Same Old Tottenham, Always Bottling It

Carl

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I think they will scrape 4th still, Newcastle I can see falling away a bit and the Barcelona games will take their toll on Chelsea
Looking at their next 3 games there's every chance of that still happening I guess.
 

That'sHernandez

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Anyway next season their leading scorer will be gone - they can't afford to keep Greedy around. And the likes of City, the Chavs and United will be circling around Modric and Bale. Maybe Van der Fart will be off too.

Also let's not forget that Friedel will be another year older...
I don't know about VDV to be honest. From what I gather, Spurs' training etc. is low in intensity and he still can't play more than 60 minutes without picking up a strain. I am not sure top clubs will want to pay the price Spurs will ask. I mean there is a reason Bayern decided to end their 18m bid and negotiations.
 

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i reckon he will bottle it.
I reckon he'll do a disappearing act and turn up the next time Spurs win a game, bumping the Bale thread and telling us all he's as good as Ronaldo.
 

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Anyway next season their leading scorer will be gone - they can't afford to keep Greedy around. And the likes of City, the Chavs and United will be circling around Modric and Bale. Maybe Van der Fart will be off too.

Also let's not forget that Friedel will be another year older...
This will always be a make or break season for Spurs. Well, I did think so at the start of the season. They have completed construction on a training complex and await the start of building a new stadium. I believe they have obtained planning permission but they need sponsorship and are willing to sell naming rights. Anyone who remembers the length of time it took to build Ashburton Grove would see it was difficult to bring in cash and get a sponsor on board, particularly as London councils don't permit municipal funding.

On the pitch, the team is good. Considering their wage bill is the sixth highest or something, they have punched their weight. But however you look it at on the whole, it's still a collapse.
 

kouroux

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Thing is, I actually think they are good enough for the top 4. Look at their team. They were overachieving when it looked like they could compete for the title, but it's probably still the 3rd best in the league.
I doubt they'll secure it by the end of the season.If you're serious about being third , you cannot lose at home to Norwich City knowing all the results you've had in recent weeks.
 

That'sHernandez

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I reckon he'll do a disappearing act and turn up the next time Spurs win a game, bumping the Bale thread and telling us all he's as good as Ronaldo.
I reckon I'm going to go to Glaston and find the lad who looks like he might call himself "GlastonSpur" on an online forum and demand my money.
 

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I agree it's overused, for whatever reason it's become something of a buzzword on here any time a team loses a game or two. I don't think that's quite the case here though. They're under huge pressure to finish in the top four, having been in 3rd place for so long and that's a kind of pressure they've not had for a while. In 2009 when they qualified for the CL they were never expected to finish ahead of City, they were just hopeful. And they had the backing of the media and the neutrals all the way. Even in 2006 when they really ought to have finished in 4th it was still a bonus to finish there, it was always about their 'Champions League hopes' simply because they hadn't been in the competition in over 40 years. Now it's completely different, there was expectation throughout that they'd finish in the top 4 and it seems a logical conclusion that this expectation has been one of the triggers for their collapse, because it's clearly not down to a lack of quality.

Funny to think that little over two months ago they were genuinely being considered title challengers by many.
Sums it up perfectly. They should have easily finished third this season but have blown it massively.
 

crappycraperson

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Newcastle have some tough fixtures in last 5. Their last three are Chelsea away, City at Home and Everton away. Wigan away won't be easy as well. They have a 12 day break now, coming at a wrong time for them since they are on five match winning streak.

Chelsea too have a tough fixture list compounded by the CL and FA semis. Arsenal away, Liverpool away to add to Newcastle at home.

S going b fixtures, Spurs really still should snatch that fourth place.
 

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Newcastle have some tough fixtures in last 5. Their last three are Chelsea away, City at Home and Everton away. Wigan away won't be easy as well. They have a 12 day break now, coming at a wrong time for them since they are on five match winning streak.

Chelsea too have a tough fixture list compounded by the CL and FA semis. Arsenal away, Liverpool away to add to Newcastle at home.

S going b fixtures, Spurs really still should snatch that fourth place.
Yeah, but as we've seen with them in recent weeks, you can't just go by fixtures. Newcastle and Chelsea have tougher fixtures, but they have some of the form and momentum that Tottenham clearly lack right now.
 

crappycraperson

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Yeah, but as we've seen with them in recent weeks, you can't just go by fixtures. Newcastle and Chelsea have tougher fixtures, but they have some of the form and momentum that Tottenham clearly lack right now.
Actually after checking, Spurs next 3 are against relegation fighters. Won't be easy. Fourth is really hard to call right now. I think at least one of the three will completely fall away leaving two to have it out for 4th
 

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Actually after checking, Spurs next 3 are against relegation fighters. Won't be easy. Fourth is really hard to call right now. I think at least one of the three will completely fall away leaving two to have it out for 4th
I can see it going down to the wire for the three of Spurs, Chelsea and Newcastle for the 4th spot, with Chelsea just edging it for me.
 

Hal9000

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Can't really blame it on Harry being linked with England. They bottled it at the same point last year as well.

Think they need to sack there fitness coaches. Does not seem like any of there players can last till the end of the season. Don't even have the CL to blame this season either.
 

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The old Spurs is well and truly back, how I've missed you. Bunch of bottling twats. Redknapp and the team have been having an absolute mare since Capello left. But that still doesn't excuse the shite we've served up since then.
 

JazzG

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That 5-2 loss against us seems to have destroyed their confidence. After Capello resigned I'm sure they beat Newcastle 5-0 so you can't just put it down to Capello leaving. When they were 2-0 up and had they won a 13 point lead over us it was game over as far as us catching them but the way we came back and took them apart they haven't recovered since. I think us going on a winning run made them panic as well

I did say a while back they had tricky games coming up and boy have they collapsed, even I didn't see this coming! Not surprised Glaston like his team seems to have disappeared as well! Saying that the season isn't over so nobody knows what is around the corner.
 

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That Newcastle game came immediately after Redknapp was acquitted from his court case and the whole club was lifted by that news. Pardew also set up his team in a suicidal manner (kind of like Redknapp did at the emirates). Since Fabio resigned, we've played 11 games and won 3. One a replay against a Stevenage side we couldn't beat in the first leg. One against Bolton in the FA cup. One against Swansea.

His tactics since Capello's resignations have, for the most part, been poor. And its almost like the players don't care anymore, like they can't be bothered anymore cos they know he won't be here next season.
 

crappycraperson

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Bale playing at right needs to stop. He should not even have a free role, tell him to just stick to the left. King seems done for the season as well, was horrific today.
 

peterstorey

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'It's for the Arsenal and we're going to Wembley'
I agree it's overused, for whatever reason it's become something of a buzzword on here any time a team loses a game or two. I don't think that's quite the case here though.
Spurs were fundamentally not good enough and were in a false position. It was entirely predictable that they they would get found out. Chelsea are in the same position and the same thing is about to be replayed.
 

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Manchester City and Spurs have both shown why early season form should always be analyzed in its proper context; fresh legs, new season enthusiasm, all the rest of it.

A run of form is a run of form whenever it comes, but for me coming strong in the second half of the season is the true mark of a team, because you need that togetherness and mental/physical strength after 6 months of hard winter slog.

Contrast that with Arsenal and Chelsea, who both have a great chance of CL qualification despite being in freefall for the first 3 months of the season.

Lessons are never learned though: you know whoever is first out of the traps next season will be bigged up beyond belief.
 

Gazza

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Manchester City and Spurs have both shown why early season form should always be analyzed in its proper context; fresh legs, new season enthusiasm, all the rest of it.

A run of form is a run of form whenever it comes, but for me coming strong in the second half of the season is the true mark of a team, because you need that togetherness and mental/physical strength after 6 months of hard winter slog.

Contrast that with Arsenal and Chelsea, who both have a great chance of CL qualification despite being in freefall for the first 3 months of the season.

Lessons are never learned though: you know whoever is first out of the traps next season will be bigged up beyond belief.
Come to think of it, this is pretty much why the term "bottle it" exists.

Everton can be absolute dogshit for the first half of the season and no one will accuse them of bottling it, because their form has actually improved in the second half of the season.

It is more noticeable when a team - like Spurs this season - has their bad run of form at the business end of the season, and it probably deserves a bit more scrutiny because it suggests factors like fatigue and pressure are getting to them.
 

rcoobc

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Bale playing at right needs to stop. He should not even have a free role, tell him to just stick to the left. King seems done for the season as well, was horrific today.
This. In fact stick him at left back for a game, to re teach him the left wing role.
 

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By the way, people talk about the England job being a factor in distracting Tottenham, but I have a feeling the 2-3 at Eastlands, and the manner of it, might have been a turning point. To go so close to beating City away and end up losing must have been a drag.
 

Ole's_toe_poke

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His tactics since Capello's resignations have, for the most part, been poor. And its almost like the players don't care anymore, like they can't be bothered anymore cos they know he won't be here next season.
Even Fergie who has incredible squad control found it difficult to motivate the team when they knew he'd be out a year in advance. He's spoken about this at length. Same is probably true for 'Arry. If I was a Spurs fan id be mightly peeved with his open flirtation with the England job. The man is a joke. Always talking about other jobs and others' players. Just so he can be seen as 'friendly' by the media who in turn protect him to the hilt.
 

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Radknapp must have thought that the England job talk would quieten with time and that Spurs could ride out the period of frenzied speculation. He might feel now he should have just drawn a line under it there and then, even if he was lying.
 

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His tactics since Capello's resignations have, for the most part, been poor. And its almost like the players don't care anymore, like they can't be bothered anymore cos they know he won't be here next season.
United fans will point to Fergie 'last season' in 2001/02, before his u-turn and decision to stay, although our form has picked up considerably far before that. You'd expect footballers to want to be successful, to want to play in the CL. Redknapp might not be there next season - but they will, at least most of them.

I don't know if it's a coincidence. But the other option is just too dumb to fathom.
 

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Norwich is a good team.

Tottenham have the easier run-in now.

I won't say that they've bottled it until they fail to come in fourth. Chelsea and Arsenal still have to play each other, so there are plenty of chances for Tottenham to get back where they were.
 

finneh

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Anyway next season their leading scorer will be gone - they can't afford to keep Greedy around. And the likes of City, the Chavs and United will be circling around Modric and Bale. Maybe Van der Fart will be off too.

Also let's not forget that Friedel will be another year older...
I think it really depends if they get that 4th spot. If they do they'll most likely keep Bale and VDV in my opinion. Modric will probably be gone but if the rumours were true that Chelsea bid £40+m last time, you presume a similar bid might come in this season. If that's the case they will be a better team with that money reinvested than with him (provided they don't piss it away).

Adebayor has been good for them, but hasn't exactly been awesome (probably not even one of the top 15-20 players this season). A signing such as Demba Ba or Berbatov would be similarly effective.

I think Arsenal keeping Van Persie is a far bigger issue than Spurs keeping Modric/Adebayor.
 

Cling Bak

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Same old Spurs, always bottling it.
Spurs had gotten very cocky about being so far ahead
How much of your opinion is to do with Spurs fans and not the actual club itself?

Saying that Spurs always bottle it is all well and good, but you can only compare Tottenham now and historically if there are similarities in personnel, surely? Redknapp's Tottenham don't really seem to have "choked" over the last few years. In 2010, they seemed to kick on and took 4th from under City's nose. In 2011 they had a bit of fixture congestion and went for it in the CL, missing out on 4th to teams in the end slightly the stronger. Yes, Tottenham down the years have, but what relevance is that to Redknapp, Friedel, King, Parker, Modric, Van der Vaart, Bale, Adebayor et al?

With regards to Spurs "getting cocky", again, is this not fans opinion? I can't recall Tottenham as a football club ever being publicly complacent or seeming like they knew 3rd or 4th was theirs. They've just had some bad results.

As many have said, you could attribute it to a few things, namely Redknapp's distractions.
 

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I was thinking at the turn of the year, that Spurs would not sustain a Title Challenge, but would be a shoe-in for 3rd and at least 4th. And the quality of their football prior to that time I had applauded and thought they deserved UCL football. Not so sure now, their collapse has been more spectacular than the Bitters'.

They seem to make most Spurs teams with a soft centre, that crumbles in the Spring -
Modric has gone off the radar, Bale is trying to carry them on his own, and the defence, which were always suspect, have displayed a brittleness lately that you'd expect from relegation threatened teams.

They could still qualify 4th, but the Toon or Chavski could still pip them -

I'd be delighted if the Toon made it
 

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PS. As soon as I watched MoTD last night I could see the reason for Spurs demise.

Spurs were wearing an "England" national strip, Norwich were waering a "German" national strip - there was only going to be one winner !
 

Wumminator

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They haven't bottled anything, they've just got a really average squad.

Modric is great. Bale is a poor mans Nani/Valencia. Adabayor can be a handful.

But Friedel isn't amazing. Their defence is half as good as ours. Parker is average, there's no cover for Lennon, and Defoe is shite.

They were always going to struggle to finish in the top 4. I said it when they were third so I feel justified in saying I always knew they were shite, just a little surprised how long it took for them to show it.
 

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I know Spurs should have beaten Norwich, and so it's dangerous to say this, but they have the easiest looking fixture list.

For all the talk of 'bottling it', they're still in the CL driving seat. Chelsea dropping points at Fulham yesterday was a bit of a killer. I don't think they'll be able to sustain a league challenge over the next few weeks with the Barca tie to contend with. They're going to be absolutely knackered and Di Matteo will be rotating his side.

Looking at form and fixtures, I'd say Newcastle have a better chance of top four than Chelsea.

Still think Spurs will have enough in the tank to take fourth. That said, the media hard on over Redknapp may have subsided a little by the end of the season. He's made some very odd tactical decisions.
 

Chabon

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I've made this comparison over and over again recently, but it's pretty much nailed-on at this point, Spurs will finish sixth:

28.01.2009

1. Man United 50
2. Chelsea 48
3. Liverpool 48
4. Aston Villa 47
5. Arsenal 42
6. Everton 37

24.05.2009

1. Man Utd 90
2. Liverpool 86
3. Chelsea 83
4. Arsenal 72
5. Everton 63
6. Aston Villa 62

Same core problem as well, no squad depth.