Before I start I should explain a little about myself. I've been supporting spurs since 1990, so while I've been lucky enough to see some very talented players in that time with the likes of Gazza and Lineker, Dozzell and Nethercott, Sheringham and Klinsmann, King and Ginola, I've had to endure some of the leaner years in the clubs history.
These years of transition have been punctuated with the occasional glimmer of hope with 3 trophies won in that time and the odd run in the league when we didn't concede a goal for a few games. Then there was the chase for the Champions League and that wonderful night in Manchester when every spurs fan, myself included, celebrated finishing 4th like we'd actually just won something, oh how proud Bill Nicholson would've been. The following year we entertained and beat some of Europe's best (that's subjective) in the premier club competition in the world. We'd made it onto the modern day footballing landscape at last.
Unfortunately the club did what we do best and rested on our laurels. We put up a goodish fight for another top 4 finish in the league but a lack of strengthening in the obvious striker department cost us badly.
To most people that would be terrible, but not me. Like many spurs fans who spend their time on the internet chatting to complete strangers who may have more in common than the team they support although they probably don't, it's likely you'll be of a similar age to me and therefore have also had over 20 years of cock teasing when it comes to football. This has led me to be the ultimate pessimist. No matter who the team are playing I can see them messing it up. It's been drummed into me for two decades not to rely on the club I love because it'll only end up in tears.
I spent the best part of my younger teenage years draping my box room in the replica shirts, scarfs and flags I'd collect over the years with the belief if I did that we'd get the result I so badly wanted. When we ultimately lost I'd put it down to some dickhead not following the same routine as they'd done the week before when we'd managed to grab that last minute equaliser at home to Norwich. With marriage and children comes responsibility and as such I no longer have the time or space (seriously, how many shoes do women need?) to cover a room in my house with spurs memorabilia so I simply close my eyes and assume we'll lose.
That's worked wonders so far this season. My favourite prediction has been a draw because even at home I can see that one panning out. Of course with the exception of the opening two games I've been wrong but that's where the problem lies. The reason we've been winning is because I've been predicting draws and defeats. My pessimism has never waned no matter who we're playing. Only last weekend against a struggling Bolton side I stood in the Park Lane waiting for the obligatory Kevin Davies goal which never came. I had foreseen a lackluster Spurs start resulting in going a goal down, then watching 85 minutes of attack v defense and finally losing by that solitary goal.
So what happens when that pessimism turns to optimism?
I need to apologise now to all Spurs fans across the world because this weekend we'll find out. For the first time this season I'm confident which worries the crap out of me. Even with the ex-spurs player hoodoo which will inevitably mean Etherington crossing for Crouch to rise above Kaboul to power in an unstoppable header, I can't see how any team can halt this juggernaut of 3 point collecting at the moment. I know I've jinxed it now, I know I should stick to my normal views but it doesn't seem fair that there are those out there who sit back and look forward to games with no concern over the result, who can watch a game without the fear or humiliation of defeat and the "wheels coming off". I want to be like that too. It's hard work being as negative as I naturally am so here goes; I'm saying it out loud as I type this, Spurs will travel to Stoke where they've won in the previous two seasons and continue to be the only team that looks capable of challenging City for the title by comfortably collecting 3 points. There, it's done, it's out there, there's no taking it back or changing my mind.
If we win I can finally change my natural feelings towards Spurs forevermore (or at least until we become crap again) and if we fail to win I apologise to you all.
COYS
These years of transition have been punctuated with the occasional glimmer of hope with 3 trophies won in that time and the odd run in the league when we didn't concede a goal for a few games. Then there was the chase for the Champions League and that wonderful night in Manchester when every spurs fan, myself included, celebrated finishing 4th like we'd actually just won something, oh how proud Bill Nicholson would've been. The following year we entertained and beat some of Europe's best (that's subjective) in the premier club competition in the world. We'd made it onto the modern day footballing landscape at last.
Unfortunately the club did what we do best and rested on our laurels. We put up a goodish fight for another top 4 finish in the league but a lack of strengthening in the obvious striker department cost us badly.
To most people that would be terrible, but not me. Like many spurs fans who spend their time on the internet chatting to complete strangers who may have more in common than the team they support although they probably don't, it's likely you'll be of a similar age to me and therefore have also had over 20 years of cock teasing when it comes to football. This has led me to be the ultimate pessimist. No matter who the team are playing I can see them messing it up. It's been drummed into me for two decades not to rely on the club I love because it'll only end up in tears.
I spent the best part of my younger teenage years draping my box room in the replica shirts, scarfs and flags I'd collect over the years with the belief if I did that we'd get the result I so badly wanted. When we ultimately lost I'd put it down to some dickhead not following the same routine as they'd done the week before when we'd managed to grab that last minute equaliser at home to Norwich. With marriage and children comes responsibility and as such I no longer have the time or space (seriously, how many shoes do women need?) to cover a room in my house with spurs memorabilia so I simply close my eyes and assume we'll lose.
That's worked wonders so far this season. My favourite prediction has been a draw because even at home I can see that one panning out. Of course with the exception of the opening two games I've been wrong but that's where the problem lies. The reason we've been winning is because I've been predicting draws and defeats. My pessimism has never waned no matter who we're playing. Only last weekend against a struggling Bolton side I stood in the Park Lane waiting for the obligatory Kevin Davies goal which never came. I had foreseen a lackluster Spurs start resulting in going a goal down, then watching 85 minutes of attack v defense and finally losing by that solitary goal.
So what happens when that pessimism turns to optimism?
I need to apologise now to all Spurs fans across the world because this weekend we'll find out. For the first time this season I'm confident which worries the crap out of me. Even with the ex-spurs player hoodoo which will inevitably mean Etherington crossing for Crouch to rise above Kaboul to power in an unstoppable header, I can't see how any team can halt this juggernaut of 3 point collecting at the moment. I know I've jinxed it now, I know I should stick to my normal views but it doesn't seem fair that there are those out there who sit back and look forward to games with no concern over the result, who can watch a game without the fear or humiliation of defeat and the "wheels coming off". I want to be like that too. It's hard work being as negative as I naturally am so here goes; I'm saying it out loud as I type this, Spurs will travel to Stoke where they've won in the previous two seasons and continue to be the only team that looks capable of challenging City for the title by comfortably collecting 3 points. There, it's done, it's out there, there's no taking it back or changing my mind.
If we win I can finally change my natural feelings towards Spurs forevermore (or at least until we become crap again) and if we fail to win I apologise to you all.
COYS
