Squad selections again mostly.So why the slow start last season?
So why the slow start last season?
My opinion is that the Premier League is a very different beast to what it was even 4 years ago. With Chelsea, Liverpool and United all struggling lately it's narrowed the gap to the mid table teams who are now capable of attracting excellent players due to high wages and high fees that they can now afford.
If we look at Tottenham in a bit more detail:
14/15 Stats
Position: 5th
Goals Scored: 58
Goals Conceded: 53
Goal Difference: 5
Jan Vertonghen - 2810mins
Danny Rose - 2371mins
Eric Dier - 2290mins (played CB/RB)
Federico Fazio - 1777mins
Kyle Walker - 1307mins
Younès Kaboul - 990mins
The above defense obviously wasn't working. So Poch decided to bring in Alderweireld to replace Fazio, convert Dier into a DM and bring Wimmer to replace Kaboul. At that point the defense had major surgery and required some time to adjust. So rather than playing expansive football from the start, he allowed his defense to gel. The start of the season for them was disappointing, 5 draws, 1 loss and 4 wins from the opening 10 games. But if you looked at their Achilles heel in 14/15 (the defense) they had conceded 8 goals but scored 16 in 15/16, giving them a GD of +8, promising. It was at that point that Poch allowed Rose and Walker to start pushing forward and by midpoint in the season they'd scored 33 and conceded 15, compared to 14/15 of 24 scored, 24 conceded.
15/16 Stats
Position: 3rd
Goals Scored: 69 (+11)
Goals Conceded: 35 (-18)
Goal Difference: 34 (+29)
When you look at the huge improvement in their defense but then take into consideration their slow start to the season it puts it into perspective that nobody should really be under estimating Spurs. They won't be changing tactics, they won't be changing their first team defense. They'll be a settled first team that can hit the ground running from the opening game. Also if you look at the results against the top teams from last season they are as follows:
Manchester United (A) - 1:0
Leicester City (A) - 1:1
Manchester City (H) - 4:1
Liverpool FC (H) - 0:0
Arsenal FC (A) - 1:1
Chelsea FC (H) - 0:0
Leicester City (H) - 0:1
Manchester City (A) - 1:2
Arsenal FC (H) - 2:2
Liverpool FC (A) - 1:1
Manchester United (H) - 3:0
Chelsea FC (A) - 2:2
Only 2 losses and 1 of them being against us in the opening game of the season. If they are going for the title they need to convert a few more of those into wins. But they're a very difficult team to beat.
The obvious area of improvement is bringing in a player to give Kane cover (Poch seems to have identified Janssen for that). They've replaced Mason with Wanyama who will bring much needed depth to their midfield and the last remaining area of improvement in my opinion is bringing in another attacking danger to play on the right. Lamela is a good work horse and had a good end to the season (4 assists and 2 goals in final 6 games) but they need someone with a consistent goal threat and that's not Lamela. Gotze could provide the answer. I also expect Clinton N'Jie to do well for them, he was unlucky he got badly injured just as he was looking to have settled.
They've got the best pair of full backs in the league and very good consistent players everywhere else in their squad. All they're really missing is real matchwinning ability in attack (all other of the big teams have this)
You were surprised he was overlooked in a year Ranieri won the league with Leicester? It would've been a travesty to give it to anyone else.Might be an unpopular opinion everywhere, but I believe Pochettino is among the best manager in the league and in the world. I am still suprised he was overlooked for manager of the year last season amongst everyone, but if he keep this up, I do not believe he will be overlooked again.
I feel he has not strengthen that much this season beside Wanyama and if he had a better transfer window, he would have been on top of the league. He should have went for Zaha or a winger of such quality that could give them depth and a pacey striker over Janssen. However, even though Janssen has been unimpressive so far, he still has an opportunity to come through.
On a side note, what happened to Lamela? I thought, this season he will be one of their stand out player. He seems to be the forgotten man.
Spurs are better this season, and no club will go as easy on Chelsea as they did on Leicester when it comes to the closing months.people were saying the same last season, Spurs are battering everyone and Leicester will fall away
I agree, couldn't have put it better. SpyWrote this a few months back:
Yea and as many already know on here, I was not a big fan of that decision for several logical reasons. Even though, I admit that what Leceister did was unprecedented last season, I do not believe most of the credit went to Ranieri to merit that success. Leceister this season shows the incapabilty from Ranieri and also poor managerial acumen to continue upon a DNA that was so successful for Leceister last season and towards the end of the season before last. If Ranieri was the main architect of Leceister success last season, they would not struggle as much as they are this season.You were surprised he was overlooked in a year Ranieri won the league with Leicester? It would've been a travesty to give it to anyone else.
You can downplay Ranieri's part in the achievement as much as you want, the reality is still that he managed Leicester to a Premier League title. Liverpool managers, players and fans would be able to tell you just how difficult it is to win a Premier League title. It's a monumental achievement, arguably the single biggest upset in the history of any sport. The manager of the year award doesn't concern itself with what happened in prior or subsequent seasons, it judges a single season. And in that single season, Ranieri managed what should have been impossible. There was no one more deserving as him.Yea and as many already know on here, I was not a big fan of that decision for several logical reasons. Even though, I admit that what Leceister did was unprecedented last season, I do not believe most of the credit went to Ranieri to merit that success. Leceister this season shows the incapabilty from Ranieri and also poor managerial acumen to continue upon a DNA that was so successful for Leceister last season and towards the end of the season before last. If Ranieri was the main architect of Leceister success last season, they would not struggle as much as they are this season.
Indeed it would. Fully deserved ... and to a nice guy for a change too.You were surprised he was overlooked in a year Ranieri won the league with Leicester? It would've been a travesty to give it to anyone else.
Indeed it would. Fully deserved ... and to a nice guy for a change too.
Yea and as many already know on here, I was not a big fan of that decision for several logical reasons. Even though, I admit that what Leceister did was unprecedented last season, I do not believe most of the credit went to Ranieri to merit that success. Leceister this season shows the incapabilty from Ranieri and also poor managerial acumen to continue upon a DNA that was so successful for Leceister last season and towards the end of the season before last. If Ranieri was the main architect of Leceister success last season, they would not struggle as much as they are this season.
How do Spurs fans feel the players (who were major features in the previous season) have done this season? Have any at all kicked on a notch?
Looked like Lamela was going to but it wasn't to be. All the other key players don't seem to have raised their game.
I will shed many a tear when the Lane goes and I leave the old girl for the last time. My dad God bless used to take me there from the age of 5 and many of my best days and memories are locked in there.
I wish we didn't have to do this but the new stadium is going to be special in its own way, and I love the designs and the crowd considerations that seem to have gone into it.
Incidentally Utd will be the final visitors to grace the famous old ground!
We love visiting grounds for the final time, don't we?
On another note, Vertonghen will be out with what's been confirmed as ligament damage.
We love visiting grounds for the final time, don't we?
On another note, Vertonghen will be out with what's been confirmed as ligament damage.
Very average team. Spurs this, Spurs that yet they're level on points with City who've been battered in the press almost all year if they lose next weekend.
Going to savour the inevitable yearly Spurs collapse once the pressure's turned on.
I'd say Alli has kicked on, he's scored about as many as he did all of last year. Rose and Walker continue to improve. Overall everyone seems slightly better and as a unit we appear to be much more mature and composed than last season.How do Spurs fans feel the players (who were major features in the previous season) have done this season? Have any at all kicked on a notch?
Looked like Lamela was going to but it wasn't to be. All the other key players don't seem to have raised their game.
Big blow for Spurs with Vertonghen. He'll be out for a couple of months at least.
Just had a look at their other options in the middle of defence to partner Alderweireld and there's not much if any support there. Be surprised if they don't bring someone in this month.
Very average team. Spurs this, Spurs that yet they're level on points with City who've been battered in the press almost all year if they lose next weekend.
Going to savour the inevitable yearly Spurs collapse once the pressure's turned on.
I'm surprised you say that.Big blow for Spurs with Vertonghen. He'll be out for a couple of months at least.
Just had a look at their other options in the middle of defence to partner Alderweireld and there's not much if any support there. Be surprised if they don't bring someone in this month.
Not been a big fan of his whenever I've seen him, but the academy seems short on wingers so I hope he does well.Pochettino's youngest just joined the academy, a skilful winger by all accounts, not like his old man then!
Not been a big fan of his whenever I've seen him, but the academy seems short on wingers so I hope he does well.
We've also added Teemu Tainio's son Maximus who will join the setup from HJK in July. It appears he's a holding mid.
Greggs?Some interesting minor-ish details are emerging about our impending new stadium, including:
* A purpose-built glass-walled tunnel, which will allow guests to see the players lining up before they enter the pitch.
* An in-stadium micro-brewery making craft beer, with a beer delivery system pouring up to 10,000 pints per minute and a bar that stretches for 86.8 metres.
* An in-house bakery.
* A Sky Lounge, located on both sides of level nine of the stadium along the length of the pitch.
* Premium seats which will be heated and have USB points.
* A member’s club with Michelin star dining.
* A public square the size of Trafalgar Square
Greggs?
Very average team. Spurs this, Spurs that yet they're level on points with City who've been battered in the press almost all year if they lose next weekend.
Going to savour the inevitable yearly Spurs collapse once the pressure's turned on.
Some interesting minor-ish details are emerging about our impending new stadium, including:
* A purpose-built glass-walled tunnel, which will allow guests to see the players lining up before they enter the pitch.
* An in-stadium micro-brewery making craft beer, with a beer delivery system pouring up to 10,000 pints per minute and a bar that stretches for 86.8 metres.
* An in-house bakery.
* A Sky Lounge, located on both sides of level nine of the stadium along the length of the pitch.
* Premium seats which will be heated and have USB points.
* A member’s club with Michelin star dining.
* A public square the size of Trafalgar Square
Bloody ell, doesn't sound much like football, but it will certainly be an amazing corporate event. I hope it's a proper micro brewery though, that means the pints would only be about 4 quid max; otherwise I can't see your die hard Spurs fan being all too happy with a "gentrification" of it all.
It will be quite an enviable stadium and you could stick it right to all those Arsenal lot who bang on about theirs.
Spurs need to win a trophy again before they can start making Arsenal fans envious. They will always be in Arsenal's shadow until they do that.Bloody ell, doesn't sound much like football, but it will certainly be an amazing corporate event. I hope it's a proper micro brewery though, that means the pints would only be about 4 quid max; otherwise I can't see your die hard Spurs fan being all too happy with a "gentrification" of it all.
It will be quite an enviable stadium and you could stick it right to all those Arsenal lot who bang on about theirs.
Spurs need to win a trophy again before they can start making Arsenal fans envious. They will always be in Arsenal's shadow until they do that.
