Predicted league finish for Spurs this season.

africanspur

That would be an absolutely disastrous run of form. We already have 45 points, need another 25 points to basically guarantee 4th, 30 to absolutely ensure it. From 18 games.

I'm not 100% sure where this idea has come from that we will collapse either tbh. We've gained more points in the second half of the season than first in 4 of the past 5 seasons and unlike you, City, Arsenal and Chelsea, have no European commitments in the second half of the season. Arsenal are more prone to collapses in recent seasons.

africanspur

And people mention our hard run of away games, which is fair enough (though people talk as if we're going to come out of them with 0 points. But it also means we have Wolves, Wigan, Newcastle, Stoke, Swansea, Norwich, Blackburn and Fulham still to come at home, as well as Man utd.

Not a bad set of games to have at home.

Feeky_Magee

African, tell your boys to cop on eh? Forgetting who they are.

Cling Bak

They've been incredibly impressive and consistent.

If United and Spurs win their games on Saturday, there'll be a three way tie at the top; albeit with City still to play on Monday.

Their upcoming fixtures, as well as squad depth stand in their way, I feel. They've had a reasonably comfortable run through December - you need to win them, full credit, these are the games Spurs stumbled on in the last two years - but this looks tougher:

14/01: Wolves (h)
22/01: Man City (a)
28/01: Watford (a) (FA Cup)
31/01: Wigan (h)
06/02: Liverpool (a)
11/02: Newcastle (h)
26/02: Arsenal (a)
03/03: Man Utd (h)
10/03: Everton (a)
17/03: Stoke (h)
24/03: Chelsea (a)

If they're seven points off the top after that, I'll believe. They'll have 8 games remaining and could conceivably win them all.

With that, I don't question their best XI but their squad depth. Below is their squad. I have only listed players who have realistic ambitions of being used in first team games, not some 17 year old who plays three positions for the reserves.

GK: Friedel, Gomes
FB: Walker, Assou-Ekotto, Corluka, Rose
CB: Kaboul, Gallas*, Bassong, King*, Dawson
CM: Parker*, Modric, Sandro, Livermore, Huddlestone*
W: Bale, Lennon, Kranjcar, Pienaar, Giovani
FW: Adebayor*, Van der Vaart, Defoe, Pavlyuchenko

Gallas is injured, been in and out all season
King is obviously injured, due back February, but will always spring a surprise in fairness
Is Dawson fit now?
Parker I believe has an injury, but not long term
Huddlestone out till late Feb, earliest
Adebayor at ACN

On paper, they have reasonable cover, but Bassong, Rose, Corluka, Pienaar, Krancjar, Pavlyuchenko have played only a handful of games each and don't seem to be trusted very much.

MUFCgal

I can't see them dropping out of the top 4. Sure they've got some tough away games, but their home games will favour them a lot (toughest home game is against us).

Hopefully they can keep it up and finish in the top 3. A guy I work with who supports them, he said it's the first time in years that he genuinely believes they can win the title. And why shouldn't they believe it? They're 3 points off the top, have great players, playing good football and have confidence.

Everybody is expecting them to fade away a bit towards the end of the season, but I'm not so sure.

wr8_utd

If we don't win the league I'd love it if Spurs won.

golden_blunder

was just thinking that this morning

africanspur

GK: Friedel, Gomes, Cudicini
Defence: Walker, Corluka, Dawson, Kaboul, Bassong, King, Gallas, BAE, Rose
Midfield: Lennon, Pienaar, Kranjcar, Sandro, Parker, Huddlestone, Modric, Livermore, Bale, GDS
Strikers: Adebayor, VDV, Defoe, Pav

I think we have very reasonable cover tbh, though it can certainly be improved up front (need another player like Adebayor, both in terms of playing style and ability) and cover for Bale and Lennon on the wings (though Townsend on loan at Leeds is a good prospect).

A second eleven of

Gomes/Cudicini

Corluka
Dawson
Gallas
Rose

Pienaar
Sandro
Huddlestone
Kranjcar

Defoe
Pav

is more than reasonable imo.

Dawson is back, Parker should hopefully be back by the weekend and Togo didn't qualify the ACN.

africanspur

I hope they continue! Maybe with this new mentality, they won't roll over against you lot this time either.

Cling Bak

They certainly shouldn't. Whether they can look further though, more debatable.


It's reasonable, but rarely are all those players trusted. Don't know how they'd fare if thrown all together during an injury/suspension "crisis".

Forgot about Togo, right you are, not sure what I was thinking.

africanspur

I don't think Redknapp has too many trust issues with them, 7 of that 11 played a big role in getting us into the CL 2 seasons ago, Redknapp just seems to be a huge fan of playing his best possible team for each league match.

We'll need to rotate if we're in the CL next season but considering that we only have the PL and FA cup left, and congestion doesn't really occur in league fixtures in the second half of the season, we should hopefully be fine. 2 seasons ago, we didn't rotate a great deal and players like Pav and Kranjcar came in from the squad and did a great job replacing injured players. Then reserves have done a great job so far covering injuries, I hope it will continue.

Just please not Adebayor.

africanspur

He's looking great isn't he? I'm a bit skeptical about a player who has failed two medicals by the age of 26, though I have no idea why we weren't in for him in the summer when he was on a free. Doesn't mean he would have come but..at least try.

Knowing our luck, we'd probably sign him for 15/20 million and then his knee would explode the next day.

Treble

Unlike City and us they don't play in Europe which could turn out to be quite important in the second half of the season. We and City will have to play several games only 2-3 days before our PL fixtures.

Zen86

They fully deserve a top 4 place, which is seeming more and more like a formality for them now. Can't really see them winning the league though.

Judge Red

On current form I expect them to go and get three points at the Emptihad.

Stretch

I've always had a bit of soft spot for Spurs. I always back them in their matches which don't concern us. Hopefully they can nick some points of City when they meet. But ol' 'Arry's done really well with his team. 3rd Looks really good for them but they might just shock us and go on to take it or even 2nd. 2nd is certainly a very likely possibility, can't write them off.

Chrisjn_

Well done Harry for outright refusing to sell Modric. His plan is coming together.

Guy Incognito

The thing about Adebayor is if he signs, would he need to prove himself? He may just go back to how he was at Manchester City and his last season at Arsenal, having no real incentive.

I say this could be a big season for Spurs as a) they look odds on to make it into the Champions League which will boost the income, b) we will know more about the financing for the new stadium, c) can they hold on to their players and d) will Levy give Redknapp the funds to sign another marquee player?

Randall Flagg

I think the bigger question is if Harry will leave to take the England job.

Unless they got a top replacement the whole thing could fall apart

Irwinwastheking

I'd always rather a London team to win it if we don't.

Man-United

Have nothing against Spurs at all, never had. Hope they finish in the top 4 which means two of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool to miss the Champions League next season.

Cold_Boy

If we don't win it, I hope Spurs win it.

And Glaston to be banned from here right after that.

Dresilved

It would be such a kick in the bollocks to City, would almost be worth it to see spuds win it

rcoobc

Personally I'd love to see Spurs and Arsenal finish in the top 4 with Spurs finishing 2nd behind us; that would please me no end. I'd like Arsenal to get top 4, but we can't have them too smug so finishing behind Spurs should help there.

Guy Incognito

It would be.

If Spurs do win the league, would that just highlight how weak the Premier League has become? Harry agreed with a journo yesterday that they'll never will have a better chance of winning the title, but they said the same thing last season. The fact that Manchester City have started the season so well yet are only three points clear is testment to Sir Alex chopping and changing the squad when needen to.

What's favourable for Spurs is that they don't have any European commitments. I can see them going on a winning run after those Feb games and if they win the league, I'd tip my hat to Redknapp. The problem then would be balancing Champions League football for the following season and sustaining success - which is the hard part.

Adzzz

Definitely preferable to City winning it. Plus, it'd annoy Arsenal and Chelsea no end.

Team Brian GB

It wouldn't concern me in the least.

Plan M

You are in a minority of Chelsea supporters who wouldn't care if Spurs won the league then. I know plenty of Chavs that would HATE to see the Lilywhites lift the title.

I can't see it though - although if we don't lift number 20 this season, I'd be far happier seeing Spurs win the title than Money City, Chowsea or the Gooners.

Team Brian GB

I am a not a fan that revels in my success and my rivals lack of that, just the former. It annoys me no end at Chelsea when people go on about the likes of Tottenham, West Ham and even QPR and how they might win something - good for them if they do.

I think I am becoming more and more like a rugby fan by the day.

Pogue Mahone

No change there then.

Plan M

Nothing wrong with that attitude. I've been thinking to myself of late how bitter football supporters can be. I'm guilty of it myself - I just can't hack seeing Liverpool win anything, just the thought of them getting to the Carling Cup final gets me in a mood.

Although for some reason, I didn't really give two shites when City won the FA Cup last season.

Team Brian GB

I think with Liverpool it is different considering how arrogant they are about it, in that sense I can see why people don't want other teams to win things - the 'Glaston Effect' if you will.

Plan M

The Glaston Effect. I love it.

Team Brian GB

I thought you'd like that, what makes it funny is that it is true.

africanspur

Would be harsh to say that imo, out of the 20 premier league seasons, we'd be top 11 of those seasons and second in seven of the other nine, often within 2 points of the top. We'd be top every season since 2007.

I think just because the top teams don't steamroll the bottom teams, it doesn't mean the league has become weak.


You didn't give two shites because they've a plastic club that bought the trophy.

Badunk

Spurs will finish where they are or lower, imo. You look at how impotent City are without Silva and Toure and you have to say Spurs have considerably less strength in depth than the bitters. In fact, no other team can match United when it comes to getting results with a decimated team and that's why we'll win the league.

Raven Blade

It's hard to predict where this Spurs team will finish this season. There's a steel about them that we haven't seen before and their squad is surely their strongest ever. Although they do heavily rely on some really key players like Modric, Bale, Van der Vaart, etc. I don't think they would handle an injury crisis as well as we have. However if they get through their tough run of fixtures largely unscathed then they might have the confidence to last the distance. Interesting times if you're a Spurs fan.

I'm feeling that way as well. It would give us another different champion and deny Man City for another year at least.