The Banter Thread

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Newbie007 said:
Sublime footballer and the only thing Rioch got right, but a statue? really? :eek:
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Yep why not, Henry and Adams got one each so why not Bergkamp??. He was just as good as the pair of them.

Like i said absolute legend and deserves a statue in his honour.
 
DiCe! said:
I think top 2 can be done, Spurs have thrown away quite a few points this season, could easily have another 6 points.
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No it can't, there's a reason why Spurs aren't title challengers and it's because of the tendency to drop points at home to Wigan, what you dont think every club in the league can look a points they've dropped and think what if? Even the likes of Wigan will probably look at games and think had we done better we'd be midtable instead of in a relegation scrap.

AVB so far at Spurs is a weird one, Spurs under him are no where near as good to watch as they were under Redknapp and yet he's pretty much getting the same results. Like Baz said I cant see him achieving much more than simply keeping Spurs in top 4 which tbh I reckon Redknapp would have done as well.
 
Tom84 said:
it's because of the tendency to drop points at home to Wigan
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Slightly simplistic there Tom. Why do they drop points that City, Utd or other sides that have or will challenge for the title? It's because their squad isn't as good and the reason for that is £60m per season on wages and god knows how much on transfer fees over the years.

Tom84 said:
which tbh I reckon Redknapp would have done as well.
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I'm not convinced Redknapp would have ever kept Spurs in the CL. I've said before, he's a short-term manager that makes decisions for today without any thought for a season or two's time.

The job of keeping Spurs in the CL or even in contention for CL places over a prolonged period is a big ask as there are 5 clubs that both in the short and long term are capable of out spending them.
 
BaZ87 said:
Slightly simplistic there Tom.
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True but I figured that it went without saying that their squad isn't as good and that's a situation that isn't going to change without a rich benefactor coming into the club. I guess my point was where Spurs are is where Spurs are going to stay.

BaZ87 said:
I'm not convinced Redknapp would have ever kept Spurs in the CL. I've said before, he's a short-term manager that makes decisions for today without any thought for a season or two's time.

The job of keeping Spurs in the CL or even in contention for CL places over a prolonged period is a big ask as there are 5 clubs that both in the short and long term are capable of out spending them.
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Dunno about that, if you take the last 3 seasons the year Spurs missed out on top 4 was Mancini's first full season and the year City brought in the likes of Toure and Silva, that was always going to be a tough ask for Spurs to finish top 4 what with us, Chelsea (who were under Ancelotti at the time) and Arsenal (who still had both Fabregas and RVP). He got them top 4 last season though, I dont see AVB doing anything Redknapp couldn't of done to get them top 4 again this season and I dont see much happening over the summer to either Arsenal or Liverpool that would suggest they'll overtake Spurs next season either so had Redknapp stayed that would be potentially 4 top 4 finishes out of 5 seasons, not exactly a bad record is it?
 
I'm sure AVB is going to turn out to be huge success at Spurs, when he was interviewed for the Burnley job, they didn't hire him because he was using all these terms that no one had heard of, pretty hilarious. Only time and money will tell..
 
Tom84 said:
I dont see AVB doing anything Redknapp couldn't of done to get them top 4 again this season and I dont see much happening over the summer to either Arsenal or Liverpool that would suggest they'll overtake Spurs next season either so had Redknapp stayed that would be potentially 4 top 4 finishes out of 5 seasons, not exactly a bad record is it?
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Redknapp would have played his favourites and frozen out out almost half the squad much as he did in the previous seasons, a fresh start with players competing for their place was needed - the players seems to be much happier for it.
 
Sheff said:
Redknapp would have played his favourites and frozen out out almost half the squad much as he did in the previous seasons, a fresh start with players competing for their place was needed - the players seems to be much happier for it.
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Who's playing now that wouldn't of got a look in under Arry? Apart from the signings made in the summer isn't it basically the same side?
 
Tom84 said:
Who's playing now that wouldn't of got a look in under Arry? Apart from the signings made in the summer isn't it basically the same side?
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There has been a lot more rotation of the squad this season, particularly because of AVB's stance on the Europa league.

Instead of playing the perceived strongest 11 every game there have been tactical changes such as switching Assou-Ekotto for Vertonghen against West Ham (granted not the best example but it's certainly the latest one).
 
Don't forget that Spurs had more points in less games at this point of the season than AVB has had, though in fairness AVB has put more effort into Europe, but if that means losing out on top 4 eventually, while getting knocked out against the first decent team they face in the Europa cup, it won't mean much.

ultimately Spurs have it easier this year, Everton have clearly dropped out of the way, Newcastle have had a terrible year due to injury and europe coupled with years of debt and a small squad/wage budget. Chelsea are self imploding once again, 3 points up but played a game more on the same point of the season last year, Necastle a minor 13 points worse off than last year, Arsenal almost exactly where they were at this point last season(though our two runs of easy ass games are over with).

Essentially Spurs had a relatively easy time up to this stage of the season, the were in 3rd, 10 points off the top of the table, this year, 3rd but 17 points off the top. AVB isn't doing badly, at all, but Spurs and he aren't quite as brilliant as people think either. Lets see if the team itself are the kind of players to self implode this year, and if the recent run of games, which was easy, vs the next 7 games which is pretty the hardest 7 game run any team will see this year, pushes them down the table or not.

Next seven games are, Arsenal, Pool, Fulham, Swansea, Everton, Chelsea, City... the 4 left after that are Wigan away, Southampton home, Stoke away, Sunderland home.

Stoke away isn't normally easy and Wigans end of season "don't let us go down" form is usually excellent, Southampton are certainly no push over, Sunderland are awful.

Last year Redknapp actually did excellently up till early Feb, then it was downhill, this year AVB is doing worse, and now faces the toughest run anyone will face this year. If they do well, they deserve top four, this is their first real test. Tough run in the league, and european teams get harder.

Also worth pointing out how spurs fans are fapping all over Bale in a free role and how crucial it is to the team, while RedKnapp did the same last year during their terrible run of form, Bale couldn't hit a barndoor and they dropped a 13 point lead on Arsenal.
 
drunkenmaster said:
Don't forget that Spurs had more points in less games at this point of the season than AVB has had, though in fairness AVB has put more effort into Europe, but if that means losing out on top 4 eventually, while getting knocked out against the first decent team they face in the Europa cup, it won't mean much.

ultimately Spurs have it easier this year, Everton have clearly dropped out of the way, Newcastle have had a terrible year due to injury and europe coupled with years of debt and a small squad/wage budget. Chelsea are self imploding once again, 3 points up but played a game more on the same point of the season last year, Necastle a minor 13 points worse off than last year, Arsenal almost exactly where they were at this point last season(though our two runs of easy ass games are over with).

Essentially Spurs had a relatively easy time up to this stage of the season, the were in 3rd, 10 points off the top of the table, this year, 3rd but 17 points off the top. AVB isn't doing badly, at all, but Spurs and he aren't quite as brilliant as people think either. Lets see if the team itself are the kind of players to self implode this year, and if the recent run of games, which was easy, vs the next 7 games which is pretty the hardest 7 game run any team will see this year, pushes them down the table or not.

Next seven games are, Arsenal, Pool, Fulham, Swansea, Everton, Chelsea, City... the 4 left after that are Wigan away, Southampton home, Stoke away, Sunderland home.

Stoke away isn't normally easy and Wigans end of season "don't let us go down" form is usually excellent, Southampton are certainly no push over, Sunderland are awful.

Last year Redknapp actually did excellently up till early Feb, then it was downhill, this year AVB is doing worse, and now faces the toughest run anyone will face this year. If they do well, they deserve top four, this is their first real test. Tough run in the league, and european teams get harder.

Also worth pointing out how spurs fans are fapping all over Bale in a free role and how crucial it is to the team, while RedKnapp did the same last year during their terrible run of form, Bale couldn't hit a barndoor and they dropped a 13 point lead on Arsenal.
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As I mentioned earlier, I would have been satisfied with a new manager coming in and us getting a top 6 place, currently AVB is doing better than expected.

Earlier on in the season we dropped points while the team was getting used to the change in how we play (I'll concede that it isn't as pretty as last season but appears to be more effective and is for the most part just as exciting) however we have gotten a very good bunch of results recently without playing spectacularly well.

Our squad is much thinner than last season, just look at our Striker crisis (I know we usually have a striker crisis at this time of the season but usually it's just with them not scoring) however we're managing well despite key injuries.

Overall I'm happy with how things are going, the team look motivated and eager to press on.
 
Shamikebab said:
I just hope it isn't another excuse to not strengthen the midfield in the summer.
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I'll be honest I dont think the need to strengthen the midfield is quite as urgent as it was a year ago, Cleverley's come on a load this season putting his fitness doubts to bed for the time being (touch wood), Jones has shown ability of doing a defensive role in there & Carrick is showing far more authority in his game.

I'm not saying we dont need anyone because we do (my main fear is Carrick getting injured leaving us well and truly up **** creek) but I wont view it as a total disaster if we fail to bring someone in yet again.

Besides as long as we wrap up a deal for that lad at Real Madrid then we can just paper over any cracks in midfield :p
 
Tom84 said:
I'll be honest I dont think the need to strengthen the midfield is quite as urgent as it was a year ago, Cleverley's come on a load this season putting his fitness doubts to bed for the time being (touch wood), Jones has shown ability of doing a defensive role in there & Carrick is showing far more authority in his game.

I'm not saying we dont need anyone because we do (my main fear is Carrick getting injured leaving us well and truly up **** creek) but I wont view it as a total disaster if we fail to bring someone in yet again.

Besides as long as we wrap up a deal for that lad at Real Madrid then we can just paper over any cracks in midfield :p
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I disagree, it's still the biggest issue with the team. Cleverley is neat and tidy but needs to show more confidence and ambition with his play. But he's still young so he isn't the problem. The problem is that there is no stand out player in this position, no one player of genuine top quality. I don't consider myself anti Carrick but he is a limited player. He isn't going to open up defenses, he doesn't score goals and although he's considered the "holding" midfielder, the protection for the defense, our goals against column suggests he's not that effective.
Jones simply isn't a midfielder, he lacks the passing or technical ability. His use as a man marker is something of a reflection on the problems the position has.
Anderson is always injured. When he does play, its 50/50 on if he will be good or awful. Beyond those four , were looking at players nearing 40 whose fitness/form will always be in doubt.
So although the options aren't terrible and although there's a number of standout youngsters in this position at the club, I would love to see an injection of quality.
 
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