"Tottenham!"
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 3:24PM Simply put; beat Blackpool, finish Top Four.
Drama.
Last season, on a number of occasions, we dropped points but never lost sight of the target. It still took a monumental effort to take us into that must win game at Eastlands, makers of our own destiny if we chose to dare. Which we did. This season the trend has been one surrounding the quality of our form, and that we have yet to truly blossom into a free-flowing rampant goal-getting beast humping our way through the herd never asking for phone numbers or bothering with breakfast. But neither has anyone else. Not a b*stard to be had.
To continue to play this shy game of step aside that everyone seems to be partaking in remains one of great risk.
There is something very Spursesque about us doing it the hard way, written off by our own as well as the press. It's the fuel we consumed during the drive through the 2010 season. You half sort of give up hope because it's easy(ier) to prepare for dejection than it is to build yourself up for an even bigger fall because the height will hurt you even more if said hopes tumble. And climbing that ladder is for some, too much to cope with.
Been there, done it, didn't fall down. We've even moved onto a taller building. Ladder is fairly stern too.
Someone once said something about aiming high and something about an echo. Words mean little without action. We lived the words through our actions which is why, even if it's hardly 'glory' to finish fourth it was a necessary step that had to be fought for and celebrated when achieved.
Plenty believed our season was over at least four or fives times. Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in. Agony, followed by glee, followed by agony. Would rather this time there was no debate around being anything but in.
Mind your step on the ladder.
Don't care if it's ugly, pretty or lucky. We have to win at Blackpool. I wont go as far as suggesting it would kill any ambitions we have to reclaim a Champions League position. Simply because of how this season has panned out and with the end in sight, nobody has yet to take a stranglehold with their consistency.
Yet. The key word. The same tired excuse to protect the dream.
It's time for us step it up and let others concern themselves with the catching up stuff. The less pressure we have on retaining a top 4 (screw it) a top 3 position as the weeks fly past the better. Our form is actually very good. We've been consistent, accumulating a healthy tally of points. What's required is avoidance of those occasional blips, hiccups that can cause hope to rise in others.
Harry claims (tonight) it's as big as the Milan game. It's not, but it is. It's the most important game we're going to be involved in this evening.
Of course it's frigging important.
What we've achieved in Europe has been nothing short of, well, Tottenham. Our unique brand of swash buckle, heart in mouth comebacks and unexpected (and devastating and patient) dismantling jobs - we've done it all. And nobody can pretend we've not made an impact on the continent. We have proven, without a shadow of a doubt, that we can compete at the very top level. Our learning curve has been one of fizzy refreshment in the usually bland and stale group games and maturity (thus far) in the knock-out stage. Perhaps next season we'd have to adapt further as we'll no longer be unknown entity. If there is a next season.
Blackpool and Wolves away, on paper, easy. In reality, hardly. We all know how the Wanderers have faired this season against the 'big' sides. And we all know how tireless and spirited Blackpool can be. But in paying respect, there's an admittance of the possibility of defeat.
We've yet to cement ourselves as a side that will finish top 4 season in season out. The landscape of the Prem might not allow another monopoly to exist. Others are expected to awake (Chelsea) and take (Man City) what is suggested to be rightfully there's based on the norm and money spent.
And what do I want? All I care for is the monopoly of one. The Tottenham paradox. Even the critics who were scoffing a season and a half ago are now drowning themselves in Lilywhite drenched plaudits. Bizarre but acceptable. But not enough, more is needed. The very thought of defeat pains me. Not that long ago it was almost a bi-weekly emotion. Spent most of the 1990s accepting its inevitability.
And in the present we've been written off more times than I care to count but now expectancy weighs down on us. Time for us all to just admit that we are now a very good side and that when hiccups are suffered, they're just that. And not throw-backs to a disease that still might plague us. We don't choke. We just sometimes, individually or collectively under perform. Like the vast majority of sides. Which is why we have a Spanish Inquisition when it happens.
No under performing tonight please. Let's under perform when we play West Ham and only beat them by three clear goals instead of five.
I know what you're thinking. It's only Blackpool away, get a grip of yourself you drama queen.
It's bread and butter and we need to eat it up. If we're going to truly elevate ourselves onto that next level of competitiveness then we need to show reinforced tenacity, as displayed in the last couple of Prem outings. Every game is a must win, right? But not every game is winnable and there are some games where less than three points (that being quite obviously a draw) is acceptable in the grand scheme of thirty eight games.
I've used that 'excuse' to defend my belief we would finish fourth last season. I've used it once or twice this season. Faith and all. I'm scrapping it for the purpose of our next two games.
This time, I'd rather not do it the hard way. Even if the hard way is the Tottenham way. Even if the hard way is more nail biting, exciting and entices that never say die attitude that makes us perform on an electric level of intensity that can sometimes give ample juice to the adrenalin that drives us beyond limited expectations*. And breathe.
*Best illustrated by the run-in last season which was and still is 'special'.
Belief was the key last time. Momentum, the buzz word for the present. Our progression, evolution - it doesn't stagnate. It hiccups, it's an annoyance, we down a glass of water, it sometimes works, we move on. Not always solving it the same way the next time it happens. But we don't look back. And we always move on.
We are spirited and driven. The culture of comfort at the Lane is long gone and we have players who play for the team, for each other and for the club. Hungry for success. Wanting to better themselves.
We might still lack a cutting edge and perhaps (arguably) there remains doubts on the consistency and delivery of Harry Redknapp's astuteness with tactics. We have key players missing. But yet here we are. In amongst it domestically and swaggering continentally.
Time to prove we can switch on for those wet wintry mid-week games as well as the high profile glamour ties (equally wet). Not just tonight, but Wolves in the next away game too. I have no more nails to bite and my heart is whimpering from the relentless emotional pulls.
The metamorphosis from plucky lucky pretenders to sustained genuine gritty yet silky contenders has to start somewhere.
This rallying war cry is probably going to fall on deaf ears, what with Redknapp citing 'miracle' for us to finish in the top four again. Backs to walls, bare bones. It's how he works his magic. Perhaps the hard way is the only way and I need to stand down from painting myself navy blue and white and screaming at the dodgy internet stream of the match like Mel Gibson in Braveheart. He failed (William Wallace) in the end. Aimed very high. However, even in his failure there was an echo of glory.
Hanged, disembowelled, drawn and quartered. Let it be the ones in Orange not the ones in Lilywhite.
Hiccups? Hold your breath.
Either way, I'm still going to need a heart transplant.
Reader Comments (86)
The players have has a taste of the CL now and I don't think they're the same bunch of bottlers as they were a couple of season ago. I fancy us to win tonight, 3-1, and to go on to scrape/power walk into the top 4 and next years CL.
During the next couple of weeks, not only will we find out our fate as a team, but wether or not your keyboard can handle such dramatic key pressings!
COYS
All the time that Chelsea are still in the Champions League, we need to finish top 3.
If they finish 5th in PL but win the CL, 4th place will go into the Europa League, not CL.
Good read, I read it in the style of the Guiness advert. Tick after tock....etc...
Maybe spurs shall Win the Champions League and finish 3rd then both Chelski and man Shity will be in the Europa. Ahhhhh You gotta have a dream.
agree its a huge game tonight but we need to keep our feet on the ground. Even though we are third IF we win tonight, to finish in the top 4 is a tough call, tonight will not make or break that ambition. Chelsea will turn it around sooner or later and Man City will come again at us, we have both to play away from home remember after only drawing with both at home. Harry is right in what he says, despite everything we are the underdogs for this. As usual for spurs fans its really easy to get carried away, we just need to stay realistic here.
Rousing.
It's time to grab the bull by the horns. And shag it.
I know what you mean Spooky. Winning breeds that winning mentality. How else did we manage to go to Milan and win in the manner we did? Have to prove we have the depth and belief to beat Blackpool. But I've just got a feeling about this, a bad one.
Bout of hiccups on the way.
fatfish, does that only apply with Chelski? What about Manure or the Ar*e (not that they're likely to finish 5th)?
Why are people so worried? We're *already* over the magical 40 point mark, free from the threat of relegation.
All the time that Chelsea are still in the Champions League, we need to finish top 3.
All the time that Chelsea are still in the Champions League, we need to finish top 3.
All the time that Chelsea are still in the Champions League, we need to finish top 3.
That's the mantra from here on in (courtesy of Fatfish)
COYS
haha
Miracle to finish top 4, from the man who said we could win the league.
Pinch of salt anyone?
The situation with the CL is....
If the winners of the CL are outside the top 4 in the PL, then they will replace the team in 4th place in the CL. It was changed a few years ago after Everton finished 4th & Liverpool won the CL but finished 5th. Liverpool were given a "guest" spot in the CL qualifiers.
So it could apply to any of the 4 PL teams still in the CL, if they finish 5th but win CL.
Dream scenario this season...
We beat L'Arse in CL final whilst finishing 5th in PL and replace L'Arse in next seasons CL as they finished 4th. That would go someway to mending the hurt from them winning the league twice at WHL.
1 - 3 to the Tottenham
Harry likes to under play and exaggerate. Makes it look like he's a miracle worker when he achieves what he tells us is not quite possible.
"Even the critics who were scoffing a season and a half ago are now drowning themselves in Lilywhite drenched plaudits."
But you can see they still want to say "...but it is Tottenham so don't put your money on them..."
Anyway - I agree with FatFish. 4th may very well not be enough for a CL spot this year. The only powerhouse FC in Europe at the mo is Barca and they're going to slip up at some point.
Would sooooo love it to be us to deny that 4th placed team a CL spot!
Just got to focus on finishing above Man City, same as last year and we will be in the CL.
Matspur -
I'm guessing that Fatfish is focusing on Chelea because of the "wounded animal" thing. Chelsea's only chance of not having the worst season since they got-rich-quick is now to win the CL. That makes them a bit dangerous.
'Get a grip on yourself you drama queen.'
Well said that man.
You can have my heart Spooky but you'll have to get your own pacemaker, the guarranttee on mine has run out.
We could use it in tandem like they do in them underwater dramas where they share the oxygen.
What are the chances of Chelsea finishing outside the top four and winning the CL?
Don't torment yourselves.
Its more likely the other way round
Hahahahahaha, Chelski winning the Champions League.
Hahahahahahah, have any of you seen them this year, Chelsea...Chelsea......do me a favour!!
I believe that we have a team/squad capable of finishing runners up this season. Win tonight and we're three points behind L'arse.
Believe fellow yids, believe.
COYS.
Hand on heart confident. Not me.
COYS......3rd is in our sights don't choke please play with hunger and passion and high pace
Anyone got a handle on the starting XI tonight?
For some reason I can't get over how well Sandro and Wilson played together in CM after the Milan game. But would it work for a game like this?
As far as the 4th might not be good enough conundrum goes, we can just go for it and hope for the best. 3rd would be great but probably more than we could have hoped at the start of the season (we could still do it though). If we finish 4th and still dont qualify for CL i'd be gutted, but at least we could hand on heart say there wasnt really a lot we could do about it.
As far as tonights game, we can put a LOT of pressure on those around us by winning. Win, and we effectively end Liverpool's slim recovery hopes (they would be ten points behind City in 4th and would still have to overtake them AND chelsea to reach us). We also use our game in hand correctly and move ahead of City into 3rd. It also puts real pressure on Chelsea as they could quite conceivably be 8 points behind by the time it is their turn to face Blackpool in a few weeks (we beat Blackpool and Wolves and they lose to ManU creates that scenario). Not fatal as they would have one game in hand and we have tough games to come, but phsycologically a boost for us and a blow for them
Not sure there is going to be much between third and fourth this season. At the moment you can see Man U and Arsenal finishing first and second then us, Chelsea and City taking the next three places. But we could as easily finish third as fifth, there is nothing in it at the moment. Somehow I find the idea of Chelsea winning the Champions League and finishing outside the top four a little far fetched (I know Liverpool did it). I find myself in a strange position as far as Europe goes, I actually want Arsenal to beat Barcelona. This is simply because Barcelona are the one team left in it I would really like to avoid.
Last season Stoke away was my 'win this and we're there' game. This season was Sunderland away. And we won it, so we're already there hooray! Points-wise this is maybe not as important, but if we win this we will feel like we are unstoppable, and it will put Chelsea firmly in the psychological shit-moussaka.
I was confident, only mildly nervous before Spooky laid down that first line. Way to cruelly manipulate my emotions!
I've just filled in the BBC projector and have us finishing 5th. That said there is no Arse game to fill in so we only have 37 games played. I've got Man City on 72 points in 3rd, Chelsea 4th on 70 points and us on 70 points as well but 5th on goal difference. If we win that game to Arse then we would finish 3rd according to my predictions on 73 points. I'd take that!
Haven't been this nervous since .. well ... ever. Great read! COYS
Lots to think about, I'm looking forward to seeing where we end up, even though (as Spooks says) the higher we aim the greater the fall if we lose.
How great is it though that we are all sat here looking at permutations for us finishing 4th or 3rd and discussing CL qualification? It was not too long ago we'd be sat here, out of the domestic cups, looking to shoot for 6th place and hoping that one of the 'big 4' would win the FA Cup, so that we could qualify for the UEFA Cup! Or else (a few years before that) just looking for a top 10 finish and a cup-run?
Yes, dammit, Top 3. Let Chelsea and City scrap over the last seat on the bus.
1-2 Spurs.
MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY
COYS
MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY
I am now a new Spur
A happy Spur
We are a completely different outfit, no soft touch and players fitting for places
Onwards and upwards and never look back
Fuck it we should be chasing down Manure
COYS
STARTING XI - Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Palacios, Sandro, Pienaar; Van der Vaart; Crouch. SUBS - Cudicini, Bassong, Woodgate, Kranjcar, Modric, Defoe, Pavlyuchenko.
Sorry
TEAM: Gomes; Gallas, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Modric, Palacios, Pienaar; Defoe, Pavlyuchenko. SUBS: Cudicini, Khumalo, Jenas, Kranjcar, Rose, Sandro, Crouch.
??
Have I gone back in time a week?
!! That's better !!
I'd settle for last week's result.
Where is Alan Hutton??????
Wtf do people and HR still see in Defoe? Im watching the game here and the chap is sh!te no question about it everything about his game at the moment is poor really poor, everything. Get him off the fucking pitch. Jesus.
Defoe is crap -
Yep. He should give the commentator a hand and change his name by deed-poll to "Offside".
I can't believe what i am watching. I never thought id be calling for Crouch!
Sorry but i cant watch this any more!!!
I cant believe what i am watching!!!
Good night to you and good night to 4th
A Big well played to BLACKPOOL.......
Maybe Harry was right, It'll be a fucking miracle if we finish 4TH
I guess this means Bassong won't be starting again. Ouch.
Defoe and Pavlyuchenko aren't fit to wear the shirt. Kingson made ONE save all game. Their shooting was pathetic all night long.
... and BANG!
Back down to earth... damn I love this club!
My eyes have seen the ... oh dear.
At least Pav scored, right? I didn't see it. Had to turn it off cause it was so shite.
Good on Blackpool though, they were good. Deserved it.
I second that Daveray. Fair play to Blackpool though, they were composed rode their luck took the chances and fucking buried us in the end. But Jesus wtf Defoe and Pav? seriously HR gets the plaudits when he gets it right and when he gets it wrong well works both ways right. Stop picking Defoe just stop fcking picking him and sell him in the summer put the cash towards buying us a real striker. Typical Tottenham) from the sublime to the ridiculos I fcking love this club.
COYS
Dear I say it same old spurs!! But keep the faith it's not over yet!
That is a fucking disgraceful result, those scum down the road beat them 6-0, absolute shit.