Well we are almost halfway through the season and I must say there have been a number of developments that have taken me by surprise. In no particular order, here goes: Alli - I didn't really get a chance to watch him last year, so maybe I shouldn't be surprised. But it seems like it is going to be really hard for anyone to dislodge him from the starting 11. Did anyone see that coming? Dier - I figured playing him in midfield was a stopgap measure with Mason and Bentaleb both injured, but he has been fantastic. Great move by MP. Lamela - He has really stepped up his game, glad we weren't able to sell him. Dembele - Another guy who almost left, but lately has been showing why he is important to the team. Vertonghen and Alderwiereld - Not only are they doing great, but they hardly ever miss a game. That is the real surprise for me - in the past I have compared playing CB for Spurs to playing drums for Spinal Tap. Kane - Not really surprised that he is having another good year, but he is playing almost every minute and that is a real concern. Lloris is another. Is Vorm really stinking it up in training? I'm a little surprised we have not seen him more in non-EPL games. Goal differential - Well there was certainly a lot of room for improvement, but it is noteworthy how much the defense has improved. What is standing out for you guys?
pretty much all you said. I thought Alli might be good, but didn't expect it to happen so fast. however, i think Dembele is the player of the 1st half of the season. Toby probly right up there at #2 my biggest concern is Dier at DM playing so many minutes, and then Kane also shouldering a load of minutes. I think Son can cover the 2nd issue pretty well, but I'd like to see Spurs pick up a Scott Parker type veteran DM in January to backup Dier
Agreed for the most part, specially about Alli. I think we all knew that Toby and Vert were going to be good, but it is the level of good which I think most of us are surprised at. Can't wait for Bentaleb to be back from injury. I believe it was a Bentaleb/Alli paring the only match Dier missed this season, correct?
you fellas have pretty much nailed it for me. I was mortified when we didn't get another DM in, but Dier's been a revelation. and not only Alli, but that we continue to have still more kids that look like potential contributors to the first team is brilliant. for the last 15 years, it's always been 'so-and-so looks promising', but they end up getting loaned out and eventually sold, and in the end you start to think that the club producing, rather than buying, anyone of note was simply a thing of the past. I find what we're doing with our youth to be exhilarating. I will say that I was hoping to have seen more of Pritchard by now, though (not that there isn't good reason). Also, after Son's initial appearances, I admit to thinking he'd be a bigger factor by now, as well (though he, too, has had the injury issue). How good Vertonghen has looked defensively (thanks Toby) I didn't see coming, nor Dembele's wonderful reversion to the Dembele of Fulham. mostly though, the thing that I simply did not envision was how much I would be liking this team. A little over a year ago I was lamenting how our squad was bereft of players that I really, really just liked. Now, I'll be damned if even Lamela isn't starting to grow on me! just sort the hair out, son, and quit looking so effin' girly, and you'll be right there.
Our needs from the summer haven't changed despite how well the team has performed. We could still use an experienced DM and another forward of some sort.
one thing about lamela that I have noticed this year - he has toughened up. he was such a lightweight the first two seasons. now he is willing to get in and get after it
Great points by Funkfoot, Pook, Choc, Nutter and everyone else. But what will stand out for me is what Levy does going forward. I made the argument before the season that there's a different philosophy at Spurs, and I want to see if January and the summer of 2016 bears that out. We're only looking to spend if: A) The player fits the role, and; B) If his valuation is judged to be correct. To me, that means the January window is going to be difficult. Teams know we're in the running for top four and exactly what we want, so the valuations may be a problem. This may limit us in the short term, but I think it's beneficial long term. For me, if we can get a striker in, that would be enough, and I wouldn't be surprised if that's all the business we did (it's the only position I've heard Poch mention in regards to January). I agree with Pook, this is a very likable team. I love Alli. Never thought he'd be this good this fast, and love the fight in the guy. Who would have thought our meanest and toughest player would be a 19-year-old? I did think Dier was going to be a good CB in the future, but didn't realize he'd be so effective as a DM. Credit to Poch with Dembele. MP said he had a role to play at WHL this year. I was skeptical. Toby is my #1 player. He's cool and calm and has Vert playing at his best. Top signing. My biggest worry, like many of you, is rotation. I believe MP doesn't want to play you unless you're 100% fit, but that philosophy risks overplaying those that are 100% fit.
I have to say, I don't know what to think. Is it awful that I have a hard time trusting that this team is for real, that we are lining up to be a serious top 4 contender instead of a wishful/hopeful that we can maybe sneak into it? We've had good first halves before only to swoon as the season wears on. The way we are abusing Bale, Dier and Lloris could recapitulate that history. I'll believe in May... maybe. Anyway, England is going to lose a Champion's League slot and that will boot Spurs out. Watch.
I am sure you meant Kane not Bale? and they are still a young bunch, even if they drop to 5th or 6th its still a team with a good future IMO. my only concern is that now is the season up for grabs, next year Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd may all be back to "normal" such that even if Spurs are improved its a tougher battle overall. also, if England loses a spot, I believe it does not take effect until the following season? but so far I don't think much ground has been lost this season anyhow. I am more concerned Chelsea will pull a manager out of the hat that wins the CL again...
The good... Our first 11 is as strong as anyone. A great goalkeeper, rock solid centre back pairing, 2 adventurous full backs bang in form. Dier a revelation in the holding role, an attacking midfield of Dembele and Alli (how good is this kid?) who complement each other perfectly, even down to being a right foot left foot combo. A 3/4 forward line with the guile and craft of Eriksen and the tenacity and dribbling of Lamela, or the pace and ability to cover ground of Son. Plus of course some lad up front so good that meteorologists named nature's most destructive force after him. The bad... Whether through injury or otherwise, we've not seen much of some of the backups. Davies, Trippier, Chadli, Bentaleb, Mason, Pritchard, N'jie - these are all guys who could contribute heavily but for one reason or other they haven't. If they were all playing the occasional game to keep them ticking over and we were playing 9 or so first teamers with a couple filling in in every game, we wouldn't have a problem. As it is, there are a lot of miles in a lot of legs - I can't help but think we're building up to a game somewhere with half a team of rusty and untried second string. The ugly... There have been too many draws, but most are kind of OK results. West Brom away for example, or Leicester when we went 1 0 up quite late - sure we should be winning that but sometimes you have to take a point and move on. 2 results stand out as not OK though. Stoke at home from 2 0 up, and losing to Newcastle. These could cost us, imagine that league table with 5 or even 3 more points.
Honestly, I don't see as many games as most of you. So my thoughts are more based on gut feeling and whatever I read. The team is building a strong base. In Poch they finally have a coach with a vision who is being given the time to develop it. I love to see the youngins coming through. It's exciting to think what next year or the year after could bring if there is stability at the club. At one point I was thinking, imagine if we were fans in late 1960. We'd not know that a Double was going to be achieved by the end of that season. We'd want to say, we followed the team through that year, stayed with them, and took our share in the Glory. I'm starting to feel that way about this team, I want to pay more attention so that I can remember this and savor it. We've been through too many false dawns and disappointments. Lasagne, Redknapp blowing the 13 point gap or whatever it was... so it's hard to find that optimism amidst all our Spursiness. But the direction seems very positive.
I'm disappointed that everyone agrees and there are no controversies - I thought this was the internet!
obviously, the biggest surprise of the season is nothing to do with Spurs; Chelsea being within a couple points of the drop zone going into January simply could not have been foreseen. that said, one thing that will not surprise me, despite the length of the odds*, will be when they finish in the bottom half, win the Champions League, and we come 4th. I know, I know. But it's a thought that will continue to haunt me until they're eliminated from the CL. C'mon, PSG. *actually, I wonder what kind of odds I could get on that. i'd put a tenner on it. it's a bet i'd want to lose ... but a couple thousand quid would salve the pain a bit.
At this point, I don't think it is a good bet 1 - Spurs will finish above 4th 2 - Chelsea will not win the CL 3 - Only the possibility is of Chelsea finishing in the bottom half
Panic not. There would be 5 English teams in the CL should the unfathomable Chelsea thing happen. But seriously, imagine this Chelsea team playing Barca or Bayern. Or Real, or June. Or anyone good really.
It's definitely true for a team winning the Europa, they get a 5th. I'm pretty sure that the relaxing of the "4 teams max" rule under those circumstances means that we'd be OK. That we're even considering this with a season only half through and genuinely in contention for the title? Now THAT'S Spursy.
The way that UEFA has worded it is that "No more than five clubs can enter the UEFA Champions League from one national association." (source) Therefore, if a repeat of 2012 were to happen, Chelsea would be into the group automatically while we would be in the playoff. If we win the EL and Chelsea don't win the CL, we will at worst be in the playoff. We would be elevated to the group stage if the CL winner qualifies for the group stage through league play OR obviously if we finish top 3. Now, if we win the EL and Chelsea win the CL, then we'd better be in the top 4 or else there will be hell to pay.