At the start of this season, even the most optimistic of Spurs supporters wouldn’t have envisaged a title challenge. But now that they are in the top 2 and with a very realistic chance of usurping Leicester for the top berth of the Premier League, spurs fans can’t help but dream.
It is not a dream that can’t become a reality. It definitely is a dream that isn’t like counting your apples even before the tree is grown. Spurs have their tree and can see that its full of the apples that are ready to be plucked off the tree. The most important apple to be plucked could prove to be elusive though and that is thanks to the tough fixture list that they face.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool at Anfield, Manchester United at White Hart Lane and Stoke City at the windy Brittania are the next 3 games after the international break for Tottenham. All the 3 opponents have failed to maintain the consistency and the attitude of Spurs football but they are not opponents that one can ward away.
Liverpool are slowly blooming to life. Not anywhere close to the BVB side that terrorized Europe under Jurgen Klopp but with some work and 2 more transfer windows, they will surely get there. But their current goal scoring form can prove to be dangerous for Spurs although they boast to have the best defense in the PL. The return of Jan Vertonghen could prove to be crucial but will the Belgian be fit in time for the clash against the Merseysiders is a big question mark.
Austrian, Kevin Wimmer has deputised brilliantly and should be able to do so once again, but Pochetino has a lot of time on his hands right now, to stop Liverpool from picking the lock against his Spurs side and ultimately dropping points which could have helped in gaining the title. The recent Saints game should have given Spurs a lot of hope about the Anfield match up. Liverpool let slip a huge lead and the fact that they have one of the most horrendous defense in the PL should only be a massive motivation for a striker like Harry Kane. His goals and pesky runs and shots from long range may prove to be the ultimate difference in the end.
Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United can take heart from their recent derby win over City and moving just a point closer to top 4, they will be eager to win as many points as possible to get the last slot. Marcus Rashford, the new PL star is an unknown quantity yet for many managers and will be interesting to see how Pochetino will stop the lad in order to not drop points in the crucial stage of the season.
United didn’t win pretty against City but the thing that matters is the final scoreline and that is what LvG will be looking at once again when he makes the trip to North London in about 3 weeks. United will look to frustrate the likes of Kane, Eriksen, Alli and Lamela by maintaining a tight and narrow well organized midfield and defence, but Tottenham should not let the frustrating periods get the better of them. It is going to be a tactical battle that a neutral fan should love watching.
Stoke away being included as a tough fixture may be super surprising for a lot of us. But as hard as it may be to believe, Mark Hughes has a brilliant bunch in his hands enough to halt Tottenham. Austrain Aurnautovic had found his shooting boots yet again and with the supply that he will have in the name of Shaqiri and Bojan, there’s much to ponder for Pochetino about this game as well.
The list does not end here. The final four games feature Chelsea away and Newcastle away. Gus Hiddink has made a resolute blues side who are adamant on not losing nowadays while Newcastle under Rafa may be needing a win on the final day to avoid relegation. It could be a battle of the two ends. The winner either stays up or wins the title. One could not have asked for a better ending, although currently it is all speculative.
Erik Lamela recently said that the Spurs squad won’t accept for anything but the top. Strong words being said, but if the team has the fight in them, it does not seem like an impossible task.
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