Topic: Spurs: fucking useless

[Pradan]

Who will be replacing him? Wimmer?

[bigbear]

They would.

Eriksen would not be an automatic in our side above Coutinho in that left attacking role. As good as Delle Alli is at present (the goals are highlights), i'd still want Firmino in the side too.

Spurs are going very well though and fair play to them. Pochettino is the man Man Utd should be looking at. Top coach.

[The North Bank]

He's actually started every league game this season Vertoghnen. With EL starting again this will be a problem for them, this is their best chance ever of winning the league, they should spend big on a top defender in this window, if they have ambitions of winning the league. I think Levy will be delighted with 4th and won't spend.

[bigbear]

He's actually started every league game this season Vertoghnen. With EL starting again this will be a problem for them, this is their best chance ever of winning the league, they should spend big on a top defender in this window, if they have ambitions of winning the league. I think Levy will be delighted with 4th and won't spend.

Medial ligament injuries range from 2 weeks to 4 months. I guess it depends on how bad it is.

[Inpeace]

Considering the injuries Arsenal City and Liverpool have had this season, they've been very lucky at Spurs.

We have been fairly fortunate but have had some key injuries, the fact that the replacements have been able to compete so well has made the impact less.  Both of our big signings have been injured for a prolonged period.  Our best player this year (Dembele) was out for a crucial period.  Our best midfielder of last year (Bentaleb -he realy was) has missed most of the season.  Our Second highest scorer of last year (Chadli) has been out And a number of other little niggles.

I am not comparing to your injuries but I would say that you have been very unlucky.  Other than Kane & Lloris we don't really have players who are head and shoulders above their replacement.  Its been great that The two CB's have stayed injury free and the loss of Vertonghen is worrying however rather him than Alderweireld as Wimmer plays on his side.

We also have Dier that can move back into CB if necessary.

(link added) http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/35313650 does not show key players and Pritchard would have skewed it some part but shows we are in the "top 6" for injuries.

[Crosby Nick]

Who will be replacing him? Wimmer?

Calm down dear.

[bird_lfc]

Ł12m fee agreed for Andros Townsend, who's played what, 3 games for them this season in all competitions? Unbelieveable stuff.

[BigAl24]

Medial ligament injuries range from 2 weeks to 4 months. I guess it depends on how bad it is.

Without meaning to sound like a c*nt, I hope it's 4 months. Him and Alderweirld have been the best CB partnership in the league this season by a long way.

[El Lobo]

Connor Wickham finally did something useful

[Nick110581]

Some bitter comments on here.

Never nice to see players injured.

Will be a big loss for them.

[bigbear]

Without meaning to sound like a c*nt, I hope it's 4 months. Him and Alderweirld have been the best CB partnership in the league this season by a long way.

When we've won 3 league games on the run and stop looking like Fred Karno's circus at the back, i'll start worrying about injuries to Spurs players who are a pretty clean team, good to watch and giving young English lads a go in the side.

Right now, i'm perfectly happy to see Spurs and Leicester compete for the title and the top 4 because we sure as hell are not.

We need to worry about ourselves and our form before we even start to think about any other side in the League. As it stands, all Vertoghnen getting injured or Spurs dropping points does - is make the 5th place side (Man Utd) have more of an opportunity of relative success and they are more dangerous long term.

[MagicHat]

Some bitter comments on here.

Never nice to see players injured.

Will be a big loss for them.

Agree with that. Hope he makes a quick recovery or at least he doesn't get niggles when he returns

[Tommy_W]

Agree with that. Hope he makes a quick recovery or at least he doesn't get niggles when he returns

I'm hoping Wimmer can step in and do a good job. Hes looked a bit of a prospect. We shall see.

[Pistolero]

do three Brazilians beat a pair of Dembeles?...

[Buggy Eyes Alfredo]

 

[OOS]

Kane is the best English striker around. Don't think they will win the league but you can't rule them out.

[No Appreciation of Liverpool Opposition]

It absolutely does matter.
If the "spine" of the time has spent most of the season injured, it might explain why we're several points behind where we'd expect to be. In an alternate universe where the 2015-2016 Liverpool squad with their key players were healthy, we'd easily hvae picked up a couple more points than we ahve. Obviously it's a moot point as we don't win trophies or qualification living in hypothetical worlds, but the point still stands; injuries to key players have affected our campaign to a higher extent than it being a case of us lacking quality.

Spurs, on the other hand, have had a relatively fit squad with their key players available for most of their games. They deserve to be where they're at, but they're not 5 points ahead of us simply because their squad has better quality. If we can get the likes of Henderson and Sturridge fit for the majority of the remainder of the season I think we can finish above Spurs. In fact, my prediction is that we'll finish 3rd, just a few points behind 2nd place.

this prediction.
LOL.

[ThePeetmix]

Kane is the best English striker around. Don't think they will win the league but you can't rule them out.

Yet there's a very good chance he won't be first choice for England at the world cup.

[killer-heels]

Yet there's a very good chance he won't be first choice for England at the world cup.

Who will?

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

Who will?

I'm guessing he means Rooney since he's captain and ol Roy loves him

[OOS]

Yet there's a very good chance he won't be first choice for England at the world cup.

Vardy, Kane, Sterling

That should be the front 3 on form.

[Miltonred]

Yet there's a very good chance he won't be first choice for England at the world cup.

The world cup is a ways off, so its hard to say, but The Euros, he should really be the number one choice and the White Pele not even in the squad.

[Hij]

Keep sneaking 3 points...........

[Inpeace]

Keep sneaking 3 points...........

Should have been way out after first half, hit the post twice.  Not really sneaking

[Nick110581]

Vardy, Kane, Sterling

That should be the front 3 on form.

Sterling isn't playing much.

[Pistolero]

Keep sneaking 3 points...........

yeah, weird isn't it......been doing it since August and now we're into February and they're still fluking every win......Kane will be found out soon enough though...or he'll get injured and that'll be that....and none of their players would get into the LFC side......Its Spurs though, they'll find a way to fuck it up blah blah blah

[Petadroli]

Are they title challengers? Or will they hit a rough patch as soon as the Europa League recommences?

[Inpeace]

Are they title challengers? Or will they hit a rough patch as soon as the Europa League recommences?

Bound to hit a rough patch ("don't win anything with kids") just hope it is shallower than the others as there are no teams that look like they wont hit a patch.

[Ciara (with a capital "C")]

I was astounded to read Dele Alli has now scored as many PL goals as Jack Wilshere. I'm not sure what thread that should be in but I was surprised, given how hyped JW is.

Is it true they have first option on Bale? Should he leave Madrid? I can't quite see it, but if they could hold onto Kane and Pochettino for the next couple of seasons, it's hard not to imagine them consistently threatening the top 4. I think they'll stay in there. They have to go to Chelsea, Liverpool, West Ham and City still, but it's not hard to imagine them winning everywhere - they look like the real deal. The only thing that might hamper them in Europa League, if they get past Fiorentina, those Thursday/Sunday games aren't idea when you need to travel to far flung places.

They are lucky in that they don't need a squad overhaul, their squad is very decent. Upgrade on a few positions in the first team if you can - buy a couple of top quality players to slot straight in there, they don't need to be buying squad players.

[plura]

I was astounded to read Dele Alli has now scored as many PL goals as Jack Wilshere. I'm not sure what thread that should be in but I was surprised, given how hyped JW is.

Is it true they have first option on Bale? Should he leave Madrid? I can't quite see it, but if they could hold onto Kane and Pochettino for the next couple of seasons, it's hard not to imagine them consistently threatening the top 4. I think they'll stay in there. They have to go to Chelsea, Liverpool, West Ham and City still, but it's not hard to imagine them winning everywhere - they look like the real deal. The only thing that might hamper them in Europa League, if they get past Fiorentina, those Thursday/Sunday games aren't idea when you need to travel to far flung places.

They are lucky in that they don't need a squad overhaul, their squad is very decent. Upgrade on a few positions in the first team if you can - buy a couple of top quality players to slot straight in there, they don't need to be buying squad players.

Wouldn't that with Bale be like with most of these deals/options that they will be notified if someone is bidding on him and get their time to match that bid? Essentially not a trump card in the matter really!?

[SerbianScouser]

OptaJoe ‏@OptaJoe 
19 - Spurs have conceded fewer than 20 goals in their opening 24 games for the first time in their top-flight history (81 seasons). Resolute

Unbelievable stat. They conceded 53 goals last season! Pocchettino is the real deal. I hope somebody lure him away from there in the summer. Abroad preferably.

[GinKop]

Top goalkeeper and centre backs, good fullbacks, goalscoring midfielders and a proper striker.

They are going places.

[killer-heels]

Ruined my life. Actually we did that.

[The North Bank]

The true test comes in the last 10 games, when the finishing line approaches. Spurs and Leciester have players that have never won anything and managers that have never won anything. Judging by history they won't be able to deal with the pressure , Spurs always collapsed from great positions when chasing a champions league spot even when they had Bale and Modric.
They look more like a team now but at some stage the winner of this league will have to win 6-7 in a row down the stretch. I know City are capable of that, I think Arsenal are capable of that. I don't see it with Spurs and Leciester, when we get down to the last 5 games and every game is must win, it's a whole new race then. 

[Nick110581]

The true test comes in the last 10 games, when the finishing line approaches. Spurs and Leciester have players that have never won anything and managers that have never won anything. Judging by history they won't be able to deal with the pressure , Spurs always collapsed from great positions when chasing a champions league spot even when they had Bale and Modric.
They look more like a team now but at some stage the winner of this league will have to win 6-7 in a row down the stretch. I know City are capable of that, I think Arsenal are capable of that. I don't see it with Spurs and Leciester, when we get down to the last 5 games and every game is must win, it's a whole new race then. 

That's a good point but you have previously argued that you don't need that type of run to win it.

Both teams are playing with no fear though.

You haven't won in four in the league have you and are still there so kind of defeats that argument. Those draws against us, Stoke and Saints were huge failures as could be six points more.

Champions League will play a massive part too - City should get through. Barca are too strong for you in my eyes but you never know. But if you get a hiding that's not going to help confidence.

Spurs are better off sacking off Europe and going for the title. I can see no reason why they can't win as it's unpredictable.

[The North Bank]

That's a good point but you have previously argued that you don't need that type of run to win it.

Both teams are playing with no fear though.

You haven't won in four in the league have you and are still there so kind of defeats that argument. Those draws against us, Stoke and Saints were huge failures as could be six points more.

Champions League will play a massive part too - City should get through. Barca are too strong for you in my eyes but you never know. But if you get a hiding that's not going to help confidence.

Spurs are better off sacking off Europe and going for the title. I can see no reason why they can't win as it's unpredictable.

I said this season you can challenge for the title without being brilliant and we are proving that, but the team that will win it in the end won't do it by default but by grabbing the last 6/7 games and winning every one. That's what will separate the winners from the challengers. Not sure Spurs and Leciester can handle that mentally.

[Euskadi]

I said this season you can challenge for the title without being brilliant and we are proving that, but the team that will win it in the end won't do it by default but by grabbing the last 6/7 games and winning every one. That's what will separate the winners from the challengers. Not sure Spurs and Leciester can handle that mentally.

And Arsenal can? Sorry mate but Arsenal have proven year after year they don't have the mentality to handle a proper push for the title, whether it be faltering in the last 7 games or in the around the middle of the season. There is certainly  precedent to follow as far as Arsenal is concerned.

[Ciara (with a capital "C")]

I said this season you can challenge for the title without being brilliant and we are proving that, but the team that will win it in the end won't do it by default but by grabbing the last 6/7 games and winning every one. That's what will separate the winners from the challengers. Not sure Spurs and Leciester can handle that mentally.

What evidence is there to suggest Arsenal can?

This all hinges on City. If they continue to under perform then there is every chance Leicester, Spurs or Arsenal could win it. City are the only team you can make a reasonable claim that they could go on a run and win it.

The closer the top 4 stay together, the more chance City might take confidence from previous seasons, feeling they can go on a run and win it, maybe pushing ahead and prioritising the CL until someone pulls away in the League - if that does happen.

I can totally see City falling into that kind of trap.

[Nessy76]

I said this season you can challenge for the title without being brilliant and we are proving that, but the team that will win it in the end won't do it by default but by grabbing the last 6/7 games and winning every one. That's what will separate the winners from the challengers. Not sure Spurs and Leciester can handle that mentally.

Doubt it will go to the last game. No-one has been consistent, but it just takes a run of five or six wins and someone will be out of sight. I'd expect the title wrapped up with four to go. Fuck knows who to, though.

[The North Bank]

And Arsenal can? Sorry mate but Arsenal have proven year after year they don't have the mentality to handle a proper push for the title, whether it be faltering in the last 7 games or in the around the middle of the season. There is certainly  precedent to follow as far as Arsenal is concerned.

Arsenal have won trophies in the last 2 years and "won" champions league races on the last day etc. Obviously we have a manager that won the premier league three times and a fan base that still remember title races. Not as adept as Man city who are well versed now in winning title races and there are big question marks if we can step up when it matters but I would put us ahead of Spurs and Leciester down the stretch. They have no experience at all and I don't think you can come from nowhere to win it, Infact I've never seen a team that didn't finish top 3 or win the cup go on to win the league the following season, big game experience down the stretch when every game is massive counts a lot. We have failed in title races but  just in the last 18 months we have played 2 cup finals and matches against Bayern munich and soon Barcelona. I do believe these things do count in the last few weeks of the season. Just based on the last 20 years or so, this year could be different, I just can't see it.