Since Poch took over, we've largely been on an upward curve. In his first season, we got to Wembley and finished in a respectable 5th place after a mixed league season (slow to start with, massive improvement from December to March time, slight fall away, strong-ish end).
In his second season we were being talked of as title challengers from January onwards despite never really getting that close to Leicester. We were certainly their only real challengers by the end, but while the epic win at City gave us hope, the draw at home to West Brom and the even more gutting draw at Stamford Bridge stripped that hope away. The season petered out badly, but to be challenging for the title up to the last 4 games was something I thought I'd never see as a Spurs fan. We were disappointing in the cups - tepid defeat to Arsenal in the League Cup with Flamini of all people scoring two crackers, a poor home defeat to Palace in the fifth round of the FA Cup, and a lesson from Dortmund in the last 16 after a good showing in the Europa League up till then - but performed very well in the league.
We followed that up in Poch's third season with consistency in both the cups and the league. While we went out early doors in the Champions League (with a whimper) and the League Cup (with a weakened side against Liverpool), and failed dismally in the Europa League, we made it to the semi-finals of the FA Cup, where we were arguably the better side for large chunks and unlucky to lose the game to a wonder goal from Matic and some magic from Hazard. Our league form, meanwhile, was the best it's ever been, helped by a near flawless showing at White Hart Lane and some spectacular late season away form.
We were never really in the title race - Chelsea sprinted away from the pack early in the season and never looked back - but we were certainly the closest to them and finally finished above Arsenal for the first time in forever. We finished the season only 7 points behind Chelsea, and had we turned some of those early season draws into wins we'd have been even closer. Our record points tally, an unbelievable goal difference of +60 with the most goals scored and the fewest conceded, and a whole season at the Lane unbeaten made it a season to remember. And one where we still in with a shout in two comps late in the day.
And now, to this season, where we're still in a fight to get top 4 (battling with United, Liverpool and Chelsea). After spending too long out of it, we've taken advantage of Chelsea's recent struggles and cemented ourselves in the top 4 again, meaning that any kind of positive result at the Bridge on Sunday will give us a very good chance of another go in Europe's elite competition. We still have a good chance of finishing 3rd or 2nd and we are currently the form team in the league, beaten only once in all competitions since December.
Our GD isn't quite as good - not helped by a few more goals conceded and fewer goals scored - but we still look set for another good league season and possible automatic qualification to the Champions League. We also won't have a better chance of reaching an FA Cup final than this year, having avoided our semi-finals nemesis in the form of Chelsea. I don't buy into the home advantage argument for a one-off game, but we will definitely have the edge having played on that pitch all season. Weirdly, I fancy us to beat United far more than I do Chelsea, despite their current struggles.
We might have struggled past lower league opposition, but we're still in the hat and we swatted aside Swansea with ease. Hopefully we can beat United and Soton can beat Chelsea to set up a final for the purists!
We have a largely favourable run-in other than Chelsea and City (who may have officially won the league by then anyway), so our chances of getting a good points tally is high.
My point, I suppose, is this - since Poch took over he has always had us competing, whether it's in the league, getting to Wembley finals/semi-finals and at times in Europe. No longer is the season anywhere close to over in late February/March, as it might have been in the past.
He's got us competing in the cups at the later stages more consistently than any other manager I can remember. Granted, Redknapp got us to two FA Cup semis and a League Cup final, plus a Champions League quarter-final, while Jol managed to take us far a few times in the League Cup and we performed well in the UEFA Cup (as was).
But there is a sense that we turn up more under Poch, we just haven't managed to turn out that one really big performance when it's most needed. This team and manager deserves a trophy - hopefully this year will be that year.
In with a shout
posted on 27/3/18
Have you note been readin mainstream media all of a sudden people aren’t half making noise about our ‘home’ cup advantage. No mentions of how we struggled early doors.
posted on 27/3/18
comment by Edbo (U17933)
posted 2 hours, 23 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by United_kaz, “2-1 ,2-1, 2-1” spit guard at the ready (U9943)
posted 11 minutes ago
I really think spurs have to win something to shake off that tag they seem to carry round, even if you managed to beat juventus and then gt ko'd in the last 8 the same tag would have been thrown around, same as the fa cup semi last year, if you won that and lost to arsenal those same clichés would have started a month later, the Chelsea game yes it was a throwaway but still at that point pretty much out the title race, choking and bottling should be reserved to teams who are that 1 game away from actually winning something and then dont
only way to shake it completely is win something meaningful
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Problem is Spurs in the past five or six seasons have always come up against the best sides around in semi-finals, even finals. They either play Chelsea or Man United, they never seem to get a Hull, Reading or a Wigan to get to finals, like other clubs have in recent times. Sometimes you need a bit of luck, and whilst Spurs have had easy draws to get to the semi, when you get there, they perhaps could have done with the easiest draw of the lot, Southampton. Instead Chelsea, who have been to multiple finals in the past decade draw them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To be fair Sandy, bottom of the league Pompey knocked us out in the not too distant past.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That was eight years ago, since then Spurs have had semi-finals against Chelsea, Man United, also their last three league cup finals were against Chelsea and Man United.
Compare that with Arsenal in the FA Cup 2013/14 Wigan and Hull in semi and final, and 2014/15 Reading and Villa in the semi and final. Spurs don`t get that sort of opponent when it really matters.
posted on 27/3/18
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 2 hours, 28 minutes ago
The trick is, sandy, to knock the big teams out in earlier rounds like Arsenal did in 2014 and 2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You knocked out just one decent side in season 2014/15, your fixtrures, were Hull, Brighton, Middlesbro, Man United, Reading and Villa. Spurs will have to play at least two of the biggies this season, and have only been drawn at home once this season, and that is not their real home.
posted on 27/3/18
Compare that with Arsenal in the FA Cup 2013/14 Wigan and Hull in semi and final, and 2014/15 Reading and Villa in the semi and final.
=======
Arsenal beat Spurs, Liverpool, Everton and Manchester United to get to the semi-finals in those years. We just ran out of top teams to beat...
We also, of course, beat Man City and Chelsea last season in the semi-final and final.
Spurs don't get "that sort of opponent when it really matters" because you cannot beat the top teams when you draw them in early rounds...
posted on 27/3/18
Out of the "big teams" I think I am right in saying Spurs have only faced Arsenal and Chelsea (x2) in the last 8 years. Lost all 3.
You can't lose to teams like Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Fulham then bemoan not getting "favourable" cup semi finals
posted on 27/3/18
Our GD isn't quite as good - not helped by a few more goals conceded and fewer goals scored
_______
...what else would affect goal difference?
posted on 27/3/18
comment by HaaK (U11574)
posted 38 minutes ago
Our GD isn't quite as good - not helped by a few more goals conceded and fewer goals scored
_______
...what else would affect goal difference?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Very true. I hang my head in shame!
posted on 27/3/18
comment by lanespurs3 (U11398)
posted 47 minutes ago
comment by HaaK (U11574)
posted 38 minutes ago
Our GD isn't quite as good - not helped by a few more goals conceded and fewer goals scored
_______
...what else would affect goal difference?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Very true. I hang my head in shame!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Our goal difference now is similar to that at this stage last season.
From about April onwards we beat both Watford and Bournemouth 4-0, then hammered Leicester and Watford 6-1 and 7-1 respectively which contributed a decent chunk of our goal difference in the end.
posted on 28/3/18
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 13 hours, 46 minutes ago
Out of the "big teams" I think I am right in saying Spurs have only faced Arsenal and Chelsea (x2) in the last 8 years. Lost all 3.
You can't lose to teams like Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Fulham then bemoan not getting "favourable" cup semi finals
----------------------------------------------------------------------
or Nottm Forest
posted on 28/3/18
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 17 seconds ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 13 hours, 46 minutes ago
Out of the "big teams" I think I am right in saying Spurs have only faced Arsenal and Chelsea (x2) in the last 8 years. Lost all 3.
You can't lose to teams like Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Fulham then bemoan not getting "favourable" cup semi finals
----------------------------------------------------------------------
or Nottm Forest
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, but Arsenal fans aren't crying about having to face Manchester City and then Chelsea in last seasons semi and final....