Good morning everyone! It isn’t May yet, but I can’t help but look towards it. I’m sure we all are anyways.
It’s the run-in until the end of the season and, in just a few weeks, we’ll learn whether or not Tottenham Hotspur will be in the Premier League next season.
This time I want to do things a little different and see how Tottenham’s run-in compares to West Ham. Regardless of how you view it, one thing is for certain: Spurs have very few attacking options.
Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons are both now out for the season. What options does that leave us with? Richarlison and Mathys Tel, which is a lot to ask for.
Spurs currently sit two points back of West Ham and both play against Leeds. Could that really be the determining factor?
Then it seems as if both will lose their respective matches to Chelsea and Arsenal. That leaves a pair of wildcard matches in Aston Villa and Everton, and Brentford and Newcastle. Both pairs feature to faltering clubs (Villa and Newcastle) and two who are inconsistent yet fighting for European places (Everton and Brentford).
It’s a strange profile of a run-in, but that’s where I feel we are with both.
Tottenham Hotspur men’s schedule: at Aston Villa (3 May); Leeds (11 May); at Chelsea (17 May); Everton (24 May)
West Ham men’s schedule: at Brentford (2 May); Arsenal (10 May); at Newcastle (17 May); Leeds (24 May)
I still don’t want us to forget about the women’s squad, whose season is also coming to a close. It’s been a much more successful season for Spurs women. They’ll clinch fifth place with a point in their remaining two games against London City and Brighton. But I think it’ll be a good test regardless to see how Spurs perform against the sixth- and seventh-placed teams in the league right now.
Tottenham Hotspur women’s schedule: London City (3 May); at Brighton (16 May)
Fitzie’s track of the day: No Springtime, by Allison Russell
And now for your links:
Matt Law: “Tottenham’s survival hopes could be hit by Solanke injury”
Football London: “Dominic Solanke injury update sees Tottenham nightmare go from bad to worse”
BBC: “Why Mourinho could be Real’s ‘ultimate wildcard’”
The Independent: “Brighton unveil plans for Europe’s first purpose-built women’s football stadium”