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The best of times and the next step - Topspurs

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  • 13-02-2011 10:25pm
    #1
    yiddo59
    Registered Users Posts: 1,171 ✭✭✭


    The best of times and the next step 12th February 2011 Jim Duggan on Topspurs
    12th February 2011 – The best of times and the next step
    Another great comeback win for Spurs and going back in the top 4 and a champions league knockout match against AC Milan in the week. It probably wont get much better for Spurs so definitely worth enjoying it while it lasts and its should be easy to appreciate given the time in the wilderness during the Sugar years (where for three seasons between 96-99 they failed to beat the 47 point mark) and the false prophets before Redknapp, the last of which managed one less point (46) in the whole of the 2007/8 season than Spurs have after 26 games of this season. Spurs league positions
    Spurs are on course for around 68 points this season, 2nd only to the 70 they got last season and both of which are well clear of anything else in the premiership era, Its all down to Redknapp snr who is a miracle working genius who never seems to get the hero worship his achievements deserve (which is a bloody shame and a mite disrespectful). Now up to 1.77 points per game during his time as a manager Spurs manager records
    Once again its players coming in from the cold to make significant contributions which has been a hallmark of the recent success where the likes of Kaboul, Bentley, Hutton and now Kranjcar (and to a lesser extent Jenas) have chipped in when it matters. Things may not pan out as well for Spurs this season, injuries to Bale and VDV would weaken any side and no new strikers in the last window however the lack of goals from the forward line cannot go on forever and perhaps this will be the next area to come good again
    Many of the wins have been by the odd goal and with a top score of 4-2 no side has been taken apart (yet) and some of the football has been scrappy but that is the EPL in 2010/11 where there are lots of decent sides, all of which are intent on stopping Spurs and its not just luck that Spurs keep finding away. Gone forever are the days when pub team defences come to be taken apart in old tottenham style.
    That said, I’ve always used goal difference as an indicator of relative ability in the league and it is noticeable that the big3 again have around a goal a game positive goal difference and even Man City with +19 are getting up there. Spurs with +9 so far this season lag a little behind (but well clear of the rest). Perhaps this is just down to the misfiring forwards this time round but consistently having a positive goal difference greater than the number of games played will be the day Spurs have arrived in the elite
    This is a trait of all successful sides in the recent EPL era and while its obvious teams who win will have positive goal differences, flukey sides can mug their way up the league with poor or negative goal difference (Norwich nearly won the EPL in the first season with a negative goal difference, Everton got 4th with a -1 goal difference) but they are usually pretty quickly found out and big positive margins over a season or more tend to be a good indicator of permanence at the top table
    This represents the next step for Spurs and lets hope the door closes behind Spurs in the elite club long before the tax case against Mr Harry possibly upsets things. Lets enjoy finding out and in my near 40 years of following Spurs its rarely if ever been as good a time for Spurs as it is now (only 81/2 going into March with 4 trophies to win and the championship challenge season of 84/5 which also included a UEFA QF against Real Madrid come close) and remember how lucky we are and how quickly things can change.


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    #2
    mushykeogh
    Registered Users Posts: 1,467 ✭✭✭mushykeogh


    A good article.


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    #3
    KingdomYid
    Registered Users Posts: 2,994 ✭✭✭KingdomYid


    He has hit the nail on thehead guys, we should enjoy every minute of this as it is the best we have seen in so many years. Sometimes I think we don't appreciate how good it is and our expectations get too high, 3 seasons back who would have imagined a last 16 tie at the san siro against one of the best teams of the Champions League era. I am so proud to be a Spurs fan and look forward to run in ahead just like last season COYS :)


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