Nightmare on Elm street: fixture pile-up that the Lilywhites face at the start of 20/21 season
As you well-observed fans know, Jose Mourinho was not a supporter of the way our games had been scheduled since the restart, putting it mildly, as he grumbled about the uneven intervals between various matches. Well, that may not be the end of his grumbles, as we have a nightmare fixture pile-up at the beginning of the season.
First of all, the team will have to report back on August 17 for training, but before the players have even unpacked their bags, they will just as quickly head off to play international matches before a ball is even kicked next season. Then, once again returning from that International duty, our manager may have only two days to prepare for our opening game of the season; that is if it is scheduled for Saturday the September 12. Three days later we will begin our Europa League qualification campaign. Which will mean that the team will be playing a match every couple of days in the Premier and Europe Leagues until the play-off round on October 15.
My opinion, for what it is worth.
It doesn’t matter whether you are manager, fan, fish or fowl it will piss anybody off. Some of the players will be playing 10 times for their country and club in the first month back. This could create serious injuries to players and exhaust them out quite quickly. Clubs who have big squads might manage, but then there are limits. Whether there is somebody adequate sitting on the bench, a key player out or a couple of key players out could still have a detrimental effect.
If we can get another striker and probably another one or two key players we might be able to cope, just, but still!
However, another way of looking at it; with so many games within a month, it could bond the newer and older players more quickly. But a lot of it will do with luck and the rub of the green. Take Liverpool (no, taken them!), I never thought that they were that great a team, they just had luck on their side. As I said, it is about the chances on the day. We need that extra rub, Liverpool won’t have it so easy next season.
COYS!
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
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