Is the Premier League already taking shape?
Have a look at this week's Premier League table below.
Is the table already taking shape after only two games? I venture to suggest that this week's table will not be far removed from that we see after Match 38. Keep an eye on the Spurs Odyssey Premier League Reviews week by week to see how matters progress.
After two matches last year, two of the top four teams (Leicester and Man City) had won both their games. This year, I would argue that three of this week's top four (Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea) will still be there at the end. As I mentioned in my pre-season preview, all three clubs have splashed the cash, and were title contenders from the start. Once again, it's fourth place that other rivals will be chasing, and that includes us.
None of the bottom three this time last year were relegated, although Sunderland came closest to falling, escaping due to the inspiration of Sam Allardyce, now leading England. New Sunderland manager David Moyes has already been quoted as warning his charges that they face a season-long relegation battle, and who is to say he's wrong? Last week's home defeat to Middlesbrough was due to the absence of key players such as Cattermole and Larsson.
I fancy the current bottom three plus Hull (despite their excellent start), and Burnley will be battling it out at the bottom.
Usually we are told to pay no heed to early league tables, but the early signs are there I think.
Last season, Spurs beat Crystal Palace at home and away, and finished top in the unofficial "London League", so we have made a good start to that programme this year. We wait now till November for our next London Derby and then three (Arsenal, west Ham and Chelsea) come at once. Only the West Ham game is at home, so that will be a difficult month.
Kyle Walker and goalscorer Victor Wanyama shared your man of the match vote this week, with Vincent Janssen and Toby Alderweireld close behind. Erik Lamela's added time nutmeg of Andros Townsend got a lot of social media attention, together with the reaction of Danny Rose, who out his hands to his head in astonishment. To Lamela, it was just another trick in a normal day's work!
· This week's spursometer in full.
P.S - We're still above Arsenal:)
Premier League results 19-21.08.16
Man Utd 2-0 S'hampton
Stoke 1-4 Man City
Burnley 2-0 Liverpool
Swansea 0-2 Hull
Spurs 1-0 C. Palace
Watford 1-2 Chelsea
West Brom 1-2 Everton
Leicester 0-0 Arsenal
S'derland 1-2 M'brough
West Ham 1-0 B'mouth
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Man City 2 2 0 0 6-2 4 6
2. Man Utd 2 2 0 0 5-1 4 6
3. Hull 2 2 0 0 4-1 3 6
4. Chelsea 2 2 0 0 4-2 2 6
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5. Everton 2 1 1 0 3-2 1 4
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6. M'brough 2 1 1 0 3-2 1 4
7. Spurs 2 1 1 0 2-1 1 4
8. Burnley 2 1 0 1 2-1 1 3
9. West Brom 2 1 0 1 2-2 0 3
10. West Ham 2 1 0 1 2-2 0 3
11. Liverpool 2 1 0 1 4-5 -1 3
12. Swansea 2 1 0 1 1-2 -1 3
13. Arsenal 2 0 1 1 3-4 -1 1
14. Watford 2 0 1 1 2-3 -1 1
15. Leicester 2 0 1 1 1-2 -1 1
16. S'hampton 2 0 1 1 1-3 -2 1
17. Stoke 2 0 1 1 2-5 -3 1
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18. S'derland 2 0 0 2 2-4 -2 0
19. C. Palace 2 0 0 2 0-2 -2 0
20. B'mouth 2 0 0 2 1-4 -3 0
