Tottenham Hotspur and Cups, Where Spurs Stand this Season
By Aaron Coe
While the FA Cup has started Tottenham Hotspur is yet to play having advanced in the EFL Carabao Cup, so where do things stand for Spurs in domestic Cups.
Tottenham Hotspur are seeking silverware, it is the reason Jose Mourinho was brought to the club and is the reason we as fans all watch, to taste the thrill of victory. Of course Spurs fans are a bit parched at the moment, but with Tottenham still alive in three competitions and yet to start in a fourth, we wanted to take a quick look at the domestic cups, one avenue toward the silverware we all crave.
Tottenham in Carabao Cup
Tottenham had a walk-over/forfeit whichever you prefer in their initial Third Round entry into the Carabao Cup, as Leyton Orient has several players and staff test positive for Covid and the game was cancelled by the football authorities. From there Tottenham advanced to face Chelsea, who they beat in penalties.
In that match-up Chelsea struck early with Timo Werner snatching a goal from a very instinctual strike just outside the box a little before the quarter hour mark. Spurs fought hard and the game seemed to turn as Mourinho brought on Pierre-Emile Højbjerg a bit after the hour mark. From there Kane and Moura joined the party and Spurs equalized.
Erik Lamela scored the equalizer on a nice cross from the newly acquired Sergio Reguilón. While Chelsea ultimately held a significant edge in possession – 63% to 37% on almost 300 more passes 389 to 670 – Tottenham still took more shots (11/7) and had more corners (4/2). The game was decided on penalty kicks when all five Spurs converted – Dier. Lamela, Højbjerg, Moura, and Kane – and Mason Mount missed the fifth kick for the Blues. While it was gut-wrenching for Mount and Chelsea faithful, we learned a few things about Mourinho’s Spurs.
What is Next for Spurs in Carabao Cup
Tottenham Hotspur have advanced through two rounds of the Carabao Cup to the Quarterfinals, to be played at Championship side Stoke City on December 23, in the middle of the holiday festive period. That match-up 39 days from now has nine other games for Tottenham before it, and at least three and as many as five after it before Tottenham will see another break.
When that next break is for Spurs depends on the outcome of the Carabao Cup match, as they would lose the time off between Leeds on January 2 and Aston Villa on January 12, with the semi-final of the Carabao Cup set for January 4th should Spurs advance past Stoke in 39 days. If Spurs do advance past Stoke and win the semi-final in early January, Tottenham could be competing for trophies on for fronts as once.
Tottenham and the FA Cup
As currently scheduled only the two finalists from the EFL Cup will still be competing in that competition when the Championship and Premier League clubs enter the Third Round proper of the FA Cup on Saturday January 9, 2021. However, the FA Cup will have been going on for some time before that.
The qualifying rounds for the lower tiers of English Football began on the last day of August of this past year and have continued through six different rounds. From the first “Extra Preliminary Round” through to the sixth set of matches in “Fourth Round Qualifying” on October 24th a lot of football has taken place.
The first-round proper began last week in early and we are currently awaiting second round games in late November. Following those matches the rest of the Football Association teams – the Premier League and Championship – enter the tournament for Round Three Proper. The hope is that Tottenham are competing on four fronts at that point, but like the Cup itself, there is a lot of football that needs to take place between now and then.