Tottenham slipping towards relegation battle but Dream Team Stats Centre tells another story

TOTTENHAM are 15th in the Premier League table.

Given the club’s resources, this season is heading towards disaster, if it isn’t already there.

And yet, the Dream Team Stats Centre tells a different story.

Antonin Kinsky (£2.8m) is the second-most in-form goalkeeper at the time of writing having notched 27 points since the start of Gameweek 18.

Pedro Porro (£4.2m), Dominic Solanke (£4.3m) and Son Heung-min (£4.8m) are ranked fourth, fifth and seventh in their respective positions.

While Dejan Kulusevski (£4.3m), Brennan Johnson (£3.8m) and James Maddison (£4.1m) are all inside the top seven midfielders.

If somebody had not seen one second of football this season and had to estimate Spurs’ prospects based on Dream Team points alone, they would probably place them in the title race, rather than on the precipice of a relegation dogfight.

There are several reasons for this disconnect.

Firstly, individual excellence is possible within dysfunctional teams.

For example, Kulusevski has produced a highly impressive campaign thus far (nine goals and nine assists) and the fact Spurs haven’t benefited more from his efforts isn’t all that relevant for Dream Team managers.

Secondly, Ange Postecoglou’s side have endured a strange, contradictory season when the details are examined.

Spurs have lost 12 of their 22 league games to date but only leaders Liverpool have score more goals – hence why Son, Solanke, Maddison and Johnson have earned their fair share of points.

Thirdly, this case study is a timely reminder that Dream Team extends far beyond the Premier League.

Spurs have one foot in the Carabao Cup final having beaten Liverpool 1-0 in the semi-final first leg and remain active in the FA Cup following their (unconvincing) win over non-league Tamworth in the third round.

More relevantly, they have fulfilled six Europa League fixtures with two more imminent before the knockout ties are determined.

When Postecoglou’s troops have been found lacking in the top flight, they have compensated with points in the additional competitions.

It’s particularly important for Dream Team bosses to remind themselves what’s important (points) amid this Spurs crisis.

Gameweek 20 is not done yet with a trip to struggling Hoffenheim this Thursday.

Looking further ahead, Spurs are one of just three teams with four fixtures to fulfil across Gameweeks 21 and 22, with Arsenal and Liverpool being the others.

Solanke needs to be replaced because he’s injured, as are many of his team-mates, but gaffers should probably remain patient with the likes of Porro, Kulusevski and Maddison for the rest of the month at least.

There may well be a critical implosion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season but for now, they remain heavy hitters in the world of Dream Team… somehow.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk