Topic: Tottenham Terminate Terrible Tim

[stewy17]

They're good, very good at the moment, but they won't win the league.

[callanlfc5times]

They have the ability to finish second, I seriously doubt they have the mentality and strength in depth though.

[Roady]

Think they will finish third.It will be between ourselves Arsenal and Chelsea for fourth in my opinion

[RobbieRedman]

Think they will finish third.It will be between ourselves Arsenal and Chelsea for fourth in my opinion

agree with this, pains me to say it though

be interesting to see what, if anything goes on in january window

[Hunter Thompson]

They may very well finish third, but it's far from as clear cut as saying it's Spurs and one other. I see all four of us fighting for two places. Any two could realistically fill third and fourth and in any order.

Just wait until Spurs inevitably go on a bit of a poor run and all of a sudden they'll be shite again.

[sinnermichael]

they have a lot to thank levy for. after all it was him who essentially forced modric to stay and it was him who signed VDV.

[my name canged back to tucker?]

really good starting 11 with a few top class players, but if they get any injuries, especially in midfield, the quality of player coming in just isnt good enough in my opinion,

if spurs were to get some dosh in january and next summer i reckon they could push on a bit further and at the very least be a regular in the top 4, hopefully not.

[Bob Loblaw]

Rich vein of form right, confidence sky high, nothing going against them at the moment either. But i'd hold off  a while longer before anointing them the next best whatever.

[lfc_col]

I can't wait till they have a couple of bad results sick of hearing about how good they are 

[Chivasino]

Have a favourable run of games up until the new year. Gets tough after that and at around the same time last season when things went a bit shit.

Rednapp talking fo winning the league if they carry on this form, said the same shit around this time last year, maybe a bit later in Dec. Then towards the end of the season said "this is as good as it gets for us" when they were out of the top 4. Just keep your mouth shut and get on with it.

If he can keep Adebayor interested and motivated, avoid injuries to VDV, Modric and Parker, a 2nd place finish is very much on. Having said that, I don't think there's much between us and them when we go 4-5-1. They are playing at the top of their game right now. We are still finding ourselves I think and will only only get better, especially when Gerrard comes back and if he can stay fit.

[JP-65]

Think they will finish third.It will be between ourselves Arsenal and Chelsea for fourth in my opinion

With you completely on this.

[Dr Manhattan]

The best thing about them for me is that they've done it all on a shoestring budget, hardly spending anything at all over the past few years.

[Walshy nMe®]

Harry talking about winning the league now.  He just can't help himself can he

[J-Mc-]

Harry talking about winning the league now.  He just can't help himself can he

They may not win it but they can come close if they keep this form up.

[Roady]

Harry talking about winning the league now.  He just can't help himself can he

bit on the silly side.But then again he is only playing up to the fans etc,No harm in it.theyre in a  great position,They wont win it but i think they will be 3rd.
Credit where credit is due and all that malarchy,theyre doing well and I for one reckon theyll stay there or thereabouts.A lot of people on here seem to think they will implode or something.Not going to happen.Out of the teams supposedly fighting for top four,us Spurs,chelsea and arsenal Id put my money on them finishing in the top four before i laid a bet on any of the others,including us.I dont like saying that,just think they will.

[Phineus]

There currently in a very fortunate position. In recent years when sides have come to Anfield they've sat back and we've had to break down 2 walls of 4 or 1 wall of 5 and another of 4. Scum, City, Chelsea and Arsenal all have to do the same thing most weeks at home. Spurs have become very good over the last few years but the sides below them are still treating them as if they are the team from a few years ago. Teams aren't going to White Harte Lane and sitting back and getting bodies behind the ball. They play an open game and give Spurs space and when you have the pace and quality they have in midfield they will obviously benefit from that. Villa tried sitting back last night but were piss poor at it and weren't nearly compact enough. It'll be interesting to see if teams start going there to sit back and play for a point on the counter like they have been doing for years at the 'big' teams.

So Spurs are in a bit of a luxury period. With the ball there just as talented as the other big sides but the smaller sides aren't treating them as such when going there. If they do start to do that it'l be interesting to see how they adapt. I've been watching them closely this season and the amount of time Bale, Modric and Van Der Vaart get on the ball is ridiculous. Fair play to them though, they are taking advantage of it.

[KingLuis05]

They've been really impressive of late but as a few have already said, not much has gone against them so far. On current form, I can't see them failing to finish in the top 4 but let's just wait and see what happens if/when their luck changes. They looked terrible at the start of the season when they had a couple of players missing, Modric's head may be turned again in January and they won't be able to get away with playing their reserves in Europe after Christmas.

[Grobbelrevell]

The best thing about them for me is that they've done it all on a shoestring budget, hardly spending anything at all over the past few years.

Indeed. He's a genius, is 'Arry 

[Something Else]

Harry talking about winning the league now.  He just can't help himself can he

Shame he will be wearing a knock off newcastle replica kit by the time May comes round

[steffan]

Eh? It's nothing new, teams have been doing that for years.

City want rid of him and will pay his wages just to get him in the transfer spotlight.

I know, I know, the reasons behind it are solid enough from both teams' point of view, and like I said I know it's not against the rules, but I personally don't really agree with the principle in general and I never have.  You didn't used to be allowed to loan players to teams in your own league (at least that's the way I remember it until early 2000's) because of conflict of interest, then they changed it probably because the top sides wanted to loan players to the likes of Wigan, Bolton etc to get Premier League experience, then they've changed it again slightly to say you can't play against your parent club.  The part I find difficult is that if the player in question is any good (i.e. Adebayor) then every team who plays Spurs will be given a more difficult game in theory than Man City will, because he can't play against them, so it's not an entirely level playing field in my opinion.  Don't expect everyone to agree but it's always bugged me, and because it might help Spurs finish above us this season I'm slightly more bitter about it than normal!! ha ha

[Tommy_W]

There currently in a very fortunate position. In recent years when sides have come to Anfield they've sat back and we've had to break down 2 walls of 4 or 1 wall of 5 and another of 4. Scum, City, Chelsea and Arsenal all have to do the same thing most weeks at home. Spurs have become very good over the last few years but the sides below them are still treating them as if they are the team from a few years ago. Teams aren't going to White Harte Lane and sitting back and getting bodies behind the ball. They play an open game and give Spurs space and when you have the pace and quality they have in midfield they will obviously benefit from that. Villa tried sitting back last night but were piss poor at it and weren't nearly compact enough. It'll be interesting to see if teams start going there to sit back and play for a point on the counter like they have been doing for years at the 'big' teams.

So Spurs are in a bit of a luxury period. With the ball there just as talented as the other big sides but the smaller sides aren't treating them as such when going there. If they do start to do that it'l be interesting to see how they adapt. I've been watching them closely this season and the amount of time Bale, Modric and Van Der Vaart get on the ball is ridiculous. Fair play to them though, they are taking advantage of it.

That's not true at all, teams have regularly been sitting back at WHL the last few years. Last season we drew so many games at home because of exactly that. Even Man Utd came and parked the bus at WHL last season

[rafathegaffa83]

They've dealt well with their key injuries and are in a good vein of form at the moment. If they take the knockout stages of the Europa League seriously it will mean extra games for key players. They also don't know if the Modric transfer rumours will rekindle in January. The fixtures have been kind to them recently, but they have a tough stretch in the New Year from late January to late March

Man City (A)
Wigan (H)
Liverpool (A)
Newcastle (H)
Arsenal (A)
Man Utd (H)
Everton (A)
Stoke (H)
Chelsea (A)

I think this stretch, alongside added domestic and continental cup responsibilities in the new year could be their downfall.

[west_london_red]

I honestly dont think their fixutre list in the new year is any tougher then usual, a few tough games but i can see them winning all those home games too, including the Mancs.

[callanlfc5times]

That's not true at all, teams have regularly been sitting back at WHL the last few years. Last season we drew so many games at home because of exactly that. Even Man Utd came and parked the bus at WHL last season

Some people are just trying to make up excuses so that they dont have to face the fact that Spurs are a good team and probably at this moment in time better than us.

[Arden]

They've dealt well with their key injuries and are in a good vein of form at the moment. If they take the knockout stages of the Europa League seriously it will mean extra games for key players. They also don't know if the Modric transfer rumours will rekindle in January. The fixtures have been kind to them recently, but they have a tough stretch in the New Year from late January to late March

Man City (A)
Wigan (H)
Liverpool (A)
Newcastle (H)
Arsenal (A)
Man Utd (H)
Everton (A)
Stoke (H)
Chelsea (A)

I think this stretch, alongside added domestic and continental cup responsibilities in the new year could be their downfall.

As i've said before, we need to make sure we're no less than 6 points behind them when that run starts. We'll be nicely poised behind them. Any slightly bigger gap might leave us with too much to do.

[Tommy_W]

In hindsight though, the three of them have made an absolutely massive difference to Spurs, along with Ledley King managing to keep himself fit for what (for him) is a relatively long period of time.

Having Ledley playing on a regular basis is making a massive difference. I was just looking at the stats - we're unbeaten in his last 14 starts for us (12 wins, 2 draws) and we've only lost 3 games in his last 27 starts (18 wins, 6 draws, 3 losses). He'd have definitely gone on to be one of the greats if his knee wasn't fucked (admittedly it probably wouldn't have been at Spurs though)

[AriGold]

Very good side, lots of balance, right footers, left footers, height, pace, intelligence, hard workers all in their first 11. They seem a very confident side at the minute, be interesting to see how long that lasts and how they cope if a couple of key players got injured.

[Matt8Pie]

Harry talking about winning the league now.  He just can't help himself can he

Just like he did in January this year.

They're doing very well at the moment and are in good form, if they get a loss somewhere between now and Christmas then I think it will knock them back. I expect a few of their players to get injured and suffer a loss of form at some point in the season which will knock them back too. They have a good first XI but take a few of their players out and I think they'll suffer like we have in the past when the main men were out.

It'll be interesting to see if Redknapp's gonna spend any money in January. I'm sure Levy would probably like to keep some money available for the new manager which looks likely to come in in the summer rather than give it to Redknapp to buy players and leave them for someone else who may not want them if he's fucking off but I don't know much on how Spurs operate so can't be conclusive on that.

[Hunter Thompson]

Roy will rub out their good form this weekend.

[GBF]

Harry talking about winning the league now.  He just can't help himself can he

while there is a bandwagon going....

off beep..."Steve McClaren backs Harry Redknapp to be England manager"

[Roady]

all this talk of "theyll start to head down the league once they pick up an injury or two to their key players" makes me laugh.The exact same would happen to us.If we lost for example Lucas or Suarez we sure as hell would struggle just as if spurs lost modric or bale at some point.every team picks up injuries.I think spurs will cope.In that stretch of tough games, they will beat everton, stoke and wigan.theres 9 points, favourites against Newcastle and then theyll likely get a few draws too.

[west_london_red]

Some people are just trying to make up excuses so that they dont have to face the fact that Spurs are a good team and probably at this moment in time better than us.

Yup, a lot of denial going on here

[Hunter Thompson]

Yup, a lot of denial going on here

There's also a lot of getting carried away with Spurs' good run of form. It cuts both ways.

[redy]

With you completely on this.

I am surprised by this. Any trend you have seen in the results comparison thread which makes you say this?

They may very well finish third, but it's far from as clear cut as saying it's Spurs and one other. I see all four of us fighting for two places. Any two could realistically fill third and fourth and in any order.

Just wait until Spurs inevitably go on a bit of a poor run and all of a sudden they'll be shite again.

Agree with this. They may have as good a first team as if not better than any of the other contenders but their squad is in my mind 6th best. That's why its no guarantee they will come fourth let alone 3rd IMO

[Mr Kipling]

Harry talking about winning the league now.  He just can't help himself can he

Did the same last season and the press got on it. Not a word was said when they started dropping off though, no ridicule, they just forgot he had even said anything about it.

Strange that and the same will happen this season.

[Mark Walters]

I'm the only 1 who thinks the wheels are going to fall of the Spurs bus quite spectacularly sometime in the the new year then??

[filopastry]

There's also a lot of getting carried away with Spurs' good run of form. It cuts both ways.

Maybe a bit but they're a good side, struggled to cope with the combination of CL and PL last year but without that distraction I'd fancy them to finish top 4 at the moment, even allowing a for picking up a few injuries over the campaign.

Mind you I would imagine Chelsea will try to unsettle Modric again in January, if things carry on like this for those 2 clubs

[KingLuis05]

all this talk of "theyll start to head down the league once they pick up an injury or two to their key players" makes me laugh.The exact same would happen to us.If we lost for example Lucas or Suarez we sure as hell would struggle just as if spurs lost modric or bale at some point.

You're right but if you look at our squad, we've already had a number of injuries to important players. Spurs have a couple of injuries too but they've managed to keep most of their key players fit since that mini injury crisis in August. Van der Vaart has had a couple of niggles but hasn't missed many games and King's run of games has really helped them at the back.

Obviously this isn't an excuse- you need to able to deal with the inevitability of injuries if you're going to finish in the top 4. But it will be interesting to see how they fare if/when their important players start missing games.

[GBF]

Did the same last season and the press got on it. Not a word was said when they started dropping off though, no ridicule, they just forgot he had even said anything about it.

Strange that and the same will happen this season.

they have better players in positions where they were weak last season and King is playing more games...but season is long

[lionel_messias]

They look a good side, with a very a nice balance to their play. Bale/Lennon particularly is an option we would love to have on both flanks.

They will drop points though, in that run highlighted above and we will have to be a bit more efficient if we are to capitalise on that. Atw, I would predict third or fourth.