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)
Daniels, mind posting all that on an Everton blog and City blog and while you're at it, also a Villa blog.
Maybe they can figure out what you're point is and what end game you're after here, because I don't have a clue.
Didn't do very well in mathes at school I assume.
I'll put it into words for you...
YOU'RE SHIT.
Grim - they want you to say 'Arsenal are better than Spurs' then rub their tummy and sing them a lullaby.
It's hilarious how devoid of humour all these cuntos are.
maths*
Daniels - what's the point dude? We all know Wenger doesn't like spending money and his a fine network or scouts that allows him to steal in and take players. So what? Utd have spent far more money than you and so have Chelsea - and they've won things. Obviously both from a position of some authority and had Arsenal spent money or Wenger tinkered a little with his philosophy you'd have probably won even more silverware for your troubles.
It's been asked - but what are you guys after exactly? You're the ones coming on here accusing us of stuff and then throwing figures and stats back in our faces? LOL.
You might as well all go home together and just discuss it amongst yourselves.
Daniels - er no. I meant to say 'math'.
Devoid of humour, eh?
why hasn't anyone answered the previously posted query?
HAVE YOU EVER IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE WITNESSED TOTTENHAM PARTICIPATE IN A EUROPEAN GAME ON ITV OR SKY SPORTS?
We play entertaining football, proved by some of the epic games we always seem to play a part in. We always have flair players, a rich tradition of playing football the right way. We win silverware in each decade (since the 50's). We have a strong support base and home support that shits on the other London clubs in terms of a proper atmosphere.
Don't know about you lot, but I'm happy with my lot.
Arsenal steal players?
You boys steal as many young players as we do.. it's just yours eventually end up playing league 1 football after sitting in your youth team and bench for 4 years.
Yes ilk, but to Arsenal fans, all that doesn't matter does it? For them its about attention. Which is why they are here.
Absolute Dogshit.
Win the CL then gloat. Until then you're just a team that plays pretty football and wins fuck all.
Remind you of anyone?
I was correcting my typo not yours. Not sure what you're referring to??
Hahahahaha
Arsenal fans. Stalkers. The lot of them.
Fair enough Daniels. All your posts are sort of blurring into one at the minute. Knee-jerk, thought you were just being a-typical.
And re: 'steal' I was jesting.
Talking of players though, what happens to all the young Arsenal players who brush aside Championship sides at the Emirates? You know, in the Carling Cup. The cup that is meant to mean nothing except when you really really need to win it to avoid ending a season with nowt.
Or is it simply a stage for Carlos Vela to show off his mad mad skillz.
Mr Thunderbolt,
Nah i never seen Tottenham on those channels mate. Seen them on Channel 5 in the inter-toto cup though.
lol @ Author of Comment
Forza Barca
Thats wat you should have said Jep. idiot
Our Carling cup team beat Liverpool this year aswell as West Brom who just got promoted to the prem so I don't think either of those were easy matches for the kids.
From the Carling Cup final against Chelsea 3 years ago, our midfield starting lineup was Arsenal:
Walcott, Fabregas, Denilson, Diaby... all teenagers at the time and now make up a huge part of our starting midfield.
Go back 5 years and you'll find Eboue, Senderos, Djourou and Bendtner beating Everton as Teenagers in the carling cup (Eboue was 20 or 21).
In regard to the last couple of years youngsters, it's far too soon to know what they could become.
Are you really giving us crap about having an overrated mexican on our books?? Atleast ours only cost 200k.
And to all those wondering why i have claimed this unusual username
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06GBPZlmvjM
(commentator sums it up nicely @ around 21 secs)
Goodnite
Dont Let the Pomp bugz bite!!!!
Spurs lose one game and Arsenal fans are out in their droves celebrating.
Hmm. I think you Spurs fans can take heart from that. Sigh of relief from the gooners pretending they think you're shit when they appear to be shitting themselves.
Note to self.
When Pompey get battered by the Chavs in the final ( which I hope does not happen but is highly likely) don't start posting on other teams boards cause you will end up looking like a total twat.
LoL @ AbsoluteThunderbolt -
Simpy put.. .That is Hilarious.
Shorter Gooner argument when confronted with irrefutable evidence of their own failures, shortcomings and delusions:
1. Stick fingers in ears
2. Say the equivalent of "I know you are but what am I"?
Children,
My comment about how you were schooled by Barca has FUCK ALL to do with Spurs. It is about ARSENAL being overrated and NOT IN THE SAME CLASS AS BARCA. Despite your arrogant blather.
As I stated-in plain fucking English--I completely recognize WE ARE NOT IN THE CL. So there is no argument there. None.
And as I stated in plain fucking English--I concede that you are a much better team than us. I won't try to argue that we are better than you. We aren't.
But as Spooky has stated. YOU AREN'T AS GOOD AS YOU THINK YOU ARE.
And you cocky cunts might just be in for a shocker on Wednesday.
Maybe not. After all you should win. I mean you're so fucking great, and we're miles behind you, so why should we expect any different outcome??
Even so if I were you I would SHUT THE FUCK UP for now and leave our blog.
Because I wouldn't be so sure of your winning at WHL. Not this time. Not with the injuries you have.
If you win, no doubt you will flood these comments with your ignorant bile. And fair enough. I will personally welcome it.
And if you don't win and things go our way for a change ... Well I don't suspect be hearing from the likes of Brook, Mr Arsenal, Daniels and all you other gutless pussies.
DAVID @ 11:30 PM
Nice one, I am making the same note.
Seriously. Posting in another team's blog and giving one another virtual reacharounds about how you're 'taking the blog' is truly pathetic.
I do realize that some Spurs fans do that on your crappy blogs as well and would agree that is equally stupid and pathetic.
It's past your bedtime children.
Arsenal don;t take the Carling Cup seriously? Perhaps you should. You'd probably win something.
Now i understand you may have had a few beers tonight mate after that unexpected knockout blow at the hands of the now - relegated Portsmouth but that is no excuse to start swearing.This is a family run blog and users should show respect to others.
Nycid^
None of the regulars on this blog are the type to browse into where ever it is these wronguns have arrived from. Shame its landslided into playground ethics. But that's thanks to them. Spooky did try to chat with them but alas they are far too dim witted to respond. They are Arsenal fans so its no surprise.
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
now show us some respect and leave.
haha arsenal admin security
Judging by the IP addresses, seems one Arsenal fan is posting under different guises.
Nice one mate. Truly are teh win.
to the guy who posted all the net spending figures earlier. I notice you didn't include net spend on wages in that? So you managed to get a few players on the cheap, but at spurs we have a wage cap that means we can't spend £100,000 a week to steal our local rivals' captain, or keep our homesick spaniard happy. Does it surprise you that we've spent more when we've not been in the CL? If you're not in it then you have to pay over the odds for players you believe can get you there. And then once you finally think you're building a squad, someone like utd. come along and poach your best players. Such is the self-perpetuating cycle of the top 4 cartel. You keep qualifying, you get the money and the prestige. No one else can touch you unless they are either bought by a billionaire or someone catastrophically fucks up (newcastle/liverpool)
And what the hell does it matter anyway? what has the amount either of our clubs has spent got to do with the game today? I hope you all enjoyed watching it on the sofa at home. Personally I was at Wembley for the third time in 3 seasons. Win or lose, I love a good day out at Wembley I really do. I find it somewhat comforting to think that even though we are supposedly 'forever in your shadow' a fair few gooners not only spent 120 minutes watching OUR team play a somewhat dull game of football, but a few seem to have wasted hours commenting on a spurs blog and then refreshing the page constantly in order to continue spilling your childish bile.
What would you like us to say? "oh ok, we are shit. i'll stop supporting spurs and switch to arsenal?" Do you even know what real support is? By your attitude I guess you can't be older than 15. You've grown up around glory. Have you honestly had your loyalty tested by watching your team almost get relegated? You lot call for your best EVER manager's head any time you drop points. One day, it may be next year, it may be in 10 years time. But one day, the roles WILL be reversed. Spurs will be up there and arsenal won't. That's football and that's life. Look at man city 4 years ago, or even portsmouth/southampton.
Congratulations to portsmouth. This result is what makes football so encapsulating. It's just a shame that for some reason we always go with the preferred script, instead of forcing a re-write where the 'bad guy' actually wins. As I said, I didn't watch it on tv, but I bet the commentators at ITV where positively jizzing into their frilly undies
spooky @11:52
now that might be the funniest thing i've read all day!
thanks for sharing that
poor spuds ...........
@Thunderbolt
When Jol was in charge and we had the UEFA Cup run, around half of our games were shown on ITV.
Better to not be shown than to be humiliated in front of the watching millions!
Oh and so what if Arsenal qualify for the CL every year, or end up in the top 3. For 6 years they've won absolutely NOTHING and that's the legacy this generation of players will leave - potential but nothing to show for it.
Come back when you win a trophy!
I have to say that the ethics of follows of Woolwich wandering supporters seemed to have dropped even lower than the already subhuman. This gloating thing didn't seem to occur when they were actually winning things, the official line then was they didn't care how we did. I know many gooners all of which cannot stand the fact they have no real home-grown talent that and the ground is too far away from the pitch.
The insecurity/inferiority complexes of Gooners is pretty evident from the postings.
What a bunch of head cases.
Though somehow I can't help but imagine that all of these posts are written by same sad 15 year old in between wank sessions.