Tottenham Hotspur: Time for Improvement for Spurs in the North West

Tottenham Hotspur travel to Wigan Athletic this weekend, looking to secure their third successive Premier League win.

On paper, following victories over a Wolves side who, at the time, had good momentum, and the complete dismantling of Liverpool, this looks like a straightforward three points for Spurs. But it isn’t as simple as that.

Away from home in the Premier League, whoever you are and whoever you’re playing, victory is never a formality. But for Tottenham, and especially for Tottenham in the North West of England, it is far from that. Let’s look at the evidence first.

In the past five seasons, results against the seven Premier League sides based in the North West have been varied, at best.

From a possible 21 points from those matches, Spurs have managed a best of 11, in the 2009-10 season, the year they clinched Champions League football. That was also a year when they played eight away matches in the North West, due to Burnley’s one-year presence in the Premier League.

In the other four years, the points amassed have totalled eight (2006-07), five (2007-08), four (2008-09) and seven (also from eight games in 2010-11, with Blackpool then in the division).

Over the course of those five seasons, that is an average of 0.95 points per game, compared to an average of 1.22 points per game in all other away matches.

To put that into context using one example, if Spurs had achieved their regular points average in all their away games, including those in the North West, they would have gained an extra five points in 2008-09, enough for Europa League qualification.

Add onto that consecutive FA Cup exits at Old Trafford in 2008 and 2009, and a League Cup exit at the same location in 2009-10, not to mention their drubbing at the beginning of the current Premier League season.

So Tottenham definitely have a problem with playing in the North West, whether it’s Premier League or cup competitions. But why?

It certainly can’t be anything to do with the travel distances involved. Middlesbrough, Newcastle United and Sunderland (all of whom have, at one time or another, resided in the Premier League during this period) matches all involve longer distances than any of the North West clubs.

You could make an argument based solely on the strength of the opposition. Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United have all enjoyed strong periods during the last five years. However, the same cannot be said for Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley or Wigan.

Similarly, Spurs have enjoyed reasonable success at other away grounds against sides that have enjoyed periods of success, such as Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea.

Can you offer any explanation as to why Tottenham have struggled so much in the North West?

And what can Harry Redknapp and the staff do about it?

Whatever the reason is, he must get to the bottom of it soon if Spurs are to replicate, or even better, the 11 points they achieved in the region in 2009-10.

Champions League football is the goal, and recent team selections show that Redknapp isn’t shy about admitting that fact, so the pressure will be on this Saturday. No excuses.