The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

It's all funny to me at this point. A pretty significant number Spurs fans (not you stl or Zero) are acting really aggrieved by people saying the same things about them that they would criticize Arsenal for every time Arsenal fans would trot out St. Totteringham's Day.

Embrace the hate, it means you're doing something right.

[stlducks]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

It's all funny to me at this point. A pretty significant number Spurs fans (not you stl or Zero) are acting really aggrieved by people saying the same things about them that they would criticize Arsenal for every time Arsenal fans would trot out St. Totteringham's Day.

Embrace the hate, it means you're doing something right.

That's how I feel, same with Cardinals in baseball. People hate you, that means you are doing enough to make them at least think of you.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

I genuinely see Spurs getting more crap for not winning trophies than Liverpool, it's pretty hilarious tbh.

Of course, the only thing that really bothers me about that is Liverpool not getting enough crap flung at them, but still.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

I genuinely see Spurs getting more crap for not winning trophies than Liverpool, it's pretty hilarious tbh.

Of course, the only thing that really bothers me about that is Liverpool not getting enough crap flung at them, but still.

Personally I'm sympathetic towards Liverpool because of the entire Tom Hicks debacle. Getting out of that is something else, either way I think the notion that Spurs don't belong in the conversation for top 4 is comical at best.

[KG]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

If I’m spurs I’d take a Top 4 finish over a FA and/or League Cup. The FA Cup has lost some of its luster now that the money associated with a Top 4 finish has skyrocketed and the appeal for potential transfers.


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[Krebstar]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

If I’m spurs I’d take a Top 4 finish over a FA and/or League Cup. The FA Cup has lost some of its luster now that the money associated with a Top 4 finish has skyrocketed and the appeal for potential transfers.


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Would you go as far as to call a top-four finish a trophy? Hypothetically speaking if their manager called a top-four finish a trophy, how much **** do you think he'd get for several years? Do you perhaps see it turning into a meme of sorts? But should it be? Surely they can't compete with the wage structure of the Manchester clubs and Chelsea's oil money, right?

This is all entirely hypothetical, of course.

[stlducks]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Would you go as far as to call a top-four finish a trophy? Hypothetically speaking if their manager called a top-four finish a trophy, how much **** do you think he'd get for several years? Do you perhaps see it turning into a meme of sorts? But should it be? Surely they can't compete with the wage structure of the Manchester clubs and Chelsea's oil money, right?

This is all entirely hypothetical, of course.

I wouldn't call it a trophy but would say it's more important than the league or FA cup to most fans. Does anyone outside of England care about the FA cup? Top 4 at least gives Champions League and helps the future of the club more than one of those two trophies would.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

I wouldn't call it a trophy but would say it's more important than the league or FA cup to most fans. Does anyone outside of England care about the FA cup? Top 4 at least gives Champions League and helps the future of the club more than one of those two trophies would.

Imagine if this pragmatism had existed in 2012.

[stlducks]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Imagine if this pragmatism had existed in 2012.

The money in the game has changed everything lately.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

The money in the game has changed everything lately.

Champions League definitely paid more than the FA Cup in 2012 as well. 1.8m for the FA Cup and Arsenal earned near 30m in the Champions League. Still torn to bits for saying 4th place was important.

[stlducks]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Champions League definitely paid more than the FA Cup in 2012 as well. 1.8m for the FA Cup and Arsenal earned near 30m in the Champions League. Still torn to bits for saying 4th place was important.

The main difference between Arsenal then and Spurs now is that Arsenal were near the top constantly and didn't win the league or CL. People are saying they about Spurs now but the debate about it is that Spurs are still "new" to the top 4.

People are more impatient in all sports now and demand results immediately. If Spurs finish top 4 this season, it's only the 3rd time they have done that recently. I think people are forgetting that and are trying to treat Spurs the same way Arsenal were treated after finishing top 4 for a decade.

I also understand why Arsenal fans are so quick to point out top 4 isn't a trophy. Arsenal were mocked for it and now their rivals are praised for it. But again, it's much more complicated than that.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

The main difference between Arsenal then and Spurs now is that Arsenal were near the top constantly and didn't win the league or CL. People are saying they about Spurs now but the debate about it is that Spurs are still "new" to the top 4.

People are more impatient in all sports now and demand results immediately. If Spurs finish top 4 this season, it's only the 3rd time they have done that recently. I think people are forgetting that and are trying to treat Spurs the same way Arsenal were treated after finishing top 4 for a decade.

I also understand why Arsenal fans are so quick to point out top 4 isn't a trophy. Arsenal were mocked for it and now their rivals are praised for it. But again, it's much more complicated than that.

I mean, I've always thought finishing top 4 was important, and certainly understand the endless mocking was more because of Arsenal being a meme. This Spurs team is better, and should be aiming higher than any of those Arsenal teams. Looking up and down that team and not being a little disappointed that it's yet another silverwareless season is just insanity to me.

Either way, for quite some time now it's been rational to prioritize finishing top 4 over the cups, it's just that now you won't get endlessly mocked for it, so it's whatever.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

The main difference between Arsenal and Spurs, is that Arsenal is one of the most successful teams in English football history. Literally the third most successful team. Arsenal's expectations are just way different, and their time spent around the top is a huge part of why they have been so relentlessly mocked.

Spurs have never at any point been a regular member of the English football elite. At this point, I'd think they are just trying to sustain being a consistent top 4 side and then add on trophies whenever they can.

I do think some of the current Spurs team has the wrong kind of mentality to win regular trophies, but they are definitely not big enough yet to have the same sort of expectations as Arsenal (or any of the other top 6 for that matter).

[stlducks]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

The main difference between Arsenal and Spurs, is that Arsenal is one of the most successful teams in English football history. Literally the third most successful team. Arsenal's expectations are just way different, and their time spent around the top is a huge part of why they have been so relentlessly mocked.

Spurs have never at any point been a regular member of the English football elite. At this point, I'd think they are just trying to sustain being a consistent top 4 side and then add on trophies whenever they can.

I do think some of the current Spurs team has the wrong kind of mentality to win regular trophies, but they are definitely not big enough yet to have the same sort of expectations as Arsenal (or any of the other top 6 for that matter).

It's very strange to be agreeing with a Chelsea fan...

[Suntan Superman]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

The main difference between Arsenal and Spurs, is that Arsenal is one of the most successful teams in English football history. Literally the third most successful team. Arsenal's expectations are just way different, and their time spent around the top is a huge part of why they have been so relentlessly mocked.

Spurs have never at any point been a regular member of the English football elite. At this point, I'd think they are just trying to sustain being a consistent top 4 side and then add on trophies whenever they can.

I do think some of the current Spurs team has the wrong kind of mentality to win regular trophies, but they are definitely not big enough yet to have the same sort of expectations as Arsenal (or any of the other top 6 for that matter).

The team they trot out on a regular basis is more talented and overall better than Arsenal. But because of history we get to ignore that.

Neat.