This post in probably the most interesting post I have ever made to me because it is the first post I am making within my own very own Hive Sports website called Sportsblock so if you are seeing this published then everything went well. The publish post page was quite challenging especially for what I am trying to do so it will be interesting to see if it works. Well the logo is after working anyway which is a good sign.
So English teams done well in the Champions League. 6 out of the 8 teams qualified automatically which is really a problem for UEFA. It is saying from Premiership teams are outmuscling their opposition so much so that the Norwegian team Bodo Glint (who qualified for the play offs) had to change their training methods after Spurs roughed them up in the Europa League semi final last season. The physicality in the Premier League is extreme these days and European teams cannot cope with that level. Anthony Gordon mentioned it in his presser and he just about said that the Premiership now is anti football. Throw ins, crowding the box on corners, set pieces. Coupled with the fact that the leaders of the Premiership have not scored a goal in open play for 300 minutes, the Premiership is now a total different ball game.
You can see it. Xavi Simons plays very well in Europe yet he is outmuscled in the Premier League with little of no space. It might also tell a tale of Spurs who are struggling in the league but thriving in the Champions League finishing 4th over all and banking £42 million from coming 4th in the League. As well as this Spurs get a favourable home fixture in the second leg. This can be seen as an advantage. Having a relative underdog finishing so high is not in the plans as UEFA like to see the big teams going further. But last year PSG were in the play offs and this year its Real Madrid so they will come up against a big dog in the last 16 which was not in the plans.
Spurs face Man City at the weekend and we are all joking if Frank wins this then he will be sacked for sure. Spurs fans already don't like him so if he wins this one then it will give Arsenal a favour. Only joking, The Premiership has much too long to go for us to affect the title charge. Woolwich will implode all by themselves against a Fulham or a Bournemouth.
Spurs have United , Arsenal , Newcastle after Man City so not a great run of fixtures at all at all. Fans are chatting about relegation but we are closer to the Europa League places than to relegation. I think Franks style will be suited more against the top teams than the Burnley's or West Hams so i do not think they will do too bad. On top of this Spurs are slowly starting to improve their performances. We were not bad against Burnley. I am aware we drew but they drew against Liverpool as well. Spurs should have won it and they wiped aside Frankfurt easily.Big Dom Solanke is a major factor in this mini revival. He holds up the ball really well and has scored 2 now in 2. He will thrive under Frank if Frank gets more time. This could be a race against time but Big Dom has started back well and the team has improved after his return.
The 3 at the back pushed the wing backs up the field and enabled Xavi Simons to play centrally. It was interesting that this formation has happened since the arrival of Heitinga as an assistant coach after his dismissal as Ajax's number one. He was Slots assistant at Liverpool's title winning season and is said to be something of a tactician. Who knows. But if Frank leaves in the morning it is said that Heitinga would take over as care taker which is interesting.