Here's a table showing the points difference from 2010-11 and 2011-12. The teams who were relegated last season have been replaced with the newly promoted ones... please log in to view this image please log in to view this image ...with the upshot that Spurs are now 13 points better-off than we were in the corresponding fixtures last season.
It's quite interesting to see how people's expectations have changed of other clubs, too. We had 33 points after 19 games last season, so we've gained 9, just going purely on the number. Chelsea had 35 points after 20 games, so they're actually better off this season, which you wouldn't have guessed from the media. Arsenal had 39 points, so they've only dropped 3 in the equivalent games this year. Liverpool's improvement has been as steady as ours, gaining 9 points, too. United are 1 point better off, but City are the most improved, having gained 10 points. On this date last season, we'd have been in 2nd place with the points that we have now. Our game in hand over the then top side (Utd) would've allowed us to overtake them, if won. http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2010-2011/table/2011-01-04
I know it's completely meaningless and in all sorts of ways inaccurate, but looking at that made me add those 13 points to last years table and seeing where we would have ended up. The answer being 2nd, even giving City the extra 2 points for beating us. Manchester United 80 Tottenham Hotspur 75 (62 + 13) Manchester City 73 (71 + 2) Chelsea 71
Given some of the games still to play where we did really badly last year such as 0-0 at home to West Ham (Swansea) 0-1 at home to Wigan 2-4 away to Bolton 1-3 away to Blackpool (QPR) There is def scope to improve on the 13 points. I'll gloss over the exceptional results like winning at the Library .
Perception vs. reality is always interesting. The bottom line is that the strong clubs are stronger this year, and the weak clubs weaker. I think further analysis would reveal last year was more of the anomaly, with an exceptionally low winning points total. Lately things have started to slide the other way, though. Spurs came off their great streak, and looked overall well off their earlier form--and gained on either all their rivals, or all but one of their rivals.
