Tottenham Hotspur: Genuine Title Contenders?

Note - This is not my view.




After a shaky start to the season with heavy defeats to Man City and Utd respectively, things were not looking good for Spurs. But with the addition of Scott Parker and Adebayor, Spurs have picked up some brilliant form flying to a 3rd place position 4 points clear of 4th placed Chelsea, and only 7 points off of Utd and City with a game in hand.

Is it time for them to be considered title contenders this season? Pundits, commentators and other premier league managers seem to think this is the case. And if not, what do you think Spurs need to reach that next level (signings, new manager ect.)


Thought this would be a good discussion point as it's being talked about alot on football forums and in football discussions.

What I'm really concerned about is this name change, I miss Point.

Not yet, I think the title will be a two horse race between United and City but maybe next season, with the likely qualification of the Champions league they can bring in top quality players and who knows? I think they'll have a go for it next season most definitely.

Kuled wrote:Not yet, I think the title will be a two horse race between United and City but maybe next season, with the likely qualification of the Champions league they can bring in top quality players and who knows? I think they'll have a go for it next season most definitely.

Do you think there is specific places they should be looking to strengthen?

I don't think so, 3rd place is a realistic target, but they're highly unlikely to overtake United AND City. Squad and defence aren't strong enough. Unfortunately you get the feeling that this might be Tottenham's last real shot at it, Redknapp will be off in 2012 - either to Wembley or to prison, and Europe's top clubs will be after Modric, Bale and perhaps van der Vaart, and Adebayor will be leaving.

Are you signing Adebayor? Because if not then you'll need a striker like him or better, and maybe another centre back.

I dont think they are.

I doubt that it will happen this season although it could be their best chance with the way City are heading.

Kuled wrote:Are you signing Adebayor? Because if not then you'll need a striker like him or better, and maybe another centre back.

No they're not, that's why that Redknapp has been talking about signing Carlos Tevez.

Kuled wrote:Are you signing Adebayor? Because if not then you'll need a striker like him or better, and maybe another centre back.

Doubtful because of his insane wage at City. No way we're going to pay him the 150k he's on. So unless he's willing to take a pay cut

I've read rumors we're in for Damiao again after looking at him in the summer. Can't see us getting him though as alot of clubs will be after him now.

If you believe Harry we're looking for a top quality signing in Jan. My moneys on it being a striker.

I honestly think a new manager is needed. Harry is good but tactically he is weak. Stoke should have been a comfortable win, it's so obvious how to play against Stoke (he actually went to it for the 2nd half) but teams rarely tweak their system. So when he finally changed they are already 2 down with a mountain to climb.


Also have to remember the Mancs are doing ace this season.

We are undoubtedly in the title race. We will be 4 points off top if we beat everton at home so thats just a fact. I don't think we'll win the title but we're certainly the outsiders whereas chelsea/arsenal aren't in the race at the moment.

James wrote:I honestly think a new manager is needed. Harry is good but tactically he is weak. Stoke should have been a comfortable win, it's so obvious how to play against Stoke (he actually went to it for the 2nd half) but teams rarely tweak their system. So when he finally changed they are already 2 down with a mountain to climb.


Also have to remember the Mancs are doing ace this season.

Realistically who are they going to get who is better than Redknapp? I agree that tactically he's clueless, but he's a very good manager despite that. The question of Redknapp's successor is one that they're probably going to have to address pretty soon if he takes the England job or gets put in prison, but I don't see that as a positive at all.

Put to prison

MattSpur wrote:We are undoubtedly in the title race. We will be 4 points off top if we beat everton at home so thats just a fact. I don't think we'll win the title but we're certainly the outsiders whereas chelsea/arsenal aren't in the race at the moment.

It's not a fact, you're only in the title race if people think you have a chance of winning the title, it's a matter of perception, it's not something that actually exists. Is it possible for you to win the title? Yeah, sure it is, but it's also possible for Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle to win it.

Kuled wrote:Put to prison

Tax evasion is a serious offence.

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

James wrote:I honestly think a new manager is needed. Harry is good but tactically he is weak. Stoke should have been a comfortable win, it's so obvious how to play against Stoke (he actually went to it for the 2nd half) but teams rarely tweak their system. So when he finally changed they are already 2 down with a mountain to climb.


Also have to remember the Mancs are doing ace this season.

Realistically who are they going to get who is better than Redknapp? I agree that tactically he's clueless, but he's a very good manager despite that. The question of Redknapp's successor is one that they're probably going to have to address pretty soon if he takes the England job or gets put in prison, but I don't see that as a positive at all.

Harry isn't a tactical mastermind but he isn't clueless by any stretch. Thats just a ridiculous comment.

I hope we get Ancelotti if hes still on the market.

ResurrectionRooney wrote:Tax evasion is a serious offence.

I'm not laughing at you, I'm imagining Harry in prison .

MattSpur wrote:

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

Realistically who are they going to get who is better than Redknapp? I agree that tactically he's clueless, but he's a very good manager despite that. The question of Redknapp's successor is one that they're probably going to have to address pretty soon if he takes the England job or gets put in prison, but I don't see that as a positive at all.

Harry isn't a tactical mastermind but he isn't clueless by any stretch. Thats just a ridiculous comment.

I hope we get Ancelotti if hes still on the market.

It's not ridiculous by any stretch

Tactics don't win matches

YOU can argue about formations, tactics and systems for ever, but to me football is fundamentally about the players.
Whether it is 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, the numbers game is not the beautiful game in my opinion.

It's 10 per cent about the formation and 90 per cent about the players. If you have the best ones and they do their jobs, then they can pretty much play any way you want them to.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/sunsport_columnists/3092130/Tactics-dont-win-matches-says-Harry-Redknapp.html

Here's what Rafael van der Vaart has to say about it

"Harry is a very special man, that's why I already feel at home at Spurs. It feels like I'm back on the street.

"There are no long and boring speeches about tactics, like I was used to at Real Madrid.

"There is a clipboard in our dressing room but Harry doesn't write anything on it!

"It's very relaxed. The gaffer gives us the line-up 20 minutes before we go out to do our warm-up.

"And the only words he speaks to me are 'You play left or right, work hard, have fun and show the fans your best'.

"Then the defenders get an instruction about who to mark at corners and free-kicks — and that's it."

"It's not that we do nothing — but it's close to that.

"For instance, last weekend Gareth Bale scored a header against Blackburn from my corner.

"But we didn't train one minute on it, it was pure luck. Good kicking, good heading, nothing more.

"And our win at home over Champions League winners Inter Milan was a clear example of playing on intuition.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3231309/Rafael-van-der-Vaart-Harry-Redknapp-is-better-than-Jose-Mourinho.html

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

MattSpur wrote:We are undoubtedly in the title race. We will be 4 points off top if we beat everton at home so thats just a fact. I don't think we'll win the title but we're certainly the outsiders whereas chelsea/arsenal aren't in the race at the moment.

It's not a fact, you're only in the title race if people think you have a chance of winning the title, it's a matter of perception, it's not something that actually exists. Is it possible for you to win the title? Yeah, sure it is, but it's also possible for Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle to win it.

Trotting out a straw man is not a very good argument TBH. Aston Villa are also in the title race because its possible for them to win the title.

If you are 7 off top with a game in hand then you are in the title race. Thats my point.

All 20 teams are in the title race. It's just that teams lose the race earlier than others so to stay in the race until March shows that you are genuine title contenders.

I doubt whether Spurs will still be challenging for the top spot come April/May time but right now they are title contenders with the way they have been playing. If Harry can strengthen the squad in January it would give them a better chance but I can't see them going ahead of either Manchester club.

MattSpur wrote:

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

It's not a fact, you're only in the title race if people think you have a chance of winning the title, it's a matter of perception, it's not something that actually exists. Is it possible for you to win the title? Yeah, sure it is, but it's also possible for Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle to win it.

Trotting out a straw man is not a very good argument TBH. Aston Villa are also in the title race because its possible for them to win the title.

If you are 7 off top with a game in hand then you are in the title race. Thats my point.

Neither is making factual assertions about a concept that has no real existence, ie. the Title race.

I'm aware of what your point is, I'm explaining why it is bollocks - you are only in the title race if there is a widespread belief that you can actually win the title, and that does not exist. You have a chance of winning the title, as do Chelsea, Arsenal etc. but you're not really in the race because you're not good enough.

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

MattSpur wrote:

Harry isn't a tactical mastermind but he isn't clueless by any stretch. Thats just a ridiculous comment.

I hope we get Ancelotti if hes still on the market.

It's not ridiculous by any stretch

Tactics don't win matches

YOU can argue about formations, tactics and systems for ever, but to me football is fundamentally about the players.
Whether it is 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, the numbers game is not the beautiful game in my opinion.

It's 10 per cent about the formation and 90 per cent about the players. If you have the best ones and they do their jobs, then they can pretty much play any way you want them to.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/sunsport_columnists/3092130/Tactics-dont-win-matches-says-Harry-Redknapp.html

Here's what Rafael van der Vaart has to say about it

"Harry is a very special man, that's why I already feel at home at Spurs. It feels like I'm back on the street.

"There are no long and boring speeches about tactics, like I was used to at Real Madrid.

"There is a clipboard in our dressing room but Harry doesn't write anything on it!

"It's very relaxed. The gaffer gives us the line-up 20 minutes before we go out to do our warm-up.

"And the only words he speaks to me are 'You play left or right, work hard, have fun and show the fans your best'.

"Then the defenders get an instruction about who to mark at corners and free-kicks — and that's it."

"It's not that we do nothing — but it's close to that.

"For instance, last weekend Gareth Bale scored a header against Blackburn from my corner.

"But we didn't train one minute on it, it was pure luck. Good kicking, good heading, nothing more.

"And our win at home over Champions League winners Inter Milan was a clear example of playing on intuition.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3231309/Rafael-van-der-Vaart-Harry-Redknapp-is-better-than-Jose-Mourinho.html

That does not prove that Harry is clueless at tactics - it says that he chooses to keep the game very simple. That is a tactic in itself. Also, trying to define Harry Redknapp's tactical knowledge which has been built up over decades with a newspaper article quote is ridiculous.

In any case, i watch every spurs game, whether it be at the ground or on a stream. You can quite clearly see tactical changes being made through a game to combat the opposition - Bale playing on the right at times in the past and today is a tactical move.

If his tactics are 'Go and enjoy yourself, tactics don't matter' then that goes down as tactically clueless in my mind.

I would consider them title contenders at the moment but massive outsiders.

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

MattSpur wrote:

Trotting out a straw man is not a very good argument TBH. Aston Villa are also in the title race because its possible for them to win the title.

If you are 7 off top with a game in hand then you are in the title race. Thats my point.

Neither is making factual assertions about a concept that has no real existence, ie. the Title race.

I'm aware of what your point is, I'm explaining why it is bollocks - you are only in the title race if there is a widespread belief that you can actually win the title, and that does not exist. You have a chance of winning the title, as do Chelsea, Arsenal etc. but you're not really in the race because you're not good enough.

Fucking hell it's an opinion. Every team starts off in the title race and every team has a chance of winning the title. Spurs are only 4 points off the top so it is very possible that they can win it. My opinion is that they aren't good enough and so is yours but that doesn't mean that they have no chance just because you think so. You can think that but it doesn't automatically make it true.

ResurrectionRooney wrote:If his tactics are 'Go and enjoy yourself, tactics don't matter' then that goes down as tactically clueless in my mind.

Well fortunately you're mistaken. Otherwise there would be no shape or tactical changes made throughout games or before to counteract the opposition.

RR is very gullible. Does he ever think that VDV might be exaggerating a bit?

coolhead33 wrote:

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

Neither is making factual assertions about a concept that has no real existence, ie. the Title race.

I'm aware of what your point is, I'm explaining why it is bollocks - you are only in the title race if there is a widespread belief that you can actually win the title, and that does not exist. You have a chance of winning the title, as do Chelsea, Arsenal etc. but you're not really in the race because you're not good enough.

Fucking hell it's an opinion. Every team starts off in the title race and every team has a chance of winning the title. Spurs are only 4 points off the top so it is very possible that they can win it. My opinion is that they aren't good enough and so is yours but that doesn't mean that they have no chance just because you think so. You can think that but it doesn't automatically make it true.

Exactly, it is an opinion, so saying "We're in the title race, that's just a fact' is nonsense.

MattSpur wrote:

ResurrectionRooney wrote:If his tactics are 'Go and enjoy yourself, tactics don't matter' then that goes down as tactically clueless in my mind.

Well fortunately you're mistaken. Otherwise there would be no shape or tactical changes made throughout games or before to counteract the opposition.

Maybe the players take it upon themselves.

coolhead33 wrote:RR is very gullible. Does he ever think that VDV might be exaggerating a bit?

It crossed my mind, but its very much in keeping with other quotes from Redknapp and his players.