It could be worse...

[taimedowne]

The ridiculous fact is that if we win our last 2 games ( which is certainly possible ) we will equal last seasons record points total. We all know this season has been poor but the maths say different. 

[Paul Finch]

The ridiculous fact is that if we win our last 2 games ( which is certainly possible ) we will equal last seasons record points total. We all know this season has been poor but the maths say different. 

     I beg to differ, what it means is
              (a) we may well equal last seasons points tally, but will finish 1 position LOWER (6th)
                                                             AND   
             (b) we have NOT improved sufficiently enough to even CHALLENGE for 4TH position let alone WIN the PL as was being touted         before the season started.
           This only proves to me that:-
            1) Levy's decision to sack HR and subsequent appointment of AVB has been not only to the detriment of our Club but has impeded our growth and improvement. 
           2)  His (Levy's) appointment of Baldini has in fact been, as yet, a COMPLETE waste of time AND money. 
         
          So I guess in essence Taimedowne, I am in complete agreement with what you say.
                                                 
 

[Blackjack]

What it really means that just to qualify for europe you have to reach a point total that would have got you in the champions league place only a few seasons ago now that is worring.

[taimedowne]

I think what it says is that at very best we have stood still whilst the others have been improving. A few seasons ago a points total in the high 60s would have been good enough for CL qualification. Now its nowhere near good enough. Conversely 40 points were needed to survive, this years total will be  lower than that for sure. I would have to assume our results against the lesser lights have improved as the results against the top teams have been an embarrassment, and it has to be said that apart from against the top teams our away form has been very good.     

[dimexi]

I think that the higher points total needed to get into the champions league is not a reflection of how far behind we have fallen. That cannot be gleaned from this statistical piece of information.

What it actually tells us is the teams lower than us have performed far worse and taken less points from the top 4-6 teams. Hence the amount needed to avoid relegation is far less than usual. The fact that we have as many points as we do means that we have kept the gap between us and those lower teams at about the same. (even if our actual quality has reduced, the difference between us has remained the same)

It also shows that we have not been able to take points from those above us, anywhere near the amount we would need to in order to challenge.

Therefore I believe that we (myself included) have been fooled by the illusory points total we can still achieve. This does not hide the fact that we are nowhere near the quality we had before, or will need in the future to compete for CL qualification next year.

[RSS61]

I think that the higher points total needed to get into the champions league is not a reflection of how far behind we have fallen. That cannot be gleaned from this statistical piece of information.

What it actually tells us is the teams lower than us have performed far worse and taken less points from the top 4-6 teams. Hence the amount needed to avoid relegation is far less than usual. The fact that we have as many points as we do means that we have kept the gap between us and those lower teams at about the same. (even if our actual quality has reduced, the difference between us has remained the same)

It also shows that we have not been able to take points from those above us, anywhere near the amount we would need to in order to challenge.

Therefore I believe that we (myself included) have been fooled by the illusory points total we can still achieve. This does not hide the fact that we are nowhere near the quality we had before, or will need in the future to compete for CL qualification next year.

I think these last few words are the most significant thing about where we are at this moment in time.

I hardly remember one really good performance from us this season, despite the 66 points we have so far achieved.

The big question is what is Levy intending to do this summer ?? Van Gaal appears to be off the agenda, Moyses is too dreadful to even think about. Does he give Sherwood his backing this summer ??(doubtful)

All in all I for one am not very optimistic about our future. Sooner or later Man U will recover, which will leave 4 clubs fighting for 4th spot, most of whom will probably be better than us.

[RSS61]

"I don't think there is pressure on ourselves, only what we have from within. Look at Tottenham - [when] you spend over £100m you'd expect to be challenging for the league."

Just read this quote from Brendon Rogers. Think this sums us up nicely.

Yes, plus the fact that they kept Gerrard and Suarez, whereas we never had a Gerrard, and sold Bale.

[Glenn R]

"I don't think there is pressure on ourselves, only what we have from within. Look at Tottenham - [when] you spend over £100m you'd expect to be challenging for the league."

Just read this quote from Brendon Rogers. Think this sums us up nicely.

Yes, plus the fact that they kept Gerrard and Suarez, whereas we never had a Gerrard, and sold Bale.

And I would imagine we will continue sell players of the calibre of the Bales of this world until we've built our new stadium.

[spursjoolz]

The beginning of the season showed big promises and good signs of a possible 3rd or 4th spot. Then AVB went beserk and it all went pear shaped. Suddenly our expectations dropped to 9th or 10th or lower when Sherwood took over.

To be frank, I did not have much faith in him but he has proved to be a worthy "interim" head coach. In fact, f we finish 6th, (above ManU), I will say that the season has not been a waste of time and if we finish 5th at the expense of Everton, then I  we will  have had a pretty season !

The only snag is that there has hardly been one game where we played well enough to remember!

[dimexi]

And I would imagine we will continue sell players of the calibre of the Bales of this world until we've built our new stadium.

I am not sure that a new stadium will be the deciding factor on our selling policies, although it may play a part. We will continue to sell players of Bale's quality until we are in a position of consistently being in the CL spots, with some real opportunities of challenging for the title.

However, selling players of Bale's quality is dependent on having players of Bale's quality. Which means having a good scouting and buying policy. Going on our recent transactions I would say we are well away from that right now.

[scotspurs]

And I would imagine we will continue sell players of the calibre of the Bales of this world until we've built our new stadium.

I am not sure that a new stadium will be the deciding factor on our selling policies, although it may play a part. We will continue to sell players of Bale's quality until we are in a position of consistently being in the CL spots, with some real opportunities of challenging for the title.

However, selling players of Bale's quality is dependent on having players of Bale's quality. Which means having a good scouting and buying policy. Going on our recent transactions I would say we are well away from that right now.

Levy will NEVER pay top wages (100k+ ) to more than 1 or 2 players at a time - e.g Modric and Bale - so building a team with the quality required - 6-8 100k+ players imo - for consistent Champions League qualification is decades away. Until the top 2 - Lewis and Levy - go, Spurs will never be a top 4 regular - if EVER.

[Blackjack]

Sadly what you say is true!, Levy will never pay thosr wages, he is running the club  as a buissness  yet he wants champions league football without putting us in the required position to do it!. Yes  Liverpool hav done it gut hey have done it like we did it first time, brought there youth team through, snapped up the premier league hot prospect.... Sturridge, got the back four sorted, same players playing every week, attack with pace and play the ball on  the deck, they fly out the traps and pen teams in before hey have time to get organised!, , this is how we used to play  only a few seasons ago, Liverpool sat bak and waited for the right moment they did not panic and force there manager to finish forth or sack him.

[Glenn R]

And I would imagine we will continue sell players of the calibre of the Bales of this world until we've built our new stadium.

I am not sure that a new stadium will be the deciding factor on our selling policies, although it may play a part. We will continue to sell players of Bale's quality until we are in a position of consistently being in the CL spots, with some real opportunities of challenging for the title.

However, selling players of Bale's quality is dependent on having players of Bale's quality. Which means having a good scouting and buying policy. Going on our recent transactions I would say we are well away from that right now.

I agree with you that the CL spot will make a difference. But that will be combined with what we will make from the new larger stadium and what we make globally.

Levy needs to point out how he sees the long term development of Spurs.

[dimexi]

Levy needs to point out how he sees the long term development of Spurs.

You are absolutely correct here.

We have desperately needed this to happen since the decision to sack Harry. I am still waiting and expect to continue doing so for many years to come yet. 

[Glenn R]

Levy needs to point out how he sees the long term development of Spurs.

You are absolutely correct here.

We have desperately needed this to happen since the decision to sack Harry. I am still waiting and expect to continue doing so for many years to come yet. 

I imagine that he does have plans, but long term. One of them is building a bigger stadium. Once that has happened then the next step would be the right manager/ players. Spurs are a big club with a very small capacity stadium.