1 game on from the last comparison article and we are still 1 point adrift off of last season’s points under Harry Redknapp, but a whole position ahead. The table shots are below;
2011-2012
Position Played W D L GD Points
4th 31 17 7 7 20 58
2012-2013
Position Played W D L GD Points
3rd 31 17 6 8 15 57
The direct response on this is that we lost the Liverpool game too cheaply and that was the difference in the points. However what about the goal difference? This year we are 3 goals down on the what we had scored last season and have conceded 2 more goals.
What does this all mean though? Well to AVB nothing, but to me everything. To go from a settled team under Harry Redknapp, to a team with a new manager and staff, a team without 2 of last season’s best midfielders and no free scoring striker, to still be in pretty much an identical position as last year it shows us all that under AVB we are looking at a new era, a turning of the tides. The most distinct difference is that of the position in the table where we find ourselves in 3rd and still above our bitter rivals, compared to last year where Arsenal had already over taken us!
By looking at the other London clubs comparisons we can see this in a further positive way.
Arsenal
2011-2012
Position Played W D L GD Points
3rd 30 18 4 8 22 58
2012-2013
Position Played W D L GD Points
5th 30 15 8 7 26 53
Chelsea
2011-2012
Position Played W D L GD Points
5th 30 14 8 8 15 50
2012-2013
Position Played W D L GD Points
4th 30 16 7 7 27 55
With Arsenal it is seems more apparent than Chelsea (although Chelsea have improved from last year), but we have seen results change to what the history of the league would suggest otherwise. The "smaller" teams have improved, getting results against teams that you would put them as favourites to lose. Tottenham have been culprits of this, but stranger results have come against the "bigger" teams in the league this season.
Chelsea have had 9 results that surprised me, Arsenal 3 and Tottenham 4. These results that go against you aren't necessarily what lose you the league but it shows a big shift in the standard of our league. Tottenham we have begun to show consistency in our table standings each year, whereas Chelsea are bouncing around. Arsenal are seeing a different issue and it is really that they are not getting the results that they had found easy in the past. Losing to Tottenham in the league is not such a surprise now, losing at home is no longer a surprise and they have not found as much success against the "bigger" teams. Here's a list of my surprise results so far this season:
Everton 2-0 Manchester City
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea
Newcastle United 3-2 Chelsea
Southampton 3-1 Manchester City
Liverpool 0-2 West Bromwich Albion
Southampton 1-1 Arsenal
Chelsea 0-1 Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea 2-2 Southampton
Queens Park Rangers 0-0 Manchester City
Norwich City 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Reading 2-2 Chelsea
Arsenal 0-2 Swansea City
Manchester City 1-1 Everton
West Ham United 3-1 Chelsea
Liverpool 1-3 Aston Villa
Swansea City 1-1 Manchester United
Stoke City 3-1 Liverpool
Sunderland 1-0 Manchester City
Swansea City 1-1 Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Wigan Athletic
Norwich City 1-0 Manchester United
West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Chelsea
Swansea City 0-0 Liverpool
Liverpool 0-0 Stoke City
Norwich City 1-0 Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Norwich City
Queens Park Rangers 0-0 Chelsea
West Bromwich Albion 3-0 Liverpool
Everton 1-0 Manchester United
It is now that we see that the league is changing and a lot of the big teams changing with it. If it had not been for Man City's surprise results they would be in a better position and Man Utd would not be running away with the league. It is Utd and their experience that seems to be holding strong.
Whatever the situation and the change it is one that is benefiting Spurs and their new young Portuguese wonder AVB.
Whether fans realise this or not, this year has seen a big turning point, a time when the "lesser" teams are coming across the surprise results more often and teams on the cusped are now proving that they have the stronger resolve against the previous giants of the "top 4".
If this is not a big indication of times changing I don’t know what it. Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City can all change this come the summer with further large investments, whereas for us qualifying for the Champions League now puts us in the ideal place. Finishing 4th 2 seasons in a row or maybe 3rd shows our consistency and resolve. This coupled with some of the exciting players we have it will help to attract some bigger names and take us forward.
Come on Levy & Lewis. Let’s make sure we take advantage of this come the summer as these sorts of things don't happen every year!
Also a reminder for all those that are happy to do so, please vote on the below link. You can opt out of all the sales stuff, please show your support for a fellow spurs fan that wants our help:
http://pooch.venturephotography.co.uk/vote.aspx?entrant=2514
I have already voted and have to say its not a wasted vote as I feel its a hands down winner anyway.
COYS!!!!!
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