I want Real Madrid
Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 12:33PM Champions League quarter-finals. Choke on that one.
To continue in the spirit of all things Glory Glory I'd rather not draw any of the bland teams that remain in the competition. By bland, I don't mean to be disrespectful to the likes of Schalke and Shakhtar. Even though you might actually fancy us to get past both of them as long as we scored away from home. Although neither are ties I would look forward to. I guess the fear here would be failure to progress against a less glamorous club.
Inter - been there dismantled that. Possibly a dangerous tie to play what with their renewed confidence and thoughts of revenge. Bored of the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Can you even believe we'd ever think that?
What of Manchester United and Chelsea? English clubs. That's reason enough to avoid them in this débutante Champions League season of ours. I'd rather continue with the glitz and glam, what with the unnerving possibility that we might not be back next season (we will be IMO) but for the sake of the present day - I wouldn't want to look back with regret that we could have played 'X' team in the quarters and instead got a team we know very well from domestic duties.
United have a hex over us. Chelsea are hardly dead, just sleeping. It would be a massive anti-climax for us to go out to either of them. I'd rather be spanked silly by Barcelona. Which is why in my wildest dreams we don't play them until the semi-finals (look, I did cite wildest dreams there so enough with the thoughts of delusions).
In a suicidal way I'd love us to play Barca. I'd hardly be gutted about it. This is Spurs, eternal strugglers for the Top 4, finally making it to the promised land. Why would any supporter not want to see us go toe to toe with the best club side in recent memory, possibly one of the finest footballing sides ever?
What's that? 10-0 to the Catalans you say? Would Barca release a DVD?
A Glory Glory night under the floodlights in deepest North London hosting a tie against the Spanish champions and their assortment of World Cup winners and the best player in the world or Manchester United with Howard Webb?
Exactly. So back to that wild dream, and a visit to the Camp Nou in the semi-final.
So that leaves us (me) with one team to face in the quarter-final. That other club from Spain. The also-rans of La Liga. Jose and Ronaldo. One or two other half-decent players in their squad too. The Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The White Storm v The Lilywhites. Fantasy football, right? Up against a team that plays in all white against a team that plays in all white in Europe. Now that would be glamour. A clash of attack in Madrid and London.
Now in a pragmatic universe, you'd probably want Schalke in the QF's and a hard fought win over two legs. You would really not care who we played after that point. The objective being one of statement of progression.
In my universe, I'm floating on top of a sea of romantic notions and the best possible next chapter in this fantastical journey. It's not about the stage of the competition, it's about the quality of the competition.
Deep down, it probably really doesn't matter, does it? We're in the quarter-finals. It's the end game. It's where the standard of football goes up a notch so mistakes become more punishable teams are more ruthless and cunning. And offensively you can't afford to dither and hoof. We've gone further than most expected. There is no failure from aiming high. So we may as well. All we require from the team is that same spirit, belief and guile that finds us where we currently stand tall.
It's with the Gods now. I pray the balls in the pot are not too warm.
Second leg at home please.
Reader Comments (77)
Would prefer the Germans myself. Tough game but better chance of progressing. That's just me.
Hard to disagree with any of that Spooky. But if we do get the germans or Ukrainians I will insist on resisting any surges of disappointment & will travel Eastwards with pride and trepidation...
I echo Steven Pienaar's sentiment in drawing Baca.
I agree with all above. You can find pros and cons with all draws so I say barca or Madrid. If we are meant to win this cup (in a year ending in 1) lets do it "TottenhamHotspur maiden season" way, ATTACK and score more goals than the opponent. Winning barca/madrid in quart/semi and then anyone in the final, could it be any better? I'm looking forward to the draw.
Hey who would of ever dreamed we would get this far.... no one gave us a hope in hell, just think back to when we were 3 down to those young boys, and just look where we are now.I think i tend to agree with you spooks RM would be a fantastic tie to look forward to, but give the choice at this stage it has to be the germans. COYS !!
Barca first, Real second and the English clubs last.
Fancy a trip to Barca, saving airmiles, got well enough :-)
Just can't see us beating ManU, though I suppose our luck has to change some time. Chelsea would be an anticlimax as you say.
Anyone except Barca. Save them for the final.
Take it easy. Schalke, Inter and Shakhtar. Probably two Premiership clubs will face each other.
Schalke in the quarters, Real in the semis and Barca in the final COYS!!!!!!
I just dont want UTD sick of those fckers and their lovechild Webb, if we get them he will be the ref its in the stars. I want Madrid or Barca this is the fcking champions league so bring it on, if we get wooped so be it but I rekon we would give both of them a game for sure at the Lane. A trip to Barca would be amazing.
COYS
If we get Madrid we will have to play in that awful toilet blue kit, that's enough reason to avoid them
But all white at the Lane with Madrid in blue.
Quite agree with most of the comments. Let's please avoid M.Utd where you could bet your bottom dollar the ref would be Howard Ferguson, oops sorry Webb. I'd rather save Barca for the final as in a one off game anything could happen. On the other hand there's no disgrace to go out to such a fabulous team. So my choice would be Real Madrid just as a warm up for Barca.
Totally my setiments Lord Spooky. Love to play Real Madrid. Just came back from that city and I love the place, the women, food and the Bernabau is just one impressive futha fucker of a stadium.
Bring 'em on!
Sorry folks expectations are sky high.....
Shalke / Shaktar for the QF and semis
Barca in the final ...
Then in heaven .... let it roll.....
You watch we draw one of the PLs.... please NO!!!!!
COYS !!!!!!!
Spook,
"eternal strugglers for the Top four, finally making it to the promised land "... lovely stuff ... reminds me of eternal false dawns at Clackett Lane ... M25 turnoff near Sevenoaks on the way home from the Lane after another disappointment. Much happier now at the turnoff.
Danny Blanchflower and the Glory philosophy dictate Real next surely. Been there done that with Man U and Chelsea.Boring everyday League tucker.The big European times beckon and are to be enjoyed.
Don't want Man U, Chelsea or Inter as theyre not fixures that excite me and would just be an anti-climax
Knowing us we'd probably lose to Shalke or Shaktar as we'd be considered favourites
So, i agree, we may as well make the most of it
Real or Barca please!!
I really do dig the sentiment, lads, but I make no secret of preferring Shalke.
We've had to do it all the tough way so far. I want a bit of a more agreeable ride next.
Schalke in the QF's followed by the winner of the Inter/Shaktar tie in the SF's.... Oh to dream a dream
I do agree - don't let this ride PLEASE!!!!
COYS!!!!!
missed the stop before ride!!!
Let's do it the hard way, RM / Barca / Man U, C.O.Y.S!!!!!!!!, we can all be proud of what the lads have already achieved and long may it continue ;-0)
Got a real feeling it will be Chelsea or Real Madrid.
I think I prefer Chelsea over RM.
As I've mentioned before, Spooky, I also support Barcelona so I don't really want us to play them at all.
Real Madrid on the other hand! I would love it, just love it if we beat those smug, fascist rich boys on our way to the semi finals. I hate everything they stand for.
I want Real Madrid or Barca.
Lets go for glory!!!!!
If not one of the unglamorous duo (I gather Schalke have sacked their boss) then I want Man U so we can beat them with both Carrick and Berbatov on the pitch to witness it first-hand. Real would be my other choice. I reckon we could do Chelsea over two legs.
This would be my ideal draw Shalcka and then Madrid with the last leg at Spurs and we win then beat Inter in the final now that would be Spooky
Shalke followed by Real Madrid then Barcalona....obviously with Spurs winning the lot !
As long as its not an english club Im happy.
What time is the draw? I have a uni tutorial between 11 and 1 tomorrow and I really don't want to miss it. Anyone except Inter and the English clubs for me.
10:30 I think is when coverage starts. Not sure how long it will take for them to actually start the draw proper. Depends if Blatter walks out and does some stand-up comedy.
Cheers Spooky. Looks like I'll be in class then. Devastated. Some stand-up comedy like deciding to ban a 59 year old man from pitchside because he was head-butted - he's not one to shy away from a pagger but that is a joke!
Shaktar Donetsk vs Spurs
Real Madrid vs Man Utd
Barcelona vs Schalke
Inter vs Chelsea
_______________________________
Spurs vs Real Madrid
Barcelona vs Inter
CL Rehearsal: Utd drew Chelsea, Barca got Madrid. We got Shakhtar.
Schalke v Spurs
Man United v Schaktar
Real Madrid v Chelsea
Inter v Barcelona
Barca Barca Barca !
Then Real Madrid in the semi finals after we beat the mighty Catalans and then win the thing at Wembley and laugh at all the goons and blues :)
Harry Redknapps Blue And White Army !!
With you on this Spooky. So many good personal battles in a natch up with Real Madrid. Bale vs Ronaldo, Dawson vs Benzema and more. Think we could turn them over too. To dream is to do.
As much as I'd rather we didn't get a Premiership team, I'd love it if we eliminated chelsea or the mancs.
I want Real or the Germans and a six nil win tomorrow :)
Real Madrid v Spurs Man UTD v Barcelona Chelsea v Schaktar Inter v Schalke we will then play the winners of Inter game by then we will all be fluent in Italian with big pasta bellies
Apparently the last draw was leaked on twitter and turned out to be exactly right. This time round the leaked draw is as follows:
Inter Vs Barca
Madrid Vs Spurs
Chelsea Vs Shaktar
Man U Vs Shalke
"Bored of the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Can you even believe we'd ever think that?"
Can I 'ave that in Caps please spooky..... fucking glorious !!
As to the draw.... anyone... lets 'ave yaaaaaa !! COYS
You did it Spooky!
Ooh it's Real Madrid. Home leg second game.
SPOOKY, HOW DID YOU DO THAT! YOU GOT IT!
Amazing, next week lottery numbers?
GLORY GLORY TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Real, Barc and then Chavski or Yanited in the final....... COYMFS
To dare is to do boys, to dare is to do !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have an excellent chance of tapping up Jose now.
Levy is on the case.