The Hoddle of Coffee: Tottenham Hotspur news and links for Tuesday, February 3

Good morning everyone and welcome to your EFL Championship monthly roundup, where hoddle headquarters takes a look at the goings-on in the second tier of the English football pyramid.

I know we’re a couple days late to this one, but it’s still worth seeing what the EFL Championship table right now. This hoddle actually has a pretty short shelf life, because there are a slate of matches scheduled for today that have permutations for both the playoff and relegation pictures.

There are two small stories I want to point your attention to from last month:

1. Coventry City’s collapse at the top
2. Wrexham’s surge into the top six

Let’s first get to Coventry City. Frank Lampard’s side were flying high not long ago, but had some really bad results in January. this includes losses to Norwich and QPR, plus a draw against Charlton. This begs the question if Lamps has been figured out. I still think it’s too soon to dismiss them in the automatic promotion slots – I’m still not sold on Hull City, although I am keeping an eye on Ipswich Town.

Now, there is a very interesting game you all should have marked on your calendars: That is the 16 February game against Middlesbrough at home. The result will probably dictate who finishes the season on top.

Now, let’s get to the other storyline, which is Wrexham. I can’t believe the job Phil Parkinson has done this season. I pegged Wrexham to comfortably stay up, but did not expect a promotion push this soon. One bad loss to Norwich aside, and they’re one of the hottest teams in the league right now.

Ryan and Rob brought in five players at the end of the transfer window to help Wrexham’s playoff push. but it’s the summer acquisition of Kieffer Moore who probably remains as their most astute signing so far. He’s got 12 goals in the competition so far this season. Sam Smith also had a pretty darn good January.

This is going to be a very difficult month for the Welsh club. Not only do they have the FA Cup to contend with, but they’ve also got games against playoff rivals Millwall, Bristol City and Ipswich Town, while matches against relegation contenders Portsmouth and Charlton. Every game will be must-see TV.

EFL Championship top six:

1. Coventry (58 Pts, +28 GD)
2. Boro (58 Pts, +18 GD)
3. Hull (53 Pts, +8 GD)
4. Ipswich (51 Pts, +21 GD)
5. Millwall (50 Pts, +1 GD)
6. Wrexham (47 Pts, +7 GD)

Bottom three:

22. Blackburn (29 Pts, -12 GD)
23. Oxford United (27 Pts, -11 GD)
24. Sheffield Wednesday (-7 Pts, -39 GD)

Fitzie’s track of the day: The Wire, by HAIM

And now for your links:

Alasdair Gold: “Bizarre Fabio Paratici situation, Romero anger, £100m injection and Tottenham’s transfer window”

The Athletic ($$): “How Spurs turned their game against Manchester City on its head”

BBC: “Two club-record signings – but are Palace papering over the cracks?”

ESPN: “Wrexham announce transfers of Keillor-Dunn, Cadamarteri on deadline day”