The Race to the Title

[Flashspur]

Any other season this would be a Grimm's Brothers fairy tale with all of us living happily ever after, revelling in Spurs unlikely title win. Instead we are chasing a side that has defied the odds and become a sleek turbo driven Ferrari from what was a clapped out Morris Minor only a year and a bit ago. Drug tests anyone? I am loving it, even though Spurs fans can only look on as the most odd title win in history comes to a conclusion!

Yes, a rag tag bunch of foot soldiers, journeymen and ex-factory workers lead by Claudio Ranieri. Who? Yes, him, the tinker man who even lost to the Faroe Islands as Greek manager. Who couldn't win the PL with Abramovich's cash after spending £120 million on players in the summer of 2003. Who has been so close but with no cigar, so many times. The man whose CV shows a UEFA Intertoto Cup and a Copa Del Ray in 1998/99 as the highlights amongst the odd Serie B title. How more Spursy can it get?

Still it’s been a brilliant season. Apart from the wonderful performances by our lads, who wouldn't smile at the dramas unfolding everywhere else. Pellegrini managing to screw his season over in spite of Man City's aging Carlos Kickaballs looking unassailable earlier on. Chelsea players stubbornly refusing to perform until Jose is shown the door. Arsenal going from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again while Wenger continues in denial. The Gooner's do love drawing Barca don't they?

Then the scouser's balloon deflating as Klopp fights to take Liverpool into the Top 10 and all the way to er, 8th place with his grimacing, maniacal, gurning toothy smile scaring and amusing people in equal parts! And of course, Louis "Manure will always be a bigger club' Van Gaal, setting new paradigms in modern coaching methodology that places strikers on the wing, wingers as CF's, LB's as CB's and attacking MF's in DM. All accomplished while carrying on a spiteful slanging match with journalists along the way. All of this leaving the plastic fan brigade in an apoplectic state as their sense of entitlement collapses from the lofty heights attained under Old Whiskey Face. Even David Moyes is looking like a tasty treat right now to Manure fans.

Ah, at the end of the day, what's not to enjoy about this season?

 

[edgey]

It's probably already been mentioned on this thread, but I think the Monday night football could be a factor of concern. 3 games on the trot on a Monday? When everyone else has got their results it does add a little pressure.

 

[rossdapep]

FYI those noises aren't foxes fighting, it's foxes shagging... what does it mean now?

Erm the foxes are Fuchd?

 

[Spurs 1961]

As long as we nail top three down then the title race is a bonus. I hope our team are not feeling under too much pressure since they know it is all in the hands of Leicester right now. Their focus must remain doing the best in each match as it comes. These next few games could be building blocks for the future of this team

 

[rocklink]

By the end of chelsea game we will sit at the top of the table.

 

[rossdapep]

By the end of chelsea game we will sit at the top of the table.

That's actually impossible......... unless a massive points sanction is on its way.

Edit: Read that wrong, thought you said before. Blurry eyes.

 

[BigVic]

It's probably already been mentioned on this thread, but I think the Monday night football could be a factor of concern. 3 games on the trot on a Monday? When everyone else has got their results it does add a little pressure.

It can work either way, if Leicester drop points before then it gives us massive incentive.

 

[spursfan77]

Depressing viewing. We're playing great stuff, but with Stoke and Chelsea away I can't see us winning 5/5.

I applaud Leicester for everything they've done, but having watched their last 4 or 5 games it's almost uncanny how they've managed to win them all. In every single game the opposition has missed a glaring chance or hit the woodwork at a crucial moment, not to mention a few questionable refereeing decisions. I know "in football you make your own luck blah blah etc" but these last 4/5 games have pretty much been decided on a coin-toss and Leicester have done the equivalent of tossing 5 heads in a row. They fully deserve to be where they are due to their heroics throughout the season, but this last month has felt oddly like destiny. Reminds me of when we won 8 in a row under Harry - we got so bloody lucky in a few of those games, and certainly didn't deserve to win them all - but that's just how football goes sometimes. Leicester just happen to have got that luck at the best time imaginable.

Somebody yesterday said they are rolling double sixes in each game. It's just so true.

 

[spurs mental]

Just another thought. Players are trying to play themselves into the squads for the Euros so I highly doubt a bunch of internationals like scummy Chelsea will be rolling over for anyone, especially if they are at risk of missing out on the Euros

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I love how everybody knows what goes on in the head of other team's players, and how there is no way that player x, y, and z would EVER do anything that could mean Spurs winning the title.
Proper psychology going on. Reminds me of when we had to sell Vertonghen because he was leaning too much on a wall.

 

[Riandor]

It's probably already been mentioned on this thread, but I think the Monday night football could be a factor of concern. 3 games on the trot on a Monday? When everyone else has got their results it does add a little pressure.

I don't see it that way now.
The only way round I see it being an issue is that we cannot apply pressure on Leicester before their game, but perhaps that's a good thing, if they take the eye off the chasing pack, who knows.

What it can of course do is affect the fans. IF Leicester win their next match, then the atmosphere at the Lane could be flatter and adversly affect the team.

 

[Riandor]

Just another thought. Players are trying to play themselves into the squads for the Euros so I highly doubt a bunch of internationals like scummy Chelsea will be rolling over for anyone, especially if they are at risk of missing out on the Euros

I can promise you they have been told NOT to qualify for the Europa League. This is where Chelsea will most likely be dangerous next season as they are now focusing solely on gunning for the top4/title next season.

Liverpool with no Europa - 2nd
Man United no Europa - 3rd was it? (forget)
Leicester no Europa - Champions?

Leicester are most at risk because they don't have any experience of handling the pressure and increased number of games, so chances are that could knock them out of the top 4 next season, but I think Chelsea will be very dangerous.

 

[like2eatpie]

If i was a player at the current Premier Champions what would i prefer on the last day of the season - To hand my trophy over to A.N.other team at home and salute them off the pitch or for the celebrations to happen hundreds of miles away in the north where i do not have to be part of it before quietly sloping off on my holibobs ? I just pray its still possible come Newcastle away..

 

[spurs mental]

I can promise you they have been told NOT to qualify for the Europa League. This is where Chelsea will most likely be dangerous next season as they are now focusing solely on gunning for the top4/title next season.

Liverpool with no Europa - 2nd
Man United no Europa - 3rd was it? (forget)
Leicester no Europa - Champions?

Leicester are most at risk because they don't have any experience of handling the pressure and increased number of games, so chances are that could knock them out of the top 4 next season, but I think Chelsea will be very dangerous.

I was talking about Euro 2016. Not Europa league.

 

[Riandor]

I was talking about Euro 2016. Not Europa league.

I know you were... but the players will be going to the Euros regardless. Managers at International level don't leave a hazard or a Costa at home at this juncture.

My point was that we will not see a fully firing Chelsea again this season other than perhaps in one or two games because they do not want to accidentally qualify for the Europa league.

 

[mil1lion]

Just fucking cancel it you woos. Man up, tell her tough shit, Spurs are more important.

Go on, I dare you.

Go on, I bet you won't.

Fucking scaredy cat.

(At this point I think it's only fair to point out that I am twice divorced and totally skint)

Do you want me to tell her for you? I ain't scared of her. Not like you

 

[mil1lion]

Don't know which West Ham will turn up after their Man U game. But, they'll have Bilic in their earhole prodding them...CL or EL place to play for. Plus, the pressure on Leics is growing with each game. Something's gotta give....a Huth or Drinkwater sending off, Mark Noble trips over his own feet and somehow gets a penalty, the doping agency checks Vardy's and Kante's milk! Just, f...ing something!

Leiceister eat a bad lasagne

 

[riggi]

I love the certainty of some of you lot

 

[L-man]

Just to shatter all of our dreams a little further

 

[Kingellesar]

There is some hope but lets not forget we have to do our job as well.

The hope is that Leicesters fixtures:

West Ham - Decent team, Payet can cause any team problems and so can AC
Swansea - Siggy free kick special pls
Everton - Very good away from home, better than at Goodison
Man United - Might still be fighting for top 4/5
Chelsea - Hiddinks final game as Chelsea manager? He is a winner, so hopefully the players play for him

But yeah we need to do our job and worry about Leicester later on.