Next Two Weeks Could Decide Spurs Future

By: Richard | September 19th, 2007

The fixtures will come fast and furious at Spurs during the next two plus weeks, starting with tomorrows tie against Anorthosis Famagusta and followed by what could possibly be a winnable visit to the Reebok v. Bolton.

The UEFA cup is Spurs main focus aside from the league itself and getting off to a fast start, especially against a team that they should beat on paper, is a must. Being knocked out prior to the group stages would be a monumental collapse for a team that had such high hopes only a month ago (keep that in mind Spurs fans, it is very early still!).

Our away fixture against Bolton could be a wonderful opportunity to procure a few points. A win seems possible and would allow Spurs to forget their collapse at Craven Cottage a few weeks ago; when they let two away points slip away. My hopes are high as the post Fat-Sam era of Bolton Wanderer football under Sammy Lee has been less then stellar so far.

We’re home to Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup Wednesday the 26th. I have to be honest, I’m damn happy we’re at the Lane for this; otherwise I would almost expect an early exit from the league cup.

The Premiership schedule makers don’t do Spurs any favors the following week as we return home for our 125th Anniversary v. Aston Villa. Spurs played Martin O’Neill’s men well last year, drawing away and winning at home so full points this term at WHL seems feasible and two straight league wins before our October 7th trip to Anfield may well resurrect our league standing. What does worry me is the short turn around time between Aston Villa and our second leg UEFA cup tie v. Anorthosis Famagusta. Perhaps I’d feel a bit better about all this if our form was better, but the three games (Anorthosis Famagusta – first leg, Bolton and Brough) give Spurs the opportunity to get their shit together prior… or so I hope.

For the past year when I’ve heard Mourinho, Benitez and Ferguson bitching about the fact that English fixture makers don’t do English clubs any favors as it pertains to domestic scheduling versus that of European play I just wrote it off as the typical whining and complaining that we’ve all come accustomed to from the big club managers. Now that I see the fixture dates possibly affecting Spurs it has me a bit pissed. I’m sure we all remember how tightly scheduled our first leg tie with Sevilla was last year with our fixture at Stamford Bridge (a mere two days for those who have forgotten). This may not be that close but it would seem that some flexibility could be implemented here and there in order to help English teams achieve glory abroad.

—–On a side note this will be my last posting for about two weeks, though I will be checking up from abroad and leaving responses and comments. I can only hope that as I’m sitting in Hawaii, drinking a Mai Tai and celebrating my wedding, Spurs will win a few for us! COYS!