And when did Spurs last get a top 4 finish ? In fact, when did they last achieve a consistent 4th place spot season after season.

I think 5th place is the highest we can realistically finish this term now. We not only require results in other matches to go in our favour though but also need to get some semblence of a cohesive defensive unit organised. If we have a third game in a row where we offer little resistance in our own penalty area then we may as well pack up and start preparing for next season.

we really needed a draw yesterday, or even a Liverpool win. 6 points between us and Man U at this stage of the season is huge.

For sure. We are slowly drifting towards the realm of 'mathematical certainly' but there is still scope for several twists and turns - at this point probably meaning teams above losing momentum based on losing key players.

It's just slowly getting further from being in our hands atm.

Yeah I do think it's only a slim outside chance at best at the moment - even moreso considering we still have to play Southampton and Man City as well.

I think Europa League is almost guaranteed though, considering we're 10 points clear of 8th spot.

Still, stranger things have happened I suppose, like Ars*nal getting in to the Champions League quarter finals

Well, if there are Europa places down to 7th in the Premier League and Villa, Reading or Blackburn don't take the FA Cup Europa place.

Thanks.

Mason has also been called up to the England squad. Whatever we think about who should or shouldnt be there, it is nice to have such a strong Spurs represention. Was only recently when we didnt have anyone.

This is possibly the most bizarre season i've known supporting Tottenham. It's like Terry Prachett overreaching.

We really have had a Jekyll & Hyde team this season. At their height capable of beating anyone but then the lows of pedestrian defending and unable to keep a clean sheet for toffee.

That's the full set of current English Spurs first team players in the full England or U21 squads + Ben Davies plays for Wales. Ignoring on loan Aaron Lennon who (we hope) will sign permanently for Everton.

There's that for sure. I was also thinking about players like Kane and Mason being called up - what were our expectations of those fringe, much loaned out pair 8 months ago ..... In some ways it's even more bizarre that Towsend has been recalled.

And then players you thought were probably bankers for 25-30 starts - Paulinho, Capoue, Lamela - sitting on the bench watching academy kids.

And how about this - from the pov of last August; academy kid and failed Leicester loanee Harry Kane is worth more than Soldado ...

He's not woeful. Right before his dad died, he was our most productive player behind Kane. His form has only dropped since losing his dad. It's quite clear he is not in a good space mentally, and probably needed more time off than he took. Right now, he is in poor form, but he has contributed this season and his goals have been just as important as Eriksen's have. He's also chipped in with five assists in the league.

On the mention of Eriksen, I find it odd that people never mention how much his form has dropped off during the same period.

Alderweireld has stated his desire to play with Jan again, and to do it in the Premier League

http://hotspurrelated.co.uk/2015/tob...-at-tottenham/

I see reports from Germany say we have agreed terms on a centre back. Less likely to be bollocks from that direction:

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/repor...ew/news/191857

the Chadli thing confused me a bit too. sure, he's not exactly setting the world alight at present, but he has definitely contributed this season. and as you have correctly pointed out, he is dealing with personal issues more important than football. we as fans sometimes overlook these things, as though players somehow waive their right to be human. it's why I'm always playing devil's advocate when it comes to Adebayor. I'm not his biggest fan, but I have a very close friend who grew up with the Toures and also has a good relationship with Adebayor. he doesn't necessarily help himself a lot of the time, but if people had more of an insight into his extremely turbulent lifestyle and the things he goes through on an almost-daily basis, maybe just maybe they wouldn't be AS quick to judge and criticise as they are.

in this situation though, I think it's down to Pochettino to take him out of the team for a bit, for his own good as much as the team's. it's things like this that make me say that, for as good a job as he may have done up to this point, I think he's being too rigid/stubborn with his approach.

agree with you on Eriksen. for the past month or so he's not really been influencing games at all. but again, it's the something the manager has to address, but for whatever reason is choosing not to.

Haven't really seen much of this lad to warrant a really strong opinion on him either way but I recall we looked at him closely a couple of summers ago and rejected taking it further as it was felt he didn't offer anything better than we already had at that time.

Current stats show that Alderweireld's performances this season have been worse than our best 4 CBs, so the previous assessment seems spot on.

Alderweireld isn't bad. I'd just rather that if we absolutely have to buy another CB rather than developing any of the ones we already have, they're more the finished article than another prospect.

Rose out already

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32061144

I'm wondering if Poch will bring Fazio back in place of Dier? Looking at our CB stats this season, Vertonghen and Fazio have been out best pairing in terms of least goals conceeded per game and importantly Fazio heads twice as many balls in the area as the others. Dier is a bit more speedier though Fazio makes up for it by having better positional sense due to experience but does makes the odd blunder. Of course we still need the rest of the players to offer better defensive protection in the first place.

I have to wonder why Fazio was dropped in the first place actually. As you say, him and Jan had a good partnership going and it's certainly not like Poch to bin a player after one bad game.

I can appreciate wanting to give Dier the game time to improve his game, but I suppose you have to go with your best pairing really and that was certainly Jan and Fazio.

I was thinking with the break for the internationals, that Poch would have some time to work on our defensive aspects but he has probably lost the majority of the team to their country duties!

Fernando Llorente is being linked with us once again. Can't see that we would want to buy a 30 year old striker even if he has had some decent goals per season tallies.

I think Llorente has been linked more times than Remy was, and that's saying something

As a backup, to replace the hatstand, i suppose it could be an option.

I haven't properly watched an england game in years but i might have to give the game a go tonight to see if Kane gets on.