Spurs & Leicester 2016/2017 season

Gol123 said:
Literally no tactical nous in Leicesters game. Their manager even admitted so.
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Yup, Ranieri all but stated he just lets the players go out there and do their thing. When it comes to next season where he will need to set up for particular styles, and the way teams will approach them, he'll struggle because it's likely the players will just not respond to it well at all.
 
Gol123 said:
Literally no tactical nous in Leicesters game. Their manager even admitted so.
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My mistake. I took the time to read the article and I've got to admit that it's refreshing to know that a team built on trust and encouraged to enjoy the game is doing so well. Them only losing to big clubs in this form since last season makes more sense too.
 
Gol123 said:
Literally no tactical nous in Leicesters game. Their manager even admitted so.
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It's foolish to suggest that anything a manager says publicly about tactics is gospel. Ranieri is a master bullshitter, and Leicester have adapted their approach throughout the season against different teams. Just last week against Palace, Marhez was positioned much higher up the pitch than usual, deliberately in order to get him in behind. That's a deliberate tactical shift.
 
Mr Smith said:
It's foolish to suggest that anything a manager says publicly about tactics is gospel. Ranieri is a master bullshitter, and Leicester have adapted their approach throughout the season against different teams. Just last week against Palace, Marhez was positioned much higher up the pitch than usual, deliberately in order to get him in behind. That's a deliberate tactical shift.
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Yep. Also They're a very well drilled team, the Kanté/Drinkwater combo doesn't work that well by magic, and overall the team is very coherent in its approach to games. The subs are also usually very logical and well thought (Schlupp usually has a good impact when he comes on for example). It's cute Ranieri wants to downplay his involvement, but the work he's done on the team is huge.
 
Rooney in Paris said:
Yep. Also They're a very well drilled team, the Kanté/Drinkwater combo doesn't work that well by magic, and overall the team is very coherent in its approach to games. The subs are also usually very logical and well thought (Schlupp usually has a good impact when he comes on for example). It's cute Ranieri wants to downplay his involvement, but the work he's done on the team is huge.
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Indeed. They have a specific game plan to play a very high energy game built around urgent and decisive movements, decisions and actions by their players. I can't see how they have any less "tactical nous" than Chelsea had last season.
 
Ranieri has a good record in the transfer market in England, so wont be surprised if they are challenging the top 6 next season, even if Mahrez were to leave.

Leicester are well drilled in defense and midfield with loads of pace upfront causing havoc, its a great balance. They caught everyone out at the start of the season with their gun ho counter attacking football, now teams are more defensive towards them, they will not have the same joy as next season but they will become a permanent fixture in the top 8 at least, imo, for the next few seasons.

Spurs are Spurs, they will always be there or there abouts the top 4. In terms of talent they are just below City, Chelsea and probably United at their disposal. However those teams will likely strengthen big next season, which i cant see Spurs matching with their new 750m Stadium being built at the moment
 
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LawCharltonBest said:
Yes.

They are a squad of talented players who are playing for each other. You can't just go by what you see 'on paper'
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Sounds more like you're saying they play as a unit better than any of those teams, but no way do they have a better squad of individual players. They'll struggle to replicate this form next season IMO
 
Loublaze said:
Sounds more like you're saying they play as a unit better than any of those teams, but no way do they have a better squad of individual players. They'll struggle to replicate this form next season IMO
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Having a better squad of individuals means very little. Spurs have the best squad and the best manager in the league and in my opinion will win the PL next season assuming they keep it together.
 
LawCharltonBest said:
Having a better squad of individuals means very little. Spurs have the best squad and the best manager in the league and in my opinion will win the PL next season assuming they keep it together.
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So Spurs might not win it in a season when all the big clubs decided to become shite together but they will win it when the usual big guns up their game under managers like Pep, Conte, Klopp and hopefully for us (Mourinho)?
 
NK86 said:
So Spurs might not win it in a season when all the big clubs decided to become shite together but they will win it when the usual big guns up their game under managers like Pep, Conte, Klopp and hopefully for us (Mourinho)?
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That's confusing logic right there.
 
AltiUn said:
That's confusing logic right there.
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Not just that. Despite all the bigging up of Spurs, they are still 5 points off Leicester. In fact most here will agree that the points required to win the title this time will be relatively lower. Yet if Spurs don't make it this timez then really why do people keep harping on about them finally getting it together and being the one with the best chance to win it next season?
 
NK86 said:
So Spurs might not win it in a season when all the big clubs decided to become shite together but they will win it when the usual big guns up their game under managers like Pep, Conte, Klopp and hopefully for us (Mourinho)?
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I think they will win it this year, i never said they wouldn't
 
LawCharltonBest said:
I think they will win it this year, i never said they wouldn't
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Did I say you said so. I said they might not win it this year when all the usual top clubs are vulnerable and poor but you think they will pull it off next year?

Let me put it to you this way then. If Leicester take the title this year, would you still back Spurs for next year?
 
NK86 said:
Did I say you said so. I said they might not win it this year when all the usual top clubs are vulnerable and poor but you think they will pull it off next year?

Let me put it to you this way then. If Leicester take the title this year, would you still back Spurs for next year?
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Yes, because like I said on my first post on this thread (which i think you replied to?) i think Spurs will maintain it and Leicester won't.

I can see Leicester losing Raneiri and Mahrez this Summer
 
Difficult to speculate at the moment until we know for sure that Mourinho comes in. Possibly other managerial ins and outs too.

Assuming he comes in and United spend big.. we're a shoe in for top 4. City under Pep will undoubtedly be challenging for the title and after that it gets tricky to predict.

Arsenal are still only a few signings away from being a really good side. . if they fail to make these, for the first time I feel they will genuinely struggle to make top 4 but you can never rule out Wenger.

Chelsea should theoretically spend big and return to the top 4 but Conte has no knowledge of the english league and he may spend money poorly on players who will struggle to handle the english league.

Liverpool look like they're on the up but again signings like Gotze will excite the fans but aren't really what they need. They need to bring in some proper potential stars and revamp that defence with top class talent. Klopp might flatter to deceive and spend money poorly but coach them well.. that won't be enough. They need to buy well and with his coaching skill. . They can be top 4 for sure.

Spurs. . If they keep their manager and squad, back Poch with money. . I trust him to make some astute signings and improve the side but will he be able to produce a squad capable of competing against Pep/Jose team laden with the best gems from Europe. Tough task. Can't see them finishing lower than 7th.

Leicester even if they keep their squad intact.. teams will be wiser to their style of play, every squad will be revamped and they're more likely to keep the squad as it is so I can see them struggling. Top 12 would be an achievement for them with a decent showing in the champions league. . and hopefully get into the Europa League. If Kante and Mahrez leave. . they'll be fighting relegation with a big group of clubs doing the same. I can see West Ham outdoing them.

I think if Jose comes in.. City and United definitely in the top 4. Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea to fight it out top 4.
 
LawCharltonBest said:
Yes, because like I said on my first post on this thread (which i think you replied to?) i think Spurs will maintain it and Leicester won't.

I can see Leicester losing Raneiri and Mahrez this Summer
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I can see Leicester holding on to both, Vardy too. Their owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha said they were gunning for the top five within three years when they got promoted back in 2014. They aim to remain competitive and they're going to spend.
 
Loublaze said:
Sounds more like you're saying they play as a unit better than any of those teams, but no way do they have a better squad of individual players. They'll struggle to replicate this form next season IMO
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Its quite Mourinho like, 10 solid citizens and a magician in Mahrez
 
Leicester no for the same naive reason we expected them to fall away this season

Spurs though are quite conceivable here for the long term
 
The top end of the league is going to be much less predictable with the increased financial parity, and all the better for it. Don't expect a Leicester every season, but don't expect a static 'top four' again either.

Leicester won't be able to reproduce this season. They've been incredibly fortunate with injuries despite minimal rotation. As we all know, you can play better football when you put the same team out every week, but try and do that for more than one season and everyone ends up on the physio's table. A serious injury to Mahrez, or a couple at the same time to Vardy, Kante, Drinkwater or Morgan would have scuppered them this season. They won't get away with it for a second year, especially with European games to contend with. But they could certainly build on their success and have a very good 2016/17. Fourth, fifth or sixth wouldn't be out of the question if luck stays on their side.

Spurs look like they have staying power, though. Keep Pochettino, Kane and Alli and they'll be right back in the mix at the top next season.
 
I love how people are writing off Leicester for next season, for the same reasons they wrote them off as late as December this season. Leicester's most valuable asset is Claudio Renieri, and if they hold on to him he'll keep them challenging for top 4. We shall see how things materialize.
 
Leicester and Spurs are doing well as the so called big ballers are having nightmares.

United have been as up and down as Katie Prices underwear, City exposed for spending their oil money on shit players whilst treating the dug up Pelligrini like muck, Arsenal have been well Arsenal (gutless bottlejobs) and Chelsea failed to strengthen the right areas with the players missing massage from Eva..

They have had more consistency and thats it.
 
LawCharltonBest said:
Yes, because like I said on my first post on this thread (which i think you replied to?) i think Spurs will maintain it and Leicester won't.

I can see Leicester losing Raneiri and Mahrez this Summer
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That is not my point. I am not saying whether Spurs will maintain their current level. They may but this season that level may see them fall short (quite short actually), so what is to say their current level will help them achieve it next season especially considering that at least 1-2 of the big teams will be back in the fray.

I cannot see all the top sides going through two poor seasons back to back. With Pep, Conte and Mourinho at the helm you can be almost rest assured that these sides will take up their levels much higher than what we have seen this season.

Personally I don't see Spurs being in contention next time around. I see them challenging for a top 4 spot along with us, Arsenal and Liverpoool. I just don't see them having enough about them to push for the title especially if they fall short against Leicester when the title was there for the taking.
 
Loublaze said:
I love how people are writing off Leicester for next season, for the same reasons they wrote them off as late as December this season. Leicester's most valuable asset is Claudio Renieri, and if they hold on to him he'll keep them challenging for top 4. We shall see how things materialize.
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It's fair enough to believe they will drop down the league next season when you consider how literally everything has fallen for them this season, a virtual lack of injuries to their most important players who have missed just a handful of matches between them ; Kante, Vardy, Mahrez, Drinkwater, Schmeichel, Albrighton and Huth. Add to that their lack of other games so far this season ; Leicester 36, United 48, Liverpool 49 etc. etc., they could even recently afford to give their players a whole week off mid-season to refresh themselves before another week of light training, that's 2 full weeks off between matches.

Compare that to teams such as United and Liverpool who played 4 games in 11 days whilst Leicester were enjoying themselves on the beach or golf course. They are going to be bright and full of energy for every match.

Next season I don't doubt Ranieri will still be there, Vardy too as he's 29 yrs old and in the middle of his 'Career Season', the same can be said for Albrighton, Huth, Morgan and maybe Schmeichel too. But I expect a queue of suitors for Kante, Mahrez and Drinkwater.

Next season you can add at least 6 CL games to their schedule and maybe they'll drop into the EL and get to play another 6-8 games or more. Add that to their small squad and loss of at least a couple of their stars, the strengthening with new managers of the 'Moneyed' clubs and the PL cash for everyone to bring in fresh blood ... and next season all of sudden begins to look daunting.
 
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NK86 said:
That is not my point. I am not saying whether Spurs will maintain their current level. They may but this season that level may see them fall short (quite short actually), so what is to say their current level will help them achieve it next season especially considering that at least 1-2 of the big teams will be back in the fray.

I cannot see all the top sides going through two poor seasons back to back. With Pep, Conte and Mourinho at the helm you can be almost rest assured that these sides will take up their levels much higher than what we have seen this season.

Personally I don't see Spurs being in contention next time around. I see them challenging for a top 4 spot along with us, Arsenal and Liverpoool. I just don't see them having enough about them to push for the title especially if they fall short against Leicester when the title was there for the taking.
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Thing is, im being asked my prediction and after I give it you're basically just saying "no"

My prediction is that Spurs will win it next season. Your assumption is that Chelsea City and United will be stronger and seem to be accepting that as fact.

Fair enough. But I don't see it that way. I think all 3 need overhauls to their squads and each have too many bad eggs. I think Pep will struggle in his first season, Conte will need more than a season to turn a team finishing about 8th into Champions and LvG will still be at United who will struggle badly.

I think Leicester will lose a bit this Summer and find it tougher next season with added expectation. So I think Spurs are in a fantastic position, wherever they finish this season, to just shore up a few areas while keeping their key personnel and they will be by far the strongest team next season.
 
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