Cock and Ball Stories, Episode 7

A Brand New Dawn

As the 2017-18 season reaches the business-end of the campaign, our heads seem to be turned in multiple directions. Many supporters eagerly await the end of this Year of Wembley, whilst knowing that the season ticket process is underway at the new stadium. A controversial enough subject to each and their own. It would not be Tottenham if we didn’t have something to be upset/annoyed/frustrated with at this stage of the season, be it ticket pricing, how we will or won’t do without our free-scoring talisman whilst injured, Toby’s contract or the never-ending media ‘campaign’ over the club’s star players and their ‘on-field antics’.

So, let’s look back at this season and what has unfolded so far. Entering our temporary ‘home’ of Wembley stadium in August, knowing that our record had not been good last season or in previous cup matches, was compounded by a defeat at the hands of Chelsea in the home opener, falling 2-1 to a late Alonso goal, despite an impressive away win on the season’s opening weekend at Newcastle (certainly helping to banish the memories of the 5-1 mauling we received in 2016). The grumbling was loud as Spurs struggled in their next two home games, dropping points to Burnley and Swansea (the Swans match coming in September, but painting the picture). Harry Kane had also failed to score again in August. I guess the sun was rising in the west the following day, such was the impending doom we faced…

As the calendar changed, Kane silenced the ‘critics’ scoring for England and cheekily tweeting after the match that he ‘didn’t like August anyway’. He followed up with a brace in the first match after the international break in a 3-0 win at Goodison Park. As if almost single-handedly on a mission to shut up the naysayers, Kane popped up with another brace four days later as Tottenham began their champions League campaign with an impressive 3-1 victory against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, and then again in back-to-back-to-back impressive road outings in East London, Huddersfield and Nicosia. Harry sure liked September as he banged in eleven goals in Lilywhite.

Although Spurs were unbeaten since the opening day, results were still unconvincing at Wembley as any positive outcome seemed to come with a degree of too much huff and puff. One result, that set apart the struggle came on October 22nd as Klopp’s free-scoring Liverpool came to Wembley and left on the back of a 4-1 hiding. Kane was taking the piss again but Alli and Eriksen also stood out in a complete Spurs performance. What dumbfounded the media that day was they expected Spurs to struggle after their heroics in a 1-1 draw at the Bernebeu the previous Tuesday. We actually waited a couple of days later to do that: a 3-2 loss to West Ham in the Carabao Cup after leading 2-0 at the break. Spursy still has a habit of popping up when you least expected it.

November was soon upon us. Further impressive results in the Champions League smashing Madrid at Wembley 3-1 on November 1st – definitely Día de los Muertos for Los Blancos – and a superb come-from-behind win at Dortmund that saw Spurs win their group with one match to play. League form was not so impressive with defeats to that lot and Leicester, along with a struggle at home to WBA. Spurs were 7th in the league, but only four points out of the top four. Social media was not a fun place that weekend…

As the clocks changed along with the advent of longer winter nights, the Christmas fixture list and the chance to shape the table as the calendar clicked on one more year, Spurs finally made Wembley feel more like home as Stoke and Southampton were put to the sword, 5-1 and 5-2, respectively. A 2-0 midweek win versus a lively Brighton, sandwiched in between. Any chance we could show we could compete with big-spending Manchester City, perched at the top of the table and effectively already champions-elect, would end in tears as we were comprehensively beaten 4-1, despite hanging on at 1-1 for most of the match. As Tottenham’s home record improved, their great start on the road had stuttered with no league wins since the 4-0 result at Huddersfield in September. This was corrected as Spurs downed an impressive Burnley 3-0 at Turf Moor two days before Christmas.

January saw wins at Swansea and at Wembley versus Everton and Manchester United. The United match seeing Christian Eriksen score in 11 seconds from kick-off as we resoundingly beat Mourinho’s men. January is also traditionally associated with the FA Cup. Spurs overcame a plucky AFC Wimbledon in the third round but needed Harry Kane to save our blushes with a late equaliser at Newport in the fourth round.

So as the season approaches April, we finished February and March with more FA Cup success: a 2-0 replay against Newport, a 6-1 thrashing versus Rochdale in the fifth-round replay at a very snowy Wembley, and a nice business-like 3-0 win at Swansea in the quarter-finals. Victory in the league saw four straight positive results against Ars*nal, Palace, Huddersfield and Bournemouth as we battled Liverpool back and forth for that commanding position in the top four. There was no bigger controversy than with the Reds in early February. With enough late drama to rival the finest soap operas, Spurs left Anfield with a point that the Scousers felt conned out of. Kane and Alli being labeled divers after the match. Whether or not we rode our luck or ‘got away with it’, I find it incredulous the amount of vitriol that Liverpool fans still shade our way, two months after the result. Clearly very sore losers. Ashamed of nothing, offended by everything is so true with them.

The disappointment of the last four weeks has to be the night of March 7th as Spurs were stunned at Wembley by two second half goals by Juventus that turned the match, and the tie on its head. Tottenham had overcome a 2-0 early score-line in Turin to return home with two valuable away goals. After Son continued his impressive scoring form to put Tottenham 3-2 up on aggregate, Higuaín and Dybala broke Spurs’ hearts. Despite twenty minutes remaining in the match, their two quick goals left us scrambling to score the one crucial goal which would have prolonged the tie. Now that we are able to see how the quarterfinals unfolded, another juicy tie with Real Madrid would have awaited Tottenham. But, despite the hurt of the loss, Spurs can hold their heads high after such a dismal Champions League campaign last season to winning their group with a 5-1-0 record. All the more reason for Tottenham to be in the hat for next season’s tournament, especially returning to the new stadium. This can be the catalyst for continued progression in Europe’s premier tournament for years to come.

So, with all that excitement behind us, we are left to reflect on the last two months of the season. Eight league matches left. Next up, Chelsea away. I don’t need to remind anyone that we have not performed well at the Bridge in the last 28 years, with our last win at Stamford Bridge courtesy of Messrs. Howells and Lineker in 1990. Despite a five-point advantage over the Blues, maintaining the bulk of that gap will be critical to our season plans, so a point would be acceptable given our record there. After Chelsea, the only other tough remaining fixture would be the visit of Manchester City. They could already be champions at that point if they beat their cross-city rivals the weekend before, but nonetheless we need to make a statement, particularly in light of how we lost at the Etihad. At the risk of sounding too cocky or disrespectful to the other clubs, we should be looking for maximum points from the remaining six matches to secure that top four spot, and even a place better than that.

One fixture omitted from that last paragraph brings us full circle to that ‘Brand New Dawn’. Tottenham face Manchester United at Wembley on April 21st for a place in this season’s FA Cup final against the winners of Chelsea and Southampton. We know too well that our last seven FA Cup semi-finals have all ended in defeat. We all know the club has not lifted the Cup since 1991 and have only two other trophies to show for since then. A run that is not lost on a different generation of Spurs fans used to success in cup tournaments down the years. Opinion is divided as to whether this Spurs side can be measured as successful on consecutive top four finishes, a brilliant, young squad and an excellent manager with an incredible coaching style. Add the new stadium and the potential to break the wage structure to enable the club to compete with the ‘haves’ and ‘mega-rich’ clubs for many years to come, and indeed the future looks lilywhite. But what about the true measure of success? That of titles and trophies. Does the club continue to evolve, continue to grow each season at the cost of missing out on silverware? Should there be a League Cup or an FA Cup along the way to the ultimate goal: Premier League glory or the holy grail, the Champions League title? This team by all rights, is punching above its weight and has been since Pochettino took over as coach in 2014. And for that we are all grateful, I’m sure (maybe not the ENIC Out/Poch Out brigade, but they’ll never be happy). We can also argue that luck has not been on our side. Last season’s 86 points would have won the league in many previous campaigns, and to face a rank outsider in Leicester the previous year, when the big guns faltered was an opportunity missed no matter how you slice it. History will determine if this is a false dawn approaching and whether we have we missed our chances already. How long can we keep this side together without silverware success? It’s safe to say that a year or two in the new digs is acceptable for the Eriksens, Allis and Kanes to assess if the project is still on course, but after that? If there are no titles, no cups, what then? How does the Alderweireld contract saga – as if we truly know what’s going on – affect the chemistry of the squad? Whatever the outcome, the dynamic will alter. With additional TV revenue, a spanking new stadium and all that season-ticket monies, the club will have the coffers expanded (yes, there is a one billion dollar stadium to pay off). Where does the money go? To the players with new contracts so we can attract even the most mercenary of players out there for instant gratification, versus those rather more interested in a project that brings success later? There are no guarantees for success in football today even though money does give any club a distinct leg up over their competition. I think we’d all agree that Spurs need some help. We all hope Kane stays to see out this project and is up there in the same breath as Jimmy Greaves when all is said and done. We all hope that the season ticket holder episode is resolved for all: the Trust, the Club, those who are paying or being priced out of football all together. I have no dog in the fight so it’s unfair for me to form an opinion on this matter and I respect both sides of the argument. It’s a tough one, for sure.

So, to offer up some final thoughts and wishes for the season: beat City, followed by United the following weekend in mid-April. Deliver victories in the remaining fixtures to secure top four. And I would be all for dropping points to the Chavs this coming weekend if it means winning at Wembley on May 19th. For me, that’s success. Whether third or fourth in the league, but within a couple of points of last season’s haul along with success in a major trophy ticks the boxes for me. I’m not one for compromise. I want my cake and the spoon is ready. FA Cup holders and Champions League football in the new stadium is, well… a Brand New dawn.

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