Awaiting the walking wounded total to be added up, but happy with the CL state of play. 6 pts in, and the most tedious away leg (travel time, time zones) done and dusted already.
please log in to view this image Some stattery on how clinical the goalscoring is currently going. Very strong correlation with the PL table placings.
From that graph it looks like we have scored 2.5 goals more than expected! How do you score half a goal?
PL (like for like with 2016-17 after 8 games) : Pts = -2 , GF = -8, GA = 0. The alarm bells should now be ringing loud on the GF (the root cause is irrefutable) .
PL (like for like with 2016-17 after 9 games) : Pts = 0 , GF = -5, GA = 0. A truly decisive week. Top of the CL group (on head to head) . The remaining CL group fixtures are nothing to fear. Getting level with Man Utd means the pressure really will be on them now for the PL game next weekend. A weaker (but still strong) line-up should be enough to deal with the Spanners in the League Cup irrespective of it being their next cup final fixture.
Top of the CL group, automatic last 16 qualification, all with two games to spare. The group of death became the group of meh.
PL (like for like with 2016-17 after 12 games) : Pts = -1 , GF = -6, GA = +1. A third of the season gone, and the above is tolerable IMHO given the laboured performance in the first 3 home games.
Finished top of CL group H with a game to spare. 100% PL focus now until at least the FA Cup 3rd round draw is made.
Done a provisional map of the PL fixtures alongside the CL KO stages ... PL Feb 10 Spurs vs Arsenal KO Feb 13–14 2018 - TBC vs Spurs KO 20–21 Feb - TBC vs Spurs PL Feb 24 Palace vs Spurs PL 3 March Spurs vs Huddersfield KO 6–7 March - Spurs vs TBC PL 10 March Bournemouth vs Spurs KO 13–14 March - Spurs vs TBC PL 17 March Spurs vs Newcastle PL 31 March Chelsky vs Spurs QF 3–4 April PL 7 April Stoke vs Spurs QF 10–11 April PL 14 April Spurs vs Citeh PL 21 April Brighton vs Spurs SF 24–25 April PL 28 April Spurs vs Watford SF1–2 May PL 5 May WBA vs Spurs As it stands (assuming Sky do not eff up our PL fixtures for their own ends ) , things are good unless Spurs get to the QFs. In which case the QF fixtures are mixed in with PL "6 pointer" games with our rivals.
No doubt someone here is similarly plotting comments well in advance for such an eventuality (and the PL form that precedes/ follows it) ...
PL (like for like with 2016-17 after 13 games) : Pts = -3 , GF = -9, GA = +2. Failing to deal with the Wembley busparquet is showing up tangibly now on the goal tallies.