The Race to the Title

BobbyB · Feb 8, 2016

Just want to throw in something I looked at a couple of weeks ago, which i think will have a major impact when we compare last season to the current one.

First name on the list is from our FA cup-game against Leicester last year. Second is our team against Leicester in the replay this season. Both teams are heavily rotated.

Just look at the difference in quality.

2015, Tottenham - Leicester 1-2 / 2016, Leicester - Tottenham 0-2

Starters
Vorm / Vorm
Chiriches / Walker
Fazio / Dier
Kaboul / Wimmer
Rose / Davies
Paulinho / Carroll
Capoue / Bentaleb
Dembélé / Lamela
Townsend / Eriksen
Lamela / Chadli
Soldado / Son

Subs
Friedel / Lloris
Adebayor / Onomah
Dier / Trippier
Kane / Kane
Eriksen / Alli
Stambouli / Winks
Davies / Vertonghen

Having that in mind, we had a very congested run around the League Cup-final last year. We crashed out of EL, lost the final against Chelsea and lost away to Liverpool in less than a week. That is almost exactly one year ago this week.

After 25 rounds in the PL last season we had 43 points, averaging 1,72 points per game, sitting in 5th place. After that (terrible) week we got another 21 points in the last 13 games, averaging 1,62 points per game.

This year we have so much more depth and quality - I very much prefer Chadli/Son over Ade/Soldado for example - and we haven´t had that terrible week for team morale and fitness, at least yet.

After 25 rounds this season we have 48 points, averaging 1,92 points per game. If we keep it up at 1,92 points per game, we will end up at 73 points. That should be enough to have a shot at being champions. But we are on a great run, we are top of the league for the last 19 games, top of the form table, we have only one major injury at the moment.

Well, I think we can do it.

Sweech · Feb 8, 2016

yankspurs said:
Maybe next time we dominate an opponent like that, we'll actually finish. That would be fun.

Wouldn't change anything other than our goal difference, which is already best in the league.

What we needed was the points, which is what we got. There were no more up for grabs.

fletch82 · Feb 8, 2016

yankspurs said:
Right now, we're in the race. We have to be. We're currently in 2nd and only 5 off the top with a superior goal difference. But will we win the title? Unlikely. I dont think we'll do it. If we can make it to the break within 3 points, maybe we could do it. However, Leicester have a MUCH easier fixture run. April is very rough for us. We have Liverpool(A), Utd(H), and Chelsea(A). Along with Stoke(A) and WBA(H) who always play us tough. Then we finish with Saints(H) and a side that may very well still be in a battle to stay up, Newcastle(A). I think we'll do very well to get 14-16 from that lot.

Name me leicester's easy fixtures ?

thfc1973 · Feb 8, 2016

fletch82 said:
Name me leicester's easy fixtures ?

Norwich
Watford
Toons
Palace
Sunderland
Swans
Everton

Everlasting Seconds · Feb 8, 2016

thfc1973 said:
Norwich
Watford
Toons
Palace
Sunderland
Swans
Everton

You forgot Arsenal.

fletch82 · Feb 8, 2016

thfc1973 said:
Norwich
Watford
Toons
Palace
Sunderland
Swans
Everton

I'll give you Norwich
Swansea
Probably Sunderland
The rest not a hope in he'll of them being easy even Sunderland are picking up at the moment.

Shadydan · Feb 8, 2016

You kid but Leicester will have more joy against Arsenal than a team like West Brom or Watford who will.just turn games in scraps.

yankspurs · Feb 8, 2016

fletch82 said:
Name me leicester's easy fixtures ?

I never said they had an easy run. Just that it's alot easier than ours. Our only "reprieve" is really against Saints. No matter what kind of disarray they're in, Chelsea, Liverpool and United will prove to be very difficult for us, especially as 2 of those 3 are away. Stoke and WBA always play us very tough and Newcastle might need something out of the last game in order to stay up.

db1 · Feb 8, 2016

Everlasting Seconds said:
You may be right, but that's largely based on mere opinions. Maybe somebody actually likes the way they play better. They are objectively speaking better at us, as football teams are not awarded points for style. If you want to follow a sport in which the winners are based on style, watch ski jumping, and ice skating.

Keep your ice skating to yourself, I'll watch the league's best team and if some Philistines actually prefer watching the way they play to our way, then they don't appreciate real football. They're still happy though, with the extra 5 points no doubt.

dricha1 · Feb 8, 2016

We definitely can win the league. It's how Poch plays it alongside the cup games.

The fact the Europe round of 32 coincides with FA cup weekend means we can probably go strong in Europa. It'll then be down to the draw if we get through. Get knocked out of the cups and we have 12 uninterrupted "finals" to the title.

alex3 · Feb 8, 2016

Shadydan said:
So what happens if this time next season we are in the exact same position but instead in the CL latter stages?

Do we play a complete 2nd team and focus on the league then too?

I wish we have this lovely problem to deal with next season but talking about now and on what a crazy season it is and lets be honest we just don't know when this opportunity will come again so for now use our squad for europa league no of our first 11 should be starting in there

Shadydan · Feb 8, 2016

alex3 said:
I wish we have this lovely problem to deal with next season but talking about now and on what a crazy season it is and lets be honest we just don't know when this opportunity will come again so for now use our squad for europa league no of our first 11 should be starting in there

We need to mix and match according to who we play a day who we have fit, sacking off competitions in order to do well in another is such a losers mentality and sends out completely the wrong message.

What better way to prepare us for a CL campaign (should we qualify) if we aren't trying to exert ourselves in all comps and prepare ourselves against different opposition and different styles?

And what's more despite the risk in a little burn out we are on a winning streak and winning breeds confidence, these players are hungry to play games, you can see it, we aren't seeing a drop in quality in fact we are getting better and fitter as the season wears on so IMO we have more than enough to cope for all comps with our current squad.

nicdic · Feb 8, 2016

yankspurs said:
I never said they had an easy run. Just that it's alot easier than ours. Our only "reprieve" is really against Saints. No matter what kind of disarray they're in, Chelsea, Liverpool and United will prove to be very difficult for us, especially as 2 of those 3 are away. Stoke and WBA always play us very tough and Newcastle might need something out of the last game in order to stay up.

We both have to play the following teams

Us
City (a)
Swansea (h)
West Ham (a)
Arsenal (h)
Villa (a)
Bournemouth (h)
Liverpool (a)
United (h)
Stoke (a)
West Brom (h)
Chelsea (a)
Southampton (h)
Newcastle (a)

Leicester
Arsenal (a)
Norwich (h)
West Brom (h)
Watford (a)
Newcastle (h)
Palace (a)
Southampton (h)
Sunderland (a)
West Ham (h)
Swansea (h)
United (a)
Everton (h)
Chelsea (a)

Of the 13 remaining games, we share 8 opponents: Arsenal (h,a), West Brom (h,h), Newcastle (a,h), Southampton (h,h), West Ham (a,h), Swansea (h,h), United (h,a), and Chelsea (a,a). Four of those we play in the same ground, and the other four I'd say even out relatively well, if not in our favour. I'd rather travel to West Ham and Newcastle than Arsenal and United.

That reduces the run ins to 5 games...

Us
City (a)
Villa (a)
Bournemouth (h)
Liverpool (a)
Stoke (a)

Leicester
Norwich (h)
Watford (a)
Palace (a)
Sunderland (a)
Everton (h)

Here the key differences to me are that Leicester have the benefit of an extra game at home over us, and we have to go to City. We both will play two teams that look like being in a relegation scrap, and the remainder of the teams will likely not be playing for anything.

They're pretty comparable run ins when you break it down like that.

fletch82 · Feb 8, 2016

yankspurs said:
I never said they had an easy run. Just that it's alot easier than ours. Our only "reprieve" is really against Saints. No matter what kind of disarray they're in, Chelsea, Liverpool and United will prove to be very difficult for us, especially as 2 of those 3 are away. Stoke and WBA always play us very tough and Newcastle might need something out of the last game in order to stay up.

No but it implies it's easier.
So are teams like west brom for example easier for them than us ? Southampton likewise for us than them ?
Palace tough
Man u tough
Everton are flying at the moment
And If Newcastle need something of us surely they need it off them too
They have 8 on paper tough fixtures as do we as do the goonies
It's anyone's title as of now between the four teams at the top that's all I am sayin

Lo Amo Speroni · Feb 8, 2016

Hazardousman said:
I can't believe we are discussing winning the title, massive credit to Poch and this set of wonderful players that we have, 18 months ago I couldn't think of more than 4 players I related to in this side and now I love every single one of em and the management.

Extremely proud to be a spurs supporter, prouder than I have been in 28 years and being a 31 year old now the thought I could witness us win a title is mind blowing, even if we don't manage it I will still be extremely proud of the job that's being done, the future is bright. COYS

31, fuck me I have a pair of jeans older than you. It has been a long time since we have been this close and an equally long time since I have felt confident about every player in the squad.

Spurvert · Feb 8, 2016

We ARE in the title race. Do I think we will win it? I don't know, probably not. But we have a hell of a chance.

I can honestly say, hand on heart, I don't fear anyone we've got left to play this season. We have no reason to fear and I don't think any of our players or staff will be worried about the Prem fixtures ahead. We can go to City and win on Sunday. And I think we will. I really do. We might have a harder run in than the others on paper, but that's all it is. I actually prefer our run in. It will keep us honest. I really think Leicester might start believing the hype (if they don't already, and why the hell not, they are top) and it will cost them against those teams still battling for their lives in this league. Places like the Stadium of Light will start getting very tricky to go to and win. I think United will find that out this week.

If we beat City on Sunday then I think that throws the Europa League games into even greater focus and discussion. Do we play a 'weaker' team? What about the FA Cup? I certainly want to do well on all fronts, we all do. But I for one would not be moaning if we made the Premier League the priority at all costs and just fell short.

Lilbaz · Feb 8, 2016

Lo Amo Speroni said:
31, fuck me I have a pair of jeans older than you. It has been a long time since we have been this close and an equally long time since I have felt confident about every player in the squad.

Bet they don't fit.

Dov67 · Feb 8, 2016

Never though I'd ever see a thread called the "race to the title" in Spurs Chat.........ever......or at least not in my lifetime........kind of nice

CornerPinDreamer · Feb 8, 2016

Dov67 said:
Never though I'd ever see a thread called the "race to the title" in Spurs Chat.........ever......or at least not in my lifetime........kind of nice

I'm impressed that you'd be checking in on SC after kicking the bucket

Hazardousman · Feb 8, 2016

Lo Amo Speroni said:
31, fuck me I have a pair of jeans older than you. It has been a long time since we have been this close and an equally long time since I have felt confident about every player in the squad.

I feel like an old bugger, I think spurs have added at least another 20 years on my physical and mental health, hopefully as my son grows up he gets to see more of this spurs rather than the torment we have had to endure over the years (to be fair there has been some amazing times as well lol)

Also please tell me you don't wear those jeans still...

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