The Race to the Title

[danielneeds]

In four days time we could be nine points ahead of the scum and three points clear at the top of the league. In March. Unlikely I know but even the possibility of this happening just made me feel funny in my pants...

Don't tempt fate, mate...

 

[Roynie]

This is the weirdest feeling , actually genuinely thinking we've got a good chance of winning the league at the business end of a season, one I didn't honestly know if we would see again with the oil money clubs, Utd money etc and also tbh I have kind of got used to the disappointment a bit after the last couple of decades. To be in this position now and the way we have done it with so many homegrown and young players is truly special and whether we win it or not it's going to be one hell of a ride.

Love this club.

THIS * 100.

The business end of the season starts now. Poch will not let them get carried away with 11 games still to go. That said the whole squad will know what is at stake and with the team spirit and togetherness that has been evident since Christmas I really believe they can do it. I have been following and supporting Spurs for 54 years and have never been in this position. I feel like a spotty teenager who has been given the go ahead by the town beauty for tomorrow night. It's like the agony and the ecstacy personified.

We CAN do this. Just believe. COYS!

 

[Mr Pink]

We go top tomorrow.

Believe.

I think we will be as well.

Lots of people think tomorrow night will be harder than Saturday, I'm the opposite. Not that I don't think tomorrow night will be tough, it will be - their home record is very good and they've got a real threat, no doubt about it.

I just think our energy will overwhelm them a bit again, and their defense is fragile with the injury problems they have back there so I think we'll get a lot of success pressing them into mistakes high up the pitch, its what we excel at now. And its obvious if we keep a handle on Payet we'll restrict them considerably, easier said than done of course.

Arsenal, on the other hand, have multiple threats and although their form has been poor a NLD can always act as a catalyst for a wounded animal so to speak. I'm taking nothing for granted in terms of that game being easier than tomorrow night, I fully expect them to react and play out of their skins.

Fuck knows what way it goes but I think it will be frantic.

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

Plus we've got three title winners in the squad which will help.

Four

 

[Spurger King]

This all over, and i think that's an overlooked part of Poch's management methods - promoting youth because it's good in the long term is often noted, but these kids are riding a wave of adrenalin right now. I imagine equally that if it wasn't going well, we'd be suffering as much as we're achieving right now, so it was obviously a big risk but it shows that you get the right attitudes together and it goes a long way regardless of experience or age.

There doesn't seem to be much ego in the squad (after the s-purge). That video of Dier being interviewed by Alli suggested that if there's any ego in our team, it's in genuine peers not wanting to embarrass themselves with a mistake in front of their mates. Amazing motivation! Certainly better than having some flash luxury player looking down on his inferior team mates.

Still trying to keep my expectations in check really. I believe we're capable of winning the title, but if we end up 'merely' getting CL football next season the whole team deserves a huge amount of respect.

Still trying to get my head around the fact that even if we lose tomorrow we'd be going into the last 10 games just 4 points off the top, and in second place.

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

Has Lloris not won a title in France?

*edit - just checked and he hasn't*

Lyon won a record 7(?) in a row just before he joined as well haha

 

[doom]

look at the situation this way.
Arsenal and City do not have any consistency, that doesn't look like changing in the run in. They are both going to drop lots of points. Leicester and more so ourselves are in great form - 6 wins in a row is outstanding. even if we lost points vs west ham and arsenal we will have the chance to regain momentum. Leicester are still the main competitors.

 

[bomberH]

Skybet enhanced odds? I was on that too. Had it away at the weekend with a couple of late winners so swings and roundabouts I suppose…...

Paddy Power. I got a notification from them just before the matches tonight so I thought I'd do it. Sounds like you had the same as me the other day too, Leicester and Chelsea to win. I rarely bet and always lose when I do but won at the weekend.

 

[Hoops]

I feel sick with nerves already.

Im quite happy to rub you to allay any anxiety

 

[Hoops]

Lol liverpool 11th with man city to play

 

[jonnyrotten]

Don't tempt fate, mate...

Sorry fella. I guess what is clear from that is how quickly things can change, for good or for bad. Personally I would take a defeat tomorrow and win Saturday. All day long.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Im quite happy to rub you to allay any anxiety

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

We are now the bookies favourites at 7/4, goons 5/2 and Leicester 3/1

 

[Hazardousman]

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...tip-west-ham-to-dent-in-tottenham-title-hopes

Soccer Saturday pundits tip West Ham to dent in Tottenham title hopes.

The Soccer Saturday pundits are expecting West Ham to inflict a blow to Tottenham's title hopes in Wednesday night's London derby.

Spurs' title odds are currently the shortest they've been in Premier League history as Sky Bet give them a 2/1 chance with 11 games to go.

Tottenham pulled three points clear of third-place Arsenal on Sunday, coming from behind to beat Swansea 2-1, while their North London neighbours lost 3-2 at Manchester United.

However, the Soccer Saturday panel are all backing Spurs to drop points at Upton Park in their Sky Bet tips and expect the Gunners to reduce the gap with a victory over Swansea at the Emirates.

Charlie Nicholas told Sky Sports: "West Ham would love nothing more than to dent Tottenham's title aspirations and they will be greeted by a really aggressive atmosphere in east London.

"Their players thrive on these big games, as they have shown with victories at Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool, and then again when Chelsea came to visit.

"These are the types of matches where you really need to compete physically and while Pochettino's side have shown they can do that, I still worry about them in the final 15 to 20 minutes of games.

"I'm expecting a lot of tension and plenty of goals and I wouldn't be surprised to see things boil over and somebody being sent off."

Paul Merson is backing a 1-1 draw in his midweek predictions and Matt Le Tissier is going a step further in tipping the Hammers to cause an upset.

The Southampton legend said: "The pressure is starting to crank up a little bit now and with 11 games to go you do start seeing your objectives a bit clearer.

"The worrying thing for Spurs is that Pochettino's Southampton side tended to tail off at the end of it, and I'm not sure if that was because of the way he demanded so much from his players."

However, Nicholas admits Spurs have got themselves into such a strong position that it is not essential for them to beat both the Hammers and Arsenal this week.

He added: "In a strange way they can almost afford a slip up in one of their upcoming London derbies with the position they're in and Leicester surely going to drop points at some stage.

"My concern about both Leicester and Spurs was the way they were relying on the same players so much but fair play to Pochettino and Ranieri, they made changes that won them games at the weekend."


Utterly desperate to see us fail aren't they?

 

[Hazardousman]

I think we will be as well.

Lots of people think tomorrow night will be harder than Saturday, I'm the opposite. Not that I don't think tomorrow night will be tough, it will be - their home record is very good and they've got a real threat, no doubt about it.

I just think our energy will overwhelm them a bit again, and their defense is fragile with the injury problems they have back there so I think we'll get a lot of success pressing them into mistakes high up the pitch, its what we excel at now. And its obvious if we keep a handle on Payet we'll restrict them considerably, easier said than done of course.

Arsenal, on the other hand, have multiple threats and although their form has been poor a NLD can always act as a catalyst for a wounded animal so to speak. I'm taking nothing for granted in terms of that game being easier than tomorrow night, I fully expect them to react and play of out of their skins.

Fuck knows what way it goes but I think it will be frantic.

I know one thing for sure, if we win both these games nothing will stop us imo.

 

[Ironskullll]

At what stage does the Europa go from being a potential banana skin to being an advantage? I mean, we've nearly done to death the arguments for and against the Europa, but these have mainly been along the lines of whether or not the distraction and risks associated with it are worth it when weighed against the prospect of winning it.

But what about the advantages of being in it even if we don't win it? I can see a couple of positives:

1) it helps us to keep 16 or more players match fit and stops important players from getting stale.
2) it helps the individual and collective mind to focus only on the task at hand when the games come thick and fast, helping to absorb and deflect the pressure

Oh the power of positive thinking....

 

[scat1620]

There doesn't seem to be much ego in the squad (after the s-purge).

 

[Hoops]

If we can beat city, we can take this lot to the cleaners

 

[nailsy]

Four

Even better. I didn't realise Dembele had won one.

 

[easley91]

Of course nobody at Sky or anywhere wants us to win! Leicester are the underdog fairytale story that media and neutrals love so much.

Sod em. I want us to win. Last minute so we prove we have what it takes in the last 15-20 minutes of matches (just like City away, Swansea at home, Watford away, Palace away etc.). Morons.