First half was more like it and the second half precisely the reason we're no longer a threat to Arsenal and The #. Arsenal have continued battering the door down and playing like they want this title as opposed to ourselves who have managed to sleepwalk through the most important fixtures of the season. The first half was a case of where's this been for the last few games ,I could almost hear f*cking Jim Bowen saying 'and here's what you could have won'. The second half was a blast of reality and why at the most pivotal time of the season we fell away quicker than f*cking Ratners Jewellery. The atmosphere was good and the flags in the Kop superb and now we've got two games left to signal an intent for next season starting with Villa away. I thought Endo was our best midfielder earlier ,Macca seemed to gift a lot of the ball to the opposition, Elliott was also decent but he shouldn't be starting as our most attacking midfielder as it negates the influence Macca has on our forward play. It's just when both Endo and Macca are starting it's the latter who pushes forward more ,when Elliott starts it leaves both playing DM. Marvelous goal from Elliott ,but I think as a starter I'm just not sold on the idea. Quansah again our best defender and showed real moments of quality throughout.
People thinking Spurs should be aiming for fourth must have forgot about the mess that Ange inherited. A toxic fan base, players completely drained emotionally and of confidence from that prick Conte and a lot of holes in the squad. Not to mention losing the best PL striker in the last decade. The season is not finishing great but Ange himself said he wants a lot of players out and new players in. He's already won more points in his first 35 PL games than Arteta and Klopp did. People just need some patience and a few transfer windows to build his team. Give him time, give the young players (Vicario, vvd, Udogie, Sarr, Johnson, Dragusin) time to develop and give Ange time to sell Conte players (Hojbjerg, Richarlison, Gil,Emerson, Davies) and I think he will be fine. People expected us to finish midtable this year. Now we are 5th and people are trying to spin it as a failed season.
And there's the comparison the Klopp again. It's moot. You can tell yourself it's because he's in his first campaign if you like. But for me the tactical limitations Postecoglou has in his managerial ability aren't going away with a couple more seasons under his belt. We might see some improvement but his ceiling is his ceiling. And I've already said it is not a failed season. Also, I don't recall people saying you'd finish middtable. I certainly didn't.
Not sure why you are comparing this season to Klopp and Arteta. You should only be comparing it to recent Spurs seasons surely? At best Spurs will finish 9 points better off than last season - which by all accounts was a terrible season. But will do so having had a far kinder schedule. I don't think Spurs have had a failed season at all, I also didn't think they'd finish midtable though. I think there are positive signs, but also negative ones that Spurs fans should be wary of. Despite an easy schedule, they look leggy. At the end of the day Spurs are missing out on Champions League football to Aston Villa next season. They had a tougher schedule this season and were playing Championship football a few seasons ago.
I didn't quote you so not sure why you think I'm pointing anything at you. I'm talking about the so called experts and most fans. I remember seeing a lot of Arsenal fans laughing that we will be bottom half of the table. Even some Spurs fans thought we would be where Chelsea are now. It's not a Klopp comparison directly. I know Liverpool fans love being sensitive about Klopp but it's just comparing point totals with two recent successful managers as a gauge to see where Ange is.
Our team is also younger in most key positions, lost Kane and is playing a much better style that will last longer in the league that what Conte had. 9 points is a big improvement considering every other change that has happened at the club.
Arsenal rivals wishing Spurs to fail, and Spurs fans assuming the worse...not exactly the most worthwhile opinions to be bringing up.
9 points is also still a scenario that requires you win your final 3 games. If their form stays the same you will end on the exact same number of points.
Klopp first full season took a side that finished 6th and 8th to 4th. And in his first half season reached two cup finals. Maybe it's being sensitive, I think it's just pointing out that the comparison is nonsensical.
Anyway 15 goals and 6 assists now in all competitions for Gakpo. He's deserved some criticism at times, but 15 goals for the 5th choice forward (on paper) is not to be scoffed at.
The silly comment is because I'm f**king tired of having the same discussion in every Spurs match thread. You asked if Spurs fans are happy, I responded that I am but I'm bored of this beyond that. We finished 8th last season, we sold the best striker on the planet, we've drastically changed our style of football and we've implemented a lot of new players in to the team this year. I can see what he's trying to do but nonetheless it's a work in progress and not the season to judge Ange. Just as Pep, Klopp, Arteta all got time to make their teams in to what they are, I want the same for Ange. If after that time he's still not successful then so be it but it's honestly exhausting having this same conversation over and over and over. Liverpool are going to be in the same boat in a few months and it'll be interesting if some on here have more patience for their own new manager. This feels like a bit of a stretch. Klopp took over in October, he didn't take over a side that had finished 8th and then took them to 4th. He was largely the manager behind that 8th place finish. I don't know how many games he managed in that part-season but with 30 league games and cups it's probably as many as Ange has managed for Spurs. The 4th place finish was after 8 months from the previous season of putting his ideas in motion. If Ange had had 30 games last season to get his ideas across I'd be expecting more but Klopp's first full season and Ange's first full season weren't from the same starting position. Anyway well done to Liverpool today. Inevitable result given everything. I expect us to beat Burnley and Sheffield United so 66 points is respectable enough for me and ensures European football next season which was the target at the start of the season. Then on to the quadruple next season.
