A‘Hollywood Blockbuster’ of a Match

On Wednesday 8^th of May, at 7:45pm, Chelsea host Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge in what is deemed a play off for the world’s premium club competition; the Champions League. For Andre Villas-Boas and his players, it is more than just simply attaining entry to the elite European competition; it is an opportunity for salvation, for redemption, for opportunity and for progress. The risk of failure is high and the consequences of failing are unknown, and while the reward purely gives us an opportunity to decide our own fate, the metaphorical representation of the match creates an epic drama worthy of a Hollywood script.

Alot at stake for AVB

Let me picture the scene. Our Protagonist for this story is our youthful manager Andre Villas-Boas. AVB was unceremoniously exiled from Stanford Bridge on the 4^th of March 2012, after only 40 games at the helm. There are well documented reports of alienation and hostility between the Chelsea players and their manager, which inevitably was the major factor in ending AVB’s management at the Bridge. The UK press made it no secret of their distaste with the Portuguese national, with the destructive relationship between journalists and AVB also becoming well documented. His attitude, arrogance and methods of management where all highlighted and smeared with the same destructive categorisation of his image. This time last year, Andre Villas-Boas was not a wanted man in England.

Time away from the Premier league served AVB well, and he was rightly, or wrongly, given an opportunity at our beloved club, replacing Harry Redknapp. Was this a marriage made in heaven or a relationship forged in hell? He AVB had his critics, his doubters, and even had a poor start to life at the Lane. But results started to pick up, performance started to resemble the quality we desire from the blue and white army. The Lanes favourite son went from being a boy wonder to the best player in the league (a clean sweep of all individual awards suggests that he is), and with Bale being his man of action, his skilled understudy implementing and endearing to AVB’s plans; Tottenham have remained there or thereabouts.

 

AVB's main man

Another intriguing element to this tale is the crossroads in which Tottenham Hotspur find themselves on. We have a young, ambitious manager, a chairman and board eager to develop the club into bigger and betting things. We have a squad of quality, but lacks particular assets to truly compete at the top. We have one of the world’s best training facilities and progress on a new stadium, although slow, is underway. If Tottenham can secure Champions League football and offer the chance to potential signings and particular players already here, then we have a foundation to build a squad where we can truly compete.

So it has come down to the decider, the epic battle if you will. The climatic ending you have eagerly sat in the cinema anticipating. You are aware of your characters strengths and weaknesses. You are aware that the odds are against them, yet you drive to foresee the desired outcome. The scene has well and truly been set. Can Andre Villas-Boas take Tottenham Hotspur into the Champions League by beating his previous employers? Can he put to rest any lingering demons of his past? Is this an opportunity to open a new chapter in Tottenham’s history, chapter where we can reap the fruits of our progress and development? Who knows what will happen, but this story will end when that final whistle blows on Wednesday evening.

COME ON YOU SPURS!!!

Antony Moule

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