A good start for Santo, Tottenham is about more than the first match

While winning the first league game of the season is important, especially so under a new manager, a good start to the season for Tottenham Hotspur is about more than the first game.

Tottenham Hotspur lost their opening match last season to Everton 1-0. Had Spurstaken three points, they would have finished on 65 points, and topped West Ham United for 6th on goal difference. Those three points were the difference between qualifying for the Europa League and having to play into the Conference League. And while three points against defending league champion Manchester City on opening day would be a great start under a new coach for the Lilywhites, the rest of August maybe even more important.

The first match is big but not everything

While the three points lost on opening day could have made a difference the reality is that last season Tottenham dropped so many points from winning positions, those three points on opening day were minor. And thus, while beating the defending champs, especially when the club is trying to poach our talisman would be great, the further four games in August are truly critical.

Tottenham need to win to get into the Conference League

As many know, Tottenham is not assured of reaching the Conference League Group Stage. While some may scoff at the third-tier European competition, those extra matches and that extra money are quite meaningful to the club.

If we want to see young players like Dane Scarlett get some good minutes and develop under Nuno, the group stage of the Conference League is likely the place to get it. However, to get to that group stage and those extra six matches, the Spurs have to beat FC Paços de Ferreira, who finished fifth in the Portuguese first division last season.

Paços advanced to the play-off match after winning in the third qualifying round 4-1 over Larne on aggregate. And while many in England may be thinking, this is Spurs game to win, there are those in Portugal, our opponents included, who are thinking the exact opposite. In case anyone was wondering if Paços were scared, they need to see the club’s Twitter account.

Two winnable Premier League matches

We all want three points on Sunday against City but as we all know the key to having a really good season in the Premier League is beating the teams you are supposed to. Following the City game, Tottenham plays at Wolverhampton and then hosts Watford.

The Wolves match will be particularly important given new Tottenham Head Coach Nuno Espirito Santo will want to get over on his old team. Additionally, the Wolves have been the kind of team to give Spurs fits in years past and three points on the road against anyone in the league is a big deal.

Watford is one of three recently promoted teams. As Arsenal learned against Brentford and Aston Villa did against Watford newly promoted teams are no cupcakes. That said, like Wolves, Watford is a team that Tottenham is supposed to beat and as such is kind of a must-win game at home.

If Tottenham can win all four matches, reaching the group stage of the Conference League and have at least six points in the Premier League by the end of the month it will have been a good start to the season for Santo and the Spurs. This is something we need to remember if things do not go as planned on Sunday.

The season is long and the road is windy but how long and how windy we will know in the coming weeks and only a good start can make the road one we all want to travel.