric (against his will) as long as we could and I'm not convinced that VdV would have prospered under AVB

totally agree. and i would also add, i think vdv is overrated by many spurs fans. the simple fact is, we were able to get him for a relatively affordable fee because better clubs didnt think he was that good. and then we sold him to hamburg for a similar fee; that says it all.

he was a player who was technically very good. but in some sense had to be carried, and have the team fit around him. for all his benefits, he probably wasnt worth keeping for us considering the levels we are trying to reach.

 

[Jurgen the German]

I'm not sure that is true. They had experience, a track record of finishing in the top four and an easier run of games in their favour

Well at the very least, that win should have given the squad a lift, we went on to lose 3 of the next 4 games. I think our defeat at their place last season was the turning point, to lose so heavily must have been disheartening for our players. So we actually beat them at a similat stage, and yet the outcome is still the same in the end

 

[Jurgen the German]

totally agree. and i would also add, i think vdv is overrated by many spurs fans. the simple fact is, we were able to get him for a relatively affordable fee because better clubs didnt think he was that good. and then we sold him to hamburg for a similar fee; that says it all.

he was a player who was technically very good. but in some sense had to be carried, and have the team fit around him. for all his benefits, he probably wasnt worth keeping for us considering the levels we are trying to reach.

That's debatable, but I would rather still have VDV than Sig or Dempsey.

 

[thfcsteff]

Can I put this question to the forum?

Do people not think that goals/expectations change as the season goes on? I remember when we drew at Highbury in 2006. A story emerged that the players were told in the dressing room that we had qualified for Europe, no one celebrated as the players were desperate to get the 4th spot. Now I don't think many people would have tipped us for 4th at the beginning of that season either.

We had a 7 point lead in March and a psychological advantage over Arsenal as we had just beaten them. I seem to remember cautious optimism from most Spurs fans that AVB wouldn't allow the team/himself to make the same mistakes that cost us so dearly under Arry, we now had a manager who was far better tactically than Arry, and most importantly, a manager who was 100% focused on the job unlike Arry.

They still made up a 7 point lead on us at a late stage in the season, and this is an Arsenal team with not even 1 world class player.

Are you seriously about to try and start a Harry debate again? GENUINE question.

 

[Jurgen the German]

Maybe his marriage problems also played a part. It'd be pretty harsh to force him to stay if this was a factor.

Let me put it this way, Arsenal did a better job of replacing the players they lost. Rather than congratulating them, shouldn't we look at ourselves a bit and ask why we didn't adequately replace the players we lost?

 

[Spursalot]

That's debatable, but I would rather still have VDV than Sig or Dempsey.

Would VDV have played well out on the wing though?


He never seemed to play well there for us imo.

 

[thfcsteff]

Totally agree mate. And if anyone gives it the 'we lost modric and vdv' line then they should ask who sold em and why when we genuinely had bo reason to. Our chairman has no ambition other than champions league football on the cheap.

I see we are now in the beery part of the evening...

 

[Jordinho]

Trying to achieve as much as possible should not involve selling arguably your two beat players surely? I totally agree with this within our means stuff that's basic
Maths but we sold and replaced with inferior players last summer please don't tell me levy is doing what's beat for the club.

I firmly believe Levy is doing what's best for the club. There might be short term negatives, but knee jerk decision making and unconsidered wasting of money will soon have us back in mid table. While there are decisions that can scrutinized and found not to be perfect, I don't see how that is worthwhile. There are certain realities one need to accept when it comes to supporting Tottenham Hotspur: We can't compete in the transfer market against clubs like Chelsea, United or City and while we aren't far off Arsenal ON the pitch, they are miles above us when it comes to wages. We are a small club on the rise compared to the likes of Real Madrid or Manchester United and without ludicrous amounts of sugar daddy money we will struggle at times and may occasionally have to settle for scraps and leftovers.

COULD we have done better this season? Yes.

SHOULD we have done better? I see nothing that makes me think we should be EXPECTING anything more than what we have achieved and unrealistic expectations is the source of most of the negativity.

 

[thfcsteff]

Let me put it this way, Arsenal did a better job of replacing the players they lost. Rather than congratulating them, shouldn't we look at ourselves a bit and ask why we didn't adequately replace the players we lost?

...don't do this to yourself mate, you're opening yourself up for it...take a deep breath because I know YOU know the answer...

 

[Jurgen the German]

Are you seriously about to try and start a Harry debate again? GENUINE question.

It was not a Arry question. It was a question about expectations changing and re-evaluating your goals as the season progresses. Lets say you start saying you want to be in the top 6, but by March you are in 12th place, do you not think you would have a rethink about what can be achieved?

The fact is, people DID SAY we now have a manager who is better tactically and will improve us.

I know you will only allow an Arry mention if it's a negative, but I don't see how I could have not mentioned him, you know, considering he was our last manager and football fans tend to compare current spurs teams to teams in the past.

 

[Hootnow]

Can I put this question to the forum?

Do people not think that goals/expectations change as the season goes on? I remember when we drew at Highbury in 2006. A story emerged that the players were told in the dressing room that we had qualified for Europe, no one celebrated as the players were desperate to get the 4th spot. Now I don't think many people would have tipped us for 4th at the beginning of that season either.

We had a 7 point lead in March and a psychological advantage over Arsenal as we had just beaten them. I seem to remember cautious optimism from most Spurs fans that AVB wouldn't allow the team/himself to make the same mistakes that cost us so dearly under Arry, we now had a manager who was far better tactically than Arry, and most importantly, a manager who was 100% focused on the job unlike Arry.

They still made up a 7 point lead on us at a late stage in the season, and this is an Arsenal team with not even 1 world class player.

They have however been on a world class run of form, with 39 points taken from a maximum of 48.

I do agree however that goals can and should change mid season.