An addendum to the 4th place issue........
Monday, March 15, 2010 at 4:01PM by guest-blogger Tricky
*please not that the identities of the clubs in question have been protected to stop it becoming an automatic game-saying from opposition fans, or as they are fast becoming known 'the lowest common denominator'.
As a caveat to the question of ‘4th or Cup’, Spooky asked a genuine question, but inadvertently in doing so has attracted some watching opposing fans.
It is an interesting question and one that naturally draws a comparative, it is emotive because of the comparison and the need to be honest about ‘what really matters in the game’. Accordingly it is subjective depending on the individual fans own views on whether or not football is about the trophies and days out to cup finals, or whether the business side and progression to recognition amongst Europe’s elite is of a greater long term consequence. Ostensibly ‘live for the here and now’, or ‘Jam tomorrow’.
But let me cast my mind back to the year 2005 and the month of May (as per Tony’s question of ‘who remembers the final’)
Well I for one remember well the FA cup in 2005. One team from the south (let's call them 'Farcenal'* for argument sake as it doesn't actually matter who it was) played 'anti-football' for 120 minutes whilst a team from the North West (let's call them Glazer United*) dominated possession, and did everything but score (Farcenal having 'parked the bus at the millennium stadium on the pitch'). Farcenal won on penalties, and it was to be their only piece of silverware for 5 years.
The manager of Farcenal then went on complain at every possible opportunity, for the next five years, when teams set themselves up to play a 'certain way' in break down his team, and yet no reporter has had the temerity to point out that 'well didn't your last piece of silverware come from exactly that scenario?'.
So yeah I remember it as it was two hours of my life wasted by negative play, and the 'wrong team' won (purely from a neutrals perspective as I have no love for either team) and football was the loser that day. The highlights were limited to a 10 minute analysis of defensive play by farcenal, and the penalty shoot out, accordingly MOTD was only 16 minutes long that day, the shortest in recorded history for the National Game’s ‘blue ribbon event’.
Of course since that day their fans don't like being reminded of that each time they start chanting the 'Farcenal mantras':
- Thou shalt not tackle thyne 'farcenal players'
- Thou shalt not defend only at the home of the effeminates
- Thy manager knows best, for he is Le God and accordingly is never contradictory, myopic or wrong.
Since then the question has been posed to ‘Farcenal’ which would they prefer 4th place or a cup, and each year the answer has been the same ‘Champions League is vital to the attraction and financial stability of the club’. So that’s their view, money over trophies in recent time.
As I said this is just an aside, as I remember 2005 and it added to the extensive list of reasons to ‘dislike Farcenal’.
'Farcenal' also finished 2nd in the league that year, and was to be the last time in same five year period of finishing in top 2 in the league. Just thought I’d mention it, may come in handy during ‘discussions’ with the opposing fans later on in the season.
Reader Comments (67)
How many generations of their young players fade away? Granted, they get it right a couple of times, but the hype is laughable.
Spooky - please can you invite DAVSPURS as a blogger for just one occassion?
Thank you very much.
Roger is a West Ham fan by the way!!!!
Ze las time I saw a twat as large as SPURSRSHIT was when I followed Kerry Katona up a ladder. I generally don't see many twats zese days though, they repulse me. As does pubic hair
Man , some random gooner just called me a twat on a spurs blog ... this is too much for me , my day is ruined
Arsene Wenger - How very dare you!
Can Dav blog though? I'd need to edit the shit out of his 'article' so perhaps he (she, he-she) is best left to comment?
Why are we afraid? We play as best as we can these next 10 or 11 games. We win as many as we can, we cut out mistakes, and don't worry. Let the others worry about us! Villa and City may have games in hand but these still need to be won.
Challenge the status quo. Beat Arsenal and Chelsea at home. Get a good result at Eastlands. Beat Stoke , Sunderland, and Man U away.
If we get a biased blind or idiot of a referee then so be it! Doesn't matter, we have come so far and I think we should just play our game! Don't be clever or stupid (if you know what I mean). The future looks bright. COYS
What you reckon DAVSPURS - how much work would Spooky need to do to your article? would he need to edit the 'shit' out of it or would you do that yourself?
I heart DAVSPURS
Roger, a West Ham fan. That about sums him up then.
"Roger a West Ham fan"? Make sure you get a rabies jab after.
If anyone's got an idea on how to make spurs fans believe that we should be winning every game, perhaps the team will also catch onto the concept.
Gooner and westham fans, sorry no change today maybe next time
Roger's mother made a beleiver out of me
A view from an abroad fan:
Finishing 4th to reach the status suggested by our friend Spooky requires consistent job for the next 3 to 4 years, for achieving some 'respect', kinda like Spanish teams like Sevilla or Valencia (a little further down 2000/01) reached lately.
When the team performs consistently in European competitions (be it CL or EL), players become interested for the club, and that´s the point. If the board wants that kind of work, 4th spot is most interesting, for 'galvanising' the club´s blueprint at European stage.
Don´t forget trophies bring respect at local scenario, did that to Portsmouth before their debts rose to surface. FA Cup would add more 'weight' to our shirt for next season.
That said, Spurs should battle up the 2 fronts (FA Cup and 4th spot), considering our path to Wembley is far easier than Villa´s, and remember we´ve been lucky against soulless Chelski lately!
COYS!
now why would any Arse fan (I refuse to call them Gooners. WTF is that all about?) or Iron (sums up most of them) bother to read this and post on this blog? F**k me, would any self respected Spurs fan waste their time reading an Arse or Iron blog? I don't know about you lot but life's too short...
The Arse are terrified that we might for once have a more succesful season than them and if we do happen to qualify for the so-called Champions League then it might actually be the start of a golden period for the Lilywhites. And how they would hate that!
I'd take fourth over the FA Cup but I reckon we can do both.