If this squad, with the key injuries finishers in top 4 it will be a massive achievement.
We were never title challengers. Maybe if we never had European football. But, like many want, to competed in every cup competition using the squad sparingly playing strong teams, it's never going to happen.
The squad is not good enough. Maybe some convinced themselves we had great cover in every position except striker, but really just tripper really.
Wimmer is no longer trusted as a Left footed CB to replace Vertonghen, and Dier, who obviously wasn't considered consistently good enough to partner Vertongen, is vulnerable at CB.
He was last season too when he had to play there.
Davies, imo, flatters to deceive. I really cannot see how he is considered great defensively. He got ran ragged by Adama last weekend and Toby and Dembele were helping him out.
He offers little going forward too. The odd decent cross.
Dier's frailties nearly cost us 2 points in that game. Luckily for us his errors have been covered up, like v Wycombe, by missed opportunities or us getting results.
We have a decent CM in Winks but no place for him.
We have no replacements for our AM's but Nkoudo, onomah Edwards and Sissoko.
More fool anyone who thought that without our full strength team we were going up there to smash Liverpool. It would have been difficult with a full strength back line.
However, we are still in the cup, EL and still 2nd, until tomorrow.
So, be happy.
The new stadium is not here yet, we have a 30k capacity and a wage structure.
Expect no massive sig inns and a bench full of £100k + squad members
Next season will be very, very, difficult .
Be prepared to not win any cups if you want us to finish in top 4 this year.
It's more important we do that imo. Top 4 would make a statement. We are a top 4 team and intend to stay a top 4 team. It will be much more beneficial to us getting through the next couple of seasons too. Some don't seem to realise that it's also a massive gamble this new stadium. It could break us as well as make us.
If we were out of the top 4 challenge I'd say go all out for EL.
However, it's a tough decision for Pochettino.
We saw last year that when it was on he prioritised the league rather than gamble.