Champions League Contention

[TelfordVilla]

I get annoyed that they offer no reason or factual evidence when they dismiss Villa and promote Spurz into the top 4.
The FACT that we finished above Spurz last season.
The fact that we are above them this season.
The fact that we have beaten them at their place and will be favourite to beat them at our place based on our home record this season.
The FACT that we beat them twice last season.
They sometimes say "if something happens to Watkins, Villa have no options".
What if he just carries on as he has for the past 2 or 3 seasons?

[KevinGage]

I don’t think we’ll get top 4 and still hope LL Cool Jermaine gets tied to a scud missile and fired to the moon.

[PeterWithesShin]

It's an article about Spurs by a former Spurs player. There's barely a mention of anyone else in the article either so I don't know why anyone would get worked up about it.

[Drummond]

It's an article about Spurs by a former Spurs player. There's barely a mention of anyone else in the article either so I don't know why anyone would get worked up about it.

It's probably the cumulative effect. We don't even have the local press onside, never mind the national media.

[chrisw1]

They just think we'll fall away.  They don't have to offer evidence.  Leicester didn't, most teams like Brighton and West Ham do.  Notwithstanding last season, they could argue Spurs have earned the right to be in the conversation by being consistently in the top 4-6 for the last 15 years - that's before the eye test that they look pretty good at the moment and have Son to return.

I'm not trying to make the case that there's an evidential basis that we'll fall away, even though I suspect we will.  I'm just saying it's not hard to understand why a pundit would think that way.

edit - hopefully if we progress like we all hope we will earn the right to be in the same conversations and Man City and Chelsea will be relegated.

[paul_e]

1 - I think Spurs have a better and deeper squad than us, if you don't then great.  Well done.

2 - If a thread on a reasonably balanced forum leans towards us not making top 5, I'm not sure how you can sit there and fire shots at a pundit who thinks we probably won't get top4.

3 - I think their job is to say what they think, not appease a precious fanbase who meltdown because they're not getting the attention they think they deserve (I don't necessarily mean posters on here)

1 - TelfordVilla has responded to this better than I can. You can believe what you like but don't forget you are the one slagging other fans off (and don't get precious or have a meltdown over my wording here) for thinking we deserve at least a mention.

2 - Reasonably balanced, maybe but I'd say that's subjective and from my perspective many of noisiest posters on here are far quicker to call someone shit than to offer any praise. However I find it interesting that you ignored my bit about it being straight after a defeat, it's almost like you know that had an impact and wanted to dodge it.

3 - You're the one that saying "what's the problem with him saying what most people think" not me. Personally I think if you're paid to talk/write about football you need to put a bit more effort in than he does (and this is true for the vast majority of pundits). People with youtube channels with a few thousand subscribers put in far more effort and are far more knowledgeable than most of the 'experts', which pisses people off.

[PeterWithesShin]

If Dion Dublin had done an article after our match about us I wouldn't expect him to witter on about Spurs in it.

[Percy McCarthy]

After all six of our defeats this season we've won the next game.

We'll lose more, but as long as we keep that record up to make sure we never get in much of a rut, then we'll be in contention.

Now if Spurs could have another one-point-from-fifteen and Arsenal have another four-points-from-fifteen like they both did previously, that would be lovely.

I count seven. Five in the league, Everton and Legia.

[Dave]

Good call. That Legia defeat feels like a whole other season ago now.

[chrisw1]

Oh do go away Paul.  I said I'm not sure why pundits get so much stick for thinking we won't make top 4.  I imagine most football experts would agree with them.  If they're wrong then great, it won't be the first time.  That's it really. 

I haven't got much else to say on this now.  Have a great day.

[Percy McCarthy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68192325

Jenas can’t see spurs not finishing top 4.  Is there a more irritating pundit?  I think not. 

I don't see why pundits get so much hate for doing their job.  If you look at Footy's thread before the Sheffield game I think the majority had us 6/7th.  The truth is they have a deeper squad and don't have the distraction of Europe.  I'd imagine the vast majority of football followers would expect them to finish above us, probably including the majority of Villa fans.  What's the problem with him saying what most people think?

Finally, if anybody is still reading, not being part of 'the conversation' doesn't help the club, and so perceptions do matter.  It doesn't help from a commercial revenue, or a player recruitment perspective.

Correct. And as our new once-removed co-owners also own Sky, I think they should exert some editorial influence.

[paul_e]

Oh do go away Paul.  I said I'm not sure why pundits get so much stick for thinking we won't make top 4.  I imagine most football experts would agree with them.  If they're wrong then great, it won't be the first time.  That's it really. 

I haven't got much else to say on this now.  Have a great day.

Is it really so hard for you to imagine that some people don't like that we've been in and around the top 4 all season but pundits don't even mention us a lot of the time?

Personally I don't care all that much but you (in particular) moaning about other people being bothered by it is a bit sad given how often you go super defensive if anyone disagrees with you.

[Rigadon]

If Dion Dublin had done an article after our match about us I wouldn't expect him to witter on about Spurs in it.

He probably would. 

[paul_e]

If Dion Dublin had done an article after our match about us I wouldn't expect him to witter on about Spurs in it.

He probably would. 

I don't think he would to be fair, which is why he is also a poor pundit/co-commentator.

[chrisw1]

Oh do go away Paul.  I said I'm not sure why pundits get so much stick for thinking we won't make top 4.  I imagine most football experts would agree with them.  If they're wrong then great, it won't be the first time.  That's it really. 

I haven't got much else to say on this now.  Have a great day.

Is it really so hard for you to imagine that some people don't like that we've been in and around the top 4 all season but pundits don't even mention us a lot of the time?

Personally I don't care all that much but you (in particular) moaning about other people being bothered by it is a bit sad given how often you go super defensive if anyone disagrees with you.

I don't mind people disagreeing with me.  It's condescending pricks I don't really like.