Big Eight Day Week for Tottenham Hotspur in Premier League

All three opponents have issues

Do not say this too loudly to Tottenham, as Fulham did manage to draw level with Spurs in the first meeting, but the issues for Burnley and Fulham and to some extent Palace have really been all about scoring. Both Burnley and Fulham are actually in the top 10 in the league for goals against, with Fulham 9th conceding 32 goals and Burnley 7th conceding just 30. Palace, well that is different.

For a point of comparison, Tottenham are 5th in the League having conceded 27 and Chelsea is second conceding just 25. While no one else is close to City who has conceded only 16 goals in 26 matches, with only 7 goals separating second and 9th in the goals against chart, these are strong defenses.

Burnley and Fulham have really struggled to score

Offensively it has been a different story with the two squads scoring a combined 39 goals. Spurs have 37, eighth most in league meaning that seven teams have more than those two combined.

Burnley has been better offensively of late scoring three goals in three of their last nine matches. However, Burnley was also shutout four times during those nine matches so they tend to run hot and cold. Key for Spurs of course will be getting in front of the Clarets and forcing them out of their defensive comfort zone.

Fulham, with 21 goals in League have 3 more than Burnley but it has been a real struggle for the Cottagers. Fulham has not scored 3 goals in more than 25 matches this season. Fulham have played 10 matches in League since facing Spurs in January and have been shutout in half (5) and only twice scored two goals.

Like Burnley, the key is not letting Fulham hang around or worse score first. Both teams want to play strong defense, hold the opposition and find a way to steal a goal and three points. Should sound familiar to Spurs and be something the team can dispatch of. For Tottenham to get back in the top four race and frankly to have any shot at winning Europa League, these are games you have to be able to win.

Palace is a bit different challenge as they want to outscore you

Whereas Sunday and Thursday will be about controlling the tempo and breaking down a couple of strong defenses, next Sunday versus Palace is a completely different animal. Coming into the weekend Palace are in a four-way tie for 16th in goals against having conceded 43 goals in 25 matches.

The Eagles have been better offensively than both Burnley and Fulham but not a ton. With 29 goals in those 25 matches, Crystal Palace has the fourth worst goal difference in the league at -14. Fulham (-11) and Burnley (-12) both have better goal difference totals than Palace, but still have fewer points in the table.

Much of this is because Palace is one of those teams where there is not a whole lot of in between. Crystal Palace has been shut out 11 times this season conceding 4 to Manchester City and 7 to Liverpool in those two of those 11 matches. Alternatively, Palace scored three against Manchester United to start the season and have put four past Leeds United and five past West Brom.

The point is Crystal Palace can score in bunches, but then again then can get straight run off the field. Even in those wins over United, Leeds, and West Brom Palace still conceded. And while Palace has only kept two clean sheets all season, they have all come in the past eight matches against Arsenal (0-0) and Wolves (1-0), two teams relatively similar to Tottenham.

Tottenham Just Need to Step up and Start Winning

No Tottenham are not playing Marine FC, or Wycombe, or Wolfsberger over the next three matches but they are not playing Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Liverpool either. Rather, what Tottenham have in front of them over the next eight days is three winnable matches.

Assuming Spurs come out playing their best focused on one game at a time, they should be able to take nine points and finally get the taste of losing in the league out of their mouths. Three wins on the trot will be helpful leading into the Round of 16 in 10 days against Dinamo Zabreg and five straight in all competitions is exactly what the team needs with Arsenal coming up in just a couple of weeks.

Tottenham have a chance to at least right the ship and see where that leaves them with regard to the top four. With no teams outside of Manchester City breaking away, Spurs are still very much in that race. However, without nine points over the next eight days Tottenham’s chances of making it to the Champions League via the top four will likely be over.

Even with nine points over eight days, Spurs could be only shouting distance of top four, but at least the confidence would be back for Europe. Bottom line is Tottenham just need to win and they are about to play three winnable games it is time for the team to go.