Falling in love again

[ginola99]

From the Ficking Cock

Falling in love again

By Paul Johnson • Jul 16, 2014 • 12

Last year as the final whistle sounded on a disappointing season it felt good to get some space and hypothetically suggest not coming back, but here we are ready for more. SniersMoregut looks deep into his soul and tells us why Spurs matter to him and why he can’t wait to get back to simply supporting the club he loves, top four or not.

mmediately after the final whistle it began. A private monologue of misery, one that I’d had on occasions before, but there was something different this time – it felt like an unbreakable bond had in fact been broken. The depth of disappointment I felt was (or seemed) fathoms below the normal post season pain. I thought they’d lost me.

The words flew through my mind:

“I can’t see me renewing after that. One of the worst seasons I can recall in over 30. It wasn’t the results or where we finished. It just felt so awful, so disappointing, so painful, so disorganised, random, aimless and ultimately pointless.

“They’ve lost me. Sherwood, Levy, ENIC, StubHub, Eastlands, The Death Star, all of it. I don’t like it anymore. There’s no good, the joy has gone. I’m done with that.”

But something unexpected happened in the intervening weeks. The sheer, unadulterated joy and brilliance of the World Cup was a surprisingly cathartic experience. Being sucked in to a thrilling festival of football, able to enjoy the games as a near neutral, consuming football in a slightly different way. I could simply admire the unfolding drama of each game as a dispassionate observer.

The results were secondary to the spectacle itself. There was something to admire in every game, something to grip my attention, excite the senses and push me to the edge of my seat. Perhaps even jump out of it. I was left exhausted, excited and elevated after some games. It reminded me why I love football and why I wander up the High Road. Spurs hadn’t lost me, I’d lost Tottenham.

And so I started to think.

What is supporting Spurs all about. Really, if you strip away all the noise and nonsense. Why did I start and what really matters?

April 30th 1978. Tottenham were visiting Southampton, my home town. I knew a lot about Spurs as my two older brothers were devoted fans who on their return from boarding school would always show me their incredible and comprehensive scrap books of newspaper cuttings of match reports. But I’d never been to a real game of football – I’d seen The Big Match frequently and always watched the full day drama of the FA Cup Final but televised football was exceptionally rare.

Here though was a chance to go and see the players in the flesh. In real life. I could watch the idols and heroes I’d read all about and seen very rarely on crappy highlights shows. I could see Glenn.

The fact that Spurs needed to not lose to secure immediate promotion back to Division One was secondary and almost an afterthought. That was not why I was going – although once I was stood on the terrace, I had been sucked into the drama. I was in, this was it, and they had me.

And now 36 years later I think I and many have lost touch with why we go, what the point is and what really matters. We’ve become conditioned and conned into thinking that a finish outside of the Top 4 is a failed season. You’re a nothing club, with no hope, ambition or chance of real success.

When I started going it was 1st or nowhere – and we were never 1st, but now 4th is a success, why is that?

Three sides have done better than you, you’ve won nothing – you’ve just got an invite to dinner at the best restaurant, whilst those that failed get the scraps for the Europa League fast food franchise.

We gauge our Managers and playing staff against this mythical and misleading objective – this mirage of make believe. “FOFO” – 4th or f*** off, might be appended to Pochettino’s contract. But not by me – I’m not falling for it anymore. It’s not why I renewed and it’s not why I’m going.

I’m going because I love Spurs. Because of Glenn and the white shirts. Because we’ll always have a player that will make my heart soar. Because we try and play football the way it should be played.

I’m going because of swagger, for the noise at night games, because of Bill, Ardiles, Archibald, Perryman. I’m going because Gareth Bale was made in Tottenham and I witnessed it.

I’m going because Lamela might illuminate a grey day. I know we’ll lose some daft games but I can’t revel in a win if I don’t accept the risk of losing. There are 36 years between a 7-0 hammering at Anfield in 1978 and a 6-0 massacre at Eastlands – we’ve always been prone to a stuffing. That’s who and what we are. But we also mauled Milan and knocked nine past Wigan.

So my hopes for next season are not hard wired to a Top 4 place. I want to see a flick I’ve never seen before, a volley that takes my breath away, a fight back against the odds. A goal that I can talk about for hours and hours. The emergence of another star in the finest tradition of the club. A chant or song that makes me laugh. A team that cares, that grows and matures playing expansive, free flowing, exciting football that makes my heart race.

A team with an identity. One that looks like Tottenham.

I’m letting go of the Sky induced fixation and I already feel better for it.

Hello Tottenham – God I’ve missed you

http://www.thefightingcock.co.uk/2014/07/falling-in-love-again/#lightbox/0/

 

[Spurger King]

I give it 8 weeks.

 

[Armstrong_11]

First few matches will be important... Need a good start.

 

[parklane1]

Good piece especially this bit.

And now 36 years later I think I and many have lost touch with why we go, what the point is and what really matters. We’ve become conditioned and conned into thinking that a finish outside of the Top 4 is a failed season. You’re a nothing club, with no hope, ambition or chance of real success.
When I started going it was 1st or nowhere – and we were never 1st, but now 4th is a success, why is that?

 

[HotspurFC1950]

We must not kid ourselves.

 

[Insomnia]

Spurger King you kill me, the funniest poster on SC in my very honest opinion

 

[Flashspur]

i'm on board....God I love a good romance. Mine will be 53 years in August

....even if supporting Spurs is so hard at times

 

[NEVILLEB]

Tottenham fans are by nature, hopeful. They are dreamers. They love exciting football and watching flair players.

The last few years have seen our hopes slowly and painfully dismantled. Little remains of a team with great potential and free flowing, attacking play.

The most common subject on this forum is financial security. The balance in our books. The foolishness of our dreams and the reality of being a 'lesser club'.

We need some hope back. We need to see some flair on the pitch and we need our Chairman to make mature, intelligent decisions.

 

[Bobbins]

Tottenham fans are by nature, hopeful. They are dreamers. They love exciting football and watching flair players.

The last few years have seen our hopes slowly and painfully dismantled. Little remains of a team with great potential and free flowing, attacking play.

The most common subject on this forum is financial security. The balance in our books. The foolishness of our dreams and the reality of being a 'lesser club'.

We need some hope back. We need to see some flair on the pitch and we need our Chairman to make mature, intelligent decisions.

That's not even remotely true in your wildest, Levy-fever-induced dreams.

In fact the most common thread started again and again on this forum is 'Do we need a new chairman?' or 'Is ENIC's time up?' etc, as you well know, because you start half of them.

The reality is that you don't want free-flowing football and to hell with the results, you don't want to enjoy football for what it is, and fuck Sky and the rest - you want massive investment and Champion's League football. But you're always met with the argument for financial security, because it's the only response there is, short of agreeing with you and hoping Levy sells up for an oil baron. This is now an irrelevant and impossible dream anyway, because FFP means the days of Abdul walking in and spunking a billion quid in three windows have gone - it will never happen again.

I hope to see some good football and some exciting players, and hopefully mostly good results. I won't hold my breath, but I've learnt to live with the reality - and yes it is a reality, however much you can't accept it - of being a 'lesser' club - but if by 'lesser' you mean a club which does things the right way, which doesn't spend beyond its means, which refuses to pay ridiculous wages, which isn't an institution of corruption, doesn't buy its results, which can look back at our history and say that none of it is tainted, and which still makes a decent fist of attacking the top 4 most seasons - well then I guess I'm proud to support a 'lesser' club.

In fact I wish we'd say fuck the Champion's League ambition altogether and go out to really try our damndest to actually win a cup or two, League, FA, Europa, whatever. I want glory and winning, not season after season of grinding out 5th or 6th place, missing out to a corrupt decision or a £35m striker, and then reading endless crap on here about how Levy needs to get out of the club as he doesn't put enough money in or hire the right manager. I want us to stick with a manager, and with the players, and not play moneyball every transfer window. I want to get attached to the players and I want to see them win something for once.

 

[NEVILLEB]

That's not even remotely true in your wildest, Levy-fever-induced dreams.

In fact the most common thread started again and again on this forum is 'Do we need a new chairman?' or 'Is ENIC's time up?' etc, as you well know, because you start half of them.

The reality is that you don't want free-flowing football and to hell with the results, you don't want to enjoy football for what it is, and fuck Sky and the rest - you want massive investment and Champion's League football. But you're always met with the argument for financial security, because it's the only response there is, short of agreeing with you and hoping Levy sells up for an oil baron. This is now an irrelevant and impossible dream anyway, because FFP means the days of Abdul walking in and spunking a billion quid in three windows have gone - it will never happen again.

I hope to see some good football and some exciting players, and hopefully mostly good results. I won't hold my breath, but I've learnt to live with the reality - and yes it is a reality, however much you can't accept it - of being a 'lesser' club - but if by 'lesser' you mean a club which does things the right way, which doesn't spend beyond its means, which refuses to pay ridiculous wages, which isn't an institution of corruption, doesn't buy its results, which can look back at our history and say that none of it is tainted, and which still makes a decent fist of attacking the top 4 most seasons - well then I guess I'm proud to support a 'lesser' club.

In fact I wish we'd say fuck the Champion's League ambition altogether and go out to really try our damndest to actually win a cup or two, League, FA, Europa, whatever. I want glory and winning, not season after season of grinding out 5th or 6th place, missing out to a corrupt decision or a £35m striker, and then reading endless crap on here about how Levy needs to get out of the club as he doesn't put enough money in or hire the right manager. I want us to stick with a manager, and with the players, and not play moneyball every transfer window. I want to get attached to the players and I want to see them win something for once.

You wrote all that and then undermined yourself by saying you want us to stick with a manager. The very thing Levy doesn't do.

I don't need you to tell me what I think thank you. Nor am I interesting in starting another Levy debate. I gave my opinion. Deal with it.

 

[parklane1]

That's not even remotely true in your wildest, Levy-fever-induced dreams.

In fact the most common thread started again and again on this forum is 'Do we need a new chairman?' or 'Is ENIC's time up?' etc, as you well know, because you start half of them.

The reality is that you don't want free-flowing football and to hell with the results, you don't want to enjoy football for what it is, and fuck Sky and the rest - you want massive investment and Champion's League football. But you're always met with the argument for financial security, because it's the only response there is, short of agreeing with you and hoping Levy sells up for an oil baron. This is now an irrelevant and impossible dream anyway, because FFP means the days of Abdul walking in and spunking a billion quid in three windows have gone - it will never happen again.

I hope to see some good football and some exciting players, and hopefully mostly good results. I won't hold my breath, but I've learnt to live with the reality - and yes it is a reality, however much you can't accept it - of being a 'lesser' club - but if by 'lesser' you mean a club which does things the right way, which doesn't spend beyond its means, which refuses to pay ridiculous wages, which isn't an institution of corruption, doesn't buy its results, which can look back at our history and say that none of it is tainted, and which still makes a decent fist of attacking the top 4 most seasons - well then I guess I'm proud to support a 'lesser' club.

In fact I wish we'd say fuck the Champion's League ambition altogether and go out to really try our damndest to actually win a cup or two, League, FA, Europa, whatever. I want glory and winning, not season after season of grinding out 5th or 6th place, missing out to a corrupt decision or a £35m striker, and then reading endless crap on here about how Levy needs to get out of the club as he doesn't put enough money in or hire the right manager. I want us to stick with a manager, and with the players, and not play moneyball every transfer window. I want to get attached to the players and I want to see them win something for once.

Great post and i wish i could give you several winner reps.

 

[Bobbins]

You wrote all that and then undermined yourself by saying you want us to stick with a manager. The very thing Levy doesn't do.

I don't need you to tell me what I think thank you. Nor am I interesting in starting another Levy debate. I gave my opinion. Deal with it.

I didn't undermine myself at all - since the only point I was actually replying to was your suggestion that many of the threads on here are about our 'bank balance', which is quite obviously balls. I didn't start any sort of Levy debate whatsoever. I just pointed out the disingenuous part of your post and the fact that what you claim to want in it goes against your entire posting history. Isn't saying I want stability consistent with not wanting to read the usual Levy Out threads?

Nothing wrong with your opinion. Just don't make wild claims which aren't even slightly true and attempt to hugely distort the past.

I think you'll find I 'dealt' with it a couple of posts up.

 

[NEVILLEB]

I didn't undermine myself at all - since the only point I was actually replying to was your suggestion that many of the threads on here are about our 'bank balance', which is quite obviously balls. I didn't start any sort of Levy debate whatsoever. I just pointed out the disingenuous part of your post and the fact that what you claim to want in it goes against your entire posting history.

Nothing wrong with your opinion, since that's obviously the point of the thread. Just don't make wild claims which aren't even slightly true and attempt to hugely distort the past.

I think you'll find I 'dealt' with it a couple of posts up.

Just bored that you're still starting arguments. Take a chill pill and just post your own opinion whilst respecting others.

Personally I'm fully behind Poch and hope we have a good season. There's no ill will towards the Chairman on my behalf at the moment but I don't ignore the reasons why there's a common feeling of disenchantment amongst the fans.

 

[shelfboy68]

That's not even remotely true in your wildest, Levy-fever-induced dreams.

In fact the most common thread started again and again on this forum is 'Do we need a new chairman?' or 'Is ENIC's time up?' etc, as you well know, because you start half of them.

The reality is that you don't want free-flowing football and to hell with the results, you don't want to enjoy football for what it is, and fuck Sky and the rest - you want massive investment and Champion's League football. But you're always met with the argument for financial security, because it's the only response there is, short of agreeing with you and hoping Levy sells up for an oil baron. This is now an irrelevant and impossible dream anyway, because FFP means the days of Abdul walking in and spunking a billion quid in three windows have gone - it will never happen again.

I hope to see some good football and some exciting players, and hopefully mostly good results. I won't hold my breath, but I've learnt to live with the reality - and yes it is a reality, however much you can't accept it - of being a 'lesser' club - but if by 'lesser' you mean a club which does things the right way, which doesn't spend beyond its means, which refuses to pay ridiculous wages, which isn't an institution of corruption, doesn't buy its results, which can look back at our history and say that none of it is tainted, and which still makes a decent fist of attacking the top 4 most seasons - well then I guess I'm proud to support a 'lesser' club.

In fact I wish we'd say fuck the Champion's League ambition altogether and go out to really try our damndest to actually win a cup or two, League, FA, Europa, whatever. I want glory and winning, not season after season of grinding out 5th or 6th place, missing out to a corrupt decision or a £35m striker, and then reading endless crap on here about how Levy needs to get out of the club as he doesn't put enough money in or hire the right manager. I want us to stick with a manager, and with the players, and not play moneyball every transfer window. I want to get attached to the players and I want to see them win something for once.

FFP hasnt stopped psg wasting 40-50 bug ones on luiz nor barca parting with big money for jaws it means Fuck all to these people and uefa cant do nothing about it.
Cmon bobbins you aint a fool the only clubs that want ffp is ones like us yes We wont win much or at all but its fun to die trying right

 

[monkeynick]

Tottenham fans are by nature, hopeful. They are dreamers. They love exciting football and watching flair players.

The last few years have seen our hopes slowly and painfully dismantled. Little remains of a team with great potential and free flowing, attacking play.

The most common subject on this forum is financial security. The balance in our books. The foolishness of our dreams and the reality of being a 'lesser club'.

We need some hope back. We need to see some flair on the pitch and we need our Chairman to make mature, intelligent decisions.

No they ain't

 

[THFCSPURS19]

I have noticed a very positive vibe around the club at the moment. The players seem happy, we have a manger who is known for playing good football and there is little expectation of Top 4 which relieves the pressure of the players' shoulders and this can only be helpful.

 

[spursfan77]

I have noticed a very positive vibe around the club at the moment. The players seem happy, we have a manger who is known for playing good football and there is little expectation of Top 4 which relieves the pressure of the players' shoulders and this can only be helpful.

Well all know what happens next!

 

[CheeseGromit]

Tottenham fans are by nature, hopeful. They are dreamers. They love exciting football and watching flair players.

The last few years have seen our hopes slowly and painfully dismantled. Little remains of a team with great potential and free flowing, attacking play.

The most common subject on this forum is financial security. The balance in our books. The foolishness of our dreams and the reality of being a 'lesser club'.

We need some hope back. We need to see some flair on the pitch and we need our Chairman to make mature, intelligent decisions.

NB
I am using your pits to make general points not specifically targeting the post

Your post shows the Spurs dilema. Winning whether PL or even CL at any cost is what some want, the beautiful game is wanted by others, both by some. Add to that a high profile high performing manager who has been around for years a la Bill Nick. Many point to Busby at Manure having a curse over subsequent managers until SWF but Bill's shadow looms over his successors at the Lane

The Chairman in most clubs is in a no win but even more in Spurs. Take away the name and look at the facts from an outsiders perspective and a different view of the club would probably ensue. Levy is not widely loved yet were Sugar or Scholar any better regarded. Often in Spurs terms the longer they are away the better they were. This goes for players to

The essence of football is hope. Players enter every season wanting to be the best they can, often why you see lesser teams do so well in the first dozen of so games until reality catches up with them


I want a club that gives me the best chance it can, over achieve is the real requirement, that I can be proud of and share my joy with others

I hate and question the value of continual carping about the club whether players, manager or administration Yes I am disappointed when things go wrong and not necessarily patient but even though I have been going to WHL since the early 60's I still go with a buz and hope we will win the league with this season no exception

The days of jumpers for goal posts have gone, money has changed football, media coverage has exposed football to all kind of other pressures (corruption /betting just to mention a couple). As sad as it is to say Bill Nick's era would not survive in that form in today's game.

I would like Spurs to win the league, play good football and be properly managed in that order. I do not know how I would feel if a small Arab state suddenly become the owner of a small patch of north London where football is played ( because they don't down the road)

 

[NEVILLEB]

NB
I am using your pits to make general points not specifically targeting the post

Your post shows the Spurs dilema. Winning whether PL or even CL at any cost is what some want, the beautiful game is wanted by others, both by some. Add to that a high profile high performing manager who has been around for years a la Bill Nick. Many point to Busby at Manure having a curse over subsequent managers until SWF but Bill's shadow looms over his successors at the Lane

The Chairman in most clubs is in a no win but even more in Spurs. Take away the name and look at the facts from an outsiders perspective and a different view of the club would probably ensue. Levy is not widely loved yet were Sugar or Scholar any better regarded. Often in Spurs terms the longer they are away the better they were. This goes for players to

The essence of football is hope. Players enter every season wanting to be the best they can, often why you see lesser teams do so well in the first dozen of so games until reality catches up with them


I want a club that gives me the best chance it can, over achieve is the real requirement, that I can be proud of and share my joy with others

I hate and question the value of continual carping about the club whether players, manager or administration Yes I am disappointed when things go wrong and not necessarily patient but even though I have been going to WHL since the early 60's I still go with a buz and hope we will win the league with this season no exception

The days of jumpers for goal posts have gone, money has changed football, media coverage has exposed football to all kind of other pressures (corruption /betting just to mention a couple). As sad as it is to say Bill Nick's era would not survive in that form in today's game.

I would like Spurs to win the league, play good football and be properly managed in that order. I do not know how I would feel if a small Arab state suddenly become the owner of a small patch of north London where football is played ( because they don't down the road)

The most important thing for me is for the team to play for each other and to see some flair and good movement.

The last two seasons we've been boring to watch. I hope Poch brings back the style of play we love to watch at Spurs. I know that's why Levy has appointed him.

 

[CheeseGromit]

The most important thing for me is for the team to play for each other and to see some flair and good movement.

The last two seasons we've been boring to watch. I hope Poch brings back the style of play we love to watch at Spurs. I know that's why Levy has appointed him.

Agreed