Nip and tuck for a top four slot
It won't surprise you to know that the Spurs Odyssey post-match survey confirmed our defeat at Anfield as our worst performance of the season. It also won't surprise you to know that, as so often happens with such performances, our goalkeeper scored best and is therefore accorded the dubious title of "Spurs Odyssey man of the match". Still, hats off to Hugo Lloris for some fine saves, particularly in the first half when Liverpool's Mane might have had a hat-trick, and the scoreline might have been 5-0, rather than the 2-0.
It's probably not best to dwell on this performance. Suffice to say that the manager and players need to learn from their shortcomings on the day, which included team selection; strategy, and lack of application by those on the pitch.
For a day or two, after a game, a team is only as good as its last game, but after that, I tend to focus on what is to come, and prefer the catchphrase, "You're only as good as your next game". If you fancy a bet on any games coming up, you will want to know which betting sites to use. In relegation-threatened Leicester's case, "You're only as good as your next season". What has passed is history. Our history is glorious, but these days, teams are remembered for the present and what is to come.
There has been plenty of criticism aimed at Spurs in the last few days, but at least Sky's Gary Neville had the nous to recognise two things about this Spurs side - perhaps three. 1. This is a young squad. 2. That squad has been assembled with the lowest net transfer spend of the top six, and indeed of many Premier League teams. 3. (and this is quoted and recognised by Pochettino and his players) Spurs are a work in progress.
Progress will be recognised if we manage to win a trophy, and that needs to happen sooner, rather than later - hopefully this season. Progress would also be recorded if we again qualified for The Champions League, and performed better in next season's competition.
Whilst Liverpool (who are still outside the top four following Man City's win last night) have a full two weeks to contemplate their next football match, the rest of the top six are still competing in the FA Cup. Spurs and Manchester United will be the busiest of these teams with two legs of a Europa League Round of 32 tie to complete.
With three key players still missing, Pochettino needs to use his resources carefully, but anything less than progress in both Cup competitions will be unsatisfactory for Spurs fans before we face our next Premier league test at home to Stoke on February 26th.
City have become Chelsea's closest challengers. I personally feel that Chelsea will not be caught, but there will be ups and downs, with highs and lows to come in the remainder of the season. It's going to be nip and tuck for those top four slots behind the likely Champions.
After this round of games, despite only three defeats and the second-best goal difference, and indeed third place, perhaps Spurs look the least likely top four finishers.
However - consider the following:-
1. As indicated in last week's Premier League review, Spurs now have two of their remaining 13 games against top six opponents. Those will be at home against Arsenal and Manchester United. Chelsea have to play both Manchester sides. Arsenal and those Manchester sides have four games to play against top six opponents.
2. Three of our next four league games are at home (Stoke, Everton, Southampton), and 7 of our remaining 13 games are at home. Every game presents its difficulties, but hopefully by the time we have our tougher games, our missing players will be match-fit.
Let's go forward with hope in our hearts! Come on you Spurs!
• See the spursometer in full.
Premier League results 11-13.02.17
Arsenal 2-0 Hull
Man Utd 2-0 Watford
M'brough 0-0 Everton
Stoke 1-0 C. Palace
S'derland 0-4 S'hampton
West Ham 2-2 West Brom
Liverpool 2-0 Spurs
Burnley 1-1 Chelsea
Swansea 2-0 Leicester
B'mouth 0-2 Man City
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Chelsea 25 19 3 3 52-18 34 60
2. Man City 25 16 4 5 51-29 22 52
3. Spurs 25 14 8 3 46-18 28 50
4. Arsenal 25 15 5 5 54-28 26 50
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5. Liverpool 25 14 7 4 54-30 24 49
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6. Man Utd 25 13 9 3 38-21 17 48
7. Everton 25 11 8 6 40-27 13 41
8. West Brom 25 10 7 8 34-31 3 37
9. Stoke 25 8 8 9 30-36 -6 32
10. West Ham 25 9 5 11 34-43 -9 32
11. S'hampton 25 8 6 11 28-31 -3 30
12. Burnley 25 9 3 13 27-36 -9 30
13. Watford 25 8 6 11 29-42 -13 30
14. B'mouth 25 7 5 13 35-49 -14 26
15. Swansea 25 7 3 15 31-54 -23 24
16. M'brough 25 4 10 11 19-27 -8 22
17. Leicester 25 5 6 14 24-43 -19 21
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18. Hull 25 5 5 15 22-49 -27 20
19. C. Palace 25 5 4 16 32-46 -14 19
20. S'derland 25 5 4 16 24-46 -22 19
