Champions League Contention

[Toronto Villa]

The thing is Spurs are just as likely to throw away points as we are. They just have an advantage now.

[Somniloquism]

Thing is our actual level of performance has been pretty poor for a while. When was the last time we played well against a good side and won? We will probably manage fifth, but we have really dropped off.

Well Man City at home. We didn't play as well against Arsenal in the same attacking sense, but defensively when we needed to we blunted them. However we then have pretty much never had the full team who was performing in the first half since. Even the Brentford away, Luiz was suspended for the five cards.

[Keeno]

We basically have 3 'winnable' games (Bournemouth, Brighton, Palace), 1 'tricky' one (Chelsea), 2 'free hits' (Arse, Liverpool).

If you include the Forest game tomorrow, Spurs also have 3 of those winnable games then a lot of clearly harder matches.

[PaulWinch again]

Thing is our actual level of performance has been pretty poor for a while. When was the last time we played well against a good side and won? We will probably manage fifth, but we have really dropped off.

Well Man City at home. We didn't play as well against Arsenal in the same attacking sense, but defensively when we needed to we blunted them. However we then have pretty much never had the full team who was performing in the first half since. Even the Brentford away, Luiz was suspended for the five cards.

Yes so basically months now. I realise we’ve had absences and clearly that makes an impact, but if you look at today the level of collapse with a really strong side (basically Kamara the only key absence in terms of impact on the season) it was shockingly poor.

The mentality to have these long phases where we just stop playing is really weak.

[Somniloquism]

You seem to shrug Kamara being missing off quite casually being as it means one of either McGinn or Tielemans has to be moved backwards, which then has a knock on both defensively AND attacking wise. They both got assists, but as they both like playing more forward, it also left Luiz to stem the runners going into our box by himself. You could argue it is like Citeh missing Rodri, and look at the record they have when missing just him.

[PaulWinch again]

I accept Kamara is a big loss, but not enough to excuse the level off drop off today. They’d done the job and then just completely downed tools.

And just to be clear I am fully onboard and supportive of the brilliant job Unai has done. To get us where we are is fantastic, but it also makes it incredibly galling when our level drops so much. Absences are clearly a factor, as they are with other teams, but today the players we had available should have comfortably won, especially from the position we got into. It’s ok to acknowledge where we’ve not done what we should have without meaning you don’t believe in Unai and what he’s achieved. Personally I think he has a bit of a blind spot for these phases where we just stop playing, hopefully he’ll sort it.

[curiousorange]

One thing to flag up is that if fifth is sewn up bar the shouting, Emery has got us here with half a Premier League standard squad. If we ever have any luck with injuries, we'd be in a four horse race for the title.

[Smithy]

A spurs supporting mate of mine texted me when we went 2-0 up and said, "that's it, 4th place is done. No way we make that up gap with our fixtures".  The point being we're all guilty of emphasising our own faults and ignoring those of others.

I'm still gutted we didn't win today from 2-0 up. I look at today, and the same with the Man Utd game, and those extra 5 points we gave away from strong winning positions would have us pretty much safe in 4th now.

However, we do lose sight of the fact we have points on the board. Games in hand are useful, and yes, Spurs might make up the ground tomorrow, but then they have a run of games with Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, with Man City rearranged to go in there somewhere.  I guarantee that if WE were three points behind Spurs, with Forest tomorrow, and that run of fixtures to follow, we'd all be convinced 4th place was out of the question.

I suspect it will go right to the wire and see us needing a win on the final day to finish ahead of them.

[Percy McCarthy]

I’m just relieved we’re still in contention, as according to many posters on here, we’d totally fucked it weeks ago, and we’d be lucky to finish sixth as the mighty Spurs and Man Utd marched off towards certain victory at Fulham and Brentford respectively to seal our fate.

[Keeno]

A spurs supporting mate of mine texted me when we went 2-0 up and said, "that's it, 4th place is done. No way we make that up gap with our fixtures".  The point being we're all guilty of emphasising our own faults and ignoring those of others.

I'm still gutted we didn't win today from 2-0 up. I look at today, and the same with the Man Utd game, and those extra 5 points we gave away from strong winning positions would have us pretty much safe in 4th now.

However, we do lose sight of the fact we have points on the board. Games in hand are useful, and yes, Spurs might make up the ground tomorrow, but then they have a run of games with Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, with Man City rearranged to go in there somewhere.  I guarantee that if WE were three points behind Spurs, with Forest tomorrow, and that run of fixtures to follow, we'd all be convinced 4th place was out of the question.

I suspect it will go right to the wire and see us needing a win on the final day to finish ahead of them.

Really good point. If we had Spurs' fixtures, everyone would have gone home.

[Percy McCarthy]

We probably need to prioritise Lille and co-efficient points, and hope the other English clubs in Europe do the business. If that scenario plays out we can almost junk the league and go all out for the trophy.

Not a prediction, just manifesting. We’ll know more about where we stand on the 18th.

[Demitri_C]

If 4th is looking out of the question come 3-4 games  left the only benefit eill be we can rest players in the league as they will be pointless games and focus on the conference should we get to semis.

I have to say the way we are defending, lille can cause us some massive problems. They have a huge cb who is really impressive in the air

[Stinkin_Thinkin]

I would be selecting the man city 11 to play lille and prioritising the league. Without champions league players/manager might have their heads turned. Spurs don't have any distractions.

[Brazilian Villain]

I would be selecting the man city 11 to play lille and prioritising the league. Without champions league players/manager might have their heads turned. Spurs don't have any distractions.

You have a cunning plan.

[tomd2103]

I would be selecting the man city 11 to play lille and prioritising the league. Without champions league players/manager might have their heads turned. Spurs don't have any distractions.

Nah, we've got a chance to win some silverware, we've got to go for it.  5th is probably going to be good enough for a Champions League spot and we're still.in a good position for that.