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Article by Jon Ruskin
Sunday was as straight forward as you'd ever hope a top flight game could be. Going one nil down after 49 seconds was pretty much the only black mark on the whole 90 minutes, however there is a feeling that we probably learnt more about Bournemouth's vulnerability than we did our own strike power. We were gifted chances, not to mention time and space on the ball. We did well to exploit it, I'm not about to be ungrateful or undermine a 5-1 victory, but it was all a bit one sided to really muster any real conclusions on progress from. However, given the month coming it, it was the perfect result as we face European tests, and our bitterest rivals.
First up is struggling Aston Villa. The game was moved to Monday night for TV purposes, presumably to see how Tim Sherwood would fare back at the club he gained a 59% win ratio - which I'm not sure he's ever mentioned in public... However, poor Tim has recently parted ways with Villa, leaving the hot seat open to a new contender. Obviously, it's unclear at this moment in time whether a new manger will be appointed in time, but if there is someone new, just like with Liverpool, we're likely to face a squad of players all with a point to prove. We dealt with Liverpool will in Klopps first game in charge, and I'd expect the same against Villa. Alternatively, if there is a caretaker manager in place, I'd expect there to be a sense of them treading water, and it'd be criminal of us not to exploit that and take the 3 points. With Eriksen in form and Harry, finally, back amongst the goals, this really is a situation we need to capitalise on.
After that, Anderlecht. Losing to them in the return fixture was a bitter pill to swallow given our start to the game, so perhaps there will be added incentive to pick up 3 points at home. They were better than I expected, I have to admit, but still far from unbeatable. It's apparent that Poch is giving The Europa League respect - it's a route into the Champions League, which of course is where we want to be, and where we need to be if we're ever going to achieve great things, however it's fair to say that there isn't really a second team at Spurs anymore following the thinning out of the squad in the summer. Sure, we have a squad of players, some more capable than others, but it's either the 'first team' or players with little experience, so the teams played in The Europa League are likely to be as strong as we can field. We've lost the luxury of choice - arguably a good thing - but baring bringing in Fazio (heaven forbid...) and maybe Wimmer, the player selection is likely to be slight rotation, rather than our 'second team', which has happened in previous Europa League campaigns. With this in mind, a home fixture against Anderlecht, in a game that we need to win to ensure a routine passage through to the knock out stages, with something to prove after the return fixture, and with the history of 1984 hanging over us, I foresee a win.
And then it's them. You know who. The lot down the road. The Jack Wilshere loving, Wenger Yo-Yoing, sit in silence brigade. And it's going to be tough... They're playing well, and getting results. Sanchez has hit form. They're at home. This might well spell out our first league defeat since the first day of the season. I'm not trying to be unnecessarily pessimistic, just realistic. Stranger things have happened though... If Kane really has found last season's form again, and if Eriksen can cause them problems, but above all if we can defend well, we stand a chance. Derbys are often tight, and tense - the first objective is to not lose, but we'll have to play well to come away with 3 points. We should take encouragement from our performance against them, especially the second half, in the Capital One Cup tie, because for long periods we look the more likely to score, but we don't travel well in this fixture despite it's proximity to White Hart Lane. I live in hope.
What on earth is there to say about West Ham's season that can really do it justice?! They're having an unbelievable time of it against the teams who'd normally see them as 3 easy points, yet struggling against Bournemouth and Norwich on home soil. They'll come to White Hart Lane ready and we've got to be ready too. West Ham are an irritant. They've got a chip on their shoulder because they want to be the size of Tottenham and aren't. They never have been, and they hate it. Being rowdy inside White Hart Lane is the highlight of their season too often, and that just further perpetuates our view of them as being further away from the 'big boys' than they'd ever deem conceivable. But by venture of that attitude, we'll need to alert and approaching our best to beat a team who are obviously up for the big games. With the exception of Payet, I don't think there is a player in the West Ham squad who would be in our starting 11 but football is about having a sum greater than its parts, and West Ham are definitely just that at the moment.
FK Qarabag away is the kind of fixture that makes The Europa League seem unattractive to Premier League sides. It's a long journey, to potentially play on a pitch far worse than the standard we're used to. It'll be hard work, by that stage both teams will be aware what they require and what their realistic aspirations are. This feels like a fixture that'll only really cause us issues if we make heavy weather of it.
Lastly, it's Chelsea. Since breaking our poor run against Chelsea back in 2005 the home fixture against them has been approached with a far more positive attitude. Beating Chelsea at home is now something we can anticipate - not expect - and it's certainly not a turn up for the books. This season, however, it feels impossible to predict exactly what we'll be playing against. It's hard to argue that Chelsea are having an awful season by their standards. It's not being helped by Jose Mourinho's persistent bizarre behaviour. From blaming staff members to referees, his constant refusal to admit Chelsea are under performing is exceptionally detrimental to them at the moment. He, and Chelsea, do not have a divine right to win football matches, and the sooner they stop behaving like they do the better for them. It simply isn't the referees fault that Hazard and Costa are under performing week after week. That said, there is still more talent in their ranks than probably 18 other Premier League teams - the way they won the league last season was ruthless. However, that might be the real issue at Chelsea - the players aren't mentally prepared to grind out results like they did last year. It seemed that last season, Chelsea would go one up after 20 minutes, keep the ball, do the simple things well, and them get a second with 20 minutes to go. If you're in the swing of that those short term goals are easy to achieve but to start over again, being stood at the bottom of a metaphorical mountain and needing to concentrate on each step again, just seems too much for that group of players. So, it's a great time to be playing Chelsea, however their is a nagging feeling that they'll turn the corner at some stage, and a win away at Tottenham would be an ideal place for it to happen in their opinion.
It's too early to say this month with make or break our season, but it really could shape it. Only pick up 3 points from 12, and we'll be playing catch up over the Christmas period. Tread water or pick up 9 or 10 points and we can really start to take this season seriously. Whichever it is, I can't wait for the ride!
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