comment by Don_tottenham (U3372)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Genius of Nielsen (U9059)
posted 18 minutes ago
The term “bottling it” is the most over used term in modern football.
Get to the final of possibly the most elite domestic competition in the world and lose to a team who got to the final the yes at before, came second in the league that year and won the league at a canter this year.
Yes I’m disappointed by the performance, but week in week out last season was miles better than this, and the 07/08 season
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We didn’t even turn up. Didn’t even touch what was an average Liverpool performance. Not to mention that stupid penalty we gave away in the 1st minute. We bottled that final.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don’t see it like that at all. They were better, and are better. No shame in losing. Game may have been vastly different if they didn’t get such an early lead.
comment by Don_tottenham (U3372)
posted 50 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 13 minutes ago
Trophy seasons all day long over league position, unless it is 1st.
Spurs won the FA Cup in 1980/81 despite finishing 10th in the league. I would not swap that great cup run for a better league position. It is still fondly in my memory.
Same with season 1971/72 where Spurs only finished 6th but won a European Trophy.
I really don`t understand supporters that think finishing higher in the league over winning a trophy. Maybe it is an age thing. I don`t know.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It’s not an age thing Sandy: I’m 34 and a Prem era spurs fan. Give me a 10 Fa cups for the next 10 years over 0 trophies and just top 4 finishes any day of the week. We have become Arsenal, relying on just top 4 and making up the numbers. Unless we invest heavily, we ain’t winning that CL. We blew our only ever chance by losing to Liverpool. There’s no comparison to watching you’re club lift a trophy or go to a final and see us win. Shame as a Spurs fan I have barely seen itgive me trophies over just CL qualification any day of the week.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
100 per cent Don.
I certainly remember with great joy our Wembley win over Chelsea in 2008 much more than any top four finishes since. Coming from behind to beat Chelsea in a final, whatever the competition, absolutely trumps anything since.
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 50 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 9 minutes ago
Trophy seasons all day long over league position, unless it is 1st.
Spurs won the FA Cup in 1980/81 despite finishing 10th in the league. I would not swap that great cup run for a better league position. It is still fondly in my memory.
Same with season 1971/72 where Spurs only finished 6th but won a European Trophy.
I really don`t understand supporters that think finishing higher in the league over winning a trophy. Maybe it is an age thing. I don`t know.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy would you swap our 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons for our 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09 seasons?
2016-19 - Finish 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the league respectively, a CL final, 3 cup semis, highest PL points total, a whole season unbeaten at home.
2006-09 - Finish 5th, 11th, 8th in league respectively, a League Cup trophy, one other semi.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I certainly wouldn`t swap our 2007/8 cup win at Wembley for any of the seasons you mentioned. Maybe some of the others I agree with.
Give me a 10 Fa cups for the next 10 years over 0 trophies and just top 4 finishes
=====
You don't say where you finish in the league in the FA Cup winning seasons. What if one included an 18th placed finish?
comment by Bennyville (U8058)
posted 49 minutes ago
Sandy would you rather:
1. Spurs win the league cup but finish 10th
Or
2. Finish 4th but win nothing
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Win the league cup and finish 10th all day long. You don`t get a bean for finishing 4th, but you do get a trophy for winning the league cup.
comment by StringerBell (U11749)
posted 28 minutes ago
Thats a bit disingenuous. Chelsea and utd were now at a time where the pressure of the C.L is paramount.
Where was the progression with UTD in '90.
how low down did we finish, but if it wasn't for the cup win.
Wenger is to blame.
After a baron 8 years, he comes out with that dumb quote about deserving trophy, when really what he was saying was, 'This Arsenal team will NOT be competitive for the foreseeable future'.
Now with the help of the media, Top 4 is now spun into the culture, and twisting some fans heads.
If you are finishing 3rd or 4th, just shhhh. Its nothing to brag about. Look at how happy Arsenal fans will be if they do 14, and look at how happy Chelsea will be if they win.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Media, especially Sky spin the top four nonsense. OK you get CL, but I don`t mind what European football I see to be honest. Europa League is fine with me.
comment by Samir (U2630)
posted 2 hours, 5 minutes ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 10 minutes ago
So I'm clear, you're more interested in final league positions than winning trophies?
I think this article in itself encapsulates much that is wrong with English football. You've been conditioned to believe that your league position is all that matters (particularly by this top 4 narrative).
Football should be about winning things. Winning a cup is a fantastic moment, provides incredible memories that last a lifetime.
In contrast you'll forget about this season by the end of the next one.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments like this encapsulates what is wrong with football. You’ve been conditioned to believe that winning things is what matters.
Football is purely a form of entertainment in which fans can take away from it whatever they want. People shouldn’t be vapid enough or without personal triumphs to feel validated about their team winning a trophy, in which they had no say or impact .
You can literally want and watch football however way you chose. Otherwise we’d all be City, RM or Bayern fans
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I actually agree with this.
Winning trophies is great, but it's not the be all and end all. There's more ways to measure progress than just trophies.
I understand the desire to see your team win stuff, but there's a tonne of competition even for the domestic cups and, unless you're a supporter of Juventus, Bayern, PSG, City, Chelsea, United etc, there should be no expectation to win a league/Champions League.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree winning trophies is not the be all and end all of football, but then neither is just finishing top four every season.
comment by Edbo (U17933)
posted 48 minutes ago
comment by Don_tottenham (U3372)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Genius of Nielsen (U9059)
posted 1 minute ago
Another way of looking at it - imagine we’d won the LC under Mourinho this season (I know we were knocked out before he joined) but had the same season other than that - would you prefer this season over last season?
Personally, the LC is such small fry that the payoff against the full football just isn’t there.
If the football is the same next season, then as a minimum he has to win the FA Cup.
I’d rather be entertained week in week out and potless then
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep. Getting to the CL final and bottling it wasn’t an achievement mate. We bottled the final. Absolute gutting we worked so hard to reach the final, only to put in that pathetic performance in the final. Wish I could erase it from my memory. Give me a trophy over losing that any day.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We didn't bottle it, we just lost to a better team.
Bottling it would be throwing away a lead, losing to an inferior side, etc etc...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To be fair mate, Liverpool on the night were pretty awful themselves. Don is 100 per cent correct Spurs just did not turn up, although the form was pretty well as it has been for the last few months of the season, so no real surprise. They were in truth lucky to get past Ajax.
All I heard from my dad when I was growing up is that Spurs always do well in the cups, we’re a great cup team. And I can honestly say winning the league cup and FA cup is not the pinnacle of club football. Managers have been sacked after winning the FA cup, that’s how much clubs truly care about it.
good article. i like the idea of winning trophies they are forever. but playing good football week in and week out is what you want to achieve as a team. there is a point that you think you deserve something for all that good play. on the other hand playing crap most weeks and going on a little run or even just getting lucky to win a trophy isn't desirable to me.
so i'd prefer to play good football every week and maybe my team will win a trophy. there really aren't enough to go around.
i would choose the trophy year over this year easily though.
you were terrible and won nothing.
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 1 hour, 59 minutes ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 8 minutes ago
If you're asking what I would take this season/last season - the season we just had, or the 2007/08 season or something like it, I would probably say the 2007/08 season actually. I'd be willing to forfeit Europa next season and several places higher in the league, for a trophy. As long as that type of season of course was a one off. The aim has always been to win trophies and do well in the league.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A 07/08 season would probably result in Kane leaving. Would you still be happy with that?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think that's necessarily true. Couldn't our players just as easily think that by winning a trophy in Jose's first season that there could be more to come, given his CV for winning stuff?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well we finished 11th that season - I think players would want out.
comment by Bennyville (U8058)
posted 27 minutes ago
All I heard from my dad when I was growing up is that Spurs always do well in the cups, we’re a great cup team. And I can honestly say winning the league cup and FA cup is not the pinnacle of club football. Managers have been sacked after winning the FA cup, that’s how much clubs truly care about it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Your Dad sounds like a very wise man, and I suspect he has some great memories of those cup wins.
the issue is that our better league finishes, therefore indicating that we are a good side, should have been complimented with trophies along the way. it shouldn't have to be either or. if you are one of the top 6 teams in the league, which we have been for ages, then by that very fact you should be adding silverware by default.
the fact that we haven't is a failure by all involved at the club.
if you offered me fa cup and 8th next season (potentially like arsenal this season), i would probably take it, but i wouldn't take it season in season out.
this club is now geared for regular CL football, and should be aiming for title pushes, not mid table with a domestic cup.
The purpose of getting regular CL was to raise the profile of the club and revenue alongside it so we can attract and pay for the right talent.
Despite getting top four we neglected this and let the club go stale and toxic leading to our current position. That I blame Levy - not because it's all his fault but for being the catalyst.
comment by Boss By Hugo (U18550)
posted 2 minutes ago
The purpose of getting regular CL was to raise the profile of the club and revenue alongside it so we can attract and pay for the right talent.
Despite getting top four we neglected this and let the club go stale and toxic leading to our current position. That I blame Levy - not because it's all his fault but for being the catalyst.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
as things stand, levy has no excuses. the stadium is done, the training ground is done, all his little side projects like NFL, other events, Amazon doc... all done.
now he has to facilitate an enhancement in the playing staff and ultimately we need to start winning things, and big things, not league cups (although that would be a start)
Of course he did. It'll be Covid-19 this year and some other excuse the next
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 54 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 1 hour, 59 minutes ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 8 minutes ago
If you're asking what I would take this season/last season - the season we just had, or the 2007/08 season or something like it, I would probably say the 2007/08 season actually. I'd be willing to forfeit Europa next season and several places higher in the league, for a trophy. As long as that type of season of course was a one off. The aim has always been to win trophies and do well in the league.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A 07/08 season would probably result in Kane leaving. Would you still be happy with that?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think that's necessarily true. Couldn't our players just as easily think that by winning a trophy in Jose's first season that there could be more to come, given his CV for winning stuff?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well we finished 11th that season - I think players would want out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think they'd want out any more than now. We'd still have European football through winning the trophy and I reckon that would lead to players buying into there being more trophies to come under Jose, despite the rubbish finish in the league. Seeing as Jose was taking over part way into the season when we were doing poorly, and he won a trophy already, he would be let off for finishing that low.
If he just fa*cking backs Mourinho with worthwhile signings then we might actually win something. Problem is every year the transfer window is opened - we flock with our preferred signings and weaknesses we need to address only for us to fail at making adequate signing.
And you bet guys like Mauricio and Jose aren't stupid either. They know/ knew what's needed
comment by Boss By Hugo (U18550)
posted 4 minutes ago
Of course he did. It'll be Covid-19 this year and some other excuse the next
----------------------------------------------------------------------
covid not an excuse because everyone is in the same boat.
stadium etc were things unique to us
comment by Tottenham Chronic (U3423)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Boss By Hugo (U18550)
posted 4 minutes ago
Of course he did. It'll be Covid-19 this year and some other excuse the next
----------------------------------------------------------------------
covid not an excuse because everyone is in the same boat.
stadium etc were things unique to us
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Levy will and already has used it as an excuse. Admittedly, with the new stadium we will be disproportionately affected as we make the more out of our stadium than the rest of the league.
However, there's no excuse for ENIC not to address the key areas of the squad such as RB and DM.
Levy actually looked a bit more ambitious last summer when we broke the record on buying an in demand player. I was surprised we were as close to signing Dybala as we were as well. Some slight signs there that Levy was starting to get his act together. Even getting Mourinho is a pretty big statement, however much we might think he's past it.
Still left things late in the window of course and didn't do a lot of the things we should have done.
Unfortunately because of Covid-19 I can see Levy falling back into old habits again.
Chronic
If you finish 8th next season and win the FA Cup, I'm 99% sure that Mourinho would get sacked. Because although you'd have won your first trophy in 13 years in that scenario, that's not your overarching objective. There is an expectation on him to get a Champions League spot too.
The FA Cup may provide some memories for your fans, but it won't help you financially and I personally don't think it's the sort of season Levy would accept.
comment by Samir (U2630)
posted 1 minute ago
Chronic
If you finish 8th next season and win the FA Cup, I'm 99% sure that Mourinho would get sacked. Because although you'd have won your first trophy in 13 years in that scenario, that's not your overarching objective. There is an expectation on him to get a Champions League spot too.
The FA Cup may provide some memories for your fans, but it won't help you financially and I personally don't think it's the sort of season Levy would accept.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree. I don't think it would placate Levy enough or us fans who have been saying Mourinho is well past his best. Fair enough, the fans that said his appointment guaranteed trophies would be vindicated but they probably would be saying their goodbyes to him.
Based on how we finished this season there really shouldn't be a reason we finish lower than 6th, unless we lose Kane or something major like that.
Win the League Cup and end 11th or take what we have now. No choice whatsoever, we are way stronger as a club now despite the lack of silver.
But the 2 are not mutually exclusive. Our biggest failure, and i lay a lot of blame at the door of Redknapp and Poch, is that we have not won anything. The managers priorities have been affected by the owners but having said that Redknapp had a massive squad which he failed to manage well.
If we had picked up the odd trophy here and there while also targeting top 4 and more then this whole millstone of no trophies would not be an issue. Now, every season that passes it becomes a bigger and bigger thing. We have had the quality. You cannot look at Redknapp's team and say the quality to win a cup was not there, and the same with Poch. You dont end top 4 consistently with a poor team.
This, i hope, is the thing that Jose will change. To me its the missing ingredient that Poch et al have never been able to find. Redkanpp had a "theyve never had it so good" attitude so was clearly happy to settle for less and while Poch had great desire to win, because he hadnt i believe the players lost faith.
To assist us the squad needs greater depth than in the past - a back up striker FFS. Unless this happens, Jose will just be playing the same 12-15 players and at the sharp end of the season we will be affected by fatigue / injury.
We have come a long long way as a club in 10 years. A far more professional and focused outfit than back then, and the club's infrastructure is now second to none. Its all there for us to move on and this will be helped massively by a trophy or 2 and continued investment by the owners in to the squad.
Sign in if you want to comment
2007-08 Vs. 2019-20
Page 3 of 4
posted on 29/7/20
comment by Don_tottenham (U3372)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Genius of Nielsen (U9059)
posted 18 minutes ago
The term “bottling it” is the most over used term in modern football.
Get to the final of possibly the most elite domestic competition in the world and lose to a team who got to the final the yes at before, came second in the league that year and won the league at a canter this year.
Yes I’m disappointed by the performance, but week in week out last season was miles better than this, and the 07/08 season
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We didn’t even turn up. Didn’t even touch what was an average Liverpool performance. Not to mention that stupid penalty we gave away in the 1st minute. We bottled that final.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don’t see it like that at all. They were better, and are better. No shame in losing. Game may have been vastly different if they didn’t get such an early lead.
posted on 29/7/20
comment by Don_tottenham (U3372)
posted 50 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 13 minutes ago
Trophy seasons all day long over league position, unless it is 1st.
Spurs won the FA Cup in 1980/81 despite finishing 10th in the league. I would not swap that great cup run for a better league position. It is still fondly in my memory.
Same with season 1971/72 where Spurs only finished 6th but won a European Trophy.
I really don`t understand supporters that think finishing higher in the league over winning a trophy. Maybe it is an age thing. I don`t know.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It’s not an age thing Sandy: I’m 34 and a Prem era spurs fan. Give me a 10 Fa cups for the next 10 years over 0 trophies and just top 4 finishes any day of the week. We have become Arsenal, relying on just top 4 and making up the numbers. Unless we invest heavily, we ain’t winning that CL. We blew our only ever chance by losing to Liverpool. There’s no comparison to watching you’re club lift a trophy or go to a final and see us win. Shame as a Spurs fan I have barely seen itgive me trophies over just CL qualification any day of the week.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
100 per cent Don.
I certainly remember with great joy our Wembley win over Chelsea in 2008 much more than any top four finishes since. Coming from behind to beat Chelsea in a final, whatever the competition, absolutely trumps anything since.
posted on 29/7/20
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 50 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 9 minutes ago
Trophy seasons all day long over league position, unless it is 1st.
Spurs won the FA Cup in 1980/81 despite finishing 10th in the league. I would not swap that great cup run for a better league position. It is still fondly in my memory.
Same with season 1971/72 where Spurs only finished 6th but won a European Trophy.
I really don`t understand supporters that think finishing higher in the league over winning a trophy. Maybe it is an age thing. I don`t know.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy would you swap our 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons for our 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09 seasons?
2016-19 - Finish 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the league respectively, a CL final, 3 cup semis, highest PL points total, a whole season unbeaten at home.
2006-09 - Finish 5th, 11th, 8th in league respectively, a League Cup trophy, one other semi.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I certainly wouldn`t swap our 2007/8 cup win at Wembley for any of the seasons you mentioned. Maybe some of the others I agree with.
posted on 29/7/20
Give me a 10 Fa cups for the next 10 years over 0 trophies and just top 4 finishes
=====
You don't say where you finish in the league in the FA Cup winning seasons. What if one included an 18th placed finish?
posted on 29/7/20
comment by Bennyville (U8058)
posted 49 minutes ago
Sandy would you rather:
1. Spurs win the league cup but finish 10th
Or
2. Finish 4th but win nothing
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Win the league cup and finish 10th all day long. You don`t get a bean for finishing 4th, but you do get a trophy for winning the league cup.
posted on 29/7/20
comment by StringerBell (U11749)
posted 28 minutes ago
Thats a bit disingenuous. Chelsea and utd were now at a time where the pressure of the C.L is paramount.
Where was the progression with UTD in '90.
how low down did we finish, but if it wasn't for the cup win.
Wenger is to blame.
After a baron 8 years, he comes out with that dumb quote about deserving trophy, when really what he was saying was, 'This Arsenal team will NOT be competitive for the foreseeable future'.
Now with the help of the media, Top 4 is now spun into the culture, and twisting some fans heads.
If you are finishing 3rd or 4th, just shhhh. Its nothing to brag about. Look at how happy Arsenal fans will be if they do 14, and look at how happy Chelsea will be if they win.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Media, especially Sky spin the top four nonsense. OK you get CL, but I don`t mind what European football I see to be honest. Europa League is fine with me.
posted on 29/7/20
comment by Samir (U2630)
posted 2 hours, 5 minutes ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 10 minutes ago
So I'm clear, you're more interested in final league positions than winning trophies?
I think this article in itself encapsulates much that is wrong with English football. You've been conditioned to believe that your league position is all that matters (particularly by this top 4 narrative).
Football should be about winning things. Winning a cup is a fantastic moment, provides incredible memories that last a lifetime.
In contrast you'll forget about this season by the end of the next one.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments like this encapsulates what is wrong with football. You’ve been conditioned to believe that winning things is what matters.
Football is purely a form of entertainment in which fans can take away from it whatever they want. People shouldn’t be vapid enough or without personal triumphs to feel validated about their team winning a trophy, in which they had no say or impact .
You can literally want and watch football however way you chose. Otherwise we’d all be City, RM or Bayern fans
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I actually agree with this.
Winning trophies is great, but it's not the be all and end all. There's more ways to measure progress than just trophies.
I understand the desire to see your team win stuff, but there's a tonne of competition even for the domestic cups and, unless you're a supporter of Juventus, Bayern, PSG, City, Chelsea, United etc, there should be no expectation to win a league/Champions League.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree winning trophies is not the be all and end all of football, but then neither is just finishing top four every season.
posted on 29/7/20
comment by Edbo (U17933)
posted 48 minutes ago
comment by Don_tottenham (U3372)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Genius of Nielsen (U9059)
posted 1 minute ago
Another way of looking at it - imagine we’d won the LC under Mourinho this season (I know we were knocked out before he joined) but had the same season other than that - would you prefer this season over last season?
Personally, the LC is such small fry that the payoff against the full football just isn’t there.
If the football is the same next season, then as a minimum he has to win the FA Cup.
I’d rather be entertained week in week out and potless then
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep. Getting to the CL final and bottling it wasn’t an achievement mate. We bottled the final. Absolute gutting we worked so hard to reach the final, only to put in that pathetic performance in the final. Wish I could erase it from my memory. Give me a trophy over losing that any day.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We didn't bottle it, we just lost to a better team.
Bottling it would be throwing away a lead, losing to an inferior side, etc etc...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To be fair mate, Liverpool on the night were pretty awful themselves. Don is 100 per cent correct Spurs just did not turn up, although the form was pretty well as it has been for the last few months of the season, so no real surprise. They were in truth lucky to get past Ajax.
posted on 29/7/20
All I heard from my dad when I was growing up is that Spurs always do well in the cups, we’re a great cup team. And I can honestly say winning the league cup and FA cup is not the pinnacle of club football. Managers have been sacked after winning the FA cup, that’s how much clubs truly care about it.
posted on 29/7/20
good article. i like the idea of winning trophies they are forever. but playing good football week in and week out is what you want to achieve as a team. there is a point that you think you deserve something for all that good play. on the other hand playing crap most weeks and going on a little run or even just getting lucky to win a trophy isn't desirable to me.
so i'd prefer to play good football every week and maybe my team will win a trophy. there really aren't enough to go around.
posted on 29/7/20
i would choose the trophy year over this year easily though.
you were terrible and won nothing.
posted on 29/7/20
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 1 hour, 59 minutes ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 8 minutes ago
If you're asking what I would take this season/last season - the season we just had, or the 2007/08 season or something like it, I would probably say the 2007/08 season actually. I'd be willing to forfeit Europa next season and several places higher in the league, for a trophy. As long as that type of season of course was a one off. The aim has always been to win trophies and do well in the league.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A 07/08 season would probably result in Kane leaving. Would you still be happy with that?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think that's necessarily true. Couldn't our players just as easily think that by winning a trophy in Jose's first season that there could be more to come, given his CV for winning stuff?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well we finished 11th that season - I think players would want out.
posted on 29/7/20
comment by Bennyville (U8058)
posted 27 minutes ago
All I heard from my dad when I was growing up is that Spurs always do well in the cups, we’re a great cup team. And I can honestly say winning the league cup and FA cup is not the pinnacle of club football. Managers have been sacked after winning the FA cup, that’s how much clubs truly care about it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Your Dad sounds like a very wise man, and I suspect he has some great memories of those cup wins.
posted on 29/7/20
the issue is that our better league finishes, therefore indicating that we are a good side, should have been complimented with trophies along the way. it shouldn't have to be either or. if you are one of the top 6 teams in the league, which we have been for ages, then by that very fact you should be adding silverware by default.
the fact that we haven't is a failure by all involved at the club.
if you offered me fa cup and 8th next season (potentially like arsenal this season), i would probably take it, but i wouldn't take it season in season out.
this club is now geared for regular CL football, and should be aiming for title pushes, not mid table with a domestic cup.
posted on 29/7/20
The purpose of getting regular CL was to raise the profile of the club and revenue alongside it so we can attract and pay for the right talent.
Despite getting top four we neglected this and let the club go stale and toxic leading to our current position. That I blame Levy - not because it's all his fault but for being the catalyst.
posted on 29/7/20
comment by Boss By Hugo (U18550)
posted 2 minutes ago
The purpose of getting regular CL was to raise the profile of the club and revenue alongside it so we can attract and pay for the right talent.
Despite getting top four we neglected this and let the club go stale and toxic leading to our current position. That I blame Levy - not because it's all his fault but for being the catalyst.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
as things stand, levy has no excuses. the stadium is done, the training ground is done, all his little side projects like NFL, other events, Amazon doc... all done.
now he has to facilitate an enhancement in the playing staff and ultimately we need to start winning things, and big things, not league cups (although that would be a start)
posted on 29/7/20
Of course he did. It'll be Covid-19 this year and some other excuse the next
posted on 29/7/20
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 54 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 1 hour, 59 minutes ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 8 minutes ago
If you're asking what I would take this season/last season - the season we just had, or the 2007/08 season or something like it, I would probably say the 2007/08 season actually. I'd be willing to forfeit Europa next season and several places higher in the league, for a trophy. As long as that type of season of course was a one off. The aim has always been to win trophies and do well in the league.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A 07/08 season would probably result in Kane leaving. Would you still be happy with that?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think that's necessarily true. Couldn't our players just as easily think that by winning a trophy in Jose's first season that there could be more to come, given his CV for winning stuff?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well we finished 11th that season - I think players would want out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think they'd want out any more than now. We'd still have European football through winning the trophy and I reckon that would lead to players buying into there being more trophies to come under Jose, despite the rubbish finish in the league. Seeing as Jose was taking over part way into the season when we were doing poorly, and he won a trophy already, he would be let off for finishing that low.
posted on 29/7/20
If he just fa*cking backs Mourinho with worthwhile signings then we might actually win something. Problem is every year the transfer window is opened - we flock with our preferred signings and weaknesses we need to address only for us to fail at making adequate signing.
And you bet guys like Mauricio and Jose aren't stupid either. They know/ knew what's needed
posted on 29/7/20
comment by Boss By Hugo (U18550)
posted 4 minutes ago
Of course he did. It'll be Covid-19 this year and some other excuse the next
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covid not an excuse because everyone is in the same boat.
stadium etc were things unique to us
posted on 29/7/20
comment by Tottenham Chronic (U3423)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Boss By Hugo (U18550)
posted 4 minutes ago
Of course he did. It'll be Covid-19 this year and some other excuse the next
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covid not an excuse because everyone is in the same boat.
stadium etc were things unique to us
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Levy will and already has used it as an excuse. Admittedly, with the new stadium we will be disproportionately affected as we make the more out of our stadium than the rest of the league.
However, there's no excuse for ENIC not to address the key areas of the squad such as RB and DM.
posted on 29/7/20
Levy actually looked a bit more ambitious last summer when we broke the record on buying an in demand player. I was surprised we were as close to signing Dybala as we were as well. Some slight signs there that Levy was starting to get his act together. Even getting Mourinho is a pretty big statement, however much we might think he's past it.
Still left things late in the window of course and didn't do a lot of the things we should have done.
Unfortunately because of Covid-19 I can see Levy falling back into old habits again.
posted on 29/7/20
Chronic
If you finish 8th next season and win the FA Cup, I'm 99% sure that Mourinho would get sacked. Because although you'd have won your first trophy in 13 years in that scenario, that's not your overarching objective. There is an expectation on him to get a Champions League spot too.
The FA Cup may provide some memories for your fans, but it won't help you financially and I personally don't think it's the sort of season Levy would accept.
posted on 29/7/20
comment by Samir (U2630)
posted 1 minute ago
Chronic
If you finish 8th next season and win the FA Cup, I'm 99% sure that Mourinho would get sacked. Because although you'd have won your first trophy in 13 years in that scenario, that's not your overarching objective. There is an expectation on him to get a Champions League spot too.
The FA Cup may provide some memories for your fans, but it won't help you financially and I personally don't think it's the sort of season Levy would accept.
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I agree. I don't think it would placate Levy enough or us fans who have been saying Mourinho is well past his best. Fair enough, the fans that said his appointment guaranteed trophies would be vindicated but they probably would be saying their goodbyes to him.
Based on how we finished this season there really shouldn't be a reason we finish lower than 6th, unless we lose Kane or something major like that.
posted on 29/7/20
Win the League Cup and end 11th or take what we have now. No choice whatsoever, we are way stronger as a club now despite the lack of silver.
But the 2 are not mutually exclusive. Our biggest failure, and i lay a lot of blame at the door of Redknapp and Poch, is that we have not won anything. The managers priorities have been affected by the owners but having said that Redknapp had a massive squad which he failed to manage well.
If we had picked up the odd trophy here and there while also targeting top 4 and more then this whole millstone of no trophies would not be an issue. Now, every season that passes it becomes a bigger and bigger thing. We have had the quality. You cannot look at Redknapp's team and say the quality to win a cup was not there, and the same with Poch. You dont end top 4 consistently with a poor team.
This, i hope, is the thing that Jose will change. To me its the missing ingredient that Poch et al have never been able to find. Redkanpp had a "theyve never had it so good" attitude so was clearly happy to settle for less and while Poch had great desire to win, because he hadnt i believe the players lost faith.
To assist us the squad needs greater depth than in the past - a back up striker FFS. Unless this happens, Jose will just be playing the same 12-15 players and at the sharp end of the season we will be affected by fatigue / injury.
We have come a long long way as a club in 10 years. A far more professional and focused outfit than back then, and the club's infrastructure is now second to none. Its all there for us to move on and this will be helped massively by a trophy or 2 and continued investment by the owners in to the squad.
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