Spurs/Arsenal Champions League Spot?

**NeilMcD** · 28/03/2006, 3:05 PM

April
1 Sat Barclays Premiership H Aston Villa 3pm

5 Wed Champions League A Juventus 7.45pm
9 Sun Barclays Premiership A Manchester United 4pm

15 Sat Barclays Premiership H West Bromwich Albion 3pm
17 Mon Barclays Premiership A Manchester City 3pm

(On 4 May, 7.45pm if we reach Champions League Semi-Finals)

19 Wed Champions League H Semi-Final 1st Leg 7.45pm

22 Sat Barclays Premiership H Tottenham Hotspur 12.45pm

25 Tue Champions League A Semi-Final 2nd Leg 7.45pm

25 Tue Barclays Premiership A Portsmouth 8pm

(On 12 April, 8pm if we reach Champions League Semi-Finals)

1 Mon Barclays Premiership A Sunderland 5.15pm

7 Sun Barclays Premiership H Wigan Athletic 3pm

**NeilMcD** · 28/03/2006, 3:10 PM

I just said they have progressed from last season which they have so not sure where you are disagreeing with me there. I never said spurs were world beaters. Just said they are progressing from their previous league form which is a fact. To compare them with Everton of last year is a bit unfair to both teams. I dont think Spurs are as resilient or as strong as Everton were last season but I think they are a better footballing team than Everton were. `

Spurs finaces are one of the best in the league and none of the players have been bought with Champions League as a requirement like Leeds did. Also you say that you are pleased for the irish lads but otherwise forget it. Forget what exactly.

Spurs record in Europe is 2 European triophies which is not bad.

**Stuttgart88** · 28/03/2006, 3:13 PM

I only saw 15 mins or so last night, but heard the last 20 on the radio. When I heard Spurs had equalised I was disappointed but I then hoped that at least it was Robbie, not Defoe, who scored.

It seems that they're struggling to win some of these games now so it's getting very interesting.

Neil, have you noticed how often Spurs have conceded the exact same goal they conceded last night? I think Robinson's a great shot stopper but I think he's poor on inswinging frees and I'm hoping this weakness will be exploited in the summer. I think the free for WBA's goal wasn't actually his to claim but others have been - Old Trafford, Fulham, Arsenal at WHL (which he fumbled), Anfield last year, and others.

**Kingdom** · 28/03/2006, 3:38 PM

Having looked at those fixtures I'd expect Spurs to have 12 points extra going to Upton Park on the last day. I can see Arsenal having 17points going into the last game at home to Wigan. That would leave it fairly tight going into the last day no?

**NeilMcD** · 28/03/2006, 3:39 PM

They may be struggling to win them but they are winning them. I agree with you about Robinson and I really hope he does it during the World Cup too.

**NeilMcD** · 28/03/2006, 3:41 PM

It would mean they were all square going to the last game if that was the case but football rarely works out just like that if that was teh case you shoudl go down to the bookies now. Spurs do not have an easy game between now and the end but I do hope that West Ham qualify for the Cup Final.

**pete** · 28/03/2006, 5:54 PM

Both Spurs & Arsenal have very good home form. Spurs are tight defensively away from home but seem to struggle to beat what deemed lesser teams. Arsenals away form if just terrible.

**Karlos** · 29/03/2006, 3:12 PM

The whole European Cup scenario must really be starting to get worrying for Spurs fans

I'm still hopeful that it won't be necessary anyways.

**NeilMcD** · 29/03/2006, 3:22 PM

It is reminding me of last season when I kept on thinking that Liverpool could not do it until they did . I fully expected Arsenal though to beat Madrid but not Juve as convincingly as they did last night. I still think Barca can do it though.

**drummerboy** · 30/03/2006, 8:16 AM

Originally Posted by gonzo

& their record in Europe is embarassing...on a par with the average SPL club!

Well if you call winning a cup-winners cup and UEFA Cup, not to mention beaten finalists in UEFA Cup, average, you are deluded.

**NeilMcD** · 31/03/2006, 2:01 PM

Originally Posted by gonzo

They probably need CL money to justify their high player expenditure on wages/transfers...am pleased for the Irish lads there(IF they get a game), otherwise forget it. & their record in Europe is embarassing...on a par with the average SPL club!

Tottenham Hotspur has announced a profit of �4.4m for the second half of 2005, up from �1m the year before.
Turnover for the period was �36.3m, 10% up on the same period in 2004.

Player sales boosted profits, helping to offset the club's early exit from the Carling Cup and the consequent �1m fall in gate receipts compared to 2004.

The north London team warned that losing to Leicester in the third round of the FA Cup last January would have an impact on its next set of figures.

It said it would continue its policy of investing in young talent.

"A lot of investment continues to be focused on academy recruits, with scouting taking place throughout the world looking for, and competing for, stars of the future," said chairman Daniel Levy.

According to the latest football rich list from consultants Deloitte, Tottenham Hotspur is the thirteenth richest club in Europe, and the only one not to have earned revenues from the continent's premier cup competition, the Champions League.

**NeilMcD** · 31/03/2006, 4:33 PM

So gonzo when are you refering to this terrible record that Spurs have in Europe. They have a terrible record in recent times of not getting to Europe would be more to the point.

**Karlos** · 01/04/2006, 3:58 PM

Great day for the Gooners! Another awesome display in a 5-0 defeat of Villa. Spurs fall apart and Bolton lose to the Mancs. Arsenal's goal difference could be worth a point at the end of the campaign! I'm a happy camper!

**NeilMcD** · 03/04/2006, 11:22 AM

To be honest Karlos this weekend was as expected. Arsenal win at home to the worst team in the Premiership on current form after Sunderland and possibly Birmingham.

I watched the highlights of the Spurs game and it was supposed to be Newcastles best performance of the season and sometimes you catch Newcastle at home when they are in that form. Saying that Robbie Keane hit the woodwork twice and Jenas missed an absolute sitter also so I am not sure Spurs fell apart.

Next weekend is big also as Spurs are at home to Man City another side on a bad run and Arsenal play Man Utd who are on great form, just like Arsenal. Utd seem to have the indian sign over Arsenal in the last few games between the teams (FA Cup Final excluding). So it could well be 5 points the gap also. I would still take a point at Highbury as a Spurs fan but its going to be interesting.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 03/04/2006, 8:43 PM

I thought at the start of season that Spurs would beat Arsenal to fourth place. For a while I thought I would be correct but Arsenal have picked up form at the right time. Big game this weekend against Man Utd- could make or break both team's season.

**crazyaxel** · 04/04/2006, 11:17 AM

blackburn to finsh 4th arsenal5th(and win the champions league!)and spurs finish 6th as long as we(arsenal)finish above spurs our season is a bit of a success already!

**NeilMcD** · 04/04/2006, 11:21 AM

Well Blackburn were lucky last night to get a draw as their equaliser was a clear foul. I think its honestly between Spurs and Arsenal to finish 4th and it will come down to the games against Man Utd that both have to play and the head to head match in Highbury towards the end of the month.

**NeilMcD** · 04/04/2006, 1:30 PM

Back at the training ground, Martin Jol offers his considered reaction to the 3-1 reverse up at Newcastle on Saturday...

IT IS ALWAYS difficult for a team when you make mistakes and concede three goals inside 30 minutes.

The goal we created was exactly what we had in mind ahead of the game, to get Aaron Lennon one on one high up the pitch and he did exactly what he had to do. But, if you don't play as a team and play as if you are playing a home game you expect to win, you can't take anything from from a game against a team like Newcastle and it was very disappointing.

I felt we let ourselves down, we didn't play as a team and - as I said - we made mistakes. If you look at the first goal, the second and also the third with the penalty from Edgar's challenge - they were all mistakes. You can't play in the way we did against Newcastle.

They have good players and are strong on the ball, but when they haven't got it they are vulnerable and we didn't take advantage of that.

You have to win your battles. I was confident before the match - even after Ledley had to pull out - and still thought we could do well. But we struggled in the first minute with four men behind the ball, we stopped running and didn't track back - didn't track Bowyer down - and conceded a goal.

In the second half we showed a different face. Down 3-1 and then playing with ten men for 30 minutes - we played better with ten and that typified the whole afternoon. I think the character we showed was okay in the second half, but the performance in the first half was not acceptable.

We played without Ledley against West Brom away when Kanu scored two goals and Leicester in the FA Cup where we conceded three goals - which is very rare for us. You can't say we are not confident when Ledley is not there, but he is certainly an important player. The worry for me is that we concede more goals when he is not playing and that is not a good thing for a squad.

It is something we have to work on in the future, but we have to grab points now even if Ledley is not available. We are capable of doing that if we cut out the little mistakes.

We did have a couple of chances at 3-1 down which could have made a big difference, Robbie Keane hit the bar just before half-time and then Jermaine Jenas had a big chance in the second half. If one of those had gone in then Newcastle could have got a little nervous.

We got better, but we should have started like that. If you start like we did you will lose points.

**Kingdom** · 05/04/2006, 2:00 AM

My boss (who knows s.f.a. about soccer) predicted that Blackburn would finish 4th nearly 3 months ago, just as they were starting that run they went on. I think they were 9 th in the table at the time. I remember thinking "stick to the West Cork football muttonhead and the leave the proper leagues to those who know better". Must admit that tail is well and truly between the legs now!