History in the making
Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 1:53AM Portsmouth. Arsenal. Chelsea. Manchester United. Don't know about you, but I'm salivating. Exciting times.
For the most part of the season we've had key players out injured. We've been written off but we've always pulled our way back into it, even with the depletions. There's definitely a new-founded spirit at WHL. A backbone. But there's some unfinished business that plays on my mind, a reminder that we're not quite there yet. The tonkings we received from three of the above mentioned teams at the start of the season. Three games in which we allowed the occasion to overwhelm us. Including a textbook cameo from Howard Webb to help compound things further. We displayed some of that olde lack of mental strength and composure and self-belief. Apologetic in reaction. But other than the Sunderland defeat last week and the non-events at Liverpool and Wolves (twice)- we've been fairly consistent all season long, since that early season hiccup(s). But we've suffered shock results where we dominated but failed to score, and lost.
Frustratingly, we let ourselves down when expectancy is high. But this is no longer the disease it once was. Beating Arsenal and Chelsea to win the Carling Cup. Beating Chelsea at home twice in recent years. We don't always fail to turn up. We have the capabilities to do so.
But redemption is still required because the players were/are better than the results we suffered against the three aforementioned 'big 3' sides (and the other defeats too). But before the epic week and a half ahead, we have the small matter of the FA Cup semi-final against Pompey. And placing aside the battle for fourth, beating them and reaching the final is just as important as the on-going fight in the Prem.
93, 95, 99 and 2001 need to be forever vanquished. That and the fact that once upon a time we were synonymous with this grand competition. And it's just been way way too long since we tasted some of that FA Cup final magic. I spoke about how back in 1991, as the underdogs, we upset the scum to go on and win the competition in a season where we on the brink of financial ruin. I dislike the parallels being made with Portsmouth mainly because it serves as a reminder that ANYTHING is possible on the day.
Cup games, we all know, inspires the unexpected. And considering this is quite possibly the last time Pompey will play at Wembley and the last time for a long time that the chance of silverware is within their grasp, I doubt they're going to choke. They have nothing to lose, having just lost their Premier League status, relegated on Saturday afternoon.
Pound for pound, it would take an exceptionally average performance from us to allow them to bully and beat us. And I'll be shocked and shattered if we fail to win. Okay, so I just explained that upsets happen - but that's not to say I'm without confidence. We need to be professional and match their effort and our quality will win through. If we choke, then facepalm and don't dare look up. But these games don't always match-up as you expect them to when discussing it on paper.
I guess part of me is attempting to mentally prepare myself for the potential consequence of defeat so that it's easier to live with if it happens. Part of the DNA I guess. Nobody want's to lose a semi-final.
80's swagger required
There were a couple of 'moments' in our last encounter with them at the Lane where they could have / should have scored. We outclassed them in the end, but I'm confident that Harry has pointed that complacency is unacceptable on the day and that control and patience will be key. Control the game, carve out chances, and be patient and the goals will flow. That's the ideal scenario.
So yes, I'm fairly confident. Just not taking it for granted. Considering the plight of Avram Grant's side, it would be so FA Cup if they managed to get to Wembley a second time.
They have injury and selection issues. So do we. King, Dawson, Huddlestone and Corluka all doubts. Lennon might be on the bench (and might even play - although Harry might think we can win without him and saved him for the NLD).
So going back to what I said earlier in this article, the reason it's so important is simply this:
People remember the games and the lifting of silverware because of the stage it's played on. Nobody will ever forget Villa weaving and twisting his way in the penalty area back in '81. Players, our players, have the opportunity to write history and become part of Tottenham folklore. You'll always talk about Cup finals and you'll talk about them even more if you see your side win one because it goes down into the history books forever. Finishing 4th won't.
That really should be inspiration enough.
COYS.
Reader Comments (190)
davspurs, what's gotten into you? that post almost made sense!
Hi Spuds,
Ha ha ha ha...beaten by a 'poor' pompey side...la la la la la...whose chef is the father of yer keeper....la la la la la.....whose manager yer stole in broad daylight......la la la la la
I cant stop laughing at you poor spuds, is this how it felt on Tuesday night?...I didnt realize you guys were this ecstatic. Your season is now over and we get to celebrate St. Totteringham Day on Wednesday at Sh*te Hart Lane...la la la la la
The "Honest Quote Of The Week" goes to....................
Raibs: (Tottenham fan from the previous page) "I was so pumped for NorthLondonDerby, but now shitting it !"
Alex, please promise you'll come back and join us here on Wednesday, k? Can't wait to hear what you will have to say then.
Classic gooners, turning up when we lose but never here when we're winning. Brave so brave.
Nycyid,
Thanks for the invite, just not sure you wil turn up....
We will end your season on Wednesday and by doing that, signal the embarkment of your annual blame game...
So, just who will be the culprit this season? Is it the manager (twitch face with inclinations of a shopaholic)? or is it the injuries to 'key players'?...lol....
TOPFOURTENHAM every year....This is the year we will break into the top four... blah!....Harry Redknapp has instilled our boys with the belief....blah!...Sergeant Palacios is the new Vieira...blah!....
Mate, do yourself a favor and go cry at the bosom of yer missus, ahe will console you and wipe ysour tears off, she is pretty experienced at that as its an annual routine for her anyway
Do you even watch football? I mean, take out the childish gloating and fanny dancing you're doing, from a purely football perspective, how can you say we've not challenged for Top 4 this season? All the stuff you're quoting is the type of bollocks you think about when you wank-frenzy yourself to sleep every night. Grow up if you want to discuss things.
We'd take you more seriously if you lot wore your hearts on your sleeves but sadly when Arsenal lose games, all their fans disappear for days. But yeah, safely continue to post from your bedroom chap. You are one of Gods finest.
pwnd
Alright. I'm personally done with mourning this loss.
I had a feeling we were gonna lose this one. But I have a good feeling about the NLD. Call me delusional but after a match like today I think we're due for a big win and what better time/place to do it than this next Wed. Hopefully 'Arry's man-management skills will help turn the lads around. COYS!!!!!
Please please please come and talk to us then Gooner cunts. I can't WAIT to hear what you'll have to say about your world-beating team then.
Alex
Looking forward to it mate. See you on Wednesday ...
the embarkment of your annual blame game...
As opposed to the almost WEEKLY blame game that emanates from the lips of Arsene Whinger's lips whenever your mighty team.
Say what you will about Redknapp's twitches. He doesn't whine like your drama queen of a manager.
Win win. If we finish 4th, win. If we dont we can laugh at Arsenal being humiliated again in Europe.
spurs fans are confident..must be because of their great record in NLD's over recent seasons?
Challenging for the top four? Repeat your words very slowly son and listen to yourself.......thats exactly my point....you are always 'challenging' (whatever that means since your 'challenge', with the exception of 06 and this year, pretty much comes to a halt as soon as the season kicks off)......remind me when was the last time you finished in the tpremiership's op four?...Oh, sorry, you never have, now have you?
You guys spend every summer telling all and sundry how you will overtake us and your exiled captain and manager spent the week before the last NLD telling every breathing thing how the gulf in class between our sides had been bridged significantly. While I concur that you have undergone a tramendous metamorphosis this season, and for the better that, you are still country miles from being fit to wipe our shoes....
I thought the geordies were the most deluded lot in England, but it seems you lot are very keen on usurping them and I would struggle to find a more despicable set of fans - not just in England but the entire world. You are irritatingly delusional and, quite frankly, the most average Premier league club in London, West Ham aside. Live with it.
Arsenal fans are notoriously poor supporters, they don't know the meaning of support. Far more concerned with what others think.
Gonna take all of my anger out on Cunt-bell on Wednesday night !!!
Keep talking Alex. We'll be sure to quote every word back to you on Wednesday.
You will show up then, right?
Eerrm...Ply, thanks for posting that moronic sentence...You must have been the grammar champ in prep school, huh?...because I am sure that where it ended for you wanker!
Scum Idiot.
Oh yes, absolutely, nycyid. After we dig you another on the backside, I will be here gloating all night...
Go drown your sorrows now mate, swallow a few, shake your head, shrug your shoulders and then mumble, "Typical Tottenham'....
Alex fuck off back to Dial Square
I keep hearing this 'delusional' word being thrown out as though it some kind of Gooner talking point. We are delusional because we strive to be better? Come on, that is ridiculous. Godddamn right we are 'challenging for 4th.
As I said earlier, you ARE a better team than us. I am not so delusional that I don't recognize that. You also play beautiful football that I admire on a purely aesthetic level. Funny actually because you are more like us than you realize. Like us you lack something and you are a fool or self-deluded if you can't see it.
Because as beautiful the style of play you offer is, play like a bunch of preening, gutless pussies and that YOU don't have what it takes to do any better than you seem to always do. Your loss to Barca was proof of that. You aren't top class yet.
Ballack summed it up quite well in response to your whinging prick of a manager's comment about Drogba not playing so well after scoring multiple goals on you sorry fucks.
I don't remember the exact quote but he said, "Arsenal play beautiful football. At Chelsea we play to win and that's what we do when we play Arsenal."
Spot fucking on.
You don't have what it takes to beat United or Chelsea. And you know it.
You too are CHALLENGING for the PL.
And good luck with that.
Regardless of what happens this season it will be a success for us.
We ARE moving up. We ARE slowly but surely building.
Can you honestly say that about Arsenal?
Honestly?
Now spend some quality alone time and reflect on that.
Were gonna smash 'em -
They will be stuffed by half time -
Straight forward win -
Routine victory -
Chelsea/Spurs final
How to you lot feel now.
Totally condescending shite before the game and a total lack of respect.
No wonder all opposing fans think your twats.
Hahahahahahahaha.
Complete wankers.
And since I'm not one of those Spurs fans who even goes on a Gooner blog much less posts on one (can't think of a greater waste of time and energy), I will take this opportunity to point out what you have no doubt already heard:
Your loss to Barca was humiliating to English football.
You were schooled and looked like a bunch of frightened incompetent children.
You are absolutely fucking delusional if you think you even BELONG in the same realm as Barca.
End of fucking story.
Now you will no doubt counter with something like, 'well at least we are in CL' to which I would say.
Yes. You are right.
We aren't at that level.
But you aren't really either mate.
You are second rate.
Cheatski and Man United are a different class from you.
But unlike Gooners, I don't slag people for punching above their weights.
I actually salute you for punching above your weight and trying to win the PL even if it's ... well, delusional.
Tottenham Spanked by Pompey at Wembley! The team that will be playing championship football next season.
There goes the only chance of winning your first real* trophy in..... god knows how many years!
as mr arsenal said..
(*Carling Cup Excluded)
LoL
Congratulations Pompey Rob.
Nice to see you are so gracious in victory.
Nycyid,
Responding to your posts is giving you undue mileage and really flattering you I must think.
Now fuck off to the pub and drown your sorrows.....
We have lost to:
Man Utd Home
Chelsea Home
Man Utd Away
Chelsea Away
You have lost to:
Wolves Home
Stoke Home
Wolves Away
Portsmouth at Wembley
If that doest sum it up, nothing will......
Nycid,
HAVE YOU EVER IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE WITNESSED TOTTENHAM PARTICIPATE IN A EUROPEAN GAME ON ITV OR SKY SPORTS?
(Channel 5 Excluded)
Ha!
I knew you would respond that way arseholes.
Learn how to read. And then re-read my post.
Touched a raw nerve clearly.
Now fuck off and let us be until we humiliate you sorry cunts on Wed.
And then please come back for more of your ignorant twaddle
Knew i would find some fellow Goonz on here celebrating with me.
Arsenal Takeover!!!
Finish him............
HAVE YOU EVER IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE WITNESSED TOTTENHAM PARTICIPATE IN A EUROPEAN GAME ON ITV OR SKY SPORTS?
Enough to end any debate.
5 years back Arsenal fans were busy fighting it out with Utd fans. The fact that sighed relief today and visit Spurs blogs to gloat says it all tbh. Happy to have you guys back.
Alex - you miss my point.
Firstly, ignore the media - which seems to be the basis for your thoughts. We - the vast majority - do not believe we have a God given right to the Top 4. The fact is, in the last 10 years - who exactly has been able to challenge them? It's not like us or Villa or Everton or [insert club here] are shit or useless, is it now? We do our best to break the monopoly. To laugh at club who aspires is a bit cheap, but understandable. At least we give it a go.
Personally, I think to sustain a CL challenge, a true one, each season, you must challenge for the title. Its the only way to achieve consistency and remain up there in a top 4 position. Now that is something no Spurs fan has ever said we can do at the start of the season. Its a step too far for all of the chasing pack.
What you lot fail to see is - we've improved. And so have Villa and City. And the teams - the elite - have degraded a little. Liverpool more so. You must be kidding yourselves if think you are the light years ahead of the pack that you once were.
The rest of your post more or less proves my prior points about how its a useless exercise to even attempt to gauge some form of intellect from your sort (sigh for this).
You just live off other peoples soundbites then wonder in when its safe to do so. Note that its you lot visiting me because you feel the need to wave your dicks in our faces.
Deluded? What like the same deluded as 'we're going to beat Barca?' or should I not tag you with the goons I work with who banged on about the 2-2 draw like it was the second coming. When in reality Arsenal have gone from true contenders to gutsy underdogs. But rather than focus on your own problems, you're here. Nice that you think we care enough.
Lose the soundbites, stop watching Sky Sports News, and then come back and banter like a man. Oh, and that includes when Arsenal get bullied and beaten and Wenger contradicts himself for the 1000th time. Instead of hiding under that rock.
Mr Arsenal,
that is a very good question. Could someone please enlighten me on the answer.
A simple yes or no willl do.
Always gracious win lose or draw nycyid.
At Pompey we call it as it is; good-bad and indifferent with no excuses.
What do we get from you lot - It was the pitch - it was the ref.
I'll tell you what it was - it was 2-0.
Get over it. LOL.
Are all Arsenal fans online under the age of 10 then? Wonder how many of them will be at the Lane on Wednesday? Probably none as they'll be busy thumping their keyboards. The twats.
Pompey Rob - Congrats.
Enjoy it mate and I hope and pray that the journey continues for a further 90 minutes and some. Fantasy football. Can't be having those muggy cunts of Chelsea win the Cup again.
I have an equally important question to ask.
Are there any Arsenal fans that are not cunts? A simple no is expected.
Er, what exactly is the argument here? Nobody is going to dispute who has been more successful in the past decade. What you want it on paper or something? Are you lot that insecure even with the success you've had that you are actually bothered about gloating and reassurance?
For a side that plays some of the best technical football (domestically that is) you truly are the most inept bunch of retarded supporters in the country.
Spooky,
You never know - stranger things have happened.
Good luck for the rest of the season.
See ya back in the Premier some day.
Bye the way - beware of Arabs bearing gifts.
They may not be all they seem. LOL.
To be fair, qualifying for the Champions League has been relatively easy for us and the other three for many years now. Its been nigh impossible to break it up. And the CL is after all a money-making machine for the elite. The fact its made up of teams that are not champions is a big enough clue. I can't speak for all Arsenal fans but I'm concerned mainly because we seem to be playing at a particular level that is based on spirit and determination which is a big enough clue that we are lacking the power and strength we had last time we went head to head with Utd as favourites.
Spurs are getting there but my money is on City, thanks to their unlimited funds.
Chin up Spooks.
mr arsenal, i think one winners medal from the new wembley is one more than arsenal have achieved there. in fact, do you have any medals in the last 6 years? thought not.
Portsmouth "Quote Of The Week"
Pompey Rob:
"I'll tell you what it was - it was 2-0".
So very true. Well said.
to every single cunting arsenal prick on here. Fuck off, go back to your own poxy little blogs and grow some pubic hair you dirty little wenger/daddies boys.
Pompey, well done. We deserved what we got today which was a big fat embarrassing nothing live on national tv.
Lets roll our sleeves up and get ready for wed.
But once more, arsenal Scum bags. Seriously, Fuck off and go speak with your own morons.
COYS.
Pompey Rob -
One thing Levy has done is protected us from any potential Arab/billionaire takeover. Unless he willingly sells (with permission from ENIC lord Joe Lewis) I doubt we'll ever go the route of you chaps, or Liverpool or Utd. Debt? Thanks but no thanks.
14th richest club in the world apparently. And that's with no CL football.
You lot will be up again soon. You're a club that's defined by its supporters. Have fun dicking Soton.
Perhaps the goons think that a blog invasion will count in their honours list?
Fucking hell its gone to the dogs!
Arsenal fans, with their spare ribs at half-time and their announcer and their hymn sheets and the fact that they have no concept of singing until they are winning. Whatever.
Wouldn't change my colours for you're lot even if we played conference football.
Arsenal:
League Titles - 13
FA Cups - 10
League Cups - 2
Spuds:
League Titles - 2
FA Cups - 8
League Cups - 4
Years since the Spuds last won the league - 49
Years since the Spuds last won the FA Cup - 19
(Nobody apart from the Spuds gives a toss about the Kids/League Cup.)
Years since the Spuds last beat Arsenal in the league - 10 (November 1999)
Transfer spending since inception of Premier League:
Arsenal - £269,940,000 (11th highest)
Spuds - £376,850,000 (4th highest)
Transfer fees received since inception of Premier League:
Arsenal - £237,574,000
Spuds - £200,717,500
Nett spend since inception of Premier League:
Arsenal - £32,366,000
Spuds - £176,132,500
Average spend per season:
Arsenal - £1,798,111
Spuds - £9,785,139
For anyone interested, these figures worked out from the 04/05 season until present work out like this:
Transfer spending since 04/05:
Arsenal - £112,050,000 (20th)
Spuds - £259,000,000 (4th highest)
Transfer fees received since 04/05:
Arsenal - £138,320,000
Spuds - £162,250,000
Nett spend since 04/05:
Arsenal -£26,270,000 (note the minus symbol)
Spuds £96,750,000
Average spend per season:
Arsenal -£4,378,333 (note the minus symbol)
Spuds £16,125,000
.....and yet you still dream about reaching the level we're supposed to be unhappy with.
Steve d: "mr arsenal, i think one winners medal from the new wembley is one more than arsenal have achieved there. in fact, do you have any medals in the last 6 years? thought not.
hahaha,
Im curious as to why you failed to mention exactly what medal it was that you won, especially after being so specific about the"New Wembley"
In fact what trophies have you one ANYWHERE in the last 19 years?
i'll be nice.... u CAN include the Carling Cup when answering the above question
Again, you're missing the point.
I don't compare us with you lot. That's what you're doing. I simply want my team to continue to progress, play slick football and show ambition. You should be the one worrying about the level you're at now, because its a level down from where you were and a level closer to where we are.
You getting the math?
Oh - and re: the money. You serious? Have you ever visited this blog before today? Do you even know what type of supporter I am? Nope you obviously dont. Otherwise you wouldn't be wasting your time with copying and pasting.