“Self deprecation”, “Gallows humour”, “Managing expectations”, “Wallowing in the glory of failure”. As a long term Spurs fan I’ve grown used to these emotions. They help me through the annual Arsenal ‘St Totteringham Day’ jibes, the ‘hilarious’ Chelsea ‘Three Point Lane’ comments, the inevitable refereeing mistake at Old Trafford, the 6-1 at Bolton, the 7-1 at Newcastle, the defeat to Coventry in 87, the 3-0 up and lose 3-5 game v Man Utd, the 3-0 up and lose 3-4 game v Man City. The list is endless and I’m sure many of you have your own memories of Spurs humiliating themselves. In fact tell me what they are in the comments box below.
But things have changed. We still absolutely mess up from time to time. And the term "Spursy” and it’s explanation – “To consistently and inevitably fail to live up to expectations. To bottle it” is used by Spurs fans as much as our rivals.
However, the game against Sunderland showed me that this is the least Spursy team I can recall. By half time when we had failed to score after twenty shots many long suffering Spurs fans would have run to the bookies and placed a large amount on 1-0 Sunderland, Defoe first scorer. Because that would be typical Spurs right? Wrong. We’ve changed. I knew we’d win. Because this Spurs team is strong, and resilient, and determined. Last season we won so many games coming from behind, or playing badly; games we NEVER would have won a few years ago.
We’re heading in to October and we are unbeaten. Yet there’s no proclamations of grandeur. Just a simple acknowledgement that we need to keep improving; just keep going and maybe we can achieved something. It might be title challenge, or a great run in the Champions league, or a cup win. We’ve lost that soft underbelly that symbolised Spurs. We’re tough, even a bit naughty. Just ask the Chelsea players after they ran off the pitch in terror after Spurs turned in to a psychotic Sunday league pub team.
So, feel free to keep using Spursy as a comfort blanket for when things don’t go to plan; or keep using it to insult us. But it’s not a tag that is really relevant anymore.
I’ll tell you what is ‘Spursy’ though. Being top of the Premier League for a period of time EVERY SINGLE SEASON for 11 years and not winning the title. Or how about playing in the Champions League EVERY SINGLE SEASON and not winning it once. Remind you of anyone?
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Very true, I've been watching spurs for over 30years and I can't remember a teamonth like this we've had our ginola's gazza's and may I say plenty more stars but now it's not all style over substance it's the real deal a force. Yes we will make mistakes but the future is bright. Lilly white bright
ReplyDeleteWas this written before the Monaco game?....just wondered
ReplyDeleteObliviously as Sunderland game shows was written after, but Monaco showed the old Spurs is still there lurking under the surface.
DeleteGreat article! I think you're missing the point - Spurs are far from unbeatable but I'd argue they aren't a soft touch anymore.
DeleteThe point I was trying to make is that Spurs aren't a soft touch, not that we have become some kind of unbeatable giants. Sure, we lost to Monaco but 2-0 down would've seen the old Spurs collapse; instead we got back up and fought back. And if Harry hadn't missed a sitter we'd have grabbed a draw.
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