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Peter Anderson ⚽ The EPL is, without question, the most competitive of the world's "big" leagues.

The problem for many of the "big teams" is trying to secure a top 4 finish and get Champions League football, with all the riches and glory that come with it. It is getting increasingly difficult to qualify, so you can understand the desire for a European Super League and guaranteed qualification. But this is so wrong and so funadamentally against everything that is good about the EPL. 

The biggest laugh we got out of the latest bid to form the Super League was that Spurs were one of the "chosen" English teams. They haven't ever won the EPL and last won the First Division in '61! They did finish runners-up to Leicester in that famous 2016 season and runners-up to Liverpool in the UCL final in 2019. Despite all of that they are considered to be the EPL's nearly men. Their limited success based mostly on Harry Kane's goals. This August saw their talisman leave to go to Bayern Munich in a shock move. I thought he would stay another season and leave next on a free as he would have almost certainly passed Alan Shearer's EPL goal-scoring record. Alas, the prospect of another season without a winners medal was too much to contemplate and he hightailed it to Germany. Good luck to him.

I thought Spurs would struggle this season without him, but what do I know? They have been fantastic. That is all down to their new manager, Ange Postecoglu. They've had shitty luck with managers of late. Since Pochittino's departure, Nuno Espirito Santo, Mourinho and Conte have been high profile flops. The new man may not have their reputations but he has quickly instilled confidence into the team. A tricky opening day fixture away to Brentford saw them gain a point, since then they have played Man U and Bournemouth off the park, and sit third in the table with 7 points. 

This is a nightmare for the teams desperate to get into next season's UCL. Chelsea and Newcastle have not had the desired, nor expected, start to the season, while Liverpool and Man U have looked extremely suspect at the back. They will be hoping and praying that Spurs, and fellow front runners West Ham, fall off the pace rapidly. Spur's next games are at Burnley and home to Sheff U. That's about as easy as it gets. It is much too early to consider a top 4 finish for Spurs, but the great football played by them and West Ham, Aston Villa and Brighton is ramping up the pressure on the big teams to get at least a top 4 finish. Great news for us EPL watchers.

Next weekend's live TV games are Everton away to Sheff U and Newcastle away to Brighton on Saturday. A defeat for the away teams would be absolutely disastrous. And Man U away to Arsenal on Sunday. Defeat for either team would be a major setback given their shaky starts to the season. The fun continues!

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports

Spurs Fun

Peter Anderson ⚽ The EPL is, without question, the most competitive of the world's "big" leagues.

The problem for many of the "big teams" is trying to secure a top 4 finish and get Champions League football, with all the riches and glory that come with it. It is getting increasingly difficult to qualify, so you can understand the desire for a European Super League and guaranteed qualification. But this is so wrong and so funadamentally against everything that is good about the EPL. 

The biggest laugh we got out of the latest bid to form the Super League was that Spurs were one of the "chosen" English teams. They haven't ever won the EPL and last won the First Division in '61! They did finish runners-up to Leicester in that famous 2016 season and runners-up to Liverpool in the UCL final in 2019. Despite all of that they are considered to be the EPL's nearly men. Their limited success based mostly on Harry Kane's goals. This August saw their talisman leave to go to Bayern Munich in a shock move. I thought he would stay another season and leave next on a free as he would have almost certainly passed Alan Shearer's EPL goal-scoring record. Alas, the prospect of another season without a winners medal was too much to contemplate and he hightailed it to Germany. Good luck to him.

I thought Spurs would struggle this season without him, but what do I know? They have been fantastic. That is all down to their new manager, Ange Postecoglu. They've had shitty luck with managers of late. Since Pochittino's departure, Nuno Espirito Santo, Mourinho and Conte have been high profile flops. The new man may not have their reputations but he has quickly instilled confidence into the team. A tricky opening day fixture away to Brentford saw them gain a point, since then they have played Man U and Bournemouth off the park, and sit third in the table with 7 points. 

This is a nightmare for the teams desperate to get into next season's UCL. Chelsea and Newcastle have not had the desired, nor expected, start to the season, while Liverpool and Man U have looked extremely suspect at the back. They will be hoping and praying that Spurs, and fellow front runners West Ham, fall off the pace rapidly. Spur's next games are at Burnley and home to Sheff U. That's about as easy as it gets. It is much too early to consider a top 4 finish for Spurs, but the great football played by them and West Ham, Aston Villa and Brighton is ramping up the pressure on the big teams to get at least a top 4 finish. Great news for us EPL watchers.

Next weekend's live TV games are Everton away to Sheff U and Newcastle away to Brighton on Saturday. A defeat for the away teams would be absolutely disastrous. And Man U away to Arsenal on Sunday. Defeat for either team would be a major setback given their shaky starts to the season. The fun continues!

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports
Peter Anderson Soccer Spurs

6 comments:

  1. Red Ron7:00 PM, August 31, 2023

    With no Euro games , Spurs may do better than fans expect . Newcastle to drop into the Europa , thanks to their C L draw . Tavernier & Gravenbach to Anfield ? Hope he's a lot fitter than snail paced always injured Thiago # 200 K a week

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AM7:11 PM, August 31, 2023

      It is baffling why they want to keep Thiago. He contributes as much as Kieta and is as injury prone

      Delete
  2. AM8:45 AM, September 03, 2023

    What has happened to Newcastle United?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Barry Gilheany9:01 AM, September 04, 2023

    Liverpool's late comeback hit them hard.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Red Ron1:12 PM, September 04, 2023

    Den Tag & Howe are skating on melting ice ! Reds squad looks nearly as good as '19 / '20 . Evan F to replace Mo ? Reds have same # of Prem points in ' 23 as Arsenal ! City , Reds , Arse , Spuds to get # Top 4

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AM3:56 PM, September 04, 2023

      Think Ten Hag will be safe for a while yet. Howe could be under pressure but I think he will come good again. But he can't afford to be like West Ham last season - only for the cup victory Moyes would be gone.

      Delete

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