To say that Tottenham’s season had not got off to the best of starts would be an understatement and things don’t appear to be getting any easier for the north London side. Having managed just two points from their opening six matches Spurs have made their worst start to the season for over 50 years. The worrying sign for Tottenham fans is that there are no signs that they are beginning to turn things around. Against Portsmouth on Sunday they looked toothless and rarely threatened, the complete opposite to what some experts predicted at the start of the season when many thought Spurs would be one of the highest scoring teams in the Premier League this season.
Many of Tottenham’s expensive summer signings have failed to make any kind of impact with the likes of Giovanni and Luka Modric starting on the bench against Portsmouth on Sunday. Things won’t get any easier on Thursday night when they travel to Poland for their Uefa Cup first round, second leg tie against Wisla Krakow.
Anybody who was seen the Real Football Factories will know that the fans in Krakow take their football very seriously and there will be an intimidating atmosphere at the Stadion Wisly. On the pitch things don’t get any better for Tottenham with Wisla getting off to a brilliant start in their domestic league as they find themselves second, winning five of their seven games.
Spurs may hold a slender advantage over Krakow after their 2-1 victory in their home leg but the Polish side showed enough in that game to suggest that they may have enough to turn over their Premier League opposition. The odds are certainly stacked against Tottenham but they are still favourites in the Uefa Cup betting.
Taking a glance at tonight’s ties you would have to think that one of the Premier League sides in action tonight will go out and other than Everton Spurs would have to be favourites to get the push. In fact it wouldn’t come as a surprise if both Everton and Tottenham found themselves without European football for the rest of the season.
The Toffees have been poor for the majority of the season, a perfect example of that coming against Liverpool at the weekend when they didn’t manage a shot on target. There is obviously something wrong with the Merseyside club because they have retained the same players from last season that nearly carried them to a Champions League spot.
Everton are a real mystery at the minute but there is clearly something wrong with the set-up and their opponents Standard Liege have already shown that they are capable of breaking down the Toffees. The 2-2 draw from the first leg also hands the Belgian side the advantage and they are clear favourites heading into tonight’s match as they look to take out their Champions League heartache at the hands of Liverpool out of their local rivals.
Its going to take a lot for these two English sides to come through their respective ties and make it into the Uefa Cup group stages and you certainly have to bet on their European opponents.
Everton will lose and it won't be close. This will be a good thing for them. They need to regroup and focus on domestic competitions.
Tottenham will surprise us. I think they could advance with a draw in Poland. It might be an ugly match, though.
Pompey will advance with a 1-1 draw, 3-1 on aggregate. But then I'm a little biased…
One prediction correct. Tottenham drew 1-1 and advanced. I'll trade being wrong on Everton for being right on Pompey.
PLAY UP POMPEY!!!
POMPEY PLAY UP!!!
Three for three. I just hope I don't hurt myself patting myself on the back too hard!
AP, expect you'll be slapping on the bets when you're over there at Crimbo time – tell the missus it's all part of the experience. Pompey at Bolton – home win.