Tottenham Hotspur Keys to the Second-Half Success

Despite not playing the best Spurs football we have seen early in the season, Tottenham Hotspur worked out the kinks and had a spectacular first-half. They’ve won 45 points and reached second place. Positioned to compete now in four competitions in the last half of the 2018-19 season Spurs have a chance to do something special.

Tottenham Hotspur are on quite some roll as the squad heads into the second-half of the season. The only defeat in the last two months was in early December at the Emirates. Given the revenge 2-0 shut-out in the League Cup, the Champions League Round of 16 qualifying tie at Barcelona, and five Premier League victories since that defeat, it is understandable that Spurs last loss is long in the rear-view mirror.

The keys to Tottenham Hotspur success and the squad achieving some of the major goals we all- club, media, and fans alike- want to see boils down to just a few things as Spurs move into the second half of the season. Not dropping points in league, competing on four fronts, and riding the home wave could be the key to Spurs success as the 2018-19 season kicks on. If Spurs can do those things, at the end of the season the club and fans trophy drought will be over and maybe Tottenham can win more than one title.

Spurs Not Dropping Points

The key to everything as Tottenham Hotspur continue their round of festive fixtures moving into the second half of the Premier League season is not dropping points. It’s simple, the fewer games with any dropped points, a loss or tie, the better off the squad will be. Sure the teams that have the least blemishes are positioned the best, but it is easier said than done.

The team with the fewest games with dropped points is currently in first, Liverpool, who have three ties. The second-place team in league- Spurs- have dropped points in 4 matches, all losses. The third-place team, Manchester City, has dropped points in five games, two ties and three losses.

The trend continues with Chelsea having dropped points in fewer matches than Arsenal, who has dropped points in fewer matches than Manchester United. This continues until 9th, 10th, and 12th place in the table, where West Ham United, Watford, and Bournemouth have each dropped points in fewer matches with 11. Then comes 8th place Everton, who have dropped points in 12 matches, the same as 11th place Wolverhampton.

The table tells the story and the theme is whether the result is a tie or a loss, the more games a team drops points in the further down the table they will fall. If Spurs can continue to find ways to win and avoid ties and simply not drop points, anything is possible in the Premier League including the title.

Spurs Competing on Four Fronts

Sure, we know it, everyone has said it, including Mauricio Pochettino; Champions League and Premier League are the main targets. The good news is that heading into the final weekend of 2018, Tottenham Hotspur have a realistic opportunity in both competitions.

Thanks to the remarkable Group Stage comeback, Spurs were able to get into the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League and have drawn Borussia Dortmund. Spurs have a history with Dortmund from the previous two Champions League campaigns and have every chance to advance. Of course, Dortmund commentators are saying the same thing on their end, I’m sure.

As mentioned in the discussion of points, Tottenham is in a good position to challenge for the title along with leaders Liverpool and third place Manchester City. Sure, only three teams have lost the lead from Christmas on, but this season clearly shows anything is possible. One team is unbeaten through half the season, Liverpool, and another is undrawn, Tottenham. There is no reason not to believe, as Pochettino and his team believe that Spurs can compete to win either or both competitions. Barring any catastrophic string of injuries or one big one to Harry Kane, the team has a real chance, more than a punchers chance, in both competitions.

This brings us to the two lesser competitions of the four, the League “Carabao” Cup and the FA Cup. With the League Cup, Spurs have already done the tough part, reach the semi-finals. Sure, the schedule is congested in January, plus Chelsea is a good squad. That said, is anyone in the Spurs dressing room sweating a few more games? I don’t think so; this team thrives on regular competition. Further, having won at Stamford Bridge last season, the team knows it can be done. Finally, comes the finals if Spurs advance past Chelsea at Wembley, which last I checked is Tottenham’s current home stadium. Advantage Tottenham, playing City or not.

Lastly, we have the FA Cup. While the FA Cup is the last to get started, it is still the more prestigious of the two lesser cups and was last won by Tottenham in 1990-91. Winning the FA Cup sure would be sweet. Not to mention the opportunity the Cup represents to let more of the squad get out and play. Seeing N’koudou, Llorente, Skipp, Walker-Peters, and Foyth all on the field together to play Tranmere Rovers would be a true testament to the belief in the club and the work of Pochettino, his staff, and the academy staff.

If Spurs compete on all four fronts, that means they are playing to win every match. Last I checked, that is how the team plays. The bigger the eyes, the bigger the glory, and the game is about glory.

Riding the Home Wave

As previously mentioned, should Spurs reach the finals of the League Cup, the game would be played at Wembley. Oh, the FA Cup final is also at Wembley. What greater motivation to advance in a Cup competition than to be able to play the game at home? Sure, they make the arena look neutral, but playing more than 30 games in two years at an arena, makes it your home, regardless of dressing room.

Even bigger, Spurs have played the least home games in league, with only 8. That means 11 of their remaining 19 games, starting with Wolverhampton, will be a home contest. Tottenham need to take advantage of the schedule and make their home a fortress. The question is where that will be.

January 7th, we’ve been told, is the date of the update from contractors to Daniel Levy and his team about the stadium and the progress. If all goes well, then come two test events, and Spurs could be open in time for the January 30th game with Watford. This would make the Manchester United match on 1/13 Spurs last with Wembley as home. Regardless of when it happens, it sounds like Mr. Levy is bringing everything the fans and club could want in a new stadium and more.

I guess given everything else, there is a big ‘if’ around January 7th, as the team also has until the end of January to inform UEFA for the Champions League. I know things with the stadium haven’t been smooth in terms of opening and finishing. But truth be told, we need to look big picture at a place where Spurs will call home for the next 30+ years, a few months is no big deal. Besides, come February, the New White Hart Lane or Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be the only place in London to see Champions League football.

Spurs Belief, Believing in Spurs

It’s been written, this team has the belief, it has been said by both Pochettino and his players, this team has the belief. We need to as fans and media alike appreciate what we are seeing with Tottenham. A team working to redefine how to succeed in the age of spend to win. If fans and media start and keep believing the way the team believes, it will embolden the team, and an emboldened Spurs team is one that can achieve anything, even success on four fronts.

I’m not saying that Spurs will win four trophies, just that they are very much capable of winning any of the four they are currently pursuing. If Tottenham can keep not dropping points, continue to treat each match like it is the most important regardless of the competition, and get the momentum and spirit boost the new stadium can provide anything is possible in pursuit of glory.