Tonight’s match at Wembley is a crunch one for the home club Tottenham Hostpur
by Steve Clare
Tonight’s match at Wembley is a crunch one for the home club Tottenham Hostpur.
On the face of it their league position is fantastic. They have 21 points from nine games. That’s 2.33 points per game putting them on a theoretical target of 89, enough to finish in the top two of a theoretical league title.
With seven wins, only Liverpool have more league victories. They are looking for their fifth successive league win tonight.
Yet there is something missing.
On the field, there has been an absence of swagger. A laboured 1-0 win over a Cardiff side lacking any Premier League quality didn’t even paper over the cracks. They have lost twice and drawn one of their European games. Many of their players look jaded already.
When Liverpool came to Wembley, the Lilywhites were comprehensively outplayed and the 2-1 scoreline flattered them. The conclusion was quickly formed that Spurs were as far from being genuine title challenges perhaps even further back than in their second place finishes.
Off the field, the season has been a PR disaster.
First came the news that their new stadium at White Hart Lane would not be ready on time. Further matches had to be hastily rescheduled and tonight’s game had to be moved from Saturday because of a pre-existing American Football game at Wembley.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was arrested for drink driving, and a slew of injuries has shone further light on manager Mauricio Pochettino’s decision not to add any talent over the close season.
In this climate, City arrive eager to repeat their very easy victory in this fixture last season. The Citizens can retake their place atop the table with a win, as well as put one of their more difficult fixtures behind them.
Should this win be as easy as their 3-1 win in April and Liverpool’s 2-1 win here this season, Spurs will not be getting the praise of a side with 21 points from 10 games.
The knives will be out, if not for Pochettino himself, but for someone. Spurs fans are a patient lot and there have been few manifestations of significant fan anger over the years especially considering the lack of the silverware.
But if they are played off the field tonight, fans will start asking questions. What they are and of whom they are asked remains to be seen.
