Tottenham 2016-17: No really, 3rd place was fine

coremiller

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
5,846
Well that sucked. Not a good performance today. Spurs' away performances against the top sides have left something to be desired this year.

The good news is that the fixtures are about to get kinder. Spurs have only six away games remaining, and the highest ranked team they play away is West Ham in 10th. 7 of their next 9 are against teams in the bottom half, and the other two are home fixtures against Everton and Stoke.
 

coremiller

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
5,846
After a poor 1-0 loss away to Gent in the Europa League, Spurs righted the ship today, cruising by Fulham 3-0 in the FA Cup, with Kane grabbing a hat trick. Vertonghen also returned to the lineup for the first time in a month, which was a welcome sight.

They've drawn Millwall at home in the quarters, which is a good draw, avoiding the other big clubs. They'll be solid favorites to get to the semis and should be able to beat Millwall while rotating some key players (they played today without Dier, Dembele, and Walker).

Despite the poor performance on Thursday, I'd hope Spurs can beat Gent (currently 8th in the Belgian 1st Divsion) by more than 1 goal at home and progress.
 

Tangled Up In Red

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Nov 8, 2004
4,540
Bernal
I think with Jan back, it could be argued that Dier is not a "key player" this season. Wanyama has taken firm hold of DCM while Eric has looked shaky filling in at CB.
Regardless, once Rose is back, we can see a return to 3 CB + wing backs.
 

coremiller

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
5,846
I don't agree. Wanyama has taken hold of DCM because Dier has been playing a lot more CB. Dier is a key to the 3CB system, plus both Alderweireld and Vertonghen have missed time so Dier has had to cover for them. Against aggressive pressing teams, Wanyama's lack of quality on the ball becomes a problem. It was a real issue in the Liverpool game, for example.

Getting Rose back next month will be big. Spurs have only lost three league games this season and it's not a coincidence that Rose was out for two of them. Davies has not been up to snuff and I think we need to add a new backup LB to the summer shopping list.
 

eddiew112

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 7, 2005
4,732
Boston
Ugh is right. Hopefully we can exercise the Wembley demons if we advance in the FA Cup. The timing of this move really sucks in the short term, WHL has been a fortress this year. If the local council turns down our request to open up Wembley's full capacity for all of our home games, is Milton Keynes back in play?
 

eddiew112

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 7, 2005
4,732
Boston
Nice win yesterday against an overmatched Stoke thanks to a great performance from Kane in the 1st half. Once again, we looked fantastic with 3 at the back. Spurs are unbeaten at home with 9 clean sheets thus far. Can we stay at WHL forever please?
 

eddiew112

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 7, 2005
4,732
Boston
Was at WHL for the game on Sunday, great to see a win and a tough, competitive game. I feel like Spurs-Everton is a fixture that has always delivered in recent memory. There were a lot of positives to take away, but I was encouraged by Ben Davies' performance. He battled with Coleman all game and got forward well. Kane was fantastic again.

I also got over to the Den to scout Millwall against MK Dons. The fans seem up for the game (constant chants of "Tottenham Hotspur, we're coming from you," which the MK Dons away section answered with "Dele Alli, he's coming for you), but we really should take care of them at home quite easily.
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,673
Kane has been magnificent these past couple games. I don't really know how to describe why he is so good except that he just doesn't let that many scoring opportunities go by without putting one in the back of the net.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,850
Kane has been magnificent these past couple games. I don't really know how to describe why he is so good except that he just doesn't let that many scoring opportunities go by without putting one in the back of the net.
He now leads the EPL in goals despite being 7 goals back of leader when he came back from his multi-game absence.
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,673
He now leads the EPL in goals despite being 7 goals back of leader when he came back from his multi-game absence.
Yeah, I mean if he wasn't injured we are talking about a 30+ goal season, which in the EPL is really something.
 

Mugsy's Jock

Eli apologist
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 28, 2000
15,069
UWS, NYC
Kane being led down tunnel with an injured ankle in early minutes of Millwall game... Gentlemen, start your novenas...
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,850
One wonders why he walked on it up the tunnel

After today they have a game next week then 2 week break.
 

Jimy Hendrix

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 15, 2002
5,846
Big of Son to lay that off while on a hat trick. I'd have expected his selfish side to win out there.
 

Mugsy's Jock

Eli apologist
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 28, 2000
15,069
UWS, NYC

coremiller

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
5,846
Good job seeing off a decent Southampton team today, even if the second half was a little nervier than I'd like. The next four are against bottom-half teams: Burnley, Swansea, Watford, and Bournemouth, so they've gotten a little lucky to hit an easier run of fixtures while Kane is out. Those four are followed by the FA Cup semi against Chelsea and then the last-ever North London Derby at White Hart Lane. Let's hope Kane is back by then.
 

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,209
South of North
I would prioritize qualifying for UCL over winning the FA for this year's team. Is that accepted or are there supporters out there that are hell-bent on getting some hardware?
 

Gunfighter 09

wants to be caribou ken
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2005
8,548
KPWT
I think that is accepted, but winning some hardware going through Chelsea and Arsenal is an unspeakably great scenario.

The only place it is a choice so far is with Kane's return. If it is close before the Chelsea match, I think Levy and Poch will do the right thing and hold Kane out for the PL stretch run.
 

Tangled Up In Red

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Nov 8, 2004
4,540
Bernal
Winks injury looked bad... Just as he was establishing himself in the squad. Wanyama's not so bad, and Dier looks so comfortable stepping in as CDM.

Only 7 points...
 

Gunfighter 09

wants to be caribou ken
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2005
8,548
KPWT
Winks injury looked bad... Just as he was establishing himself in the squad. Wanyama's not so bad, and Dier looks so comfortable stepping in as CDM.

Only 7 points...

So which of three numbers do Spurs care about most?

7 points back
9 points clear
11 points ahead

I care about the first one the most, the second makes it easy to sleep at night and I pretend the third doesn't exist.
 
Last edited:

Tangled Up In Red

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Nov 8, 2004
4,540
Bernal
Honestly, for me, the second + the FA cup semi.
The first is a lingering hope.
And, like you, the on the 3rd.
 

Jimy Hendrix

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 15, 2002
5,846
The goals aren't there yet, but it seems like Janssen is finding his sea legs more. He's had the rough & tumble physicality from day one, but he's adding more deftness to his layoffs and passing in hold up play.

Still needs to work on first touch, vision & shooting, but right now until Kane gets back it seems way better to have him up top and Son running off of him than Son up top and Sissoko doing nothing in particular.
 

coremiller

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
5,846
If Spurs win their next two games (home to Bournemouth and away to a suddenly feisty Crystal Palace), they can clinch finishing above Arsenal by beating Arsenal in the last-ever derby at WHL.

Obviously after last year, 2013, 2012, and 2006, no one should take anything for granted.
 

Gunfighter 09

wants to be caribou ken
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2005
8,548
KPWT
11 points in 7 games is another way to look at it, that other team can't get to 79.

We should probably stop talking this way, perhaps a better goal would be to just hope to see them close out WHL undefeated.
 

Tangled Up In Red

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Nov 8, 2004
4,540
Bernal
WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING????
I'm with Drew. Hush.

Meanwhile, sounds like if Danny Rose makes the bench for Bouremouth, we'll see him in the FA Semi. Otherwise, Davies for the next two... Would be a huge boost against the blue scum.

Edit: I spoke too soon. Apparently Rose begins outdoor work next week, so surley not in the Bournemouth match, no the FA semi.
 
Last edited:

URI

stands for life, liberty and the uturian way of li
Moderator
SoSH Member
Aug 18, 2001
10,329
HEY EVERYONE.

Do you know what was 7 years ago today?

 

URI

stands for life, liberty and the uturian way of li
Moderator
SoSH Member
Aug 18, 2001
10,329
You missed me, cuddlebug.
 

coremiller

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
5,846
Per Stars and Stripes FC, Spurs reportedly scouting Pulisic.
:beatit::beatit::beatit::beatit:
This would be amazing of course, but who isn't scouting Pulisic at this point? There aren't that many 18-year-olds getting key minutes for CL-level clubs.

Fixture list turns more difficult now. Only two remaining home games, and they're against Arsenal and Manchester United. But consecutive 4-0 wins are a nice way to warm up for the FA Cup semi next weekend.
 

URI

stands for life, liberty and the uturian way of li
Moderator
SoSH Member
Aug 18, 2001
10,329
I am Pulisic.
 

Mugsy's Jock

Eli apologist
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 28, 2000
15,069
UWS, NYC
Okay, here's your home stretch:

CHELSEA (75 points/32 games played)
Tues 5/25 vs. Southampton (9th/40 pts. in 31 games)
Sun 4/30 at Everton (6th/57 pts. in 33 games)
Sun 5/8 vs. Middlesbrough (19th, 24 pts. in 31 games)
Fri 5/12 at West Brom (8th/44 pts. in 33 games)
Mon 5/15 vs. Watford (10th/40 pts. in 32 games)
Sun 5/21 vs. Sunderland (20th/21 pts. in 32 games)

SPURS (71 points/32 games played)
Weds 4/26 at Crystal Palace (15th/35 pts. in 32 games)
Sun 4/30 at Arsenal (7th/54 pts. in 30 games)
Fri 5/5 at West Ham (13th/37 pts. in 33 games)
Sun 5/14 vs. Man United (5th/60 pts. in 31 games)
Thu 5/18 at Leicester (12th/37 pts. in 32 games)
Sun 5/21 at Hull City (17th/28 pts. in 33 games)

The good news: Spurs playing great and key players returning to health, while Chelsea is stumbling a bit.

The bad news: Every single thing about the remaining schedule runs against Spurs, right down to the final week when Sunderland will surely have already been tagged for relegation and have nothing to play for, while Hull may well need points to stay up. Meantime, Chelsea are through with anybody with a shot at CL, although I guess you could pin some hope on the fact their two toughest remaining games are both on the road.
 

swiftaw

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2009
3,434
If Spurs win out, then Chelsea would have to drop points in at least 2 games. At Everton might be the best chance of that happening, after than, perhaps at West Brom or vs Southampton.
 

Tangled Up In Red

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Nov 8, 2004
4,540
Bernal
As we've all seen and felt, stranger things have happened. Usually to us.
"Spursy" being redefined... this worm may turn. COYS.