Popped round to see a neighbour, so missed most of it. Sounds an ugly win, but I'll take it, 3rd, for the moment, looks rather sexy

And Poch out, obviously

Certainly won that game ugly, whether we deserved to or not is debateable. It's always the same when we come up against a very physical team, we struggle because we don't have that many players who are willing to stick their foot in so we get bossed.

Watford for all their "effort" today actually offered very little going forward. They were entirely dependent on their two battering rams up front getting in our CBs faces and unsettling them. They did to a certain extent as that was the most nervous performance I've seen from all 3 so far this season.

For all the criticism aimed at DJHB80 for his opinions I can say that I have some sympathy towards him today as we were generally poor for most of the game. Whatever way you choose to look at it, that was a game we really could have won comfortably had we been much more on our own game.

The next game against Everton (oops!) is a much sterner test of where we are.

We came within millimetres of losing that game today. In real time to the naked eye, it did look like that corner had crossed the line. When Watford went down to 10 men on the hour, I was really looking for us to show some nous, gradually build pressure and eventually open them up, but we did nothing of the sort. Until we scored the winner, I'm not sure we created a single chance, and for a large period of that time it was Watford that looked the likelier to score. Son could've been called offside just before he scored too, so I definitely think we rode our luck a little.

It's a win regardless, so credit to the team. Top 4 has to be the absolute minimum we achieve this season now, we simply won't get another season like this where not a single one of our rivals looks convincing, and three of them look an utter shambles. If we can't do it from this position, we won't do it for the foreseeable future IMO.

You played well 1st half and looked better when against 11 than our 10.

Well done and you certainly have some technically very good players who also aren't afraid to get stuck in.

A shame we didn't have Mousa when they went down to ten, as I think he'd have been in his element with the extra space. We always struggle without him now, so I'm not shocked we didn't really take advantage of the extra man. Hopefully this injury is just a niggle and he won't miss many games.

Today was never going to be an easy game, but it was fairly even. Not too many chances, not many saves for either keeper to make or much for them to do.

Those whipped in near post corners from Watford are horrendous to deal with, still not sure how Hugo stopped it just in time.

Props to Chadli for dealing with Hugo's awful pass out and setting us on our way for the winner Son was offside. Do I care? Not one bit.

And it was a clear red card.

Fantastic read; a thoroughly researched, fascinating article about football - fab!

Thanks for the link


Totally. I see he covered the most ground as well. Let's just see if he can defend a back post ...


What a manager you have. Looks the real deal! If our's gets nicked we know where to look

I'm being that guy again ..

If Leicester lose against City tomorrow night, City go above them in 2nd place with 38 points, but only on goal difference.

If we beat Everton, we'd then go above City in 2nd place on goal difference, but it would be Spurs, City and then Leicester all on 38 points.

The perfect result would be Bournemouth then turning Leicester over (which is unlikely, all things considered) and then we'd be in a position where we'd be playing Leicester in the league to consolidate 2nd spot .. which is .. weird .. but good

^City also have Watford away the day before we play Everton. A Watford win wouldn't be a shock though.

You're quite right of course

For me, personally, I think if we do get to 2nd then I'm going to be all about a title challenge because why not ?

If we're in the top 3 by the end of January, i think it's more than fair to look at us as possible title contenders.

As enthusiastic as I am about where the club currently is, we've got no chance of the title.

I see the BBC propaganda has started for its precious tin pot fa cup, and then the false idol of the Thursday cup kicks back in as well.

We're already sub optimal without any one of Dembele, Kane, Alli and one of the central defenders. We haven't been hit yet with injuries, either that's luck or the fitness and enthusiasm has helped. They are coming though and it's a proper squad game from mid-Jan.

You really don't like cup competitions

Did the FA Cup steal your dinner money at school or something ?

I liked the fa cup at school. I think it's great for non and lower league clubs, a good additional income. And I guess it's an okay competition, a bit of fun, though in England it's over-hyped to a ridiculous degree.

The BBC promo's particularly make me cringe; squeezing every single drop of cliche and bogus sentimentality out of something they pay too much for anyway.

For clubs in Tottenham's situation it's a distraction. Contrast the BBC hype with actual attendances - even when I was a ST holder a large percentage treated it as a rest day.

The Thursday Cup is fine for the yoof, but only if you get knocked out before Christmas, as 'arry well understood.

Important win, but very cruel to Watford after being cms from going ahead themselves. We rode our luck and just glad it went our way on this occasion.

Trippier has got one heck of a cross on him, but still feel like I need to see more to pass judgement defensively.

Think we showed that bit of inexperience that is to be expected with such a young squad when they went down to ten men - it was like we had had someone sent off, they seemed rattled, let the crowd get to them and Watford looked the most likely to score for a lengthy spell - luckily for us we came through it unscathed and its another learning curve.

https://twitter.com/RickSpur/status/...rc=twsrc%5Etfw

Hopefully this link works with quotes attributed directly to Poch in El Mundo.

I think playing with 3 CBs to combat Watford's forwards made us a less effective unit in midfield but I'll take the win and a top 4 place going into the new year.

Who would of of thought we would reached half way point having only lost two games and have the best defensive record in the PL? Certainly not me!

Well that's interesting. He's making that "cement" statement without being led into it.

Forgive the pun but it 'reinforces' my point from a couple of days ago about everyone buying into this unique project - it's like human nature to be attracted to a clear 'journey' and the journey is so clearly defined atm for Tottenham: playing Champions League, with your 'band of brothers' in a brand new 61, 000 - less than three years from now.

That's what they are all about now. It'll have to be something pretty epic - like a Bale size bid - to knock them off course: 'concrete'.

I'd have to agree, I think he's really committed to building something special at Spurs, and everyone important is along for the ride, I'm confident (crosses fingers, touch wood etc etc) that we won't loose anyone important during the transfer window - we should certainly sign, but they will have to be players that buy into Poch's way entirely, no short term fixes. Interesting article I read where apparently Levy had told Poch he could get Charlie Austin for under £15m after they failed to get Berahino, and Poch said no, good player but not what he wanted.

I don't think we're in with a chance of the league this season, even great new signings have to bed in, and a few vital injuries or suspensions (Dele Alli, I'm looking at you ) will happen and that may well cost us. Although top 4 should be entirely possible.

Mind you, must stop looking at the league table and thinking 'if only we hadn't dropped points to Stoke and Newcastle etc'

I think the way the season is going at the moment, we have as good a chance as anyone at winning the league. I think we're more likely to win it than Leicester are. We are in the title race at the moment, so I don't know why so many keep rubbishing the idea.

I'm not rubbishing it at all, I love the way the club is heading, I think a lot of pieces are in place and others are falling into place, I just think it won't be this year. Hell, I will never be happier to be completely wrong on this count, and as I'm usually completely wrong on any predictions I make, get your bets on now

It does tick me off a bit whenever this happens, and it happens almost every season. A lot of us tend to downplay our chances of doing anything significant because of "where we are" or because it's "realistic".

I can't see why we can't just enjoy the ride while we're on it. Yes, it's highly likely we won't win the title, but while we're in with a shout of it, and we certainly are at the moment, why not dare to dream for a bit ?

Its odd, considering we completely outplayed the goons on their own ground, Man City did the same but lost. If the goons are title contenders so are we. Its about goal scoring ( taking chances shooting straight ) our defense looks fairly solid, if players like Alli, Lamela and Son keep scoring we will go close.

Because we haven't been able to invest £100 million more every season in a squad. When we played the goons they had 10 injuries. If we get hit that hard Levy will be driving around Sunday morning pitches asking if anyone fancies a game at 4 o'clock.

The only way around the squad game that is coming from January onwards is to bail out of the tin pot cups. Everything else being equal, Citch and Chelsea win titles not because of the team but because of the depth of the squad.

One injury up front and Poch is back to Josh Onomah as his game changing bench option. When you're playing for the Premiership title?

Oooeerrr ...




http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...st-man-7088496

You said we have no chance, I'd say that's you rubbishing the idea


But we have had injuries. We had a period when Dier and Alli were our only fit CM options (not including the youth plauers) with all of Mason, Dembele and Bentaleb out for a while. Rose has had injury troubles this season, Eriksen has missed games, Chadli was out for two months or so, Son out for a month or so, Njie is out for a while now. We just haven't made a big deal of it and just got on with things.

Arsenal have a large squad. Even with a few out injured, they weren't having to play kids. They were still starting with eleven players who are considered first team regulars.

Exactly this.