The Premier League took a break this weekend for the fifth round of the FA Cup to take place.
Tottenham Hotspur face Crystal Palace today at White Hart Lane, and also played Fiorentina in the Europa League on Thursday. The side drew 1-1, but will take the advantage of an own goal with them back to North London. With the main focus being on a Premier League crown, are Tottenham working their way towards more than the championship?
With Palace struggling massively in the Premier league, this could present an opportunity for them to progress with limited problems. Pardew’s men are on a poor run of form, having not won since December. This should be an easy win for the Lilywhites, and if they are victorious they will progress to the quarter-finals. This provides most clubs with a dilemma, which do we focus on more? Do we risk playing big players playing in the Europa League and the FA Cup, or do we save their health for the big prize of the Premier League?
Spurs last won the FA Cup in 1991 and have won it an overall eight times, but have never won the Premier League since it’s reinvention in the early nineties. The failure to secure a back-up striker for Harry Kane in the January transfer windows presents problems for the club, should the mostly reliable Kane become injured. However, with Nacer Chadli and Son Heung-min recently scoring goals when necessary, the prospect might not seem so daunting for Mauricio Pochettino.
If Tottenham progress to the quarter-finals on Sunday it would mean more games towards the end of the season, which may begin to fatigue the players when it is most important. Michel Vorm is playing in goal as Hugo Lloris is out with a shoulder injury. This will not be welcomed by the team or the fans as Lloris is a particularly reliable goalkeeper, and at a crucial point within the season.
Tom Carroll also suffered an injury to his Achilles which means the youngster faces up to a couple of weeks out.
Injuries will not be welcomed at this point with Spurs still in three competitions. This Premier League season has been one of the most entertaining in the last few years without a doubt. But what if Tottenham did not just blow away everyone in the league, but also Europe and the FA Cup? It would definitely go down in the history, of not only the club, but also in footballing history.
Sunday’s match against Palace will define whether Tottenham produce a story worthy of the history books. It will keep the chance alive of a triple in Europe and domestically. It will also be a difficult game as Crystal Palace will be desperate to gain something from this season after heading drastically down-hill since their great start.
Dwight Gale returns for the season – their top striker from last season. Alan Pardew’s men will definitely provide a tough front after beating Southampton and Stoke in the previous two rounds. However, Spurs are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions and have won five consecutive Premier League matches since a 1-0 home loss to league leaders Leicester City on 13 January.
Let’s be honest, most football fans would love to see the Tigers be crowned the champions because it would be the most ridiculous success story. But a Tottenham and Arsenal fight for the league is another story altogether, and one football fans would welcome. It makes a change from the usual monopoly fans are used to from the top teams.
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Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham Hotspur have been one of the most outstanding teams in the Premier League this season with an amazing unbeaten run before losing to Newcastle that fateful day in December. Their Europa League run is a bit less shiny, but there is still the chance to bag all three trophies. The defensive record is also one of the best in the league this year, and it is undoubtedly deserved by the players and manager. Tottenham fans would always be able to stick up for themselves against their rivals Arsenal if they gained such an accolade.
Now the question is, can Tottenham Hotspur win the Premier League, dominate Europe and wear the FA Cup crown?
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