Article by e-Spurs Writer Johnny Murwill (UK)
So Spurs start
the season with a tough away trip to newly-promoted Crystal Palace – somewhat
predictably considering that in 21 Premier League seasons, Spurs have played 15
away games on the opening day. The excitement surrounding the first day of the
season will undoubtedly be added to by the atmosphere at Selhurst Park, as
Palace fans enjoy their first Premier League game since their relegation in
2005, and promises to be a tough pace-setter for Spurs. Perhaps this is the
perfect test in anticipation of the first North London Derby of the season, as
Spurs take on Arsenal at the Emirates on August 31st. The tricky
opening month for Spurs surely makes it imperative that the majority of
transfer business is finished before the game at Palace. A trip to Arsenal
without reinforcements, or with the future of certain players undecided, does
not bear thinking about.
Chelsea
at home on September 28th is the next eye-catching game, but it is
the winter scheduling that could prove decisive come the end of the season.
November to January include the following fixtures:
November 2nd: Everton (away)
November 23rd: Man City (away)
November 30th: Man Utd (home)
December 4th: Fulham (away)
December 14th: Liverpool (home)
January 1st: Man Utd (away)
January 29th: Man City (home)
The same fixtures last season saw Spurs
accumulate a respectable 13 points, and how Spurs stand after 4 games against
the Manchester duo will give a good idea as to the kind of ambitions being
chased, domestically at least.
If Spurs emerge from the winter
darkness relatively unscathed, then spring offers more than a glimmer of light
for the final season charge. While many Spurs fans would recall the collapse of
2 years ago as evidence to the contrary (it would be foolish to label last
season’s accumulation of 18 points out of 24 a collapse) the run-in provides
what could riskily be called ‘easy’ games. While the position and form of teams
such as Fulham, Aston Villa and Cardiff cannot be factored into the equation,
on paper trips to Newcastle, Chelsea and Liverpool, and a home game to Arsenal
present the only real threats towards the final third of the season.
If
Spurs manage to emerge from the depths of winter in a healthy position, the
run-in promises interest and hope.
By Johnny Murwill
Comment on this article below.
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Makes me laugh when managers come out and say we have a tricky start or we have a tricky winter etc, we all have to play each other whether it be beginning winter or end, just get on with it and stop making excuses before the season has already started.
ReplyDeleteOF course everyone has to play each other, but you don't think certain fixtures in a row are significant? I was pointing out that we had tough games in a short space of time, and that it was going to test Spurs' strength. Hardly making excuses?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Johnny, of course fixtures in certain rows are significant. If a team is to play the top 6 teams in the Prem then morale would be low and all that stuff, which then adds pressure to win 'easy' games. While the fixture list is not the most major contributor to success or failure, it is definitely significant when considering all factors. Trust me, I'm an expert at Football Manager and understand perfectly how these things operate.
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