Somehow we've contrived to lose a 10 point lead over Arsenal since the start of February and an even bigger one over United since OGS took over, plus we've allowed Chelsea back in.
Our league form of late has been woeful - 1 point out of 15, 4 losses out of 5 (and could easily have been 5 out of 5 but for Lloris's late penalty save). There's no real dressing that up, but it's been our away form that has crumbled, having been so brilliant before. All the defeats have been narrow (Chelsea aside), and our second half performance against Liverpool was really promising. We really took the game to them and deserved better than a late, unfortunate defeat. If Sissoko could shoot, we could easily have won the game.
As it is, we've dropped to 4th and are now in a four-way slog for the final two Champions League places with United, Arsenal and Chelsea. There are, however, reasons to be optimistic. Our run-in, City away aside, is pretty favourable. While we have 5 home games out of 7, Arsenal - great at home, not so good on the road - have 5 away games remaining, some of them potentially very tricky (Leicester, Everton, Burnley, Watford, etc). Chelsea still have to play Liverpool and United away, while United face Chelsea and City in their remaining games.
Our home form has largely held up of late - even if some of those wins have been narrow - and we really need to target the next three home games (Palace, Huddersfield and Brighton) as ones to win. All are highly winnable and would put us in a more rosy position again.
We can't buy a result for love nor money in the league at the minute, but there were real reasons to be optimistic in that Liverpool game. We looked fantastic at times in the second half, and I thought Moura in particular was a constant threat. Alli also looked back to his old self more.
Of course, no game is easy in this league, but we have to use the new stadium bounce to help us in the fight for 4th. Our 5 remaining home matches are all very winnable on paper and we shouldn't face the issues that West Ham did when making their move. Players, fans and the management team all seem fed up of Wembley now (I've not actually minded it, because it's close to my house, and our form has actually been pretty good there, but I know others really hate it), so all the ingredients are there for us to christen the new White Hart Lane, as it'll no doubt be known, with some key wins.
We also need to stop the crowing from the Arsenal fans who have suddenly woken up now they're ahead of us again for the first time in ages. COYS.
Three winnable home games offer hope
posted on 2/4/19
Arsenal should be miles in front of Spurs, they have spent something like £275 million over the past three seasons, and pay extraordinary high wages for such an average club. I don`t get all this they are doing well, they are not for the amount they have spent.
posted on 2/4/19
comment by GeniusGreaves (U1302)
posted 50 minutes ago
I think the quietness on 606 is largely down to the number of juvenile comments from certain posters, which has put some of the more regular contributors posting less often. Myself included!
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Afternoon Genius, you OK?
posted on 2/4/19
sandy the you i love is back
posted on 2/4/19
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 3 hours, 12 minutes ago
Arsenal should be miles in front of Spurs, they have spent something like £275 million over the past three seasons, and pay extraordinary high wages for such an average club. I don`t get all this they are doing well, they are not for the amount they have spent.
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the standing will not reflect how much you spent but rather how well you spent.
posted on 2/4/19
We really took the game to them and deserved better than a late, unfortunate defeat. If Sissoko could shoot, we could easily have won the game.
you took the game to them (sort of ) in the second half and maybe should have got a draw. but if mane could shoot (and normally he can ) you would have been 3 down at halftime.
posted on 2/4/19
I do not regard the loss at Anfield as a sign of "continuing bad form" but rather one of terrible bad luck on a night when the team played pretty well for one half.
The problem here is what Pochettino is going to do with Lloris for the next match.
"Former Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas believes Lloris has "let Tottenham down too many times" and that 27-year-old Argentina international Paulo Gazzaniga should replace him"
I do not think Pochettino has the balls to do this.
posted on 2/4/19
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 2 hours, 27 minutes ago
I do not regard the loss at Anfield as a sign of "continuing bad form" but rather one of terrible bad luck on a night when the team played pretty well for one half.
The problem here is what Pochettino is going to do with Lloris for the next match.
"Former Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas believes Lloris has "let Tottenham down too many times" and that 27-year-old Argentina international Paulo Gazzaniga should replace him"
I do not think Pochettino has the balls to do this.
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I would like to see Gaz given a run in the team but like you I don't think Poch has the minerals to drop Hugo. Gaz is too good to sit on the bench indefinitely and if we don't give him more game time the vultures will start circling.
That said the marking for both of their goals was just as unforgiveable as Lloris error.
posted on 2/4/19
Hi Sandy,
I am good thanks, how are you?
See you enjoyed the Legends game, if not the stairs
I am off to the match tomorrow night and hopefully seeing us back into 3rd place
Great result for us tonight, well d0ne Wolves
posted on 3/4/19
comment by GeniusGreaves (U1302)
posted 7 hours, 1 minute ago
Hi Sandy,
I am good thanks, how are you?
See you enjoyed the Legends game, if not the stairs
I am off to the match tomorrow night and hopefully seeing us back into 3rd place
Great result for us tonight, well d0ne Wolves
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Enjoy the game Genius, I cannot make tonight, but I shall be going to the Huddersfield game. Legends game was good, great to watch a game without biting your nails for the full 90 minutes.
Looks a bit better for Spurs now, after Wolves done us a favour, just have to get the win tonight, and then back in 3rd place, with Huddersfield up next game to consolidate.
posted on 3/4/19
Travelling down to a friends house in Goffs Oak by car, then travelling in on train from Cheshunt.
Better for me than going via Milton Keynes/Euston especially late at night.
Think will edge it tonight and hoping that it is a Spurs player who scores the first goal competitively in our new home.