After a good and solid victory on Sunday afternoon against struggling Norwich City, new Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte saw his side pick up a third straight Premier League win to move us within two points of a Champions League spot – albeit, there is plenty of football still to come in the 2021/22 campaign.
With ten league points from four games since taking charge, it’s not a bad return by anyone’s standards but the Europa Conference League slip up against NS Mura remains fresh in the memory and could well change our seasonal expectations unless we pick up a good result against table toppers Rennes on Thursday evening.
With two losses from our five games so far, we can no longer top Group G, but everyone will be hoping we can take the three points and finish second on ten points as that should see us through to the Play-Offs even if Vitesse win their final game – assuming I’ve understood the rules correctly.
Over to Conte and the team.
For the full list of tie breakers, head here: https://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulations-of-the-UEFA-Europa-Conference-League-2021/22/Article-16-Equality-of-points-group-stage-Online
Essentially, the first tie breaker is head to head record. We won one and lost one against Vitesse, so that is a tie.
The second tie breaker is goal difference in the games. We lost 1-0 in Holland and won 3-2 in London, so again tied at 3-3.
The 3rd tie-breaker is the number of goals scored head to head with Vitesse, and again, it’s tied 3-3.
The 4th tie breaker is overall record in the group, which is also a tie with 2 wins, 2 losses and a draw.
The 4th tie breaker is overall goal difference. We are currently on +3 while Vitesse is on +1. That is currently the only thing separating the teams.
If we narrowly beat Rennes but Vitesse smash Mura, this might yet swing Vitesse’s way.
Correction in the post above: “The 5th tie breaker is overall goal difference.”
Hi Bs
Couple of good posts in the last thread.
Fek me but all that “tie breaker” stuff is giving me a right headache 🤕.
I’m still on the fence with this, but will opt for a near full strength team just to get the result.
However I’m with WW in many ways, how do we get our younger players experience, for good or ill if it isn’t in games like this.
Probably what will happen is that we will get the win but will still be out of the competition.
Thanks Danny for the thread, they’ll be thick and fast between now and Christmas.
BTW that’s what I’m naming my new band “Thick and Fast” I’m fast.
We have Morecambe at home. Could be a shock result.
LT name the players you want us to buy, and don’t mention players like eriksen, dombele we had in the past, tell us the name we can buy now. Back up your views.
123, I’ve already addressed your idiotic request on the previous thread.
It seems the squad has been hit with a Covid outbreak. Up to 6 players and 2 coaches are involved. Emerson Royal and Bryan Gil are 2 of the 6 players.
It seems that the lineup against Rennes will be decided based on who is available rather than who Conte would ideally like to play.
BS….yes, Spursy strikes again, to try and fcuk up our slowly but surely consistancy……COYS
If Covid is proved positive with the 6 players then discussion ref the composition of the team will be difficult depending on which players are tested positive and who are injured .
If some of the ‘ stars’ are tested positive then it will possibly provide the opportunity for some of the younger players to get game time .
Although the 2nd team has been dreadful I feel that some of them will up their game , if chosen , and hopefully might surprise us ?
However we have seen how wholesale changes to the team have produced poor results so hopefully Conte will have enough experienced players left to weld an effective team with the reserves .
I would rather we used some youngsters. What is the point of having them otherwise?
Time for Winks, Lo Celso, Doherty, Bergweijn to step aside and let someone else have a go
Up to 7 now, supposedly including Son.
Regardless of the implications, I would rather keep our best players fresh for the PL and continue to rotate. Whatever happens, happens and we continue to provide opportunities to squad players.
Looks as though we might have to use some youngsters. A chance for them to step up so we can get rid of the dead wood mentioned above.
Match Postponed COVID !!
Not sure how I feel about this. The game needs to happen before Dec 31st, per UEFA, and the schedule is busy enough as it is. Unwanted distraction.
Yep and with the possible postponement of the Brighton and Leicester matches the backlog could be really difficult for the players and Conte
Perhaps missing out on the conference league playoff might be one way forward ?
Seems likely we would have to forfeit the tie if we are unable to play it before the end of the month. I don’t see there is much we can do about it.
Never give up.
Never forfit
To dare is to do
It will be in the history books for years to come to pass onto the next generation of spurs fans.
It maybe that the Brighton and possibly the Leicester games will be postponed . Added to that the Burnley postponement then the potential fixture congestion is a nightmare .
Even if we did progress in the Conference we would also have to play a 2 legged deciding match in the New Year .
For once I have complete sympathy for Levy trying to have to sort out this mess .
However the important object is to make and keep everyone safe irrespective of the knock on effect Covid will have on the footballing side of the club .
I can’t believe that Rennes would have seriously wished to play the match anyway !!
Well, put yourself in Rennes’ shoes. They too are juggling 4 competitions and the postponement will be just as detrimental to them as it is to us. Not to mention Rennes are currently 2nd in the French league, so maintaining some sort of league form will be important to them too.
Assuming no more games get postponed, Spurs have 7 games to play in 19 days. Trying to fit an 8th game in that period is not only foolish, it’s dangerous.
It remains to be seen what kind of performance the squad could muster anyways given the amount of games to be played in such a short time frame. Factor the injury risk and the relatively low return even if we do progress, and I just think it’s not worth it. I for one would forget about any such forfeit the second after it had happened. Bigger fish to fry, especially if we have an outside chance at top 4.
Don’t the French have a Winter break ? Also have they had any other games postponed ? Having won the group will not put a great burden on them so getting a result will presumably not be as important to them as us . We will also have ( if we qualify ) 2 extra games to play .
We are in a far worse position than them . Also I would have grave doubts playing a side which is rofe with Covid .
Brighton match off Not surprising b
I believe the Brighton game has now also been postponed,