Pinch yourself
Friday, January 13, 2012 at 10:46AM Spurs 2 Everton 0
This is getting ridiculous now. Another win. Another clean sheet. Third in the table, level on points with second. Might even go ‘level top’ momentarily over the weekend if we beat Wolves. It’s all very giddy and nosebleedy. Should I pinch myself? Should we pinch ourselves? Have you pinched yourself? No? Neither have I. Because I know I’m not dreaming. We deserve this. We have to keep believing there’s more. What I might have to do at some point (soon) is take a step back and try to take it all in. Really appreciate what we have and what we are aspiring to do. Because in a sort of funny kinda ironic way, most of us are remaining quite grounded over our form. No delusions. No set in stone ambitions either. Let’s face it, start of season we’d have taken fourth spot. Most pundits/media folk would have had us pinned down as outsiders, 5th at best. After the opening two games there were plenty writing off our chances. Concerned that the loss of form from the back end of the previous season was going to continue into this one.
It didn’t. We signed the players we needed to shape ourselves up in order to compete. Since the Manc nightmares we’ve lost only once. We’ve accumulated a points tally that would easily have us challenging for the title in previous years and one that has us in there at the moment, sticking around, just to see what happens. You know, just in case one of the more fancied sides balls it up. When we’ve had players out injured, we’ve dug deep and found a way to adapt. Proving that although key injuries would unsettle us and perhaps cause us long term difficulties – we have still found a way through the fixtures. We did exactly what we had to do through Christmas and the New Year and it’s looking good to finish Jan in similar high spirits as we enter Feb and the ‘doom and gloom’ of the away games we’ll be contesting. A period which is where most expect us to fall away. Mostly based on the fact we shouldn’t be sitting in 3rd spot. We’re far more robust for these fixtures than some give us credit for.
The guile and grit is ever present. Tactically, we’re sound. Players are impressing. Jake Livermore (sure, it was only Everton but he still has to go out there and perform) played with maturity and composure and looked the part in centre-midfield, tidying up and not scared to get involved and carry the ball forward. Had a pass completion rate of just under 99%.
Rafa van de Vaart continues to excel, work rate and sublime cross-field passing – he can do both. Michael Dawson returned, action-packed, willing to hurt his body to win the ball, the big huggable lump. Our full backs are pulsating. The unbridled joy of Benny’s goal and celebration testament to team unity. What a peach of a goal. Not forgetting Lennon, back in the side giving us complete width and thus comfort in playing the way we know best. Even though we didn’t defeat the visitors with flair on the night. More so tenacity and focus. We controlled it. This fabled game in hand that we’ve been embracing for so long as the one that can edge us further ahead from the chasing pack and ever closer to the top. We didn’t trip over. We skipped, with smiles.
Yet we could still strengthen further, preferably with young hungry players rather than looking to bring back a memory. But then we’re not in need for such a thing to anchor onto the past in the attempt to get some ilk of stranglehold on the present. Mainly because we don’t have anyone to call back (can’t seem to track down Andy Booth). And more so because we don’t have to look back, just forward. Nothing can be done about what’s happened, what’s gone before. It’s not relevant.
Spurs are still evolving. Which probably explains why I’m not gloating/dancing naked in the street at our lofty position. I’m simply enjoying our football and the players we have. We’re always told we won’t do this and we won’t do that, and whilst they waste their energy on attempting to box us back up...we’ve just kept on going. Football cycles always come to an end, so the death of the immaculate untouchable Sky Sports Top Four has given hope where there was no hope before. Where as you could argue we were punching above our weight in 2006 (because others faltered a little), you can’t say so with the class of 2012.
I’m not even thinking about the title. I refuse to look into her sultry eyes and be seduced. Not until she flashes her panties at me and invites me into her hotel bedroom. I just want us to keep on winning, to keep on believing. The buzz I get from this seasons form is more than enough to very gently alter the way I support Spurs. I’m far less stressed now. I don’t fear defeat, I hate the very mention of it. I don’t expect us to lose games. I don’t expect us to choke or bottle it. I know we can muddle our way through a sticky situation or ride our luck and even brush aside opposing sides and win comfortably. We grind it, we style it. Old school Tottenham, the one we’ve grown up with...the one that can be majestic and beautiful one day and absolutely abject the next. It doesn’t exist anymore. We’re just haunted by a memory, the memory of a fading knee—jerk. An expectancy of failure from the days when our form guide was populated with ‘D’ and ‘L’, punctured by the odd ‘W’. When we do come unstuck, it’s because...it happens. It happens to the best of teams. I know we’ll react positively to it. Because the club’s mentality has been fine tuned to start resembling one that can be synonymous with those of winners.
Momentum, a consequence of wanting more than a win in isolation but the necessity to make every win part of something far bigger.
It’s not happened overnight either. Started with Jol. We learnt lessons with how Ramos came to be and came to leave. Redknapp got us back to a respectable position that the squad of players should have been achieving based on their abilities. Then we took it up a notch. We finished 4th. We had our adventure. It wasn’t enough, it’s not enough to be remembered for a cameo. We came unstuck last season, we added to our squad this term...and whilst we continue to push on, others stagnate.
I don’t pinch myself because we’ve taken a step at a time to get where we are. It’s been a process, a progression. But it still remains just a platform, a foundation. We’ve got such a good solid chance to make it so much more than that. But if I did take a step back and try to take it all in, I probably would turn melter and go loopy over the fact that we’re contending. I have to go back to ’87 for the last time we looked ‘the part’.
Maybe I’ve got it all wrong, being reserved and holding back. I always cite ‘wear your heart on your sleeve’ because that’s what we do. In the past, when perpetually mid-table we still supported our club like it was the best club on the planet. Why? Because it is the best. Even during some of the most depressive periods with some God awful players lining up for us, we still sang our hearts out. Should not be any different now. Especially with what we’ve got wearing our Lilywhite colours.
There should be no pressure on us. We shouldn’t spend our time in the stands biting our nails. Which should dare to achieve because there’s no glory in simply aiming for something that isn’t first place. Because anything that isn’t first place can’t be the most glorious of things to aim for.
Go on then, pinch yourself.
So believe. Believe until it’s mathematically impossible. Otherwise, you’re only living your life at half-pelt.
COYS.
Reader Comments (34)
1st
I'm sure it was 2-0!
Thought we won 2-0? Or was that a dream...
Goose pimples reading this...inspired and inspiring...
Harry should get you into the dressing room before kick off tomorrow to read this out to the players.
BELIEVE
COYS
Wow what an article my knees have gone all trembly!!!!
Corrected score. I forgot about Lennon's opener. Blame Benny.
Funnily enough I heard earlier Andy Booth has just signed for Huddersfield again - are you really suggesting? No - can't be surely. Note to myself - must do more research.
Let's secure 4th first, or 1st fourth if you know what I mean. 1.5 points a game between now and the end of the season will do that. heck, we could even lose 4 and draw 4 and do it! COYS!
Great post...and yes, the dream is still alive.
One comment tho...surely must be time to pen a letter to DL again...saying sorry!!
This has filled me up with so much passion and pride for the team i have supported
thousands of miles away my entire short life. my number one love (dont let my wife know).
come the end of this season i would like to cry with joy as our beloved lilywhites raise that
premier league trophy up for all their die hard fans to gaze upon. it have been many years coming but i think its time we take what will be rightfully ours this season...
Genuine title contenders! Come on you beautiful spurs. Still would like us to sign maybe another striker (who can play upfront on his own) incase adebayor picks up a knock and a winger just incase bale or Lennon pick up an injury. But no point signing players for silly amounts of money who aren't good enough. Still think kranjcar has a part to play as well.
I'm like most Spurs fans at the moment, just seeming to take it all one game at a time perhaps until the other night actually when we finally played our famous 'game in hand' and then won the damn thing!
I had a look at some stats and in the last 6 seasons the most points that any team would have needed to finish above the team who ended up 5th was 68pts. It got me thinking that we only needed another 8 wins to beat that - from 18 games!! Surely top 4 then is almost a certainty now.
As to anything else I just want to see what happens, to make a couple of quality signings now (cover for Ade, Lennon/Bale & Gallas/King?). The crucial period then is the next 6-7 weeks when we have those tougher away games. If we can at least nick a few draws so they don't catch us and we end up no more than 3-4 points behind City/United we then have a decent run in - I might then start to think the unthinkabe :)
can you remember what it was like to be back at the Lane on Wednesday spooky? or were you and the other TFC chaps a little "emotional"?
Great write up and i am trying so hard to just focus on 1 game at a time.... Sort of 12 step recovery for Spurs fans.... (dont think of the future, just take it a day at a time).... Hello my names foxy and i'm a spurs-a-holic....
Wolves next and i'll be there..... COYS!
Hey Spook's you have done it again... great blog ! I don't quite know how someone can just respond with 1st to a fantastic piece of writing.
I think we all can't believe what's happening, but it is and we don't need to pinch ourselves, this is nothing short of unbelievable the football that we are playing, and what a performance the other night against Everton, you know in years gone by that would have ended up 0.0 or 0.1... not anymore. I have to say i was a little worried when i saw the team sheet and PNB was not on there, but just look at how his replacement played, Jake was superb and when called for he certainly did step up to the plate, a special mention has to go to Daws as well the guy has been out for 4 months in only his second game back he was outstanding along side the loose cannonboul, and i love the way he is not attempting the 50 yard passes, our short passes and retaining possession is quite brilliant... we look like champions. A&E what more can you say he's right up there with the best, Kyle Walker another great game. Like you say Spooky i don't fear defeat anymore, it's not there the fear has gone because we are looking so good, if it wasn't for some diabolical decisions up at Stoke we would have won that game a swell,
Without a doubt we deserve to be where we are in the league, can't wait for the Wolves game, and what about next weeks game how exciting a prospect is that. COYS !!!
“We signed the players we needed to shape ourselves up in order to compete.”
Those are the key words behind our success.
If we sign another couple of “proper” players in January, we'll win the title.
I wish we could sign Huntelaar.
A young prospective of a striker could eventually be the successor of Hernandez in Guadalajara Eric Torres.
Great blog Spooky
"Spurs are still evolving. Which probably explains why I’m not gloating/dancing naked in the street at our lofty position. I’m simply enjoying our football and the players we have"
This is exactly what i'm thinking, all my Utd supporting friends keep asking "Do you think you'll win it?" and i just say "I'm expecting nothing, I'm just loving how we're playing" Is this the lifelong Spurs fan in me expecting it to turn sour? I don't know but i don't second guess the result each weekend and have even considered betting on Spurs!!! Long may this continue and COYS!
You say we lost once since the Manc Affairs. Correction Dear Boy; We were cheated out of, at least a draw there.
We were Foy-iled.
"The buzz I get from this seasons form is more than enough to very gently alter the way I support Spurs. I’m far less stressed now. I don’t fear defeat, I hate the very mention of it."
Well said, agree with you totally.
I've been careful not to mention the court room date for the 23rd of Jan thus far.
Would be oh so typical Spurs if that was to not end too well.
Brilliant as usual mate.
Second, third, fourth....OK, we'll see how it goes.
Personally, the buzz, the pride, the reason, is hearing EVERYONE, saying we are playing the best football. That's what THFC is about.
COYS
I'm still familiarising myself with this feeling of calm while watching us play football these days. I only used to get this feeling if we were at least 3-0 up, and even not then if we were playing ManU. Now though, it's an almost ever-present. At first I was worried that this calmness meant that I cared less about football, or that winning all the time is becoming boring. I can't wait for the City game now - it's the first game in some time that we will be going into it as underdogs. I'm sure the nervousness will return for that game. It better do anyway, or else I'm going to have to buy myself a nail-clipper.
Well...I DO remember the Double season and we practically had the Lge title done/dusted by now. Slight exaggeration maybe, but as far as the rest (Sheff Weds - ha !) were concerned, we were a distant dot on the horizon.
Different now of course. We could win it. Goal diff might be a heart-breaker, but if we keep winning matches, we're going to be bloody hard to stop even though there are tough away games upcoming. Fulham at home for the title. Jol/Murphy/Zamora's chance to spoil the party. Standing between us and Glory. Maybe it's written to be like that...
Great article. Being somewhat older, when I first started going to Spurs with my big brother, they never lost at home and no-one expected them to. After more than two seasons watching them, they finally lost in my presence, 3 -2 at home to Sheffield Wednesday (I think). I needed therapy to get over that. So for me the current situation is more 'back where we belong' than 'punching above our weight' and all that crap we've endured.
That old team won every week by the adage 'one game at a time'. So let's not think about our league position, Man C or any of the others. Wolves are coming tomorrow, they will be all out to beat us, and we need to be at the very top of our game. Nothing else is relevant.
The way we control games is astonishing - since the City game only WBA have put any kind of pressure on us. Livermore with 76/77 passing ratio just highlights the calmness and control we have right now.
Am a bit worried about Ade - maybe it's because he's tired but he needs to be a bit more greedy, seems like he doesn't really want to score. A big powerful forward to rotate with him might be enough to clinch the league.
I have been waiting for our normal stumbles (the last couple of years against rubbish opponents at home) and it is yet to happen. I have had the belief in spurs since Harry took charge that we would be the team to break the big 4. Little did i suspect the complete removal of the big four concept thanks to us and a team losing 1m a day.
So here we are, in a strong position to post a competitive effort at the title yet without the belief many of the "big four" sides have. Without the expectation of success it becomes very difficult to achieve. To win the title this season we have to start truly believing that we are real challengers, ensure we don't lose any stupid games and make sure that city knows we are right behind them just waiting for them to drop points.
Many people have said that we are over achieving, personally I feel that we are finally achieving to our potential. We have the second best squad in the league and therefore should be competing for the title.
The 'situation' we find ourselves in this season is part of the direction in which the club is travelling.
It is not a fluke, and it is not as a result of others around us failing to perform.
Last season we could have (should have!) still qualified for the Champions League had we not 'endured' so many draws/losses against the bottom end of the table. I try to be realistic as a supporter of my beloved Spurs, and whilst it does come under the category of 'what if', it is only a 'what if' against the teams we should expect to beat.
11pts from a possible 30pts against the teams that occupied the bottom 5 places come the end of the season - 19pts dropped when finishing 6pts off 4th place and 9pts off 2nd place. When you are beating FC Twente, Werder Bremen, Inter Milan & AC Milan during the week, it really is a bitter pill to swallow.
So my 'what if's' are not based based on 'if onlys', like 'if only we'd managed to beat Man Utd', they are based on what we should expect to achieve as a bare minimum as a Champion's League team.
We basically shot ourselves in the foot last season.
Everton 'flirted' with the Champions League, and struggled for form in the Premier League at the same time, finding it very difficult to make the step up to playing in both. We didnt struggled to adapt to playing both, we just systematically screwed up against teams we should be comfortably beating.
Last season we outplayed and humbled Inter Milan (the 'then' reigning champions of Europe) on the Tuesday, and followed that up with a 4-2 defeat at Bolton. Over 2 legs we defeated AC Milan, and in between the two ties we lost to Blackpool and drew with Wolves.
This time round we have 15pts from 15pts available against the teams occupying the bottom 5 places.
That highlights the difference this season, and as far as I am concerned, our current standing in the league is truly deserved.
We have added the steel in the middle of the park (Peter Parker), and have a more solid looking centre of defence - regardless of the occupants. I am sure Friedel is a major contributory factor to our solidity at the back.
We replaced a very tall target man with questionable ability (3MP) with another pretty tall guy who has considerable ability (ADE). VDV can now properly run amok, safe in the knowledge that a pass into the 'tall-guys' feet will likely create a chance for someone.
We have the best wing-combination in the league, in BALE & LENNON, and we have a top class full back (BAE) and an emerging class full back (The Boy Walker).
Oh, and then there's Modric. There are not enough superlatives to do him justice... just a few more goals would be nice.
Now here is an 'if only'...
IF ONLY our beloved Spurs had broken the habit of a lifetime and got their transfer business completed BEFORE the campaign started... perhaps then we may have got something against the Mancs... both of them!
COYS - Win the League for your ever faithful - I for one am confident it is possible!
The 'situation' we find ourselves in this season is part of the direction in which the club is travelling.
It is not a fluke, and it is not as a result of others around us failing to perform.
Last season we could have (should have!) still qualified for the Champions League had we not 'endured' so many draws/losses against the bottom end of the table. I try to be realistic as a supporter of my beloved Spurs, and whilst it does come under the category of 'what if', it is only a 'what if' against the teams we should expect to beat.
11pts from a possible 30pts against the teams that occupied the bottom 5 places come the end of the season - 19pts dropped when finishing 6pts off 4th place and 9pts off 2nd place. When you are beating FC Twente, Werder Bremen, Inter Milan & AC Milan during the week, it really is a bitter pill to swallow.
So my 'what if's' are not based based on 'if onlys', like 'if only we'd managed to beat Man Utd', they are based on what we should expect to achieve as a bare minimum as a Champion's League team.
We basically shot ourselves in the foot last season.
Everton 'flirted' with the Champions League, and struggled for form in the Premier League at the same time, finding it very difficult to make the step up to playing in both. We didnt struggled to adapt to playing both, we just systematically screwed up against teams we should be comfortably beating.
Last season we outplayed and humbled Inter Milan (the 'then' reigning champions of Europe) on the Tuesday, and followed that up with a 4-2 defeat at Bolton. Over 2 legs we defeated AC Milan, and in between the two ties we lost to Blackpool and drew with Wolves.
This time round we have 15pts from 15pts available against the teams occupying the bottom 5 places.
That highlights the difference this season, and as far as I am concerned, our current standing in the league is truly deserved.
We have added the steel in the middle of the park (Peter Parker), and have a more solid looking centre of defence - regardless of the occupants. I am sure Friedel is a major contributory factor to our solidity at the back.
We replaced a very tall target man with questionable ability (3MP) with another pretty tall guy who has considerable ability (ADE). VDV can now properly run amok, safe in the knowledge that a pass into the 'tall-guys' feet will likely create a chance for someone.
We have the best wing-combination in the league, in BALE & LENNON, and we have a top class full back (BAE) and an emerging class full back (The Boy Walker).
Oh, and then there's Modric. There are not enough superlatives to do him justice... just a few more goals would be nice.
Now here is an 'if only'...
IF ONLY our beloved Spurs had broken the habit of a lifetime and got their transfer business completed BEFORE the campaign started... perhaps then we may have got something against the Mancs... both of them!
COYS - Win the League for your ever faithful - I for one am confident it is possible!
Great post,
Like so many Spurs fans I to have bit my lip and hid behind a cheeky smile to avoid saying out loud what we all think (just in-case that can in anyway influence our boys) that this really is the best Spurs team to adorn the lillywhite shirt and wear it with the same pride as we the brave fans who through thick and thin support you with heads held high and pride in our hearts for that special moment that glimmer of hope that spark of light that will make us smile and gather round the water cooler for 5 extra minutes just to say i was there or did you see that.
We have without doubt assembled the best group of players i have known in my 43 years, who even without us daring to say out loud have found within themselves the passion and pride it is to wear the shirt.
I thank you one and all for I feel it would be an injustice to single any one player out for special praise as we are a team, and I feel I can now say with heartfelt pride that maybe just maybe we can win the lot because if the players themselves finally believe they can and along with our help go all the way, then I say sing up as the boys need us and now is our time to shine let them show us the way and win or lose this is without doubt the finest group of players to ever remind me what I had ingrained into me from an early age that to be a Spurs fan is truly one of the greatest things in life.
We can do it..........I Believe COYS !!!!!!!!!
Nice piece Spooky. The depth of the responses confirm it.
Have loved the shirt for 50 years. Bring on City!
A very good post. However, I think there are a few dark clouds on the horizon and I don't mean the 4 or 5 top teams coming up on the fixture list but rather the number of injured players who pose a few questions.
When we made 4th 2 years ago the good thing was the players who came in and stepped up to the mark. Dawson has just come back but we still have 2 central defenders -King and Gallas frequently out ( I'm amazed Gallas stayed fit as long as he did ). This basically leaves Dawson and Kaboul with Bassong as back up ( possibly Charlie and Thudd if they get fit ). I 'd love us to get Cahill or possibly Samba to reinforce central defence. This could free up Kaboul for right back if needed.
Central midfield is more worrying where both Parker and Sandro are injured not to mention Thudd. Livermore did ok against Everton but as this is the area where we've improved the most I have some concerns for the big games coming up. Maybe Pienaar could fill in here...
Up front -Adebayor is a big improvement but I think he should be getting more goals ( he should have had at least one against Everton ). Pav is an option here but maybe we need someone else? We can't rely on goals from the full backs to put the game to rest every week...our forwards need to get more goals if we're to kill off the opposition.
I'm less concerned about other positions as I think we have adequate backup -notably with Krancar and Piennaar who I think could surprise a few people.So for me the key is how resilient we are and how well we can cover for injuries and suspensions as the second half of the season takes its toll.
COYS
It's why this month *is* important even if Harry chooses to downplay it.
Levy has to consider long term too, so not sure impact of court case on possible dealings.
"The buzz I get from this seasons form is more than enough to very gently alter the way I support Spurs. I’m far less stressed now. I don’t fear defeat, I hate the very mention of it."
I fear defeat, even in the games I wouldn't normally. Its the fact that EVERY game is vital now. In years gone by i would look at the point cushion between us and the teams below and mentally write games off. The difference for me is I don't expect to lose anymore, even when 1 or 2 nil down away and I don't stress if we're 0-0 at halftime against crap teams anymore. I know someone will do the business eventually
It's a new form of pressure, we want to win every single game. Difference with the past is, we're actually very capable of doing just that.
For me, Utd at home is the one (sure, City away is equally important - but we never seem to beat Utd, bored of it now).
Spooky, if I called this post fantastic, it would be an insult to you. So I will say well done, your post was.. Livermoresque.
As much as I really really love Ade as a striker, and have done for years, it physically hurts to think how much Berbatov would fit and complement this squad, with his deceptive pace on the ball, his aerial ability (like Ade), his Livermoresque first touch (unlike Ade), his good linkup play (similar to Ade), but most of all his habit of finishing up chances well (much better than Ade does).
It just sucks that he's a maggot Man U fan. Unlike Ade.
Forgive me for bringing Berba up, I couldn't help but think it while watching the game.