Glory under the floodlights...
Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 3:46PM Every game now is pretty much a heart-in-your-mouth nerve disintegrating half-epic that involves plenty of watching through hands, wishing the 90 minutes evaporate into 90 seconds whenever we take the lead. That's if this end of season run-in is making you weak at the knees every time we play. The vast majority, I hope, will be enjoying it for what it is. Us pushing for it, on two fronts. So if we're going to go down in a blaze of glory or limp out of either challenge before us we may as well do so singing, arms in the air, fingers dancing.
If there's one competition that is Tottenham Hotspur in it's purist essence it's the FA Cup. It's testament to how much football has changed and how different it was back in the days of short shorts and rolled down socks when you can still see Ricky Villa twisting and turning City inside out. Cup final songs, classic never to be forgotten Wembley finals and replays. Flair players, all writing themselves into the history books and our hearts forever. And it saddens me it's almost been 20 years since we last graced a proper final and had our ribbons dressed up on the Cup.
So, Fulham at home in the replay. Won't be easy. This close to a semi-final, this game tonight should stand alone. It's the present. What I mean is, this has to be treated as the most important game of our season. We are too close to treat this game with even an ounce of disrespect or casualness. And 1991 is now just a memory on a VHS tape. But boy, what a memory! And what a Cup run that was. Back to the here and now, it's time for a new page to be written up. I want a DVD at the end of the season.
But tonight, I will make do with just high octane swashbuckling football. A pulsating North London night where everything just clicks together. The reality of it might be slightly more jagged. Fulham are no push overs. Just as that Old Lady they mugged the other night.
Probably no major unexpected changes to the team that played Stoke City - apart from Gudjohnsen starting up front with Crouch (who just has to score soon, right?) and Wilson Palacios back in central midfield (Kaboul is cup tied - with much thanks). Wilson might pick up a yellow tonight - something that some will be wishing for so he returns in time for the big big April games. Hoping the Iceman can continue his sparklingly intelligent play under the floodlights. You have to say, footballing brains are all the rage at Spurs at the minute; Gud, Luka, Niko. It's mouth-watering and add to it the power of the beast (Bale) and I'm pretty much gushing a waterfall. I'll be drowning in my own excitement if we had Lennon back. Soon, soon.
Fulham have one or two selection concerns so you have to say on paper we are...actually, there's no need to say that out loud.
Confidence. Belief. On and off the pitch. That's all that matters. Make them worry about us, and not be worried about them.
Sing up, sing up.
COYS.
Reader Comments (30)
there is absolutely no way we won't win tonight. I'm not sure I've been this confident since Wolves at home in December. Wait a minute........
.......nah, this time it's different. This time there's a trip to Wembley. I can see the scramble for tickets tomorrow morning, the questions on how many loyalty points you'll need. Working out if you've got enough.
I've been planning my trip to the Golden Arch since we drew at Craven Cottage, I just hope it doesn't end up being McDonalds.
COYS COYS COYS. Let's go there.
Someone remind me - Do away goals carry more weight tonight or are we straight into extra time and then pens if we're tied at the end of 90 minutes? S'been ages since we had an FA cup run. Much more exciting than being in the Carling!
Fulham have not a chance in hell of winning tonight .....but you can buy the '91 final on DVD - £5.99 in the Spurs shop (although I do still have the VHS copy) ;-)
Matty, you drunk already?
Lovely pre-match write up. I'm both emotional and baying for blood.
What a great feeling, Spurs mates!
Been following this club since 2005 and that´s a huge moment for us. Hoping for both objectives to be fulfilled this season (FA Cup and 4th place).
As Spooky said, the team is mouth-watering and I can´t help but agree with him.
Pityfully, I won´t get to watch it at the offfice, but I´ll surely send good vibes for the match tonight.
I predict 3-1 (scorers: Iceman, Charlie and Bale). Is it too much to ask for? Heheh.
COYS!
i think we will f***ing win 3-1 - i had a dream of it along with arsene's brother freddy krueger
The butterflies started in anticpation of tonight somewhere around 11am.
I've passed the day reading documents - but nothing has sunk in. I've found myself reading the same paragraph over, and over again.
Just been over to GG - had a look about. Check Twitter - Aha! A new entry from Spooky. Which brings me right up to the minute.
I shall now leave work, and have a swift one to take the edge off in Victoria. Meet the wife for a kebab in the Koyum. Then into Valentino's like so many times before. Beer and hopefully we'll get some songs going...
Please, please Shelfers and Park Laners alike - lets be loud and dominant this evening - and 100% positive.
COYS
I think you've got this the wrong way round Spooks. On paper it looks difficult but I believe we have the measure of fulham especially at the Lane.
Hey I woke up this morning with nothing else on my mind,I'm convinced this is out time to rise to all the challenges that lie ahead....an FA cup final,finish 4th in the league....oh yea and spurs old boy DB to score the winner against the villains 2nite and the toffees to beat citeh....wot a perfect evening!!!!
They have a couple who we have to be wary of, but we've got 5 that they'll be worried about. That's the difference. Let's click, let's set the tempo, let's go!
Can't smile without you. Sweaty palms, butterflies in the pit of my stomach. Can't wait. What if? or if? Ah, cold beer soothing the passage. Heart beating fast again. Can't smile without you. COYS!!!
Reminds me of the good old days. Challenging for glory on several fronts, excitement in the blood, so close to so much and yet....
I will say a prayer to the spirit of Gilly and Greaves, to the ghosts of the talent that graced WHL and expect a performance of guts, skill and passion.
And yes to all those of you lucky enough to be there, I hope it's one that you can look back on and say 'I was there that night when...!'
Handful of games left and we're still mixing it up. Depleted? So what. We fight on. Proud to be a yid.
Had a funny dream about this match, nevertheless I believe in our team (not good if i had a weak heart), and I believe we've got what we need to take control. So, with that I say C'mon You Coys!!!!! We beat Fulham at home already, and I say we'll do it again!!!!!!!! Goals from Gud and Kranj again! And why not Modi and Bale?! Maybe I'm gettin over excited....
Great write up, spooky. Pedal to the metal. Spurs cannot lift it up now.
I am overwhelmed with the game thoughts and unproductive at work, similar to how Tanuki described his situation, and will be leaving work shortly to watch the game over the net at home cause local pubs here don’t show FA games if there are any PL, CL or any other international games available at the same time. Fingers crossed. Good luck to Spurs.
I`m shitting myself boys.....i need a cuddle....
I went downstairs in the park lane when we were beating the woolwich 5-1 thinking they were gonna come back and beat us....
How do Spurs do that to a person...
Great write up Spooky..
My hands are in my face already.....
A nice early goal will do the nerves the world of good
2-0 to us me thinks and hopes
COYS
P.S I don`t really need a cuddle ... unless your that bird in block 40 park lane upper
COME ON YOU SPURS
far too much over confidence, i am worried, please god just let us win!
Cheers Spooky you have pumped me up...........lets get behind the team, cant remember the last time we had a massive night game.....COYS
Yidosh61: I hope you're not on about the blonde with braces who sits with her Dad at the top of the stairs. All sweetness and light until she starts flipping the bird toward the away end and swearing. (Jailbait but she's one for the future...)
I can see a thumping for Fulham on the cards tonight, please Jehovah.
COYS
'Arry is not taking chances with this match by naming a very strong side, both on the field and on the bench:
Gomes
Corluka * Dawson * Bassong * BAE
Kranjcar * Palacious * Modric * Bale
Gudjohnson * Crouch
Subs: Alnwick * Bentley * Huddlestone * Pav * Rose * Livermore * Townsend
Seems like our injured players are rapidly coming back, which is great for our final push for the run-in matches.
Holy mackeral Bateman...
This has to be one of the best days to be a YID. Not only did we beat Fulham convincingly to go to Wembley, Everton trounced Man Shitty at home to make sure our hold on 4th is secured, then Villa failed to get past Sunderland to drop them further back in the race.
Well done Harry - we won it in the dressing room at half time.
City losing and Villa drawing make it a perfect night.
Not Pav's biggest fan but he took the volley perfectly.
EG is a class act and Hudd made a huge impact when he came on.
Harry Redknapp's Blue + White Army ! ! !
EG really is the dog's bollocks, isn't he?
It's such a relief to have a manager who see's, just as clearly as the rest of us, when a display in inept and has either the resource or the initiative to change things for the better.
Harry won the game for us tonight; not only from his half time talk and the two substitions immediately afterwards, but also from being brave enough to stick Pav on in place of the injured Charlie. EG tucked in well behind the front two and we looked as potent going forward as we have all season, injuries or not.
Corluka, if now forced out to the sidelines, might be a concern; I think his constant overlappings on the right have offered us much width and benefitted both Lennon and Bentley in turn. It'd be a shame to stick Palacios out there and miss his presence in midfield against the big guns in April because we've no one else- isn't Kyle walker also injured?
Fair play too to DB- belting performance 2nd half tonight. Made me proud to be a yid.
Ha! Predicted the score...only guessed the wrong scorers!
Great, great! We´re back to Wembley and here we go! Let´s bring pompey down and then maybe those soulless Chelskis!
Or Villa trying to salvage the failure-prone season, with Martin O´Neill trying to save his own skin.
Whatever. We´ve come this far, and now we want more!
Let´s gather trophies the Tottenham Way!
COYS!
Best regards from Brazil...
we really have a very exciting squad now. when lenny and JD get back, we are gonna be spoilt for attacking talent.
COYS