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Do me a Personal Favor

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localny

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I watched that match yesterday. We were without our Talisman, managed by a Mediocre manager, with our top Striker still sulking, away from home against a supposed top 4 side.

PLEASE don't tell me, our squad isn't good enough to make the top 4. Of course it is. Even with the handicaps we have, we're well capable of making it this year. It's all in our head. Teams are dropping points everywhere.

Everyone upped their performance, and it reminded me of the Autumn 2004, when we were without Gerrard, winning big games in Europe.

I really would like a new manager, but there's no reason why we can't make the top 4 this season - Spurs really weren't that much better, and we haven't made any of the investment in our squad that they or Citeh have. Imagine with a few more flair players after January, where we'll be...
 
I've believed all along that we can challenge for 4th if we find our best form and sustain it, though (a) having Roy as manager doesn't make that particularly likely and (b) I don't think we'll spend much in January.
 
I agree, but we need to start performing like that on a regular basis away from home AND stop with all the defensive fuckups.
 
I said at the start of the season that we have the 6th best squad in the league and I stand by it. Taking us to 4th should however be within the realms of possibility and it's what I would expect from a good manager. With Hodgson, I expect us to finish about 8th or 9th at best.
 
We're not capable of making top four because the squad isn't good enough.

Roy should be expected to finish 5th or 6th, but I don't think he will.
 
I agree that Man City and Spurs have better squads than us. It is however arguable that we have better quality in our first team. I certainly don't see either City or Spurs having a Premiership proven world class spine of Reina, Carra, Gerrard, and Torres (and now possibly even Meireles). At the start of the season, I would have said that with some luck on the injury front, intelligent use of the Mascherano money, and good management, 4th would be a distinct possibility. We've been fucked on all three counts and the best we can hope for now really is 8th.
 
[quote author=dmishra link=topic=42996.msg1226271#msg1226271 date=1291064412]
I agree that Man City and Spurs have better squads than us. It is however arguable that we have better quality in our first team. I certainly don't see either City or Spurs having a Premiership proven world class spine of Reina, Carra, Gerrard, and Torres (and now possibly even Meireles). At the start of the season, I would have said that with some luck on the injury front, intelligent use of the Mascherano money, and good management, 4th would be a distinct possibility. We've been fucked on all three counts and the best we can hope for now really is 8th.
[/quote]

Yeah, you left out 5 or 6 other players in our first team.

It isn't 5-a-side.
 
6th best Squad is a fair review, i think. Quite reasonable.....

I also agree that a good manager should be able to get us to challenge for 4th place by capitalizing on any slip ups by the squads immediately above us (Spurs and City). A great manager should also be able to get the better of City and Spurs by making use of the genuine world class players we have in our team. I think Torres, Gerrard and Reina would just walk in to any club in the Premiership, City and Spurs don't have any players of that caliber. You could make a case for Bale and Tevez at a push, but they are still a rung below the level of Torres, Gerrard and Reina.


But they have both got a whole host of good players, while we only have Carra, Agger, Johnson, Kuty, Meireles, Maxi and Cole who could be considered good players and the others are just average players making up the numbers.

If we could add two (three would be just too good) good players in the Mid season transfer window, we can be quite competitive.
 
Lads, how on earth is that Spurs team better than us? They really aren't - and they are candidates for forth. Hand on heart, I think we're selling ourselves short.
 
[quote author=localny link=topic=42996.msg1226448#msg1226448 date=1291111500]
Lads, how on earth is that Spurs team better than us? They really aren't - and they are candidates for forth. Hand on heart, I think we're selling ourselves short.
[/quote]

They have a far better squad than us, and that's what I think is the most important factor. And a better manager. That is also important.
 
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=42996.msg1226452#msg1226452 date=1291111957]
[quote author=localny link=topic=42996.msg1226448#msg1226448 date=1291111500]
Lads, how on earth is that Spurs team better than us? They really aren't - and they are candidates for forth. Hand on heart, I think we're selling ourselves short.
[/quote]

They have a far better squad than us, and that's what I think is the most important factor. And a better manager. That is also important.
[/quote]

They beat us quite a lot too.

And finish ahead of us in the league. Do you want any more clues, Local?
 
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=42996.msg1226452#msg1226452 date=1291111957]
[quote author=localny link=topic=42996.msg1226448#msg1226448 date=1291111500]
Lads, how on earth is that Spurs team better than us? They really aren't - and they are candidates for forth. Hand on heart, I think we're selling ourselves short.
[/quote]

They have a far better squad than us, and that's what I think is the most important factor. And a better manager. That is also important.
[/quote]

I guess that's my point. I don't think they do. Better manager yes.

Squiggles, your capable of higher thinking that that...

We're all so pessimistic about how far we're falling behind. I don't agree that we are, except in the managerial department. We're well capable of forth.
 
I've never met anyone who thinks our squad is stronger than Spurs.

You're overrating the squad to give you further room to attack a manager who you have wanted out since the beginning, IMO.
 
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=42996.msg1226732#msg1226732 date=1291138486]
I've never met anyone who thinks our squad is stronger than Spurs.

You're overrating the squad to give you further room to attack a manager who you have wanted out since the beginning, IMO.
[/quote]

I think we are. Definitely want him out, but don't feel the need to further attack... It's done..
 
Redknapp is a better manager than Hodgson, but there's no way we have a stronger squad than them.
 
[quote author=Avmenon link=topic=42996.msg1226775#msg1226775 date=1291145511]
Redknapp is a better manager than Hodgson, but there's no way we have a stronger squad than them.
[/quote]

I just think we're under-rating ourselves. I think we're well capable of finishing above Spurs, with a bit of self belief, a player or two more, and a decent manager.
 
[quote author=localny link=topic=42996.msg1226777#msg1226777 date=1291145803]
[quote author=Avmenon link=topic=42996.msg1226775#msg1226775 date=1291145511]
Redknapp is a better manager than Hodgson, but there's no way we have a stronger squad than them.
[/quote]

I just think we're under-rating ourselves. I think we're well capable of finishing above Spurs, with a bit of self belief, a player or two more, and a decent manager.
[/quote]

I agree, but that's based on us having everyone available for most of the season and largely in-form, the problem we've got is that when we get a couple of injuries we're fucked. Spurs lose a striker and have another three to choose from (for example), and that's what will make the difference.
 
i think it's a bit unfair - although that's probably not quite the wrong word - to look at our squad in comparison to tottenham's, because not only is their 'squad' (ie the players outside the 1st XI) better than ours, but it's better than pretty much everyone's except man city. the strength of our squad is our 1st XI, which you could argue is better than spurs's, and the strength of their squad is their backup players.

spurs can name a reserve XI of:

cudicini
corluka
bassong
dawson
gallas (can't think of another LB)
palacios
huddlestone
bentley
krancjar
pavlyuchenko
defoe

i doubt even chelsea, utd or arsenal could match that.
 
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=42996.msg1226783#msg1226783 date=1291146292]
[quote author=localny link=topic=42996.msg1226777#msg1226777 date=1291145803]
[quote author=Avmenon link=topic=42996.msg1226775#msg1226775 date=1291145511]
Redknapp is a better manager than Hodgson, but there's no way we have a stronger squad than them.
[/quote]

I just think we're under-rating ourselves. I think we're well capable of finishing above Spurs, with a bit of self belief, a player or two more, and a decent manager.
[/quote]

I agree, but that's based on us having everyone available for most of the season and largely in-form, the problem we've got is that when we get a couple of injuries we're fucked. Spurs lose a striker and have another three to choose from (for example), and that's what will make the difference.
[/quote]

Good points Mark. Our weakness is down to two seasons of underinvestment, while selling our talent (Alonso, Masher). Easily remedied with some money from our new owners, I would think, in some safe purchases. I really hope they aren't writing the season off..
 
Thinking more and back to the original point though, no Gerrard, Cole, and we had a not bothered Torres. Plus an average manager - and we still were unlucky to lose to Spurs. Gives me reason to be cheerful - the gap ain't that big.
 
We can make the top 4 but have to show ambition to:
# put together a sequence of consecutive wins
# start winning on the road
# show more belief and self confidence.

Teams will continue to drop points and so long as we keep winning, we're in with a realistic shout!
 
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