Comments on: English Premier League: Can Tottenham break into the top four? http://intelligentsoccer.com/?p=474 Smarter soccer is better soccer Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:43:55 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Shawn Gillogly http://intelligentsoccer.com/?p=474&cpage=1#comment-606 Shawn Gillogly Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:57:34 +0000 http://intelligentsoccer.com/?p=474#comment-606 I think Redknapp is a better manager than you give him credit for. And I think Spurs can break into the top 4 this season. I'm not sure they will. But I think they may be better than Arsenal (I'm not sold by 1 match against an Everton side with lots of internal turmoil right now). And I'm not convinced Liverpool is better than they showed against Spurs either with their losses in the closed season. I think Redknapp is a better manager than you give him credit for. And I think Spurs can break into the top 4 this season. I’m not sure they will. But I think they may be better than Arsenal (I’m not sold by 1 match against an Everton side with lots of internal turmoil right now). And I’m not convinced Liverpool is better than they showed against Spurs either with their losses in the closed season.

]]> By: ifotbol.com http://intelligentsoccer.com/?p=474&cpage=1#comment-602 ifotbol.com Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:54:30 +0000 http://intelligentsoccer.com/?p=474#comment-602 Nice piece, it will be interesting to see how the absence of European football will affect Spurs this season. A chilly Thursday in Moscow is not the ideal preparation for crucial Premier League match but the extra games help keep a big squad happy Nice piece, it will be interesting to see how the absence of European football will affect Spurs this season. A chilly Thursday in Moscow is not the ideal preparation for crucial Premier League match but the extra games help keep a big squad happy

]]> By: Bill http://intelligentsoccer.com/?p=474&cpage=1#comment-599 Bill Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:10:15 +0000 http://intelligentsoccer.com/?p=474#comment-599 Nice analysis, can't say I disagree with any of it. The EPL promises to be interesting with three leagues within the league: 1) The big four and the title, 2) Europa cup, Tottenham, Everton, Villa, Man City and Fulham competing (and a surprise team ?) 3) Relegation, who will stay up and will Portsmouth fall apart? I dare say that Tottenham and Man City will be challenging for fifth, but not the top four unless one of the teams has an incredible run of bad luck. Neither side has a defense that generates a great deal of faith in their ability to succeed. The main fact in their favor is the lack of European competition to complicate matters. Liverpool appears to be the most fragile team with the loss of Alonso being under-estimated in magnitude. Arsenal depends on having its youth grow up this year. Chelsea needs the fountain of youth and United is just a question mark although betting against Ferguson is probably not wise. Perhaps a more interesting question is whether a European Super League will come into existence as Wenger commented the other day. Given the dynamics of the game it would seem to be a logical development. This sort of league would have a lot more clout than any other league. Nice analysis, can’t say I disagree with any of it. The EPL promises to be interesting with three leagues within the league:

1) The big four and the title,
2) Europa cup, Tottenham, Everton, Villa, Man City and Fulham competing (and a surprise team ?)
3) Relegation, who will stay up and will Portsmouth fall apart?

I dare say that Tottenham and Man City will be challenging for fifth, but not the top four unless one of the teams has an incredible run of bad luck. Neither side has a defense that generates a great deal of faith in their ability to succeed. The main fact in their favor is the lack of European competition to complicate matters. Liverpool appears to be the most fragile team with the loss of Alonso being under-estimated in magnitude. Arsenal depends on having its youth grow up this year. Chelsea needs the fountain of youth and United is just a question mark although betting against Ferguson is probably not wise.

Perhaps a more interesting question is whether a European Super League will come into existence as Wenger commented the other day. Given the dynamics of the game it would seem to be a logical development. This sort of league would have a lot more clout than any other league.

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