City looked leggy over the weekend, so I imagine they might struggle for the next couple of weeks. However, had they stayed in the CL, I think they would have struggled the rest of the season, so maybe a blessing in disguise for them.
the games.are no real challenge to them so I really doubt they'd have struggled.v bayern or managing the load. their main issue seems to be just a bit of one track mind at the minute.
agree Murphy is banging on about "clever changes" for Liverpool vs Fulham, got away with leaving out three key players from the starting XI in a crucial game is how I would put it I certainly haven't given up, just nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs is how I'd put it. Not bothered by European exit, would have been nice to win another trophy but focus should have been on the league as the main event and less divided across FA Cup, Europa League and league as it was before the cup exits that is in no way hindsight or change of attitude, league is always priority one for me, Champions League is a close second and maybe arguably as prestigious overall just personnel if not common a preference - be the best in your own country, dominating Europe is only something we've ever done properly and sustained albeit many moons ago
I agree, may have edged past chelski in the cup but were lucky chelski had Jackson on the end of chances and a little fortunate at the keeper deflecting the ball/it falling nicely for their winner. Poch not bringing on Sterling, an obvious move to play someone against a former club given quite often they score/win games, far sooner but struggling doesn't equate necessarily to not winning (enough games), one thing is certain it will go to the wire and despite much talk of this division being better/more competitive than other leagues, this is an extremely rare three way tussle - may be eg Bayern and PSG dominating their own leagues but then in England citeh (failed to win just one league title since 17/18 ?) dominance may not be one club all the time but given supposed competition it isn't anyone's and of the big six when did each last win a title? (spurs in the 60s? mancs in 12/13? Liverpool 19/20, Arsenal 03/04?)
It's been disheartening seeing them go off the boil recently but they have had a really tough schedule this season. So hard to be too down on it.
I wouldn't say we left out key players. when they are a) out of form (szoboszlai) b) half fit (salah imo) c)dog tired (macallister) d)short of confidence (nunez) then do you persist of do you make some choices? we had trent at rb so can't carry anyone from a fitness point of view. he gave us a decent 70 and Jota was also looking out of touch but needed time and he did score. overall we were nit very oggd on the ball at all and played too slow and too safe but we got there and dominated possession at least. now those other players can come in Wednesday and show a bit more hopefully.
Graphs like that annoy me, they're deliberately calibrated to make things look worse than they are with a cursory glance. In that particular example, the lowest average being 115 hours and the maximum being 145 hours. It wouldnt look anywhere near as sensational if the low point started at 0 hours and the maximum was still 145 hours.
Don't view it as particularly sensational at all, we all knew Liverpool would have a tough schedule this season given Europa Thursday/Sunday can be a wanker. Just using a number of top clubs from Europe's top leagues as examples. Premier League only one:
You seem to have misread my point, or perhaps I didn't make it too well. I wasn't arguing against the underlying point regarding Liverpool and their lack of rest, more about graphs deliberately compiled to look more sensational than they are. The one you posted was a prime example.
Feels like top 4 is probably rounded off now. Spurs maximum points total is now 75, and they have go away to Chelsea and Liverpool - and play City.
Yeah, its been a shit ending no doubt, but before the season started Id have bitten anyones hands off for a trophy and 3rd place, which we look like getting. Roll on next season.
No doubt, people seem to have forgotten they finished 5th last season and were utter shite for large stretches of the season.
Similar story for us. Most would have taken 5th at the start of the season, not that fussed we'll fall short of 4th. Europa League will be interesting with no CL dropouts next year too. Can't wait for us to disappoint and still go out to some bang average side as we usually do in Europe.
Out of the disappointments for us this season, losing that Atalanta game 3-0 at home is the biggest...even worst than the United Cup defeat, 3-0, at home, European night to a bang average Italian side, awful.
I look at Newcastle this year and I just think that not getting in will be a good thing for Spurs in the long term. They aren’t ready for it all yet.
You might be right but the amount of football will be the same in the europa league. The issue is development and spurs need to be able to cope with the amount fo games using a bigger squad. For me spurs have a massive single issue which is woeful defending. Everyone outside the top 3 are in the 50s for goals conceded so spurs down to Brighton are all similar. Newcastle absolutely hammered sheff utd twice so if you ignore thst then spurs are where they are as they've scored more than the sides around them from 5th to 10th. Defences win titles. Forwards decide by how much. Lfc are a distant 3rd by now because we cannot reliably defend. Defeats thst should be draws, draws that should be wins is our story. We got a lot of goals by digging deep.and keeping going in games
Exactly, a chance to adapt to the extra matches schedule whilst still developing a sustainable style of play. Their football at the moment is flawed and the squad has too many low spots throughout it. Sneaking into the CL would have been great for the finances but it still would have been a squad nowhere near ready to juggle CL football with a league campaign.
Well I think this next season they will go into a 36 team league and get some random draw of 8 teams to play 4 home and 4 away so that's 8 games to get to thr last 16. Its not exactly going to be much tougher than now but the 4 travel games could be brutal. You just need to be in the top 8 to get to the last 16 as you don't want the play off Overall I'm uninspired by this format as all it does is make who you play a little less obvious.
The lack of jeopardy isn't great. If it was just the top 16 going through and not a play off round that allows teams down to 24th to get through, I'd be really on it. The extra games aren't good either but it's not my body and I'm not getting hundreds of thousands of pounds every week to cope with it I'm far more intrigued by the removal of pot protection. The group stage needed updating, it had grown incredibly stale. More pot 1 teams having to face each other adds a little bit of jeopardy back. It also gives more of a chance for the 'minnows', the pot 3 and pot 4 sides to qualify and then have the chance to play in knockout football past January.
