The Race to the Title
- Thread starter tttcowan
- Start date
Cavehillspur
Well-Known Member
- Jan 28, 2011
- 14,081
- 18,439
To balance this out though Im pretty certain Spurs have gained the most points in the league from a losing position (same stat applied last season too).
Dharmabum
Well-Known Member
- Aug 16, 2003
- 8,274
- 12,242
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/feb/08/tottenham-title-premier-league-leicester-city?
Tottenham’s title challenge is a fairytale too – but don’t shout about it
Tottenham winning the Premier League would be almost as remarkable as a triumph for Leicester City, and the fans dare not mention the t-word as the side go about their business efficiently under the radar
The last time Roma won the Serie A title, in 2001, in the weeks leading up to their coronation most supporters did not even dare talk about the possibility of winning it. They would not even say the word scudetto, the regular expression to denote Italian champions, as if by command from the highest overlords of superstition. They said “trukke trukke”, a catchphrase that loosely refers to a thing. It took on a life of its own. Everyone knew what they were talking about but nobody dared say it properly out loud.
The parable of trukke trukke perhaps strikes a chord at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham are quietly enjoying a season of extraordinary improvement and promise. But shhhh. They may be second in the table but this is not the time to make a racket about any big ideas.
The Leicester City whirlwind absolutely dominates the fairytale stakes, and rightly so. That suits Tottenham down to the ground. Winning six games in succession, playing with a strategy and confidence that has all the players bringing the best out of themselves and each other, of course there is a buzz around the place but it is more like background music compared with the crescendo of zany excitement that is building around the King Power.
Being slightly under the radar is a very useful place for Tottenham to be positioned. “We just want to stay as close as possible and our thing is to be humble,” said Christian Eriksen after Spurs clocked up another three points against Watford.
Among the crowd at White Hart Lane, the sentiment was echoed. Mike Collett, an esteemed football reporter who has been supporting Spurs since 1961, was in among the faithful and noticed that for all the fans’ positivity and happiness, it was conspicuous that nobody would dare to get carried away. “I have not heard anybody mention the word title,” he says. “Nobody among my friends talks about it. I am not allowing myself to think we can win the league. We have had so many false dawns. It never happens.”
The thing is, although nothing can match Leicester’s title bid for improbability, the scale of Tottenham’s achievement if their run continues to trukke trukke proportions would not be too far behind. They haven’t had a league title win since 1961. Any of their fans able to recall the experience of watching Bill Nicholson’s Double team, inspired by such players as Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay, Cliff Jones and Bobby Smith, will be at least in their sixties now. Incidentally, that team essentially won the title using a core of 12 players (five of the total of 17 played six times or fewer). But that’s another story for another day.
Even the chance to have a genuine shot at another title has not come along too often for Tottenham. There is a reason that “Spursy” is in the urban dictionary. Perhaps that is why it is better that there is not too much of a noise around N17. Collett can sense something special is happening, though. “I think this is the best team Tottenham have had since the mid-1980s team that won the FA Cup twice. There is an incredible confidence in the team that we haven’t felt for donkey’s years.”
Tottenham’s form, guided expertly by Mauricio Pochettino and a bunch of players who are following his instructions with aplomb, puts a new slant on traditional expectations. There is real (if deliberately understated) hope that the Argentinian manager, if he is not allowed to leave for a richer club at a time when Tottenham will be tightening their belts to pay for their stadium upgrade, can create a team capable of lasting success.
Of course, Leicester still have a five-point lead over Spurs and have no cup distractions, while Pochettino has Europa League fixtures against Fiorentina and an FA Cup fifth round match against Crystal Palace to juggle in the coming weeks, all of which adds to the sense that Tottenham are in the background of any title conversations.
It has been a while since English football has produced an unexpected champion. Leicester might be the people’s favourites but Tottenham don’t mind doing their stuff in the shadows.
Tottenham’s title challenge is a fairytale too – but don’t shout about it
Tottenham winning the Premier League would be almost as remarkable as a triumph for Leicester City, and the fans dare not mention the t-word as the side go about their business efficiently under the radar
The last time Roma won the Serie A title, in 2001, in the weeks leading up to their coronation most supporters did not even dare talk about the possibility of winning it. They would not even say the word scudetto, the regular expression to denote Italian champions, as if by command from the highest overlords of superstition. They said “trukke trukke”, a catchphrase that loosely refers to a thing. It took on a life of its own. Everyone knew what they were talking about but nobody dared say it properly out loud.
The parable of trukke trukke perhaps strikes a chord at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham are quietly enjoying a season of extraordinary improvement and promise. But shhhh. They may be second in the table but this is not the time to make a racket about any big ideas.
The Leicester City whirlwind absolutely dominates the fairytale stakes, and rightly so. That suits Tottenham down to the ground. Winning six games in succession, playing with a strategy and confidence that has all the players bringing the best out of themselves and each other, of course there is a buzz around the place but it is more like background music compared with the crescendo of zany excitement that is building around the King Power.
Being slightly under the radar is a very useful place for Tottenham to be positioned. “We just want to stay as close as possible and our thing is to be humble,” said Christian Eriksen after Spurs clocked up another three points against Watford.
Among the crowd at White Hart Lane, the sentiment was echoed. Mike Collett, an esteemed football reporter who has been supporting Spurs since 1961, was in among the faithful and noticed that for all the fans’ positivity and happiness, it was conspicuous that nobody would dare to get carried away. “I have not heard anybody mention the word title,” he says. “Nobody among my friends talks about it. I am not allowing myself to think we can win the league. We have had so many false dawns. It never happens.”
The thing is, although nothing can match Leicester’s title bid for improbability, the scale of Tottenham’s achievement if their run continues to trukke trukke proportions would not be too far behind. They haven’t had a league title win since 1961. Any of their fans able to recall the experience of watching Bill Nicholson’s Double team, inspired by such players as Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay, Cliff Jones and Bobby Smith, will be at least in their sixties now. Incidentally, that team essentially won the title using a core of 12 players (five of the total of 17 played six times or fewer). But that’s another story for another day.
Even the chance to have a genuine shot at another title has not come along too often for Tottenham. There is a reason that “Spursy” is in the urban dictionary. Perhaps that is why it is better that there is not too much of a noise around N17. Collett can sense something special is happening, though. “I think this is the best team Tottenham have had since the mid-1980s team that won the FA Cup twice. There is an incredible confidence in the team that we haven’t felt for donkey’s years.”
Tottenham’s form, guided expertly by Mauricio Pochettino and a bunch of players who are following his instructions with aplomb, puts a new slant on traditional expectations. There is real (if deliberately understated) hope that the Argentinian manager, if he is not allowed to leave for a richer club at a time when Tottenham will be tightening their belts to pay for their stadium upgrade, can create a team capable of lasting success.
Of course, Leicester still have a five-point lead over Spurs and have no cup distractions, while Pochettino has Europa League fixtures against Fiorentina and an FA Cup fifth round match against Crystal Palace to juggle in the coming weeks, all of which adds to the sense that Tottenham are in the background of any title conversations.
It has been a while since English football has produced an unexpected champion. Leicester might be the people’s favourites but Tottenham don’t mind doing their stuff in the shadows.
dagraham
Well-Known Member
- Sep 20, 2005
- 19,146
- 46,140
Not surprised at all by that as both those teams are far more clinical on the counter attack than we are.
Re our 13 remaining games. We took 22 points from the equivalent fixtures last season:
Beat Swansea, W.Ham, Arsenal, A.Villa, Leicester/Bournemouth, Southampton, Newcastle, Lost Man City, Liverpool, Stoke,
W. Brom, Chelsea, Drew Man U.
A repeat of that would put us on 70 points.
Beat Swansea, W.Ham, Arsenal, A.Villa, Leicester/Bournemouth, Southampton, Newcastle, Lost Man City, Liverpool, Stoke,
W. Brom, Chelsea, Drew Man U.
A repeat of that would put us on 70 points.
JonnySpurs
SC Veteran
- Jun 4, 2004
- 5,346
- 12,398
Agreed and in fairness all I was really doing was trying to make myself feel better for if/when Leicester beat us to the title
They may well be brilliant next season but I doubt it and I'm gonna cling to that idea for now as it helps.
fletch82
Well-Known Member
- Aug 23, 2015
- 2,652
- 8,489
Shadydan
Well-Known Member
- Jul 7, 2012
- 38,247
- 104,143
I think by now this is complete paranoia, everyman and his dog know that we are title contenders, in the articles that I've read we have been constantly mentioned as contenders.
CornerPinDreamer
up in the cheap seats
- Aug 20, 2013
- 3,716
- 8,088
WexfordTownSpur
preposition me arse
- Aug 2, 2007
- 2,615
- 653
If Tottenham finish second behind Leicester, I for one will be ecstatic! As always, as a Spurs supporter I tend to look at who is below us and can overtake us rather who is above us and can we catch them:-(
Franc
Well-Known Member
- Feb 24, 2015
- 105
- 442
I don't mean not winning it from here, I mean what if we get so close that we can taste it, then something happens on the final day. Call me the ultimate pessimist, but the thought of that happening scares the shit out of me.
Shadydan
Well-Known Member
- Jul 7, 2012
- 38,247
- 104,143
Man up
Flashspur
Well-Known Member
- Jul 28, 2012
- 6,883
- 9,069
Now this Stats Geek thing by the Daily Star is really putting the pressure out there. No pressure Poch and the lads! Looks like the numbers are yours for the taking! 
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/gallerie...ague-table-but-who-wins-sportgalleries/420365
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/gallerie...ague-table-but-who-wins-sportgalleries/420365
Blackrat1299
Well-Known Member
- Jan 8, 2006
- 5,368
- 6,404
I have followed a lot of what has been posted, my only concern is that MoPo gets the team rotation spot on. Having dumped Leicester out of the cup, they have no other concerns, just the straight road to the end of the season.
Lo Amo Speroni
Only been in match thread once.
- Aug 9, 2010
- 1,995
- 5,662
This is the table from game week 5. I think it makes good reading and gives me confidence that we can actually win the Premier League this season.
Khilari
Plumber. Sort of.
- Jun 19, 2008
- 3,461
- 5,287
Lots of predictions.
Here's a couple from the Daily Heil: http://www.donotlink.com/i82k
They predict us in 3rd (Leicester run away with it, City then us, ArseScum in 4th)
The "STATS" computer thinks we'll finish 4th behind Arsenal, City and Leicester.
The Daily Fail sequence does show off our fixture list, which I think is tough. We'll need to pick up wins against the big teams (Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsen*l) if we're to win it...!
Here's a couple from the Daily Heil: http://www.donotlink.com/i82k
They predict us in 3rd (Leicester run away with it, City then us, ArseScum in 4th)
The "STATS" computer thinks we'll finish 4th behind Arsenal, City and Leicester.
The Daily Fail sequence does show off our fixture list, which I think is tough. We'll need to pick up wins against the big teams (Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsen*l) if we're to win it...!
spursram
Well-Known Member
- Aug 3, 2013
- 1,910
- 2,904
Interesting, and quite surprised seeing Man C points total They obviously got off to a flyer.
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