Bit unkind IMHO. 1. 7 pts over a season equates to out of 38 games, Chelsky won / drew 2/1 more game respectively. 2. Spurs also had the best GF/GA that season.
We were never top, though. Never lower than 6th either, to be fair. That was only for a couple of games, too. Started the season with too many draws when key players were out and it cost us.
I recall we were nigh on 13 pts behind them close to the midway point. That was always going to be a hard chase (more so given Chelsky were not in UEFA land that season and Spurs were) .
Fair to say that WC 2022 has come just at the right moment for Spurs (our prayers are with our players to return without fatigue or injury) . The PL form was in a slump in "season compass" terms (4 of the 8 pts gained in August were lost in the last month, the GF/FA is currently worse) . Fortunately the pts total is still +4, and the pts per PL game is just about around 2 pts. The less said about the performance in the League cup, the better. Conte has a lot of work to put in with the WC paused squad over the next month or so. IMHO there will now be few excuses possible for him once the season resumes in anger, and the performances continue as is.
Two points up for grabs on the "like for like" , so a good opportunity to get the PL campaign back on track before the january melee.
PL (like for like with 2021-22 after 16 games) : Pts = 4, GF = +1, GA = +4. Starting to concede too many goals now.
Quite an important month for this season. On the PL "like for like" , there are 3/6 pts up for grabs for the season midway point / month respectively. However there is a home NLD (with them lot currently flyiing high) followed by the postponed game at Citeh. More serious judgement on Conte this season begins ...
PL (like for like with 2021-22 after 17 games) : Pts = 1, GF = -1, GA = +5. The season compass never lies.
So we reach halfway in the PL season. Only 1 pt better off, no improvement on GF, GA worse by 4. I doubt replicating that for the 2nd half of the season will earn a top 4 slot.
Stattery for the season to date (so week 10 it is then) ... please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
PL (like for like with 2021-22 after 20 games) : Pts = -2, GF = -1, GA = +6. Negative on all measures (especially GA) . I suspect the alarm bells may be ringing loud enough for Levy to instinctively put his finger on the trigger ...
By my reckoning, there are 15 pts up for grabs on the "like for like" for the remaining PL games. Unfortunately we will also have to match the 7 pts taken against Citeh and the Poool / Toon.
PL (like for like with 2021-22 after 21 games) : Pts = +1, GF = 0, GA = +5. Fulham paired with Burnley on the "like for like" .
So Sheffield Utd or Wrexham away in FA cup R5. By my reckoning that gives Conte 4 weeks to select a starting XI core based on those used in R3/R4, and drill them ad nauseum in preparation for this one game.