Tottenham: Better After UEL Games than Last Season?

Is there a difference this season, after playing on Thursday nights in the Europa League, than a year ago?

Last February, the Guardian published a very detailed look at how Tottenham did bad after playing in the Europa League. The article pointed out how Tottenham’s points per game accumulated in the Premier League, up to the point that they were knocked out of the Round of 32 by ACF Fiorentina, had dropped below their season average following a Europa League game. The team’s season average of points per game were at 1.7 and dipped to 1.5, which at first glance it didn’t mean much. Although that proved to be wrong at the end of the season when Spurs missed out on a Champions League berth by six points and finished in fifth place.

Also, the Guardian’s article happened to focus on four key losses which hurt Tottenham’s chances of finishing in the top four. Understandably that was their whole argument about why “Tottenham are Better Off Out of the Europa League”. But it somehow managed to not include the wins and draws that Tottenham managed once Harry Kane became a starter on November 9th, 2014.

Whether Kane was the sole reason for why Spurs looked better is unknown, but the then 21-year-old was a very good reason why Tottenham always had a chance to win.

Here’s the results last season following a Europa League game. Qualification games are included since they determined if Tottenham would get into the Europa League.

[table id=34 /]

Now while the Europa League is still on-going for Tottenham this season, are the results this year different than last season when Spurs play in the Premier League?

[table id=35 /]

More from Europa League

Obviously it’s still too early into the Premier League and Europa League seasons so there isn’t too much to look at in these results.

But from the team’s current unbeaten streak in the Premiership it looks like Tottenham hasn’t missed a beat while navigating through minimal rest and injuries.

Also after Harry Kane was named as a starter on November 9, 2014 against Stoke City. Following that loss, Tottenham would go on an unbeaten streak for the next four games winning three and drawing once, after playing a Thursday night Europa League game. This season, that unbeaten streak has continued with two wins and one draw following Europa League games.

As for Tottenham’s points per game stat which was at 1.7 last season before dipping to 1.5 near the end of the 2014-15 season. Through ten Premier League games this year, Spurs are once again averaging 1.7 points per game just like a year ago, despite earning five draws already. It doesn’t seem that Tottenham are doing better than a year ago per se, following a Europa League game, especially when you only look at the games in which Harry Kane started. Instead, the real indication between the team from last season to this year is that — not only are they improving — but they’re consistent.

This should be a good indication that Spurs should reach the midway point in January in good shape, or that’s the hope at least. Maintaining their form and unbeaten streak is going to be hard with three tough games coming up: Aston Villa and R.S.C. Anderlecht at home and Arsenal on the road before the international break begins once again.

Still though, with a much younger squad, only three new players added (that were signed during the summer) into Mauricio Pochettino’s starting eleven and the rest of the Premier League improving as a whole. It’s impressive to note that Tottenham are also improving, regardless of the draws that they have accumulated. It would be nice to turn them into wins but for now, Spurs’ season overall has been consistently good.

Next: Tottenham Hotspur Links: 10/29/15 Morning Edition

More from Hotspur HQ

Home/Europa League

Are Tottenham Hotspur Doing Better After Europa League Games than Last Season?

By Alexander Balano | Oct 29, 2015

Is there a difference this season, after playing on Thursday nights in the Europa League, than a year ago?

More from Hotspur HQ