Positivity...with a touch of realism & humility

[basskadet]

I keep hearing our local rivals giving it the biggun. They keep saying "yeah, yeah, heard it all before. Every year its the same at Tottenham. They all shout about breaking the top 4, finishing above Arsenal and being a huge force in the league and every year they fail, miserably. Its the same this year and, once again, you will fail!".

Well, I beg to differ. It really isn't the same this year for quite a few reasons. Us Yids seem to have learnt a bit of humility and are far more realistic this year than we ever were last year. We were all excited off the back of consecutive 5th place finishes and we based most of our faith on 4 great strikers who didn't really perform until halfway thru the season. Our midfield had still lost the creative spark in Carrick that initially won us that 5th place & so the balance wasn't right and we depended far too much on our strikers but we were still far too confident.

This time round we have huge creativity back in our midfield coupled with an on form strikeforce. Even the defense, which still needs strengthening, is looking OK. But just the fact that we are realising the defense needs a little work is a step forward.

Yes, we are all very excited by the prospects of this Tottenham team but we are no longer under any illusions. We no longer believe we'll stroll into the top 4 with a few decent strikers. We know we'll have to fight every match for the right to be up there.

I think the lesson we all learnt last year could be very beneficial to us and we are no longer piling the pressure on our team to succeed. Last year I heard things like "having spent upwards of £40m, we better had do well!" but this year we've spent more still but aren't demanding a result, just hopeful there'll be one.

The lads really do look like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders and look far more content than last year.

So no, you gooners, its not the same this time. We are not shouting about breaking the top 4 but merely suggesting that the talent now at the club is enough to achieve great things and you could do well to learn from our humility because the pressure we applied to our team last year is exactly the pressure you are now placing on the shoulders of your teenagers. Yes, they did well last season when nobody expected them to but maybe that's exactly why.

[LLOYDY]

4th is possible but it is going to be very tuff........ personally i think we have enough talent to break in the top 4, player wise i think we have as much talent as the top 4, but the main thing we dont have is the BELEIVE..................... the players have to BELEIVE they are capable of challenging the top 4.

THIS SEASON WE HAVE TO BE MENTALLY STRONGER......the talent is obvious to see

[basskadet]

Exactly my point. We do believe we can do it but we shouldn't expect it (and I don't think we do expect it this year, just hope for it. BIG difference). we need to fight hard and graft and really, really want it.


We know that we can't just a buy a top 4 place, we still have to play.

Positivity is the key. Don't drop our heads when we get beat cos its bound to happen, take each game as it comes and not fear anyone. The same goes for us fans cos the players feed off our energy, just like we do them.

[PARKLANEMICK]

I can hardly sleep i'm so excited!!

We look comfortable on the ball, Gomez has breathed new life into the back four, Bent is a revelation just hope he keeps it up! If we can keep clear of injuries its gonna be a cracking season - cant wait to get into the 'Park Lane' again !!

IMO Berb has to go, hes too effin lazy, yeah he scores the odd cracking goal but the lads play better without him there.

NO Arshavin please! We shouldnt break our wage policy for him its only gonna cause problems in the future!!

arty:

MICK the YID!

[mangobus24]

So no, you gooners, its not the same this time. We are not shouting about breaking the top 4 but merely suggesting that the talent now at the club is enough to achieve great things and you could do well to learn from our humility because the pressure we applied to our team last year is exactly the pressure you are now placing on the shoulders of your teenagers. Yes, they did well last season when nobody expected them to but maybe that's exactly why.

Great post basskadet. It couldn't have been said any better. This exact point has been a sore spot between myself and many fans here in the States and I would certainly extend it to not only gooners, but Chelski, United and Liverpool supporters too.

Spurs are constantly being ridiculed by fans and media of the so called "Top 4" and the only reason that I can honestly come up with for this is the fact that Spurs are the one team, IMO, that can legitimately contend with the top boys. Our form has been a bit inconsistent at times, especially as of late. That is something that cannot be argued with, but the ability to challenge the top 4 has ALWAYS been there. Whether or not the boys act upon their abilities is a totally different quesiton. But if they play to their potential, we would be a force to be reckoned with, and that worries those other clubs.

COYS!

[brain_chilled]

bravo sir! couldnt agree more with what youve said

[llanellispur]

IMO Berb has to go, hes too effin lazy, yeah he scores the odd cracking goal but the lads play better without him there.

I agree with all sentiments in this thread apart from this. Berbs improved our performance ten fold in yesterdays game. He is no more lazy than the day he joined us. Any Spurs fan who actually wants him to leave us must be nuts.

[punky]

Apparently Andy Gray doesn't think our signings are good enough to reach the top 4. I think he misses the point though, as its not solely down to new signings. Ramos and Poyet play their part too.

With my realism hat on, i'd say its nigh-on impossible for such a new team to finish top 4. However with my optimism hat on, we've played some great football pre-season, so you never know.

One thing to bear in mind though is just how young our team is. On sunday, only 3 players were 27. The rest were under 25. Providing we can keep everyone happy, its a great future, regardless what hat you have one.

[P UNIT 1980]

They are good enough to do it especially with a few more experienced faces through the door.

One more centre back and one more striker. Of real quality and I think we are just about there.

The only thing we cant buy is the luck that we will need. All the best palyers, managers teams and clubs have more than their fair share of luck.

If we all chip in and buy Lady Luck a Lillywhites jersey, we could do it!!!

Great post.

[LLOYDY]

Positivity is the key. Don't drop our heads when we get beat cos its bound to happen, take each game as it comes and not fear anyone. The same goes for us fans cos the players feed off our energy, just like we do them.[/quote]

:dito: i HOPE we can put this into play this season..... over the past seasons we tend to drop our heads when the goin gets tuff.
Us the players & supporters have to show some character in the bad times, cause its gonna happen.......we have to be right behind the team the whole time and show them support..........remember we r the 12TH MAN..........(LETS GET IT ON)

[P UNIT 1980]

Positivity is the key. Don't drop our heads when we get beat cos its bound to happen, take each game as it comes and not fear anyone. The same goes for us fans cos the players feed off our energy, just like we do them.

:dito: i HOPE we can put this into play this season..... over the past seasons we tend to drop our heads when the goin gets tuff.
Us the players & supporters have to show some character in the bad times, cause its gonna happen.......we have to be right behind the team the whole time and show them support..........remember we r the 12TH MAN..........(LETS GET IT ON)[/quote]

I felt my self welling up whilst reading that!!!

[Old Yid]

Apparently Andy Gray doesn't think our signings are good enough to reach the top 4. I think he misses the point though, as its not solely down to new signings. Ramos and Poyet play their part too.

With my realism hat on, i'd say its nigh-on impossible for such a new team to finish top 4. However with my optimism hat on, we've played some great football pre-season, so you never know.

One thing to bear in mind though is just how young our team is. On sunday, only 3 players were 27. The rest were under 25. Providing we can keep everyone happy, its a great future, regardless what hat you have one.

There is a blantantly obvious reason for this. Andy Gray is a c*nt.

This is the same Andy Gray that was raving over Arshavin when he was commentating for ESPN on the Euros & now says he is "over-hyped"......total prick. He describes Modric as "ordinary" when every other pundit/commentator at the Euro's was bigging him up big time. This is the same Andy Gray that said "i don't know why footballers have a repution for liking bad music....i have the Corrs, Phil Collins & Simply Red in my car at the moment" nuff said. C*nt.

[funster]

There is a blantantly obvious reason for this. Andy Gray is a c*nt.

This is the same Andy Gray that was raving over Arshavin when he was commentating for ESPN on the Euros & now says he is "over-hyped"......total prick. He describes Modric as "ordinary" when every other pundit/commentator at the Euro's was bigging him up big time. This is the same Andy Gray that said "i don't know why footballers have a repution for liking bad music....i have the Corrs, Phil Collins & Simply Red in my car at the moment" nuff said. C*nt.

And on top of that - as if there needed to be anything on top of that! - virtually every club's supporters have, at some stage, had the pleasure of singing "Are you watching Andy Gray?". There are also less, shall we say, complimentary chants!

[Torres|Liverpool]

I am ninety percent sure you boys will not break into the top four this season. Not because you have a lack of talent, I would be mad to say that, but because you need to gel. You have a whole new midfield, Keane has gone, you need to sell Bernatov...

I just think that although you have some great signings in the bag and possibly more to come, but you need consistency as well. Spurs are so often on and off. But yeah, could all change this year.

But, from a neutral POV, finishing top six I would applaud. Will explain if you like...

[P UNIT 1980]

Continue if you want me old fruit....

But i agree with ya we will be over achieving if we do it but a top 6 is achievable and anything lowe than 8th and no europe next season would be a total disaster.