Note to self

Just saying that you are not jinxing is not an automatic get-out-of-jail card.  I jinxed us.

We coulda been a contender

I know that I might be jinxing things, but it is time to assess what Spurs are actually about to accomplish.

The five intensive rounds of Christmas Premier League football are long gone and if you make a minitable of those five rounds you will note that Spurs are top of the table with 11 points, and the only undefeated team. Manchester City managed to lose five points despite only conceding one goal and is second with 10 points, the team that defeated them, reawoken Sunderland are third also with 10 points.  ManU started the Christmas period with three wins and a goal difference of 12-0, but two straight losses push them to the fouth spot.  The four other top seven teams gained between 6 and 8 points.

Before we move the focus back to Spurs: in the 15 games before Christmas (14 for Spurs), the top 7 teams gained on average 2.08 points per game, whereas in the 5 Christmas rounds, the average was a mere 1.66. Why do the top teams with their superior width of squads suffer more than other teams from the tough Christmas schedule? If we would have muddy pitches and snow I would have bought the argument that Christmas football is haphazard and that physical football prevails, but does that apply when the weather has been mild? Are the big teams suffering from playing European games in the autumn? Not sure I buy that argument either, at least it does not apply to Liverpool and Newcastle. 

Anyway, after a comfortable win over Everton yesterday finally banking the three points from the "game in hand" we had all season we cannot ignore facts.  Spurs are level with Man U, save for goal difference.  In January.  The chasing teams are eight points or more behind.  Our form is the best in the league.  We may have a lot of tricky away games left this season (Gunners, Pool, City, Chealsea) but United are in the same position, plus we play them at home.  And City is not what they were in the early season.  Crucial players like Kompany (banned after a rediculous red) and Yaya (going to African Nations Cup) will be absent for a while and the match schedule for the next few weeks does not look easy.

I will not jinx us. I will not say that we are a title contender. But looking at facts only, it could look as if we were.

The powers that be

Good old FIFA.

Player of the year: Messi (Barcelona). Runners up: Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Xavi (Bacelona)

Coach of the year: Guardiola (Barcelona). Runners up: Mourinho (Real Madrid), Ferguson (ManU).

World XI: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) – Dani Alves (Barcelona), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) – Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Xavi (Barcelona) – Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).

Champions League winner Barcelona first everywhere, followed by Champions League finalists Manchester United and Champions League semifinalists Real Madrid. After them: nothing.

FIFA's slogan is: “For the Game. For the World” and its mission statement: “Develop the game, touch the world, build a better future". To be honest, FIFA should add: "For the top three teams in Europe".

I know that it is not a FIFA panel that votes for these awards (national team coaches, captains and journalists do), but the centralization of club football focus is frightening.  I am a libertarian.  But my belief in liberty is only valid if founded on a somewhat level playing field.  Diversity and competitiveness is what FIFA should strive for, not consolidation and confirmation of powers.