Competition Top Four Here We Come: EPL Fixtures Released 18 June 2024 at 09:00

[bk_spur]

Thurs 24 Oct v AZ Alkmaar (H) - EL
Sun 27 Oct v Crystal Palace (A) - PL
Wed 30 Oct v Man City (H) - Carabou
Sun 3 Nov v Aston Villa (H) - PL
Thurs 7 Nov v Galatasarsy (A) - EL
Sun 10 Nov v Ipswich (H) - PL
International Break, next match 23 Nov

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It absolutely sucks that Spence wasn't registered for Europa league- everything else in our rotation is provided for except that- and it's going to make that 3 game sequence between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa extremely difficult. I don't think Udogie can do it 3 games in a row; at a minimum Spence has to start against Crystal Palace- if only because Udogie will already be challenged to go 90 mins back to back on 3 days rest vs City and Villa, and because of Ange's dumb roster pick, HAS to play vs Alkmaar (unless Davies? pffft).

If I were Ange I'd be looking for this:

AZ - Udog
CP - Spence
City - Udog
Villa - Udog
Galat - Udog
Ips - Spence

Spence is more than good enough to start vs Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town.

 

[Spursidol]

It absolutely sucks that Spence wasn't registered for Europa league- everything else in our rotation is provided for except that- and it's going to make that 3 game sequence between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa extremely difficult. I don't think Udogie can do it 3 games in a row; at a minimum Spence has to start against Crystal Palace- if only because Udogie will already be challenged to go 90 mins back to back on 3 days rest vs City and Villa, and because of Ange's dumb roster pick, HAS to play vs Alkmaar (unless Davies? pffft).

If I were Ange I'd be looking for this:

AZ - Udog
CP - Spence
City - Udog
Villa - Udog
Galat - Udog
Ips - Spence

Spence is more than good enough to start vs Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town.

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Wouldn't surprise me if Davies played in one or even two games, possibly the City Carabou game or Galatasaray game, in both games I expect spurs need to do more defending than other games, so Davies will contribute more.

 

[Mariner]

View: https://x.com/_ereng_/status/1848055365960921511?s=46

 

[Spursidol]

After 8 games played :

3rd placed Woolwich - 17 points, GD +7
4th placed Aston Villa - 17 points, GD +5
5th placed Brighton - 15 points, GD +4
6th placed Chelsea - 14 points, GD +7
7th placed Tottenham - 13 points, GD +9
8th placed Newcastle - 12 points, GD 0

So well in touch with 3rd, just 4 points behind.

30 games left to catch up and overtake that 4 point gap.

 

[Starks]

After 8 games played :

3rd placed Woolwich - 17 points, GD +7
4th placed Aston Villa - 17 points, GD +5
5th placed Brighton - 15 points, GD +4
6th placed Chelsea - 14 points, GD +7
7th placed Tottenham - 13 points, GD +9
8th placed Newcastle - 12 points, GD 0

So well in touch with 3rd, just 4 points behind.

30 games left to catch up and overtake that 4 point gap.

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Fixtures are kind before the international break too.

We play 2 teams in the bottom 4 within our next 3 games.

Woolwich have Liverpool, Newcastle (a) and Chelsea (a)

Villa have Bournemouth, Spurs (a), Liverpool (a)

Brighton have Wolves, Liverpool (a), Man City

Chelsea have Newcastle, Man Utd (a), Woolwich.


I'm confident that IF we can get 9 points, we will be in the top four heading into that break

 

[Airfixx]

View: https://x.com/_ereng_/status/1848055365960921511?s=46

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Meh... Fuck those wankers.

 

[Rocket]

Can I just point out that as it stands we are league top scorers. We have conceded 9 which is a big improvement on last season. Liverpool have best defence with 2 and second best is 8 so we are doing ok, obviously plenty to work on in defence , especially left side, Romero needs to step up as well.
The big test is when we play the top 7 teams. Villa and City in the near future will tell us a lot.
So far we seem incapable of beating these teams, not even drawing most times.

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As of the time of this post... Liverpool have conceeded 3, Forest 6, Newcastle and Woolwich 8, Us, Utd & City 9 each. So equal 5th fewest goals conceded.
2nd most scored behind City. 19v18

 

[WillWilliams]

After our worst start to a season in blah blah years (I don’t know that stat) there’s a good chance we could be level with the incredible title chasing Woolwich by the 10 game mark.

We could also be 10 points behind them in a worst case scenario situation.

Footballs a funny old game innit.

 

[Mrs Perryman]

I have just been putting next year's fixtures in my diary (yes, I still use a paper diary, only way I can keep track).
Our last game, at home for a change, is on the 25th May. Should we make the Europa Final, that is on the Wednesday before, ie 21 May. And if we make the FA Cup Final, that's the weekend before (17th), when we're due to play Villa away.
Doesn't the season normally finish earlier, with the FA Cup Final being the end of the domestic season?
Of course,I want us to be successful, but with internationals on top of the cup and league games, it's just too much football - quantity over quality.

 

[sudoku]

I have just been putting next year's fixtures in my diary (yes, I still use a paper diary, only way I can keep track).
Our last game, at home for a change, is on the 25th May. Should we make the Europa Final, that is on the Wednesday before, ie 21 May. And if we make the FA Cup Final, that's the weekend before (17th), when we're due to play Villa away.
Doesn't the season normally finish earlier, with the FA Cup Final being the end of the domestic season?
Of course,I want us to be successful, but with internationals on top of the cup and league games, it's just too much football - quantity over quality.

Click to shrink...

Here are the potential end of season fixtures:

Thu​	17/04/2024​			QF EL
Sun​	20/04/2025​			NOTTINGHAM FOREST	H​
Sat​	26/04/2025​			LIVERPOOL	A​
Sat​	26/04/2025​			QF FA CUP
Thu​	01/05/2025​			SF EL
Sun​	04/05/2025​			WEST HAM UNITED	A​
Thu​	08/05/2025​			SF EL
Sun​	11/05/2025​			CRYSTAL PALACE	H​
Sat​	17/05/2025​			FINAL FA CUP
Sun​	18/05/2025​			ASTON VILLA	A​
Wed​	21/05/2025​			FINAL EL
Sun​	25/05/2025​	16:00​		FULHAM	H​

If we get through to both finals then the Villa game on May 18 will be brought forward to midweek after the Palace game on May 11.

 

[Mrs Perryman]

Here are the potential end of season fixtures:

​

Thu​	17/04/2024​			QF EL
Sun​	20/04/2025​			NOTTINGHAM FOREST	H​
Sat​	26/04/2025​			LIVERPOOL	A​
Sat​	26/04/2025​			QF FA CUP
Thu​	01/05/2025​			SF EL
Sun​	04/05/2025​			WEST HAM UNITED	A​
Thu​	08/05/2025​			SF EL
Sun​	11/05/2025​			CRYSTAL PALACE	H​
Sat​	17/05/2025​			FINAL FA CUP
Sun​	18/05/2025​			ASTON VILLA	A​
Wed​	21/05/2025​			FINAL EL
Sun​	25/05/2025​	16:00​		FULHAM	H​

If we get through to both finals then the Villa game on May 18 will be brought forward to midweek after the Palace game on May 11.

Click to shrink...

Absolutely nuts!

 

[Mrs Perryman]

Here are the potential end of season fixtures:

​

Thu​	17/04/2024​			QF EL
Sun​	20/04/2025​			NOTTINGHAM FOREST	H​
Sat​	26/04/2025​			LIVERPOOL	A​
Sat​	26/04/2025​			QF FA CUP
Thu​	01/05/2025​			SF EL
Sun​	04/05/2025​			WEST HAM UNITED	A​
Thu​	08/05/2025​			SF EL
Sun​	11/05/2025​			CRYSTAL PALACE	H​
Sat​	17/05/2025​			FINAL FA CUP
Sun​	18/05/2025​			ASTON VILLA	A​
Wed​	21/05/2025​			FINAL EL
Sun​	25/05/2025​	16:00​		FULHAM	H​

If we get through to both finals then the Villa game on May 18 will be brought forward to midweek after the Palace game on May 11.

Click to shrink...

I wish you had put this up before I spent ages trawling through all the websites!

 

[sudoku]

I wish you had put this up before I spent ages trawling through all the websites!

Click to shrink...

 

[sudoku]

​

"SAME" TEAM

+/-

SAME GAME

+/-

1​

LEICESTER (LUTON)

A​

1-1​

D​

-2​

A​

1-0​

W​

Brentford

0​

A​

2-2​

D​

2​

EVERTON

H​

4-0​

W​

-2​

H​

2-1​

W​

Man United

0​

H​

2-0​

W​

3​

NEWCASTLE

A​

1-2​

L​

-2​

A​

0-4​

L​

Bournemouth

-3​

A​

2-0​

W​

4​

Woolwich

H​

0-1​

L​

-2​

H​

2-3​

L​

Burnley

-6​

A​

5-2​

W​

5​

BRENTFORD

H​

3-1​

W​

-2​

H​

3-2​

W​

Sheffield United

-6​

H​

2-1​

W​

6​

MAN UNITED

A​

3-0​

W​

0​

A​

2-2​

D​

Woolwich

-4​

A​

2-2​

D​

7​

BRIGHTON

A​

2-3​

L​

0​

A​

2-4​

L​

Liverpool

-7​

H​

2-1​

W​

8​

WEST HAM UNITED

H​

4-1​

W​

3​

H​

1-2​

L​

Luton Town

-7​

A​

1-0​

W​

9​

C PALACE

A​

0-1​

L​

0​

A​

2-1​

W​

Fulham

-10​

H​

2-0​

W​

10​

ASTON VILLA

H​

4-1​

W​

3​

H​

1-2​

L​

Crystal Palace

-10​

A​

2-1​

W​

Same teams:
2023-24: F 16 A 21
This season: F 22 A 11

Same games:
2023-24: 22:9
This season: 22:11

 

[ShakesSpeare]

Here's to that. I.e. the thread title.

 

[ShakesSpeare]

But a great cup run might actually be more likely. Not sure but perhaps. Both would be best (needless to say).

 

[rysharp]

Here are the potential end of season fixtures:

​

Thu​	17/04/2024​			QF EL
Sun​	20/04/2025​			NOTTINGHAM FOREST	H​
Sat​	26/04/2025​			LIVERPOOL	A​
Sat​	26/04/2025​			QF FA CUP
Thu​	01/05/2025​			SF EL
Sun​	04/05/2025​			WEST HAM UNITED	A​
Thu​	08/05/2025​			SF EL
Sun​	11/05/2025​			CRYSTAL PALACE	H​
Sat​	17/05/2025​			FINAL FA CUP
Sun​	18/05/2025​			ASTON VILLA	A​
Wed​	21/05/2025​			FINAL EL
Sun​	25/05/2025​	16:00​		FULHAM	H​

If we get through to both finals then the Villa game on May 18 will be brought forward to midweek after the Palace game on May 11.

Click to shrink...

FA cup and EL finals in a 4 day period... That could be the most memorable black out drunken binge of my life!

 

[Spursidol]

​

"SAME" TEAM

+/-

SAME GAME

+/-

1​

LEICESTER (LUTON)

A​

1-1​

D​

-2​

A​

1-0​

W​

Brentford

0​

A​

2-2​

D​

2​

EVERTON

H​

4-0​

W​

-2​

H​

2-1​

W​

Man United

0​

H​

2-0​

W​

3​

NEWCASTLE

A​

1-2​

L​

-2​

A​

0-4​

L​

Bournemouth

-3​

A​

2-0​

W​

4​

Woolwich

H​

0-1​

L​

-2​

H​

2-3​

L​

Burnley

-6​

A​

5-2​

W​

5​

BRENTFORD

H​

3-1​

W​

-2​

H​

3-2​

W​

Sheffield United

-6​

H​

2-1​

W​

6​

MAN UNITED

A​

3-0​

W​

0​

A​

2-2​

D​

Woolwich

-4​

A​

2-2​

D​

7​

BRIGHTON

A​

2-3​

L​

0​

A​

2-4​

L​

Liverpool

-7​

H​

2-1​

W​

8​

WEST HAM UNITED

H​

4-1​

W​

3​

H​

1-2​

L​

Luton Town

-7​

A​

1-0​

W​

9​

C PALACE

A​

0-1​

L​

0​

A​

2-1​

W​

Fulham

-10​

H​

2-0​

W​

10​

ASTON VILLA

H​

4-1​

W​

3​

H​

1-2​

L​

Crystal Palace

-10​

A​

2-1​

W​

Same teams:
2023-24: F 16 A 21
This season: F 22 A 11

Same games:
2023-24: 22:9
This season: 22:11

Click to shrink...

So, to be clear, you are saying that against the same teams, we are 3 points better off than last season after playing 10 PL games.

And we have a much better GD of +11 (versus -5) as a result of scoring 5 more goals, and just as importantly, conceding 10 less goals.

And all that despite having to play in EL games in addition to PL which will have meant more games and regularly playing mid week , weekend, mid week rather than last season where we usually only played once a week. Which in turn means Ange needs to rotate/juggle the squad to minimise player burn out and injuries - although on the positive side Spurs have a larger squad of 'usable' players than last season.

Either way its all positive signs we are moving in the right direction atm.

 

[SeeSpotRun]

So, to be clear, you are saying that against the same teams, we are 3 points better off than last season after playing 10 PL games.

And we have a much better GD of +11 (versus -5) as a result of scoring 5 more goals, and just as importantly, conceding 10 less goals.

And all that despite having to play in EL games in addition to PL which will have meant more games and regularly playing mid week , weekend, mid week rather than last season where we usually only played once a week. Which in turn means Ange needs to rotate/juggle the squad to minimise player burn out and injuries - although on the positive side Spurs have a larger squad of 'usable' players than last season.

Either way its all positive signs we are moving in the right direction atm.

Click to shrink...

That's the gist of it.

But you could equally argue that our first 10 fixtures have corresponded to matches we under-performed in last season (home losses to West Ham and Villa in particular), so the +3 is not particularly meaningful, but the GD still looks good.

I had us pencilled in for 20 points as a par score after our first 10 (WWDDWDDWDW) so we're 4 points off that. We're only 1 point behind where we were at the same point in Poch's second season.

We are, as the cliche goes, "near enough if we're good enough".

Re the squad rotation, I really think that helps Ange's job given the way he likes to coach. The best way to learn Ange-ball is to play Ange-ball. But I suspect the injury crunch is going to hurt us around Christmas / New Year.

 

[Spursidol]

That's the gist of it.

But you could equally argue that our first 10 fixtures have corresponded to matches we under-performed in last season (home losses to West Ham and Villa in particular), so the +3 is not particularly meaningful, but the GD still looks good.

I had us pencilled in for 20 points as a par score after our first 10 (WWDDWDDWDW) so we're 4 points off that. We're only 1 point behind where we were at the same point in Poch's second season.

We are, as the cliche goes, "near enough if we're good enough".

Re the squad rotation, I really think that helps Ange's job given the way he likes to coach. The best way to learn Ange-ball is to play Ange-ball. But I suspect the injury crunch is going to hurt us around Christmas / New Year.

Click to shrink...

10 games is the minimum number of games when I think its realistic to draw any conclusions - fewer games and any unusual results will scew any stats. We'll get a better indication after say 20 games.

3 points ahead is not that significant, but is good in that we have played more games (EL and Carabou) than last year which would tend to suggest our results might get worse. I'd hope that we'd increase that as we move forward, but we'll see.

20 points (or 2 points a game) is a decent target - but with 3 points a game, you could argue that not losing either the Brighton or Palace game (both of which we should have been able to win) and we'd be on track. When we play more games (eg 20) individual game results will not scew the trend, so lets revisit after 20 games

The better change is the much better GD, in particular fewer goals conceded - but you could argue that's mainly down to the ManU (3-0 win) and Wham/Villa (4-1 win) games. so we just need to hope we have more games like those three.

Playing both at weekends and mid week invites injuries to players (its said by a number of sports scientists that players generally need a minimum of 4 clear days between matches) so rotation with at least 22 players in the squad (which we just about have with Moore and Lankshear included) is needed to avoid that. And of course a couple of injuries means other players need to play more which means the 'fit' players have an increased risk of injury as they need to play more.

So at the moment with potentially Odobert, Richarlison, Van de Ven, Romero and Spence out, injuries could easily spiral out of control if we are unlucky - but we are not the only PL club with that concern, particularly those playing in europe. All Ange can do is rotate sensibly so as not to overplay any of the players, and hope !