are spurs chokers?

Harsh to label Spurs as anything at the moment, grown mentally throughout this season from what I have seen of them, have been a joy to watch and very much looking forward to seeing how they approach the problem they face today in breaking down a team who has had their pride wounded badly with recent results, though they should of course have beaten us (Palace), the Utd team made them look distinctly average and they will be anxious to put that behind them, everything is set up nicely and as a neutral could not ask for more, let battle commence...!

Agree with Cork, looking forward to this one later more so than my team playing tomorrow. This game wont show anything ref Bottling for Spurs, Chelsea are a proper team so anything can happen here but a loss wont prove nothing, fancy Spurs tonight btw

y they remind be of the south african cricket team backin the day  everyone knew they were class but they just couldnt win

Hazard and Costa out?

radio  5live just reported rumours from Wembley that costa and hazard both out for Chelsea - say they will try and find out

Cracking game

well there is the first one lost

losing to Chelsea is hardly choking Dragon, don't really get your point?

They did indeed lose but not through lack of effort or bottle, they could have been out of sight if they had of got the rub of the green, be afraid of us suffering the backlash on Wednesday night.

just that they seem to get in touching distance of winning and then fail? is it that they are not quite godd enough ( not my view) or is it that until they get over the line there is a mental block to winning for them?

or a dodgy lasagne

This weekend could be very interesting, Everton have nowt to play for other than pride,  they should though want to beat the Champions elect in front of their fans, if they can beat Chelsea then that really would open the doors wide and Spurs who play a massive game later will know the opportunity is there to apply max pressure on the leaders, the earlier game result can have a massive influence on the London Derby, Everton could set up the bank Holiday weekend nicely

wd certainly make it interesting

Spurs deserve a lot of praise regardless of what happens between now & the end of the season. Best defensive record in the league & just short of being the league's top scorers. If they can keep hold of Poch for a few years then I don't think they'll have long to wait before they're crowned PL champions.

They choked it a bit last year in the last few games. Can't really say they have this year, yet, but there are questions. If Everton beat Chelsea and they lose to Arsenal given their home record, which is pretty amazing, then yes imo.

Typically in sport you have to throw away a winning position to be deemed a "choke".  Last year Spurs were trying to chase down a Leicester side that never stopped winning, and after it became mathematically impossible to win the league they certainly seemed to down tools for the last couple of games but that's not really the same thing as choking.

It's hard to see how they could choke this year's title with Chelsea about 1/10 pokes even with Spurs winning every match.  They'd have to catch them and then lose to Hull on the final day or something.

people said the same about liverpool in 2014. even though they won something like 13 matches in a row to get it into their own hands they still had no margin for error. 1 mistake against chelsea was all it took to lose it

in my book to choke you have to give away a big lead, an almost unloseable position

The Palace game cost Liverpool the League tbf

still would have lost it on GD even they won that game. that's why they went chasing after more goals at 3-0 rather than shutting up shop

the great CHOKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKE,was saf and YERNITTTED,8 POINTS AHEAD

It appears that the vast majority of people here (or on any football forum) don't understand the meaning of "choking".   Newcastle in 1995-96 was the perfect example of a choke job,  being 12 points clear at the top in mid January but losing the title by 4 points to Man U. Or Arsenal last season top of the table in January but finishing 11 points behind Leicester.

Of course they are...

Check out the Trophy Cabinet...If they can find it.

choking is not all about throwing away a winning lead , it can be in a really good position - allbeit chasing - and losing it

Apr 28, 2017 -- 8:04PM, The Dragon wrote:

choking is not all about throwing away a winning lead , it can be in a really good position - allbeit chasing - and losing it

Nah.

If Rodgers had sat back against Chelsea and got a draw Liverpool would have won it imo. Instead he went for the win and got hit by Mourinho tactics. Chelsea had to win that game, not Liverpool, and they didn't play or line up like they wanted to win it, were also missing Terry and Cech. Liverpool would have been in pole position with a point and wouldn't have had to chase goals against Palace. Instead Rodgers played right into Chelsea's hands. That's where they lost it for me.

Also Chelsea dropped 5 points to Sunderland and Norwich in their last 5 games that season, they'd have won it if they'd won those. So you could say that Pool and Chelsea both choked. And United Choked against Everton the other year City won it. And in both those years City were in pole position before that and choked a lead only to have it choked back to them in both title winning years!

from what i remember liverpool panicked in the 2nd halfand starting shooting from everywhere and lumping it in the box rather than playing the football that had blown teams away the previous few months

united lost to wigan as well who went on a crystal palace style run beating all sorts of big sides to escape from nowhere

yep but they conceded a goal in the last minute of each half against Chelsea and were a goal down at that stage. Very unlucky with the first (Gerrard slip) but going a goal down to that Chelsea side was the one thing he should have tried to avoid.

Rodgers went with the attacking football that had blown most teams away within 30 minutes at anfield and you sort of can't criticise him too much as he thought he shouldn't change a winning formula but he played like he needed 3 points when he didn't and Chelsea did. But once he went a goal down and Chelsea had everyone behind the ball his normal game plan wasn't working, hence the lumping into the box/panicking.

Perhaps he should have set up more cautiously and waited for a depleted Chelsea side to come out and play, as they were the ones who needed to win the game and you could see that Mourinho was lined up for the backs to the wall/smash and grab tactics. A 0-0 would have been a perfect result but it's not in his nature I suppose.

big game for the spuds today , lets see how they cope with this one. i hope they win

good win today

They choked magnificently today.

ough cough

ruined the sky hype of everything

Spurs lost the title in the first 2 months or so -  awful start .

it was always going to be difficult after that

Think some folks here need to check the definition of "choker". Losing an end of season dead rubber game to an opposition who considered it their cup final is not choking.

it's all about next season for Spurs (or maybe the year after at  the new ground ) - but couldn't have picked a worse season  to move really.

i'll think you'll find chelsea have won this title. spurs certainly haven't lost it. didn't not make a slow start either. 5 wins and 2 draws (away to everton and home to liverpool) in first 7. only poor run was 7 points from 6 games which included playing arsenal and chelsea away

won 16 of 19 games before last night. could hardly have done any more

only poor run was 7 points from 6 games which included playing arsenal and chelsea away
______________

and there is your answer

was not the start though. october and november when kane and alderweireld were missing

well ,the earlier part of the season then - before Christmas  .  Deffo not this years form -  i would say Spurs have been on top this new year 2017 if i was guessing

consistency is the key -  at least this year . Normally Spurs would have been alright - but Chelseas points total was a killer

yep spurs 13-2-2 in 2017. well clear of anyone else

gotta remember chelsea had 49 points at the halfway stage so they really had to collapse to give anyone else a chance

most years 85 points would give you a 50/50 chance. 90+ is hard to compete with

indeed -  mission  impossible

Can't call 27 points out of last 30 choking, it's champions form. League was won by Chelseas mid season burst. Too much ground to make up in the end

Eternal chockers which is why they haven't won a trophy in god knows how long not unlike to their North London brothers....must be something in the water down there.

These kind of clubs can only dream of winning a European Cup.

yup another season with nothing

it was either jamie redknapp or thierry who said to choke or to bottle it you have to be in front. spurs were never in front. end of thread.

not true you can choke when you are chasing for sure esp if you have games in hand or in individual big matches eg cup finals

another year and no success

Not winning and choking is not the same thing.

indeed spurs fill both categories in my book, but they are very closely related

you can maybe point the finger at spurs for the cup semi final. although i'd put that down more to horrific team selection putting son at left back and on the day absolutely everything chelsea hit flew into the corner of the net

in the league ? never. won 16 out of 19 before west ham. could have won the last 13 games and in all likelihood still finished 4 points behind. chelsea are probably gonna win 30 games

10 games ago Spurs weren't even assured of a Champions League slot, then reeled off 9 wins to go clear in second,and relly put some pressure on Chelsea, before finally slipping up at West Ham.

How on earth is that choking?

Spurs have the smallest budget of the usual top 6, and the lowest net spend on transfers.
Am not sure 'choking' comes anywhere near what they have achieved this season. Certainly the only team to put any pressure on Chelsea.

May 13, 2017 -- 3:17PM, The Dragon wrote:

indeed spurs fill both categories in my book, but they are very closely related

I get the impression from your posts here that you're not the brightest of sparks.    Please check a dictionary for the definition of the word "choke" before posting you nonsense here again. Thank you..

sofa i have a post graduate degree and maybe many things but one thing i am not is " not the brightest of sparks"

I quite like spurs but the fact is they have  not won anything for a very long time. I take your point about choking gleeman but the point is in recent years they have been in very good positions and have failed to deliver anything

May 13, 2017 -- 5:45PM, The Dragon wrote:

sofa i have a post graduate degree and maybe many things but one thing i am not is " not the brightest of sparks"I quite like spurs but the fact is they have  not won anything for a very long time. I take your point about choking gleeman but the point is in recent years they have been in very good positions and have failed to deliver anything

So you're saying that almost every club in the league are chokers also as they've also won noting in quite some time?

May 13, 2017 -- 5:45PM, The Dragon wrote:

sofa i have a post graduate degree and maybe many things but one thing i am not is " not the brightest of sparks"I quite like spurs but the fact is they have  not won anything for a very long time. I take your point about choking gleeman but the point is in recent years they have been in very good positions and have failed to deliver anything

Anyway, no offense intended.

http://www.football365.com/news/tottenhams-sustained-sorcery-makes-them-winners

By almost any objective measure, Tottenham should be fifth or perhaps even sixth. By wage bill (sixth), revenue (sixth: Deloitte put them almost £100m per season behind even Liverpool), gross money spent on transfers over the last five years and history (fifth in an overall Premier League table, sixth on average points per game). Fifth or sixth.

Even despite last season’s title challenge and third-place finish, when the BBC asked 33 pundits, journalists and commentators for their pre-season predictions, only one (bless you, Chris Waddle) thought they would win the title and barely a third thought they would finish in the top four. Their overall predicted place: Fifth, squeaking just ahead of Liverpool.

They now sit one point away from their first second-place finish in 54 years and have already claimed the most points and most goals in any of their 25 Premier League seasons. Unless they ship 13 goals in their final three games, they will have dovetailed their best attacking season with their best defending season – a neat trick. This has been a truly phenomenal campaign for a Tottenham side which has laughed in the face of logic and chortled in the general vicinity of everything we think we know about success being fuelled by money.

Leicester certainly pulled off the greatest magic trick in the history of football, but Tottenham have conjured up sustainable sorcery, with Mauricio Pochettino turning a sixth into a fifth into a third into a second. And all this while bigger, richer clubs have paid ever-increasing money to more players, with four clubs ‘upgrading’ their managers within the Argentine’s three-year spell. A Premier League table for that period looks like this:

Chelsea 221
Man City 214
Arsenal 212
Tottenham 211
Man United 201
Liverpool 192

A reminder now that Pochettino took over a side that had just finished sixth – behind Everton – and were ten points behind Arsenal and 17 points behind champions Manchester City. A title challenge looked so far away that it was barely a spot on the horizon. And a reminder – should you still need it – that Tottenham’s finances meant that sixth place was just about par. There is a reason why Tim Sherwood got another Premier League job; he had not failed, just not quite succeeded.

And yet, there are those that would have you believe that Tottenham have stumbled or even failed this season because they have logged another year without silverware. Some even rolled out the word ‘Spursy’ after Friday night’s defeat to West Ham put an end to any lingering hopes of a title challenge that was only ever a slim possibility because of an extraordinary run of form. In the mailbox this week, Manchester United fans claimed their season – likely to end in Tottenham’s rightful position of sixth – a greater success because they may end with two trophies.

That’s a debate that is likely to last all summer but Tottenham fans would be well-advised to stay clear. Whatever happens at United or Arsenal (who could yet finish fourth and claim a trophy), this has been an extraordinary season for Tottenham. Better than United’s? Who cares. Better than Arsenal’s? So what. Is it better than they could have reasonably expected? God yes. Immeasurably so.

Should that judgement come with a caveat about a lack of European progress? Not when no side since Manchester United in 2010/11 has successfully combined both domestic and European progress, no. Not when the only clubs to reach Champions League quarter-finals since then have finished fourth, seventh, third, sixth and, with Leicester, a likely ninth. Not when the last two Premier League title winners have not been burdened by European football.

That sorry state of affairs combined with Tottenham’s financial situation means no caveat is necessary; they simply do not have the strength in depth to compete on all fronts, nor the means to solve that problem. That they already have four players on the 4,000-minute list suggests that further European progress would have been detrimental to their Premier League season.

Could they lose players this summer to far bigger wages elsewhere? Unfortunately yes, for that is how football works. Could they lose Pochettino to a club that can offer more than the sixth-best finances? Unfortunately yes, for that is how football works. Should we forget that for now and instead wonder at the incredible progress made by this club under this manager? Yes, for that is how football should work.

Sarah Winterburn

no offence taken sofawd have loved you to win it as i backed them antepost at 12/1, lets hope they can go on and do better next year. they need to strengthen the squad for sure

Full of **** as usual dragon you were on here predicting Liverpool to win premiership the only degree you've got is in bull****

sniff...sniff sniff

May 14, 2017 -- 12:02AM, Capt__F wrote:

sniff...sniff sniff

Great insight there Captain. Thanks for posting..

VIP POO

No self-respecting top 6 EPL side, playing a full strength team and gunning for the title, should lose to a team carrying Jonathan bloody Calliari.  This is the very definition of bottle jobs.

As for Pochettino, IMO,he is more like Wenger and Rannieri(high class managers who make their clubs better) rather than Mourinho, Conte(cold-eyed, cold-blooded pirates who continually hunger for plunder ie cups, championships, etc)

Premier League 38 games champions

1995-96 Manchester United 82
1996-97 Manchester United 75
1997-98 Arsenal 78
1998-99 Manchester United 79
1999-00 Manchester United 91
2000-01 Manchester United 80
2001-02 Arsenal 87
2002-03 Manchester United 83
2003-04 Arsenal 90
2004-05 Chelsea 95
2005-06 Chelsea 91
2006-07 Manchester United 89
2007-08 Manchester United 87
2008-09 Manchester United 90
2009-10 Chelsea 86
2010-11 Manchester United 80
2011-12 Manchester City 89
2012-13 Manchester United 89
2013-14 Manchester City 86
2014-15 Chelsea 87
2015-16 Leicester City 81
2016-17 Chelsea 90+ (Tottenham 80+)

Median 87
Average 85.5
Max 95
Min 75

2016-17
Chelsea: one game to play
Tottenham: two games to play

Most of the period Spurs didn't win anything is irrelevant because they were a crap side for the majority of those years.

To choke something you at least have to be on a par and in with a good shout imo. Spurs were never really in with a good shout, and their end of season form has actually been superb really.

The narrative that spurs have never been in contention is false and a shocking rewriting of history.
Last season they came to our gaff(Upton Park)in March knowing that a win would put them top. They were 6/4 title favs  with Skybet at the time. They lost 1 0.
This season they came to our place(the LS)knowing a win would keep the pressure on Chelsea.  They were generally 2/5 across the board to get the win.  They lost 1 0.

We(west ham) also played Chelsea at home under the floodlights.  It is fair to say we are not overly fond of Chelsea either (massive understatement). They came away with the 3 points.  I have to grudgly admit clubs like Chelsea get the job done.

They were also massive outsiders to win the league at that point, they were never winning it regardless of beating West Ham or not, Chelsea just weren't going to slip up.

Also on that logic literally any loss when in the run in is going to be choking. Nobody wins every single game. Spurs have won 9 of 10 ffs.

It's already been pointed out, but about 10 games ago Tottenham were on par with a load of teams in the race for the top 4 rather than the title, but yet because they've had the best form since they are now the chokers for losing 1 game rather than the teams who have displayed worse form in that time.

Last season was worse, but Spurs were never really in the driving seat. The odds constantly expected Leicester to choke, but they never actually did.

May 17, 2017 -- 8:19AM, ffaith wrote:

The narrative that spurs have never been in contention is false and a shocking rewriting of history.Last season they came to our gaff(Upton Park)in March knowing that a win would put them top. They were 6/4 title favs  with Skybet at the time. They lost 1 0.This season they came to our place(the LS)knowing a win would keep the pressure on Chelsea.  They were generally 2/5 across the board to get the win.  They lost 1 0.We(west ham) also played Chelsea at home under the floodlights.  It is fair to say we are not overly fond of Chelsea either (massive understatement). They came away with the 3 points.  I have to grudgly admit clubs like Chelsea get the job done.

Think that says everything about West Ham conning their fans all season, rather than anything about Spurs

See you put the clown shoes back on again at the weekend, when Liverpool hove into view.

Too true Roger, West Sham also beat the Chavs in the league Cup at home, a fact over looked by the myopic fan.
They had the advantage of playing their Cup Final at home as well.

spurs would have still come up short if they'd won the last 13 games. in fact so few mistakes have chelsea made in all likelihood would have to have won 18 out of 19 in the 2nd half of the season

yes nominally they were in a good position going to upton park last season but not when you look at the remaining fixtures. leicester had got all the most difficult games out of the way - they saw off a succession of no hopers and teams on their holidays in the last 2 months. spurs had west ham away (hard to believe now but they were a very decent side last season), arsenal home, liverpool away, united home, stoke away and chelsea away. much more difficult

May 17, 2017 -- 10:55AM, n88uk wrote:

They were also massive outsiders to win the league at that point, they were never winning it regardless of beating West Ham or not, Chelsea just weren't going to slip up.Also on that logic literally any loss when in the run in is going to be choking. Nobody wins every single game. Spurs have won 9 of 10 ffs.It's already been pointed out, but about 10 games ago Tottenham were on par with a load of teams in the race for the top 4 rather than the title, but yet because they've had the best form since they are now the chokers for losing 1 game rather than the teams who have displayed worse form in that time.Last season was worse, but Spurs were never really in the driving seat. The odds constantly expected Leicester to choke, but they never actually did.

Well said n88uk.  All those folks claiming Spurs choked should read your comment.  And yes, West Ham are a joke outfit. Play the game of their lives v Spurs but then down tools and get mauled by Liverpool a week later.  If they'd played every week like they did against Spurs they'd be top 6-8.

Most goals scores 86 Tottenham
Least goals conceded 26 Tottenham
Least number of defeats 4 Tottenham

Most wins 30 Chelsea

Most draws 15 Manchester United
(no forwards and midfield)

86 points is never a choke

You have to wonder about Manchester United's buy of Paul Drogba.
Was he supposed to be a dominating force in midfield supplying the ammunition for attack?
When is that starting?

May 18, 2017 -- 5:43AM, sofaking wrote:

May 17, 2017 -- 10:55AM, n88uk wrote:They were also massive outsiders to win the league at that point, they were never winning it regardless of beating West Ham or not, Chelsea just weren't going to slip up.Also on that logic literally any loss when in the run in is going to be choking. Nobody wins every single game. Spurs have won 9 of 10 ffs.It's already been pointed out, but about 10 games ago Tottenham were on par with a load of teams in the race for the top 4 rather than the title, but yet because they've had the best form since they are now the chokers for losing 1 game rather than the teams who have displayed worse form in that time.Last season was worse, but Spurs were never really in the driving seat. The odds constantly expected Leicester to choke, but they never actually did.Well said n88uk.  All those folks claiming Spurs choked should read your comment.  And yes, West Ham are a joke outfit. Play the game of their lives v Spurs but then down tools and get mauled by Liverpool a week later.  If they'd played every week like they did against Spurs they'd be top 6-8.

stop whinging like a scouser sofa baby  you werent good enough ,it was a London Derby , are you trying to say west ham would have layed down to Arsenal or Chelsea cos thats a load of cobblers ,. your mob bottled it that game and you still aint won fcuk all

Yeh, cos West Ham 1, Arsenal 5, they really stood up that day.

* Pogba

May 22, 2017 -- 6:17PM, LAMBETH WALK wrote:

May 18, 2017 --  5:43AM, sofaking wrote:May 17, 2017 -- 10:55AM, n88uk wrote:They were also massive outsiders to win the league at that point, they were never winning it regardless of beating West Ham or not, Chelsea just weren't going to slip up.Also on that logic literally any loss when in the run in is going to be choking. Nobody wins every single game. Spurs have won 9 of 10 ffs.It's already been pointed out, but about 10 games ago Tottenham were on par with a load of teams in the race for the top 4 rather than the title, but yet because they've had the best form since they are now the chokers for losing 1 game rather than the teams who have displayed worse form in that time.Last season was worse, but Spurs were never really in the driving seat. The odds constantly expected Leicester to choke, but they never actually did.Well said n88uk.  All those folks claiming Spurs choked should read your comment.  And yes, West Ham are a joke outfit. Play the game of their lives v Spurs but then down tools and get mauled by Liverpool a week later.  If they'd played every week like they did against Spurs they'd be top 6-8.stop whinging like a scouser sofa baby  you werent good enough ,it was a London Derby , are you trying to say west ham would have layed down to Arsenal or Chelsea cos thats a load of cobblers ,. your mob bottled it that game and you still aint won fcuk all

You know what they say about arguing with idiots?  Why did I even bother attempting to educate you. 

Bloke's clearly a halfwit sofaking.

I'm not a Spurs fan but anyone who claims they bottled it clearly has an agenda. Spurs have been outstanding this season, particularly the 2nd half, and were just unlucky that Chelsea hardly faltered at all and amassed such a high points total. Any neutral should be praising Spurs. Obviously fans of one or two other clubs won't. Spurs have put together an outstanding team, spending very little money over the last couple of years (net spend is what matters). They have a young vibrant team full of outstanding English players and with a guy in charge who is one of the most admired young managers in the world.
Chelsea whilst having a brilliant season and fully deserving their title success did have the massive advantage of no European football and very few injuries. it's a real shame for football that this young team haven't won anything. The likelihood is that despite earning half the money they could elsewhere the players (maybe apart from Walker) will give it at least one more season together. It would be great for football if they could win the league and keep the squad together rather than have their best players picked off, but unfortunately Wembley will mean that chance is extremely slim.

The Wembley factor has been, and is being, massively overplayed.

I don't think anyone doubts that spurs are a very good team or that they have given their fans a lot of pleasure.  What is in doubt is their ability to finish first past the post.  The phrase 'first the post' is an euphemism for bottle or nerve is it not?

Their fans (most of them)will tell you that they were a better team than Leicester.  That they are a better team than Chelsea (both in the league and the cup).  Possibly the best team in last season's EL.  Probably the best team in this year's EL.  Yet no trophies to show for it.  Zip, nada except for a runner-up medal.
The window of opportunity for success is ltd as they are always vulnerable to richer clubs.

As for MoPo a brilliant young manager but he does make strange decisions when the heat is on ie playing Son at LWB or playing a weakened team against a formidable Dortmund outfit.

In praise of MoPo before he came to spurs i seem to remember spurs fans moaning a lot about Levy.  From the Venkys to Elis Short to Silent Stan to the Brady brunch at whu owners and boards everywhere hoping for a super competent manager of their own.

I don't think it is.  It's not so much about Spurs, it's about the opposition arriving with no fear, ready to enjoy the day. Imagine yourself as a player. You look at the fixture list and next week you've got Spurs at White Hart Lane. You don't really fancy that. Now transfer that to 'next week you're playing at Wembley'. Instead of feeling a little trepidation you now feel positivity. It will feel much closer to a neutral venue. This season Spurs got 53 points at home . Next season how many do you think? I will be quite surprised if you get over 40. I hope I'm wrong.

They got 53 this season, so anything less means the Wembley factor is at play? Not for me, we've played good sides in all the games our bad run at Wembley has constituted, not Palace or Burnley or Bournemouth. Those teams might be looking forward to their day out at Wembley, but they will still be absolutely destroyed by a far superior team when they get there.

Of course if you get 45-50 points no one could suggest there was a Wembley factor. I would say under 40 would suggest there was probably a Wembley factor. I hope that you are right. As a neutral I'd love to see Spurs win the league. I would, however, be very surprised.

We will just have to play better away from home, and maybe even turn up for some of the more important games before half time.

I think even the season before last when we were the only realistic challengers to Leicester, we only got ten home wins - this season just gone is a massive outlier in our recent history as regards our home form.

probably odds on we don't win 17 home games in the next 50 years - only 3 teams have won 18 since the prem has been a 20 team league. have to aim for 13-15 and definitely scope for an improved away record. only 9 in the both the last 2 seasons when 11-12 is ballpark figure for champions. chelsea won it cos they squeezed out 2 or 3 more away wins against mid table sides

they weren't chokers imo, just not good enough, best team wins the league over 38 matches, but if you direct h2h comparisons, Leicester took 4 points fro 6 last season from Tottenham, and Chelsea won and lost in the league, though beat them in the FA cup.

Tottenham's stock being a Champions league team playing at Wembley next season is high, they need to buy a couple of big name signings. If the current team was not good enough this season it's not going to be good enough next.

Why is that, do you expect City and United to improve? I seem to remember a lot of people expected that this season, and they expected Arsenal to contend and told Spurs fans we would never have a better chance again.

Spurs will improve again if they don't buy anybody, it is a natural progression for a young team.

might not even have to improve. 93 is freakishly high total for a side which most people would not rate as one of the truly outstanding sides in the prem era. 86 would win it plenty of times

that's assuming you could reach the same points totals and keep up the same level without injuries, considering there's going to be heavy investment from rivals clubs, if you stand still you'll go backwards.

We had all sorts of injuries this season sh. Chelsea hardly had any.

Will be very hard for Tottenham to attract anyone who will improve the first 11. That team is put together so well and needs a world class player to improve them. What they can do is improve the squad. The back up in the attacking positions isn't great. 86 points could win it next season. I can't see anyone exceeding that with perhaps the exception of City.

Hard to know who will improve any team - Wanyama cost us £11m and has forced his way into the team and is currently pretty much indispensable.

You are right though, we do need some forward cover, but as you say unless they really push the boat out it is hard to see how that person could get into the team regularly.

It should also be borne in mind that Spurs have some outstanding youngsters coming through, including one - Marcus Edwards - who is going to blow the football world away.

I doubt very much that Spurs choked. That said it will be interesting to see the betting for next season's PL.

** 8/1 Spurs? Bigger than I expected.