Having defeated the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal this season, being in the best form that they have been in years, surely Tottenham will finish in top 4, or will they? No. While many Spurs fans would rue this argument, and they might have some solid proof to it, however, as the reasons mentioned below suggests, the North Londoners will fell short of top 4 this season again.
Here are 4 reasons why Tottenham will not finish in the top 4 this season: –
Lack of big game experience
While the Liverpool side of 2013/14 rubbished this claim by barging in at the door of Premier League title, Tottenham are expected to feel the grind in the latter stages due to the lack of big game players.
Looking at their current form and although they were winning matches for fun before that defeat against Liverpool, there is no such towering figure in their defense that can shut the door for other teams’ strikers.
And although Harry Kane is currently the best in England on form, the 21 year old is expected to get a dip in his form at some stage.
And if this happens, Spurs are expected to go down because it is he who has been winning games for Spurs of late and looking at his substitutes in terms of Adebayor and Soldado, Harry Kane has to keep on firing till the last whistle of this Premier League season if Spurs want to stand a chance.
Lack of clean sheets
Although they have a World class keeper in Hugo Lloris at their helm and a stellar defender in the shape of Jan Vertonghen, the residents of White Hart Lane have been porous when it comes to defending.
In their last 6 matches in the Premier League, Tottenham have just kept 1 clean-sheet with 9 goals against.
While on one hand that epitomizes their defensive frailties, it also forces their strike force to score multiple times every match. Thus, away from home and against teams like Stoke and Manchester City, this attribute of porous defending might cost Spurs a fortune this season.
Fixture list
According to stats, Tottenham have played 42 games already this season, 1 more than any other side in the Premier League. And with Europa League looming from the 2nd week of February, this month will be a stern test of their mettle.
Tottenham away fixtures: Manchester United, Southampton, Everton, Stoke City
And when it comes to Premier League, there are some heavy weight fixtures that are wating for the Champions League aspirants. Starting from next week when the Premier League will resume after an FA Cup hitch, West Ham will be visiting White Hart Lane.
Although this fixture can be described as a win-able, Tottenham are to play Manchester United, Southampton and Everton, all away from home with a debacle against Manchester City awaiting them at White Hart Lane.
Thus, looking at their staggering fixture list, it will take some doing for Tottenham to come out of all these fixtures with their Champions League aspirations still intact.
Europa League with Thursday night fixtures
While this stat might do some talking, no Premier League side in the last 5 seasons have qualified for the Champions League when they played Europa League in the previous season.
Although this season’s Europa League provides an extra incentive with the winner going to Champions League next season, it will, undoubtedly, affect their performance in the Premier League.
Barclays Premier League: 4 reasons why Tottenham will not finish in the top 4 spot this season
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