Tottenham Hotspur: Prediction for Rest of the Season
Tottenham Fans (Flickr Commons)
As another long season comes to an end, Tottenham Hotspur will be playing their last games as if each was a final. Currently, Spurs are sitting in fufth place in the Barclays Premier League, which is only good enough for a UEFA Europa League spot. Last season, Spurs qualified for the big dance (UEFA Champions League), however they were kicked out because of Chelsea’s triumph. Chelsea’s success cost Tottenham a shot at the Champions League and many million dollars.
While sitting in fifth place, Tottenham have also played one more game than Chelsea, who are in fourth, and Spurs have a lower goal differential than the Blues. In order to move up to fourth place, Tottenham will have to pretty much win or at least go undefeated for the remaining five games.
As we look at their schedule, Tottenham might have a greater chance than the Blues to make it to the big dance.
Tottenham have six games left this season, while Chelsea has nine games overall. Those six games that Tottenham have left are relatively ”easier” so to say than Chelsea’s.
Spurs will play Manchester City at home next Sunday. After that game, Tottenham will play the rest of the season against teams who are currently in the bottom half of the table except Chelsea (3rd): Wigan Athletic (18th), Southampton (11th), Stoke City (16th), and 15th-placed Sunderland.
Chelsea, on the other hand, will have more difficult games in hand. The Blues will finish the season playing five teams in the Premier League top 10, not counting the Europa League match-up with FC Basel.
Chelsea’s remaining schedule reads as follows: away at Fulham on the 17th, away at Liverpool on the 21st, away at Basel the 25th, home to Swansea City on the 28th, home to Basel on May 2, away at Manchester United on the 5th (BPL), home against Tottenham on the 8th, away at Aston Villa on the 11th, and home against Everton on the 19th.
Chelsea and Tottenham represent the fight for the fourth and last qualifying place for the Champions League. However, one cannot forget about Arsenal, who are sitting in third place only one point away from Chelsea and Spurs. Arsenal’s remaining games are Everton, Fulham, Manchester United, QPR, Wigan, and Newcastle United.
Predictions for the rest of the season (Barclays Premier League):
Tottenham: (6 games - 3W-2T-1L = 11pts) Loses to Manchester City; Wins against Wigan, Southampton, and Sunderland; and ties Stoke and Chelsea.
Chelsea: (7 games - 2W-3T-2L = 9pts) Loses to Liverpool and Manchester United; Wins against Aston Villa and Swansea; and ties Fulham, Everton, and Tottenham
Arsenal: (6 games - 3W-2T-1L = 11pts ) Loses to Manchester United; Wins against QPR, Wigan, Newscatle United; and ties Everton and Fulham.
Final Standings:
3. Arsenal - 70pts
4. Tottenham - 69pts
5. Chelsea - 67pts
