Tottenham fantasy Hotspur

With season ticket renewals, Louis van Gaal and selfie salutes hitting the news, it has been quite easy to forget we still have five games left.  Five games to save a season. Five games to claim some glory. A fantasy maybe, but fantasies are delightful things. 

Many would rather slip a lethal injection into our season and just end it all now, rather than embarking on yet another quest for Spurs fulfilment, and I understand why. Our crimes have been too foul for us to be allowed to continue. The crime of building up hope then slowly, one thrashing at a time, taking it apart, is far too heinous to escape punishment.

Our hopes and dreams were set so high because of that Friday in the height of summer last year. The day we signed everyone. Builder, birthday boy and cornerstone of The Fighting Cock website Case quipped: “I want to go back to that day, it was the highlight of my season.” He isn’t wrong.

The problem was nothing we could muster up since that day has come close. That day we imagined and let our fantasies run wild. We all reached out and bathed in imaginary glory, it was breathtaking, but aren’t all fantasies?  It’s why we have them, the problem is though our mind is far more creative than anything reality can actually serve up. Yet still we chase.

[linequote]Fantasy? Of course, but if you can’t dream then kindly back away from this club.[/linequote]

Natalie Portman in just a Spurs shirt, Mila Klunis in just Spurs shorts and Anna Sofia Henao in just Spurs socks, in my mind it is fantastic. Three beautiful women on a mission to drive me to sensual nirvana, but in real life they would probably be a writhing mass of neurosis and divaness. I would be ordered around, not in a nice way, and would probably end up making my excuses to take my lap top to the loo. It is the curse of fantasy, reality will never match up, but it is nice to dream isn’t it?

Trying to get back on track and away from toned female bodies, I turn back to football fantasy and the fundamental problem of it daring us to dream. There are five games left and if we win all five, we can finish above Arsenal and if Everton have a mare, maybe Spurs can gatecrash top four. Fantasy? Of course, but if you can’t dream then kindly back away from this club.

We are Tottenham, we are a club built on the glory of histories past and constant chase to have them again. Unfortunately apart from an odd month here or there we have spotted glory dashing just over the top of a hill, we have been largely left alone with our tissues and lotion. However this has never stopped us from dreaming, therefore why should we stop now?

[linequote]There are five games left and if we win all five, we can finish above Arsenal and if Everton have a mare, maybe Spurs can gatecrash top four[/linequote]

The five games we have left aren’t a terrifying gauntlet of pain and punishment. They are against five teams who in any other season in recent history we would expect to beat. Yes I agree this isn’t “any other season,” but push that to one side and join me in daring to dream.

West Brom away is our first obstacle and in terms of making a fantasy come true, its a pretty nice warm up act. The Baggies are yet to win at home under new boss Pepe Mel and rumours, for what they are worth, suggest there has been infighting and criticism of Mel’s style.  West Brom aren’t the united counter attacking threat they were under Steve Clarke or spearheaded by Shane Long and Romelu Lukaku, like us they have lost their pace.

However, what they have lost in bluntness they have gained in structure. Mel will have them pressing, seeking to win the ball up high up and testing our passing in our own third. Not our strongest point.

It has been something we have all repeated ad nauseam all year, but we cant afford to start sloppy.  To often we have had the initiative stolen from us, occasionally we have managed wrestle it back, but  the question still remains, why cant we play from a position of power?

In 2013/14 we haven’t scored a goal in the opening 15 minutes of a PL game. I have never been one to cite stats to prove a point, but that is a big neon flashing Las Vegas style sign as to why our season has suffered. Start quick, impose yourself then control. It’s why Liverpool are top. They come flying out of the tunnel grab an early goal then sit back and thrash teams on the counter. We used to be a good counter attacking side, the reason why aren’t any longer is we are continually having to chase games.

[linequote]We used to be a good counter attacking side, the reason why aren’t any longer is we are continually having to chase games[/linequote]

The style hasn’t changed at Spurs, only our inability to start quickly. Look back at our key fixtures and you will see a common thread, we conceded early and spent the rest of the game chasing it. Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal have all benefited in recent weeks from our weak starts,   if we can reverse this for the final few games, the fantasy is on.

The role play for Saturday should be:  Strong and determined body posture as we strut out on to the pitch, a quick and forceful initial thrust, vigorous  yet sustained forward motions followed by a glorious finish and a smile. Three points collected, and a warm, fuzzy feeling throughout. Arsenal who aren’t playing a Premier League game this weekend will start to have comparison and anxiety issues and when it’s there turn stage fright will take hold.

Good fantasy? It is one worth paying thousands for and one I will keep in my mind until Saturday.

If it back fires then I will allow you to borrow my Portman, Klunis, Henao and Under Armour one, but if it comes true? You will find me in a sticky mess desperately waiting for the next game.