The 23,000 Tottenham Hotspur supporters that were in attendance at White Hart Lane last night will have no doubt left thoroughly disappointed. In the long run, last night’s 2-1 defeat to PAOK Salonika could well be the best thing that has happened to Spurs this season as the classic line ‘focus on the league’ could not be more relevant.
Spurs must beat Shamrock Rovers and hope for other results to somehow go their way to stand any chance of qualification through to the knock-out stages of the Europa League. Not many teams in the top half of the Premier League will say that a season in the Europa League will excite them, but then again tell that to Fulham fans who enjoyed much success in the competition that spurred on their league form. However Fulham were not in the title race, and dare I say Tottenham very much are this season.
Thursday nights are hardly ideal for a side to be playing away in Russia, Ukraine or Bulgaria followed by a crucial Premier League game at the weekend that Spurs would now be expected to win. The Europa League was a chance to give some youngsters an opportunity but they can do that by moving out on loan or in other cup competitions and that should not be a reason to want European football.
The North London club are sitting third in the Premier League and are unbeaten in 10 games going into this weekend’s game with struggling Bolton Wanderers at White Hart Lane. Spurs are currently three points clear of fifth place Chelsea and a further two clear of Arsenal and Liverpool, but Harry Redknapp’s side crucially have a game in hand over all of their rivals.
Spurs’ sensational form has been down to every player in their side pulling their weight and some terrific summer additions adding the final touches to an already quality team. Chairman Daniel Levy convinced Luka Modric to stay at the club after Chelsea came in for the Croatian and Scott Parker was added to the midfield to add some much needed work rate and dedication. Emmanuel Adebayor is now the number one striker at the Lane, scoring seven goals in ten league games this season after his arrival on loan from Manchester City.
With no Europa League games to worry about, Redknapp can now focus solely on the league which will keep his players fresh and focussed to continue their fine form in domestic football. There is a slight lack of strength in depth among the ranks at White Hart Lane and so the key players such as Modric, Parker and Ledley King will now be able to play once a week, putting everything into that performance with no other distractions.
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If Tottenham can put 100% of their efforts into the Premier League then they will have a physical advantage over their title rivals who are still in major European competition. Sides such as Arsenal and Manchester United are also lacking strength in depth in their squad and so their key players will be put through their paces in the second half of the season when all competitions get extremely heated. If Manchester United or Arsenal have a Champions League Quarter Final on a Wednesday followed by a game with Spurs the following Saturday, I know who I would put my money on.
The travelling; as well as 90 minute matches; can be an issue of European football and if Spurs are staying at home and all training together all week, that can only enhance the team spirit and morale at Spurs Lodge. With their game in hand at home to Everton coming up, they could move above United into second place and pull well clear of their London rivals in the battle for Champions League places and possibly the title if the inexperienced Manchester City slip up.
I have mentioned United’s lack of capable squad players and that could be their downfall this season, gifting Spurs an opportunity to stay above the Champions who are hooked up on their noisy neighbours and struggles in the Champions League. Chelsea have failed to adapt to the way that new manager Andre Villas-Boas plays and defensively they have looked amateurish at times, gifting opponents goals which is very un-Chelsea like. The Blues may also be on their way out of European competition but their league form is not on the same level as Spurs and Tottenham could be the kings of London this year.
Newcastle have enjoyed a fantastic start to this season, sitting in fourth place, just two points behind Redknapp’s side, revelling in Alan Pardew’s management. However, it is going to be a tough task for the Geordies to keep up their form and as the season grows older, I feel the Toon will slowly fall down the table. The North East club certainly have a chance of finishing in the top six, but not top four in my opinion.
Arsenal and Liverpool both seem to drop points at the wrong times and struggle to find any sort of long term form in the League. Tottenham’s freshness from now on should give them the edge over these two and in fact all the others in the title race, with a strong, skilful side that will play fewer games than their rivals, it is surely Tottenham’s best chance at the league title for many seasons.
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